Document Document Title
US09461207B2 Light emitting device, and package array for light emitting device
A light emitting device includes a substantially cuboid package and a light emitting element. The package is made up of a molded article, and first and second leads each embedded in the molded article. The first lead has a first terminal component exposed at the boundary between a first side face, a bottom face, and a rear face contiguous with the bottom face and opposite a light emission face. The second lead has a second terminal component exposed at the boundary between a second side face opposite the first side face, the bottom face, and the rear face. The first terminal component has a first terminal concavity whose opening is contiguous with the first side face, the bottom face, and the rear face. The second terminal component has a second terminal concavity whose opening is contiguous with the second side face, the bottom face, and the rear face.
US09461206B2 Light-emitting device, light-emitting device module, and vehicle lighting unit
A light-emitting device module can include a plurality of light-emitting devices arranged in line so as to form a luminance distribution for preventing horizontal stripes from being generated in a light distribution pattern. The light-emitting device can include a rectangular light-transmitting substrate, an underlayer semiconductor layer formed on the rectangular light-transmitting substrate, a plurality of first electrodes formed on the underlayer semiconductor layer in an island shape, a light-emitting semiconductor layer including a light-emitting layer formed on the underlayer semiconductor layer, the light-emitting semiconductor layer configured to surround and separate the respective first electrodes, and a second electrode formed on the light-emitting semiconductor layer. The first electrodes can be arranged to form a plurality of electrode rows parallel with one side of the rectangular light-transmitting substrate.
US09461202B2 High-efficiency light-emitting device and manufacturing method thereof
This invention provides a high-efficiency light-emitting device and the manufacturing method thereof The high-efficiency light-emitting device includes a substrate; a reflective layer; a bonding layer; a first semiconductor layer; an active layer; and a second semiconductor layer formed on the active layer. The second semiconductor layer includes a first surface having a first lower region and a first higher region.
US09461201B2 Light emitting diode dielectric mirror
A high efficiency LED chip is disclosed that comprises an active LED structure comprising an active layer between two oppositely doped layers. A first reflective layer can be provided adjacent to one of the oppositely doped layers, with the first layer comprising a material with a different index of refraction than the active LED structure. The difference in IR between the active LED structure and the first reflective layer increases TIR of light at the junction. In some embodiments the first reflective layer can comprise an IR lower than the semiconductor material, increasing the amount of light that can experience TIR. Some embodiments of LED chips according to the present invention can also comprise a second reflective layer or metal layer on and used in conjunction with the first reflective layer such that light passing through the first reflective layer can be reflected by the second reflective layer.
US09461198B2 Backside transparent substrate roughening for UV light emitting diode
In the present invention, a fabrication process for epitaxy onto back-side patterned substrate, where the substrate patterns were defined prior to epitaxy and therefore simplify post growth processing. Specifically, for LED devices, said fabrication process reduces the post growth processing steps required to obtain high LEE due to strong scattering of the back-side features defined on the substrate. The features defined on the back-side patterned substrate scatters strongly with light emitted from the LED devices. Methods of obtaining such features include wet and dry etching.
US09461197B2 Light-emitting element wafer, light emitting element, electronic apparatus, and method of producing light-emitting element wafer
A light-emitting element wafer includes a supporting substrate, a luminescent layer that is formed of a semiconductor and has a first surface and a second surface, the first surface including a first electrode, the second surface including a second electrode, the second surface being arranged between the supporting substrate and the first surface, a junction layer that joins luminescent layer to the supporting substrate and is arranged between the supporting substrate and the second surface, a first inorganic film formed on the first surface, a second inorganic film formed between the junction layer and the second surface, an isolation trench portion that isolates elements and is formed to have a depth such that the isolation trench portion extends from the first inorganic film to the supporting substrate, and a third inorganic film that connects the first inorganic film and the second inorganic film.
US09461194B2 Method for fabricating P-type semiconductor substrate, solar cell and method for fabricating the same
A method for fabricating a p-type semiconductor substrate including the following steps is provided. A carrier is provided, and the carrier includes a III-V compounds semiconductor layer and a III element layer disposed on the III-V compounds semiconductor layer. Si powders are disposed onto the III element layer of the carrier. The carrier is heated to enable the Si powders and the III element layer of the carrier to form a p-type poly-Si layer. In addition, a solar cell and a method of fabricating thereof are also provided.
US09461192B2 Thick damage buffer for foil-based metallization of solar cells
Approaches for the foil-based metallization of solar cells and the resulting solar cells are described. A method involves patterning a first surface of a metal foil to provide a plurality of alternating grooves and ridges in the metal foil. Non-conductive material regions are formed in the grooves in the metal foil. The metal foil is located above a plurality of alternating N-type and P-type semiconductor regions disposed in or above a substrate to provide the non-conductive material regions in alignment with locations between the alternating N-type and P-type semiconductor regions and to provide the ridges in alignment with the alternating N-type and P-type semiconductor regions. The ridges of the metal foil are adhered to the alternating N-type and P-type semiconductor regions. The metal foil is patterned through the metal foil from a second surface of the metal foil at regions in alignment with the non-conductive material regions.
US09461190B2 Low profile sensor package with cooling feature and method of making same
A sensor device and method of making same that includes a silicon substrate with opposing first and second surfaces, a sensor formed at or in the first surface, a plurality of first contact pads formed at the first surface which are electrically coupled to the sensor, and a plurality of cooling channels formed as first trenches extending into the second surface but not reaching the first surface. The cooling channels instead can be formed on one or more separate substrates that are attached to the silicon substrate for cooling the silicon substrate.
US09461188B2 Electro-conductive paste for forming an electrode of a solar cell device, a solar cell device and method for producing the solar cell device
In order to provide an electro-conductive paste bringing no increase of the contact resistance for forming an electrode of a solar cell device, the electro-conductive paste is characterized by containing an electro-conductive particle, an organic binder, a solvent, a glass frit, and an organic compound including alkaline earth metal, a metal with a low melting point or a compound affiliated with a metal with a low melting point.
US09461186B2 Back contact for a photovoltaic module
The present invention relates to photovoltaic modules and methods of manufacturing photovoltaic modules.
US09461183B2 Diode having a reduced surface field effect trench structure and method of manufacturing a diode having a reduced surface field effect trench structure
A diode comprising a reduced surface field effect trench structure, the reduced surface field effect trench structure comprising at least two trenches formed in a substrate and separated from one another by a joining region of the substrate, the joining region comprising an electrical contact and a layer of p-doped semiconductor material.
US09461181B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
An object is to provide a semiconductor device having stable electric characteristics in which an oxide semiconductor is used. An oxide semiconductor layer is subjected to heat treatment for dehydration or dehydrogenation treatment in a nitrogen gas or an inert gas atmosphere such as a rare gas (e.g., argon or helium) or under reduced pressure and to a cooling step for treatment for supplying oxygen in an atmosphere of oxygen, an atmosphere of oxygen and nitrogen, or the air (having a dew point of preferably lower than or equal to −40° C., still preferably lower than or equal to −50° C.) atmosphere. The oxide semiconductor layer is thus highly purified, whereby an i-type oxide semiconductor layer is formed. A semiconductor device including a thin film transistor having the oxide semiconductor layer is manufactured.
US09461180B2 Semiconductor device
The concentration of impurity elements included in an oxide semiconductor film in the vicinity of a gate insulating film is reduced. Further, crystallinity of the oxide semiconductor film in the vicinity of the gate insulating film is improved. A semiconductor device includes an oxide semiconductor film over a substrate, a source electrode and a drain electrode over the oxide semiconductor film, a gate insulating film which includes an oxide containing silicon and is formed over the oxide semiconductor film, and a gate electrode over the gate insulating film. The oxide semiconductor film includes a region in which the concentration of silicon is lower than or equal to 1.0 at. %, and at least the region includes a crystal portion.
US09461179B2 Thin film transistor device (TFT) comprising stacked oxide semiconductor layers and having a surrounded channel structure
A semiconductor device having stable electric characteristics is provided. The transistor includes first to third oxide semiconductor layers, a gate electrode, and a gate insulating layer. The second oxide semiconductor layer has a portion positioned between the first and third oxide semiconductor layers. The gate insulating layer has a region in contact with a top surface of the third oxide semiconductor layer. The gate electrode overlaps with a top surface of the portion with the gate insulating layer positioned therebetween. The gate electrode faces a side surface of the portion in a channel width direction with the gate insulating layer positioned therebetween. The second oxide semiconductor layer includes a region having a thickness greater than or equal to 2 nm and less than 8 nm. The length in the channel width direction of the second oxide semiconductor layer is less than 60 nm.
US09461178B2 Semiconductor device having an effective use of the conductive layer formed in the same process as one electrode
A semiconductor device includes a first conductive layer, a first insulating layer over the first conductive layer, first and second oxide semiconductor layers over the first insulating layer, a second conductive layer over the first oxide semiconductor layer, a third conductive layer over the second oxide semiconductor layer, a fourth conductive layer over the first oxide semiconductor layer and the second oxide semiconductor layer, a second insulating layer over the second conductive layer, the third conductive layer, and the fourth conductive layer, a fifth conductive layer electrically connected to the first conductive layer over the second insulating layer, and a sixth conductive layer over the second insulating layer. Each of the first and fifth conductive layers includes an area overlapping with the first oxide semiconductor layer. The sixth conductive layer includes an area overlapping with the second oxide semiconductor layer.
US09461172B2 Method for fabricating semiconductor device
Methods for fabricating semiconductor devices are provided. Gate structures are formed on a top surface of a substrate to form semiconductor devices. Trenches are formed in the substrate on both sides of each gate structure of each semiconductor device. The trenches on the both sides of each gate structure are filled with stress layers, the stress layers in the substrate protruding over the top surface of the substrate. The stress layers are ion-doped and annealed on the both sides of each gate structure, and are pulse-etched to form a source region and a drain region of each gate structure. The pulse-etching is controlled such that the source regions and the drain regions of the plurality of semiconductor devices have a top surface coplanar with the top surface of the substrate.
US09461170B2 FinFET with ESD protection
In some embodiments, a field effect transistor structure includes a substrate, a fin structure and a gate structure. The fin structure is formed over the substrate. The fin structure includes a first channel region, a first source or drain region and a second source or drain region. The first source or drain region and the second source or drain region are formed on opposite ends of the first channel region, respectively. The well region is formed of the same conductivity type as the second source or drain region, connected to the second source or drain region, and extended to the substrate. The first gate structure wraps around the first channel region in the fin structure.
US09461169B2 Device and method for fabricating thin semiconductor channel and buried strain memorization layer
A device and method for inducing stress in a semiconductor layer includes providing a substrate having a dielectric layer formed between a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer and processing the second semiconductor layer to form an amorphized material. A stress layer is deposited on the first semiconductor layer. The wafer is annealed to memorize stress in the second semiconductor layer by recrystallizing the amorphized material.
US09461167B2 Method for depinning the Fermi level of a semiconductor at an electrical junction and devices incorporating such junctions
An electrical device in which an interface layer is disposed in between and in contact with a conductor and a semiconductor.
US09461166B2 Lateral-diffused metal oxide semiconductor device and fabricating method thereof
A lateral-diffused metal oxide semiconductor device including a substrate, a second deep well, a gate, a source, a drain and a first dopant region is provided. The substrate includes a first deep well having a first conductive type. The second deep well having a second conductive type is disposed in the first deep well. The gate is disposed on the substrate and the boundary of the first and the second deep well. The source and the drain having a second conductive type are disposed beside the gate and in the first deep well and the second deep well respectively. The first dopant region having a first conductive type is disposed in the second deep well, wherein the first dopant region is separated from the drain. Moreover, a method for fabricating said lateral-diffused metal oxide semiconductor device is also provided.
US09461164B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The semiconductor device further includes first and second trenches extending from the first surface into the semiconductor body. The semiconductor device further includes at least one lateral IGFET including a first load terminal at the first surface, a second load terminal at the first surface and a gate electrode within the first trenches. The semiconductor device further includes at least one vertical IGFET including a first load terminal at the first surface, a second load terminal at the second surface and a gate electrode within the second trenches.
US09461162B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit device having reduced unit cell area
A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of word lines extending parallel to one another on the semiconductor substrate; a plurality of bit lines extending parallel to one another on the semiconductor substrate and arranged to intersect the word lines, thereby delimiting a plurality of crossing regions and a plurality of unit memory cells; a plurality of gate electrodes formed to control respective pairs of unit memory cells adjacent to each other with the word lines interposed therebetween and to contact corresponding word lines on one sides of the crossing regions; storage node contacts respectively formed in spaces of the unit memory cells; and a plurality of bit line contacts formed to contact the respective bit lines on one sides of the crossing regions.
US09461156B2 Memory structrue and operation method thereof
This invention provides a memory structure and an operation method thereof. The memory structure includes a triode for alternating current (TRIAC) and a memory cell. The memory cell is electrically connected to the TRIAC.
