| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09450190B2 |
Condensed cyclic compound and organic light-emitting diode including the same
A condensed cyclic compound is represented by Formula 1, and an organic light-emitting diode includes the condensed cyclic compound: wherein, in Formula 1, the descriptions of Ar1 to Ar4, and R1 to R6 are as defined in the present specification. An organic light-emitting diode including an organic layer including the condensed cyclic compound may have a low driving voltage, a high light-emitting efficiency, and a long lifespan. |
| US09450186B2 |
6,12-dioxaanthanthrene derivative, organic semiconductor element, and method for manufacturing organic semiconductor element
There are provided a 6,12-dioxaanthanthrene derivative which is an organic semiconductor material capable of improving resistance to mechanical deformation, an organic semiconductor element, and a method for manufacturing the organic semiconductor element. The 6,12-dioxaanthanthrene derivative is represented by structural formula (1). R3 and R9 are photopolymerizable unsaturated groups. R5 and R11 are non-photopolymerizable substituents. |
| US09450183B2 |
Memory structure having top electrode with protrusion
The present disclosure relates to an RRAM (resistive random access memory) cell having a top electrode with a geometry configured to improve the electric performance of the RRAM cell, and an associated method of formation. In some embodiments, the RRAM cell has a lower insulating layer with a micro-trench located over a lower metal interconnect layer disposed within a lower inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer that overlies a semiconductor substrate. A bottom electrode is disposed over the micro-trench, and a dielectric data storage layer is located over the bottom electrode. A top electrode is disposed over the dielectric data storage layer. The top electrode has a protrusion that extends outward from a bottom surface of the top electrode at a position overlying the micro-trench. The protrusion generates a region having an enhanced electric field within the dielectric data storage layer, which improves performance of the RRAM cell. |
| US09450177B2 |
Magnetoresistive element and magnetic memory
There is provided a magnetoresistive element whose magnetization direction is stable in a direction perpendicular to the film surface and whose magnetoresistance ratio is controlled, as well as magnetic memory using such a magnetoresistive element. By having the material of a ferromagnetic layer forming the magnetoresistive element comprise a ferromagnetic material containing at least one type of 3d transition metal, or a Heusler alloy, to control the magnetoresistance ratio, and by controlling the thickness of the ferromagnetic layer on an atomic layer level, the magnetization direction is changed from being in-plane with the film surface to being perpendicular to the film surface. |
| US09450175B2 |
Method for preparing a lead-free piezoelectric thin film
The present invention discloses a method of preparing a lead-free piezoelectric thin film comprising the steps of: providing a precursor solution comprising at least one alkali metal ion, a polyamino carboxylic acid, and an amine; depositing the precursor solution on a substrate to form a film; and annealing the film. The present invention also provides a lead-free piezoelectric thin film prepared according to the method, a precursor solution for use in the method and a method of preparing the precursor solution. |
| US09450173B2 |
Piezoelectric ceramic and piezoelectric element
A piezoelectric ceramic is constituted by a polycrystal whose main phase is an alkali-containing niobate perovskite structure, where both elemental nickel and elemental manganese are present at the grain boundary of the polycrystal. The piezoelectric ceramic is such that drop in piezoelectric characteristics due to application of high electric field is suppressed. |
| US09450170B2 |
Actuator using magnetic shape memory material, coils and permanent magnets
An actuator having a drive element made of a magnetic shape memory material is driven responsive to electrical control of a plurality of coil apparatuses and carries out an expansion movement in response to the control. The coil apparatuses are magnetically connected to the drive element via flux-concentrating apparatus having a flux-concentrating section associated with the coil apparatuses for interaction with the drive element. Each flux-concentrating apparatus has a core section and connecting section, which conducts a magnetic flux to the drive element, such that a magnetic flux-concentrating circuit for each of the coil apparatuses is formed by the common drive element. The flux-concentrating circuits are magnetically connected in parallel with one another, based on the common drive element, and/or a magnetic flux direction of a magnetic flux in the particular flux-concentrating circuit in the drive element has the same orientation. |
| US09450168B2 |
Multilayer piezoelectric device
A multilayer piezoelectric device comprises a multilayer body and first and second outer electrodes. The multilayer body has base, first and second driving parts, and non-driving part. The driving parts and non-driving part extend from the base along stacking direction. The first driving part is closer to the non-driving part than the second driving part. Each driving part has first and second inner electrodes opposing each other in stacking direction. The base has a third inner electrode extending along a plane orthogonal to the stacking direction. The first outer electrode is connected to the first inner electrode. The second outer electrode is connected to the second and third inner electrodes. In the stacking direction, the overlap area of the third and second inner electrode of the first driving part is greater than the overlap area of the third and second inner electrode of the second driving part. |
| US09450167B2 |
Temperature compensated acoustic resonator device having an interlayer
An acoustic resonator comprises: an acoustic resonator device comprises: a composite first electrode disposed over a substrate, the composite first electrode comprising: a first electrically conductive layer provided over the substrate; a first interlayer disposed on the first electrical conductive layer; a buried temperature compensation layer disposed over the first interlayer; a second interlayer disposed over the temperature compensation layer; a second electrically conductive layer disposed over the second interlayer, a piezoelectric layer disposed over the composite first electrode; and a second electrode disposed over the piezoelectric layer. |
| US09450166B2 |
Resonator element, resonator, electronic device, electronic apparatus, mobile body and method of manufacturing resonator element
A resonator element includes: a substrate; and an electrode that includes a first conductive layer provided on a surface of the substrate, and a second conductive layer, provided on the opposite side to the first conductive layer on the substrate side, which is disposed within an outer edge of the first conductive layer when seen in a plan view from a direction perpendicular to the surface. |
| US09450162B2 |
LED lighting systems with phosphor subassemblies, and/or methods of making the same
Certain example embodiments relate to improved lighting systems and/or methods of making the same. In certain example embodiments, a lighting system includes a glass substrate with one or more apertures. An LED or other light source is disposed at one end of the aperture such that light from the LED directed through the aperture of the glass substrate exits the opposite end of the aperture. Inner surfaces of the aperture have a mirroring material such as silver to reflect the emitted light from the LED. In certain example embodiments, a remote phosphor article or layer is disposed opposite the LED at the other end of the aperture. In certain example embodiment, a lens is disposed in the aperture, between the remote phosphor article and the LED. |
| US09450155B2 |
Light emitting device having wavelength converting layer
Disclosed is a light emitting device having a wavelength converting layer. The light emitting device comprises a plurality of semiconductor stacked structures; connectors for electrically connecting the plurality of semiconductor stacked structures to one another; a single wavelength converting layer for covering the plurality of semiconductor stacked structures; an electrode electrically connected to at least one of the semiconductor stacked structures; and at least one additional electrode positioned on the electrode, passing through the wavelength converting layer to be exposed to the outside, and forming a current input terminal to the light emitting device or a current output terminal from the light emitting device. Since the single wavelength converting layer covers the plurality of semiconductor stacked structures, the plurality of semiconductor stacked structures can be integrally mounted on a chip mounting member such as a package or a module. |
| US09450151B2 |
Semiconductor light-emitting device
A semiconductor light-emitting device includes a laminated semiconductor structure having a first surface and a second surface opposing each other, a first conductivity-type semiconductor layer and a second conductivity-type semiconductor layer respectively forming the first surface and the second surface, and an active layer. First and second electrodes are disposed on the first surface of the laminated semiconductor structure and the second surface of the laminated semiconductor structure, respectively. A connecting electrode extends to the first surface to be connected to the second electrode. A support substrate is disposed on the second electrode, and an insulating layer insulates the connecting electrode from the active layer and the first conductivity-type semiconductor layer. |
| US09450150B2 |
Nitride semiconductor light-emitting element
A nitride semiconductor light-emitting element including a high concentration silicon-doped layer doped with silicon at a high concentration of 2×1019 atoms/cm3, and a dislocation reduction layer for laterally bending a threading dislocation on the high concentration silicon-doped layer. |
| US09450147B2 |
LED with internally confined current injection area
Methods and structures for forming arrays of LED devices are disclosed. The LED devices in accordance with embodiments of the invention may include an internally confined current injection area to reduce non-radiative recombination due to edge effects. Several manners for confining current may include etch removal of a current distribution layer, etch removal of a current distribution layer and active layer followed by mesa re-growth, isolation by ion implant or diffusion, quantum well intermixing, and oxide isolation. |
| US09450145B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device
A high luminance semiconductor light emitting device including a metallic reflecting layer formed using a non-transparent semiconductor substrate is provided. The device includes a GaAs substrate; a metal layer disposed on the GaAs substrate; and a light emitting diode structure. The light emitting diode structure includes a patterned metal contact layer and a patterned insulating layer disposed on the metal layer, a p type cladding layer disposed on the patterned metal contact layer and the patterned insulating layer, a multi-quantum well layer disposed on the p type cladding layer, an n type cladding layer disposed on the multi-quantum well layer, and a window layer disposed on the n type cladding layer. The GaAs substrate and the light emitting diode structure are bonded by using the metal layer. |
| US09450143B2 |
Gallium and nitrogen containing triangular or diamond-shaped configuration for optical devices
A gallium and nitrogen containing optical device has a base region and no more than three major planar side regions configured in a triangular arrangement provided from the base region. |
| US09450142B2 |
Method for making epitaxial structure
A method for making an epitaxial structure is provided. The method includes the following steps. A substrate having an epitaxial growth surface is provided. A carbon nanotube layer is placed on the epitaxial growth surface. An epitaxial layer is epitaxially grown on the buffer layer. The substrate and the carbon nanotube layer are removed to expose the epitaxial layer. |
| US09450135B2 |
Plasma enhanced thermal evaporator
The present invention generally provides a method for forming a photovoltaic device including evaporating a source material to form a large molecule processing gas and flowing the large molecule processing gas through a gas distribution showerhead and into a processing area of a processing chamber having a substrate therein. The method includes generating a small molecule processing gas, and reacting the small molecule processing gas with a film already deposited on a substrate surface to form a semiconductor film. Additionally, apparatuses that may use the methods are also provided to enable continuous inline CIGS type solar cell formation. |
| US09450134B2 |
Photocoupler
According to one embodiment, a photocoupler includes a light emitting element, a light receiving element, a bonding layer, input terminals, output terminals and a molded resin body. A light emitting element includes a transparent support substrate, a semiconductor stacked body, and first and second electrodes. A light receiving element includes a light reception surface, a first electrode, and a second electrode. A bonding layer is configured to bond the first surface of the support substrate to the light reception surface side of the light receiving element. The bonding layer is transparent and insulative. Input terminals are connected to the first and second electrodes of the light emitting element. Output terminals are connected to the first and second electrodes of the light receiving element. The light reception surface is included in the light emitting surface. An input electrical signal is converted into an output electrical signal. |
| US09450128B2 |
Multi-layered film and photovoltaic modules comprising the same
A multi-layered film, a backsheet for photovoltaic modules, a method of manufacturing the same, and a photovoltaic module are provided. The multi-layered film having excellent reliability and adhesive strength under high heat/moisture conditions and also showing excellent weather resistance and durability may be provided by forming a primer layer including an oxazoline group-containing polymer on a substrate and forming a resin layer including a fluorine-based polymer on the primer layer. The primer layer and resin layer of the multi-layered film may be manufactured at a low cost under a low drying temperature using a solvent having a low boiling point, so that the manufacturing costs can be reduced and the quality of the product can be prevented from being deteriorated by thermal deformation or thermal shock. The multi-layered film may be effectively used for a backsheet for photovoltaic modules so that the photovoltaic module can exhibit excellent durability even when exposed to external environments for a long time. |
| US09450121B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and electronic apparatus
A solid-state imaging device includes a photoelectric conversion device that includes a non-chalcopyrite-based compound semiconductor of at least one layer, which is lattice bonded or pseudo lattice bonded, and is formed on a silicon substrate, and a chalcopyrite-based compound semiconductor of at least one layer which is formed on the non-chalcopyrite-based compound semiconductor. |
| US09450120B2 |
Method of increasing the band gap of iron pyrite by alloying with oxygen
A method of increasing the band gap of iron pyrite by alloying with oxygen is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method comprises alloying iron pyrite (FeS2) with oxygen to form an iron pyrite and oxygen alloy (FeS2−xOx). The iron pyrite and oxygen alloy (FeS2−xOx) has a band gap greater than iron pyrite (FeS2). |
| US09450118B2 |
Detector apparatus
A detector apparatus that is embodied to receive light and to generate electrical signals has a housing and a detector arranged in the housing. The detector includes a light sensor that is embodied to receive light and to release electrons. The light sensor is at a lower electrical potential level than the housing; and that the detector is in thermally conductive contact with the housing via an electrically insulating intermediate arrangement, the thermal conduction direction inside the housing being opposite to the light propagation direction of the light to be detected. |
| US09450115B2 |
Method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device
A method to improve CdTe-based photovoltaic device efficiency is disclosed, the method including steps for removing surface contaminants from a semiconductor absorber layer prior to the deposition or formation of a back contact layer on the semiconductor absorber layer, the surface contaminants removed using at least one of a dry etching process and a wet etching process. |
| US09450114B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and electronic apparatus having a plurality of photoelectric conversion layer for corresponding wavelength regions
A solid-state imaging device which includes, a photoelectric conversion film provided on a second surface side which is the opposite side to a first surface on which a wiring layer of a semiconductor substrate is formed, performs photoelectric conversion with respect to light in a predetermined wavelength region, and transmits light in other wavelength regions; and a photoelectric conversion layer which is provided in the semiconductor substrate, and performs the photoelectric conversion with respect to light in other wavelength regions which has transmitted the photoelectric conversion film, in which input light is incident from the second surface side with respect to the photoelectric conversion film and the photoelectric conversion layer. |
| US09450112B2 |
GaN-based Schottky barrier diode with algan surface layer
A Schottky diode and method of fabricating the Schottky diode using gallium nitride (GaN) materials is disclosed. The method includes providing an n-type GaN substrate having first and second opposing surfaces. The method also includes forming an ohmic metal contact electrically coupled to the first surface, forming an n-type GaN epitaxial layer coupled to the second surface, and forming an n-type aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN) surface layer coupled to the n-type GaN epitaxial layer. The AlGaN surface layer has a thickness which is less than a critical thickness, and the critical thickness is determined based on an aluminum mole fraction of the AlGaN surface layer. The method also includes forming a Schottky contact electrically coupled to the n-type AlGaN surface layer, where, during operation, an interface between the n-type GaN epitaxial layer and the n-type AlGaN surface layer is substantially free from a two-dimensional electron gas. |
| US09450110B2 |
Semiconductor device
The semiconductor device includes a p-anode region disposed on an n-drift region, and a p-diffusion region disposed so as to be in contact with the p-anode region on the n-drift region. A resistance region disposed so as to be in contact with the p-diffusion region on an n− region, a plurality of p-guard ring regions, and a stopper region disposed away from the p-guard ring regions are provided. By providing the p-diffusion region, withdrawal of holes that concentrate to the p-anode region at the time of reverse recovery is suppressed, so that the semiconductor device has a high reverse recovery tolerance. |
| US09450107B1 |
EPROM cells, EPROM cell arrays including the same, and methods of fabricating the same
An electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM) cell includes a semiconductor layer having a first conductivity, a first junction region having a second conductivity and a second junction region having the second conductivity, wherein the first and the second junction regions are disposed in an upper region of the semiconductor layer and spaced apart from each other, a gate insulation pattern and a floating gate pattern sequentially stacked over the semiconductor layer between the first and second junction regions, a first metal contact plug coupled to the first junction region, wherein an ohmic contact is formed between the first metal contact plug and the first junction region, and a second metal contact plug coupled to the second junction region, wherein a schottky contact is formed between the second metal contact plug and the second junction region. |
| US09450100B2 |
Semiconductor arrangements and methods of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor arrangement that includes: a substrate; a back gate formed on the substrate; fins formed on opposite sides of the back gate; and back gate dielectric layers interposed between the back gate and the respective fins. The back gate has opposite end portions recessed with respect to a middle portion thereof between the end portions, so that an overlap area between each of the end portions and each of the fins is smaller than an overlap area between the middle portion and the fin. |
| US09450099B1 |
Structure and formation method of semiconductor device structure
Structures and formation methods of a semiconductor device structure are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a gate stack over a semiconductor substrate and a protection element over the gate stack. The protection element has an upper portion and a lower portion between the upper portion and the gate stack, and the upper portion is wider than the lower portion. The semiconductor device structure also includes a spacer element over a side surface of the protection element and a sidewall of the gate stack. The semiconductor device structure further includes a conductive contact electrically connected to a conductive feature over the semiconductor substrate. |
| US09450098B2 |
FinFET having superlattice stressor
A fin field effect transistor (FinFET) device is provided. The FinFET includes a superlattice layer and a strained layer. The superlattice layer is supported by a substrate. The strained layer is disposed on the superlattice layer and provides a gate channel. The gate channel is stressed by the superlattice layer. In an embodiment, the superlattice layer is formed by stacking different silicon germanium alloys or stacking other III-V semiconductor materials. |
| US09450096B2 |
Semiconductor device and formation thereof
A semiconductor device and methods of formation are provided. The semiconductor device includes a first active region having a first active region height and an active channel region having an active channel region height over a fin. The first active region height is greater than the active channel region height. The active channel region having the active channel region height has increased strain, such as increased tensile strain, as compared to an active channel region that has a height greater than the active channel region height. The increased strain increases or enhances at least one of hole mobility or electron mobility in at least one of the first active region or the active channel region. The active channel region having the active channel region height has decreased source drain leakage, as compared to an active channel region that has a height greater than the active channel region height. |
| US09450094B1 |
Semiconductor process and fin-shaped field effect transistor
A semiconductor process includes the following steps. A fin on a substrate is provided. Spacers are formed only on sidewalls of the fin, where a top surface of the fin is higher than or equal to top surfaces of the spacers. An epitaxial structure is formed on the fin. The present invention also provides a fin-shaped field effect transistor including a fin, spacers and an epitaxial structure. The fin is located on a substrate. The spacers are disposed only on sidewalls of the fin, where a top surface of the fin is higher than or equal to top surfaces of the spacers. The epitaxial structure is disposed on the fin. |
| US09450092B2 |
Stress in trigate devices using complimentary gate fill materials
Embodiments relate to an improved tri-gate device having gate metal fills, providing compressive or tensile stress upon at least a portion of the tri-gate transistor, thereby increasing the carrier mobility and operating frequency. Embodiments also contemplate method for use of the improved tri-gate device. |
| US09450077B2 |
Method of manufacturing thin film transistor
A method of manufacturing a thin film transistor substrate is provided, including a first photoresist pattern covers a channel during a process of etching a second photoresist pattern and protects the channel. Thus, an etching stop layer is not required. |
| US09450075B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a base dielectric layer, a semiconductor substrate layer disposed on the base dielectric layer, and a transistor disposed in the semiconductor substrate layer. The transistor includes a gate dielectric layer disposed on the semiconductor substrate layer, a gate electrode disposed on the gate dielectric layer, source and drain electrodes disposed within the semiconductor substrate layer on opposite sides of the gate electrode, an undoped channel region, a base dopant region, and a threshold voltage setting region. The undoped channel region, base dopant region, and threshold voltage setting region are disposed within the semiconductor substrate layer. The undoped channel region is disposed between the source electrode and the drain electrode, and the base dopant region and the threshold voltage setting region extend beneath the source electrode and the drain electrode. The threshold voltage setting region is disposed between the undoped channel region and the base dopant region. |
| US09450074B1 |
LDMOS with field plate connected to gate
Semiconductor devices, such as laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) devices, are described that have a field plate connected to a gate of the device. In one or more implementations, the semiconductor devices include a substrate having a source region of a first conductivity type and a drain region of the first conductivity type. A gate is positioned over the surface and between the source region and the drain region. The gate is configured to receive a voltage so that a conduction region may be formed at least partially below the gate to allow majority carriers to travel between the source region and the drain region. The device also includes a field plate at least partially positioned over and connected to the gate. The field plate is configured to shape an electrical field generated between the source region and the drain region when a voltage is applied to the gate. |
| US09450073B2 |
SOI transistor having drain and source regions of reduced length and a stressed dielectric material adjacent thereto
By reconfiguring material in a recess formed in drain and source regions of SOI transistors, the depth of the recess may be increased down to the buried insulating layer prior to forming respective metal silicide regions, thereby reducing series resistance and enhancing the stress transfer when the corresponding transistor element is covered by a highly stressed dielectric material. The material redistribution may be accomplished on the basis of a high temperature hydrogen bake. |
| US09450061B2 |
Metal bump structure for use in driver IC and method for forming the same
A metal bump structure for use in a driver IC includes a passivation layer disposed on a metal pad and defining a recess on the metal pad, an adhesion layer in said recess, on the metal pad and on the passivation layer, a metal bump disposed in the recess and completely covering the adhesion layer, and a capping layer disposed on the metal bump and completely covering the metal bump so that the metal bump is not exposed to an ambient atmosphere. |
| US09450058B2 |
Semiconductor device
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes, forming, on a substrate, an element isolation insulating film which includes a protruding portion protruding above a level of a surface of the substrate, forming a first film on the substrate and on the element isolation insulating film, polishing the first film to expose the protruding portion, forming a first resist pattern which straddles the first film and the protruding portion after polishing the first film, patterning the first film using the first resist pattern as a mask to form a first pattern, and forming a sidewall film at side surfaces of the first pattern. |
| US09450057B2 |
Split gate cells for embedded flash memory
In a method of forming a split gate memory cell, a sacrificial spacer is formed over a semiconductor substrate. A first layer of conductive material is formed over a top surface and sidewalls of the sacrificial spacer. A first etch back process is formed on the first layer of conductive material to expose the top surface of the sacrificial spacer and upper sidewall regions of the sacrificial spacer. A conformal silicide-blocking layer is then formed which extends over the etched back first layer of conductive material and over the top surface of the sacrificial spacer. |
| US09450053B2 |
Photonic integrated circuits based on quantum cascade structures
Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) are based on quantum cascade (QC) structures. In embodiment methods and corresponding devices, a QC layer in a wave confinement region of an integrated multi-layer semiconductor structure capable of producing optical gain is depleted of free charge carriers to create a low-loss optical wave confinement region in a portion of the structure. Ion implantation may be used to create energetically deep trap levels to trap free charge carriers. Other embodiments include modifying a region of a passive, depleted QC structure to produce an active region capable of optical gain. Gain or loss may also be modified by partially depleting or enhancing free charge carrier density. QC lasers and amplifiers may be integrated monolithically with each other or with passive waveguides and other passive devices in a self-aligned manner. Embodiments overcome challenges of high cost, complex fabrication, and coupling loss involved with material re-growth methods. |
| US09450051B2 |
High voltage semiconductor apparatus
A vertical high voltage semiconductor apparatus includes a first conductivity semiconductor substrate; a first conductivity semiconductor layer disposed on the semiconductor substrate and having an impurity concentration lower than the semiconductor substrate; a second conductivity semiconductor layer disposed on the first conductivity semiconductor layer; a second conductivity base layer disposed on the first conductivity semiconductor layer and the second conductivity semiconductor layer and, having an impurity concentration lower than the second conductivity semiconductor layer; and a first conductivity source region selectively disposed inside the base layer. In an edge termination portion, after a region of the second conductivity semiconductor layer is removed, in the first conductivity semiconductor layer having an impurity concentration lower than that of the semiconductor substrate, second conductivity layers having a low concentration are formed such that the second conductivity layer at the innermost perimeter, the second conductivity semiconductor layer, and the base layer do not contact. |
| US09450047B1 |
Semiconductor structure having enlarged regrowth regions and manufacturing method of the same
The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure, including: an insulation region including a top surface; a semiconductor fin protruding from the top surface of the insulation region; a gate over the semiconductor fin; and a regrowth region partially positioned in the semiconductor fin, and the regrowth region forming a source/drain region of the semiconductor structure; wherein a profile of the regrowth region taken along a plane perpendicular to a direction of the semiconductor fin and top surfaces of the insulation region includes a girdle, an upper girdle facet facing away from the insulation region, and a lower girdle facet facing toward the insulation region, and an angle between the upper girdle facet and the girdle is greater than about 54.7 degrees. |
| US09450042B2 |
Integrated circuits with metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors and methods for fabricating same
Integrated circuits with metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors and methods for fabricating such integrated circuits are provided. In an embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a dielectric material layer overlying a semiconductor substrate. A surface conditioning layer overlies the dielectric material layer. Further, a metal layer is formed directly on the surface conditioning layer. A MIM capacitor is positioned on the metal layer. The MIM capacitor includes a first conductive layer formed directly on the metal layer with a smooth upper surface, an insulator layer formed directly on the smooth upper surface of the first conductive layer, and a second conductive layer formed directly on the insulator layer with a smooth lower surface. |
| US09450037B2 |
Light emitting display apparatus
There is provided a light emitting display apparatus including at least a light emitting element and a thin film transistor (TFT) for driving the light emitting element, characterized in that a mechanism is provided in which a semiconductor constituting the TFT is irradiated with at least a part of light whose wavelength is longer than a predetermined wavelength among the light emitted by the light emitting element. |
| US09450034B2 |
Display devices and methods of manufacturing display devices
A display device includes a substrate including a display region and a peripheral region, display structures at the display region of the substrate, a plurality of blocking structures at the peripheral region of the substrate wherein the blocking structures have heights different from each other, an organic layer on the display structures and the blocking structures, and an inorganic layer on the organic layer. |
| US09450032B2 |
Light-emitting device, electronic device, and lighting device
A novel light-emitting device with small power consumption, which can be formed with high productivity, is provided. The light-emitting device includes a first pixel, a second pixel, and a third pixel. The first pixel includes a first light-emitting element and a first optical element, the second pixel includes a second light-emitting element and a second optical element, and the third pixel includes a third light-emitting element. A first light-emitting layer or a second light-emitting layer is shared among the first to third light-emitting elements. Furthermore, the first light-emitting layer includes a first light-emitting material having a spectrum peak in the range of higher than or equal to 540 nm and lower than or equal to 580 nm, and the second light-emitting layer includes a second light-emitting material having a spectrum peak in the range of higher than or equal to 420 nm and lower than or equal to 480 nm. |
| US09450029B2 |
OLED display panel and method for manufacturing the same
Provided are OLED display panel and method for manufacturing the same. The OLED display panel includes a plurality of pixel units, each of the plurality of pixel units includes a light emitting region and a light transmitting region, the light emitting region is provided with a white organic light emitting device and a color filter; the light transmitting region is not provided with the color filter. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a light transmitting region is particular added on the color filter, so that the transmittance can be increased, so as to obtain a better transparent display effect without an extra process, which can be achieved only by appropriately adjusting design. |
| US09450027B2 |
Method of forming bus line designs for large-area OLED lighting
Systems, and methods for the design and fabrication of OLEDs, including large-area OLEDs with metal bus lines, are provided. For a given panel area dimension, target luminous emittance, OLED device structure and efficiency, and electrical resistivity and thickness of the bus line material and electrode onto which the bus lines are disposed, a bus line pattern may be designed to optimize Fill Factor (FF), Luminance Uniformity (U) and Power Loss (PL). Example designs may be to maximize FF, maximize U and minimize PL. or define minimum criteria for U and a maximum criteria for PL, and then to optimize the bus line layout to maximize FF. OLED panels including bus lines with different resistances along the bus line are also described. |
| US09450026B2 |
Semiconductor device
According to an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes at least two control electrodes, a plurality of semiconductor layers and an insulating film. Each control electrode extends in a first direction. The semiconductor layers are provided between the control electrodes, and arranged in the first direction. Each semiconductor layer extends in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The insulating film covers side surfaces of the semiconductor layers, and is disposed between the control electrodes. Each semiconductor layer has a side surface that includes at least one curved surface swelling in a direction from a center of the semiconductor layer to the insulating film. |
| US09450021B1 |
Multi-bit MTJ memory cell using two variable resistance layers
This technology provides an electronic device. An electronic device in accordance with an implementation of this document includes a semiconductor memory, and the semiconductor memory includes a variable resistance structure including a material having a resistance that is changed by formation or dissipation of conductive filaments; and a Magnetic Tunnel Junction (MTJ) structure inserted in the variable resistance structure and comprising a first magnetic layer having a pinned magnetization direction, a second magnetic layer having a variable magnetization direction, and a tunnel dielectric layer interposed between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. |
| US09450019B2 |
Power semiconductor device, manufacturing method therefor, and method for operating the power semiconductor device
A power semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body including a first surface, an edge delimiting the semiconductor body in a horizontal direction substantially parallel to the first surface, an active area including at least one of several transistor structures connected in parallel and several diode structures connected in parallel, and a peripheral area arranged between the active area and the edge. The power semiconductor further device includes a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines separated from the word lines, and a plurality of temperature sensors arranged on or at the first surface, wherein each of the temperature sensors is connected with one of the bit lines and one of the word lines or each of the temperature sensors is formed by a respective portion of one of the bit lines. |
| US09450018B2 |
Light-emitting device and light-emitting device package
There are provided a light-emitting device and a light-emitting device package capable of simultaneously controlling brightness and correlated color temperature (CCT) of an illumination apparatus using the same. The light-emitting device includes a plurality of light-emitting units each including an active layer of multi quantum wells (MQW) and an electrode unit electrically connected to the light-emitting units. Brightness and CCT of light components generated by the plurality of light-emitting units simultaneously change in accordance with an amount of current applied by an external input power source connected to the light-emitting units through the electrode unit. |
| US09450017B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor light emitting device comprises a first electrode contacting layer, a first active layer on the first electrode contacting layer, a second electrode contacting layer on the first active layer, a second active layer on the second electrode contacting layer, and a third electrode contacting layer on the second active layer. |
| US09450016B2 |
Flat panel detector and manufacturing method thereof, camera device
A flat panel detector comprises a photoelectric conversion layer and a pixel detecting element disposed under the photoelectric conversion layer. The pixel detecting element comprises: a pixel electrode for receiving charges, a storage capacitor for storing the received charges, and a thin film transistor for controlling outputting of the stored charges. The storage capacitor comprises a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode comprises an upper electrode and a bottom electrode that are disposed opposite to each other and electrically connected. A second electrode is sandwiched between the upper electrode and the bottom electrode. It is insulated between the upper electrode and the second electrode and between the second electrode and the bottom electrode. |
| US09450012B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and manufacturing method therefor
A solid-state imaging device includes a first and second pixel regions. In the first pixel region, a photoelectric conversion unit, a floating diffusion region (FD), and a transferring transistor are provided. In the second pixel region, an amplifying transistor, and a resetting transistor are provided. A first element isolation portion is provided in the first pixel region, while a second element isolation portion is provided in the second pixel region. An amount of protrusion of an insulating film into a semiconductor substrate in the first element isolation portion is smaller, than that in the second element isolation portion. |
| US09450011B2 |
Solid-state image sensor and imaging system
At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a solid state image sensor including at least one antireflective layer and/or non rectangular shaped wiring layer cross section to reduce dark currents and 1/f noise. |
| US09450008B2 |
Solid-state imaging apparatus, method of manufacturing the same, and electronic apparatus
A solid-state imaging apparatus includes a plurality of phase difference detection pixels configured adjacent to one another; and an isolation structure arranged so as to isolate light entering each of light-receiving units of the plurality of phase difference detection pixels, in which the isolation structure is formed so as to have a inclined side wall surface whose cross section is tapered. |
| US09450006B2 |
Image pickup element, image pickup apparatus, and image pickup system
An image pickup element includes a first pixel, a second pixel, and a third pixel that share one microlens, a first boundary that is provided between the first pixel and the second pixel, and a second boundary that is provided between the first pixel and the third pixel, and when a charge amount of the first pixel is saturated, a first charge amount from the first pixel to the second pixel via the first boundary is larger than a second charge amount from the first pixel to the third pixel via the second boundary. |
| US09450004B2 |
Wafer-level encapsulated semiconductor device, and method for fabricating same
An encapsulated semiconductor device includes a device die with a semiconductor device fabricated thereon. A carrier layer opposite the device die covers the semiconductor device. A dam supports the carrier layer above the device die, the dam being located therebetween. The semiconductor device further includes a first sealant portion for attaching the dam to the device die, and a means for attaching the dam to the carrier layer. The device die, the dam, and the carrier layer form a sealed cavity enclosing the semiconductor device.A method of encapsulating semiconductor devices formed on a device wafer includes forming an assembly including a carrier wafer and a plurality of dams thereon. After the step of forming, the method attaches the plurality of dams to the device wafer to form a respective plurality of encapsulated semiconductor devices. |
| US09449998B2 |
Manufacturing method of pixel structure with data line, scan line and gate electrode formed on the same layer
A pixel structure and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The pixel structure includes a substrate, a scan line, a data line, a first insulating layer, an active device, a second insulating layer, a common electrode and a first pixel electrode. The data line crossed to the scan line is disposed on the substrate and includes a linear transmitting part and a cross-line transmitting part. The first insulating layer covering the scan line and the linear transmitting part is disposed between the scan line and the cross-line transmitting part. The active device, including a gate, an oxide channel, a source and a drain, is connected to the scan line and the data line. The second insulating layer is disposed on the oxide channel and the linear transmitting part. The common electrode is disposed above the linear transmitting part. The first pixel electrode is connected to the drain. |
| US09449994B2 |
Display backplane having multiple types of thin-film-transistors
There is provided a TFT backplane having at least one TFT with oxide active layer and at least one TFT with poly-silicon active layer. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, at least one of the TFTs implementing the circuit of pixels in the active area is an oxide TFT (i.e., TFT with oxide semiconductor) while at least one of the TFTs implementing the driving circuit next to the active area is a LTPS TFT (i.e., TFT with poly-Si semiconductor). |
| US09449992B2 |
Display apparatus having touch sensing part and method of manufacturing the same
A display apparatus includes a first base substrate, a touch sensing part provided on the first base substrate, an electronic device provided on the first base substrate, a black matrix provided on the first base substrate, a signal line provided on the black matrix to apply a driving signal to the electronic device, a second base substrate facing the first base substrate, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first base substrate and the second base substrate. |
| US09449990B2 |
Thin film transistor and display device
Provided is a thin film transistor which is provided with an oxide semiconductor thin film layer and has a threshold voltage that does not change much due to light, a bias stress or the like, thereby exhibiting excellent stress stability. A thin film transistor of the present invention is provided with a gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor layer composed of a single layer which is used as a channel layer, an etch stopper layer to protect a surface of the oxide semiconductor layer, a source-drain electrode, and a gate insulator layer arranged between the gate electrode and the channel layer. The metal elements constituting the oxide semiconductor layer comprise In, Zn and Sn. The hydrogen concentration in the gate insulator layer in direct contact with the oxide semiconductor layer is controlled to 4 atomic % or lower. |
| US09449989B2 |
Thin film transistor substrate
A thin film transistor substrate is disclosed, which comprises: a substrate; and plural thin film transistor units disposed on the substrate and respectively comprising: an active layer disposed on the substrate and made of polysilicon; an insulating layer disposed on the active layer; and a source electrode and a drain electrode disposed on the insulating layer, wherein the insulating layer comprises a first region corresponding to the active layer and a second region corresponding to a region outside the active layer, and a roughness of the first region is larger than that of the second region. |
| US09449983B2 |
Three dimensional NAND device with channel located on three sides of lower select gate and method of making thereof
A select gate transistor for a NAND device includes a select gate electrode having a first side, a second side, and top and a bottom, a semiconductor channel located adjacent to the first side, the second side and the bottom of the select gate electrode, and a gate insulating layer located between the channel and the first side, the second side and the bottom of the select gate electrode. |
| US09449966B2 |
Three-dimensional semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A three-dimensional (3D) semiconductor device is provided, comprising a substrate having a staircase region comprising N steps, wherein N is an integer one or greater; a stack having multi-layers on the substrate, and the multi-layers comprising active layers alternating with insulating layers on the substrate, the stack comprising a plurality of sub-stacks formed on the substrate and the sub-stacks disposed in relation to the N steps to form respective contact regions; and a plurality of connectors formed in the respective contact regions, and the connectors extending downwardly to connect a bottom layer under the multi-layers. |
| US09449964B2 |
Semiconductor process
A semiconductor structure includes a metal gate, a second dielectric layer and a contact plug. The metal gate is located on a substrate and in a first dielectric layer, wherein the metal gate includes a work function metal layer having a U-shaped cross-sectional profile and a low resistivity material located on the work function metal layer. The second dielectric layer is located on the metal gate and the first dielectric layer. The contact plug is located on the second dielectric layer and in a third dielectric layer, thereby a capacitor is formed. Moreover, the present invention also provides a semiconductor process forming said semiconductor structure. |
| US09449957B2 |
Control and driver circuits on a power quad flat no-lead (PQFN) leadframe
According to an exemplary implementation, a power quad flat no-lead (PQFN) leadframe includes U-phase and W-phase power switches situated on the PQFN leadframe and respectively connected to a U-phase output strip and a W-phase output pad of the PQFN leadframe. The PQFN leadframe further includes a common integrated circuit (IC) including a driver circuit and a control circuit where the common IC is connected to the U-phase output strip and to the W-phase output pad of the PQFN leadframe. The PQFN leadframe can also include a V-phase power switch situated on the PQFN leadframe where the V-phase power switch is connected to a V-phase output strip of the PQFN leadframe. |
| US09449951B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes an insulating substrate including a first surface and an opposing second surface, and a semiconductor chip. The semiconductor chip is mounted over the first surface, includes signal electrodes, power-supply electrodes and ground electrodes, which connect to pads on the first surface of the insulating substrate. Lands provided on the second surface of the insulating substrate include signal lands, power-supply lands and ground lands through vias penetrate from the first surface to the second surface of the insulating substrate, and include signal vias electrically connected the signal connection pads to the signal lands, power-supply vias electrically connected the power-supply connection pads to the power-supply lands and ground vias electrically connected the ground connection pads to the ground lands. At least one of the signal vias are closer to the connection pads than immediately adjacent one of the power-supply vias or the ground vias. |
| US09449950B2 |
Semiconductor device, related manufacturing method, and related electronic device
A semiconductor device may include the following elements: a first substrate; a second substrate; a dielectric layer, which may be positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate and may have a hole; a first conductive member, which may be positioned in the dielectric layer; a second conductive member, which may be positioned in the dielectric layer, may be spaced from the first conductive member, and may be positioned closer to the second substrate than the first conductive member; and a third conductive member, which may contact both the first conductive member and the second conductive member through the hole. |
| US09449948B2 |
Chip support substrate, chip support method, three-dimensional integrated circuit, assembly device, and fabrication method of three-dimensional integrated circuit
The present invention relates to a chip support substrate including a lyophilic region 4 that is formed on the substrate and that absorbs a chip 3A, and an electrode 6 that is formed on the substrate and in the lyophilic region and that generates electrostatic force in the chip, and to a chip support method including the steps of arranging the chip onto the lyophilic region of the chip support substrate with a liquid 15, the chip support substrate comprising the lyophilic region that is formed on the substrate, and the electrode that is formed on the substrate and in the lyophilic region, and generating the electrostatic force in the chip corresponding to the electrode by applying a voltage to the electrode. |
| US09449946B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
Disclosed are a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof, which can achieve miniaturization and improvement in the integration level by forming a substrate using a pattern layer implemented on a wafer in a semiconductor fabrication (FAB) process. In one exemplified embodiment, the manufacturing method of the semiconductor device includes preparing a first semiconductor die including a plurality of through electrodes and a plurality of first conductive pillars, mounting the first semiconductor die to connect the first conductive pillars to the pattern layer provided on a wafer, forming a first encapsulant to cover the pattern layer and the first semiconductor die, mounting a second semiconductor die to electrically connect second conductive pillars provided in the second semiconductor die to the plurality of through electrodes exposed to a second surface of the first semiconductor die, and removing the wafer from a first surface of the pattern layer. |
| US09449941B2 |
Connecting function chips to a package to form package-on-package
A package-on-package (PoP) comprises a substrate with a plurality of substrate traces, a first function chip on top of the substrate connected to the substrate by a plurality of bond-on-trace connections, and a second function chip on top of the first function chip, directly connected to the substrate. Another package-on-package (PoP) comprises: a substrate with a plurality of substrate traces, a first function chip on top of the substrate connected to the substrate by a plurality of solder mask defined (SMD) connections formed on SMD bonding pads connected to solder bumps, and a second function chip on top of the first function chip, directly connected to the substrate by a plurality of bond-on-trace connections. |
| US09449939B2 |
Geometry of contact sites at brittle inorganic layers in electronic devices
An electronic device (10, 20, 30, 40) is provided which comprises a substrate (16) supporting an inorganic layer (11) and a joint (13), mechanically coupling a contacting element (14) to the inorganic layer (11). At least a first load distributing layer (12a) is arranged in direct contact with the inorganic layer (11) at a position of the joint (13) for relieving stress caused by an elastic mismatch between the substrate (16) and the inorganic layer (11). |
| US09449938B2 |
Conductive die attach film for large die semiconductor packages and compositions useful for the preparation thereof
Provided herein are conductive die attach films having advantageous properties for use in a variety of applications, e.g., for the preparation of large die semiconductor packages. Also provided are formulations useful for the preparation of such films, as well as methods for making such formulations. In additional aspects of the present invention, there are provided conductive networks prepared from compositions according to the present invention. In additional aspects, the invention further relates to articles comprising such conductive die attach films adhered to a suitable substrate therefor. |
| US09449935B1 |
Wafer level package and fabrication method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a chip having an active surface and a rear surface that is opposite to the active surface; a molding compound covering and encapsulating the chip except for the active surface; and a redistribution layer (RDL) on the active surface and on the molding compound. The RDL is electrically connected to the chip. The RDL includes an organic dielectric layer and an inorganic dielectric hard mask layer on the organic dielectric layer. The RDL further includes metal features in the organic dielectric layer and the inorganic dielectric hard mask layer. |
| US09449934B2 |
Solder joint structure for ball grid array in wafer level package
A semiconductor device package and a method for forming the same using an improved solder joint structure are disclosure. The package includes solder joints having a thinner bottom portion than a top portion. The bottom portion is surrounded by a molding compound and the top portion is not surrounded by a molding compound. The method includes depositing and forming a liquid molding compound around an intermediate solder joint using release film, and then etching the molding compound to a reduced height. The resulting solder joint has no waist at the interface of the molding compound and the solder joint. The molding compound has a greater roughness after the etch, greater than about 3 microns, than the molding compound as formed. |
| US09449924B2 |
Multilevel contact to a 3D memory array and method of making thereof
A multi-level device includes at least one device region and at least one contact region. The contact region has a stack of alternating plurality of electrically conductive layers and plurality of electrically insulating layers located over a substrate. The plurality of electrically conductive layers form a stepped pattern in the contact region, where each respective electrically insulating layer includes a sidewall and a respective underlying electrically conductive layer in the stack extends laterally beyond the sidewall. |
| US09449923B2 |
Methods of forming substrate microvias with anchor structures
Methods of forming anchor structures in package substrate microvias are described. Those methods and structures may include forming a titanium layer in an opening of a package substrate using a first deposition process, wherein the opening comprises an undercut region, and wherein the first conductive layer does not substantially form in an anchor region of the undercut region. The titanium layer may then be re-sputtered using a second deposition process, wherein the titanium layer is formed in the anchor region. |
| US09449920B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device comprises a transistor provided on a substrate, a transmission line provided on the substrate and connected to the transistor, an electrode pad connected to the transmission line, and a connection wiring electrically connecting the electrode pad and the transmission line through a first wiring and a second wiring. Both of the first wiring and the second wiring are connected to different positions of the electrode pad. |
| US09449914B2 |
Stacked integrated circuits with redistribution lines
An integrated circuit structure includes a first and a second semiconductor chip. The first semiconductor chip includes a first substrate and a first plurality of dielectric layers underlying the first substrate. The second semiconductor chip includes a second substrate and a second plurality of dielectric layers over the second substrate, wherein the first and the second plurality of dielectric layers are bonded to each other. A metal pad is in the second plurality of dielectric layers. A redistribution line is over the first substrate. A conductive plug is electrically coupled to the redistribution line. The conductive plug includes a first portion extending from a top surface of the first substrate to a bottom surface of the first substrate, and a second portion extending from the bottom surface of the first substrate to the metal pad. A bottom surface of the second portion contacts a top surface of the metal pad. |
| US09449913B2 |
3D interconnect structure comprising fine pitch single damascene backside metal redistribution lines combined with through-silicon vias
A 3D interconnect structure and method of manufacture are described in which metal redistribution layers (RDLs) are integrated with through-silicon vias (TSVs) and using a single damascene type process flow. A silicon nitride or silicon carbide passivation layer may be provided between the thinned device wafer back side and the RDLs to provide a hermetic barrier and polish stop layer during the process flow. |
| US09449911B1 |
Fan-out wafer level package and manufacturing method thereof
Provided are a wafer level package and a manufacturing method thereof. The wafer level package method includes preparing a patterned wafer, forming a recess in a position, in which a semiconductor chip is to be attached, of the patterned wafer through an etching process, fixing the semiconductor chip to the interior of the recess, and applying a passivation material to portions other than the semiconductor chip within the recess and to an upper end of the wafer. The wafer level package includes a silicon or glass wafer including a recess formed through etching and having an area larger than a semiconductor chip, a semiconductor chip fixed to the interior of the recess, and a passivation material filling an empty space other than the semiconductor chip within the recess and applied to a portion corresponding to an area larger than the semiconductor chip on an upper end of the wafer. |
| US09449910B2 |
Stress relief layout for high power semiconductor package
A semiconductor device according to the present invention includes: an insulating substrate; a circuit pattern having a first surface that is bonded to a first main surface of the insulating substrate and a second surface opposite to the first surface on which a semiconductor element is bonded; a back surface pattern having a first surface that is bonded to a second main surface of the insulating substrate; and a heat dissipation plate bonded to a second surface of the back surface pattern opposite to the first surface of the back surface pattern. A curvature of a corner portion of the circuit pattern is greater than a curvature of a corner portion of the back surface pattern, and the corner portion of the circuit pattern is located inside the corner portion of the back surface pattern in a plan view. |
| US09449906B2 |
Devices, systems, and methods related to forming through-substrate vias with sacrificial plugs
Methods for making semiconductor devices are disclosed herein. A method configured in accordance with a particular embodiment includes forming one or more openings in a front side of the semiconductor device and forming sacrificial plugs in the openings that partially fill the openings. The method further includes further filling the partially filled openings with a conductive material, where individual sacrificial plugs are generally between the conductive material and a substrate of the semiconductor device. The sacrificial plugs are exposed at a backside of the semiconductor device. Contact regions can be formed at the backside by removing the sacrificial plugs. |
| US09449905B2 |
Plated terminals with routing interconnections semiconductor device
A semiconductor package includes terminals, each having an exposed surface that is flush with a bottom surface of the semiconductor package, and a layer of interconnection routings disposed within the semiconductor package. At least one interconnection routing is electrically coupled with a terminal and extends planarly therefrom. The semiconductor package also includes at least one die coupled with the layer of interconnection routings. In some embodiments, the semiconductor package also includes one or more additional intermediary layers. Each intermediary layer includes a via layer and an associated routing layer. The associated routing layer includes associated routings. At least one associated routing is electrically coupled with a terminal and extends planarly therefrom. Each via layer couples two routing layers. The semiconductor package also includes a locking mechanism for fastening a package compound with the interconnection routings and the terminals. |
| US09449901B1 |
Lead frame with deflecting tie bar for IC package
A packaged integrated circuit (IC) device having a heatsink mounted onto an IC die, itself mounted onto a die pad, is assembled using a lead frame having tie bars that deflect during an encapsulation phase of the device assembly, which enables the die pad, the die, and the heatsink to move relative to the lead frame support structure when compressive force is applied by the molding tool. This movement results in negligible relative displacement between the heatsink and the die during encapsulation, which reduces the probability of physical damage to the die. Each tie bar has a number of differently angled sections that enable it to deflect when compressive force is applied to it. |
| US09449897B2 |
Chip package and method for forming the same
An embodiment of the invention provides a chip package which includes: a semiconductor substrate; a device region formed in the semiconductor substrate; at least a conducting pad disposed over a surface of the semiconductor substrate; a protection plate disposed over the surface of the semiconductor substrate; and a spacer layer disposed between the surface of the semiconductor substrate and the protection plate, wherein the protection plate and the spacer layer surround a cavity over the device region, the spacer layer has an outer side surface away from the cavity, and the outer side surface of the spacer layer is not a cutting surface. |
| US09449894B2 |
Base with heat absorber and heat dissipating module having the base
An exemplary base includes a heat absorber and clips attached to the heat absorber. The heat absorber includes a top surface and a bottom surface. A pair of receiving grooves is defined in opposite lateral sides of the heat absorber, respectively. Each receiving groove is located above a level of the bottom surface and below a level of the top surface. Each clip includes a positioning beam. The positioning beam is received in a corresponding one of the receiving grooves with a portion of the heat absorber adjacent to the positioning beam deformed and fixed in the positioning beam thereby fixing the positioning beam in the receiving groove. A heat dissipating module having the base is also provided. |
| US09449890B1 |
Methods for temporary bussing of semiconductor package substrates
Methods for temporary bussing of semiconductor package substrates are disclosed and may include metal plating regions of a packaging substrate utilizing a plurality of bussed traces, which may be decoupled by forming debuss holes at intersections of the bussed traces. The decoupled traces may then be electrically tested, and the packaging substrate may be singulated into a plurality of substrates utilizing a sawing process through singulation areas in the packaging substrate. The traces may be electrically coupled via plating bars in the substrate. The plating bars may be located in the singulation areas. The intersections of the bussed traces may be in a Y pattern, which may be repeated along the singulation areas. The debuss holes may be formed utilizing mechanical drilling or lasing. The regions of the packaging substrate may be metal plated utilizing an electroplating process. The plurality of bussed traces may be biased for the electroplating process. |
| US09449889B2 |
Method for monitoring ion implantation
A method comprises placing a wafer and a ring-shaped beam profiler on a wafer holder, wherein the ring-shaped beam profiler is adjacent to the wafer, moving a first sensor and a second sensor simultaneously with the wafer holder, receiving a first sensed signal and a second sensed signal from the first sensor and the second sensor respectively and adjusting an ion beam generated by an ion beam generator based upon the first sensed signal and the second sensed signal. |
| US09449885B1 |
High germanium content FinFET devices having the same contact material for nFET and pFET devices
FinFET structures are formed on silicon germanium fins having high germanium content. Silicon germanium source/drain regions formed in fin recesses in nFET regions are provided with arsenic or phosphorus-doped germanium caps. Uniform tensile strain is obtained through the use of ungraded silicon germanium in the n-type source/drain regions. Location of the germanium caps above the fin structure ensures they have no materially negative impact on strain. Boron doped germanium source/drain regions are formed in fin recesses in pFET regions and provide for compressive strain. Contact formation using the same material in both nFET and pFET regions of the same substrate facilitates fabrication. |
| US09449883B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
First protective films are formed to cover side surfaces of gate electrode portions. In an nMOS region, an extention implantation region is formed by causing a portion of the first protective film located on the side surface of the gate electrode portion to function as an offset spacer and using the offset spacer as a mask, and then, cleaning is done. Since silicon nitride films are formed on surfaces of the first protective films, the resistance to chemical solutions is improved. Furthermore, second protective films are formed on the first protective films, respectively. In a pMOS region, an extention implantation region is formed by causing a portion of the first protective film and a portion of the second protective film located on the side surface of the gate electrode portion to function as an offset spacer and using the offset spacer as the mask, and then, cleaning is done. |
| US09449881B1 |
Methods of forming fins for FinFET semiconductor devices and the resulting devices
A method includes forming a plurality of fins above a substrate, forming at least one dielectric material above and between the plurality of fins, and forming a mask layer above the dielectric material. The mask layer has an opening defined therein. At least one etching process is performed to remove a portion of the at least one dielectric material exposed by the opening so as to expose a top surface portion and sidewall surface portions of at least one fin in the plurality of fins. The at least one dielectric material remains above the substrate adjacent the at least one fin. An etching process is performed to remove the at least one fin. |
| US09449876B2 |
Singulation of semiconductor dies with contact metallization by electrical discharge machining
A method of separating individual dies of a semiconductor wafer includes forming a metal layer on a first surface of a semiconductor wafer, the semiconductor wafer including a plurality of dies, separating the plurality of dies from one another, and electrical discharge machining the metal layer into individual segments each of which remains attached to one of the dies. A corresponding semiconductor die produced by such a method is also provided. |
| US09449875B2 |
Wafer backside interconnect structure connected to TSVs
An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a front surface and a back surface; a conductive via passing through the semiconductor substrate; and a metal feature on the back surface of the semiconductor substrate. The metal feature includes a metal pad overlying and contacting the conductive via, and a metal line over the conductive via. The metal line includes a dual damascene structure. The integrated circuit structure further includes a bump overlying the metal line. |
| US09449874B1 |
Self-forming barrier for subtractive copper
A method of forming electrically conductive structures that includes forming a copper containing layer including a barrier forming element, and applying a first anneal to the copper containing layer. The first anneal increases grain size of the copper in the copper containing layer. The copper containing layer is etched to provide a plurality of copper containing lines. A dielectric fill is deposited in the space between adjacent copper containing lines. A second anneal is applied to the plurality of copper containing lines. During the second anneal the barrier forming element diffuse to an interface between sidewalls of the copper containing lines and the dielectric fill to form a barrier layer along the sidewalls of the copper containing lines. |
| US09449869B2 |
Method for fabricating interconnect structure
Various embodiments provide interconnect structures and fabrication methods. A carbon-containing dielectric layer can be formed on a substrate. A protective layer can be formed on the carbon-containing dielectric layer to prevent carbon loss from the carbon-containing dielectric layer by performing a surface treatment to the carbon-containing dielectric layer using a gas at least containing silicon and hydrogen. A hard mask layer can be formed on the protective layer. A through hole can be formed in the carbon-containing dielectric layer using the hard mask layer as a mask to expose a surface of the substrate for forming a contact plug in the through hole. |
| US09449867B2 |
VHF etch barrier for semiconductor integrated microsystem
The present disclosure relates to an integrated microsystem with a protection barrier structure, and an associated method. In some embodiments, the integrated microsystem comprises a first die having a plurality of CMOS devices disposed thereon, a second die having a plurality of MEMS devices disposed thereon and a vapor hydrofluoric acid (vHF) etch barrier structure disposed between the first die and the second die. The second die is bonded to the first die at a bond interface region. The vHF etch barrier structure comprises a vHF barrier layer over an upper surface of the first die, and a stress reduction layer arranged between the vHF etch barrier layer and the upper surface of the first die. |
| US09449866B2 |
Methods and systems for using oxidation layers to improve device surface uniformity
The invention discloses a treatment process for a semiconductor, comprising providing a substrate, the substrate comprises silicon material; defining a trench region; removing the trench region using a plasma etching process and exposing a trench surface, the trench surface comprising surface defects; forming an oxidation layer overlaying the trench surface; removing the oxidation layer and at least a portion of the surface defects; expositing a treated trench surface, the treated trench surface being substantially free from surface defects; and forming a layer of silicon germanium material overlaying the treated trench surface. The invention further provides a semiconductor processing technique used to eliminate or reduce dislocation defect on the semiconductor device and improve device performance. In the treatment process, a substrate is subjected to at least one oxidation-deoxidation processes, where an oxidation layer is formed and then removed. |
| US09449864B2 |
Systems and methods for fabricating and orienting semiconductor wafers
A system for orienting a semiconductor wafer. The system includes a wafer retaining device configured to retain a semiconductor wafer, a light source configured to emit light toward an edge exclusion area of the wafer, and a lens configured to direct and focus light emitted from the light source at a subsurface first part of a first portion of the wafer to alter a crystalline structure of the subsurface first part and form a subsurface mark that is detectable using light of a predetermined wavelength, a predetermined transmittance through the wafer, and at a predetermined reflectance angle relative to an axis of rotation of the wafer and based on the predetermined wavelength. |
| US09449862B2 |
Parallel single substrate processing system
A system for processing surfaces of substrates having a process module having a process module frame and a plurality of process elements to process the substrate surfaces without contacting the substrate surfaces. A plurality of substrate holder assemblies, each having a number of substrate holders, each of which is removably coupled to the process module frame, each substrate holder configured to hold a substrate. The process module frame has alignment features aligning the substrate holders in the substrate holder assembly in repeatable alignment with respect to each of the process elements with each of the process elements located between the substrates. A loader module is configured to unload processed substrates from each of the substrate holder assemblies and load unprocessed substrates to each of the substrate holder assemblies. A transporter is configured to transport the substrate holder assemblies to and from the process module and the loader module. |
| US09449855B2 |
Double-etch nanowire process
In an aspect of this disclosure, a method is provided comprising the steps of: (a) providing a silicon-containing substrate, (b) depositing a first metal on the substrate, (c) etching the substrate produced by step (b) using a first etch, and (d) etching the substrate produced by step (c) using a second etch, wherein the second etch is more aggressive towards the deposited metal than the first etch, wherein the result of step (d) comprises silicon nanowires. The method may further comprise, for example, steps (b1) subjecting the first metal to a treatment which causes it to agglomerate and (b2) depositing a second metal. |
| US09449852B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor with stable electric characteristics and high reliability is provided. An island-shaped oxide semiconductor layer is formed by using a resist mask, the resist mask is removed, oxygen is introduced (added) to the oxide semiconductor layer, and heat treatment is performed. The removal of the resist mask, introduction of the oxygen, and heat treatment are performed successively without exposure to the air. Through the oxygen introduction and heat treatment, impurities such as hydrogen, moisture, a hydroxyl group, or hydride are intentionally removed from the oxide semiconductor layer, whereby the oxide semiconductor layer is highly purified. Chlorine may be introduced to an insulating layer over which the oxide semiconductor layer is formed before formation of the oxide semiconductor layer. By introducing chlorine, hydrogen in the insulating layer can be fixed, thereby preventing diffusion of hydrogen from the insulating layer into the oxide semiconductor layer. |
| US09449845B2 |
Selective titanium nitride etching
Methods of etching exposed titanium nitride with respect to other materials on patterned heterogeneous structures are described, and may include a remote plasma etch formed from a fluorine-containing precursor. Precursor combinations including plasma effluents from the remote plasma are flowed into a substrate processing region to etch the patterned structures with high titanium nitride selectivity under a variety of operating conditions. The methods may be used to remove titanium nitride at faster rates than a variety of metal, nitride, and oxide compounds. |
| US09449844B2 |
Etching method, etching apparatus, and storage medium
An etching method for anisotropically etching a Cu film on a substrate surface includes providing a substrate having a Cu film on a surface thereof in a chamber and supplying an organic compound into the chamber while setting the inside of the chamber to a vacuum state and irradiating an oxygen gas cluster ion beam to the Cu film. The etching method further includes oxidizing Cu or the Cu film to a copper oxide by oxygen gas cluster ions in the oxygen gas cluster ion beam and anisotropically etching the Cu film by reacting the copper oxide and the organic compound. |
| US09449840B1 |
Methods of forming different sized patterns
A method includes forming a template portion to provide a first opening trench portion surrounding a first isolated pattern, and forming an array of pillars on an underlying layer; forming a separation wall layer including first separation wall portions surrounding sidewalls of the pillars, and forming second separation wall portions covering sidewalls of the first opening trench portion; forming a block copolymer layer on the separation wall layer; forming first domains in gaps between the pillars, and forming second domains surrounding and separating the first domains by annealing the block copolymer layer; forming second openings by selectively removing the first domains; forming third openings between the second openings, and forming a fourth opening adjacent to the first isolated pattern by selectively removing the pillars and the template portion; and forming fifth openings, which extend from the second and third openings and penetrate the underlying layer, and forming a sixth opening, which extends from the fourth opening and penetrates the underlying layer. |
| US09449839B2 |
Self-assembled monolayer for pattern formation
The present disclosure relates to a method of forming a pattern on a semiconductor substrate. One or more layers are formed over the semiconductor substrate. A first self-assembled monolayer (SAM) layer is formed over the one or more layers, wherein the first SAM layer exhibits a first SAM pattern. At least a first of the one or more layers is patterned using the first SAM layer as a first etch mask to form first pillars in the first of the one or more layers and then removing the first SAM layer. A second self-assembled monolayer (SAM) layer is formed along sidewall portions of the first pillars after the first SAM layer has been removed, wherein the second SAM layer exhibits a second SAM pattern that differs from the first SAM pattern and where the second SAM layer differs in material composition from the first SAM layer. |
| US09449838B2 |
Semiconductor device manufacturing method
In a semiconductor device manufacturing method, a target object including a multilayer film and a mask formed on the multilayer film is prepared in a processing chamber of a plasma processing apparatus. The multilayer film is formed by alternately stacking a silicon oxide film and a silicon nitride film. The multilayer film is etched by supplying a processing gas containing hydrogen gas, hydrogen bromide gas, nitrogen trifluoride gas and at least one of hydrocarbon gas, fluorohydrocarbon gas and fluorocarbon gas into the processing chamber of the plasma processing apparatus and generating a plasma of the processing gas in the processing chamber. |
| US09449836B2 |
Method for forming features with sub-lithographic pitch using directed self-assembly of polymer blend
There is provided a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device including forming a first pattern of first features, according to a lithography process, in a photoresist layer disposed on a substrate, the lithography process having a minimum printable dimension and a minimum printable pitch, applying an additional layer on the photoresist layer having the first pattern formed therein, forming a second pattern of second features in the additional layer, the second features concentric with the first features, and etching portions of the substrate exposed through the second pattern. Further, in the provided method, the first features include geometrical features separated by a distance less than the dimension of minimum printable feature, and the geometrical features are disposed at a pitch less than the minimum printable pitch. |
| US09449830B2 |
Transistor having tungsten-based buried gate structure, method for fabricating the same
A method for fabricating a transistor that includes forming a trench in a substrate, forming a gate dielectric layer on a surface of the trench, forming a first fluorine-free tungsten layer as an interface stabilization layer over the gate dielectric layer, forming a second fluorine-free tungsten layer as a barrier layer over the first fluorine-free tungsten layer, forming a bulk tungsten layer as a gate electrode over the second tungsten layer to fill the trench, and selectively recessing the third tungsten layer, the second tungsten layer and the first tungsten layer to form a buried gate structure. |
| US09449829B1 |
Semiconductor process
A semiconductor process includes the following steps. A dielectric layer is formed on a substrate. A barrier layer is formed on the dielectric layer. An ammonia thermal treatment process with a processing temperature of 650° C.˜700° C. and a nitrogen containing gas annealing process with a processing temperature of 900° C.˜1000° C. are sequentially performed on the barrier layer. The present invention also provides a semiconductor process including the following steps. A dielectric layer is formed on a substrate. A first nitrogen containing thermal treatment process is performed on the dielectric layer. A barrier layer is formed on the dielectric layer. A second nitrogen containing thermal treatment process and then an annealing process are performed in-situ on the barrier layer. |
| US09449828B2 |
Method of forming metal gate electrode
An aspect of this description relates to a method that includes partially filling an opening in a dielectric material with a high-dielectric-constant material. The method also includes partially filling the opening with a first metal material over the high-dielectric-constant material. The method further includes filling the opening with a capping layer over the first metal material. The method additionally includes partially removing the first metal material and the capping layer in the opening using a wet etching process in a solution including one or more of H2O2, NH4OH, HCl, H2SO4 or diluted HF. The method also includes fully removing the remaining capping layer in the opening using a wet etching process in a solution includes one or more of NH4OH or diluted HF. The method further includes depositing a second metal material in the opening over the remaining first metal material. |
| US09449826B2 |
Graded well implantation for asymmetric transistors having reduced gate electrode pitches
In sophisticated semiconductor devices, an asymmetric transistor configuration may be obtained on the basis of an asymmetric well implantation while avoiding a tilted implantation process. For this purpose, a graded implantation mask may be formed, such as a graded resist mask, which may have a higher ion blocking capability at the drain side compared to the source side of the asymmetric transistor. For instance, the asymmetric configuration may be obtained on the basis of a non-tilted implantation process with a high degree of performance gain and may be accomplished irrespective of the technology standard under consideration. |
| US09449823B2 |
Method for manufacturing silicon carbide semiconductor device
In a state where a silicon carbide substrate having a first main surface and second main surface opposite to each other is fixed to a base material having a higher flexibility than the silicon carbide substrate, silicon carbide on a side of second main surface of silicon carbide substrate is removed, and an electrode is formed on the second main surface. The base material has an area which is smaller than or equal to an area of the first main surface of the silicon carbide substrate. In the step of fixing silicon carbide substrate to the base material, the base material is arranged at a position of covering a center of the first main surface so that the base material does not extend beyond an outer circumference of the first main surface. |
| US09449822B2 |
Method of forming semiconductor structures with contact holes
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of forming a semiconductor structure. The method includes forming a set of shapes on top of a substrate; applying a layer of copolymer covering the substrate; causing the copolymer to form a plurality of cylindrical blocks both inside and outside the shapes; forming a pattern of contact holes from the plurality of cylindrical blocks; and transferring the pattern of contact holes to the substrate to form the semiconductor structure. In one embodiment, the shapes are rings and forming the set of shapes includes forming a set of rings that are equally and squarely spaced. In another embodiment, causing the copolymer to form the plurality of cylindrical blocks includes forming only one cylindrical block inside each of the rings and only one cylindrical block outside every four (4) squarely neighboring rings. |
| US09449817B2 |
Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a buffer layer on the substrate, and a plurality of nitride semiconductor layers on the buffer layer. The semiconductor device further includes at least one masking layer and at least one inter layer between the plurality of nitride semiconductor layers. The at least one inter layer is on the at least one masking layer. |
| US09449811B2 |
Air-gap scheme for BEOL process
The present disclosure relates a method of forming a back-end-of-the-line (BEOL) metallization layer having an air gap disposed between adjacent metal interconnect features, which provides for an inter-level dielectric material with a low dielectric constant, and an associated apparatus. In some embodiments, the method is performed by forming a metal interconnect layer within a sacrificial dielectric layer overlying a substrate. The sacrificial dielectric layer is removed to form a recess extending between first and second features of the metal interconnect layer. A protective liner is formed onto the sidewalls and bottom surface of the recess, and then a re-distributed ILD layer is deposited within the recess in a manner that forms an air gap at a position between the first and second features of the metal interconnect layer. The air gap reduces the dielectric constant between the first and second features of the metal interconnect layer. |
| US09449803B2 |
Mass spectrometer interface
A mass spectrometer interface, having improved sensitivity and reduced chemical background, is disclosed. The mass spectrometer interface provides improved desolvation, chemical selectivity and ion transport. A flow of partially solvated ions is transported along a tortuous path into a region of disturbance of flow, where ions and neutral molecules collide and mix. Thermal energy is applied to the region of disturbance to promote liberation of at least some of the ionized particles from any attached impurities, thereby increasing the concentration of the ionized particles having the characteristic m/z ratios in the flow. Molecular reactions and low pressure ionization methods can also be performed for selective removal or enhancement of particular ions. |
| US09449801B2 |
Mass spectrometric determination of fatty acids
The invention relates to the detection of fatty acids. In a particular aspect, the invention relates to methods for detecting very long chain fatty acids and branched chain fatty acids by mass spectrometry. |
| US09449800B2 |
Sputtering apparatus and sputtering method
An objective of the present invention is to provide a sputtering apparatus capable of obtaining an adequate film thickness distribution on a substrate surface even if a target projection plane is kept from being projected on the substrate. A sputtering apparatus includes: a process chamber; a substrate holder being rotatable in an in-plane direction of the substrate while holding the substrate; and a sputtering cathode located obliquely to the substrate holder, and arranged to incline to the substrate holder. A projection plane of a target holding surface of the sputtering cathode projected in a direction along a center normal line to the target holding surface onto a plane containing a substrate mounting surface of the substrate holder is formed outside the substrate mounting surface of the substrate holder, and the center normal line to the substrate mounting surface and the center normal line to the sputtering cathode are not coplanar. |
| US09449794B2 |
Symmetrical inductively coupled plasma source with side RF feeds and spiral coil antenna
A plasma reactor has an overhead multiple coil antennas including a parallel spiral coil antenna and symmetric and radial RF feeds and cylindrical RF shielding around the symmetric and radial RF feeds. The radial RF feeds are symmetrically fed to the plasma source. |
| US09449793B2 |
Systems, methods and apparatus for choked flow element extraction
A plasma source includes a ring plasma chamber, a primary winding around an exterior of the ring plasma chamber, multiple ferrites, wherein the ring plasma chamber passes through each of the ferrites and multiple plasma chamber outlets coupling the plasma chamber to a process chamber. Each one of the plasma chamber outlets having a respective plasma restriction. A system and method for generating a plasma are also described. |
| US09449789B2 |
Apparatus and method for inspecting a surface of a sample
The invention relates to an apparatus and method for inspecting a sample. The apparatus comprises a generator for generating an array of primary charged particle beams (33), and a charged particle optical system with an optical axis (38). The optical system comprises a first lens system (37, 310) for focusing all primary beams (33) into a first array of spots in an intermediate plane, and a second lens system (313, 314) for focusing all primary beams (33) into a second array of spots on the sample surface (315). The apparatus comprises a position sensitive backscattered charged particle detector (311) positioned at or near the intermediate plane. The second lens system comprises an electromagnetic or electrostatic lens which is common for all charged particle beams. Preferably the second lens system comprises a magnetic lens for rotating the array of primary beams (33) around the optical axis (38) to position the second array of charged particle spots with respect to the first array at an angle. |
| US09449787B2 |
Liquid flow cells having graphene on nitride for microscopy
This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to liquid flow cells for microscopy. In one aspect, a device includes a substrate having a first and a second oxide layer disposed on surfaces of the substrate. A first and a second nitride layer are disposed on the first and second oxide layers, respectively. A cavity is defined in the first oxide layer, the first nitride layer, and the substrate, with the cavity including a third nitride layer disposed on walls of the substrate and the second oxide layer that define the cavity. A channel is defined in the second oxide layer. An inlet port and an outlet port are defined in the second nitride layer and in fluid communication with the channel. A plurality of viewports is defined in the second nitride layer. A first graphene sheet is disposed on the second nitride layer covering the plurality of viewports. |
| US09449782B2 |
X-ray tube target having enhanced thermal performance and method of making same
An x-ray tube includes a frame enclosing a high vacuum, a cathode positioned within the enclosure, and a target assembly. The target assembly includes a target cap, a focal track material positioned on the target cap to receive electrons from the cathode, and a foam material positioned within a cavity of the target cap and positioned proximate the focal track. The x-ray tube also includes a bearing assembly attached to the frame and configured to support the target assembly. |
| US09449781B2 |
X-ray illuminators with high flux and high flux density
This disclosure presents systems for x-ray illumination that have an x-ray brightness several orders of magnitude greater than existing x-ray technologies. These may therefore useful for applications such as trace element detection or for micro-focus fluorescence analysis. The higher brightness is achieved in part by using designs for x-ray targets that comprise a number of microstructures of one or more selected x-ray generating materials fabricated in close thermal contact with a substrate having high thermal conductivity. This allows for bombardment of the targets with higher electron density or higher energy electrons, which leads to greater x-ray flux. The high brightness/high flux x-ray source may then be coupled to an x-ray optical system, which can collect and focus the high flux x-rays to spots that can be as small as one micron, leading to high flux density. |
| US09449780B2 |
X-ray analyzer having multiple excitation energy bands produced using multi-material x-ray tube anodes and monochromating optics