US09461154B2 Trench gate MOS semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A p-type base region, in which an n+ emitter region is formed, and a p-type floating region are provided in a surface layer of one main surface of an n-type semiconductor substrate and are separated from each other by a trench. An emitter electrode is provided so as to cover the p-type floating region, with an interlayer insulating film interposed there between, and to come into contact with the p-type base region and the n+ emitter region. In the trench, two divided polysilicon electrodes are provided in regions that face each other, with a cavity, which is surrounded by an insulating film, interposed there between, and are arranged along both side walls of the trench and are connected to different electrodes. With this structure, it is possible to ensure the insulation between the polysilicon electrodes in the trench, to reduce stress, and to suppress an increase in gate capacitance.
US09461153B2 Devices and methods related to a barrier for metallization of a gallium based semiconductor
Disclosed are structures and methods related to a barrier layer for metallization of a selected semiconductor such as indium gallium phosphide (InGaP). In some embodiments, the barrier layer can include tantalum nitride (TaN). Such a barrier layer can provide desirable features such as barrier functionality, improved adhesion of a metal layer, reduced diffusion, reduced reactivity between the metal and InGaP, and stability during the fabrication process. In some embodiments, structures formed in such a manner can be configured as an emitter of a gallium arsenide (GaAs) heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) or an on-die high-value capacitance element.
US09461152B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a first main electrode; a second main electrode; a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type; a second semiconductor region of the first conductivity type; a third semiconductor region of a second conductivity type arranged between the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region; and a depletion layer suppression region arranged inside of the third semiconductor region and being configured to suppress a spread of a depletion layer extending in the third semiconductor region when a reverse bias voltage is applied between the second semiconductor region and the third semiconductor region. The third semiconductor region includes a shortest region where a distance between a first boundary surface and a second boundary surface is shortest, and the shortest region includes a region where the depletion layer suppression region does not exist between the first boundary surface and the second boundary surface.
US09461146B1 Overhang hardmask to prevent parasitic epitaxial nodules at gate end during source drain epitaxy
A method of making a semiconductor device includes forming a gate covered by a hard mask over a substrate; disposing a mask over the gate and the hard mask; patterning the mask to expose a portion of the gate and the hard mask; cutting the gate and hard mask to form two shorter gates, each of the two shorter gates having an exposed end portion; undercutting the exposed end portion of at least one of the two shorter gates to form an overhanging hard mask portion over the exposed end portion; and forming spacers along a gate sidewall and beneath the overhanging hard mask portion.
US09461141B2 Contact techniques and configurations for reducing parasitic resistance in nanowire transistors
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide contact techniques and configurations for reducing parasitic resistance in nanowire transistors. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate, an isolation layer formed on the semiconductor substrate, a channel layer including nanowire material formed on the isolation layer to provide a channel for a transistor, and a contact coupled with the channel layer, the contact being configured to surround, in at least one planar dimension, nanowire material of the channel layer and to provide a source terminal or drain terminal for the transistor.
US09461138B2 Non-volatile semiconductor memory with nitride sidewall contacting nitride layer of ONO gate stack and methods for producing the same
A non-volatile semiconductor memory free from adverse effects due to process charge is provided. The non-volatile semiconductor memory includes: a silicon substrate; a first silicon oxide film; a second silicon oxide film; a first silicon nitride film; and a second silicon nitride film, wherein the first silicon oxide film is layered on the silicon substrate, the first silicon nitride film is layered on the first silicon oxide film, the second silicon oxide film is layered on the first silicon nitride film, and the second silicon nitride film is layered to have a first part that is in contact with the first silicon nitride film and a second part that is in contact with the silicon substrate.
US09461134B1 Method for forming source/drain contact structure with chalcogen passivation
In some embodiments, an MIS-type contact structure is formed by passivating the semiconductor surface of a source/drain region with a chalcogen, and subsequently depositing an tunnel layer by first exposing the chalcogen-passivated surface to a metal-organic precursor. Subsequently, deposition of the tunnel layer continues to a desired thickness. Preferably, the metal-organic precursor is part of a first set of ALD precursors and a second set of ALD precursors, which include one or more metal or semimetal precursors, are subsequently used to continue the deposition. For example, the metal-organic precursor may be used to deposit a first portion of the tunnel layer, and an inorganic metal or inorganic semimetal precursor or a different organic metal or organic semimetal precursor may be used to deposit a second portion of the tunnel layer. A metal is subsequently deposited on the tunnel layer, e.g., to form a metal electrode or electrical contact.
US09461121B2 Process for the manufacture of a doped III-N bulk crystal and a free-standing III-N substrate, and doped III-N bulk crystal and free-standing III-N substrate as such
A process for producing a doped III-N bulk crystal, wherein III denotes at least one element of the main group III of the periodic system, selected from Al, Ga and In, wherein the doped crystalline III-N layer or the doped III-N bulk crystal is deposited on a substrate or template in a reactor, and wherein the feeding of at least one dopant into the reactor is carried out in admixture with at least one group III material. In this manner, III-N bulk crystals and III-N single crystal substrates separated therefrom can be obtained with a very homogeneous distribution of dopants in the growth direction as well as in the growth plane perpendicular thereto, a very homogeneous distribution of charge carriers and/or of the specific electric resistivity in the growth direction as well as in the growth plane perpendicular thereto, and a very good crystal quality.
US09461120B2 Electronic device
According to various embodiments, an electronic device may include: a layer including a two-dimensional material; a dielectric structure at a first side of the layer, wherein the dielectric structure includes a first contact region and a second contact region, the first contact region defining a first contact area of the layer and the second contact region defining a second contact area of the layer, and the first contact region and the second contact region further defining a device area of the layer between the first contact area and the second contact area of the layer; a first electrode and a second electrode disposed at a second side of the layer opposite to the first side, wherein the first electrode is in direct physical contact with the first contact area of the layer and wherein the second electrode is in direct physical contact with the second contact area of the layer, wherein the first contact region and the second contact region of the dielectric structure are configured to adjust an electric characteristic of the two-dimensional material in the first contact area and in the second contact area of the layer, respectively, so that the electric characteristic of the two-dimensional material in the first contact area and in the second contact area of the layer is different from the electric characteristic of the two-dimensional material in the device area of the layer.
US09461119B2 Semiconductor structure with compositionally-graded transition layer
The invention provides semiconductor materials including a gallium nitride material layer formed on a silicon substrate and methods to form the semiconductor materials. The semiconductor materials include a transition layer formed between the silicon substrate and the gallium nitride material layer. The transition layer is compositionally-graded to lower stresses in the gallium nitride material layer which can result from differences in thermal expansion rates between the gallium nitride material and the substrate. The lowering of stresses in the gallium nitride material layer reduces the tendency of cracks to form. Thus, the invention enables the production of semiconductor materials including gallium nitride material layers having few or no cracks. The semiconductor materials may be used in a number of microelectronic and optical applications.
US09461114B2 Semiconductor devices with structures for suppression of parasitic bipolar effect in stacked nanosheet FETs and methods of fabricating the same
A device may include a nanosheet field effect transistor (FET) that may include a substrate, a well that is doped with impurities at a surface of the substrate, a channel including a plurality of stacked nanosheets, a gate, a conductive material, and an isolation layer. Ones of the plurality of stacked nanosheets may include a semiconductor material that may be doped with impurities of the same conductivity type as the impurities of the well. The conductive material may be adjacent the plurality of nanosheets and may electrically connect ones of the plurality of nanosheets to the well. The isolation layer may electrically insulate the well from the workfunction metal.
US09461112B1 Cubic phase, nitrogen-based compound semiconductor films
A method of epitaxially growing nitrogen-based compound semiconductor thin films on a semiconductor substrate, which is periodically patterned with grooves. The method can provide an epitaxial growth of a first crystalline phase epitaxial film on the substrate, and block the growth of an initial crystalline phase with barrier materials prepared at the sides of the grooves. Semiconductor devices employing the epitaxial films are also disclosed.
US09461107B2 Excimer laser annealing apparatus and method of using the same
An excimer laser annealing apparatus and the method thereof are disclosed. The apparatus has a substrate holder and an excimer laser unit. The substrate holder has a support surface for supporting a substrate having an amorphous silicon film and a thermoregulating module. The thermoregulating module is used to regulate the temperature on the support surface so as to control crystal orientation of amorphous silicon in the amorphous silicon film. With the thermoregulating module being added, the excimer laser annealing apparatus can control the orientation of recrystallizing of the amorphous silicon.
US09461098B2 Organic light emitting display device
An OLED device is disclosed. The device includes a substrate defined to have a first active area and a dummy area. First electrodes are formed on the substrate, and a first bank pattern is formed to overlap with edges of each first electrode and to expose a part of an upper surface of each first electrode. A second bank pattern is formed on the first bank pattern within the first active area, and a third bank pattern is formed on the first bank pattern within the dummy area in the same layer as the second bank pattern. The second bank pattern is formed to have a larger width than that of the third bank pattern. As such, an organic emission layer can be evenly formed in the active area.
US09461097B2 OLED display device and manufacture method thereof
The present invention provides an OLED display device and a manufacture method thereof. The OLED display device comprises: a substrate (100); a plurality of first electrodes (200), spaced with one another and arranged in array on the substrate (100); pixel barrier layers (300), located on the substrate (100) and between every two adjacent first electrodes (200); each pixel barrier layer (300) comprises a rut (310) at center, and the rut (310) penetrates the pixel barrier layer (300); an OLED organic material layer (400), located on the first electrodes (200) and the pixel barrier layers (300); the OLED organic material layer (400) is disconnected at the ruts (310); a second electrode (500), located on the OLED organic material layer (400); the second electrode (500) is similarly disconnected at the ruts (310). The OLED display device can inhibit the leaking emitting light problem caused by the leakage current. The short circuit defects can be decreased, and the reliability of the OLED display device is promoted and the display quality of the OLED display device is improved.
US09461093B2 Self-referenced MRAM element and device having improved magnetic field
Self-reference-based MRAM element including: first and second magnetic tunnel junctions, each having a magnetoresistance that can be varied; and a field line for passing a field current to vary the magnetoresistance of the first and second magnetic tunnel junctions. The field line includes a first branch and a second branch each branch including cladding. The first branch is arranged for passing a first portion of the field current to selectively vary the magnetoresistance of the first magnetic tunnel junction, and the second branch is electrically connected in parallel with the first branch and arranged for passing a second portion of the field current to selectively vary the magnetoresistance of the second magnetic tunnel junction. The self-referenced MRAM element and an MRAM device including corresponding MRAM elements can use a reduced field current.
US09461090B2 Photodetector and method of forming the photodetector on stacked trench isolation regions
Disclosed are structures and methods of forming the structures so as to have a photodetector isolated from a substrate by stacked trench isolation regions. In one structure, a first trench isolation region is in and at the top surface of a substrate and a second trench isolation region is in the substrate below the first. A photodetector is on the substrate aligned above the first and second trench isolation regions. In another structure, a semiconductor layer is on an insulator layer and laterally surrounded by a first trench isolation region. A second trench isolation region is in and at the top surface of a substrate below the insulator layer and first trench isolation region. A photodetector is on the semiconductor layer and extends laterally onto the first trench isolation region. The stacked trench isolation regions provide sufficient isolation below the photodetector to allow for direct coupling with an off-chip optical fiber.
US09461088B2 Image sensor pixel with multiple storage nodes
An image sensor pixel includes a photodiode, a first storage node, a second storage node, a first transfer storage gate, a second transfer storage gate, a floating diffusion, and an output gate. The photodiode is for generating image charge in response to image light. The first storage node, the second storage node, and the photodiode have a first doping polarity. The first transfer storage gate is coupled to transfer the image charge from the photodiode to the first storage node. The first transfer storage gate is disposed over a majority portion of the first storage node. The second transfer storage gate is coupled to transfer the image charge from the first storage node to the second storage node. The second transfer storage gate is disposed over a majority portion of the second storage node. The output gate transfers the image charge from the second storage node to the floating diffusion.
US09461084B2 Image sensor having shielding structure
An image sensor is provided. The image sensor includes a substrate, a first interlayer insulating layer, a first metal line, and a shielding structure. The substrate includes a pixel array, a peripheral circuit area, and an interface area disposed between the pixel array and the peripheral circuit area. The first interlayer insulating layer is formed on a first surface of the substrate. The first metal line is disposed on the first interlayer insulating layer of the pixel array. The second interlayer insulating layer is disposed on the first interlayer insulating layer wherein the second interlayer insulating layer covers the first metal line. The shielding structure passes through the substrate in the interface area wherein the shielding structure electrically insulates the pixel array of the substrate and the peripheral circuit area.
US09461083B2 Solid-state image pickup element and image pickup apparatus
A plurality of pixels PD1, PD2 for detecting the phase difference are treated as a pixel group, and a slit 46, which makes incident light entering into each of the pixels of the pixel group PD1, PD2 asymmetrical, is formed in between optical elements (microlenses) 43 formed at an upper layer at the light-entering side of the pixel group PD1, PD2, and in between intermediate refractive-index layers 45. The side faces of the slit 46 are made to be light reflecting faces.