An x-ray tube includes a target on which electrons impinge to form a diverging x-ray beam. The target has a surface formed from first and second target materials, each tailored to emit a respective x-ray energy profile. A first x-ray optic may be provided for directing the beam toward the sample spot, the first x-ray optic monochromating the diverging x-ray beam to a first energy from the energy emitted by the first target material; and a second x-ray optic may be provided, for directing the beam toward the sample spot, the second x-ray optic monochromating the diverging x-ray beam to a second energy from the energy emitted by the second target material. Fluorescence from the sample spot induced by the first and second monochromated energies is used to measure the concentration of at least one element in the sample, or separately measure elements in a coating and underlying substrate. |
| US09449779B2 |
Cooling structure for open x-ray source, and open x-ray source
An aperture cooling structure (a cooling structure used for the open X-ray source) 10 comprises an aperture unit 31 formed with an aperture 33, a holder 34 for holding the aperture unit 31, and a heat dissipator 36 connected to the holder 34. The aperture 33 restricts an electron beam E from passing therethrough on an electron path 4 of an X-ray generator (open X-ray source). The heat dissipator 36 has a heat dissipation member 37 including a coolant flow path constituent part 41 and a heat dissipation member 38 including a coolant flow path constituent part 42. The coolant flow path constituent part 41 and the coolant flow path constituent part 42 are combined with each other, so as to construct a coolant flow path 43. |
| US09449778B2 |
Combined surge protection device with integrated spark gap
The object of the invention is a combined surge protection device with an integrated spark gap and with a fuse connected in series thereto, wherein the spark gap has two main electrodes and one auxiliary ignition electrode, having a housing with a first connector and a second connector, with the first connector being electrically connected to the fuse, and with the second connector being electrically connected to the first main electrode of the spark gap, and with the second main electrode of the spark gap being electrically connected to the fuse on the interior of the housing, with the combined surge protection device also having an auxiliary fuse element that is connected electrically on one side to the first connector, and with the auxiliary fuse element being connected on the other side via an ignition circuit, which is arranged on the interior of the housing, to the auxiliary ignition electrode, with the combined surge protection device having another connector in the region of the auxiliary fuse element that can be contacted at substantially the same potential to the first main electrode, so that, in the case of overloading, an electric arc forms between the auxiliary fuse element and the other connector, which leads to the triggering of the fuse. |
| US09449772B2 |
Low-travel key mechanisms using butterfly hinges
A key mechanism can include one or more butterfly hinges. Each butterfly hinge includes a double wing design operative to move between a depressed position and non-depressed position. Hinged coupling mechanisms couple respective arms of the wings together. |
| US09449771B1 |
Keyboard module
A keyboard module includes a pressing layer, a switch circuit board, a base plate and plural glue dots. The pressing layer includes plural key parts. The switch circuit board includes plural first wiring patterns, plural second wiring patterns and plural spacing dots. The plural glue dots are disposed on a lower wiring plate of the switch circuit board. The plural glue dots and the plural spacing dots are staggered. Due to the plural glue dot, the non-bonding zones of the lower wiring plate without the glue dots are bendable. When the key part is pressed, the lower wiring plate corresponding to the pressed key part is bent. Consequently, the first wiring pattern is inserted into the region between the corresponding spacing dots and contacted with the corresponding second wiring pattern. |
| US09449767B2 |
Switch contact subassembly having a switch contact bridge and contact bridge retention member
The invention relates to a switch contact subassembly (1) having a switch contact bridge (2) and a resilient element (3), for example, for an operating current of a switching element which switches an electric or hybrid motor vehicle. In order to be able to produce the switch contact subassembly (1) in a cost-effective and simple manner, there is provision according to the invention for the switch contact subassembly (1) to have a contact bridge retention member (4), the contact bridge retention member (4) having a securing base (14) for securing to an actuation member (15) for the switching element and at least one retention member (17) for positioning the switch contact bridge (2). |
| US09449766B2 |
Composite electronic component and board having the same
A composite electronic component may include: a composite body including a capacitor and an inductor coupled to each other, the capacitor having a ceramic body in which dielectric layers and internal electrodes facing each other with the dielectric layers interposed therebetween are stacked, and the inductor having a magnetic body in which magnetic layers having conductive patterns are stacked; an input terminal disposed on a first end surface of the composite body and connected to the conductive pattern of the inductor; an output terminal including a first output terminal formed on a second end surface of the composite body and connected to the conductive pattern of the inductor and a second output terminal disposed on a second side surface of the composite body; and a ground terminal disposed on a first side surface of the composite body and connected to the internal electrodes of the capacitor. |
| US09449764B2 |
Electric storage device
An electric storage device includes a negative electrode, a positive electrode, and a separator interposed between the negative electrode and the positive electrode, the negative electrode including a negative electrode layer including an active material including an amorphous carbon particle capable of occluding and releasing at least one of an alkali metal and an alkaline earth metal, and a binder. The negative electrode layer includes a plurality of pores, and a ratio S1/S2 of a specific surface area (S1) of micropores having a pore diameter of 1 nm or more and 3 nm or less in the pores to a specific surface area (S2) of mesopores having a pore diameter of 20 nm or more and 100 nm or less therein is 0.3 or more and 0.9 or less. |
| US09449763B2 |
Multilayer ceramic electronic component having alternatively offset internal electrodes and method of manufacturing the same
There is provided a multilayer ceramic electronic component, including: a ceramic body in which a plurality of dielectric layers are stacked; a plurality of first and second internal electrodes alternately exposed through both end surfaces of the ceramic body, having respective ones of the dielectric layers interposed therebetween, and being placed alternately to the left and to the right in a width direction of the ceramic body to be offset from one another, when the ceramic body is viewed in a width-thickness cross-sectional direction; and first and second external electrodes formed on the end surfaces of the ceramic body and electrically connected to the first and second internal electrodes, respectively. |
| US09449762B2 |
Embedded package substrate capacitor with configurable/controllable equivalent series resistance
Some novel features pertain to package substrates that include a substrate having an embedded package substrate (EPS) capacitor with equivalent series resistance (ESR) control. The EPS capacitor includes two conductive electrodes separated by a dielectric or insulative thin film material and an equivalent series resistance (ESR) control structure located on top of each electrode connecting the electrodes to vias. The ESR control structure may include a metal layer, a dielectric layer, and a set of metal pillars which are embedded in the set of metal pillars are embedded in the dielectric layer and extend between the electrode and the metal layer. The EPS capacitor having the ESR control structure form an ESR configurable EPS capacitor which can be embedded in package substrates. |
| US09449761B2 |
Polypropylene for film capacitor, polypropylene sheet for film capacitor, method for producing the same, and uses of the same
A polypropylene for a film capacitor or a polypropylene sheet for a film capacitor which exhibits excellent stretchability when stretched into a film and provides a film having high breakdown voltage and small thermal shrinkage ratio, and which is suitable for a polypropylene film for a film capacitor and a film capacitor comprising the film.The polypropylene for a film capacitor of the present invention is obtained by irradiating a propylene homopolymer with a radiation with an absorbed dose of 0.1 to 500 kGy, the propylene homopolymer having (1) a melt flow rate (MFR) within a range of 1 to 10 g/10 min as determined at 230° C. under a load of 2.16 kg in accordance with ASTM D1238, (2) an isotactic pentad fraction (mmmm fraction) of not less than 94% as determined using 13C-NMR, (3) an ash amount of not more than 30 ppm as obtained by completely burning the propylene homopolymer in air, and (4) a chlorine amount of not more than 10 ppm as determined by ion chromatography. |
| US09449759B2 |
Multilayer ceramic capacitor and board having the same mounted thereon
A multilayer ceramic capacitor may include: a ceramic body including dielectric layers; first and second internal electrodes disposed in the ceramic body; and first and second external electrodes formed to end surfaces of the ceramic body. The ceramic body may includes an active layer, a capacitance formation portion, and a cover layer, a non-capacitance formation portion, the cover layer includes a plurality of dummy electrode layers. When the number of the first and second internal electrodes is defined as AL, a thickness of each of the first and second internal electrodes is defined as AT, a thickness of each of the dummy electrode layers is defined as DT, and the number of the dummy electrode layers is defined as DL, DL is equal to {(T×x)−(AL×AT)}/DT, x being 9.0% or more. |
| US09449757B2 |
Systems and methods for wireless power system with improved performance and/or ease of use
A wireless power network including multiple electromagnetic resonators each capable of storing electromagnetic energy at a resonant frequency is disclosed. The multiple resonators include: a first resonator configured to be coupled to a power source to receive power from the power source; a second resonator configured to be coupled to a load to provide power to the load, and one or more intermediate resonators. The first resonator is configured to provide power from the power source to the second resonator through the one or more intermediate resonators. At least a first pair of resonators among the multiple resonators is configured to exchange power wirelessly, and at least a second pair of the resonators among the multiple resonators is configured to exchange power through a wired electrically conductive connection. |
| US09449756B2 |
Electromagnetic connectors
An electromagnetic connector well suited for use in harsh environments. The connector used an E-core or C-core magnetic members for coupling power such as from a backplane to a module mounted on the backplane and using I-cores for coupling signals to and from the module. Separation of the power and signaling allows optimization of each coupling without compromise in performance of each function. Use of I-cores for signal coupling provides efficient use of space, with the use of E-cores or C-cores providing maximum power coupling to the module in a minimum space. Various aspects of exemplary embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09449752B2 |
Dust core, method of manufacturing said dust core, and inductance element and rotary electric machine including said dust core
It is an objective of the invention to provide a dust core made of an Fe-based amorphous metal powder having excellent magnetic properties, in which the dust core has a higher-than-conventional density, excellent magnetic properties and a high mechanical strength. There is provided a dust core including a mixture powder compacted, the mixture powder including: an Fe-based amorphous metal powder having a crystallization temperature Tx (unit: K), the Fe-based amorphous metal powder being plastically deformed, the plastically deformed metal Fe-based amorphous metal powder having a filling factor in the dust core higher than 80% and not higher than 99%; and a resin binder having a melting point Tm (unit: K), in which the Tx and Tm satisfy a relationship of “Tm/Tx≧0.70”. |
| US09449747B2 |
Springless electromagnet actuator having a mode selectable magnetic armature
A standard solenoid body and coils are combined with a non-magnetic armature tube containing a permanent magnet, preferably neodymium. The magnet is located in one of three positions within the armature. When biased toward the stop end of the solenoid, it may be configured to act as a push solenoid. When biased toward the collar end of the solenoid, it may be configured to act as a pull solenoid. In either case, no spring is required to return the armature to its de-energized position. Positioning the magnet in the middle of the armature defines a dual-latching solenoid requiring no power to hold it in a given state. A positive coil pulse moves the armature toward the stop end, whereas a negative coil pulse moves the armature toward the collar end. The armature will remain at the end to which it was directed until another pulse of opposite polarity comes along. |
| US09449744B2 |
Magneto-rheological fluid composition
Disclosed is a magneto-rheological fluid composition which comprises magnetic particles, a fluid, a dispersant, a structure stabilizer and an anti-friction additive. Particularly, the magnetic particles include non-coated magnetic particles and polyvinyl butyral-coated magnetic particles at the weight ratio of about 1:1 to 4:1. Accordingly, dispersion stability and yield stress are improved substantially when magnetic field is applied to the magneto-rheological fluid. |
| US09449741B2 |
Coaxial cable with protruding portions of insulating foam
A coaxial cable includes a center conductor, an insulating foam provided to cover an outer periphery of the center conductor, and a protruding portion provided around an outer surface of the insulating foam to absorb stress. The protruding portion has a waved shape that oscillates in a circumferential direction of the insulating foam. |
| US09449739B2 |
High power, high frequency power cable
The present disclosure provides a power cable apparatus that comprises an elongated thermal conductor, and an electrical conductor layer surrounding at least a portion of the elongated thermal conductor. In one or more embodiments, heat generated in the power cable is transferred via the elongated thermal conductor to at least one end of the power cable. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus further comprises an electric insulation layer surrounding at least a portion of the electrical conductor layer. In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises a thermal insulation layer surrounding at least a portion of the electric insulation layer. |
| US09449734B2 |
Conductive metal ink composition, and method for preparing a conductive pattern
The present invention relates to a conductive metal ink composition, comprising: a first metal powder having conductivity; a non-aqueous solvent; an attachment improving agent; and a polymer coating property improving agent, and a method for forming a conductive pattern by using the conductive metal ink composition, and the conductive metal ink composition can be appropriately applied to a roll printing process and a conductive pattern exhibiting more improved conductivity and excellent attachment ability with respect to a board can be formed. |
| US09449731B2 |
Modular supramolecular approach for co-crystallization of donors and acceptors into ordered networks
Organic charge-transfer (CT) co-crystals in a mixed stack system are disclosed, wherein a donor molecule (D) and an acceptor molecule (A) occupy alternating positions (DADADA) along the CT axis. A platform is provided which amplifies the molecular recognition of donors and acceptors and produces co-crystals at ambient conditions, wherein the platform comprises (i) a molecular design of the first constituent (α-complement), (ii) a molecular design of the second compound (β-complement), and (iii) a solvent system that promotes co-crystallization. |
| US09449729B2 |
Process for producing electrode materials
A process for producing electrode materials, which comprises treating a mixed oxide which comprises lithium and at least one transition metal as cations with at least one oxygen-containing organic compound of sulfur or phosphorus or a corresponding alkali metal or ammonium salt of an oxygen-containing organic compound of sulfur or phosphorus, or a fully alkylated derivative of an oxygen-containing compound of sulfur or phosphorus. |
| US09449727B2 |
Interlocked collimators for a medical linear accelerator
An apparatus for detecting small field circular collimators when connected to a linear accelerator machine (LINAC). Each small field circular collimator is provided with some uniquely identifying trait depending upon its size. The adaptor of LINAC includes sensors to detect the uniquely identifying trait of the small field circular collimator. The information from the sensor about the small field circular collimator is conveyed to the LINAC to verify that the collimator is properly installed and the correct size collimator is being used. |
| US09449725B2 |
Optimised method for loading radioactive elements into a package
The invention relates to a method of loading radioactive elements (8) in a package comprising the following steps: (a) placement of a plurality of radioactive elements (8) in a storage basket (30) provided with radiological protection means (32), in the pool; (b) extraction of the basket (30) containing the radioactive elements (8) out of the pool; and (c) loading said basket (30) containing the radioactive elements (8), into the package. |
| US09449724B2 |
Structure for storing radioactive waste
Disclosed is a nuclear power plant container structure, the structure comprising: a hollow structure having a plurality of cells, each having a hollow portion therein, which are partitioned by cell walls and air-ranged in a three-dimensional pattern so as to form an empty space for sealing and storing the radioactive waste therein; a cladding for surrounding the outside of the hollow structure; and a filler selectively filled into the hollow portions of the cells for suppressing nuclear reactions of the radioactive waste or blocking radioactivity radiated from the radioactive waste. |
| US09449723B2 |
Nanostructure neutron converter layer development
Methods for making a neutron converter layer are provided. The various embodiment methods enable the formation of a single layer neutron converter material. The single layer neutron converter material formed according to the various embodiments may have a high neutron absorption cross section, tailored resistivity providing a good electric field penetration with submicron particles, and a high secondary electron emission coefficient. In an embodiment method a neutron converter layer may be formed by sequential supercritical fluid metallization of a porous nanostructure aerogel or polyimide film. In another embodiment method a neutron converter layer may be formed by simultaneous supercritical fluid metallization of a porous nanostructure aerogel or polyimide film. In a further embodiment method a neutron converter layer may be formed by in-situ metalized aerogel nanostructure development. |
| US09449721B2 |
Method of providing impact in vacuum
In space, a linear accelerator firing charged pellets can be situated at a large distance from a target at which the pellets are aimed. The accelerator can fire a graduated-speed train of pellets over a period of seconds or longer which arrive at the target simultaneously, and impart a large pulse of energy. An accelerator of modest power can thus provide a pulse in the megajoule range, sufficient to ignite fusion. It is necessary to provide course corrections to the pellets, to bring them together with very high precision as they approach the target. An ideal siting is to place the accelerator at the Earth-Moon L1 or L2 Lagrange point, and the fusion target at a point on the surface of the Moon where the pellets will strike at grazing incidence, i.e. on a great circle intersecting the lunar poles. Length of the particle trajectory is over 60000 km. |
| US09449719B2 |
Solid-state storage device including a high resolution analog-to-digital converter
A storage device includes a solid-state storage medium having a plurality of cells adapted to store data and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupled to at least one cell of the plurality of cells. The ADC includes a first operating mode having a first number of quantization levels to determine a value stored in the at least one cell based on a number of possible values represented by the at least one cell. The ADC further includes a second operating mode having a second number of quantization levels to determine the value stored in the at least one cell, where the second number of quantization levels is greater than the first number of quantization levels. The ADC selectively enables the first or the second operating mode as a selected operating mode and determines a signal representative of the value stored in the at least one cell using the selected operating mode. |
| US09449718B2 |
Method for setting a flash memory for HTOL testing
A method for setting voltages in a flash memory for high temperature operating life (HTOL) testing is provided. The flash memory includes a substrate, a source, and a control gate. The method includes adjusting the voltages that are applied to the source, the control gate, and the substrate, such that there is no voltage difference between the control gate and the source, and no voltage difference between the control gate and the substrate. Specifically, adjusting the voltages includes setting the voltage that is applied to the source to a ground voltage, setting the voltage that is applied to the control gate to the ground voltage, and setting the voltage that is applied to the substrate to a power supply voltage. |
| US09449713B2 |
Method for preconditioning thin film storage array for data retention
A method includes over-programming thin film storage (TFS) memory cells on a semiconductor wafer with a first voltage that is higher than a highest voltage used to program the memory cells during normal operation of the memory cells. With the memory cells in an over-programmed state, the wafer is exposed to a first temperature above a product specification temperature for a period of time sufficient to induce redistribution of charge among storage elements in the memory cells. |
| US09449710B2 |
Decoding and scan driver
The present invention relates to a decoding and scan driver, which comprises a level-shift circuit, a decoding circuit, an output driving circuit, and a control circuit. The level-shift circuit receives a plurality of input signals and shifts the voltage levels of the plurality of input signals for producing a plurality of decoding control signals. The decoding circuit is coupled to the level-shift circuit and produces a plurality of decoding signals according to the plurality of decoding control signals. The output driving circuit is coupled to the decoding circuit, produces a driving signal sequentially according to the plurality of decoding signals, and outputs the driving signal for driving a display panel. The control circuit is coupled to the output driving circuit, produces a control signal according to one of the plurality of input signals, and transmits the control signal to the output driving circuit for controlling the output driving circuit to output the driving signal. Thereby, the circuit area of the decoding and scan driver is saved and the cost is thus reduced. |
| US09449706B2 |
Driving method for a semiconductor device with an oxide semiconductor layer between two gate electrodes
A memory device in which data can be retained for a long time is provided. The memory device includes a memory element and a transistor which functions as a switching element for controlling supply, storage, and release of electrical charge in the memory element. The transistor includes a second gate electrode for controlling the threshold voltage in addition to a normal gate electrode. Further, the off-state current of the transistor is extremely low because an active layer thereof includes an oxide semiconductor. In the memory device, data is stored not by injection of electrical charge to a floating gate surrounded by an insulating film at high voltage but by control of the amount of electrical charge of the memory element through the transistor whose off-state current is extremely low. |
| US09449703B1 |
Systems and methods for driving a control gate with a select gate signal in a split-gate nonvolatile memory cell
A nonvolatile memory includes a memory array having a plurality of memory cells, a select gate driver configured to provide a select gate voltage to a select gate of a first memory cell of the plurality of memory cells, and a control gate driver configured to use the select gate voltage to provide a control gate voltage to a control gate of a second memory cell of the plurality of memory cells. |
| US09449693B2 |
Split gate NAND flash memory structure and array, method of programming, erasing and reading thereof, and method of manufacturing
A split gate NAND flash memory structure is formed on a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type. The NAND structure comprises a first region of a second conductivity type in the substrate with a second region of the second conductivity type in the substrate, spaced apart from the first region. A continuous first channel region is defined between the first region and the second region. A plurality of floating gates are spaced apart from one another with each positioned over a separate portion of the channel region. A plurality of control gates are provided with each associated with and adjacent to a floating gate. Each control gate has two portions: a first portion over a portion of the channel region and a second portion over the associated floating gate and capacitively coupled thereto. |
| US09449692B2 |
Functional data programming and reading in a memory
Methods for functional programming memory cells and apparatuses are disclosed. One such method for functional programming includes encoding a group of data with a function to generate representative data and programming the representative data to the memory. In one embodiment, the representative data is a pattern of threshold voltages to be programmed to a group of memory cells. |
| US09449691B2 |
Memory device including memory blocks and decoders to output memory block selection signals
A memory device includes a plurality of memory blocks, and a row decoder including a plurality of decoders including a first decoder and a second decoder, the first decoder being configured to output a first block selection signal for selecting one of the memory blocks and a control signal for causing the second decoder to output a second block selection signal for selecting another one of the memory blocks. |
| US09449689B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a string of memory cell transistors that are connected to each other in series. A selection transistor is connected between one end of the string of the memory cell transistors and one of a source line and a bit line. A line is selectively connected to a gate electrode of the selection transistor, a driver, or a node that supplies an unselected voltage, or is set to be in a floating state. |
| US09449687B1 |
Sense circuits, memory devices, and related methods for resistance variable memory
Sense circuits, memory devices, and related methods are disclosed. A sense circuit includes sample and hold circuitry configured to sample and hold a second response voltage potential, a first response voltage potential, and a third response voltage potential responsive to an evaluation signal applied to a resistance variable memory cell. The sense circuit includes an amplifier operably coupled to the sample and hold circuitry. The amplifier is configured to amplify a difference between a sum of the first response voltage potential and the third response voltage potential, and twice the second response voltage potential. A memory device includes an evaluation signal generating circuit configured to provide the evaluation signal, an array of resistance variable memory cells, and the sense circuit. A method includes applying the evaluation signal to the resistance variable memory cell, sampling and holding the response voltage potentials, and discharging the sample and hold circuitry to the amplifier. |
| US09449685B2 |
Resistance variable memory apparatus, read circuit unit and operation method therefor
A resistance variable memory apparatus may include: a memory cell array; and a read circuit unit configured to receive a cell current, generate a digital code by repeating a cyclic analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) process a designated number of times, generate read data from the digital code, and output the generated read data during a normal read mode for the memory cell array, and to generate test data corresponding to the cell current and output the generated test data during a test read mode for the memory cell array. |
| US09449680B2 |
Write assist circuit and memory cell
A write assist circuit capable of writing data to a memory cell with a bit line and a bit line bar is provided. The write assist circuit includes a clamping circuit, and first and second sense amplifiers. The clamping circuit is coupled to first and second nodes to prevent the voltage of the first and second nodes from being lower than a data-retention voltage. The first and second nodes are supplied with first and second voltage sources. The first and second sense amplifier are utilized to detect the voltage of the bit line or the bit line bar, amplify the voltage and pull down the voltage of one of the first or second node according to the data while the voltage of the other one of the first or second node is kept at a power supply voltage level. |
| US09449677B2 |
Methods of operating and forming semiconductor devices including dual-gate electrode structures
A semiconductor device may include a semiconductor substrate with first and second spaced apart source/drain regions defining a channel region therebetween and a control gate structure on the channel region between the first and second spaced apart source/drain regions. More particularly, the control gate structure may include a first gate electrode on the channel region adjacent the first source/drain region, and a second gate electrode on the channel region adjacent the second source/drain region. Moreover, the first and second gate electrodes may be electrically isolated. Related devices, structures, methods of operation, and methods of fabrication are also discussed. |
| US09449676B2 |
Driver circuit
A method of operation in a memory controller includes operating pull-up and pull-down drivers driven by separate pre-drivers between different voltage rails. Data signals driving the pull-up driver and the pull-down driver are synchronized, and the pull-up driver and the pull-down driver are coupled together to produce an output signal having a voltage swing based on both the pull-up driver and the pull-down driver. |
| US09449675B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for identifying an extremum value stored in an array of memory cells
The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to identifying an extremum value using sensing circuitry. An example method can include determining a location of an extremum value of a set of N data values stored as vectors in a memory array. A number of operations to determine the location of the extremum value can remain constant with respect to a value of N.The method can include determining the value of the extremum by reading memory cells coupled to the sense line based on the determined location of the extremum value. |
| US09449669B2 |
Cross-coupled thyristor SRAM circuits and methods of operation
A memory cell based upon thyristors for an SRAM integrated circuit can be implemented in different combinations of MOS and bipolar select transistors, or without select transistors, with thyristors in a semiconductor substrate with shallow trench isolation. Standard CMOS process technology can be used to manufacture the SRAM cells. Special circuitry provides lowered power consumption during standby. |
| US09449663B2 |
Circuit for memory write data operation
A circuit includes a supply voltage circuit, a voltage adjustment circuit, and a timing adjustment circuit. The supply voltage circuit is coupled to a memory device configured to provide a voltage level to the memory device during a write data operation. The voltage adjustment circuit is coupled to the supply voltage circuit, and is configured to provide at least one voltage level control signal to control one of a plurality of different voltages. At least one of the plurality of different voltages has a voltage level lower than a specified nominal supply voltage level. The timing adjustment circuit is coupled to the supply voltage circuit, and is configured to provide at least one voltage transition timing control signal to the supply voltage circuit. The supply voltage circuit is configured to provide at least one of the plurality of different voltages to the memory device during the write data operation. |
| US09449661B2 |
Memory device
A memory device includes a memory cell electrically connected to a power line and a power supply unit configured to control a voltage level on the power line. The power supply unit receives a control signal corresponding to a write cycle of the memory cell and, responsive to a first state of the control signal, outputs a first voltage level on the power line. Responsive to a second state of the control signal, the power supply unit outputs a second voltage level on the power line, the second voltage level having a magnitude less than a magnitude of the first voltage level. |
| US09449656B2 |
Memory with bit cell header transistor
A memory includes a plurality of bit cells. Each bit cell includes a bit line and a storage cell coupled to the bit line. A header PMOS transistor is coupled to the storage cell in each bit cell. The header PMOS transistor is at least partially turned off during a write operation by a header control signal. |
| US09449655B1 |
Low standby power with fast turn on for non-volatile memory devices
Systems and methods for driving a non-volatile memory device in a standby operating condition are disclosed. A standby detection circuit detects whether the non-volatile memory system is in a standby condition. In response to determining that the non-volatile memory system is in a standby condition, a bias control circuit provides bias currents to drivers of the non-volatile memory system in a standby mode. |
| US09449654B2 |
Semiconductor device
According to an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a substrate, a connector, a volatile semiconductor memory element, multiple nonvolatile semiconductor memory elements, and a controller. A wiring pattern includes a signal line that is formed between the connector and the controller and that connects the connector to the controller. On the opposite side of the controller to the signal line, the multiple nonvolatile semiconductor memory elements are aligned along the longitudinal direction of the substrate. |
| US09449648B2 |
Arranging audio or video sections
A program product, a graphical user interface, a computer system including such a graphical user interface and method for replacing a first version of an audio and/or video section having a first length by selecting a second version of an audio and/or video section having a second length are described. Such a method comprises selecting the first version having the first length, displaying a first indication showing that the first version is selected, opening a menu associated with the first version offering at least the second version as an alternative to replace the first version, selecting the second version in the menu to replace the first version and displaying a second indication showing that the second version is selected. The second indication replaces the first indication. Some implementations may facilitate replacing one section or piece of audio or video data by another. |
| US09449644B2 |
Data-providing apparatus, data-providing method and program-sorting medium
In the present invention, image data is edited in response to a demand transmitted from a data-processing apparatus through a network. A moving-picture server (3) acquires a scenario consisting of a plurality of scenes, each lasting for a given time, is acquired in response to a demand made by a personal computer (1-1). The server acquires from a temporary edition space (6) a given number of original data items that will be used in the scenario, also in response to a demand made by the data-processing apparatus. The moving-picture server (3) selects prescribed ones of the original data items acquired and allocate them to the scenes of the scenario acquired. The server corrects the original data items selected, in accordance with the prescribed image data items that have been allocated to the scenes of the scenario. The image data is thereby edited. |
| US09449643B1 |
Data storage component test deck
A test deck may be employed as part of a data storage component testing system. A test deck can consist of at least a bottom cover mating to a top cover to define an enclosed testing region configured to house a data storage medium, transducing head, and head suspension. The top cover may have an access port occupied by a door providing access to the enclosed testing region. |
| US09449635B2 |
Method for forming a magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording
The embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a method for forming a trench in which a write pole is deposited therein. The trench is formed with a single mask and multiple reactive ion etching (RIE) processes and has substantially straight side walls and a consistent bevel angle along the length of the write pole. The consistent bevel angle along the length of the write pole allows the bevel angle at the ABS to be consistent regardless of where the cut is when defining the ABS. |
| US09449632B2 |
Method for manufacturing magnetic recording medium, and magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus
A method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium including at least a non-magnetic substrate, a soft magnetic underlayer, an orientation control layer that controls an orientation of an immediate upper layer, and a perpendicular magnetic layer in which a magnetization easy axis is mainly perpendicularly oriented with respect to the non-magnetic substrate so as to be laminated one another on the non-magnetic substrate. The perpendicular magnetic layer includes two or more magnetic layers, and each layer is subjected to a crystal growth such that each crystal grain composing each magnetic layer forms a columnar crystal continuous in a thickness direction together with the crystal grains composing the orientation control layer. The orientation control layer, formed of a Co—Cr alloy, is formed by the reactive sputtering using a mixture of a sputtering gas and nitrogen. |
| US09449630B2 |
Sliders having at least two regions on the trailing edge surface
A slider that includes a leading edge surface; a trailing edge surface; and an air bearing surface (ABS) positioned between the leading edge surface and the trailing edge surface, wherein the trailing edge surface includes a read-write element, at least one low surface energy region and at least one high surface energy region. |
| US09449627B2 |
Angled waveguide
An apparatus has an input surface configured to receive energy emitted from an energy source in a first mode. A mode order converter is configured to convert the energy from the first mode to a second mode. The waveguide of the apparatus has an input end disposed proximate the input surface and configured to receive the energy in the first mode. The waveguide has an output end disposed proximate a media-facing surface and configured to deliver energy in the second mode. The output end is at an oblique angle to a cross-track line at an intersection of the media-facing surface and a substrate-parallel plane. |
| US09449626B2 |
Structure positioned between magnetic pole and near-field transducer
An apparatus includes a waveguide, a magnetic pole, and a near-field transducer. The near field transducer is positioned at or near a media-facing surface. The near-field transducer is operatively coupled to the waveguide. The near-field transducer includes an enlarged region. The near-field transducer also includes a peg region extending from the enlarged region towards the media-facing surface. The peg region is separated from the magnetic pole. The near-field transducer also includes a structure positioned between the magnetic pole and the peg region. The structure is separated from the peg region by a gap. The structure extends from the enlarged region towards the media-facing surface. The structure is configured to extend generation of surface plasmons toward the magnetic pole. |
| US09449625B1 |
Heat assisted magnetic recording head having a plurality of diffusion barrier layers
A heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) writer is described. The HAMR writer is coupled with a laser and has an air-bearing surface (ABS) that resides near a media during use. The HAMR writer includes a waveguide, a near-field transducer (NFT), a main pole, coil(s) and at least one of a first and a second diffusion barrier layer. The waveguide is optically coupled with the laser and directs energy from the laser toward the ABS. The NFT is optically coupled with the waveguide and focuses the energy onto a region of the media. The main pole writes to the region of the media. The main pole has a top, a bottom, and a plurality of sides. The first diffusion barrier layer is between at least the NFT and the bottom of the pole. The second diffusion barrier layer is adjacent to the plurality of sides of the main pole. |
| US09449624B2 |
Flexure of disk drive suspension
A tail pad portion is provided in a flexure tail including a metal base and a conductive circuit portion. Tail terminals are arranged in the tail pad portion. The metal base is made of stainless steel, and includes a frame structure having a first frame and a second frame. An opening is formed between the first frame and the second frame. The tail terminals are arranged parallel to each other between the first frame and the second frame. A bridge portion is formed between the first frame and the second frame. The bridge portion includes at least one bridge element which is a part of the metal base. The at least one bridge element is arranged at a position which does not overlap the tail terminals in the thickness direction. |
| US09449622B2 |
Differing magnetic read sensors on a magnetic head
An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a magnetic head having multiple magnetic transducers, the transducers including read sensors. The read sensors are of at least two differing types selected from a group consisting of tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR), giant magnetoresistance (GMR), anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR), and inductive sensors. |
| US09449619B1 |
Direction dependent tape head assembly to reduce tape-head friction
A tape appliance that includes two read heads and two write heads arranged along a magnetic tape path. The heads are configured such that for a first longitudinal direction of tape travel along the tape path, the tape engages the tape bearing surface of a first one of the write heads followed by engaging the tape bearing surface of a first one of the read heads and flies over the tape bearing surfaces of the other write head and the other read head. For the reverse longitudinal direction of tape travel along the tape path, the tape engages the tape bearing surface of the other write head followed by engaging the tape bearing surface of the other read head and flies over the tape bearing surfaces of the first write head and the first read head. |
| US09449618B2 |
Microwave assisted magnetic recording system
A microwave assisted magnetic recording system includes a write pole that generates a write magnetic field, an element that generates a radio frequency assist magnetic field, and a recording medium that moves relative to the write pole. The recording medium is exposed to the radio frequency assist magnetic field before it is exposed to the write magnetic field. One possible element that generates the radio frequency assist magnetic field is an assist wire placed perpendicular to the write pole. Alternatively, the assist wire can be placed parallel to the write pole so that its radio frequency assist magnetic field couples with the write pole, which in turn generates its own coupled radio frequency magnetic field along with the write magnetic field. |
| US09449616B2 |
Noise reduction system, speech detection system, speech recognition system, noise reduction method, and noise reduction program
Provided are a noise reduction system that highly precisely estimates noise contained in an input signal and highly precisely reduces the noise contained in the input signal using the estimated noise, a speech detection system, a speech recognition system, a noise reduction method, and a noise reduction program. The noise reduction system includes: a first noise estimating unit (111) that estimates a stationary noise component contained in a first input signal; a first noise reduction unit (121) that reduces the stationary noise component from the first input signal; a second noise estimating unit (112) that re-estimates a stationary noise component contained in the first input signal; a third noise estimating unit (113) that estimates a second non-stationary noise component including a sum of a stationary noise component and a non-stationary noise component contained in the first input signal; an estimated noise combining unit (114) that estimates a stationary noise component and a second non-stationary noise component contained in the first input signal; and a second noise reduction unit (122) that reduces the stationary noise component and the second non-stationary noise component contained in the first input signal. |
| US09449615B2 |
Externally estimated SNR based modifiers for internal MMSE calculators
Acoustic noise in an audio signal is reduced by calculating a speech probability presence (SPP) factor using minimum mean square error (MMSE). The SPP factor, which has a value typically ranging between zero and one, is modified or warped responsive to a value obtained from the evaluation of a sigmoid function, the shape of which is determined by a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), which is obtained by an evaluation of the signal energy and noise energy output from a microphone over time. The shape and aggressiveness of the sigmoid function is determined using an extrinsically-determined SNR, not determined by the MMSE determination. |
| US09449614B2 |
Controlling multi-party communications
A first user terminal, host terminal, method and program. The first terminal comprises: a transceiver for communicating with a plurality of other user terminals over a communication network; and communications processing apparatus, coupled to the transceiver, and arranged to participate in a call with a selected number of the other user terminals via the transceiver and communication network, the call including transmission of a voice signal from the first user terminal. The communications processing apparatus is operable in a mode whereby it temporarily discontinues transmission of the voice signal in response to detecting less than a predetermined level of activity on said voice signal, and the communications processing apparatus is further configured to selectively enable that mode in dependence on the selected number of other user terminals in the call. |
| US09449613B2 |
Room identification using acoustic features in a recording