US09461081B2 Solid-state imaging device, method of manufacturing solid-state imaging device, and electronic apparatus
An imaging device includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, a plurality of color filter components having a first color filter component and a second color filter component; a light shielding portion, at least a part of which is disposed between the first and second color filter components in a cross-section view; and a transparent film, at least a first part of which is disposed between the first color filter component and the light shielding portion in the cross-section view. A surface of the transparent film facing to the first and second color filter components is nonplanar, and a thickness of the transparent film is less than a thickness of the light shielding portion.
US09461076B2 Light-emitting device and method for manufacturing the same
The present invention provides a display device and a manufacturing method thereof that can simplify manufacturing steps and enhance efficiency in the use of materials, and further, a manufacturing method that can enhance adhesiveness of a pattern. One feature of the invention is that at least one or more patterns needed for manufacturing a display panel, such as a conductive layer forming a wiring or an electrode or a mask for forming a desired pattern is/are formed by a method capable of selectively forming a pattern, thereby manufacturing a display panel.
US09461073B2 Array substrate, manufacturing method thereof, and display device
The embodiments of the invention provide an array substrate, a method for manufacturing the same and a display device, relate to the field of display technology, and can reduce the color cast phenomenon of the display device, and improve the display effect. The array substrate comprises a plurality of pixel units which are arranged in an array, each of the pixel units comprises a plurality of sub-pixel units, the width of each of the sub-pixel units is equal, each of the sub-pixel units corresponds to one first electrode, the first electrode comprises a plurality of strip-shaped structures which are arranged at an equal interval, and intervals of the strip-shaped structures of the first electrodes corresponding to different sub-pixel units in each of the pixel units are not completely equal; any of the sub-pixel units meets Q·W+(Q−1)D
US09461072B2 Liquid crystal display array substrates and a method for manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display array substrate and a method for manufacturing the same are provided herein, wherein, the array substrate comprises, first gate lines, arranged on a substrate in parallel, to transfer a gate signal to a display cell; data lines, arranged on a different layer of the substrate from the first gate line but in a direction perpendicular thereto, to transfer a source driver signal to the cell; buses of common electrode lines forming frame structure and outlet lines extending from the buses; and branches of the common electrode lines intersecting with the buses, wherein, switches are placed at the intersections between the buses and the branches. Such a design can greatly increase the rate of detection of open-circuit failures, so that the failures can be repaired timely, and thus the yield of the display can be increased and the cost be saved.
US09461069B2 Systems and methods for integrating different channel materials into a CMOS circuit by using a semiconductor structure having multiple transistor layers
An aspect of the instant disclosure provides a multilayer device structure that comprises: a substrate defining a first device region and a second device region laterally offsetting each other; a first channel material layer disposed over the substrate in the first device region; a second channel material layer over the substrate in the second device region, wherein the second channel material layer is arranged at an elevation higher than the first channel material layer; and a first device and a second device respectively fabricated from the first and the second channel material layers, wherein the first device and the second device vertically offsetting each other and defining an offset region above the first device, thereby reducing parasitic interference there-between.
US09461068B2 Semiconductor arrangements and methods for manufacturing the same
Semiconductor arrangements and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. In one embodiment, the arrangement may include: a semiconductor on insulator (SOI) substrate, comprising a base substrate, a buried dielectric layer, and a SOI layer; a back gate formed on the SOI substrate and passing through the buried dielectric layer to be in electric contact with the base substrate; fins formed from the SOI layer on opposite sides of the back gate; and back gate dielectric layers interposed between the back gate and the respective fins.
US09461065B1 Standard cell library with DFM-optimized M0 cuts and V0 adjacencies
A library of a DFM-improved standard logic cells that avoid pattern-degrading configurations in the M0 and/or V0 layer(s) is disclosed, along with wafers, chips and systems constructed from such cells.
US09461064B2 Multi-layer memory array and manufacturing method of the same
A memory array includes a plurality of ridge-shaped multi-layer stacks extending along a first direction, and a hard mask layer formed on top of the plurality of ridge-shaped multi-layer stacks. The hard mask layer includes a plurality of stripes vertically aligned with the plurality of ridge-shaped multi-layer stacks, respectively, a plurality of bridges connecting adjacent ones of the stripes along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and a plurality of hard mask through holes between the plurality of bridges and the plurality of stripes.
US09461062B1 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device including a substrate, a bottom insulating layer disposed on the substrate, two stacked structure disposed on the bottom insulating layer, a charge trapping structure, and a channel layer disposed on the charge trapping structure is provided. Each of the stacked structures includes a plurality of semiconductor layers and insulating layers, a top insulating layer disposed on the semiconductor layers and the insulating layers, and a high-doped semiconductor layer disposed on the top insulating layer. The semiconductor layers and the insulating layers are alternately stacked on the bottom insulating layer. The charge trapping layer is disposed on a lateral surface of each of the stacked structures and a top surface of the bottom insulating layer. The channel layer is directly contacted the high-doped semiconductor layer.
US09461056B2 Non-volatile memory and semiconductor device
There is provided a non-volatile memory including: plural zener zap devices, each including a cathode region and an anode region formed in a well; and a metal wiring line that is formed above the plural zener zap devices, that is commonly connected to each of the cathode regions, and that supplies a write voltage to each of the zener zap devices.
US09461051B2 Methods of forming electronic devices having pads using first and second masks
An electronic device may include a substrate, and a plurality of spaced apart pads on the substrate. Each of the pads may includes first, second, third, and fourth sides, the first and third sides may be opposite sides that are substantially straight, and the second and fourth sides may be opposite sides that are curved. Related methods, devices, and structures are also discussed.
US09461048B2 Meander line resistor structure
A system comprises a first transistor comprising a first drain/source region and a second drain/source region, a second transistor comprising a third drain/source region and a fourth drain/source region, wherein the first transistor and the second transistor are separated by an isolation region, a first resistor formed by at least two vias, wherein a bottom via of the first resistor is in direct contact with the first drain/source region, a second resistor formed by at least two vias, wherein a bottom via of the second resistor is in direct contact with the second drain/source region, a bit line connected to the third drain/source region through a plurality of bit line contacts and a capacitor connected to the fourth drain/source region through a capacitor contact.
US09461044B1 Fin field effect transistor, semiconductor device and fabricating method thereof
A substrate is patterned to form trenches and a semiconductor fin between the trenches. Insulators are formed in the trenches and a dielectric layer is formed to cover the semiconductor fin and the insulators. A dummy gate strip is formed on the dielectric layer. Spacers are formed on sidewalls of the dummy gate strip. The dummy gate strip and the dielectric layer underneath are removed until sidewalls of the spacers, a portion of the semiconductor fin and portions of the insulators are exposed. A second dielectric layer is selectively formed to cover the exposed portion of the semiconductor fin, wherein a thickness of the dielectric layer is smaller than a thickness of the second dielectric layer. A gate is formed between the spacers to cover the second dielectric layer, the sidewalls of the spacers and the exposed portions of the insulators.
US09461041B2 Metal gate finFET device
A device including a substrate having a fin. A metal gate structure is formed on the fin. The metal gate structure includes a stress metal layer formed on the fin such that the stress metal layer extends to a first height from an STI feature, the first height being greater than the fin height. A conduction metal layer is formed on the stress metal layer.
US09461040B2 System and method of varying gate lengths of multiple cores
A method includes forming a first gate of a first transistor, the first gate having a first length. The first transistor is located in a first core. The method also includes forming a second gate of a second transistor, the second gate having a second length that is shorter than the first length. The second transistor is located in a second core. The first core is located closer to a center of a semiconductor die than the second core. The second transistor and the first transistor are corresponding transistors.
US09461038B2 Semiconductor device with resistance circuit
A semiconductor device includes an insulated gate field effect transistor and a resistance circuit having a resistance element. The resistance element has a first thin film arranged on an isolation oxide film provided on a surface of a semiconductor substrate, a second thin film of silicon nitride formed on the first thin film so as to be wider than the resistance element, an intermediate insulating film of silicon oxide formed on the second thin film, a contact hole passing through the second thin film and provided in the intermediate insulating film at a depth reaching the first thin film, and a metal wiring formed in the contact hole. The insulated gate field effect transistor is provided in a region of the semiconductor substrate surrounded by the isolation oxide film.
US09461036B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device which uses a fin-type semiconductor layer to form a bipolar transistor. The substrate of the device is a semiconductor substrate. A collector is a first-conductivity type impurity region which is formed in the semiconductor substrate. A base is a second-conductivity type impurity region which is formed in the surface layer of the collector. A first semiconductor layer is a fin-type semiconductor layer which lies over the base. An emitter is formed in the first semiconductor layer and its bottom is coupled to the base. A first contact is coupled to the collector, a second contact is coupled to the base, and a third contact is coupled to the emitter.
US09461032B1 Bipolar ESD protection device with integrated negative strike diode
A bipolar ESD protection device includes a substrate having a p-type epi layer thereon including an epi region over an n-buried layer (NBL). An n-type isolation tank (iso tank) includes a deep n+ region and NBL for containing an isolated epi region of the epi region. An NPN transistor and an avalanche diode are formed in the isolated epi region. The NPN transistor includes an emitter within a base having a base contact and the collector is a top portion of NBL. The avalanche diode includes a p-type anode region including an anode contact and an n-type cathode region having a cathode contact. The anode region and base are resistively coupled through the epi region. A ground connection couples the emitter to the anode contact and a strike node connection couples the cathode contact to an n+ isolation contact.
US09461031B1 Latch-up free vertical TVS diode array structure using trench isolation
A method for manufacturing a transient voltage suppressing (TVS) array substantially following a manufacturing process for manufacturing a vertical semiconductor power device. The method includes a step of opening a plurality of isolation trenches in an epitaxial layer of a first conductivity type in a semiconductor substrate followed by applying a body mask for doping a body region having a second conductivity type between two of the isolation trenches. The method further includes a step of applying an source mask for implanting a plurality of doped regions of the first conductivity type constituting a plurality of diodes wherein the isolation trenches isolating and preventing parasitic PNP or NPN transistor due to a latch-up between the doped regions of different conductivity types.
US09461023B2 Jetting a highly reflective layer onto an LED assembly
A layer of Highly Reflective (HR) material is deposited by jetting microdots of the HR material in liquid form onto a substrate and then allowing the HR material to harden. In one example, the HR layer is the HR layer of a white LED assembly. The HR layer is jetted onto the substrate around LED dice of the assembly after die attach and wire bonding have been completed. The HR material can be made to flow laterally so that areas of the substrate under wire bonds are coated with HR material, so that HR material contacts side edges of the LED dice, and so that HR material contacts the inside side edge of a retaining ring. By jetting the HR material in this way, the amount of substrate that is not covered with HR material is reduced, thereby improving the light efficiency of the resulting LED assembly.
US09461022B2 Power semiconductor package with a common conductive clip
According to an exemplary embodiment, a stacked half-bridge package includes a control transistor having a control drain for connection to a high voltage input, a control source coupled to a common conductive clip, and a control gate for being driven by a driver IC. The stacked half-bridge package also includes a sync transistor having a sync drain for connection to the common conductive clip, a sync source coupled to a low voltage input, and a sync gate for being driven by the driver IC. The control and sync transistors are stacked on opposite sides of the common conductive clip with the common conductive clip electrically and mechanically coupling the control source with the sync drain, where the common conductive clip has a conductive leg for providing electrical and mechanical connection to an output terminal leadframe.
US09461017B1 Electronic package that includes a plurality of integrated circuit devices bonded in a three-dimensional stack arrangement
An electronic package comprising a plurality of vertically stacked integrated circuit (IC) devices including a first IC device and a second IC device is provided. The electronic package also includes a first bonding layer coupling one side of the first IC device entirely to a portion of a side of the second IC device. The remaining portion of the side of the second IC device that is not coupled to the one side of the first IC device, includes an antenna.
US09461015B2 Enhanced stacked microelectronic assemblies with central contacts
A microelectronic assembly includes a dielectric element having first and second surfaces, first and second apertures extending between the first and second surfaces and defining a central region of the first surface between the first and second apertures, first and second microelectronic elements, and leads extending from contacts exposed at respective front surfaces of the first and second microelectronic elements to central terminals exposed at the central region. The front surface of the first microelectronic element can face the second surface of the dielectric element. The front surface of the second microelectronic element can face a rear surface of the first microelectronic element. The contacts of the second microelectronic element can project beyond an edge of the first microelectronic element. At least first and second ones of the leads can electrically interconnect a first central terminal of the central terminals with each of the first and second microelectronic elements.
US09461013B2 Wire spool system for a wire bonding apparatus
Disclosed is a wire spool system for a wire bonding apparatus, comprising: a wire reel arranged to receive a wire; a wire guide for feeding a free end of the wire to a bond head of the wire bonding apparatus; and a tensioning mechanism for tensioning the wire to define a wire path between the wire reel and the wire guide. The wire spool system comprises an imaging module comprising a camera having an image sensor. The imaging module also comprises an image processing unit. The camera is positioned to image, by said image sensor, at least a portion of the wire path to generate image data. The image processing unit is configured to process the image data to determine a geometry and/or a change in geometry of the at least a portion of the wire path.
US09461012B2 Copper ball bond features and structure
An integrated circuit wire bond connection is provided having an aluminum bond pad (51) that is directly bonded to a copper ball (52) to form an aluminum splash structure (53) and associated crevice opening (55) at a peripheral bond edge of the copper ball (54), where the aluminum splash structure (53) is characterized by a plurality of geometric properties indicative of a reliable copper ball bond, such as lateral splash size, splash shape, relative position of splash-ball crevice to the aluminum pad, crevice width, crevice length, crevice angle, and/or crevice-pad splash index.
US09461011B2 Method and apparatus for manufacturing lead frames
An embodiment of a method and an apparatus for manufacturing lead frames are described. For example, a coating layer is formed on one or more predefined portions of the surface of the substrate of the lead frame by delimiting the predefined portions by means of screen printing. The employment of screen printing may allow obtaining large amounts of lead frames with excellent electronic and structural properties in a quick and cost-effective way.
US09461010B2 Debond interconnect structures
The present subject matter relates to the field of fabricating microelectronic devices. In at least one embodiment, the present subject matter relates to forming an interconnect that has a portion thereof which becomes debonded from the microelectronic device during cooling after attachment to an external device. The debonded portion allows the interconnect to flex and absorb stress.
US09461007B2 Wafer-to-wafer bonding structure
A wafer-to-wafer bonding structure may include: a first wafer including a first insulating layer on a first substrate and on a first copper (Cu) pad that penetrates the first insulating layer and has portions protruding from an upper surface of the first insulating layer, and a first barrier metal layer on a lower surface and sides of the first Cu pad; a second wafer including a second insulating layer on a second substrate and on a second copper (Cu) pad that penetrates the second insulating layer, has portions protruding from an upper surface of the second insulating layer, and is bonded to the first Cu pad, and a second barrier metal layer on a lower surface and sides of the second Cu pad; and a polymer layer covering protruding sides of the first and second barrier metal layers and disposed between the first and second wafers.
US09461003B1 Semiconductor devices having shielding pattern
A semiconductor device includes a circuit pattern on a substrate, a shielding pattern on the circuit pattern and constituted by a plurality of parallel bars, and lower overlay marking on the shielding pattern and constituted by a plurality of parallel bars which define parallel slits between the bars. The pitch of the bars of the shielding pattern is smaller than the pitch of the bars of the lower overlay marking.
US09461000B2 Parallel signal via structure
A silicon interposer with redundant thru-silicon vias. The silicon interposer includes a first trace structure on a first side of the interposer and a second trace structure on a second side of the interposer. The silicon interposer also includes at least two redundant thru-silicon vias connecting the first trace structure to the second trace structure.
US09460999B2 Solution process for improved nanowire electrodes and devices that use the electrodes
A method of producing an electro-optic device includes providing a substructure, depositing a network of nanowires on the substructure, depositing a sol-gel solution on the network of nanowires and the substructure, and removing solvent from the sol-gel solution to provide fusing material that causes junctions of nanowires within the network of nanowires to fuse together to reduce electrical sheet resistance of the network of nanowires. An electro-optic device includes a sub-structure, a network of nanowires deposited on the substructure, and a plurality of nanoparticles attached to the network of nanowires. The plurality of nanoparticles fuse junctions of overlapping nanowires together to reduce electrical sheet resistance of the network of nanowires.
US09460995B2 Semiconductor device and structure therefor
In one embodiment, a method of forming a HEMT device may include plating a conductor or a plurality of conductors onto an insulator that overlies a plurality of current carrying electrodes of the HEMT device. The method may also include attaching a connector onto the conductor or attaching a plurality of connectors onto the plurality of conductors.
US09460990B1 Substrates and semiconductor packages including the same, electronic systems including the semiconductor packages, and memory cards including the semiconductor packages
A substrate may include a body having a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, at least one first wiring pattern disposed on the first surface of the body to include a bonding finger, an upper insulating pattern disposed on the first surface of the body to cover the overall surface of the at least one first wiring pattern except the bonding finger, and a second wiring pattern disposed on the second surface of the body. The substrate may include a lower insulating pattern disposed on the second surface of the body to cover the second wiring pattern, and a first via electrode penetrating the body from the first surface to the second surface and coupling the at least one first wiring pattern to the second wiring pattern. The body may include a first film and the upper and lower insulating patterns may include second films.
US09460989B2 Interposer having a defined through via pattern
A structure includes a substrate having a plurality of balls, a semiconductor chip, and an interposer electrically connecting the substrate and the semiconductor chip. The interposer includes a first side, a second side opposite the first side, at least one first exclusion zone extending through the interposer above each ball of the plurality of balls, at least one active through via extending from the first side of the interposer to the second side of the interposer, wherein the at least one active through via is formed outside the at least one first exclusion zone and wherein no active through vias are formed within the at least one first exclusion zone, and at least one dummy through via extending from the first side of the interposer to the second side of the interposer, wherein the at least one dummy through via is formed within the at least one first exclusion zone.
US09460988B2 Interconnect structures
A semiconductor structure includes a first dielectric layer over a substrate. At least one first conductive structure is within the first dielectric layer. The first conductive structure includes a cap portion extending above a top surface of the first dielectric layer. At least one first dielectric spacer is on at least one sidewall of the cap portion of the first conductive structure.
US09460987B2 Interconnect structure for package-on-package devices and a method of fabricating
An interconnect structure and a method of forming an interconnect structure are provided. The interconnect structure is formed over a carrier substrate, upon which a die may also be attached. Upon removal of the carrier substrate and singulation, a first package is formed. A second package may be attached to the first package, wherein the second package may be electrically coupled to through vias formed in the first package.
US09460983B2 Joining structure using thermal interface material
A thermal interface material includes a metal foil, which has a first surface and an opposite second surface, and a plurality of rod conductors each having a side surface extending in a thickness direction of the metal foil. The rod conductors are arranged on at least one of the first and second surfaces of the metal foil in a planar direction that is perpendicular to the thickness direction. A resin layer covers at least the first surface and the second surface of the metal foil and the side surfaces of the rod conductors.
US09460980B2 Systems, apparatus, and methods for heat dissipation
Some examples of the disclosure include a semiconductor package having a heat spreader, an outer perimeter portion attached to the bottom of the heat spreader along the perimeter and having a plurality of electrical pathways, a package substrate located below and spaced from the outer perimeter portion and having a plurality of electrical pathways, a plurality of connection points located between the outer perimeter component and the package substrate to provide connection points coupling the plurality of electrical pathways of the outer perimeter portion to the plurality of electrical pathways in the package substrate, and a cavity formed on the bottom of the heat spreader inside the outer perimeter portion.
US09460979B2 Electronic device having heat conducting member
An electronic device includes a semiconductor module, a wiring substrate, a case member and a heat conducting member. The heat conducting member thermally connects predetermined portions of wiring patterns and a heat conducting pattern of the wiring substrate to a predetermined heat conduction region of a surface of the case member opposing to the wiring substrate. The predetermined heat conduction region is located further from the wiring substrate than a surface of a body portion opposing to the case member. As a result, heat can be radiated and a short can be restricted with the case member having a simple shape. The heat conducting pattern is disposed adjacent to at least one of non-terminal projecting surfaces of the body portion on a surface of the wiring substrate. As a result, an area of a heat conducting passage increases and heat radiation performance can be increased.
US09460972B2 Semiconductor device and method of forming reduced surface roughness in molded underfill for improved C-SAM inspection
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor die. An interconnect structure is formed over an active surface of the semiconductor die. An encapsulant is formed over the semiconductor die and interconnect structure including a first surface opposite the interconnect structure. A peripheral portion of the first surface includes a first roughness disposed outside a footprint of the semiconductor die. A semiconductor die portion of the first surface includes a second roughness less than the first roughness disposed over the footprint of the semiconductor die. The first surface of the encapsulant is disposed within a mold and around the semiconductor die to contact a surface of the mold that includes a third roughness equal to the first roughness and a fourth roughness equal to the second roughness. The first roughness includes a roughness of less than 1.0 micrometers. The second roughness includes a roughness in a range of 1.2-1.8 micrometers.
US09460969B1 Macro to monitor n-p bump
A technique relates to fabricating a macro for measurements utilized in dual spacer, dual epitaxial transistor devices. The macro is fabricated according to a fabrication process. The macro is a test layout of a semiconductor structure having n-p bumps at junctions between NFET areas and PFET areas. Optical critical dimension (OCD) spectroscopy is performed to obtain the measurements of the n-p bumps on the macro. An amount of chemical mechanical polishing is determined to remove the n-p bumps on the macro based on the measurements of the n-p bumps on the macro. Chemical mechanical polishing is performed to remove the n-p bumps on the macro. The amount previously determined for the macro is utilized to perform chemical mechanical polishing for each of the dual spacer, dual epitaxial layer transistor devices having been fabricated under the fabrication process of the macro in which the fabrication process produced the n-p bumps.
US09460967B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor chip, semiconductor chip, and semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor chip according to an embodiment includes forming on a semiconductor substrate a plurality of etching masks each including a protection film to demarcate a plurality of first regions of the substrate protected by the plurality of etching masks and a second region as an exposed region of the substrate, and anisotropically removing the second region by a chemical etching process to form a plurality of grooves each including a side wall at least partially located in the same plane as an end face of the etching mask and a bottom portion reaching a back surface of the substrate, thereby singulating the semiconductor substrate into a plurality of chip main bodies corresponding to the plurality of first regions.
US09460966B2 Method and apparatus for dicing wafers having thick passivation polymer layer
Methods of and apparatuses for dicing semiconductor wafers, each wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits, are described. In an example, a method of dicing a semiconductor wafer having a front surface having a plurality of integrated circuits thereon involves forming a mask layer above the front surface of the semiconductor wafer. The method also involves laser scribing the mask layer and the front surface of the semiconductor wafer to provide scribe lines in the mask layer and partially into the semiconductor wafer. The laser scribing involves use of a dual focus lens to provide a dual focus spot beam. The method also involves etching the semiconductor wafer through the scribe lines to singulate the integrated circuits.
US09460965B2 Semiconductor substrate, eletronic device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor substrate includes a vertical conductor and an insulating layer. The vertical conductor includes a metal/alloy component of a nanocomposite crystal structure and is filled in a vertical hole formed in the semiconductor substrate along its thickness direction. The insulating layer is formed around the vertical conductor in a ring shape and includes nm-sized silica particles and a nanocrystal or nanoamorphous silica filling up a space between the silica particles to provide a nanocomposite structure along with the silica particles.
US09460964B2 Method for forming void-free polysilicon and method for fabricating semiconductor device using the same
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a buried gate electrode in a semiconductor substrate. An insulating layer is formed over the buried gate electrode and is etched to form a contact hole exposing the semiconductor substrate. A sacrificial spacer is formed on sidewalls of the insulating layer defining the contact hole. A polysilicon layer pattern is formed in the contact hole. The sacrificial spacer is removed to form an air gap around the polysilicon layer pattern. A thermal process is performed to remove a seam existing in the polysilicon layer pattern.
US09460963B2 Self-aligned contacts and methods of fabrication
Embodiments of the present invention provide an improved contact and method of fabrication. A dielectric layer is formed over transistor structures which include gates and source/drain regions. A first etch, which may be a reactive ion etch, is used to partially recess the dielectric layer. A second etch is then used to continue the etch of the dielectric layer to form a cavity adjacent to the gate spacers. The second etch is highly selective to the spacer material, which prevents damage to the spacers during the exposure (opening) of the source/drain regions.
US09460957B2 Method and structure for nitrogen-doped shallow-trench isolation dielectric
An isolation feature with a nitrogen-doped fill dielectric and a method of forming the isolation feature are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the method of forming the isolation feature comprises receiving a substrate having a top surface. A recess is etched in the substrate, the recess extending from the top surface into the substrate. A dielectric is deposited within the recess such that the depositing of the dielectric includes introducing nitrogen during a chemical vapor deposition process. Accordingly, the deposited dielectric includes a nitrogen-doped dielectric. The deposited dielectric may include a nitrogen-doped silicon oxide. In some embodiments, the depositing of the dielectric disposes the nitrogen-doped dielectric in contact with a surface of the recess. In further embodiments, a liner material is deposited within the recess prior to the depositing of the dielectric within the recess.
US09460956B2 Method of forming shallow trench isolation and semiconductor device
According to an exemplary embodiment, a semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a first vertical structure protruding from the substrate; a second vertical structure protruding from the substrate; an STI between the first vertical structure and the second vertical structure; wherein a first horizontal width between the first vertical structure and the STI is substantially the same as a second horizontal width between the second vertical structure and the STI.
US09460952B2 Film for pressure-sensitive adhesive tape and pressure-sensitive adhesive tape
A film for a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape is a film for a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, including a non-pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on one surface of a plastic film, where the non-pressure-sensitive adhesive layer includes a mixed layer of a silicone and a (meth)acrylic polymer; and the (meth)acrylic polymer has a calculated Tg of 10° C. or more.