Analysis of the audio component in multimedia data is disclosed. Rooms can be described through room impulse responses (RIR), the “fingerprint” of a specific room. The method uses machine learning techniques to identify rooms from ordinary audio recordings. |
| US09449605B2 |
Inactive sound signal parameter estimation method and comfort noise generation method and system
A parameter estimation method for inactive voice signals and a system thereof and comfort noise generation method and system are disclosed. The method includes: for an inactive voice signal frame, performing time-frequency transform on a sequence of time domain signals containing the inactive voice signal frame to obtain a frequency spectrum sequence, calculating frequency spectrum coefficients according to the frequency spectrum sequence, performing smooth processing on the frequency spectrum coefficients, obtaining a smoothly processed frequency spectrum sequence according to the smoothly processed frequency spectrum coefficients, performing inverse time-frequency transform on the smoothly processed frequency spectrum sequence to obtain a reconstructed time domain signal, and estimating an inactive voice signal parameter according to the reconstructed time domain signal to obtain a frequency spectrum parameter and an energy parameter. With the present solution, it can provide stable background noise parameters in a comfort noise generation system at decoding. |
| US09449600B2 |
Character data entry
Methods and apparatuses for entry of character data are disclosed. In one example, a user action is received at a headset input user interface. The user action is correlated to a character data previously stored. The character data is transmitted to a host device, the character data configured to be automatically entered in one or more data fields. |
| US09449595B2 |
Sonotrode with processing channel
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic sonotrode with a main sonotrode body and a sealing area arranged on one side of the main sonotrode body. The main sonotrode body has two through-slits extending in or through the main sonotrode body respectively along a slit axis. These through-slits intersect in such a way that a through-channel through the main sonotrode body is formed from the one through-slit into the other through-slit. This creates a slit portion that is formed both by the one through-slit and the other through-slit. Provided in this main sonotrode body is a processing channel, which extends along a processing channel axis from a side area of the main sonotrode body up to the through-channel and is arranged substantially symmetrically about the processing channel axis. |
| US09449592B2 |
Muffler shell for use in the exhaust system of a vehicle
A muffler shell (1) for use in an exhaust system of a vehicle comprises an inner metal sheet (13) and an outer metal sheet (10). The outer metal sheet (10) is arranged to enclose the inner metal sheet (13). The muffler shell further comprises a vibro-acoustical dampening material (14) sandwiched between the inner metal sheet (13) and the outer metal sheet (10). Both the inner metal sheet (13) and the outer metal sheet (10) are corrugated sheets made of stainless steel having a thickness in the range of 0.15 mm to 0.30 mm. The vibro-acoustical dampening material has a thickness (T) in the range of 4 mm to 8 mm and a density in the range of 130 kg/m3 to 160 kg/m3. |
| US09449590B1 |
Low frequency audio sound effects in model railroading
Remote objects, which may include cars and locomotives, rolling stock and or fixed objects in a model railroad layout, convey sound and/or other digital information to a Sound and Control Centers, Local Sound and Control Units and or walk-around throttles to produce sound and operations that enhances the model train experience. Preferably, remote objects may communicate with the sound and control center by wireless means, and over separate communication channels. Sound information and related data from the separate channels can be processed, combined, enhanced or used to fetch additional sounds from memory, in order to drive at least one speaker that is separate from the remote objects. The speaker(s) may be especially advantageous to produce or enhance low frequency audio sounds coordinated with activity at the remote object(s). |
| US09449585B2 |
Systems and methods for compositing a display image from display planes using enhanced blending hardware
An internal matrix corresponding to a representation of a display screen and having transparency data of a macro block is accessed. Display plane data from either a first or second plane is read if the internal matrix indicates the macro block is non-translucent and from both planes when the internal matrix indicates translucency. A high-level external matrix having high-level external transparency data indicating transparency of pixels is accessed if the internal transparency data indicates the macro block includes a window boundary. Display plane data from either the first or second plane is read if the high-level external transparency data indicates a non-translucent pixel and from both planes when the internal matrix indicates translucency. A detailed external matrix is accessed if the internal transparency data indicates the macro block is translucent or if the high-level external transparency data indicates the pixel is translucent. The first and second planes are blended accordingly. |
| US09449582B2 |
Digital image comparison
A method for digital image comparison includes, by a computer executing a single instance of an application program stored in a memory of the computer, receiving a first input from a user of the computer, identifying related portions of a first digital image and a second digital image. The method also includes receiving user interactions to view portions of the first digital image. The method also includes, responsive to the user interactions, changing a view of portions of the second digital image that are related to the first digital image. |
| US09449578B2 |
Circuitry for image processing
A method of increasing the color saturation of the RGB values of at least one pixel of an image, the method involving: calculating a luminance value based on RGB values of a first pixel; calculating a first maximum increase of said color saturation based on the highest of said RGB values and on said luminance value; calculating a second maximum increase of said color saturation based on the lowest of said RGB values and on said luminance value; and increasing the color saturation of said first pixel based on said first and second maximum increases. |
| US09449576B2 |
Gate drive apparatus and display apparatus
A gate drive device and a display device are provided. With the gate drive device, a clock signal is used in place of a forward scan signal and/or a clock signal is used in place of a backward scan signal and/or a reset signal and a first initial trigger signal (or a second initial trigger signal) are used in place of a low level signal and/or the same signal is used as a first initial trigger signal and a second initial trigger signal to thereby reduce the number of transmission lines for signals driving the gate drive device. |
| US09449573B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes a system and a liquid crystal module. The system detects an input frame frequency, generates a DISP signal indicating the input of an abnormal signal at a high logic level when the detected frame frequency is within a previously determined range, and generates the DISP signal at a low logic level when the detected frame frequency is beyond the previously determined range. The liquid crystal module includes a signal processing unit which selectively outputs digital video data for implementing a normal screen and digital black data for implementing a black screen in response to the DISP signal. |
| US09449570B2 |
Driving circuit
A driving circuit for connecting a display module is provided. The driving circuit includes a polarity control module, an output control module, and a detecting module. The polarity control module provides a polarity control signal. The output control module is connected with the polarity control module and provides a plurality of output control signals. The detecting module is coupled with the polarity control module and the output control module, wherein the detecting module detects the polarity control signal and selectively controls the output control module to operate in at least one of a first control mode and a second control mode to control the output control signals. |
| US09449567B2 |
Common voltage compensation in display apparatus
A method and a circuit component for suppressing crosstalk associated with the common voltage in a liquid crystal display are disclosed. In particular, in a liquid crystal display where the crosstalk is mainly caused by various control signals generated by a timing control circuit, one or more timing control signals are extracted from the timing control circuit and processed to become a compensation signal. The compensation signal is provided to display area of the liquid crystal display. The timing control signals generated by the timing control circuit include a start signal and a plurality of clock signals. The steps for processing these signals may include summing, inverting, high-pass filtering and amplitude adjustment, to be carried out in different orders and/or combinations. When the timing control signals are current signals, the steps for processing these signals may include current-to-voltage conversion, summing and inverting. |
| US09449566B2 |
Display device and terminal device
To provide a plural-viewpoint display device having an image separating optical element such as a lenticular lens or a parallax barrier, which is capable of achieving a high image quality by suppressing deterioration in the display image quality caused when a block division driving method is employed, and to provide a terminal device, a display panel, and a driving method thereof, which can be preferably used for those devices. A pixel group configured with pixels for displaying a right-eye image includes a pixel connected to a data line phase-deployed in the first phase of a block division driving method, and a pixel connected to a data line phase-deployed in the third phase, and a pixel connected to a data line phase-deployed in the second phase. In this manner, it is designed to have no deviation in the phase deployment orders in the pixel groups for each viewpoint. |
| US09449563B2 |
Three-phase line control in a display apparatus
A display apparatus includes an electrowetting display device having at least one picture element with a display area. The display area has an active area and a different, inactive area and a display controller controls a display effect of the picture element in a range between a dark state and a light state, with a three-phase line between a first fluid, a second fluid and a first support plate of the picture element being completely in the inactive area for a first applied voltage corresponding to the dark state. |
| US09449558B2 |
Scan driver and display device using the same
A scan driver and display device using the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the scan driver includes a plurality of stages. Each stage includes a first transistor electrically connected between a first voltage input terminal and an output terminal, wherein the first transistor comprises a gate electrode electrically connected to a first node. Each stage also includes a second transistor electrically connected between the output terminal and a second clock signal input terminal and having a gate electrode electrically connected to a second node. Furthermore, each stage includes third and fourth transistors electrically connected in series. Each stage further includes a fifth transistor having first and second electrodes and a gate electrode electrically connected to the second node, the first electrode is electrically connected between the third and fourth transistors, and the second electrode is electrically connected to a second voltage input terminal configured to receive a second voltage. |
| US09449557B2 |
Organic light emitting display device and driving method thereof
Disclosed is an organic light emitting display device including: plurality of data lines; a charging line formed in a direction crossing the plurality of data lines; and charging switches connected between the charging line and the data lines. The charging line inputs a charging voltage and the charging switches are individually controlled in data line. |
| US09449552B2 |
Organic light emitting display device and driving method thereof including response to panel abnormality
Disclosed is an organic light emitting display device. The organic light emitting display device includes a panel in which a plurality of pixels are respectively formed in intersection areas between a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines formed in an active area, a pixel circuit is included in each of the pixels, and a plurality of power lines are formed for supplying power to drive the pixel circuit; a gate driving IC configured to supply a scan signal to the gate lines, a power supply configured to supply the power to the power lines, a detection unit configured to detect a panel abnormality in the active area by using a sensing signal collected through a sensing line electrically connected to a corresponding gate line, and a controller configured to control driving of the power supply according to the detection result of the detection unit. |
| US09449551B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display includes a display unit including first pixels emitting first color light, second pixels emitting second color light, and third pixels emitting third color light, and a power source voltage supplier supplying a driving voltage to the respective pixels of the display unit. The display further includes a first voltage wire transferring the driving voltage to the first pixels, a second voltage wire transferring the driving voltage to the second pixels, and a third voltage wire transferring the driving voltage to the third pixels. The first, second and third voltage wires being provided in a first layer. The display includes auxiliary voltage wires provided in a second layer different from the first layer. Contact areas between the first, second and third voltage wire and the auxiliary voltage wires are different from each other. |
| US09449547B2 |
Organic light emitting display
An organic light emitting display includes an image display unit having a plurality of pixels, and first and second pixel power lines that receive pixel-driving voltages from first and second power supplies, respectively. The second pixel power lines are interleaved with the first pixel power lines. Adjacent pixels of the same color from among the plurality of pixels provided in the image display unit are coupled to pixel power lines corresponding to different power supplies. This is to solve or mitigate the problem of non-uniform brightness of the entire image display unit due to voltage drops in the pixel power lines. |
| US09449543B2 |
Display device and driving method of display device
It is an object of the present invention to reduce a cause of pseudo contour when display is performed with a time gray scale method. According to the present invention, one pixel is divided into m sub-pixels so that an area ratio of each sub-pixel becomes 20:21:22: . . . :2m-3:2m-2:2m-1 (m is an integer number of m≧2), and one frame is divided into n sub-frames so that a ratio of a lighting period in each sub-frame becomes 20:2m:22m: . . . :2(n-3)m:2(n-2)m:2(n-1)m (n is an integer number of n≧2). Then, a gray scale is expressed by controlling a manner of lighting in each of the m sub-pixels in each of the n sub-frames. |
| US09449540B2 |
Display device
An upper frame and a lower frame are prevented from coming close to each other within a predetermined distance by a push-in preventing pawl and an abutting part, while preventing the upper and lower frames from coming off by a come-off preventing pawl and an engagement part. In this manner, it becomes possible to prevent the load which causes deterioration of the display quality from being applied to a liquid crystal display panel, so that the reliability can be enhanced. |
| US09449537B2 |
Dimensional display system
In order to provide a dimensional display system which is easy to use, quick to execute, and inexpensive, the dimensional display system contains a backboard sign, at least one offset sign having a size smaller than the backboard sign, and at least one spacer assembly. The spacer assembly contains a first fastening element, which is adapted to be attached to the backboard sign, and a second fastening element, which is adapted to be attached to the offset sign. The first and second fastening elements form corresponding components of a fastening mechanism to affix the offset sign to the backboard sign at a predefined distance thus creating a three-dimensional effect. |
| US09449536B1 |
Handheld removable message board
A removable message board can include an attachment piece including a message displayed on a front side and a back side opposite the front side. A coiled spring can include a first end that directly contacts the back side of the attachment piece and a second end opposite the first end that is wound along a length of the coiled spring to form a concentric circular shape configured to press against a chair back. A top surface of the coiled spring can be oriented towards a bottom surface of the coiled spring. The coiled spring can be disposed behind the attachment piece such that the coiled spring can be substantially covered by the attachment piece when viewed from a position perpendicular to a length and width of the attachment piece. |
| US09449535B2 |
Label assembly and method of dispensing low-stiffness labels
A label assembly having a first configuration comprising a facestock layer having an upper surface and a lower surface, an adhesive layer having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface of the adhesive disposed adjacent to the lower surface of the facestock layer, a tack varnish layer overlying the upper surface of the facestock, a liner assembly comprising a release liner overlying the adhesive layer, the release liner comprising a liner layer having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface comprising a release coating layer, the release coating layer being disposed adjacent to the adhesive layer, and a tack coating layer overlying the lower surface of the liner layer. |
| US09449534B2 |
Method for manufacturing extended content booklet labels
A method for manufacturing an instructional booklet mounted on a substrate. A multi-up book log is provided having two or more booklets and a waste zone that share a common spine. The book log is adhered to an overlaminate and progressively slit to form overlaminate strips having booklets adhered thereto. The overlaminate is applied to a substrate with the booklets retained therebetween. The overlaminate and substrate are die cut around the booklets. |
| US09449533B2 |
Combined receipt and label roll having optimal adhesive patch patterns and a method of manufacturing thereof
A combined receipt and label roll comprises a core, and a web having a longitudinally-extending axis and wound on the core along the axis. The web includes (i) a substrate having a front side and a back side opposite the front side, (ii) a thermally-sensitive coating disposed on the front side of the substrate, and (iii) a water-based microsphere adhesive disposed on the back side of the substrate along the web axis. The water-based microsphere adhesive comprises at least four separate adhesive patches. The at least four adhesive patches are both sized relative to each other and positioned relative to each other on the back side of the substrate such that additional tack desired can be obtained by increasing volume of the adhesive patches without having to increase coat weight of the adhesive patches. |
| US09449522B2 |
Systems and methods for evaluating difficulty of spoken text
Systems and methods are provided for assigning a difficulty score to a speech sample. Speech recognition is performed on a digitized version of the speech sample using an acoustic model to generate word hypotheses for the speech sample. Time alignment is performed between the speech sample and the word hypotheses to associate the word hypotheses with corresponding sounds of the speech sample. A first difficulty measure is determined based on the word hypotheses, and a second difficulty measure is determined based on acoustic features of the speech sample. A difficulty score for the speech sample is generated based on the first difficulty measure and the second difficulty measure. |
| US09449521B2 |
Method for using virtual facial and bodily expressions
The method is for using a virtual face or body. The virtual face or body is provided on a screen associated with a computer system having a cursor. A user manipulates the virtual face or body with the cursor to show a facial expression. The communication device determines coordinates of the facial expression and frequency ranges of vocal cords or glottis. The communication device searches for facial expression coordinates in a database to match the coordinates and frequency ranges. A word or phrase is identified that is associated with the identified facial expression coordinates. The screen displays the word to the user. The user may also feed a word to the computer system that displays the facial expression associated with the word. |
| US09449518B2 |
Display control device, method, and non-transitory storage medium
A display control device includes a determiner and a display controller. The determiner determines a recognition accuracy based on a result of a calculator. Based on a result of the determiner, the display controller controls a displayer so as to generate an image that shows a first or second graphic in which a region indicating the direction in which a predetermined object exists is displayed in a mode different from that of another region and so as to display the image on a display medium. The first graphic is generated when it is determined that the recognition accuracy is a first recognition accuracy. The second graphic is generated when it is determined that the recognition accuracy is a second recognition accuracy lower than the first recognition accuracy. A first width of the region in the first graphic is smaller than a second width of the region in the second graphic. |
| US09449514B2 |
Methods and apparatus for adaptive vehicle response to air quality states
A computer-implemented method includes connecting to a remote system and requesting data relating to a quality of air level in the vicinity of a known vehicle location. The method further includes receiving data relating to the quality of air level and comparing the data to one or more predetermined threshold levels of tolerance. If the data exceeds at least one threshold level of tolerance an automatic vehicle computing system response is instructed. In this example, the method also includes activating one or more vehicle systems in response to the data exceeding the at least one threshold level of tolerance. |
| US09449513B1 |
Portable traffic control signage apparatus and methods
Traffic signs that facilitate portability are disclosed. In certain embodiments, they are designed to be lighter and have fewer steps involved in their set up, preferably involving only one person. The design of certain embodiments also allows multiple signs to be transported together, and facilitates air flow through the signs. Certain embodiments include generally horizontal panels with breakaway or fracture paths so as to improve crashworthiness and safety of the traffic sign. |
| US09449512B2 |
Orchestrating autonomous movements of parked vehicles to optimize parking efficiency
Technologies for optimized vehicle parking include a parking management computing device and a number of advanced vehicles, each having an in-vehicle computing system. The parking management computing device establishes a secure control channel with each of the in-vehicle computing systems. Each of the in-vehicle computing systems may send a parking request to park or access the vehicle to the parking management computing device. The parking management computing device queries a number of the advanced vehicles that are already parked for positional or sensor data and determines an optimized parking configuration based on the parking request. The parking management computing device transmits movement requests to the in-vehicle computing systems to implement the optimized parking configuration. Each in-vehicle computing system may perform the movement request by using an autonomous driving capability, by using a remote control capability, or by notifying an operator. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09449511B2 |
System and method for automated sequencing of vehicle under low speed conditions from video
A computer-implemented method, system, and computer-readable medium is disclosed for determining a sequence order for vehicles in one or more image frames from an operational video, the operational video acquired from a fixed video camera comprising a field of view associated with a vehicle merge area where upstream traffic from a first lane and upstream traffic from a second lane merge to a single lane. The method can include obtaining operational video from a fixed video camera; detecting, within a region of interest (ROI) of the one or more image frames from the operational video, a first area and a second area in the vehicle merge area using a trained classifier that is trained to detect the first area and the second area; and determining the sequence order of the vehicles based on the first area and the second area that are detected. |
| US09449507B2 |
Traffic profiling and road conditions-based trip time computing system with localized and cooperative assessment
This invention localizes traffic condition detection and classification to a vehicle. Vehicles work cooperatively to fuse their traffic condition assessments so as to produce larger geographical coverage and more reliable evidence of the conditions. The system can be executed on an onboard device which includes at least one of the following: GPS capabilities, connection connected to the vehicle to measure vehicle speed, or communication with a cell phone. In the example of the cell phone, speed can be computed from phone GPS, a GPRS/CDMA, or both. Otherwise, vehicle speed can be determined obtained from in-vehicle on-board diagnostic system (e.g. using the OBD-II protocol) or based on GPS and accelerometer readings. |
| US09449506B1 |
Pedestrian counting and detection at a traffic intersection based on location of vehicle zones
Pedestrian detection and counting for traffic intersection control analyzes characteristics of a field of view of a traffic detection zone to determine a location and size of a pedestrian area, and applies protocols for evaluating pixel content in the field of view to identify individual pedestrians. The location and size of a pedestrian area is determined based either on locations of vehicle and bicycle detection areas or on movement of various objects within the field of view. Automatic pedestrian speed calibration with a region of interest for pedestrian detection is accomplished using lane and other intersection markings in the field of view. Detection and counting further includes identifying a presence, volume, velocity and trajectory of pedestrians in the pedestrian area of the traffic detection zone. |
| US09449502B2 |
Telemeter system, vending machine, and method for terminal device
A telemeter system in which information that has an effect on a state of communication between a terminal device and a central device can be readily and accurately reported from the terminal device to the central device. When a central device transmits a request signal for prescribed measurement result information to a terminal device, a terminal control component of the terminal device extracts the measurement result information from a measurement component, and transmits the measurement result information to the central device. When a communication component of the central device receives the measurement result information, a center control component stores the received measurement result information in a storage component. The state of communication between the terminal device and the central device is reported to an administrator as necessary. |
| US09449497B2 |
Method and system for detecting alarm system tampering
An alarm system monitors a home, business, or other property for fire, burglary, break-in, or other event that may warrant raising an alarm. The alarm system is configured to detect tampering, whereby someone intentionally impedes the ability of the system to raise an alarm or otherwise interferes the system's operation. An alarm panel of the alarm system communicates with a server. At certain times, the alarm system transmits a series of packets to the server using a unidirectional protocol. Upon receipt of one of the packets, the server alternates between monitoring for an incoming packet and ignoring any incoming packets. Detection of an incoming packet during a monitoring time period causes the server to transition to ignoring packets for a sleep period of time. Completion of the sleep period of time causes the server to return to monitoring for the monitoring period of time. |
| US09449492B2 |
Systems and methods for detecting gesture events in a hazard detection system
Hazard detection systems and methods according to embodiments described herein are operative to enable a user to interface with the hazard detection system by performing a touchless gesture. The touchless gesture can be performed in a vicinity of the hazard detection system without requiring physical access to the hazard detection system. This enables the user to interact with the hazard detection system even if it is out of reach. The hazard detection system can detect gestures and perform an appropriate action responsive to the detected gesture. In one embodiment, the hazard detection system can silence its audible alarm or pre-emptively turn off its audible alarm in response to a detected gesture. Gestures can be detected by processing sensor data to determine whether periodic shapes are detected. |
| US09449483B2 |
System and method of anomaly detection with categorical attributes
A method and apparatus are provided where the method includes detecting a plurality of events related to the activities of users within a security system, wherein the events are defined by a plurality of attributes, wherein at least one attribute is categorical, and wherein a data distance between events is a function of event attributes, evaluating the detected events using a density based anomaly detection method f(r), where r is a size of a neighborhood around a data point, comparing a value of the evaluated expression with a margin threshold value (msg(r)), and setting an alarm upon detecting that the value exceeds the threshold value. |
| US09449482B2 |
Method and apparatus for activating and deactivating video cameras in a security system
A method for using a security system to monitor a secured area is provided. The method includes a first processor of the security system providing a status of the security system, including an active status output signal and a disarmed status output signal, a video system monitoring the secured area by capturing and locally saving images, and a second processor of the video system activating one or more video cameras of the video system monitoring an interior space of the secured area upon receipt of the active status output signal and deactivating the one or more video cameras upon receipt of the disarmed status output signal. |
| US09449480B2 |
Security system and electrical circuit therefor
A circuit for a security system includes a power circuit, a closed loop detection circuit and an alarm circuit. The detection circuit includes a first loop circuit with an alarm sensor and a second loop circuit with a relay. The alarm circuit provides a plurality of output voltages or signals to at least one alarm device, such as two 120 VAC outputs and two 12 VDC outputs. The alarm circuit is coupled to the relay of the detection circuit, such that an alarm condition sensed by the alarm sensor causes the relay to supply energy from the power circuit to the plurality of outputs to activate at least one alarm device. The security system may be turned on and off by a remote control. |
| US09449478B2 |
Method and apparatus for visually and audibly indicating the setup and maintenance of a system
Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and apparatus for visually and audibly indicating the setup and maintenance of a system. |
| US09449476B2 |
Localized haptic feedback
A haptic feedback system is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of remote transmitters that are remote from a location of interest on a surface of the system. The system includes a signal generator that generates a signal for each of the remote transmitters. The remote transmitters propagate the signals through a medium of the surface and the signals interfere at the location of interest such that a localized disturbance is generated at the location of interest. |
| US09449472B2 |
Gaming system and method employing event eligibility-based equity for a wagering game
A gaming system and method for conducting a wagering game includes providing a first event eligibility-based equity relative to a first wagering game and converting the first event eligibility-based equity to an exchange medium. The exchange medium may be cash or a second event eligibility-based equity relative to a second wagering game. The first event eligibility-equity may be stored for later use on the first wagering game. |
| US09449469B2 |
Lottery-type game based upon at least two casino games
A lottery-type game is enabled via two or more casino games such as keno or video poker games. If the outcome of the first game is winning, the player may be awarded first winnings. If the outcome of the second game is winning, the player may be awarded second winnings. Regardless of the outcomes of the base games, if designated indicia comprising certain indicia from the first and second games match a selected set of indicia, then the lottery-type game is winning. In the case of a keno game, the designated indicia may be certain player numbers from the keno games and in the case of a poker game, certain player-selected cards. The selected set of indicia may comprise drawn keno numbers or dealt cards. |
| US09449467B2 |
Gaming system and method providing a selection game associated with a plurality of different sets of pickable selections
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing a selection game associated with a plurality of different sets of pickable selections. For a play of the game, the gaming system displays a first set of selections and a second set of selections, and initiates a selection round. If a designated selection of the first set remains unpicked, the gaming system enables the player to pick a selection of the first set. If a designated selection of the second set remains unpicked, the gaming system enables the player to pick a selection of the second set. If the designated ones of the first and second sets of selections have both been picked, the gaming system determines an award based on a total quantity of initiated selection rounds. If not, the gaming system ends the selection round, initiates a subsequent selection round, and repeats the above process. |
| US09449465B2 |
Gaming system and method for providing a cascading symbol game with upgrade events
A gaming system including a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which utilizes zero, one or more upgrades in association with zero, one or more shifting symbols. Upon an occurrence of an upgrade event, the gaming system upgrades one or more aspects or attributes of one or more games played. In certain embodiments, such upgrades pertain to upgrading one or more symbols displayed at one or more symbol display positions of one or more symbol display position grids. In certain other embodiments, such upgrades pertain to upgrading the award evaluation of one or more symbols displayed at one or more symbol display positions of one or more symbol display position grids. In certain other embodiments, such upgrades pertain to upgrading one or more attributes or features of one or more bonus or secondary games which are subsequently triggered. |
| US09449461B1 |
Networked gaming system enabling a plurality of player stations to play independent games with online play
A system, apparatus, and computer readable storage to implement a networked gaming system that enables a plurality of players to wager on one or more dealers at different dealing stations dealing independent games simultaneously. A live video is captured on each dealing station and simulcast to player stations where players are playing at. Players can bet on any combination of the games that are being broadcast. |
| US09449460B2 |
Systems for flexible gaming environments
Systems are disclosed, including a real world controller coupled to a gaming environment multiplexer, wherein the real world controller is constructed to provide a gambling game; and the gaming environment multiplexer coupled to the real world controller, wherein the gaming environment multiplexer is constructed to: receive from a game world controller via a network, a request for coupling the game world controller to the real world controller providing the gambling game; determine that the game world controller is approved for a regulatory regime; and couple via the network the game world controller to the real world controller, when the multiplexer determines that the game world controller is approved for the regulatory regime, whereby an entertainment game of an entertainment software controller associated with the gaming environment multiplexer is coupled to the gambling game of the real world controller, by the game world controller. |
| US09449458B2 |
Power cycling of gaming machine
The present invention relates to enabling an operating system software to selectively power cycle one or more components of a wagering gaming system comprising a central processing unit board having one or more central processing units, and one or more central processing unit components. The invention uses a memory comprising a dedicated power cycle control register, a power controller, and digital logic configured to initiate a power cycle of the one or more components of the wagering gaming machine when the operating system writes a predetermined value to the power cycle control register. Upon recognizing the predetermined value to a dedicated power cycle control register used solely for power cycling procedures, digital logic is initiated to terminate voltage supplied to the one or more components of the wagering gaming machine and restore power to the one or more components of the wagering gaming machine, effectively “cold booting” the selected one or more components of the wagering gaming machine main system board(s) without disrupting voltage supplied to the entirety of other components, including peripheral devices of the wagering gaming system. |
| US09449457B2 |
Method and apparatus for gaming with alternate value payouts
Systems and methods are provided for permitting a player to play a game at a gaming device. The gaming device provides a payout for the game. The payout is redeemable for one of a plurality of values, and at least two of the plurality of values are different from each other. The values typically have different corresponding forms of payout, such as cash or merchandise credits. |
| US09449456B2 |
Automated gaming chairs and wagering game systems and machines with an automated gaming chair
Gaming chairs and wagering game systems and machines with a gaming chair are presented herein. A gaming chair is disclosed for a wagering game system with a controller operable to output signals associated with a wagering game. The gaming chair includes a backrest portion, a seat portion, and a base for supporting the seat and backrest portions. The base includes a height adjustment mechanism. The gaming chair also includes a motion-enabling mounting assembly that is attached to the seat portion and has at least one actuator configured to selectively move the seat portion in response to signals from the controller. The mounting assembly is movably mounted on the height adjustment mechanism of the base such that the mounting assembly, seat portion, backrest portion, and actuator(s) can be unitarily repositioned between a plurality of distinct heights. |
| US09449453B2 |
Portable electronic entity and method for personalization of such an electronic entity
The “first” portable electronic entity (100) includes elements (105) for connection to a host station and a memory (120) storing instructions of an application (121) adapted to be at least partially loaded into the host station, to be executed by the host station and to collaborate with a server connected to the host station to effect the personalization of a “second” portable electronic entity (100). In embodiments, the second electronic entity is the first electronic entity. In embodiments, the application is at least partially executed by the first portable electronic entity. |
| US09449452B2 |
Sheets processing apparatus
In a sheet processing apparatus which checks sheets and sorts the sheets for a plurality of cassettes on the basis of the check result and conditions for the sheets which are assigned to the respective cassettes, conditions for sheets such as bill types and bill states which are assigned to the respective cassettes are displayed on a display unit. When an instruction to save these setting contents is issued while a cassette and conditions for sheets which are displayed on the display unit are selected, the selected conditions for sheets are assigned to the selected cassette. |
| US09449450B1 |
Digital media gate
A gate extension and retraction apparatus includes a housing, a digital display device, at least one extension arm coupled to the housing and to the digital display device, and an analytical unit comprising a controller, the analytical unit coupled to the digital display device and the controller coupled to the extension arm. The analytical unit includes logic to operate environmental sensors to identify demographic attributes of a proximate person to the digital display device and to locate digital content associated with the demographic attributes and to cause display of the digital content on the digital display device. |
| US09449448B2 |
Controlling access to a location
A method of configuring a lock control unit of an access control system. The unit has an associated lock control unit identifier and an electronic key, and can communicate via a wireless communications channel with a mobile unit and can receive an electronic key from the mobile unit to verify a received electronic key and, subject to successful verification, to activate the lock mechanism. A message having a location address is received from an access control management system. Lock control unit(s) are detected communicating via the channel in a proximity of the technician mobile unit. A respective lock control unit identifier is received from each detected unit. The unit connected to the lock mechanism is identified, based on the received identifiers. An electronic key associated with the identifier is received from the ACMS. Commands are sent to the lock control unit causing the lock control unit to perform configuration. |
| US09449445B2 |
Wireless communication techniques for controlling access granted by a security device
Wireless communication techniques are useful for controlling access granted by a security device (22). In a disclosed example, a communication portion (24) comprises a residential gateway that is capable of communicating with a mobile station (30) over a local network (32). The communication portion (24) is also capable of communicating with a remotely located server (40) over a secure network connection (42) such as over the internet. The mobile station (30) identifies itself to the security device (22). The mobile station identifier is verified to determine authorization to gain the requested access. The security device (22) provides the mobile station identifier to the remote server (40) which provides a security code to the mobile station (30) and a pass code to the security device (22). The security device (22) uses the pass code to verify the security code received from the mobile station (30) and controls access accordingly. |
| US09449444B2 |
Door lock apparatus, display apparatus, mobile device, and method for controlling thereof
A door lock apparatus is provided. The door lock apparatus includes a first interface configured to communicate with a plurality of external apparatuses; a near field communicator configured to perform authentication for opening a door; a second interface configured to communicate with a display apparatus; and a controller configured to control the first interface to receive status information on each of the plurality of external apparatuses from the plurality of external apparatuses, control the second interface to transmit the received status information to the display apparatus to be displayed in response to the authentication being performed by the near field communicator. |
| US09449442B2 |
Interface of an automation system
According to at least one embodiment, a computer-implemented method to interface with an automation system is disclosed. One or more activation parameters and deactivation parameters may be identified associated with a mobile control panel. A concealed interface of the mobile control panel may be activated based at least in part on the one or more activation parameters. The activated interface of the mobile control panel may be deactivated based at least in part on one or more sleep parameters. |
| US09449441B2 |
Body tracking and identification system and method
A method of identifying and tracking victims of a casualty event includes separating a two-part tag into a tag portion and a container portion, each portion including corresponding indicia in human-readable and/or machine-readable form. The tag portion is attached to an individual victim, and the container portion is used to collect a tissue sample from the victim for later analysis and positive identification. A handheld computer may be used to record the tag portion's indicia, and a GPS or other geolocating system allows the computer to also record the present geographical location of the victim. If the victim is later moved, the tag indicia is again scanned and the new location recorded. Once the victim is positively identified, the victim data file is updated and next-of-kin or other interested parties are notified of the current victim location for final disposition of the victim. |
| US09449438B2 |
Methods for predicting a speed brake system fault
Methods of predicting a speed brake fault in an aircraft having a speed brake system including multiple control surfaces, a handle for setting the position of the multiple control surfaces, and at least one control surface position sensor, the methods include receiving a position signal from the at least one position sensor, determining a variation in the position signal and predicting a fault in the speed brake system. |
| US09449437B2 |
Method of diagnosing operating characteristics
A method of diagnosing operating characteristics of a vehicle by a server device includes: obtaining operating characteristics information relative to the operating characteristics of the vehicle; and diagnosing the operating characteristics of the vehicle based upon feature information relative to a feature of a driver of the vehicle registered in advance in the server device and the operating characteristics information obtained from the vehicle. |
| US09449436B2 |
Method and control device for a drive train component
A method for actuating a component of a drive train of a motor vehicle. The component is mechanically prestressed into a safe state. The method has the steps: sensing a fault state; sensing whether the fault state is a first or second type of fault state; immediate interruption of the actuation of the component so that the component is passively transferred into the safe state by the mechanical prestress if the fault state, is of the first type of fault state, or actuation of the component in such a way that the component is actively transferred into the safe state if the fault state is of the second type of fault state. |