US09460946B2 Substrate processing apparatus and heating equipment
A substrate processing apparatus includes a heating part including a cylindrical-shaped heat insulator and a heating wire arranged on the inner circumferential surface of the heat insulator, a heat-insulating part configured to define a cylindrical space between the heating part and the heat insulating part, a cooling gas introduction portion coupled to the cylindrical space and provided above the heat-insulating part to surround the heating part, and a cooling gas discharge portion provided at an approximately same height as that of the cooling gas introduction portion in the diameter direction extending from approximately the center of the cooling gas introduction portion.
US09460942B2 Substrate treatment system, substrate transfer method and computer storage medium
An interface station of a coating and developing treatment system has: a cleaning unit cleaning at least a rear surface of a wafer before the wafer is transferred into an exposure apparatus; an inspection unit inspecting the rear surface of the cleaned wafer whether the wafer is exposable, before it is transferred into the exposure apparatus; wafer transfer mechanisms including arms transferring the wafer between the units and a wafer transfer control part controlling operations of the wafer transfer mechanisms. When it is determined that a state of the wafer becomes an exposable state by re-cleaning in the cleaning unit as a result of the inspection, the wafer transfer control part controls the wafer transfer mechanisms to transfer the wafer again to the cleaning unit.
US09460939B2 Package-on-package structures and methods of manufacture thereof
A method for manufacturing a package-on-package structure may include: providing a support structure having a package attached to an inclined surface of the support structure, the package comprising: a first chip package; a second chip package disposed over the first chip package; and a standoff gap between the first chip package and the second chip package, wherein a first side of the package is disposed higher on the inclined surface of the support structure than a second side of the package; and dispensing an underfill into the standoff gap, the underfill flowing through the standoff gap from the first side of the package to the second side of the package.
US09460936B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
The semiconductor device has a gate electrode GE formed on a substrate via a gate insulating film GI and a source/drain semiconductor layer EP1 formed on the substrate. The upper surface of the semiconductor layer EP1 is positioned higher than the upper surface of the substrate straight below the gate electrode GE. And, end parts of the gate electrode GE in a gate length direction are positioned on the semiconductor layer EP1.
US09460935B2 Method for fabricating semiconductor devices
The invention relates to a method for fabricating a semiconductor device. The method comprises forming a first etching layer and a second etching layer stacked on a substrate, and forming a recess region by etching the first and second etching layers under plasma generated from an etching gas including a compound. The compound comprises at least one of 1,1,1,2,3,3-hexafluoropropane, 2,2,2-trifluoroethane-1-thiol, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane, 1,1,2,2,3-pentafluoropropane and 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-iodoethane, 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and 1,1-difluoroethene.
US09460934B2 Wet strip process for an antireflective coating layer
An silicon-containing antireflective coating (SiARC) material is applied on a substrate. The SiARC material which includes a base polymer and may include a boron silicate polymer including silsesquioxane. An etch sequence is utilized, which includes a first wet etch employing a basic solution, a second wet etch employing an acidic solution, and a third wet etch employing another basic solution. The first wet etch can be employed to break up the boron silicate polymer, and the second wet etch can remove the base polymer material, and the third wet etch can remove the residual boron silicate polymer and other residual materials. The SiARC material can be removed from a substrate employing the etch sequence, and the substrate can be reused for monitoring purposes.
US09460932B2 Surface poisoning using ALD for high selectivity deposition of high aspect ratio features
Methods of selectively depositing a feature onto a substrate surface while maintaining substantially straight sidewalls on the feature. A portion of the feature is grown and then covered with a protective film. The protective film is removed from the top of the feature, leaving some of the film on the sides of the feature and the process is repeated to grow a feature of desired thickness.
US09460928B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor devices
A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes preparing a wafer having projections formed on a substrate. The projections project upward from a surface of the substrate and have a height measured from the surface of the substrate. The method further includes determining an interval distribution representing a distribution of intervals between neighboring projections and calculating an implantation angle based on the height and the interval distribution. The implantation angle is an angle between a normal direction of the substrate and an implantation direction. The method also includes implanting ions at the calculated implantation angle.
US09460927B2 Semiconductor device manufacturing method
A semiconductor device manufacturing method for a semiconductor device having a p-n junction formed of a first conductivity type first semiconductor region and a second conductivity type second semiconductor region, and comprising a low-lifetime region that has a carrier lifetime shorter than that in other regions at the interface of the p-n junction. The method includes an implantation process of, after implanting a second conductivity type impurity into the surface of the first semiconductor region with a first acceleration energy, implanting a second conductivity type impurity, with a second acceleration energy differing from the first acceleration energy, into the surface of the first semiconductor region into which the second conductivity type impurity has been implanted.
US09460926B2 Forming JFET and LDMOS transistor in monolithic power integrated circuit using deep diffusion regions
A power integrated circuit includes a junction field effect transistor (JFET) device formed in a first portion of a semiconductor layer with a gate region being formed using a first body region, and a double-diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor (LDMOS) transistor formed in a second portion of the semiconductor layer with a channel being formed in a second body region. The power integrated circuit includes a first deep diffusion region formed under the first body region and in electrical contact with the first body region where the first deep diffusion region together with the firs body region establish a pinch off voltage of the JFET device; and a second deep diffusion region formed under the second body region and in electrical contact with the second body region where the second deep diffusion region forms a reduced surface field (RESURF) structure in the LDMOS transistor.
US09460919B1 Manufacturing method of two-dimensional transition-metal chalcogenide thin film
A manufacturing method of a two-dimensional transition-metal chalcogenide thin film includes providing a substrate, providing a reaction film, providing a source and providing a microwave. The substrate is made of material having dipole moments. The reaction film, disposed on the substrate, has a predefined thickness and includes a transition-metal compound. The source includes S, Se, or Te. The substrate is heated by the microwave to produce a heat energy to the reaction film and the source; thus a chemical reaction takes place and the two-dimensional transition-metal chalcogenide thin film is formed on the substrate. The two-dimensional transition-metal thin film includes a plurality of elements, and each of the elements aligns along a predefined direction by controlling a value of the predefined thickness.
US09460916B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device and substrate processing apparatus
An object of the present invention is to form a good thin film while suppressing generation of foreign substances in a low temperature region. Provided is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, including: (a) forming a thin film containing at least a predetermined element and carbon on a substrate by performing a cycle a predetermined number of times, the cycle including: (a-1) supplying a source gas containing the predetermined element and a halogen element to the substrate in a process container; and (a-2) supplying a reaction gas composed of carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen to the substrate in the process container; and (b) modifying byproduct adhered to an inside of the process container by supplying a nitriding gas into the process container after (a).
US09460915B2 Systems and methods for reducing backside deposition and mitigating thickness changes at substrate edges
A substrate processing system for depositing film on a substrate includes a processing chamber defining a reaction volume and including a substrate support for supporting the substrate. A gas delivery system is configured to introduce process gas into the reaction volume of the processing chamber. A plasma generator is configured to selectively generate RF plasma in the reaction volume. A clamping system is configured to clamp the substrate to the substrate support during deposition of the film. A backside purging system is configured to supply a reactant gas to a backside edge of the substrate to purge the backside edge during the deposition of the film.
US09460910B2 Lamination method and lamination system
To provide a lamination method and a lamination system capable of excellently laminating a film-type laminate without damage even though the semiconductor is a brittle lamination target such as a foil-type semiconductor or a semiconductor made of highly brittle material. In a lamination method for laminating a film-type laminate to a brittle lamination target by overlapping the brittle lamination target and the film-type laminate and heating and pressing the brittle lamination target and the film-type laminate, with respect to the brittle lamination target mounted on a mount member and carried into a lamination device, an elastic film member is expanded into a vacuum chamber of the lamination device from the above to press and laminate the brittle lamination target and the film-type laminate.
US09460903B2 Glycopeptide analyzer
The same sample S is analyzed using an ion-trap (IT) mass spectrometer section 11 in which ions are captured in an ion trap before mass spectrometry and a time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer section 12 in which ions generated from the sample are directly subjected to mass spectrometry. A mass spectrum creator 21 creates an IT mass spectrum and a TOF mass spectrum from the measured results. A glycopeptide detector 23 detects fragment ion peaks related to neutral loss of sugars from the IT mass spectrum as well as peaks corresponding to intact molecular ions from the TOF mass spectrum, and furthermore, detects peaks common to the two spectra as glycopeptide ions. A quantitative analyzer 24 determines relative quantities of glycoforms of the glycopeptide based on the TOF mass spectrum. A structural analyzer 25 analyzes the structure of the glycopeptide using the result of an MSn analysis of the sample S.
US09460902B2 Method of identifying precursor ions
A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising mass selectively transmitting precursor ions from a mass analyzer into a fragmentation or reaction device, wherein the mass to charge ratios of the ions transmitted varies with time; fragmenting the precursor ions in the fragmentation or reaction device so as to produce fragment or product ions; mass analyzing the fragment or product ions; determining the start and end times at which a first fragment or product ion is detected; using said start and end times to determine the start and end times at which a precursor ion of said first fragment or product ion is transmitted by said mass analyzer; and using the start and end times at which the precursor ion is transmitted by said mass analyzer to determine a mass to charge ratio of said precursor ion. The present invention enables precursor ion peaks to be resolved from the fragment data even when a low resolution mass analyzer is used to analyze the precursor ions.
US09460895B2 Gas supply method for semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, gas supply system, and semiconductor manufacturing apparatus
A gas supply method includes controlling communication between first and second gas pipes and a diffusion chamber using first and second valves; controlling discharge of gas within the first and second gas pipes using third and fourth valves connected upstream from the first and second valves; and controlling communication between an exhaust pipe and the diffusion chamber using a fifth valve. The gas supply method further includes a first pressurization step of closing the first valve and the third valve before starting a first step and pressurizing a first gas within the first gas pipe; a second pressurization step of closing the second valve and the fourth valve before starting a second step and pressurizing a second gas within the second gas pipe; and an exhaust step of opening the fifth valve upon starting the first step and the second step, and discharging gas within the diffusion chamber.
US09460892B2 Charged particle beam writing method, computer-readable recording medium, and charged particle beam writing apparatus
A charged particle beam writing method according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes: storing in a charged particle beam writing apparatus a position coordinate at which a drift amount is diagnosed; storing in the charged particle beam writing apparatus first and second time interval patterns which define time intervals to diagnose the drift amount of the charged particle beam; performing first writing of irradiating a target object with the charged particle beam, and writing a writing pattern on the target object while diagnosing the drift amount based on the first time interval pattern during the writing; and performing second writing of writing a predetermined writing pattern while diagnosing the drift amount when the writing reaches the position coordinate and diagnosing the drift amount based on the second time interval pattern during the writing after the writing reaches the position coordinate.
US09460890B2 Phase plate for a transmission electron microscope
The present invention relates to a method for cleaning a phase plate (1) for a transmission electron microscope wherein said phase plate is etched before being irradiated for the first time in the TEM, and is then held in an ultra-pure holding atmosphere until the irradiation in the TEM.
US09460889B2 Charged particle microscope device and image capturing method
A specimen image capture method using a charged particle microscope device includes: a first image acquisition step in which the gain of a detector in a charged particle microscope is set to a first gain value, charged particle beam scanning is carried out on a specimen, and a first image is obtained; a second image acquisition step in which the gain of the detector is set to a second gain value, which is different to the first gain value, charged particle beam scanning is carried out on the specimen, and a second image is obtained; and an image combination step in which the first gain value and the second gain value are used and the first image and the second image are combined.
US09460886B2 High resolution high quantum efficiency electron bombarded CCD or CMOS imaging sensor
An electron-bombarded detector for detecting low light signals includes a vacuum tube structure defining a cylindrical vacuum tube chamber, a photocathode disposed at a first end of the vacuum tube chamber, a sensor disposed at a second end of the vacuum tube chamber, ring electrodes disposed in the vacuum tube chamber for generating an electric field that accelerates emitted photoelectrons toward the sensor, and a magnetic field generator configured to generate a symmetric magnetic field that applies a focusing lens effect on the photoelectrons. The ring electrodes and magnetic field generator are operating using one of a reduced distance focusing approach and an acceleration/deceleration approach such that the photoelectrons have a landing energy below 2 keV. The use of reflective mode photocathodes is enabled using either multi-pole deflector coils, or ring electrodes formed by segmented circular electrode structures. Large angle deflections are achieved using magnetic or electrostatic deflectors.
US09460884B2 Microplasma generating array
A microplasma generator includes first and second conductive resonators disposed on a first surface of a dielectric substrate. The first and second conductive resonators are arranged in line with one another with a gap defined between a first end of each resonator. A ground plane is disposed on a second surface of the dielectric substrate and a second end of each of the first and second resonators is coupled to the ground plane. A power input connector is coupled to the first resonator at a first predetermined distance from the second end chosen as a function of the impedance of the first conductive resonator. A microplasma generating array includes a number of resonators in a dielectric material substrate with one end of each resonator coupled to ground. A micro-plasma is generated at the non-grounded end of each resonator. The substrate includes a ground electrode and the microplasmas are generated between the non-grounded end of the resonator and the ground electrode. The coupling of each resonator to ground may be made through controlled switches in order to turn each resonator off or on and therefore control where and when a microplasma will be created in the array.