| US09449433B2 |
System for reproducing virtual objects
A system for reproducing virtual objects includes a detector device that carries a known tracking pattern or tracking feature; and a host device configured for virtually reproducing a template pattern to a surface and producing an image combining the tracking pattern and the template pattern. The template pattern corresponds to a virtual object. The host device is configured to process the image and thereby transmit information regarding the geometrical relationship between the tracking pattern and the template pattern to a user so that the user can reproduce the virtual object on the surface based on the information. |
| US09449431B2 |
Systems and methods for matching scenes using mutual relations between features
Embodiments of the present invention provide improved systems and methods for matching scenes. In one embodiment, a processor for implementing robust feature matching between images comprises: a first process for extracting a first feature set from a first image projection and extracting a second feature set from a second image projection; a memory for storing the first feature set and the second feature set; and a second process for feature matching using invariant mutual relations between features of the first feature set and the second feature set; wherein the second feature set is selected from the second image projection based on the identification of similar descriptive subsets between the second image projection and the first image projection. |
| US09449430B2 |
Geometrical elements transformed by rigid motions
It is provided a computer-implemented method for designing a three-dimensional modeled object. The method comprises providing geometrical elements that represent the modeled object and that include a set in which the geometrical elements are a copy one of another. The method also comprises defining a graph, determining maximal sub-graphs of the graph, and identifying, within the determined sub-graphs, the set of connected components having the highest number of arcs and for which the rigid motions represented by the arcs all respect the identity criterion. Such a method improves the design of a 3D modeled object. |
| US09449429B1 |
Stereoscopic modeling based on maximum ocular divergence of a viewer
A computer-implemented method for computing an effective inter-ocular distance for a modeled viewer based on a maximum ocular divergence angle. A maximum ocular divergence angle, viewing distance, and an inter-ocular distance are obtained for the modeled viewer. An effective inter-ocular distance is computed based on the viewing distance, the inter-ocular distance, and the maximum ocular divergence angle. The effective inter-ocular distance represents the maximum positive parallax for the modeled viewer having the defined maximum ocular divergence angle. The effective inter-ocular distance may be used in a stereoscopic modeling system in place of the inter-ocular distance, the stereoscopic modeling system relating a set of parameters in a camera space to a set of parameters in viewer space. The stereoscopic modeling system may be a stereoscopic transformation. |
| US09449427B1 |
Intensity modeling for rendering realistic images
An electronic device can utilize one or more sensors and/or imaging elements to determine the relative position of at least one light source relative to the device. In various embodiments, the intensity of light can be determined in various directions around the device. By determining the relative intensity around the device, an approximate direction of one or more light sources can be determined. Utilizing the relative position of each light source, the electronic device can properly light or shade a graphical object to be rendered by the device, or otherwise process image information captured by the device. |
| US09449426B2 |
Method and apparatus for centering swivel views
Methods and an apparatus for centering swivel views are disclosed. An example method involves a computing device identifying movement of a pixel location of a 3D object within a sequence of images. Each image of the sequence of images may correspond to a view of the 3D object from a different angular orientation. Based on the identified movement of the pixel location of the 3D object, the computing device may estimate movement parameters of at least one function that describes a location of the 3D object in an individual image. The computing device may also determine for one or more images of the sequence of images a respective modification to the image using the estimated parameters of the at least one function. And the computing device may adjust the pixel location of the 3D object within the one or more images based on the respective modification for the image. |
| US09449425B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating medical image
Disclosed herein are a medical image generation apparatus and medical image generation method that realistically display an object or inner tissues of the object. The medical image generation apparatus includes a sample image extractor configured to extract a sample image from an original image containing color information of an object, a color gamut modeler configured to model a color gamut of the sample image to have a predetermined shape, a 2D color map generator configured to generate a 2D color map based on the modeled color gamut, a volume data generator configured to generate 3D volume data based on a sectional image of inner tissues of the object, and a control unit configured to generate a 3D color medical image by applying values of the 2D color map to a 3D grayscale medical image acquired by volume rendering of the 3D volume data. |
| US09449422B2 |
Device and method for displaying full azimuth angle domain image data
A device, system, and method for displaying seismic image data may include computing, from a wide-azimuth data set, a discrete data set associated with an image function at a seismic image point. The discrete data set may be mapped onto a continuous curved three-dimensional surface. The mapped data set may be projected onto a continuous planar surface. The projected data may be displayed as a planar disk. A plurality of continuous planar surfaces, each representing a single image point, may be assembled to form a three-dimensional body, representing a seismic gather of image points. The three-dimensional body may be displayed. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09449420B2 |
Reducing the domain shader/tessellator invocations
In accordance with some embodiments, domain shader and/or tessellator operations can be eliminated when they are redundant. By using a corner cache, a check can determine whether a given corner, be it a vertex or a quadrilateral corner, has already been evaluated in the domain shader and/or tessellator and if so, the result of the previous operation can be reused instead of performing unnecessary invocations that may increase power consumption or reduce speed. |
| US09449418B2 |
Method and apparatus for creating animation message
A method for creating an animation message includes generating input information containing information regarding input time and input coordinates according to input order of drawing information input through a touch screen; dividing an image containing the drawing information and background information into a plurality of blocks; creating an animation message by mapping the input information to the plurality of blocks so that the drawing information can be sequentially reproduced according to the input order; allocating a parity bit per pre-set block range of the animation message in order to detect an error occurring in the animation message; and transmitting the created animation message. |
| US09449412B1 |
Adaptive, calibrated simulation of cosmetic products on consumer devices
Computer-implemented methods for real-time simulation of the application of one or more cosmetic products to a portion of the body of a user being imaged in an image-capture environment that is subject to uncertain lighting conditions. A real-time image of a portion of the user is captured and used to derive both image-capture environment parameters and user visual characteristics. Based on a desired look received from the user, a correspondence is extracted between the desired look and the pertinent portion of the user so that the desired look can be adapted to the image-capture environment parameters and the user's visual characteristics, and the adapted look is applied to an image of the user. |
| US09449407B2 |
Displaying dynamic content on a map based on user's location and scheduled task
Graphic elements for a computer-implemented mapping system may be displayed based on scheduled task data, routine data, or other data corresponding to an application of a client computing device. The application data may include a location and a scheduled time. A user may request a map for the scheduled task location. If a difference between the request time and the scheduled task time is below a threshold, then the mapping system may display or modify graphic elements for the location that are relevant to the scheduled task. For example, a user may include appointment data for an airline flight in a calendar application of a mobile computing device. If the user requests a map of the departure airport within a short amount of time before the flight, the map may include only relevant graphic elements such as a check in counter, a security checkpoint, and a departure gate. |
| US09449406B2 |
Manipulating timelines
Manipulating timelines includes displaying a timeline in a display and collapsing a portion of a length of the timeline such that the timeline has a time discontinuity along the length. |
| US09449404B2 |
Iterative image reconstruction with regularization
A method includes scaling a regularization term of an update algorithm of an iterative reconstruction algorithm with regularization with a scaling value. The scaling value is variable in at least one dimension, thereby varying the regularization of the iterative reconstruction in the least one dimension. The method further includes iteratively reconstructing an image based at least on the update algorithm, the varying scaled regularization term, and projection data. |
| US09449402B2 |
Color display converter for pinball machine
A later generation display device may be connected to the video output port of an older electronic device which utilized an earlier generation display such as a dot matrix display. The early generation display is replaced with the later generation display. The display device includes software which receives graphic data through the video output port and identifies which frame is currently being streamed. The display device matches the frame being streamed to a stored graphic frame having a higher resolution and/or color. The matched frame is delivered to the later generation device so that the user can experience a higher quality visual effect by retrofitting the older electronic device with the later generation display. |
| US09449400B2 |
Method for characterising volumes of skin
The subject of the present invention is a method for characterizing the distribution of the volumes of the surface of the skin of an individual, more particularly applicable in the evaluation of the effect of firming cosmetic products. This method uses the isolines and the gradients of the slopes computed from a three-dimensional representation of the surface of the skin. |
| US09449398B2 |
Directional object detection
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. |
| US09449397B2 |
Real-time visual odometry system for determining motion of a machine with a range detection unit
A motion determination system is disclosed. The system may receive a first camera image and a second camera image. The system may receive a first range image corresponding to the first camera image. The system may generate a first range map by fusing the first camera image and the first range image. The system may iteratively process a plurality of first features in the first range map to determine a change in position of the machine. The plurality of second features may correspond to the plurality of first features, and each of the plurality of first and second features is denoted by feature points in an image space of the camera. |
| US09449390B1 |
Detecting an extended side view mirror
A position of a mirror in or on a vehicle can be detected by receiving a first image and a second image, and comparing the first image to the second image. The comparison is used for determining whether the vehicle mirror has moved from one of an extended state and a non-extended state. |
| US09449389B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, and program
There is provided an image processing device including a matching degree calculation unit configured to calculate a matching degree between a pixel value of a target pixel in a standard image of a current frame and a pixel value of a corresponding pixel in a reference image of the current frame, and an estimation unit configured to estimate a disparity between the standard image and the reference image based on a result obtained by calculating the matching degree. The matching degree calculation unit calculates the matching degree using a disparity estimated for the standard image and the reference image of a previous frame. |
| US09449388B2 |
Measurement apparatus, program, and measurement method
There is provided a measurement apparatus including an objective lens, a stage, a setting unit, and a controller. The stage is configured to support a sample vessel in which a plurality of wells each containing a sample are arranged and to define relative positions of the sample vessel and the objective lens. The setting unit is configured to determine whether to set each of the plurality of wells to be a measurement target and set the measurement target. The controller is configured to control the stage such that a well determined to be the measurement target by the setting unit and the objective lens face each other. |
| US09449387B2 |
Medical image diagnosis apparatus, medical image display apparatus, medical image processing apparatus, and medical image processing program
An inner wall extractor extracts the inner wall of a vital tissue based on medical image data. An outer wall extractor extracts the outer wall of the vital tissue based on the medical image data. A first raised portion calculator obtains information including the presence of a first raised portion in which the inner wall of the vital tissue is raised inward, based on the extracted inner wall of the vital tissue. A second raised portion calculator obtains information including the presence of a second raised portion in which the outer wall of the vital tissue is raised outward, based on the extracted outer wall of the vital tissue. A display controller superimposes the information of the first raised portion and the information of the second raised portion on an image of the vital tissue, and causes the image to be displayed on a display. |
| US09449385B2 |
Reconstruction of computed tomography images using combined third-generation and fourth-generation projection data
An apparatus is provided to reconstruct an image using combined third-generation energy-integrating computed tomography projection data and fourth-generation spectrally resolved computed tomography projection data. The apparatus includes processing circuitry configured to obtain first projection data representing projection data from an energy-integrating detector; obtain second projection data representing projection data from a photon-counting spectrally discriminating detector; and reconstruct a first combined-system basis image and a second combined-system basis image by solving a combined-system matrix equation using the first projection data and the second projection data. |
| US09449381B2 |
Methods, systems, and media for generating and analyzing medical images having elongated structures
Methods, systems, and media for generating and/or analyzing medical images having elongated structures are provided. In some embodiments, a method for analyzing medical images is provided, the method comprising: receiving a plurality of images, wherein each of the plurality of images includes a portion of an elongated structure; receiving a location of interest within a least one of the plurality of images; determining an orientation of the elongated structure in response to receiving the location of interest; adjusting image planes of each of the plurality of images to correspond with the orientation of the elongated structure; and causing the elongated structure to be displayed in the adjusted image planes. |
| US09449379B2 |
Method for inspecting solution discharge apparatus and method for producing device
A inspection method for a solution discharge device includes a discharge step, a imaging step, an acquisition step, and a judgement step of identifying a main drop among deposits found to have a deposit surface area falling within a deposit surface area standard for each imaging area. An upper bound and a lower bound of the deposit surface area standard are determined according to timing of imaging in the imaging step, such that the values applied to deposits in an imaging area imaged at a second imaging time that is later than a first imaging time are smaller than those applied to deposits in an imaging area imaged at the first imaging time. |
| US09449377B2 |
Imaging methods and computer-readable media
One aspect of the invention provides an imaging method including: (a) acquiring a first fluorescent image of an object of interest impregnated with fluorescent nanodiamonds; (b) applying a magnetic field to the fluorescent nanodiamonds in order to decrease fluorescence of the fluorescent nanodiamonds; (c) acquiring a second fluorescent image of the object of interest; and (d) subtracting the second fluorescent image from the first fluorescent image to produce a resulting image. Another aspect of the invention provides an imaging method including: (a) applying a time-varying magnetic field to an object of interest impregnated with fluorescent nanodiamonds to modulate the fluorescence of the fluorescent nanodiamonds; (b) acquiring a plurality of fluorescent images of the object of interest; and (c) for each corresponding pixel in the plurality of fluorescent images, calculating a fluorescence intensity using a lock-in technique. |
| US09449375B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, program, and recording medium
In an image processing apparatus, maximum values and minimum values of the classes of respective color components are calculated; the largest value among the maximum values of the color components is found as an all-color maximum value, color correction curves are generated, on the basis of the maximum and minimum values of the respective color components and the all-color maximum value, for color components other than the color component whose maximum value is equal to the all-color maximum value, and the color correction curves are used to perform corrections on the respective color components of the image signal. The color correction curves are generated for performing corrections such that, after the corrections, the maximum value of each color component is approximately equal to the all-color maximum value. Alternatively, the color correction curves are generated for performing corrections such that, after the corrections, the minimum value of each color component is approximately equal to an all-color minimum value. Color casts arising from lighting effects at the time of imaging are corrected, and image contrast can be heightened. |
| US09449374B2 |
System and method for multi-frame temporal de-noising using image alignment
Methods, devices, and computer program products for multi-frame termporal de-noising using image alignment are describe. In one aspect, a method of capturing an image using a multi-frame temporal de-noising is described. The method includes capturing a plurality of frames and aligning the captured plurality of frames with each other. The method further includes determining a subset of frames of the captured plurality of frames, the subset determined based upon a focus quality of each frame of the plurality of frames. Finally, the method includes combining the subset of frames into a single image using a motion filter to reduce blurriness and ghosting. |
| US09449372B2 |
Dust removal technology for driver vision leverage
A system includes a way of improving an image obscured by airborne particles. The system includes a decomposition processor and an image generation processor. The decomposition processor decomposes an object of interest moving in a first image at a first rate of speed into at least one first subspace vector. This decomposition processor also decomposes fine particles moving at a different rate of speed than the object in the first image into at least one second subspace vector. The fine particles obscure the object of interest in a second image. The image generation processor generates based, at least in part on the first subspace vector and the second subspace vector, an image of the object without some of the fine particles obscuring the object of interest. |
| US09449369B2 |
Image processing apparatus and control method thereof
An image processing apparatus and a control method thereof are provided. The image processing apparatus includes: a signal receiver to receive an image signal including an image and additional information displayed in the image; a signal processor to process the received image signal; and a controller to generate a reversed image resulting from up-down and/or right-left reversal of the image included in the image signal and to control the signal processor to display the reversed image and the additional information at an area of the reversed image. |
| US09449368B2 |
Method, system and mobile terminal for information displaying
A method, system and mobile terminal for information displaying are provided. The method is applied to a system that includes a cloud server and at least one mobile terminal, the method including: reporting, by the mobile terminal, its attribute information to the cloud server, the attribute information includes screen density of the mobile terminal and screen width of the mobile terminal; typesetting, by the cloud server, information to be displayed of the mobile terminal, based on the screen density and the screen width, and returning the typeset information to the mobile terminal to display. Since typesetting information of the cloud server is typeset according to the attribute information reported by the mobile terminal, displaying information of the mobile terminal may be adapted to the screen density of the mobile terminal. |
| US09449364B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program to recognize circumstances of a subject from a moving image
There is provided an information processing apparatus including an acquisition unit configured to acquire a moving image generated through imaging by an imaging apparatus having a view angle of 180° or more, and a virtual space generation unit configured to generate a three-dimensional virtual space including one or more objects having a curved inner surface and a curved outer surface, on the basis of a plurality of frame images included in the moving image. The virtual space generation unit generates the three-dimensional virtual space in a manner that, for each of the one or more objects, a frame image included in the plurality of frame images is mapped on at least one of the curved inner surface and the curved outer surface. |
| US09449361B2 |
Image processing apparatus and control method of image processing apparatus
There is provided an image processing apparatus including a graphics processing unit, a first computer that controls the graphics processing unit, an intermediate image storage unit that stores image data generated by the graphics processing unit, an image input unit that inputs a plurality of image data, an image switching unit that outputs a plurality of any image data among the plurality of image data input to the image input unit, an image combining unit that combines image data using the image data output from the image switching unit and the image data stored in the intermediate image storage unit, an image output unit that outputs the image data combined by the image combing unit, a second computer that controls the image switching unit and the image combining unit, and a connecting unit that connects the first computer and the second computer. |
| US09449359B2 |
Rendering settings in a multi-graphics processing unit system
Graphics rendering settings in a computer system are adjusted when an activity level on a bus meets a trigger condition. The graphics rendering settings of the system are returned to a previous level when the bus activity drops below a threshold. The trigger condition may be related to bandwidth usage on the bus or latency of data sent over the bus. |
| US09449354B2 |
Licensing for services
A method, system, and computer-readable storage media for providing licensing for services are provided herein. The method includes determining, via a service partner, whether a user exists in a user provisioning cache and whether the user is provisioned to use a service provided by the service partner. The method also includes querying a licensing service to determine updates to the user provisioning cache if the user does not exist in the user provisioning cache or is not provisioned to use the service, or both. Further, the method includes determining whether the user is provisioned to use the service based on the updates to the user provisioning cache and, if the user is provisioned to use the service, allowing the user access to the service. |
| US09449352B2 |
Load control system and load control method
An exemplary embodiment provides a load management system, including a detecting module and a determining module. The detecting module creates at least one activated one of a plurality of loads located in a predetermined space as an activation set, and creates a group set including a plurality of sub-groups according to locations and activation times of the activated ones of the plurality of loads. The detecting module creates the activated ones of the plurality of loads which have been activated within a predetermined time period as one of the sub-groups. The determining module determines whether each of the activated ones of the plurality of loads is an essential load or a non-essential load according to the group set and the activation set to produce a determining result. |
| US09449349B2 |
Method of updating scroll bar in screen of user terminal and user terminal for updating scroll bar in screen
A method of updating a scroll bar in a screen of a user terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention may include displaying a chat window including at least a portion of a chat history among users in a first display area of a touch display, displaying a scroll bar in a second display area of the touch display, storing the new chat message in a temporary memory temporarily upon receipt of the new chatting message, adding the new chat message into the chat history in response to a touch event of the user on the touch display, and updating the scroll bar in response to the new chat message being added into the chat history. |
| US09449348B2 |
Providing a locality viewport through a social networking system
A method of operation of a social filter system includes: identifying a user with a user account; identifying a socially connected account from the user account, the socially connected account having a social association; selecting a content of interest from a content store of contents of interest based on the social association; and sending the content of interest for displaying on a user device. |
| US09449340B2 |
Method and system for managing an electronic shopping list with gestures
A computer-implemented method is disclosed herein. The method includes the step of receiving, with a processing device of a commerce server, one or more shopping list signals from an electronic computing device to establish a shopping list of a plurality of items offered for sale in a retail store. The method also includes the step of transmitting, with the processing device, a first item signal to an augmented reality device worn by a consumer within the retail store. The first item signal corresponds to one of the plurality of items. The method also includes the step of receiving, with the processing device, one or more movement signals from the augmented reality device worn by the consumer corresponding to movement of the consumer. The method also includes the step of changing, with the processing device, from transmitting the first item signal to transmitting a second item signal different from the first item signal in response to the step of receiving the one or more movement signals. |
| US09449338B2 |
System and method of providing a buy option response to a generalized search
Disclosed herein are methods for presenting a search response to a user query configured to include a buy option. In response to the user query on a generalized search engine, the method includes presenting a purchase-related search result that is configured such that when a user interacts with the purchase-related search result and confirms a purchase via interacting with the buy option, the generalized search entity initiates processing of the purchase of an item. The method includes receiving an interaction from the user associated with the purchase-related search result. The generalized search engine or entity can store and process payment information and communicate through an API with a merchant who handles delivery of the item. |
| US09449337B2 |
Emulation of a client browser and generation of web page data by an electronic commerce server in a testing environment having a separate test server
A method for electronic commerce management is provided. The method includes sending a request to the test server to be assigned a session identifier, the session identifier being associated with an assigned content version and receive the session identifier from the test server. The method further includes generating web page data to send to the client program, the web page data including (1) computer code which upon execution will cause the client program to retrieve the assigned content version of the static content from the test server using the session identifier, and (2) dynamic web page content based on one or more dynamic content factors and send the web page data to the client program. |
| US09449336B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing harmonized recommendations based on an integrated user profile
In certain implementations, a system may receive attribute data corresponding to attributes of a plurality of users and to one or more venues for which the plurality of users has an affinity. A user personality matrix may be calculated for one or more of the plurality of users based on interrelational nodal link strengths between the one or more users and the venues. The user personality matrices may be merged to calculate a combined personality matrix representing a unified taste profile for the one or more users. A candidate list of venues having the highest link strength with the combined personality matrix may be determined. One or more recommended venues from the candidate list of venues that have the strongest links to the combined personality matrix may be determined, and recommendation data corresponding to the recommended venues may be output. |
| US09449335B2 |
Delivering wrapped packages in response to the selection of advertisements
Delivery of a wrap package in response to the selection of an advertisement appearing in a web page, social media feed or in an email, text or other electronic message. In some embodiments, the advertisement may be a “cover” for the wrap package that contains an identifier associate with the wrap. When the cover is selected, the identifier is used to access and deliver the wrap package to the requesting device. In other embodiments, the advertisement may contain a link including the identifier that is then used to retrieve and deliver the wrap when the link is selected. |
| US09449333B2 |
Online advertising associated with electronic mapping systems
Various methods, systems and apparatus for displaying online advertising content associated with a point-of-interest (“POI”) in a digital mapping system, are disclosed. One such method may include detecting a change in the zoom level of an electronic map displayed on a computing device (e.g. desktop/laptop, smart phone, etc. operation on Windows®, Linux®, Mac OS®, iOS®, Android®, etc.) determining if the new zoom-level is at a pre-determined zoom level (e.g. at maximum zoom), identifying a POI on the map, retrieving advertisement content associated with the POI (“POI advertisement content”) and displaying the POI advertisement content. A POI may be a specific point of interest; or, an entire geographic region of a map displayed at a high zoom level. The method may further include detecting a change in the zoom, or pan, of the digital map while POI advertisement content is displayed, and removing or repositioning the POI advertisement content in response. |
| US09449332B2 |
System and method for providing advertising content in media program content
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server comprising a memory to store executable instructions and a controller coupled to the memory. The controller, responsive to executing the instructions, performs operations comprising presenting a graphical user interface enabling selectable advertisements or a selectable channel distribution service for delivery to a set top box, presenting filters for targeted delivery of advertisements to subscriber equipment based on information descriptive of the subscriber, selecting advertisements from an advertising server based on detected selections of advertisements or a detected channel distribution service preference, transmitting a globally unique identifier of the set top box to a billing server, initiating storage of the selectable advertisements at a remote advertisement delivery server, and presenting the selectable advertisements to the set top box. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09449327B2 |
Merchant alert based system and method including customer presence notification
Embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein include systems and methods for sending merchant alert messages. The merchant can specify criteria indicating the types of customers for which he desires to receive alerts. Merchant alert messages can be sent based on characteristics of a customer, including the customer's proximity to the merchant. The merchant can use the alert message to provide better service to the customer or prevent the customer from engaging in transactions, depending on the contents of the merchant alert message. |
| US09449325B2 |
System and method for authenticity verification
A system for authenticity verification includes: a unique product identity generation system (UPIDGS) configured for generating a unique product identity (UPID) code corresponding to a product; an anomaly generation and identification system (AGIS) connected with the UPIDGS and configured for generating an anomaly to be inserted into a standard pattern attached to the product; a database and information management system (DBIMS) connected with the UPIDGS and the AGIS; and a unique product identity verification system (UPIDVS) connected with the DBIMS and configured for receiving information from the DBIMS and verifying the authenticity of the product based on the authenticity of the 2D codes and the anomaly. The 2D codes are attached to the product and captured by the DBIMS. The AGIS is configured to locate and identify the anomaly from the product. The DBIMS is configured to determine the authenticity of the 2D codes and the anomaly. |
| US09449321B2 |
Transferring money using email
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for transferring money using email. One of the methods includes receiving, at a user device, user input of a request to transfer a payment amount from a recipient account with a payment service system to a sender account of a sender with the payment service system. A draft email message is generated, the message having content identifying the requested payment amount, the draft email message including a confirmation link to a network resource associated with the payment service system, wherein upon receiving an indication that the recipient selected the confirmation link, the payment service system identifies a sender account of the sender and a recipient account of the recipient and initiates a transfer of the requested payment amount from the recipient account to the sender account. |
| US09449319B1 |
Conducting transactions with dynamic passwords
Techniques for conducting transactions with one-time passwords are described herein. These techniques may include receiving a request to conduct a transaction, as well as a one-time password and an identifier linked with a payment instrument. The identifier may or may not identify the linked payment instrument. In both instances, a transaction processing service may compare the received one-time password with a one-time password stored at or accessible by the transaction processing service. If the passwords match, the service may approve the transaction. Otherwise, the service may decline the transaction or implement one or more additional authorization procedures. |
| US09449317B2 |
Method and system for interrogating and processing codes
An interrogating and processing system and method is described. A wireless communication device interrogates an information source, having a barcode or tag, and wirelessly transmits data indicative of the information source. The interrogator can be built into or adjunct to the wireless communication device. An automated processing subsystem receives the transmitted data and identifies an item corresponding to the data. A fulfillment subsystem effects delivery of the item to a destination. There can be a coupon code scanning and processing system and method. A wireless computing device having an interrogator reads a coupon code. An automated processing subsystem receives the corresponding data and provides a benefit associated with the coupon. The benefit can be a discount on a product or service. Alternatively, at least a portion of the coupon including a code is displayed on a screen of the computing device for processing at a point of sale terminal. |
| US09449313B2 |
Customer to supplier funds transfer
Apparatuses and methods to facilitate customer to supplier funds transfer via premium messages. In one aspect, an apparatus to electronically transfer funds from a customer to a supplier includes: a server component connected to a network; and a database coupled to the server component. The server component is configured to: transmit a plurality of premium rate mobile terminating text messages to the mobile cellular telephone to effect a payment from the customer to the supplier after the customer has placed an order with a supplier; populate the database with an identification of the telephone number of the customer; populate the database with at least one transaction record related to the premium rate text messages; and facilitate access to the transaction record by the customer via the telephone number of the customer. |
| US09449312B1 |
Systems and devices controlled responsive to data bearing records
A device (12) operates to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. The device includes a reader (20) that is usable to read check data from financial checks. The reader is also usable to read data from invoices and other documents associated with deliveries of goods or other items. At least one processor circuit (54) of the device is operative to cause a determination to be made that invoice data corresponds to stored data associated with a purchaser to whom a delivery of goods is authorized to be made. Responsive to the determination, a check amount that is determined from read check data is added to an account of a vendor associated with delivered goods. |
| US09449310B2 |
Check-in method and system based on two-dimensional code, scanning terminal, and display terminal
A check-in method based on a two-dimensional barcode and an associated system including a check-in management server, a scanning terminal, and a display terminal are provided. The check-in management server is communicatively connected to a display terminal and a scanning terminal, respectively. The check-in management server generates a two-dimensional barcode and sends the two-dimensional barcode to the display terminal, the two-dimensional barcode comprising a check-in identifier. The display terminal displays the two-dimensional barcode. The scanning terminal then scans the two-dimensional barcode, obtains a scanning timestamp and the check-in identifier, and sends a check-in request including a user identifier, the scanning timestamp, and the check-in identifier to the check-in management server. The check-in management server confirms the check-in request according to the check-in identifier and the user identifier, and records a check-in timestamp of the user according to the scanning timestamp. |
| US09449309B2 |
Managing emails at an electronic mail client
Some example embodiments include a method for managing emails The method includes identifying a plurality of emails having a same subject The method also includes determining an inclusion relationship among the plurality of emails The method includes providing a user interface at an email client end The method includes graphically displaying on the user interface the plurality of emails and the inclusion relationship among the plurality of emails, wherein the graphically displaying of the inclusion relationship comprises identifying content that is duplicated across at least two emails within the plurality of emails. |
| US09449308B2 |
Defining actions for data streams via icons
Embodiments provide visual programming constructs including icons representing conditions and actions for processing incoming data streams. A user selects icons corresponding to at least one of the conditions and at least one of the actions to define a rule. The selected condition relates to at least one element possibly present in the incoming data stream. Without compilation of the rule, at least one incoming data stream is analyzed based on the condition to detect a presence of the element within the incoming data stream. The action is performed based on the analysis. In some embodiments, formatting of the incoming data streams is altered according to the conditions and actions to personalize the incoming data stream. |
| US09449306B2 |
User identifier management
The different illustrative embodiments provide a method 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. |
| US09449300B2 |
Prospective city government jobs posting system for multiple city government employers with integrated service features
A multiple employer city government jobs posting system includes at least one server connected to a public wide area network that hosts a website accessible over the network. The website includes software that allows multiple city governments to register for use of the website, to post and manage job announcements and prospective job announcements and allows multiple prospective employees to register for use of the website, prepare and save electronic resumes, and submit the electronic resumes to the city governments in response to the prospective job announcements. Electronic job applications are provided and prospective employees can submit online to city governments. The website requires city governments to provide a city profile and links to city government web pages. The system allows prospective employees to search for posted job announcements, prospective job announcements, city hyperlinks and profiles. The system allows city governments to search electronic resumes and to contact prospective employees. |
| US09449299B2 |
Digital content subscription conditioning system
Allocating subscription revenue may involve receiving usage information relating to usage of digital content (e.g., music, movies, text, images, games) in a digital content aggregation, identifying a coefficient relating to a subset of digital works in the digital content aggregation (e.g., author-specific subjective or objective factors, popularity ranking, historical factors, performance factors, etc.), and generating a revenue allocation for the digital content based on the coefficient and the usage information. |
| US09449297B2 |
Exposing process flows and choreography controllers as web services
The present invention relates to computer-based devices and methods supporting document exchange choreographies. More particularly, aspects of the present invention relate to devices and methods that facilitate evolution of systems by various combinations of choreography versioning, service versioning and document versioning. It provides for choreography management using a choreography agent and presents choreography-enabled interfaces to non choreography enabled applications. Additional aspects of the present invention include a graphical design tool and transparent aliasing of a host service as multiple context setting franchised services. Particular aspects of the present invention are described in the claims, specification and drawings. |
| US09449294B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing user devices and contents by using quick response codes
A method and apparatus for managing user devices and contents with quick response (QR) codes. An image of a QR code displayed on a user terminal is captured; the captured image of the QR code is analyzed, and a domain registration request message is generated based on the QR code; and the domain registration request message is transmitted to a domain server, and a domain registration response message is received from the domain server. |
| US09449291B2 |
Subscriptions for routing incoming messages to process instances in a process execution engine
An orchestration engine may execute multiple, concurrently running instances of a process model, where each of the instances of the process model includes one or more receiving objects. A messaging endpoint may be shared by the instances of the process model and may be configured to receive messages. A subscription handler may handle multiple subscriptions for the instances and may be configured to define a first subscription for a first instance of the multiple instances, where the first subscription includes a correlation expression, an association with the messaging endpoint, and an association with a first receiving object within the first instance. The subscription handler also may associate the first subscription with the first instance and initialize the first subscription associated with the first instance. A routing manager may route received messages that match the first subscription to the first receiving object. |
| US09449289B2 |
Mobile terminal, system, computer program product, and method for updating a work plan
A method, a computer program product, a mobile terminal, and system are provided. For example, the method includes receiving a work plan comprising at least one work item with a mobile terminal, wherein the work item includes an initial location of at least one identification device. The method also includes reading identification information contained on the identification device with the mobile terminal and identifying a deployed location of the identification device. Moreover, the method includes providing the identification information and the deployed location such that the work plan can be updated. |
| US09449288B2 |
Travel services search
A system and method for searching travel services. A server computer receives a travel request from a client device operated by a user. The server computer identifies travel options according to the travel request. The server computer classifies the travel options into predefined groups, the classifying based on at least one of past transactions, input from domain experts, input from semantic analysts, analytics data, user preferences, and company policies. The server computer presents the options via presentation of the predefined groups. |
| US09449287B2 |
System and method for predicting personality traits using disc profiling and big five personality techniques