US09460883B2 Temperature fuse and sliding electrode used for temperature fuse
A temperature fuse includes a cylindrical metal case, a sliding electrode slidable over an inner surface of the metal case, and a terminal electrically connected to the metal case while the sliding electrode is in contact therewith, during activation, the sliding electrode moving away from the terminal so that electrical connection between the metal case and the terminal is cut off, the sliding electrode being formed by working a thin metal plate, the sliding electrode including at least a base material layer composed of copper or a copper alloy and a first surface layer composed of silver or a silver alloy, and a site of contact with the terminal being the first surface layer having a thickness not smaller than 5 μm.
US09460881B1 Compact plug and socket unit isolator systems for motor control centers (MCC) and related MCC cabinets
Circuit breakers with cooperating plug and socket assemblies which are configured as separate spaced apart components, with plugs and sockets held spaced apart from the circuit breaker body, typically above the top of the circuit breaker body. The plug assembly can have a short compact profile and can include pairs of plugs held by an insulated support with a compact spacing between adjacent pairs and upper and lower plugs of each plug pair. The plug assembly can be attached to a racking frame to allow the plug assembly to be retracted during a rack-out action of the unit from a motor control center.
US09460880B2 Thermal-mechanical flexible overload sensor
An overload relay is provided for electrical equipment, such as a motor. The overload relay includes a set of electrical contacts, a trip mechanism and a single-arm, a set of monolithic compliant mechanism actuators. The trip mechanism has a normal position and a tripped position. The normal position allows electrical connection between the electrical contacts, and the tripped position interrupts electrical connection between the electrical contacts in response to detection of a high current condition. The single-arm actuator is formed of an electrically conductive material, and includes a compliant hinge and a single bar connected to the hinge. The single bar is electrically coupled to the line contact or the load contact. Under the high current condition, one of first and second ends of the single bar deflects relative to the compliant hinge to cause the trip mechanism to move into the tripped position.
US09460867B2 Electrical switching apparatus and pole shaft assembly therefor
A pole shaft assembly is for an electrical switching apparatus. The electrical switching apparatus includes a housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, and an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts. The pole shaft assembly includes a shaft structured to cooperate with the operating mechanism and to be pivotably coupled to the housing. A number of throw assemblies are disposed on the shaft, and are secured with respect to the shaft with fasteners. The shaft includes first and second opposing ends and an elongated body portion extending therebetween. The elongated body portion of the shaft has a cross-sectional shape comprising a number of orienting features.
US09460866B2 Method of forming a surface mount component having magnetic layer thereon
A microelectronic assembly, a surface mount component and a method of providing the surface mount component. The assembly comprises: a substrate having bonding pads disposed on a mounting surface thereof, the bonding pads including a ferromagnetic material therein; solidified solder disposed on the bonding pads; and a surface mount component bonded to the substrate by way of the solidified solder and including a magnetic layer disposed on a substrate side thereof, the magnetic layer being adapted to cooperate with the ferromagnetic material in the bonding pads to establish a magnetic force of a sufficient magnitude to hold the surface mount component on the substrate before and during soldering.
US09460859B2 Dielectric thin film element, antifuse element, and method of producing dielectric thin film element
A dielectric thin film element having a high humidity resistance is provided. A dielectric thin film element includes a capacitance section having a dielectric layer and a pair of electrode layers formed on the respective upper and lower surfaces of the dielectric layer 22. Furthermore, a protection layer is provided on the capacitance section, a pair of interconnect layers are drawn out to an upper surface of the protection layer, and external electrodes are formed to be electrically connected to the interconnect layers. Further, first surface metal layers cover a portion of the interconnect layers that extends along the inner surface of the openings and second surface metal layers are formed at end of the first surface metal layers.
US09460855B2 Multilayer ceramic capacitor and board having the same
A multilayer ceramic capacitor may include: three external electrodes disposed on amounting surface of a ceramic body to be spaced apart from one another. When a thickness of an active layer including a plurality of first and second internal electrodes disposed therein is defined as AT, and a gap between a first or second lead part of the first internal electrode and a third lead part of the second internal electrode is defined as LG, the following Equation may be satisfied: 0.00044≦LG*log [1/AT]≦0.00150.
US09460850B2 Ferrite magnetic powder for bond magnet and manufacturing method of the same, and bond magnet
To provide ferrite magnetic powders for bond magnet capable of surely suppressing residual hexavalent chrome, being an environmental load substance, having no adverse influence on the magnetic characteristics, which is an obstacle in use, and without damaging productivity and at a low cost. The method includes the steps of obtaining sintered powders by sintering raw material powders; wet-pulverizing the sintered powders; wet-cleaning the sintered powders; and annealing the cleaned sintered powders, wherein in the step of the wet-pulverization and in the step of wet-cleaning, generation of the hexavalent chrome, being an environmental load substance, is suppressed by performing the pulverization and cleaning while maintaining pH of a dispersion solvent at 8.5 or less, at the time of pulverization and cleaning.
US09460848B2 Antenna for inter-chip wireless power transmission
Disclosed is an antenna for inter-chip wireless power transmission in a 3D-wireless chip package, wherein the 3D-wireless chip package includes: a first chip transmitting AC power through a transmitting antenna; and a plurality of second chips sequentially stacked on or under the first chip and receiving the AC power from the first chip through receiving antennas, respectively, and the receiving antennas are individually formed on the second chips, respectively, and positioned without vertically overlapping each other over or under the transmitting antenna.
US09460846B2 Methods for forming shield materials onto inductive coils
Methods of and systems for directing flux from a transmit coil to a receive coil within an inductive power transfer system are disclosed. For example, a transmit coil can be shielded with a contoured shield made from a ferromagnetic material. The contoured shield can contour to several surfaces of the transmit coil so as to define a single plane through which flux is directed to the receive coil.
US09460843B2 Electronic component
Provided is an electronic component having a core that can achieve size reduction and frequency increase by improving the magnetic permeability further while also improving the plating property for the terminal electrode. An electronic component has a shaft, a flange formed at an end of the shaft and constituting a core together with the shaft, a coiled conductor wound around the shaft, and an electrode terminal formed on the flange and connected electrically to an end of the conductor; wherein the shaft and flange are made of a metal magnetic material, and the shaft is more densely filled with the metal magnetic material than is the flange.
US09460841B2 Integrated inductor device with high inductance in a radiofrequency identification system
An embodiment of integrated inductor device, comprising a plurality of modules overlaid to each other, each module including at least one coil of conducting material. The directly overlaid pairs of coils are coiled in opposite directions. The directly overlaid modules are mechanically coupled through first adhesive conductive regions and the coils of the directly overlaid modules are electrically coupled to each other through second adhesive conductive regions. The first and the second adhesive conductive regions coupling directly overlaid modules are formed in the same step of the process, are of the same material and are arranged at a same level.
US09460836B2 Powder for magnet
The present invention provides a powder for a magnet which can form a rare earth magnet having excellent magnetic characteristics and which has excellent moldability, a method for producing the powder for a magnet, a powder compact, and a rare earth-iron-boron-based alloy material.
US09460834B2 Method for adjusting a calibration element, and corresponding device
A method for adjusting the electrical behavior or characteristics of a calibration element includes adjusting the electrical behavior or characteristics of the calibration element by making one or more incisions or cuts in the calibration element. The calibration element has a plurality of apertures, and the method includes making an incision or cut in the calibration element between an edge thereof and at least one of the apertures, and/or making an incision or cut in the calibration element between at least two of the apertures.
US09460833B2 Conducting line shield structure
A conductive line shield structure includes a first conductive line, a second conductive line and a shielding member. The first conductive line includes a conductive part and an insulative part. At least a surface of the second conductive line is made of copper. The shielding member, is a sheet including an insulative base material and an aluminum foil, and is wrapped so as to enclose the first conductive line and the second conductive line therein. A plated layer is provided on a surface of the aluminum foil and is in contact with the second conductive line.
US09460828B2 Graphene printed pattern circuit structure
Disclosed is a graphene printed circuit pattern structure including a substrate excellent in electrical insulation and a graphene printed circuit layer provided on the substrate. The graphene printed circuit layer is electrically conductive and has a circuit pattern like an electrical circuit on the circuit board. The graphene printed circuit layer includes surface-modified nanographene platelets, a carrier resin and a filler. The ratio of the particle size of the filler to the thickness of the surface-modified nanographene platelet is 2-1000, and the surface-modified nanographene platelets are dispersed in the carrier resin. The filler is uniformly placed among the surface-modified nanographene platelets so as to enhance effective contact for the surface-modified nanographene platelets. The graphene printed circuit pattern structure provides excellent electrical properties and heat dissipation to achieve protection by preventing electrical elements from overheat.
US09460824B2 Stretchable conductive film based on silver nanoparticles
An article of manufacture includes a substrate and a stretchable, conductive film. The stretchable, conductive film includes a plurality of annealed silver nanoparticles disposed on the substrate. The conductive film can be formed from a liquid composition comprising silver nanoparticles in a decalin solvent. The conductive film can further include a first conductivity associated with an as-annealed shape of the conductive film, and the film can include a second conductivity upon being stretched in at least one direction beyond the as-annealed shape.
US09460823B2 Dynamic beam aperture control to reduce radiation dose using collimator
A computed tomography (CT) apparatus including: an X-ray source configured to direct X-rays toward a detector assembly; a dynamic beam collimator fixed in space and configured to dynamically limit an X-ray beam directed toward an object of interest, the dynamic beam collimator including a plurality of leaflets to block a cone beam of X-rays impinging upon the dynamic beam collimator, wherein a subset of the plurality of leaflets opens and closes to block or allow a portion of the cone beam of X-rays to reduce or increase a solid angle of the cone beam, wherein the cone beam of X-rays with the reduced solid angle is directed toward a predetermined portion of the object of interest; and the detector assembly configured to detect the directed cone beam of X-rays on a side opposite to the X-ray source.
US09460820B2 Radiation shielding method and device, and method of processing structure
A radiation shielding method and a device, and a method of processing a structure, in which a first radiation-shielded region (A1) is provided by disposing a first radiation-shielding device (100) outside a nuclear reactor vessel (41), a neutron flux detector (77) is moved into the radiation-shielded region (A1) through a conduit tube (65) by moving a thimble tube (68) from the nuclear reactor vessel (41), and an inspection/repair work of the nuclear reactor vessel (41) is then performed, so that an amount of radiation delivered to a worker can be easily and sufficiently reduced.
US09460819B2 Control rod-driving control apparatus and a method thereof
According to one embodiment, each of driving mechanisms is differently connected to one of control rods located in a nuclear reactor. A driving mechanism drives a connected control rod to be inserted and withdrawn with a high-pressure driving water by opening and closing control valves thereof. Driving time data of unlatch, insertion, withdrawal and settle of each control rod, is stored. The driving time data is measured by a test of insertion and withdrawal at a periodical inspection before starting operation of the nuclear reactor. At least one is selected from the control rods, based on a command to select and drive a control rod. A timing table that prescribes timings to open and close each control valve to unlatch, insert, withdraw and settle the selected control rod, is created based on the driving time data thereof. The selected control rod is driven based on the timing table.
US09460810B2 Method and device for evaluating a chip manufacturing process
A method for evaluating a chip manufacturing process is described comprising measuring, for each of a plurality of chips manufactured in a chip manufacturing process, a bit failure rate of the chip, determining a distribution of bit failure rates from the measured bit failure rates; determining a maximum allowed bit failure rate from a given chip failure rate limit, determining a value representing the probability that a chip manufactured in the chip manufacturing process is below the maximum allowed bit failure rate and determining, based on the value, whether the chip manufacturing process is suitable for the chip failure rate limit.
US09460805B1 Word line dependent channel pre-charge for memory
Techniques are provided for programming a memory device. A pre-charge phase is used to boost the channel of an unselected NAND string by allowing a bit line voltage to reach the channel. To maximize the channel pre-charge while also minimizing program disturb, a drain-side dummy word line voltage is controlled based on the position of the selected word line. The drain-side dummy word line voltage can be relatively high or low when the selected word line is relatively far from or close to the drain-side dummy word line, respectively. When the drain-side dummy word line voltage is relatively high, the bit line voltage can easily pass through and boost the channel. When the drain-side dummy word line voltage is relatively low, program disturb of drain-side data word lines is reduced due to a smaller channel gradient and a corresponding reduced amount of hot carriers.
US09460801B2 Method and system for determining storing state of flash memory
A method for determining a storing state of a flash memory is provided. The method includes the following steps. Firstly, plural first specific cell patterns are programmed into the flash memory. Then, plural second specific cell patterns are programmed into the flash memory. Then, a slicing voltage is adjusted to allow a distinguishable error percentage to be lower than a predetermined value. Afterwards, a first storing state and a second storing state of other cells of the flash memory are distinguished from each other according to the adjusted slicing voltage.
US09460799B1 Recovery of partially programmed block in non-volatile memory
Techniques for recovery of partially programmed blocks in non-volatile storage are disclosed. After programming memory cells in an open region of a partially programmed block, a fail bit count with respect to programming the memory cells is performed. If the fail bit count is above a threshold, then a recovery operation is performed of other memory cells in the partially programmed block. The recovery operation (such as erase) may remove charges that are trapped in the tunnel dielectric of memory cells in the open region of the partially programmed block. Note that this erase operation may be performed on memory cells in the open region that are already erased. The erase operation may remove trapped charges from the tunnel dielectric. In a sense, this “resets” the memory cells. Thus, the memory cells can now be programmed more effectively. Both programming and date retention may be improved.
US09460798B2 Page or word-erasable composite non-volatile memory
A non-volatile memory includes bit lines, a first page-erasable sector including memory cells of a first type, and a second word-erasable or bit-erasable sector including memory cells of a second type. The memory cells of the first type comprise a single floating-gate transistor and the memory cells of the second type comprise a first floating-gate transistor and a second floating-gate transistor the floating gates of which are electrically coupled, the second floating-gate transistor of a memory cell of the second type enabling the memory cell to be individually erased.
US09460794B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
In a writing operation, a control circuit raises the voltage of a writing-prohibited bit line among a plurality of bit lines to a first voltage, and thereafter brings the writing-prohibited bit line into a floating state. Then, the control circuit raises the voltage of a writing bit line other than the writing-prohibited bit line to a second voltage. In this way, the control circuit prohibits writing into a memory transistor corresponding to the writing-prohibited bit line. On the other hand, the control circuit executes writing into a memory transistor corresponding to the writing bit line.
US09460793B1 Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device may include: a memory cell array having a plurality of memory cells, a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines; a page buffer block including N number of sub page buffer blocks which are arranged in a bit line direction and each of which includes a plurality of page buffers arranged in a word line direction and a bit line direction; common internal data lines respectively corresponding to the sub page buffer blocks; and a page buffer decoder including page buffer selection units which are electrically coupled between the page buffers included in each sub page buffer block and a common internal data line corresponding to the sub page buffer block and which electrically couple the page buffers included in the sub page buffer block selectively to the common internal data line.
US09460791B1 Data clock synchronization in hybrid memory modules
Disclosed herein are techniques for implementing data clock synchronization in hybrid memory modules. Embodiments comprise a clock synchronization engine at a command buffer to generate a synchronized data clock having a phase relationship with data signals from a non-volatile memory controller that compensates for various synchronous and/or asynchronous delays to facilitate latching of the data signals at certain DRAM devices (e.g., during data restore operations). Other embodiments comprise a divider to determine the frequency of the synchronized data clock by dividing a local clock signal from the non-volatile memory controller by a selected divider value. Some embodiments comprise a set of synchronization logic that invokes the generation of the synchronized data clock signal responsive to receiving a certain local command and/or frame pulse from the non-volatile memory controller. In other embodiments, certain fixed and/or programmable delay elements can be implemented to compensate for various asynchronous delays.
US09460788B2 Non-volatile memory cell utilizing volatile switching two terminal device and a MOS transistor
A non-volatile memory device is provided that uses one or more volatile elements. In some embodiments, the non-volatile memory device can include a resistive two-terminal selector that can be in a low resistive state or a high resistive state depending on the voltage being applied. A MOS (“metal-oxide-semiconductor”) transistor in addition to a capacitor or transistor acting as a capacitor can also be included. A first terminal of the capacitor can be connected to a voltage source, and the second terminal of the capacitor can be connected to the selector device. A floating gate of an NMOS transistor can be connected to the other side of the selector device, and a second NMOS transistor can be connected in series with the first NMOS transistor.
US09460786B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit device including a leakage current sensing unit and method of operating the same
A semiconductor integrated circuit device configured for sensing a pure leakage current of a cell array and improving a read error is disclosed. The semiconductor integrated circuit device may include a leakage current sensing unit configured for sensing a pure leakage current of a cell array, and a determination circuit unit configured for comparing a voltage level of the input node with a reference voltage and for determining a state of read data while in a read mode. Whereby an output current may be compared with a read current of the cell array at the input node, and the output current may include the summation of the pure leakage current and a reference current.
US09460784B1 Reference voltage generation apparatuses and methods
A method and apparatuses for generating a reference voltage are disclosed. One example apparatus includes a current source coupled to a first power supply. The current source supplies a first current. A reference memory cell is coupled to the current source at a reference node. The reference memory cell has a select device comprising a chalcogenic semiconductor material. A clamp circuit is coupled between the reference memory cell and a second power supply. The clamp circuit is configured to control a second current such that when the first current and second current are substantially equal, the reference voltage generated at the reference node tracks a threshold voltage of the select device.
US09460781B1 Memory system and memory control method
According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a non-volatile memory, a memory interface, an encoder configured to generate eight code words, and a writing control unit. The writing control unit causes the memory interface to perform a first writing and a second writing, and repeat the first writing and the second writing. The first writing writes a first symbol included in a first code word to a second page in a first word line. The second writing writes a second symbol included in a first code word to a first page in a third word line adjacent to a second word line adjacent to a first word line. Thus, the code words to be written are changed. The repeat of the first writing and the second writing is performed by shifting a word line at a write destination one by one.
US09460778B2 Static random access memory with bitline boost
A static random access memory includes a memory cell array, a control logic configured to generate a first write clock signal and a second write clock signal each of which having a pulse width shorter than a pulse width of a clock signal in response to the clock signal, a row decoder configured to select a word line in response to the second write clock signal during a write operation, a column selector configured to select a bit line and an inverted bit line, a sense amplifier configured to sense states of the selected bit line and the selected inverted bit line during a read operation and a write driver configured to bias the selected bit line and the selected inverted bit line in response to the first write clock signal during the write operation.
US09460776B2 SRAM voltage assist
The disclosure provides for an SRAM array having a plurality of wordlines and a plurality of bitlines, referred to generally as SRAM lines. The array has a plurality of cells, each cell being defined by an intersection between one of the wordlines and one of the bitlines. The SRAM array further includes voltage boost circuitry operatively coupled with the cells, the voltage boost circuitry being configured to provide an amount of voltage boost that is based on an address of a cell to be accessed and/or to provide this voltage boost on an SRAM line via capacitive charge coupling.
US09460775B1 Sense amplifier driving device and semiconductor device including the same
A sense amplifier driving device may include a sense amplifier driving block configured to supply a post overdriving voltage to a pull-up power line coupled to a sense amplifier, the post overdriving voltage supplied to the sense amplifier during a post overdriving operation period in correspondence to a pull-up driving signal. The sense amplifier driving device may include a driving signal generation block configured to compare a reference voltage, set by a voltage trimming signal, with a level of a power supply voltage, and generate the pull-up driving signal for controlling whether to perform a post overdriving operation.
US09460773B2 Fast exit from DRAM self-refresh
Embodiments of the invention describe a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device that may abort a self-refresh mode to improve the exit time from a DRAM low power state of self-refresh. During execution of a self-refresh mode, the DRAM device may receive a signal (e.g., a device enable signal) from a memory controller operatively coupled to the DRAM device. The DRAM device may abort the self-refresh mode in response to receiving the signal from the memory controller.
US09460770B1 Methods of operating ferroelectric memory cells, and related ferroelectric memory cells
Methods of operating a ferroelectric memory cell. The method comprises applying one of a positive bias voltage and a negative bias voltage to a ferroelectric memory cell comprising a capacitor including a top electrode, a bottom electrode, a ferroelectric material between the top electrode and the bottom electrode, and an interfacial material between the ferroelectric material and one of the top electrode and the bottom electrode. The method further comprises applying another of the positive bias voltage and the negative bias voltage to the ferroelectric memory cell to switch a polarization of the ferroelectric memory cell, wherein an absolute value of the negative bias voltage is different from an absolute value of the positive bias voltage. Ferroelectric memory cells are also described.
US09460769B2 Electric field ferromagnetic resonance excitation method and magnetic function element employing same
To realize an electric field-driven type ferromagnetic resonance excitation method of low power consumption using an electric field as drive power, and provide a spin wave signal generation element and a spin current signal generation element using the method, a logic element using the elements, and a magnetic function element such as a high-frequency detection element and a magnetic recording device using the method. A magnetic field having a specific magnetic field application angle and magnetic field strength is applied to a laminate structure in which an ultrathin ferromagnetic layer sufficiently thin so that an electric field shield effect by conduction electrons does not occur and a magnetic anisotropy control layer are directly stacked on each other and an insulation barrier layer and an electrode layer are arranged in order on an ultrathin ferromagnetic layer side. An electric field having a high-frequency component of a magnetic resonance frequency is then applied between the magnetic anisotropy control layer and the electrode layer, thereby efficiently exciting ferromagnetic resonance in the ultrathin ferromagnetic layer.
US09460768B2 Cross point array MRAM having spin hall MTJ devices
Cross point array magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) implementing spin hall magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ)-based devices and methods of operation of such arrays are described. For example, a bit cell for a non-volatile memory includes a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) stack disposed above a substrate and having a free magnetic layer disposed above a dielectric layer disposed above a fixed magnetic layer. The bit cell also includes a spin hall metal electrode disposed above the free magnetic layer of the MTJ stack.
US09460767B2 Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes: banks each including a memory cell array; word lines connected to rows of each of the banks; an address latch circuit configured to latch a full address for specifying one of the word lines, the full address including a first address and a second address; and a control circuit configured to ignore a reset operation for the first address as a target of a set operation, and overwrite the first address in accordance with the set operation when receiving a first command for specifying a reset operation for a bank and a set operation for the first address.
US09460764B2 Buffer control circuit of semiconductor memory apparatus
A buffer control circuit of a semiconductor memory apparatus includes a delay unit configured to determine delay amounts for a command in response to a plurality of command latency signals, delay the command according to a clock, and generate a plurality of delayed signals; and a buffer control signal generation unit configured to receive the plurality of command latency signals and the plurality of delayed signals, and generate a buffer control signal.
US09460763B2 Holding by a memory controller multiple central processing unit memory access requests, and performing the multiple central processing unit memory request in one transfer cycle
The present invention includes a plurality of CPUs using memory as main memory, another function block using memory as a buffer, a CPU interface which controls access transfer from the plurality of CPUs to memory, and a DRAM controller for performing arbitration of the access transfer to the memory. Therein, the CPU interface causes access requests from the plurality of CPUs to wait, and receives and stores the address, data transfer mode and data size of each access, notifies the DRAM controller of the access requests, and then, upon receiving grant signals for the access requests, sends information to the DRAM controller according to the grant signals, whereupon the DRAM controller receives the grant signals, and on the basis of the access arbitration, specifies CPUs for which transfers have been granted so as to send the grant signals to the CPU interface.
US09460761B2 Lower power sense amplifier for reading non-volatile memory cells
A sense amplifier includes: two detection inputs, a latch circuit including two sections coupled to each other and each supplying a data signal. Each section is respectively powered by a P-channel control transistor, having a gate terminal receiving a control signal linked to a respective detection input of the two detection inputs. The sense amplifier includes a control circuit configured to reduce each of the control signals to a sufficiently low voltage to put the corresponding control transistor to the on state, when the control signal reaches a reference voltage. The latch circuit is activated to supply one of the data signals when a corresponding one of the control transistors is in the on state.
US09460760B2 Data-dependent self-biased differential sense amplifier
A system and method of operating a twin-transistor single bit multi-time programmable memory cell to provide a high gain, sensing scheme for small signals. The memory cell includes a pair of a first transistor and a second transistor providing a differential signal output. The first transistor of the memory cell couples a first circuit leg having a first current source load transistor and the second transistor couples a second circuit leg having a second current source load transistor. A programmed value is represented by a voltage threshold shift in one of the first or second transistors. A feedback circuit receives one of: a first signal or a second signal of the differential signals, and generates, in response, a feedback signal which is simultaneously applied to bias each current source load transistor in each the first and second circuit legs to amplify a voltage differential between the differential signal outputs.
US09460758B2 Single package dual channel memory with co-support
A microelectronic package can include a support element having first and second surfaces and substrate contacts at the first or second surface, zeroth and first stacked microelectronic elements electrically coupled with the substrate contacts, and terminals at the second surface electrically coupled with the microelectronic elements. The second surface can have a southwest region encompassing entire lengths of south and west edges of the second surface and extending in orthogonal directions from the south and west edges one-third of each distance toward north and east edges of the second surface, respectively. The terminals can include first terminals at a southwest region of the second surface, the first terminals configured to carry address information usable by circuitry within the microelectronic package to determine an addressable memory location from among all the available addressable memory locations of the memory storage arrays of at least one of the zeroth or first microelectronic elements.
US09460751B2 Binding shingled recording bands
Systems and methods are disclosed for binding shingled recording bands in data storage devices, particularly devices employing shingled magnetic recording. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a controller configured to define boundaries of an area of a data storage medium based on a constraint and a list of defective sectors. In another embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a data storage device including a memory configured to store data in a shingled manner where one track partially overlaps an adjacent track, and a controller configured to define boundaries of a plurality of bands, each band including a plurality of tracks of the memory, based on the results of an error discovery scan for defective sectors of the memory.