The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media for human personality prediction by analyzing information collected from different sources such as social media, call detail record (CDR), email etc. using DISC (dominance, inducement, submission, and compliance) profiling and Big Five personality techniques (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism). Embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure are further capable of using a self-learning model which learns from user response to the prediction. |
| US09449285B2 |
System and method for using pattern recognition to monitor and maintain status quo
A system for prospectively identifying media characteristics for inclusion in media content is disclosed. A neural network database including media characteristic information and feature information may associate relationships among the media characteristic information and feature information. Personal characteristic information associated with target media consumers may be used to select a subset of the neural network database. A first set of nodes, representing selected feature information, may be activated. The node interactions may be calculated to detect the activation of a second set of nodes, the second set of nodes representing media characteristic information. Generally, a node is activated when an activation value of the node exceeds a threshold value. Media characteristic information may be identified for inclusion in media content based on the second set of nodes. |
| US09449283B1 |
Selecting a training strategy for training a machine learning model
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for training a machine learning model. One of the methods includes performing experiments to select a training strategy for use in training the model on a particular data set. The selected training strategy includes a binning strategy for binning the raw feature vectors before the raw feature vectors are provided to the predictive model. |
| US09449281B2 |
Statistical machine learning
Statistical machine learning, in which an input module receives user input that defines a hypothesis associated with a particular output. The hypothesis defines one or more starting criteria that are proposed as being correlated with the particular output, and a recommendation engine initially provides recommendations that include the particular output based on the one or more starting criteria defined by the hypothesis. An experience analytics system receives feedback data related to whether the recommendations provided based on the one or more starting criteria defined by the hypothesis were successful and modifies the hypothesis based on the feedback data. Subsequent to the experience analytics system modifying the hypothesis, the recommendation engine provides recommendations that include the particular output based on the modified hypothesis. |
| US09449278B2 |
Cloud-based diagnostics and remediation
Troubleshooting a technical problem on a user device using a network-based remediation platform. Receiving problem statements relating to technical problems associated with a user device, activating a domain of cases, assigning a score for the cases based on a scoring algorithm, and determining one or more remediation actions to suggest based on the score. |
| US09449275B2 |
Actuation of a technical system based on solutions of relaxed abduction
To enable efficient abduction even for observations that are faulty or inadequately modeled, a relaxed abduction problem is proposed in order to explain the largest possible part of the observations with as few assumptions as possible. On the basis of two preference orders over a subset of observations and a subset of assumptions, tuples can therefore be determined such that the theory, together with the subset of assumptions, explains the subset of observations. The formulation as a multi-criteria optimization problem eliminates the need to offset assumptions made and explained observations against one another. Due to the technical soundness of the approach, specific properties of the set of results (such as correctness, completeness etc.), can be checked, which is particularly advantageous in safety-critical applications. The complexity of the problem-solving process can be influenced and therefore flexibly adapted in terms of domain requirements through the selection of the underlying representation language and preference relations. The invention can be applied to any technical system, e.g. plants or power stations. |
| US09449273B2 |
Semantic web technologies in system automation
A method includes maintaining descriptions of a plurality of information technology resources in a computer-readable storage medium. The method includes maintaining a plurality of evaluation strategies, wherein the evaluation strategies associate a plurality of rules with forms of changes to the plurality of information technology resources. Responsive to detecting a command to change a first property of the set of properties of a first information technology resource of the plurality of information technology resources, the method determines that a first of the evaluation strategies associates at least one of the plurality of rules with a form of the change to the first property of the first information technology resource. Also, responsive to detecting the command, the method evaluates the at least one of the plurality of rules and performs the operation of the at least one rule. |
| US09449271B2 |
Classifying resources using a deep network
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for scoring concept terms using a deep network. One of the methods includes receiving an input comprising a plurality of features of a resource, wherein each feature is a value of a respective attribute of the resource; processing each of the features using a respective embedding function to generate one or more numeric values; processing the numeric values using one or more neural network layers to generate an alternative representation of the features, wherein processing the floating point values comprises applying one or more non-linear transformations to the floating point values; and processing the alternative representation of the input using a classifier to generate a respective category score for each category in a pre-determined set of categories, wherein each of the respective category scores measure a predicted likelihood that the resource belongs to the corresponding category. |
| US09449264B1 |
Embedded radio frequency identification (RFID) package
A radio frequency identification (RFID) device is described. In one or more implementations, the RFID device includes an integrated circuit (IC) die electrically connected to a radio frequency (RF) antenna winding for transmitting electronically stored information via the RF antenna winding. The RFID device also includes a substrate comprising a first core laminated to a second core. The RF antenna winding is routed through the first core and the second core. The first core defines a cavity for retaining the IC die. The cavity is disposed within the RF antenna winding in the first core. |
| US09449259B1 |
Opportunistic cascade and cascade training, evaluation, and execution for vision-based object detection
The present invention relates to a classifier cascade object detection system. The system operates by inputting an image patch into parallel feature generation modules, each of the feature generation modules operable for extracting features from the image patch. The features are provided to an opportunistic classifier cascade, the opportunistic classifier cascade having a series of classifier stages. The opportunistic classifier cascade is executed by progressively evaluating, in each classifier in the classifier cascade, the features to produce a response, with each response progressively utilized by a decision function to generate a stage response for each classifier stage. If each stage response exceeds a stage threshold then the image patch is classified as a target object, and if the stage response from any of the decision functions does not exceed the stage threshold, then the image patch is classified as a non-target object. |
| US09449256B1 |
Providing image candidates based on diverse adjustments to an image
In some implementations, a method provides image candidates for a user. The method can include applying a plurality of different image adjustment types to an image to produce a plurality of different adjusted images. A score is determined for each of the adjusted images, where each score is based on previous selections by a plurality of persons of other images having one or more characteristics similar to the adjusted images. The method determines one or more candidate images for presentation to a particular user, where each candidate image is obtained from one of the different image adjustment types. The candidate images are determined based on the scores of the adjustment types. |
| US09449255B2 |
Method and apparatus for the determination of classification parameters for the classification of bank notes
A method for the determination of classification parameters or adaptation parameters for the classification of bank notes in different classes by means of a bank note processing apparatus includes: sensing measurement data for a plurality of reference bank notes having known properties by means of a sensor device of the bank note processing apparatus, at least some of the reference bank notes being provided with an adhesive strip; determining a set of classification parameters; ascertaining the distribution of the plurality of reference bank notes over the different classes on the basis of the measurement data of the reference bank notes and the set of classification parameters; and comparing the distribution over the different classes determined for the plurality of reference bank notes, with the optimal distribution of the reference bank notes over the different classes, and ascertained from the known properties of the plurality of reference bank notes. |
| US09449251B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and medium
An image processing apparatus that extracts colors of patches from a photographed image data of a chart image is provided. The image processing apparatus includes: a position extraction unit configured to extract information indicating a position of the chart image in the photographed image data; an acquisition unit configured to acquire information indicating a patch position of each patch images in the chart image based on the chart image; a setting unit configured to set an extraction range in accordance with the patch position of each of the patch images in the photographed image data based on the information; a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the set extraction range fits inside each of the patch images; and a color extraction unit configured to extract a color of each patch image. |
| US09449245B2 |
Method and device for detecting straight line
The present disclosure relates to a method and a device for detecting a straight line. The method includes: acquiring a Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) feature set for each respective pixel point in an image, wherein the HOG feature set is configured to reflect straight line characteristics of a localized portion where the pixel point locates; determining at least one candidate direction of a straight line to be detected according to the HOG feature sets of the respective pixel points; and detecting a direction and a position of the straight line precisely according to the candidate direction. The present disclosure efficiently avoids the errors caused by binarization, and increases the accuracy of the detection of straight line. |
| US09449242B2 |
Laptop detection
Provided herein are devices, systems, and methods for the detection of objects (e.g., laptop computers, electronics, explosives, etc.) within luggage. In particular, methods are provided for the detection of laptop computers within luggage (e.g., luggage containing other metallic objects and/or electronic devices). |
| US09449241B2 |
System and method for detecting and tracking a curvilinear object in a three-dimensional space
A system for detecting and tracking a curvilinear object in a three-dimensional space includes an image acquisition system including a video camera arranged to acquire a video image of the curvilinear object and output a corresponding video signal, the video image comprising a plurality n of image frames each at a respective time ti, where i=1, 2, . . . , n; and a data processing system adapted to communicate with the image acquisition system to receive the video signal. The data processing system is configured to determine a position, orientation and shape of the curvilinear object in the three-dimensional space at each time ti by forming a computational model of the curvilinear object at each time ti such that a projection of the computation model of the curvilinear object at each time ti onto a corresponding frame of the plurality of image frames of the video image matches a curvilinear image in the frame to a predetermined accuracy to thereby detect and track the curvilinear object from time ti to time tn. |
| US09449240B2 |
Method of detecting data relating to thermal energy radiated in a scene using the infrared radiation image processing
A method of detecting data relating to thermal energy radiated in a scene uses infrared radiation image processing. A sequential plurality of infrared radiation images of the scene are received that consist of at least two sequential series of images simultaneously detected from respective different points of sight (TC1, TC2), arranged in a predetermined geometrical relationship with respect to each other. Each of the images includes a pixel array, each pixel having a value which is representative of a pixel's fraction of the infrared radiation intensity associated with the array of the image. Successive images of the at least two sequential series of images are processed in order to determine a change in at least one thermal parameter that meets predetermined alarm criteria. An event in the environment is detected based on the change determined in the thermal parameter. |
| US09449236B2 |
Method for object size calibration to aid vehicle detection for video-based on-street parking technology
A method for determining parking availability includes receiving video data from a sequence of frames taken from an image capture device monitoring a parking area. The method includes detecting at least one object located in the parking area. The method includes determining boundaries of the parking area. The boundaries include at least an inner boundary relative to the image capture device and an outer boundary relative to the image capture device. The outer boundary is substantially parallel to the inner boundary. The method further includes computing a length of at least one of the object and a space between objects using an object pixel for each of the inner and outer boundaries. Using the computed length, The method includes determining a parking availability in the parking area. The method includes outputting a notice of the parking availability to a user. |
| US09449235B2 |
Steering control device
A steering control device is provided that calculates a white line approach suppression turning amount that is based on a distance between a host vehicle is separated from either a left or a right white line when a host vehicle approaches either a left or a right white line. The steering control device controls a turning unit for turning a turnable wheel based on the white line approach suppression turning amount, and upon determining that the other among the left and right white lines cannot be detected and a distance between the host vehicle and the left or right white line is decreasing, an increase in the white line approach suppression turning amount is inhibited while permitting a decrease in the white line approach suppression turning amount. |
| US09449230B2 |
Fast object tracking framework for sports video recognition
A solution is provided for object tracking in a sports video is disclosed. A determination whether a position of the object was identified in a previous video frame is made. If the position of the object was identified in the previous video frame, a new position of the object is identified in a current video frame based on the identified position of the object in the previous video frame. An expected position of the object is identified based on the identified position of the object in the previous video frame and a trained object classification model. A determination is made whether the new position is consistent with the expected position; if the new position is consistent with the expected position, the new position is stored as the position of the object in the current frame. |
| US09449217B1 |
Image authentication
A system, apparatus, and method for authenticating a person for access using an image of the face of that person. The system includes a camera, a data storage device, and a processor of a mobile device. The system compares a current image of the face of the subject to a stored image of the face of that subject and/or an image of the face of that subject provided by the subject and confirms that the same subject is depicted in both images. |
| US09449216B1 |
Detection of cast members in video content
Disclosed are various embodiments for detection of cast members in video content such as movies, television shows, and other programs. Data indicating cast members who appear in a video program is obtained. Each cast member is associated with a reference image depicting a face of the cast member. A frame is obtained from the video program, and a face is detected in the frame. The detected face in the frame is recognized as being a particular cast member based at least in part on the reference image depicting the cast member. An association between the cast member and the frame is generated in response to the detected face in the frame being recognized as the cast member. |
| US09449215B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method and information processing program
Information corresponding to a face image preferred by a user as a whole is presented while considering a face element preferred by the user. An information processing apparatus identifies a priority of each of a plurality of elements included in a face in a reference face image. The priority is according to specification by a user. The information processing apparatus extracts, from among a plurality of face images, face images whose similarities of an area including the plurality of elements to the reference face image is greater than or equal to a first threshold value. The information processing apparatus decides, on the basis of similarities of each element between the reference face image and the extracted face images and the identified priority of each element, presentation order of presentation information presented as search results corresponding to the extracted face images. |
| US09449212B2 |
Capacitive fingerprint sensor with sensing elements comprising timing circuitry
The present invention relates to a capacitive fingerprint sensing device for sensing a fingerprint pattern of a finger, the capacitive fingerprint sensor comprising a plurality of sensing elements, each including: a protective dielectric top layer to be touched by the finger; an electrically conductive sensing structure arranged underneath the top layer; charge measuring circuitry connected to the sensing structure for sequentially transitioning between at least a first measurement state and a second measurement state to perform a measurement sequence resulting in an output signal from the charge measuring circuitry being indicative of a change of a charge carried by the sensing structure resulting from a change in a potential difference between the finger and the sensing structure; and timing circuitry connected to the charge measuring circuitry for controlling a timing of at least one of the measurement states. |
| US09449211B2 |
Scanner with adjustable field of view
A scanner having a single integrated camera and a mechanism to adjustable alter the field of view of the camera to provide a field of view coverage area equivalent to scanners having two or more integrated cameras. |
| US09449210B2 |
Method and system for detecting a correction pattern in a QR code
Method and system for detecting a correction pattern in a QR code are disclosed. In the detection of a correction pattern, coordinates of the correction pattern is at first roughly estimated according to the detected coordinates of the detection patterns and different QR code versions, then a square region is specified around the coordinates of the correction pattern, in which a search is performed repeatedly. Finally, in conjunction with the characteristic of the correction pattern itself, i.e., having a line segment meeting a predetermined ratio, the correction pattern may be accurately located in the predetermined area, without the need of searching patterns meeting a 1:1:1 ratio line by line in the entire QR code image. |
| US09449208B2 |
Compartmentalized smart refrigerator with automated item management
A smart refrigerator system includes a plurality of compartments for storing food items and one or more tag readers. The smart refrigerator system may read a tag coupled to a food item using one of one or more tag readers. The smart refrigerator system may determine an identity of the food item, an associated date of the food item, and/or a compartment containing the food item. The smart refrigerator system may track item information that includes the identity of the food item, a state of the food item, and/or a compartment location of the food item. The smart refrigerator system may receive item usage information indicating when a user plans to use the food item and change a temperature of the food item. The smart refrigerator system may also generate a notification regarding freshness and/or a spoilage level of the food item and present it to the user. |
| US09449205B2 |
Method and system for correctly identifying specific RFID tags
A system and method for identifying a specific RFID tag includes RFID reader circuitry, such as within an RFID reader, configured for sending and receiving RF signals to detect RFID tags and for obtaining signal parameter information associated with the RFID tags. Processing circuitry is configured for using the signal parameter information for one or more tags of the RFID tags and calculating a tag score for the one or more RFID tags. The processing circuitry is further configured for determining a specific RFID tag using the tag scores for the one or more RFID tags. |
| US09449204B1 |
Anti-recording card reading device
This anti-recording card reading device includes: a magnetic card reading head having a data reading terminal and a flexible circuit board, where the flexible circuit board has a plurality of ear-fold portions, a first line layer of the flexible circuit board is provided with a signal transmission line, a first protection line is disposed on two sides of the signal transmission line, a second line layer is provided with a second protection line, and the ear-fold portions can be fold and fitted in the magnetic card reading head; a mainboard, disposed neighboring to a card reading component; an anti-tamper framework, disposed on the mainboard; and a protection area bounded by the anti-tamper framework, where a terminal section of the flexible circuit board is connected to the data reading terminal, and the other side extends into the protection area and is connected to the mainboard. |
| US09449201B2 |
Integrated unit for reading identification information base on inherent disorder
The invention provides an authentication unit for reading identification and/or authentication information from a tag or object. The authentication unit includes a near-field reader configured to read a first identification feature based on inherent disorder, and a far-field reader configured to read a second identification feature, such as a bar code, optical characters, or an RFID tag. The near-field and far-field readers may be combined in a single integrated scanning module, which also includes circuitry for receiving signals from the readers, and an interface for communicating with a host device. |
| US09449200B2 |
Methods, systems and apparatus to secure devices via physical and/or virtual locking
Methods, systems, apparatus and articles of manufacture are disclosed to secure devices. An example disclosed apparatus includes a platform detector to determine when the device is within a threshold proximity to a platform, a device locking manager to initiate a locking service for the device when within the threshold proximity, and a device tampering manager to initiate a tampering remedy in response to detecting an indication of tampering. |
| US09449198B1 |
Prime field elliptic cryptography processor
A system including a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit includes a multiplier array to receive a first operand and a second operand and generate a plurality of outputs, an adder array to receive the plurality of outputs and generate a partial product of the first operand and the second operand including partial sums and carry bits, which are stored in a plurality of register arrays. The second circuit generates the product of the first operand and the second operand by implementing a two-stage reduction of the partial product of the first operand and the second operand. A first stage includes rearranging the partial sums and carry bits as two multi-bit integers. A second stage includes generating a plurality of multi-bit integers based on the two multi-bit integers, and generating the product of the first operand and the second operand based on the plurality of multi-bit integers. |
| US09449190B2 |
Method and system for run-time dynamic and interactive identification software authorization requirements and privileged code locations, and for validation of other software program analysis results
A system, method and computer program product for identifying security authorizations and privileged-code requirements; for validating analyses performed using static analyses; for automatically evaluating existing security policies; for detecting problems in code; in a run-time execution environment in which a software program is executing. The method comprises: implementing reflection objects for identifying program points in the executing program where authorization failures have occurred in response to the program's attempted access of resources requiring authorization; displaying instances of identified program points via a user interface, the identified instances being user selectable; for a selected program point, determining authorization and privileged-code requirements for the access restricted resources in real-time; and, enabling a user to select, via the user interface, whether a required authorization should be granted, wherein local system, fine-grained access of resources requiring authorizations is provided. |
| US09449182B1 |
Access control for a document management and collaboration system
A method and apparatus for controlling access to documents retained by a document management and collaboration system is disclosed. The document management and collaboration system may generate one or more suggested privileges associated with one or more users. An access control policy may specify whether system-generated user privileges may be enforced. If they are enforced, access to one or more document may be made subject to the generated privileges. |
| US09449181B1 |
Control and enforcement of access of user data
Control and enforcement of access of user data are described, including receiving a request from an application to access data associated with a user; determining that a service profile and another service profile are associated with the user, the service profile includes at least one data service specified by the user and the another service profile includes at least another data service specified by the user; identifying the service profile being associated, by the user, with at least the application; determining whether the data requested by the application are provided by the at least one data service included in the service profile; and performing an action with respect to access by the application to the data requested, based on a result of the determining. |
| US09449180B2 |
Secure data parser method and system
The present invention provides a method and system for securing sensitive data from unauthorized access or use. The method and system of the present invention is useful in a wide variety of settings, including commercial settings generally available to the public which may be extremely large or small with respect to the number of users. The method and system of the present invention is also useful in a more private setting, such as with a corporation or governmental agency, as well as between corporation, governmental agencies or any other entity. |
| US09449178B2 |
System, method and computer product for fast and secure data searching
A system for fast secured searching may include a user interface, a web layer configured for executing application logic and configured for interacting with a user via the user interface and configured to perform user authentication, and a database layer in communication with and accessible by the web layer and comprising a database configured for storing data, and a search engine configured for searching the database, wherein, communication to and from the database layer from and to the web layer is controlled by secure socket layer certificate authorization. The database layer may also include an inverted index in communication with the database and the search engine and configured for maintaining updated snapshots relating to the data in the database and an encryption/decryption layer for selective encryption of the data and configurable for field level, document level, and/or chunk level encryption. |
| US09449175B2 |
Method and apparatus for analyzing and detecting malicious software
A method for providing analysis and detection of malicious software may include directing a comparison of patterns within sample code to a predetermined set of malicious software patterns, determining whether the sample code is likely to be malicious software based on the comparison, and, in response to a determination that the sample code is likely to be malicious software, determining a malicious software cluster with which the sample code is associated based on the patterns within the sample code. A corresponding computer program product and apparatus are also provided. |
| US09449174B2 |
Fingerprint analysis for anti-virus scan
Disclosed are systems and methods for fingerprint analysis for anti-virus scanning. In an embodiment, a method of scanning for infected data items is disclosed. The method provides identifying a plurality of changed data items on a server machine. The method further provides, from a data system in communication with the server machine, performing a virus scan on the plurality of changed data items. The method further provides that the data system maintains a list of data items that the virus scan found to be infected. |
| US09449168B2 |
Method and system for tracking machines on a network using fuzzy guid technology
A method for querying a knowledgebase of malicious hosts numbered from 1 through N. The method includes providing a network of computers, which has a plurality of unknown malicious host machines. In a specific embodiment, the malicious host machines are disposed throughout the network of computers, which includes a worldwide network of computers, e.g., Internet. The method includes querying a knowledge base including a plurality of known malicious hosts, which are numbered from 1 through N, where N is an integer greater than 1. In a preferred embodiment, the knowledge base is coupled to the network of computers. The method includes receiving first information associated with an unknown host from the network; identifying an unknown host and querying the knowledge base to determine if the unknown host is one of the known malicious hosts in the knowledge base. The method also includes outputting second information associated with the unknown host based upon the querying process. |
| US09449166B2 |
Performing authentication based on user shape manipulation
In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises: a first logic to receive a user selection of an authentication shape, the authentication shape to be displayed on a display of a system during a user authentication, associate at least one identity characteristic with each of a plurality of sides of the authentication shape, and receive a plurality of user indications each corresponding to a manipulation of the authentication shape to enable one of the plurality of sides of the authentication shape to be a prominent side of the authentication shape on the display; an encoding logic to encode an identification of the authentication shape, the at least one identity characteristic associated with each of the plurality of sides, and the plurality of user indications into an encoded value; a security logic to generate a secure authentication value based on the encoded value; and a secure storage to store the secure authentication value. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09449161B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method, and non-transitory computer readable medium for permitting execution of an instruction in a case where first biometric information and second biometric information are different
An information processing apparatus includes an instruction accepting unit, an obtaining unit, an extraction unit, a determination unit, and a permission unit. The instruction accepting unit is configured to accept an instruction from a user. The obtaining unit is configured to obtain an image. The extraction unit is configured to extract first biometric information and second biometric information from the image obtained by the obtaining unit. The determination unit is configured to determine whether the first biometric information and the second biometric information are different. The permission unit is configured to permit execution of the instruction accepted by the instruction accepting unit in a case where the determination unit determines that the first biometric information and the second biometric information are different. |
| US09449159B2 |
System and method for lost data destruction of electronic data stored on a portable electronic device which communicates with servers that are inside of and outside of a firewall
A data security system and method protects stored data from unauthorized access. According to one aspect of the invention, a client computing device communicates periodically with a server. If communications is note established between the client and the server for a selected activation interval and a subsequent grace period, the data is determined to be lost, and programmed security rules are automatically executed. The server with which the client computer device communicates includes one server located inside the firewall of a particular organization, or a mirror server located outside the firewall, and thereby allow for the re-setting of the activation interval when the client is properly outside of the firewall through communication with the mirror server, as well as the to provide command an control over a lost or stolen client by pushing updated rules if communication is subsequently attempted with the mirror server. |
| US09449158B2 |
Expiration time authentication system, expiration time authentication device, and expiration time authentication method for applications
A smartphone into which an application is installed includes a first and second authentication processing unit. The first authentication processing unit is configured to determine whether or not a current activation time of the application is past expiration time; permits authentication if the current activation time is not past the expiration time; and denies authentication if the current activation time is past the expiration time. The second authentication processing unit is configured to determine whether or not the current activation time is after previous activation time; permit authentication if the current activation time is after the previous activation time; and deny authentication if the current activation time is not after the previous activation time, wherein second authentication processing allows authentication to be denied if the current activation time (tampered and unauthorized activation time) is time before the previous activation time, as a result of turning back an internal clock of the smartphone. |
| US09449153B2 |
Unique and unclonable platform identifiers using data-dependent circuit path responses
A method and apparatus are provided for generating a unique identifier. One or more tests are performed over one or more data-dependent circuit paths for one or more circuits. The one or more tests are then repeated over the one or more data-dependent circuit paths for the one or more circuits while adjusting an operating frequency and/or operating voltage for each of the one or more circuits. A threshold frequency and/or threshold voltage is ascertained for each of the one or more data-dependent circuit paths. An identifier may then be generated based on a plurality of the threshold frequencies and/or threshold voltages ascertained for the one or more data-dependent circuit paths. |
| US09449144B2 |
Flux balance analysis with molecular crowding
Methods are provided herein for: calculating cell growth rates in various environments and genetic backgrounds; calculating the order of substrate utilization from a defined growth medium; calculating metabolic flux reorganization in various environments and at various growth rates; and calculating the maximum metabolic rate and optimal metabolite concentrations and enzyme activities by applying a computational optimization method to a kinetic model of a metabolic pathway. The optimization methods use intracellular molecular crowding parameters and/or well as kinetic rates to assist in modeling metabolic activity. |
| US09449138B2 |
Prototype and emulation system for multiple custom prototype boards
A system for emulating a circuit design is presented. The system includes a host workstation coupled by an emulation interface to a field programmable gate array (FPGA) configured to emulate and verify the circuit design when the host workstation is invoked to verify the circuit design. The emulation interface is configured to provide timing and control information for at least the verify. The system further includes a non-transitory computer readable storage medium including instructions, which when executed cause a computer to compile a portion of the circuit design and an associated verification module adapted to configure the FPGA. A compilation is performed in accordance with a description file. |
| US09449134B1 |
Dynamically reconfigurable logic circuits using native field-programmable gate array primitives
A method for dynamically reconfiguring logic circuits on an FPGA includes the steps of: classifying a general function into sets of static functions and modal functions to be implemented on the FPGA; for each of the modal functions, generating a list of one-active actions; devising a circuit topology including at least a subset of look-up tables (LUTs) such that any one of the modal functions can be implemented at a time on the devised circuit topology; for each modal function, associating the devised circuit topology with a controller adapted to load a LUT configuration corresponding to a prescribed one of the one-active actions; implementing a single fixed circuit on the FPGA including devised circuit topologies for each of the modal functions; and updating contents of LUTs corresponding to the LUT configuration in the devised circuit topology when a change in modal function to be implemented on the FPGA is required. |
| US09449133B2 |
Partition based design implementation for programmable logic devices
Various techniques are provided to generate designs for programmable logic devices (PLDs). In one example, a computer-implemented method includes selectively grouping a first plurality of logic components for a first design into a plurality of partitions. The method also includes selectively merging at least a subset of the partitions of the first design. The method also includes converting each partition into a corresponding first physical implementation for a PLD. The method also includes comparing the first plurality of logic components to a second plurality of logic components for a second design to identify changed and unchanged partitions. The method also includes converting each changed partition into a corresponding second physical implementation for the PLD. The method also includes combining the first physical implementations for the unchanged partitions, with the second physical implementations for the changed partitions. |
| US09449131B2 |
Extracting system architecture in high level synthesis
Extracting a system architecture in high level synthesis includes determining a first function of a high level programming language description and a second function contained within a control flow construct of the high level programming description. The second function is determined to be a data consuming function of the first function. Within a circuit design, a port including a local memory is automatically generated. The port couples a first circuit block implementation of the first function to a second circuit block implementation of the second function within the circuit design. |
| US09449127B1 |
System for verifying timing constraints of IC design
An EDA tool for verifying timing constraints of an integrated circuit (IC) design includes a processor and a memory that stores register transfer level (RTL) code of the IC design and a timing constraint file. The processor generates a netlist based on the RTL code, and identifies asynchronous clock paths, false paths and multi-cycle paths in the netlist using the timing constraint file. The processor then inserts buffer cells for logic cells in the netlist. The processor also inserts buffer cells in the asynchronous clock paths, false paths, and multi-cycle paths. The processor delay annotates logic cells and clock delay cells with a zero delay value and the buffer cells with known delay values. The processor generates a modeled standard delay format (SDF) file and performs a gate level simulation (GLS) using the modeled SDF file. |
| US09449119B2 |
Product visualization
A method comprises receiving a change request input from a user to change one or more parameters of a product in a product visualization; determining at least one available option based on the change request input and manufacturable capabilities; and presenting a modified product visualization to the user based on at least one determined available option. |
| US09449118B2 |
Hybrid hidden-line processor and method
A method for providing hybrid hidden-line processing for a plurality of polygons representing tessellated image data, wherein each polygon comprises a plurality of edges, is provided. The method includes generating a back-facing plate comprising polygons on a back-facing side of a silhouette of the tessellated image data and a front-facing plate comprising polygons on a front-facing side of the silhouette of the tessellated image data. The method includes tracing the edges and identifying at least one visibility change pixel in each of a subset of the traced edges. The method includes, for each visibility change pixel, determining whether the traced edge is from the same plate as a polygon corresponding to the visibility change pixel. The method includes, for each traced edge that is determined to be from the same plate as the polygon corresponding to the visibility change pixel, displaying the traced edge. |
| US09449117B2 |
Metadata search based on semantics
According to some embodiments, a method and an apparatus of enriching search results with metadata are provided to receive a plurality of metadata associated with an entity and storing the plurality of metadata in a repository. A search request associated with the entity is received and search results that comprise a portion of the plurality of metadata stored in the repository are determined. |
| US09449114B2 |
Removing non-substantive content from a web page by removing its text-sparse nodes and removing high-frequency sentences of its text-dense nodes using sentence hash value frequency across a web page collection
A method and system for removing chrome from a web page is provided. An example system includes a parsing module, a text density analyzer, a content node selector 206, and a text extractor. The parsing module may be configured to parse a web page into a tree structure. The text density analyzer may be configured to determine a text density score value for each node from the tree structure. The content node selector may be configured to identify one or more nodes from the tree structure as content nodes based on their respective text density score values. The text extractor may be configured to extract text from the content nodes only. |
| US09449113B2 |
Browser storage management
Browser storage management techniques are described. In one or more implementations, inputs are received at a computing device that specify maximum aggregate sizes of application and database caches, respectively, of browser storage to be used to locally store data at the computing device. For example, the inputs may be provided using a policy, by an administrator of the computing device, and so on. The maximum aggregate sizes are set of application and database caches, respectively, of browser storage at the computing device to the sizes specified by the inputs. |
| US09449112B2 |
Extension activation for related documents
Extension activation may be provided. Upon receiving a new document associated with a plurality of related documents, extension trigger conditions may be evaluated. In response to determining that an extension trigger is satisfied, a user interface element associated with the extension trigger may be displayed. |
| US09449111B2 |
System and method for generating and accessing trails
A device for generating a trail. The device includes a processor for executing a set of instructions and a memory for storing the set of instructions. The set of instructions are executed to receive user input to create a trail in response to content generated or retrieved by a user, establish a hierarchy for the trail in response to receiving the content, establish characteristics for the multiple nodes including at least shape and color, and generating the trail utilizing the hierarchy and the characteristics and according to user preferences established by the user, the trail includes multiple nodes that are interconnected. |
| US09449109B1 |
Visualizing, sharing and monetizing multimedia content
A system provides exchange and display of information among a group of users based on creation, arranging, sharing and exchange of tiles. The system further provides connecting advertisements to tiles, displaying the advertisement when tiles are accessed, monetizing the advertisement and adding visual effects to the display of the advertisement. |
| US09449107B2 |
Method and system for gesture based searching
Some embodiments include a method for gesture based search. Other embodiments of related methods and systems are also disclosed. |
| US09449105B1 |
User-context-based search engine
A method and apparatus for determining contexts of information analyzed. Contexts may be determined for words, expressions, and other combinations of words in bodies of knowledge such as encyclopedias. Analysis of use provides a division of the universe of communication or information into domains, and selects words or expressions unique to those domains of subject matter as an aid in classifying information. A vocabulary list is created with a macro-context (context vector) for each, dependent upon the number of occurrences of unique terms from a domain, over each of the domains. This system may be used to find information or classify information by subsequent inputs of text, in calculation of macro-contexts, with ultimate determination of lists of micro-contests including terms closely aligned with the subject matter. |
| US09449103B2 |
Systems and methods for presenting electronic contact lists
Described are a conference management system and method for displaying a contact list of an application on a computing system. A contact list of an application is provided. Context information related to a user of the contact list is detected. At least one rule is applied to the context information. User contacts in the contact list arranged in a display order in response to the at least one rule. |
| US09449101B2 |
Systems and methods for improved web searching
Systems and methods are provided for improved web searching. In one implementation, suggested search queries are provided based on previous search queries and click data. A weighted bi-partite graph or index may be used to identify related search queries based on overlapping clicked URLs. According to a method, query-click log data of a search engine is processed to generate sets of suggested search queries, data corresponding to each suggested search query, and a set of clicked URLs related to each suggested search query. Additionally, or independently, methods may be provided for contextually correcting spelling errors within sets of suggested search queries using a contextual algorithm, and/or identifying and discarding sets of suggested search queries and URLs that lead to restricted material, such as restricted content and related URLs. |
| US09449096B2 |
Identifying influencers for topics in social media
A computer determines social media influencers in a specific topic. The computer receives a dataset of information on a website, the information including a list of users of the website and a list of content that each user posts, wherein each user is associated with one or more other users. The computer identifies a plurality of variables associated with the dataset, wherein the plurality of variables represent the information of the dataset on the website. The computer executes a topic specific search based on the plurality of variables, the topic search providing at least another list of users representing influencers in a specific topic. |
| US09449095B1 |
Revising search queries
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for revising search queries. One of the methods includes receiving an original search query submitted by a user of a user device; determining that the original search query is similar to a first search query of a plurality of search queries previously submitted by the user; selecting a first term that appears in the first search query and not in the original search query, wherein selecting the first term comprises determining that the first term appears in at least a threshold number of other distinct search queries of the plurality of search queries previously submitted by the user; generating a revised search query by adding the first term that appears in the first search query to the original search query; and obtaining search results for the revised search query from a search engine. |
| US09449093B2 |
System and method for improved search experience through implicit user interaction
Disclosed embodiments enable improved perception of a user's response and/or preferences. Search results responsive to a query are presented to the user. Parameters associated with an implicit user response are tracked. The implicit response may consist of a delay from the presentation of the user response; a speed of, a volume of, a tone of, or a word used in a user response; a speed, a direction, and/or a consistency of a pointer movement; a location of a touch; a change in a touch; and/or a user movement captured by a camera. Measurements and other information derived from the tracked parameters may be stored in a user profile, which may later be used to calculate a personalized implicit response. An implicit response may be calculated from the parameters. The implicit response may be used to qualify an explicit response, which may be the impetus to modify search results. |
| US09449091B1 |
Professional and employee social networks and social media systems
Professional and employee social networks and social media systems. Questions and answers are organized in different categories for easy selection to assist in the personality profile definition and subsequent behavioral model development. The Question-Answer creator, Matching Engine, and Personal and Group Relations Manager have the potential to provide career matching and career counseling services to individuals. Individuals using this infrastructure are able to determine career opportunities available to them in their Personal Matching Network and Group Matching Network. They are able to complete an assessment of their skills and provide these to employers with transparent or masked identity. This network determines the nodes that are enabled to be viewed at a certain degree of connectivity. The social media system may provide access to multiple groups or sub social networks based on match between profile data such as an email address domain name and an access control list. |
| US09449086B2 |
System and method for analyzing and collecting internet-based video service quality information
Video content information of video content is received by a first computing device. The video content is received from web sites and the video content information includes one or more of a video identifier, an identity of the web sites, and an identity of an internet service provider related to accessing the one or more web sites. End destination information associated with a reception instance of the video content is received. The end destination information includes experience information that, at least in part, includes information relating to a quality of the received video content and a location of an end destination associated with the reception instance of the video content. The video content information and the end destination information are selectively aggregated by another device to generate aggregated information. The video content information includes at least a portion of the information of the quality of the reception instance. |
| US09449083B2 |
Performance data search using a query indicative of a tone generation pattern
A user inputs, as a query pattern, a desired search-object rhythm pattern using a control, corresponding to a desired one of a plurality of performance parts constituting a performance data set (automatic accompaniment data set), in a rhythm input device. An input rhythm pattern storage section stores the input rhythm pattern (query pattern) into a RAM on the basis of a clock signal output from a bar line clock output section and input trigger data. A part identification section identifies a search-object performance part corresponding to the user-operated control. For the identified performance part, a rhythm pattern search section searches an automatic accompaniment database for an automatic accompaniment data set including a rhythm pattern that matches, i.e. has the highest similarity to, the input rhythm pattern (query pattern). |
| US09449082B2 |
Systems and methods for dynamic audio processing
Systems and methods presented herein may provide for processing audio with increased loudness and dynamics. A first clock frequency associated with a digital audio file may be increased to a second clock frequency, which speeds up the playback of the audio. The digital audio file may then be converted to analog at the higher second frequency, where it is further modified in the analog domain. The analog audio is then converted back into digital audio at the second clock frequency. The clock frequency is then decreased back to the first clock frequency for playback or storage of the processed (i.e., modified or manipulated) digital audio file. Alternatively, the entire process can take place in the digital domain. |
| US09449080B1 |
System, methods, and user interface for information searching, tagging, organization, and display
A system, methods, and user interface for automatically extracting important terms from a document content as terms representing the important information in the content, and using the extracted term or terms to label the document, either as a tag or a summary or category, or for renaming the document. Methods for determining the terms as important include content analysis methods based on grammatical, semantic, contextual, positional, frequency, and other attributes associated with the terms. Documents can include any type of document containing text, including personal or company documents, Web pages, emails, reviews and comments, etc. In some embodiments, a document can also be a collection of documents. |
| US09449075B2 |
Guided search based on query model
Providing guided search includes: receiving a new query; processing the new query to obtain a plurality of models, wherein a model indicates a mapping relationship of a previously stored query and corresponding guidance information; determining a corresponding plurality of similarities of the plurality of models relative to the new query; obtaining guidance information in a database comprising a plurality of mapping relationships of previously stored query and corresponding guidance information, including selecting at least some of the plurality of models based at least in part on the similarities and using the selected models as index to search the database; and sending the obtained guidance information to be displayed to a user. |
| US09449073B2 |
Measuring and displaying facets in context-based conformed dimensional data gravity wells
A processor-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product measures and displays facets in context-based conformed dimensional data gravity wells. Conformed dimensional objects and synthetic context-based objects are parsed into n-tuples. A virtual mass of each parsed object is calculated, in order to define a shape of multiple context-based conformed dimensional data gravity wells that are created when data objects that are pulled into each of the context-based conformed dimensional data gravity well frameworks on a context-based conformed dimensional gravity wells membrane. Data from the multiple context-based conformed dimensional data gravity wells then populates nodes in a data model. A displayed appearance of the particular context-based conformed dimensional data gravity well is dynamically adjusted according to how many parsed synthetic context-based objects are pulled into the particular context-based conformed dimensional data gravity well. |
| US09449072B2 |
Automatic log sensor tuning
A process for automatic tuning a set of collectors and/or sensors includes: collecting first machine data by a first sensor in a collection framework, processing the first machine data by a first collector in the collection framework to yield first collected machine data, performing analytics on the first collected machine data to generate analytics output, and tuning, based, at least in part, on the analytics output, at least one of the following: the first sensor and the first collector. |
| US09449071B2 |
Providing reconstructed data based on stored aggregate data in response to queries for unavailable data
In an embodiment, a method comprises dividing collected data into data clusters based on proximity of the data and adjusting the clusters based on density of data in individual clusters. Based on first data points in a first cluster, a first average point in the first cluster is determined. Based on second data points in a second cluster, a second average point in the second cluster is determined. Aggregate data, comprising the first average point and the second average point, are stored in storage. Upon receiving a request to provide data for a particular coordinate, the reconstructed data point is determined by interpolating between the first average point and the second average point at the particular coordinate. Accordingly, aggregated data may be stored and when a request specifies data that was not actually stored, a reconstructed data point with an approximated data value may be provided as a substitute. |
| US09449068B2 |
Information retrieval and navigation using a semantic layer and dynamic objects
Systems and methods for information retrieval are provided that permit users and/or processing entities to access and define synthetic data, synthetic objects, and/or synthetic groupings of data in one or more collections of information. In one embodiment, data access on an information retrieval system can occur through an interpretation layer which interprets any synthetic data against data physically stored in the collection. Synthetic data can define virtual data objects, virtual data elements, virtual data attributes, virtual data groupings, and/or data entities that can be interpreted against data that may be stored physically in the collection of information. The system and methods for information retrieval can return results from the one or more collections of information based not only on the data stored, but also on the virtual data generated from interpretation of the stored data. |
| US09449063B2 |
Synchronization of form fields in a client-server environment
A database tier maintains and provides access to a database. An application tier receives and responds to requests for a form. The form includes data defining a first UI control for displaying a first value from the database and a second UI control for displaying a second value from the database that is dependent upon the first value. A client tier renders the form to show the first value in the first UI control and to show the second value in the second UI control. The client tier also detects a modification to the first value and causes an updated second value to be generated in response to detecting the modification to the first value. The updated second value is displayed by way of the second UI control. The updated second value is generated at the client tier, the application tier, the database tier, or at a combined application/database tier. |
| US09449062B2 |
Data exploration combining visual inspection and analytic search
A computer device displays a graph of a data set. The computer device includes a hybrid data analysis and visualization tool to query implicit properties of data items in the data set that are not evident upon visual inspection of the graph of the data set itself. The hybrid data analysis and visualization tool combines the graph of the data set with analog representations of data query results for visual data exploration. |
| US09449061B2 |
Storing and processing data organized as flexible records
A system and method are disclosed for persisting data received from disparate data sources having different internal schemas. In operation, a data processing engine aggregates related data received from the different data sources and organizes the aggregated data into flexible records. A flexible record is a composite of associated fields aggregated from a set of records received from one or more data sources. Each field associated with a flexible record includes data received from a particular data source and specifies the particular data source as the source of the data. Flexible records are stored in a storage repository, and each flexible record is associated with at least one user who accesses data via a client device. |
| US09449058B2 |
Multiple row lateral table view with row set scroll and row history flip
Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for presenting instances of selected records in a vertical, side-by-side arrangement. According to one embodiment, presenting a view of data from a table of a database can comprise presenting a first tabular view of the data. In this first tabular view, each of a plurality of records of the table can be presented as a row of the tabular view and each field of each record can be presented as a column. Additionally, each column can include a heading associated with and identifying the fields of the records. A selection of two or more records of the plurality of records can be received and a second tabular view of the data of the selected records can be generated. The headings and rows from the first tabular view can comprise columns of the second tabular view. |
| US09449057B2 |
Generating data pattern information
A data storage system stores at least one dataset including a plurality of records. A data processing system, coupled to the data storage system, processes the plurality of records to produce codes representing data patterns in the records, the processing including: for each of multiple records in the plurality of records, associating with the record a code encoding one or more elements, wherein each element represents a state or property of a corresponding field or combination of fields as one of a set of element values, and, for at least one element of at least a first code, the number of element values in the set is smaller than the total number of data values that occur in the corresponding field or combination of fields over all of the plurality of records in the dataset. |
| US09449050B1 |
Identifying relevant messages in a conversation graph
A method, system, and non-transitory computer readable medium for identifying a relevant conversation. The method can include: identifying a conversation graph including identifiers of messages posted by a set of authoring accounts; identifying a relevance score for each authoring account; applying, by a computer processor, a first relevance filter to the conversation graph in order to modify the set of relevance scores; applying, by the computer processor and after applying the first relevance filter, a second relevance filter to the conversation graph in order to further modify the set of relevance scores; selecting, based on the set of relevance scores and after applying the second relevance filter, a subset of messages of the conversation graph for inclusion in the relevant conversation; and providing at least a portion of the relevant conversation to a client device. |
| US09449042B1 |
Recommending improvements to and detecting defects within applications
In various embodiments, static, dynamic, and behavioral analyzes may be performed on an application. A set of software libraries employed by the application may be determined. A set of device resources employed by the application may be determined. An application fingerprint is generated for the application. The application fingerprint encodes identifiers for the set of software libraries and identifiers for the set of device resources. Improvements can be recommended based upon an analysis of the application fingerprint. |
| US09449041B2 |
Database system lock operation method and device
A database system lock operation method is provided that includes: acquiring, by a first processing node, a lock operand of a target lock; using, by the first processing node, the target lock to perform a lock acquiring operation on a target data object; when the lock operand meets a condition for a successful lock acquiring operation, determining, by the first processing node, that the lock acquiring operation is successful, and updating a value of a data bit that is in the lock operand and used to indicate a state of the target lock on the first processing node to a value that is used to indicate that the state of the target lock on the first processing node is lock held. Accordingly, the embodiments of the present invention further disclose a node device. The embodiments of the present invention can improve performance of a database system. |
| US09449040B2 |
Block restore ordering in a streaming restore system
A distributed data warehouse system may maintain data blocks on behalf of clients, and may store primary and secondary copies of each data block on different disks or nodes in a cluster. The warehouse system may back up data blocks in a remote key-value backup storage system. A restore operation may retrieve data blocks from backup storage using their unique identifiers as keys (while incoming queries are serviced) in response to a failure or a query targeting data that was lost or corrupted. The order in which data blocks are restored may be dependent on the relative likelihood that they will be accessed in the near future (e.g., based on how recently or frequently they were accessed, written, or backed up; the values of one or more access counters associated with each data block; or how recently a database table containing data in each data block was loaded). |
| US09449039B2 |
Automatic repair of corrupted blocks in a database
A distributed data warehouse system maintains data blocks on behalf of clients, and stores primary and secondary copies of data blocks on different disks or nodes in a cluster. The data warehouse system may back up data blocks in a key-value backup storage system. In response to a query targeting a data block previously stored in the cluster, the data warehouse system may determine whether a consistent, uncorrupted copy of the data block is available in the cluster (e.g., by applying a consistency check). If not (e.g., if a disk or node failed), the data warehouse system may automatically initiate an operation to restore the data block from the backup storage system, using a unique identifier of the data block to access a backup copy. The target data may be returned in a query response prior to restoring primary and secondary copies of the data block in the cluster. |
| US09449038B2 |
Streaming restore of a database from a backup system
A distributed data warehouse system may maintain data blocks on behalf of clients in multiple clusters in a data store. Each cluster may include a single leader node and multiple compute nodes, each including multiple disks storing data. The warehouse system may store primary and secondary copies of each data block on different disks or nodes in a cluster. Each node may include a data structure that maintains metadata about each data block stored on the node, including its unique identifier. The warehouse system may back up data blocks in a remote key-value backup storage system with high durability. A streaming restore operation may be used to retrieve data blocks from backup storage using their unique identifiers as keys. The warehouse system may service incoming queries (and may satisfy some queries by retrieving data from backup storage on an as-needed basis) prior to completion of the restore operation. |
| US09449037B2 |
Enhanced delivery of messaging data traffic
Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for delivering enhanced message content to subscribers and for overcoming common incompatibilities found in message delivery mechanisms. Exemplary embodiments profile an intended recipient's network capabilities, the intended recipient's device, and/or the recipient's service feature profile. This profile is leveraged to predictively and adaptively adjust the subsequent enhanced message content delivery process. Further, content modification can be applied for those cases where there is a defined mismatch that can be handled in order to facilitate delivery of the substance of the enhanced content. Finally, in cases where the content needs to be delivered intact to the intended recipient, but where the recipient network, the recipient's device and/or the recipient's service profile do not allow for delivery, the content may be delivered to an alternative device or system. These alternative devices or systems may be managed by the sender, the recipient, or a service provider's network. |
| US09449032B2 |
Multi-buffering system supporting read/write access to different data source type
Embodiments provide a multi-buffering system in an application layer to support unified read/write access to different data source types of an underlying database layer. In a particular embodiment, the database layer comprises both a multi-dimensional data source (e.g. a cube), and another data source type (e.g. a Data Store Object—DSO). An abstract buffer component of the multi-buffering system is specialized into a delta buffer configured to read/write data of the cube, and into an after image buffer configured to read/write data of the DSO. A storage mechanism component of the multi-buffering system is specialized into a cache store configured to read/write data of the cube, and a calculation scenario store configured to read/write data of the DSO. The after image buffer may support certain aggregation rules during a DSO read/write operation. The calculation scenario store may leverage capabilities of an in memory database during a DSO read/write operation. |
| US09449028B2 |
Dynamic definitive image service
Systems and methods for identifying a representative image for any given search query are provided. In response to a search for a query term (or terms), the system accesses an inverted index to identify images associated with that term. The system then receives a ranked list of images. The ranked list includes image identifiers, and once an item in the list is selected the system can use the associated image identifier to retrieve the image from a server. If an editor has overridden the default image for the present search query, then the system returns the image identifier for the overridden image, which can be used to access the image from the server. Thus, the representative image system provides a reliable and universal mechanism for retrieving representative images for any given topic dynamically in real time. |
| US09449026B2 |
Sketch-based image search
Sketch-based image search may include receiving a query curve as a sketch query input and identifying a first plurality of oriented points based on the query curve. The first plurality of oriented points may be used to locate at least one image having a curve that includes a second plurality of oriented points that match at least some of the first plurality of oriented points. Implementations also include indexing a plurality of images by identifying at least one curve in each image and generating an index comprising a plurality of oriented points as index entries. The index entries are associated with the plurality of images based on corresponding oriented points in the identified curves in the images. |
| US09449024B2 |
File kinship for multimedia data tracking
Kinship between electronic files among personal networked devices may be ascertained between the files by determining an operational relationship between the files and with a similarity measurement. |
| US09449023B2 |
Information processing device, map update method, program, and information processing system
There is provided an information processing device including: a global map acquiring unit that acquires at least a part of a global map representing positions of objects in a real space where a plurality of users are in activity; a local map generating unit that generates a local map representing positions of nearby objects detectable by a device of one user among the plurality of users; and an updating unit that updates the global map based on position data of objects included in the local map. |
| US09449022B2 |
Ranking and displaying appraiser-chosen comparables against model-chosen comparables
Ranking and displaying comparable properties entails receiving appraisal information comprising a subject property and appraiser-chosen comparable properties corresponding to the subject property. Property data corresponding to a geographical area is accessed, in support of determining model-chosen comparable properties based upon the appropriateness of each of the comparable properties as comparables for the subject property. A map image is displayed for the geographical area, along with indicators on the map image indicative of the subject property, at least one of the appraiser-chosen comparable properties, and at least one of the model-chosen comparable properties. |
| US09449019B2 |
Peer-to-peer redundant file server system and methods
Peer-to-peer redundant file server system and methods include clients that determine a target storage provider to contact for a particular storage transaction based on a pathname provided by the filesystem and a predetermined scheme such as a hash function applied to a portion of the pathname. Servers use the same scheme to determine where to store relevant file information so that the clients can locate the file information. The target storage provider may store the file itself and/or may store metadata that identifies one or more other storage providers where the file is stored. A file may be replicated in multiple storage providers, and the metadata may include a list of storage providers from which the clients can select (e.g., randomly) in order to access the file. |
| US09449018B1 |
File operation task optimization
A method includes receiving, by a data processing apparatus, a plurality of file operation requests, each file operation request including a priority, a deadline, and an operation type and representing a request to perform an operation on at least one file maintained in a distributed file system; identifying, by the data processing apparatus, a group of file operation requests to be executed together from the plurality of file operation requests, the identification based at least in part on at least one of: the file operations in the group of file operations being directed to a same storage system, or file operations in the group of file operations sharing a common operation type; and sending a request to execute the group of file operation requests to a system configured to perform the group of file operation requests. |
| US09449016B2 |
Data synchronization policies
Techniques for data synchronization policies are described. In one or more implementations, techniques may be employed to set data synchronization (“sync”) policies for devices in a data sync environment. The sync policies specify parameters for sync operations in the sync environment, such as how frequently data sync operations are performed, what types of data are synced to particular devices, how frequently particular types of data are synced, and so on. In implementations, the sync policies consider the number of devices that are participating in a sync environment and attributes of the devices in specifying parameters for sync operations. Data can be synchronized among devices in the sync environment based on the sync policies. |
| US09449015B1 |
Method and system for providing storage checkpointing to a group of independent computer applications
A system and method for storage checkpointing to a group of independent computer applications. The system has a storage disk that stores files; a storage access interface to access the storage disk; and a computer. The computer runs the group of independent computer applications and utilizes the files stored on the storage disk. A file system on the server accesses the files stored on the storage disk. An operating system and at least one device driver can be called by the file system, and at least one buffer buffers first data written to the storage disk and second data read from the storage disk. |
| US09449014B2 |
Resynchronization of replicated data
Mechanisms are provided for efficient resynchronization of replicated data. A hash value is generated for a chunk of data replicated from a source node to a target node. The chunk of data may be a file deduplicated and compressed at both a source node and a target node. A current sequence number is determined and a sequence number and hash tuple is maintained for the chunk of data at both the source node and the target node. Sequence numbers are modified whenever the data is modified. Current sequence numbers and sequence number and hash values in the sequence number hash tuples at the source node and the target node may be compared to determine whether data is still synchronized at a later point in time or whether data requires resynchronization. |
| US09449012B2 |
Cloud library de-duplication
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media identifying duplicate media items that occur during a batch upload process from a client device to the cloud media library and performing media de-duplication and re-mapping of duplicate media items. |
| US09449010B2 |
System and method for managing sensitive data using intelligent mobile agents on a network
In order to manage stale data on a network of computer systems, a file harvester agent may be configured with a list of stale data files to be deleted. The file harvester agent may be deployed to the computer systems of a network. When executed in a computer system, the file harvester agent searches the file system of the computer system to locate any files or data indicated in the file list. Any located data files are deleted. Once the agent has finished processing the file list on a computer system, the agent can copy or replicate itself to other computer systems of the network in accordance with a pre-configured itinerary. |
| US09449007B1 |
Controlling access to XAM metadata
A method is used in controlling access to XAM metadata. An object derived from a set of content is stored in an object addressable data storage system. The object has an object identifier. Storage system specific metadata is added to the object. The storage system specific metadata is accessible when the object is retrieved using the object identifier. Based on sub-object access control, a retrieving application is allowed to have access to only a subset of the object. |
| US09449006B2 |
Method and system for deleting obsolete files from a file system
A method for deleting obsolete files from a file system is provided. The method includes: receiving a request to delete a reference to a target file in a file system from a file reference data structure, wherein the file reference data structure includes target file names and reference file names; identifying a reference file name in the file reference data structure, wherein the reference file name includes a file name of the target file; deleting a reference file from the file system, wherein the reference file has the identified reference file name; checking whether the file system includes at least one reference file whose file name matches the file name of the target file; if there is no such reference file in the file system: deleting the target file from the file system; and deleting the file name of the target file from the file reference data structure. |
| US09449000B2 |
Electronic document retrieval and reporting using tagging analysis and/or logical custodians
An approach is provided for retrieving electronic documents. The approach provides a Web-based graphical user interface that allows users to construct complex queries that include Boolean clauses, proximity clauses and/or keyword phrases, without requiring the users to have a working knowledge of query languages. The Web-based graphical user interface also allows users to specify a semantic meaning for one or more search terms. The approach also allows users to generate various reports for search results. Various filters may be applied to manage the amount of reporting data and semantic meanings may be applied to increase relevancy. A time cost estimator provides an estimated review time for search results. Also included are approaches for using the results of simple searches to perform advanced searches, for estimating the cost and/or time for reviewing search results and for performing tagging analysis and for using logical custodians. |
| US09448999B2 |
Method and device to detect similar documents
A method for detecting similar documents includes extracting an entity from each of a first web document and a second web document; determining an importance contribution element corresponding to each of the web documents; calculating, using the processor, weights for each entity based on the determined importance contribution elements; and determining whether the web documents are similar documents based on the calculated weights. A device to detect similar documents includes a storage device; an entity extractor stored on the storage device and configured to extract an entity from a first web document and a second web document and to determine an importance contribution element from each of the web documents; a weight calculator configured to calculate weights of each entity based on the determined importance contribution elements; and a similar document detection unit configured to determine whether the web documents are similar documents based on the calculated weights. |
| US09448997B1 |
Techniques for translating content
Techniques, including systems and methods, for providing translated content are described and suggested herein. In an embodiment, translations for instances of content are received and reviewers provide votes regarding the translations' quality. Votes received for translations are utilized in order to determine scores for the translations. Reviewers and translators may be scored as well. Scores for translations are used in various processes for providing appropriate content to users. |
| US09448994B1 |
Grammar extraction using anchor text
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for rating participants based on emotive feedback. In one aspect, a method includes identifying a first resource that includes a form associated with a particular action, identifying, using one or more computers, a second resource that references the form of the first resource, identifying anchor text in the second resource that references the form, and adding the identified anchor text to a set of phrases that is used for generating an action initiation grammar associated with the particular action. |
| US09448993B1 |
System and method of recording utterances using unmanaged crowds for natural language processing
A system and method of recording utterances for building Named Entity Recognition (“NER”) models, which are used to build dialog systems in which a computer listens and responds to human voice dialog. Utterances to be uttered may be provided to users through their mobile devices, which may record the user uttering (e.g., verbalizing, speaking, etc.) the utterances and upload the recording to a computer for processing. The use of the user's mobile device, which is programmed with an utterance collection application (e.g., configured as a mobile app), facilitates the use of crowd-sourcing human intelligence tasking for widespread collection of utterances from a population of users. As such, obtaining large datasets for building NER models may be facilitated by the system and method disclosed herein. |
| US09448989B2 |
Terminal device, conversion word candidate synchronization method, and conversion word candidate synchronization program
A terminal device includes: a memory that stores a candidate group including a plurality of conversion word candidates for an input character; and a processor that, if a display rank of any candidate in the candidate group is changed, determines whether the changed display rank is included in a predetermined range of display ranks and, if the changed display rank is included in the predetermined range of display ranks, lets a communication unit transmit the candidate group including the changed display rank to another terminal device. |
| US09448988B2 |
Authoring tool for the authoring of wrap packages of cards
An authoring tool for authoring wrap packages of cards. The authoring tool includes a set of tools that enable an author to create a new card of a wrap selected from a variety of card templates. In various embodiments, the card templates include textual, video, image/photo, document, gallery, chat, widgets, global components, location/GPS, transact, appointment, and end-of-wrap card templates. When a particular card template is selected, the template is then duplicated to create the new card. Thereafter, the author may author the card to include various components, content, attributes, layouts, styles triggers and/or behaviors. As the cards of the wrap are created, the authoring tool provides the author with the ability to order the sequence of the cards. The authoring tool thus enables authors to selectively create wrap packages that include media that conveys a narrative story and application functionality. |
| US09448987B2 |
Inserting rules-driven paragraphs into user-designated locations in a document irrespective of modifications to the structure of the document
A computer implemented method commences by receiving document construction rules, then selecting a document template from a template library. The document template comprises a plurality of paragraphs that are associated with document construction rules. The method evaluates the construction rules and applies visibility to any of the associated paragraphs. Low latency processing of the visibility is accomplished in part by forming a document graph formed of conditional nodes, where the nodes have a paragraph label and a respective visibility flag. Further, a mapping datastructure serves to map from a paragraph label to a location of the corresponding conditional node within the document graph. A processor evaluates the document construction rules and, using the mapping datastructure, determines the location of the conditional node in order to modify the value of the visibility flag. In some cases, the document graph is a tree structure, and the mapping datastructure is a hash table. |
| US09448986B2 |
Method and system for processing documents through document history encapsulation
A computer-implemented system and method for processing a markup language document and its change history are provided. The method includes receiving first and second versions of the same target document into computer memory. One of the first and second versions of the target document is encapsulated within an encapsulating document. A change history corresponding to a difference between the first version and the second version of the target document is encoded. The change history is encapsulated within the encapsulating document. The encapsulated document can then be output. As each new version of the target document is created, the encapsulating document can be modified to reflect the changes, enabling prior versions of the target document which have been encapsulated to be extracted at any time. |
| US09448982B2 |
Immediate independent rasterization
A method for rendering an electronic document (ED) includes: receiving a request to render the ED; initiating, by a main process thread, generation of a main display list (DL) for the ED; identifying, during generation of the main DL, a first self-contained graphical structure (SCGS) within the ED; generating, by the main process thread, a first auxiliary DL for the first SCGS; inserting a reference to the first auxiliary DL into the main DL; initiating, after completion of the first auxiliary DL, rasterization of the first auxiliary DL by a first rasterization thread; resuming, by the main process thread and during rasterization of the first auxiliary DL, generation of the main DL; and rasterizing, after completion of the main DL, the main DL based on a first pixmap generated by rasterization of the first auxiliary DL. |
| US09448979B2 |
Managing a display of results of a keyword search on a web page by modifying attributes of DOM tree structure
An approach is provided for managing a display of a keyword search result. The search for the keyword on a web page includes identifying first Document Object Model (DOM) element(s) including a subset of DOM element(s) that include the keyword. Based on preference(s), second DOM element(s) are identified, which are unrelated to the subset of DOM element(s). Based on the preference(s), styles of the first and second DOM element(s) are modified to generate a display of the search result that includes content of the web page specified by the first DOM element(s), and that (1) does not include other content of the web page specified by the second DOM element(s) or (2) emphasizes the content specified by the first DOM element(s) over the other content specified by the second DOM element(s), in accordance with the modified styles. |
| US09448976B2 |
Package file presentation including reference content
Various embodiments illustrated and described herein include one or more of systems, methods, software, and data structures for presentation of package files including a reference content item. Some embodiments include receiving a reference content item, such as an image, map, or calendar, and mappings of package files to locations within the reference item for display. Such embodiments may then publish the package file. Some other embodiments include generating visual representations of package files including a reference content item and one or more content items mapped to locations within a reference content item. Such a visual representation may include a view of the reference content item and a graphical element representative of the content item at the mapped location within the view of the reference content item. |
| US09448974B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing XML for display on a mobile device
A method and apparatus are set forth for creating a Document Object Model of an XML document of predetermined type, comprising a first process for receiving and opening a compressed input file containing the XML document; a second process for opening and parsing the contents of a relationships file to create a map of name-value pairs and detecting a value for identifying the predetermined type from among a plurality of types of XML documents; and a further process for parsing data in the XML document according to the predetermined type, and building the Document Object Model. |
| US09448971B2 |
Content management system that renders multiple types of data to different applications
A content management system (CMS) includes a rendering mechanism that receives a desired rendering action for a selected object in the repository, determines from defined rendering rules which elements in the selected object correspond to the desired rendering action, determines which of a plurality of applications corresponds to the desired rendering action, and renders one or more elements in the selected object that correspond to the desired rendering action in the application corresponding to the desired rendering action. The rendering mechanism may insert rendering markers in an object that define a type of data for each element in the object. In addition, nested elements may be rendered by invoking multiple applications that are active at the same time to simultaneously render different types of data. |
| US09448962B2 |
User experience/user interface based on interaction history
In one embodiment, a method includes determining, relative to a base user experience (UX), one or more modifications to one or more graphical elements of a user interface (UI) for display to a particular user. The modifications are configured to personalize the UI individually to the particular user and based on a computational determination of one or more categories applicable to the particular user. The method also includes applying the modifications to the UI; and providing the UI as modified for display to the particular user. |
| US09448961B1 |
Prioritized download of social network content
A computer-implemented method includes identifying, with a computer system that has a network interface, one or more primary categories of content from a social networking system that are of primary relevance to a user of a computing device, as compared to one or more secondary categories of content from the social networking system that are of lower importance to the user of the computing device; causing content from the primary categories to be downloaded from the social networking system to the computing device automatically and without user interaction with a social networking application that is arranged to display the downloaded content; and causing content from the secondary categories to be downloaded from the social networking system to the computing device separately from the content from the primary categories, and in response to a defined user interaction with a social networking application that corresponds to the social networking system. |
| US09448960B2 |
Address translation in I2C data communications system
A novel readdressing circuit is provided for supporting data communications over a data line and a clock line between at least one master device and multiple slave devices. For example, the master device and the multiple slave devices may be configured to communicate over an I2C bus including the data line and the clock line. The readdressing circuit has a data input node for receiving a data signal transferred over the data line and including an address word produced by the master device, and a data output node coupled to the multiple slave devices. The readdressing circuit also includes an address generator and an address transmit detections circuit. The address generator is configured for storing a multi-bit fixed offset value. The address generator is responsive to the address word at the data input node for generating multiple unique addresses for the multiple slave devices. The address transmit detection circuit is configured for enabling the address generator to generate the multiple unique addresses at the data output node when the address word is detected at the data input node, and for preventing an output signal of the address generator from being supplied to the data output node when no address word is detected at the data input node. |
| US09448958B2 |
Network resource management system utilizing physical network identification for bridging operations
The disclosed network resource management system employs a hardware configuration management (HCM) information handling system (IHS) that may couple to a single administered IHS or to multiple administered IHSs via an administrative network. An HCM tool in the HCM IHS may generate, modify and store hardware configuration information, including physical network identifications (PNet IDs), in an HCM database and share the HCM database with the administered IHSs. The administered IHS may be a bridging IHS. A bridging tool may extract hardware configuration information, including PNet IDs, from the HCM database. The bridging tool may utilize the hardware configuration information, including PNet IDs, to enable the bridging IHS to bridge networks internal to the bridging IHS with networks external to the bridging IHS. |
| US09448957B2 |
Unified system area network and switch
A network switch, based on the PCI Express protocol, is disclosed. The switch includes a processor, local memory and a plurality of non-transparent bridges. By configuring the non-transparent bridges appropriately, the network switch can facilitate a number of different communication mechanisms, including TCP/IP communication between servers, server clusters, and virtualized I/O device utilization. For example, the network switch may configure the non-transparent bridges so as to have access to the physical memory of every server attached to it. It can then move data from the memory of any server to the memory of any other server. In another embodiment, the network switch is connected to an I/O device, and multiple servers are given access to that I/O device via virtualized connections. |
| US09448950B2 |
Using authenticated manifests to enable external certification of multi-processor platforms
Systems and methods for secure delivery of output surface bitmaps to a display engine. An example processing system comprises: an architecturally protected memory; and a plurality of processing devices communicatively coupled to the architecturally protected memory, each processing device comprising a first processing logic to implement an architecturally-protected execution environment by performing at least one of: executing instructions residing in the architecturally protected memory, or preventing an unauthorized access to the architecturally protected memory; wherein each processing device further comprises a second processing logic to establish a secure communication channel with a second processing device of the processing system, employ the secure communication channel to synchronize a platform identity key representing the processing system, and transmit a platform manifest comprising the platform identity key to a certification system. |
| US09448949B2 |
Mobile data vault
A portable electronic device is provided. The portable electronic device includes a data interface module that processes files associated with a user, the data interface module receives and validates a password from a user of the portable electronic device before the user is allowed access to files processed by the data interface module, an encryption key formed by the data interface module upon validation of the password, the encryption key further comprising the password, a hard coded private string and a serial number of the portable electronic device and a data storage area that stores files received from the data interface module the stored files are encrypted using the encryption key and where neither the encryption key or the password are stored in an unencrypted format anyplace within the portable electronic device. |
| US09448944B2 |
Method and system for dynamic templatized query language in software
A system to automatically generate query language in software is described. The system receives a request for data that is persistently stored in a database. The system selects a predefined query template from a number of query templates based on the request. The system utilizes the query template to receive content from at least one different source, the first source being a prototype data object. The system generates a query statement based on the query template that includes the content. Finally the system queries the database using the query statement to retrieve the requested data. |
| US09448943B2 |
Partial volume access in a physical stacked volume
A computer-implemented method for accessing data stored in a virtual tape storage (VTS) system, according to one embodiment, include receiving a mount request to access at least one host data record in a VTS system, issuing a locate command to position the sequential access storage medium having the logical volume stored therein to about a position where the physical block having at least a portion of the requested at least one host data record therein is located; creating a partial virtual volume in a tape volume cache; and copying the physical block having the at least a portion of the requested at least one host data record therein from the sequential access storage medium to the partial virtual volume in the tape volume cache. An amount of data copied from the logical volume to the partial virtual volume is less than the amount of data in the logical volume. |
| US09448937B1 |
Cache coherency
A system is disclosed that includes a memory, a processing sub-system, and a programmable logic sub-system. The processing and programmable logic sub-systems each include a respective circuit configured to access a first set of memory addresses that are shared by the processing and programmable logic sub-systems. Each of the processing and programmable logic sub-systems also include a respective cache circuit, configured to cache the first set of addresses of the first memory, and a respective coherent interface circuit configured to communicate data transactions between the respective cache circuit and the memory. The system also includes a cache coherent interconnect configured to maintain coherency between the first cache circuit and the second cache circuit for the first set of addresses. |
| US09448925B2 |
Semiconductor storage device and semiconductor storage device control method
A semiconductor storage device includes: a storage; an address translater configured to translate a logical address for access to the storage to a physical address based on address translation information; and a controller configured to output the address translation information to the address translater, wherein the controller, when the address translation information is changed, interchanges a first physical address based on first address translation information before the change and a second physical address based on second address translation information after the change in the storage. |
| US09448922B2 |
High-performance storage structures and systems featuring multiple non-volatile memories
A memory storage system that includes at least a storage controller, a first non-volatile, solid-state memory and a second non-volatile, solid-state memory. The storage controller has an interface to receive commands from a host system. The first non-volatile, solid-state memory device is coupled with the storage controller to at least store data received from the host system. The second non-volatile, solid-state memory is coupled with the storage controller to store context information corresponding to the data stored in the first non-volatile, solid-state memory device. |
| US09448919B1 |
Data storage device accessing garbage collected memory segments
A data storage device is disclosed comprising a non-volatile memory comprising a plurality of memory segments. A first write command is received from a host comprising first data and a first logical block address (LBA). The first data is written to a first memory segment and the first LBA is first mapped to a first physical block address (PBA) of the first memory segment. During a garbage collection operation, the first data is copied from the first memory segment to a second memory segment and the first LBA is second mapped to a second PBA of the second memory segment. After the garbage collection operation, a read command is received from the host comprising the first LBA. A selection is made between the first and second memory segments, and at least part of the first data is read from the selected memory segment. |
| US09448918B2 |
Content-aware digital media storage device and methods of using the same
A content-aware digital media storage device includes a host device interface for exchanging digital information with a host device, a memory array for storing digital information received from the host device via the host interface, a peripheral module configured to communicate the digital information stored in the memory array to a receiver located remote from the digital media storage device, and a controller communicatively coupled to the host device interface, the memory array and the peripheral module configured to interpret directory information associated with the digital information stored in the memory array so as to selectively access said digital information and communicate such accessed digital information to the peripheral module for transmission to the remote receiver. Digital images stored in the memory array may be transmitted to a remote host via a wireless network access point with which the peripheral module of the storage device is associated. |
| US09448915B2 |
Modular script designer for next generation testing system
A method for modular script design includes receiving, at a modular script designer component, script information from a user, generating a list of suggested modules based on the script information, and receiving, at the modular script designer component, a selection of a next module from the user. The selection of the next module includes a selection of the next module from among the list of the suggested modules or a request for a new module. If the selection of the next module includes the request for the new module, the method further includes generating the new module. |
| US09448913B2 |
Performance metric visualization systems and methods
A method of providing performance metric data includes displaying a set of computer instruction elements using an integrated development environment application executed by a processor, receiving a user selection of at least one of the displayed elements using the integrated development environment application, sending a request for a value of a performance metric associated with the user-selected element from the integrated development environment application to a performance data server, receiving the value of the performance metric from the performance data server, and displaying the value of the performance metric with the set of computer instruction elements using the integrated development environment application. |
| US09448911B2 |
Providing service address space for diagnostics collection
A method and system are provided for providing a service address space for diagnostics collection. The system includes: a service co-processor attached to a main processor, wherein the service co-processor maintains an independent copy of the main processor's address space in the form of a service address space; and a storage update receiving component for updating the service address space by receiving storage update packets from the main processor and applying these to the service address space. An instruction pipe may be provided between the main processor and the service co-processor. The main processor may include: a service delegation component for delegating collection of diagnostic data to the co-processor by sending a collection command from the main processor to the service co-processor for collection of data from the service address space. |
| US09448908B2 |
System and method for model based session management
System and method for model based session management. A session including a set of interactions with an application and screens produced by the application may be recorded. A model of an application may be obtained, the model including a plurality of screenshots related to screens and related transition information. A set of screenshots and events related to a set of screens included in the session may be received. A difference between a received screenshot and a screenshot included in the model may be determined and the session may be recorded by recording the difference. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09448907B2 |
Computer application maturity illustration system with single point of failure analytics and remediation techniques
An application maturity illustration system is provided. Such a system may determine a maturity of a computer application, and display same. The determination may include determining an inventory score, an operational status, a management score reflective of a ratio of an actual management value to a desired management value, a risk score and a future score for the computer application. The future score may be reflective of a projected relative importance of the computer application. The processor may operate to display a GUI that includes inventory score, operational status score, management score, risk score and the future score in a horizontal row. The vertical column may be located either along the top most portion of the GUI with respect to a user viewing the GUI or at the bottom most portion of the GUI with respect to a user viewing the GUI. The GUI may also be configured to display a recovery exercise date region. The recovery exercise date region may be color-coded. |
| US09448904B2 |
Information processing apparatus and server management method
An information processing apparatus includes an instruction unit and a calculation unit, and instructs a plurality of physical servers to start to provide or stop providing service. The calculation unit monitors the operating status of equipment that is installed in each of a plurality of chassis each housing one or a plurality of physical servers and that is used for operations of the physical servers. Then, the calculation unit calculates an equipment error probability indicating how likely the physical servers housed in a chassis are to fail to provide service due to an error in the equipment of the chassis. The instruction unit instructs physical servers to start to provide or stop providing the service, based on the equipment error probabilities of the plurality of chassis. |
| US09448899B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for switching over virtual application two-node cluster in cloud environment
A method for switching over a virtual application two-node cluster in a cloud environment, including: sending an association state of a shared EBS volume to the standby virtual machine; receiving a request for removing an association between the active virtual machine and the shared EBS volume; removing the association between the active virtual machine and the shared EBS volume; receiving a request for associating the shared EBS volume sent by the standby virtual machine; and associating the standby virtual machine with the shared EBS volume. A brain-split problem can be completely solved using the method and an apparatus disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention. In addition, dependence on a reference active node is no longer required, which can simplify deployment of an application two-node cluster and improve reliability of the application two-node cluster. |
| US09448896B2 |
Torn write mitigation
Torn write mitigation circuitry determines if a write operation to memory is in progress at or about a time of power loss. In response to the write operation being in progress at or about the time of the power loss, the torn write mitigation circuitry causes torn write data and metadata to be stored to a non-volatile cache. The torn write data comprise data left in a degraded or uncorrectable state as a result of the loss of power. The metadata describe the torn write data. |
| US09448895B2 |
Recording activity of software threads in a concurrent software environment
A technique for failure monitoring and recovery of a first application executing on a first virtual machine includes storing machine state information during execution of the first virtual machine at predetermined checkpoints. An error message that includes an application error state at a failure point of the first application is received, by a hypervisor, from the first application. The first virtual machine is stopped in response to the error message. The hypervisor creates a second virtual machine and a second application from the stored machine state information that are copies of the first virtual machine and the first application. The second virtual machine and the second application are configured to execute from a checkpoint preceding the failure point. In response to receipt of a failure interrupt by the second application, one or more recovery processes are initiated in an attempt to avert the failure point. |
| US09448894B1 |
Data protection tiering
A method for data tiering is provided. The method includes sending a plurality of data protection tiering options that are applicable to one or more applications or servers and that represent a plurality of data protection policies which are implementable via a plurality of data protection products. The method includes receiving a selection of at least one from among the plurality of data protection tiering options and coordinating with the plurality of data protection products to implement at least one of the plurality of data protection policies consistent with the selection. A system and computer readable medium are also included. |
| US09448887B1 |
Distributed erasure coded virtual file system
A plurality of computing devices are communicatively coupled to each other via a network, and each of the plurality of computing devices comprises one or more of a plurality of storage devices. A plurality of failure resilient address spaces are distributed across the plurality of storage devices such that each of the plurality of failure resilient address spaces spans a plurality of the storage devices. Each one of the plurality of failure resilient address spaces is organized into a plurality of stripes. Each one or more stripes of the plurality of stripes is part of a respective one of a plurality of forward error correction (FEC) protection domains. Each of the plurality of stripes may comprise a plurality of storage blocks. Each block of a particular one of the plurality of stripes may reside on a different one of the plurality of storage devices. |
| US09448884B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for encoding using error protection codes
Subject matter disclosed herein relates to error protection of data stored in and/or read from a memory device. Coefficient data representing canonical coefficients can be pre-computed by an apparatus before the apparatus is provided with program data, for example. For example, coefficient data may be pre-computed external to the apparatus and stored before program data is provided to an apparatus. |
| US09448879B2 |
Apparatus and method for implement a multi-level memory hierarchy
An apparatus and method are described for detecting and correcting instruction fetch errors within a processor core. For example, in one embodiment, an instruction processing apparatus for detecting and recovering from instruction fetch errors comprises, the instruction processing apparatus performing the operations of: detecting an error associated with an instruction in response to an instruction fetch operation; and determining if the instruction is from a speculative access, wherein if the instruction is not from a speculative access, then responsively performing one or more operations to ensure that the error does not corrupt an architectural state of the processor core. |
| US09448877B2 |
Methods and apparatus for error detection and correction in data storage systems using hash value comparisons
Data processing methods and apparatus for processing stored data with error correcting bits to detect and in some instances correct errors. The data processing including, e.g., techniques such as the detection of errors by comparing hash values of data retrieved from storage with hash values of the data generated during storage. For example, one embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention includes reading data stored with error correcting bits from a storage device, performing a hash operation on the data read from the storage device to generate a first hash value, comparing said first hash value to a previously generated hash value corresponding to said data, and determining that a read error has occurred when said first hash value does not match said previously generated hash value. In some embodiments, the method further includes performing an error recovery operation upon detection of an error. |
| US09448868B2 |
Data storing method, memory control circuit unit and memory storage apparatus
A data storing method, a memory control circuit unit, and a memory storage apparatus are provided. The method includes recording a bit error count of every predetermined area of every physical erasing unit and determining whether the bit error count of one of the predetermined areas of the physical programming unit of the physical erasing unit is more than a threshold bit error count. If the bit error count of one of the predetermined areas of the physical programming unit of the physical erasing unit is more than the threshold bit error count, the method also includes storing data under a second programming mode after an erasing operation is performed on the physical easing unit. Accordingly, defective physical erasing units may be effectively employed to prolong the lifespan of the memory storage apparatus. |
| US09448861B2 |
Concurrent processing of multiple received messages while releasing such messages in an original message order with abort policy roll back
A method and system are provided for concurrent message processing. The system includes: an input queue capable of receiving multiple messages in a given order; an intermediary for processing the messages; and an output queue for releasing the messages from the intermediary. Means are provided for retrieving a message from an input queue for processing at the intermediary and starting a transaction under which the message is to be processed. The intermediate logic processes the transactions in parallel and a transaction management means ensures that the messages are released to the output queue in the order of the messages in the input queue. |
| US09448851B2 |
Smarter big data processing using collaborative map reduce frameworks
Map reduce processing is performed holistically, to yield map reduce results data, on an aggregated group of data sets, which had been generated and maintained with “splits” separating the separate date sets, rather than being performed separately on the split data sets and then aggregating (or attempting to aggregate) the map reduce processing results. |
| US09448849B2 |
Preventing oscillatory load behavior in a multi-node distributed system
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that prevents oscillatory load behavior for a multi-node distributed system. During operation, the system uses a load-balancing policy to distribute requests to nodes of the distributed system. The system determines operational characteristics for the nodes as they process a set of requests, and then uses these operational characteristics to compute machine queuing models that describe the machine state of each node. The system then uses this machine state for the nodes to determine whether the load-balancing policy and the distributed system are susceptible to oscillatory load behavior. |
| US09448848B2 |
Controlling placement of virtual machines on physical host machines and placement of physical host machines in cabinets
A resource management node includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory includes computer readable program code that when executed by the processor causes the processor to perform operations. The operations can include, for each of a plurality of guest virtual machines (VMs), determining operational resources of physical host machines available in a distributed computing system that are needed to provide the guest VM. The operations can further include determining an amount of infrastructure of a distributed computing system used by a defined placement of physical host machines in racks of the distributed computing system. |
| US09448847B2 |
Concurrent program execution optimization
An architecture for a load-balanced groups of multi-stage manycore processors shared dynamically among a set of software applications, with capabilities for destination task defined intra-application prioritization of inter-task communications (ITC), for architecture-based ITC performance isolation between the applications, as well as for prioritizing application task instances for execution on cores of manycore processors based at least in part on which of the task instances have available for them the input data, such as ITC data, that they need for executing. |
| US09448843B2 |
Allocating a global resource to consumers across different regions of a distributed grid environment based on use data and demand data of each consumer
A technique for allocating a global resource in a distributed grid environment includes: a master resource manager (MRM) that receives from slave resource managers use and demand data associated with a global resource by each consumer in a region controlled by a respective slave resource manager. The MRM computes an allocation of the resource for each consumer and for each region by determining a total amount of the resource to allocate, estimating a need by each consumer for the resource based on the use and demand data, determining an allocation of the total amount of the resource among the consumers based on the estimated need; subdividing the allocation for each consumer among each region where the consumer utilizes the resource; and computing a total allocation of the resource for each region. |
| US09448839B2 |
Backoff job queue polling mechanism
A backoff polling algorithm may use a minimum polling interval which represents an amount of time between repeated polls of a job step queue. When polled, the job step queue may indicate a number of job steps scheduled to execute currently. Additionally, the backoff polling algorithm may repeatedly poll the job step queue at the current polling interval and execute any job steps indicated until the step queue indicates that the number of job steps scheduled to execute currently is below a minimum threshold. While the indicated number of job steps is below the minimum threshold, the backoff polling algorithm may repeatedly increase the polling interval up to a predetermined maximum polling interval and poll at each increased interval until the indicated number of job steps is above the minimum threshold. The backoff polling algorithm may then decrease the polling interval to the minimum polling interval. |
| US09448838B2 |
Method for recording user input tasks for controlling a terminal
There is disclosed a method for controlling a terminal including starting to record tasks, creating a task list by recording the tasks, when a plurality of tasks are implemented sequentially, ending the recording of the task, wherein the task list comprises an interrupt task configured to pause the task implementation and to allow the next task implemented when there is an additional input, such that the task list configured of the series of the tasks used by the user frequently may be created and the task list may be implemented automatically, only to perform the functions used frequently performed quickly. |
| US09448836B2 |
Alerting hardware transactions that are about to run out of space
A transactional memory system determines whether to pass control of a transaction to an about-to-run-out-of-resource handler. A processor of the transactional memory system determines information about an about-to-run-out-of-resource handler for transaction execution of a code region of a hardware transaction. The processor dynamically monitors an amount of available resource for the currently running code region of the hardware transaction. The processor detects that the amount of available resource for transactional execution of the hardware transaction is below a predetermined threshold level. The processor, based on the detecting, saves speculative state information of the hardware transaction, and executes the about-to-run-out-of-resource handler, the about-to-run-out-of-resource handler determining whether the hardware transaction is to be aborted or salvaged. |
| US09448834B2 |
Automated testing of physical servers using a virtual machine
An illustrative method for validating integrity of a source server backup includes receiving, at a recovery server, data indicating a state of a data storage unit associated with a source server, creating a virtual hard drive image from the received data, and storing, in memory of the recovery server, the created virtual hard drive image. The method also includes booting a virtual machine using the stored hard drive image and mounting a second drive image to the virtual machine including tools facilitating access to an operating system running on the virtual machine by an application running on the recovery server. The tools are prevented from being installed in an operating system running on the source server. The method further includes automatically detecting, by a recovery application running on the virtual machine, that the drive includes the tools, automatically installing, by the recovery application and without user intervention, the tools in the operating system running on the virtual machine, and controlling, by the application running on the recovery server, applications running on the virtual machine. |
| US09448831B2 |
Efficient graphics virtualization with address ballooning
Systems and methods may provide for identifying an assigned address space of a virtual machine (VM), wherein the assigned address space is associated with a graphics memory. Additionally, the assigned address space may be ballooned to disable usage by the VM of a remaining address space in the graphics memory that is not assigned to the VM. In one example, a view of the assigned address space by the VM may be identical to a view of the assigned address space by a virtual machine monitor (VMM) associated with the VM. |
| US09448830B2 |
Service bridges
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for service bridges. In one aspect, a method includes a host operating system performs operations comprising: receiving, using one or more service bridges that execute in the host operating system, a plurality of requests from the one or more virtual machines, wherein each service bridge is associated with a different virtual machine of the one or more virtual machines, and wherein each request is a request to interface with one or more external services; modifying, using a respective service bridge, each request to be processed by the one or more external services; and providing each modified request from the respective service bridge to the one or more external services, where the respective service bridge communicates with the one or more external services over a network. |
| US09448825B2 |
Unified notification bar between virtual mobile device and physical mobile device
One or more embodiments of the invention display alerts provided by applications of a guest environment in a notification bar controlled by a host operating system (OS) in a host environment of a mobile device, wherein the guest environment is running in a virtual machine supported by a hypervisor running within the host environment. A hypervisor-aware service in the virtual machine registers with a guest OS to be notified when applications request presentation of alerts in a notification bar controlled by the guest OS. Upon receipt of a notification by the guest OS of an application requesting presentation of an alert in the notification bar controlled by the guest OS, the hypervisor-aware service forwards the notification to the hypervisor and the hypervisor transmits a corresponding request to a notification management component of the host OS to present the alert on the notification bar controlled by the host OS. |
| US09448824B1 |
Capacity availability aware auto scaling
Technologies are described herein for capacity availability aware auto scaling. Capacity event auto scaling rules can be defined that specify how computing resources are to be scaled during a capacity event. The capacity event auto scaling rules can be defined to allow utilization of the computing resources to increase during a capacity event. A probability that capacity will be available for providing computing resources during a capacity event can also be computed. Standard auto scaling rules utilized by an auto scaling component can then be modified based upon the computed probability. Other types of actions might also be taken based upon the computed probability, such as reserving instances of computing resources. |
| US09448816B2 |
Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) caching using context
In one embodiment a method for storing a remote desktop GUI image block in a cache including a plurality of persistence levels is described. The method is comprised of maintaining each persistence level in the plurality of persistence levels; identifying an event associated with an update to the remote desktop GUI; determining a context for the event; selecting one of the persistence levels for the event based on the context; and storing an image block corresponding to the update in the selected one of the persistence levels. |
| US09448815B2 |
Server-side computing from a remote client device
Examples of systems and methods are provided for server-side computing from a remote client device. A system may allow rendering at a local client side a composite view including a local graphical user interface and a remote application view associated with a remote application running at a remote server. The system may comprise a local view module configured to generate a local graphical user interface (GUI) for controlling the remote application remotely from the local client side, configured to receive one or more user inputs to the local GUI, configured to determine a function corresponding to the one or more user inputs, configured to generate a command message based on the determined function, and configured to direct the command message to the remote server. A composite view comprising the local GUI and the remote application view may be provided to a local display at the client device. |
| US09448814B2 |
Bridge system for auxiliary display devices
A bridge system for auxiliary display devices, including a computer running a plurality of mini-programs, each mini-program sending information to a corresponding auxiliary display device, a plurality of auxiliary display devices, each auxiliary display device including an auxiliary screen and each auxiliary display device having look & feel display parameters, for receiving information from the corresponding plurality of mini-programs, and for displaying the received information on the auxiliary screens according to the corresponding look & feel parameters, and at least one bridge device, each bridge device including a bridge screen, and each bridge device receiving information from a corresponding at least one of the mini-programs, forwarding the received information to the at least one of the auxiliary display devices, and displaying the received information on the bridge screen according to the look & feel display parameters of the at least one of the auxiliary display devices. |
| US09448813B2 |
Entry points to image-related applications in a mobile device
A method and apparatus is provided for operating a mobile device having stored thereon a plurality of applications (“apps”) that are each configured to capture an image. The method includes receiving first user input data requesting invocation of a given one of the applications. The given application is launched by the user. After launching the given application a user interface is presented which serves as an entry point through which ail of the image capture applications stored on the mobile device are made available to the user. |
| US09448810B2 |
Web-based interface to access a function of a basic input/output system
A web-based interface in an electronic device receives a request to access a function of a Basic Input/Output System. |
| US09448809B2 |
Peripheral device mapping
Systems and methods related to providing peripheral device functionality is described herein. In one embodiment, a method of operating a host computing device is described. The method includes communicatively coupling with a keyboard and querying the keyboard for a descriptor. Receiving the descriptor from the keyboard, wherein the descriptor includes data representative of a language, layout, and key mappings for the keyboard. Storing the data from the descriptor at the host and publishing strings for proper translation and interpretation of input received from the keyboard. |
| US09448803B2 |
System and method for hardware scheduling of conditional barriers and impatient barriers
A method and a system are provided for hardware scheduling of barrier instructions. Execution of a plurality of threads to process instructions of a program that includes a barrier instruction is initiated, and when each thread reaches the barrier instruction during execution of program, it is determined whether the thread participates in the barrier instruction. The threads that participate in the barrier instruction are then serially executed to process one or more instructions of the program that follow the barrier instruction. A method and system are also provided for impatient scheduling of barrier instructions. When a portion of the threads that is greater than a minimum number of threads and less than all of the threads in the plurality of threads reaches the barrier instruction each of the threads in the portion is serially executed to process one or more instructions of the program that follow the barrier instruction. |
| US09448801B2 |
Automatic register port selection in extensible processor architecture
This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods to access n consecutive entries of a register file in a single operation using a register file entry index consisting of B bits, wherein B is less than the binary logarithm of a depth of the register file, which corresponds to the number of entries in the register file, and to automatically select, for a set of register arguments for the n consecutive entries, between a register port for each argument requiring a register port or one or more shared register ports for the set of register arguments according to description of an instruction set architecture associated with the register file. |
| US09448800B2 |
Reorder-buffer-based static checkpointing for rename table rebuilding
Out-of-order CPUs, devices and methods diminish the time penalty from stalling the pipe to rebuild a rename table, such as due to a misprediction. A microprocessor can include a pipe that has a decoder, a dispatcher, and at least one execution unit. A rename table stores rename data, and a check-point table (“CPT”) stores rename data received from the dispatcher. A Re-Order Buffer (“ROB”) stores ROB data, and has a static mapping relationship with the CPT. If the rename table is flushed, such as due to a misprediction, the rename table is rebuilt at least in part by concurrent copying of rename data stored in the CPT, in coordination with walking the ROB. |
| US09448794B2 |
Instruction and logic to provide vector horizontal majority voting functionality
Instructions and logic provide vector horizontal majority voting functionality. Some embodiments, responsive to an instruction specifying: a destination operand, a size of the vector elements, a source operand, and a mask corresponding to a portion of the vector element data fields in the source operand; read a number of values from data fields of the specified size in the source operand, corresponding to the mask specified by the instruction and store a result value to that number of corresponding data fields in the destination operand, the result value computed from the majority of values read from the number of data fields of the source operand. |
| US09448791B1 |
Synchronizing source code objects and software development workflow objects
Technologies are described herein for synchronization of source code objects and software development workflow objects. Software development workflow objects are identified that are related to source code objects to be synchronized to a development device. The identified software development workflow objects are then stored in a copy of a source control object store that also includes the source code objects to be synchronized. The copy of the source control object store may then be transmitted to the development device for offline use. Tools might also be provided on the development device for utilizing the software development workflow objects stored in the copy of the source control object store maintained by the development device. The copy of a source control object store containing modified source code objects and modified software development workflow objects might also be utilized to synchronize the changes to the objects to an appropriate object store. |
| US09448789B2 |
Method of consolidating, synchronizing, and streaming production content for distributed editing of media compositions
A synchronized media project, synchronization SDK, and synchronization service enable multiple users to produce a media composition collaboratively. A media project includes composition assets that reference media assets. A synchronization SDK enables multiple applications to edit the media project independent of an internal organization of the project. A project synchronization service synchronizes copies of media projects located on clients with a server-based versioned master project. User-selectable project synchronization modes determine whether media project assets are stored on clients, on the server, or on both, and when media assets are transferred. Synchronized media projects include composition assets in proprietary formats and in interoperable formats. Interoperable composition assets are rendered from proprietary composition assets on a track-by-track basis. |
| US09448788B1 |
Binary rewriting system
A hybrid static/dynamic binary rewrite method is presented, comprising: a one-time configuration step for instrumentation of an unmodified executable binary, invoking the executable binary by copying the unmodified executable binary into a system memory image and running the binary from the system memory image, and rewriting the system memory image by inserting at a safe location one or more new instructions in place of existing instructions, where the one or more new instructions transfer execution control to instrumentation instructions located elsewhere within the system memory image, and where the instrumentation instructions that were at least in part not contained in the unmodified executable binary. |
| US09448786B1 |
Method for updating operating system without memory reset
The invention relates to a computer-implemented method for updating an operating system (OS) without a memory reset. The method includes launching a Virtual Execution Environment (VEE) under a host OS of a computer system. The VEE can be a VM or a Container. Next, a snapshot of the VEE is generated, including snapshotting user process data, of any processes that run under the VEE. A new OS is loaded onto the computer system, and control is given to the new OS without performing the memory reset. It is ensured that the user process data that is part of the snapshot is unaffected by the loading of the new OS and that the user process data remains in its original location. The VEE is re-launched under the new OS. User process data is restored from the snapshot into a random access memory. |
| US09448784B2 |
Reducing downtime during upgrades of interrelated components in a database system
A method, system, and computer program product for reducing downtime during upgrades of interrelated components in a computing environment. The method commences while at least one running software application is executing within the computing environment by loading a plurality of database objects from an initial run edition into a patch edition. The database objects comprise at least one software application code module, at least one relational database table, and at least one file system. The method continues by applying at least one patch to the software application code module(s) corresponding to the running software application(s) to create patched software application(s), then applying patches to the relational database table to create a patched relational database table, and further applying a patch to the file system to create a patched file system. When the subject patches have been applied, the method stops the running software application(s) and starts the patched software application(s). |
| US09448777B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating assertion based on user program code, and apparatus and method for verifying processor using assertion
Exemplary embodiments disclose a method for generating an assertion based on a user program code. The method may include receiving a user program comprising at least one assertion directive, a compiled result of the user program, and architecture information of a processor, and generating, based on the compiled result of the user program and the architecture information of the processor, an assertion which states an operation that the processor needs to perform in accordance with a code of the user program indicated by each of the at least one assertion directive. |
| US09448776B1 |
Method and apparatus for converting a website into a native mobile application
Disclosed herein are a number of embodiments for effective and user-friendly tools that are designed to automatically convert a website into a native app for execution by a mobile computing device such as an Android device or an iOS device. Such tools permit website owners to quickly generate native apps for their websites without the need for any significant programming efforts by app developers. |
| US09448773B2 |
Systems and methods for implementing a uniform application user interface across a multi-tenant environment
In accordance with disclosed embodiments, there are provided systems and methods for implementing a uniform application user interface across a hosted computing environment, such as an on-demand or cloud computing environment which utilizes multi-tenant database technologies, client-server technologies, traditional database technologies, or other computing architecture in support of the hosted computing environment. According to a particular embodiment such a system includes a processor and a memory to execute instructions at the system; a foundation layer to define a plurality of components; the plurality of components, each to define one or more features to be consumed by an arbitrary application built from the features; wherein the one or more features are to each incorporate one or more of the components defined by the foundation layer and further wherein each of the one or more features have visibility to one or more interfaces available for the respective features to connect with but have no visibility to or about any arbitrary application that will consume them; a glue logic layer to link the features to the arbitrary application built from the features, wherein the arbitrary application built from the features has a one-way view of the features consumed through the glue logic layer without permitting the features visibility to or about the arbitrary application built; and wherein the arbitrary application built from the features is to execute within the host organization. Other related embodiments are disclosed. |