US09460750B1 Combining selected data from two or more passes to recover a data sector
A data sector is read using two or more passes of a read head over a recording medium. Each of the passes corresponds to a different cross-track offset, each of the data sectors being divided into two or more blocks. For each of the blocks, data is selected from one of the passes that read the block with a higher quality than other passes that read the block. The selected data from each of the blocks to is combined to form recovered data of the data sector.
US09460747B2 Hybrid-guided block copolymer assembly
A method for nano-patterning includes imprinting features in a resist with an imprint mold to form one or more topographic surface patterns on the imprinted resist. A block copolymer (“BCP”) material is deposited on the imprinted resist, wherein a molecular dimension L0 of the BCP material correlates by an integer multiple to a spacing dimension of the one or more topographic surface patterns on the imprinted resist. The deposited BCP is annealed and at least a portion of the annealed BCP is removed, forming a template having discrete domains.
US09460744B1 Method and apparatus to prevent servo instability due to coupling between voice coil motor and feedforward sensor
A voice coil motor control signal is detected being coupled into a vibration sensor of a hard disk drive. The vibration sensor is used to provide a feedforward signal to a servo control system of the hard disk drive. In response to detecting the coupling, the feedforward signal is modified to prevent instability of the servo control system.
US09460742B1 Selecting servo controller based on predicted position error signal spectrum
A discrete Fourier transform (DFT) of a position error signal (PES) of a read/write head controlled by a currently-used controller is determined. A plurality of predicted PES spectra are determined based on the DFT of the PES and a plurality of sensitivity functions associated with a plurality of controllers. One of the plurality of controllers is selected based on respective deviation metrics of the plurality of PES spectra. Servo control of the read/write head changes to use the selected controller.
US09460741B1 Adjusting track spacing for heat assisted recording medium according to reader to-reader separation
Two or more reader sensors are commonly mounted on a read/write head that is configured to read data from a heat-assisted recording medium. For a region of the recording medium, a separation is determined for the reader sensors. A track spacing that provides a target areal density for the region is determined. The track spacing for the region is adjusted to approach a predetermined ratio of the separation.
US09460740B1 Thermal assisted magnetic recording spot-size converter with finite ridge width
A thermally assisted magnetic recording head is disclosed having a spot size converter with at least one secondary waveguide adjoining a top or bottom surface of a primary waveguide. Each waveguide has tapered sides but the secondary waveguide is tapered at a greater angle over a shorter taper distance in order to couple propagated light into the primary waveguide before the front end of the taper. The secondary waveguide terminates in a ridge with a fixed width w3 of about 50-170 nm that is between the front end of the taper and the air bearing surface (ABS). The ridge enables transverse magnetic (TM) transmission mode efficiency above 90% even with a typical process misalignment in the cross-track and height directions. The primary waveguide has a front section with width w2 between an end of its tapered sides and the ABS where w2 is substantially larger than w3.
US09460731B2 Noise estimation apparatus, noise estimation method, and noise estimation program
A noise estimation apparatus includes a correlation calculator configured to calculate a correlation value of a spectrum between a plurality of frames in sound information obtained using one or more microphones, a power calculator configured to calculate a power value indicating a sound level of one target frame among the plurality of frames, an update determiner configured to determine an update degree indicating a degree to which the sound information of the target frame is to be reflected in a noise model stored in a storage, or determine whether or not the noise model is to be updated to another noise model, based on the power value of the target frame and the correlation value, and an updater configured to generate the other noise model based on a determined result, the sound information of the target frame, and the noise model.
US09460728B2 Method and apparatus for encoding multi-channel HOA audio signals for noise reduction, and method and apparatus for decoding multi-channel HOA audio signals for noise reduction
A method for encoding multi-channel HOA audio signals for noise reduction comprises steps of decorrelating the channels using an inverse adaptive DSHT, the inverse adaptive DSHT comprising a rotation operation and an inverse DSHT, with the rotation operation rotating the spatial sampling grid of the iDSHT, perceptually encoding each of the decorrelated channels, encoding rotation information, the rotation information comprising parameters defining said rotation operation, and transmitting or storing the perceptually encoded audio channels and the encoded rotation information.
US09460726B2 Method and device for decoding an audio soundfield representation for audio playback
Soundfield signals such as e.g. Ambisonics carry a representation of a desired sound field. The Ambisonics format is based on spherical harmonic decomposition of the soundfield, and Higher Order Ambisonics (HOA) uses spherical harmonics of at least 2nd order. However, commonly used loudspeaker setups are irregular and lead to problems in decoder design. A method for improved decoding an audio soundfield representation for audio playback comprises calculating (110) a function (W) using a geometrical method based on the positions of a plurality of loudspeakers and a plurality of source directions, calculating (120) a mode matrix (Ξ) from the loudspeaker positions, calculating (130) a pseudo-inverse mode matrix (Ξ+) and decoding (140) the audio soundfield representation. The decoding is based on a decode matrix (D) that is obtained from the function (W) and the pseudo-inverse mode matrix (Ξ+).
US09460725B2 Method, medium, and apparatus encoding and/or decoding extension data for surround
A method, medium, and apparatus encoding and/or decoding an audio signal to surround data. While encoding spatial information, which can up-mix an audio signal to a surround signal, to extension data, a length of a payload corresponding to the spatial information is encoded and a payload of the spatial information is decoded using the length of the payload. Accordingly, compatibility of the spatial information can be provided, and the spatial information can be transmitted by effectively embedding the spatial information.
US09460722B2 Blind diarization of recorded calls with arbitrary number of speakers
In a method of diarization of audio data, audio data is segmented into a plurality of utterances. Each utterance is represented as an utterance model representative of a plurality of feature vectors. The utterance models are clustered. A plurality of speaker models are constructed from the clustered utterance models. A hidden Markov model is constructed of the plurality of speaker models. A sequence of identified speaker models is decoded.
US09460718B2 Text generator, text generating method, and computer program product
According to an embodiment, a text generator includes a recognizer, a selector, and a generation unit. The recognizer is configured to recognize an acquired sound and obtain recognized character strings in recognition units and confidence levels of the recognized character strings. The selector is configured to select at least one of the recognized character strings used for a transcribed sentence on the basis of at least one of a parameter about transcription accuracy and a parameter about a workload needed for transcription. The generation unit is configured to generate the transcribed sentence using the selected recognized character strings.
US09460713B1 Language model biasing modulation
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for modulating language model biasing. In some implementations, context data is received. A likely context associated with a user is determined based on at least a portion of the context data. One or more language model biasing parameters based at least on the likely context associated with the user is selected. A context confidence score associated with the likely context based on at least a portion of the context data is determined. One or more language model biasing parameters based at least on the context confidence score is adjusted. A baseline language model based at least on the one or more of the adjusted language model biasing parameters is biased. The baseline language model is provided for use by an automated speech recognizer (ASR).
US09460712B1 Business listing search
A method of operating a voice-enabled business directory search system includes receiving category-business pairs, each category-business pair including a business category and a specific business, and establishing a data structure having nodes based on the category-business pairs. Each node of the data structure is associated with one or more business categories and a speech recognition language model for recognizing specific businesses associated with the one or more businesses categories.
US09460707B1 Method and apparatus for electronically recognizing a series of words based on syllable-defining beats
Speech is modeled as a cognitively-driven sensory-motor activity where the form of speech is the result of categorization processes that any given subject recreates by focusing on creating sound patterns that are represented by syllables. These syllables are then combined in characteristic patterns to form words, which are in turn, combined in characteristic patterns to form utterances. A speech recognition process first identifies syllables in an electronic waveform representing ongoing speech. The pattern of syllables is then deconstructed into a standard form that is used to identify words. The words are then concatenated to identify an utterance. Similarly, a speech synthesis process converts written words into patterns of syllables. The pattern of syllables is then processed to produce the characteristic rhythmic sound of naturally spoken words. The words are then assembled into an utterance which is also processed to produce a natural sounding speech.
US09460703B2 System and method for configuring voice synthesis based on environment
Systems and methods for providing synthesized speech in a manner that takes into account the environment where the speech is presented. A method embodiment includes, based on a listening environment and at least one other parameter associated with at least one other parameter, selecting an approach from the plurality of approaches for presenting synthesized speech in a listening environment, presenting synthesized speech according to the selected approach and based on natural language input received from a user indicating that an inability to understand the presented synthesized speech, selecting a second approach from the plurality of approaches and presenting subsequent synthesized speech using the second approach.
US09460697B1 System and method for mixing songs using priority rankings
A system and method are provided for mixing song data based on measure groupings. A player or program may recognize measure groupings in a song through identifying cuepoints. The player or program may use the cuepoints and/or other identifiers of measure groupings to generate a transition between the song and other songs. Parts of one or both songs may be time-stretched, or frames may be added or deleted, such that the beats in both songs are substantially aligned during the transition. The system and method may also involve altering the sequence of frames in one or both of the songs, so that the transition may have various sonic qualities as desired by a user. A choice of transition modes may be provided via a user interface that allow the user some control over when and how transitions between songs are executed.
US09460696B2 Displaying content in relation to music reproduction by means of information processing apparatus independent of music reproduction apparatus
A music reproduction apparatus includes a reproduction section for reproducing user-selected music piece data, a generation section for generating control information including music piece information identifying a music piece reproduced by the reproduction section and reproduced position information indicative of a currently-reproduced position, a modulation section for outputting, on the basis of the generated control information, an audio signal of a predetermined frequency band for carrying the control information, and an output section for transmitting to outside the audio signal generated by the modulation section. An information processing apparatus stores a plurality of sets of displaying content, receives the audio signal, demodulates the control information from the received audio signal to extract the music piece information and reproduced position information, identifies displaying content from the extracted music piece information, and displays a part of the identified displaying content in accordance with the extracted reproduced position information.
US09460695B2 Synthesizer with bi-directional transmission
An audio or visual system may include an encoder to encode electrical signals generated by an instrument such as a stringed instrument to music control message data such as MIDI data. A first wireless transceiver coupled to the encoder may transmit the MIDI data to a second wireless transceiver. A processor, coupled to the second wireless transceiver, may produce media signals based on the MIDI data.
US09460694B2 Automatic composition apparatus, automatic composition method and storage medium
An automatic composition apparatus includes a processing unit. The processing unit performs a receiving process of receiving a phrase including a plurality of note data items as a received motif and receiving a type of the phrase, a retrieving process of retrieving a phrase set from a phrase set database and a melody generating process of generating a melody based on the retrieved phrase set. The phrase set includes phrases having the same type as the received type and having relatively high matching levels for the received motif. The phrase set database stores a plurality of phrase sets each of which is a combination of a plurality of phrases of different types.
US09460691B2 Pixel, pixel driving method, and display device comprising the pixel
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a pixel including: a pixel including: a switching transistor configured to perform a switching operation according to a scan signal, the switching transistor including a first terminal that is coupled to a data line and a second transistor; a driving transistor configured to control a driving current according to a data signal that is transferred when the switching transistor is turned on, the driving transistor including a gate that is coupled to the second terminal of the switching transistor; a light-emitting element comprising a cathode and configured to emit light according to the driving current; and a contact transistor configured to perform a switching operation according to a sensing control line, the contact transistor including a first terminal coupled to the cathode electrode of the light-emitting element and a second terminal that is coupled to a sensing line to which a current of the driving transistor is applied.
US09460690B2 Touch screen display
A touch screen display is disclosed. In one aspect, the touch screen display includes a plurality of first touch electrodes each including first and second ends opposing each other and a plurality of second touch electrodes crossing the first touch electrodes. The touch screen display also includes a first voltage line providing a voltage, a first signal line providing a touch driving signal, and a plurality of first switching units respectively connected to the first touch electrodes. Each of the first switching units is electrically connected to the first voltage line, the first signal line, and the first end of a corresponding first touch electrode. Each of the first switching units alternately provides one of the voltage and the touch driving signal to the corresponding first touch electrode.
US09460687B2 Calibration system and calibration method for display device
A calibration system for a display device is provided. The calibration system includes an image signal source, a user-motion sensing module, a control module, and a calibration interface. The image source drives the display device to display a reference image and an indication icon included in the reference image. The user-motion sensing module detects a user motion and generating a corresponding sensing result. The control module controls the image signal source to move the indication icon according to the sensing result. After selecting a region to be calibrated in the reference image by the indication icon through the user-motion sensing module, a user can adjust an image characteristic parameter of the display device that corresponds to the region to be calibrated through the calibration interface.
US09460673B2 LCD panel having overvoltage driving table and method for driving the LCD panel
A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel includes a plurality of pixels, scan lines, data lines crisscrossing with the scan lines, a data driving unit that drives the data lines, an overvoltage driving unit coupled to the data driving unit, a data analysis unit coupled to the overvoltage driving unit and reading gray level of each of sub-pixels, an original overvoltage driving table, and a first overvoltage driving table. Each of the pixels belonging to a same column receives data of a same data line, and each of the pixels includes three sub-pixels controlled by three adjacent scan lines one by one. The original overvoltage driving table and the first overvoltage driving table are coupled to the data analysis unit. When an input signal driving the first overvoltage driving table is same as an input signal driving the original overvoltage driving table, partial voltages driving the data lines and corresponding to the first overvoltage driving table is greater than voltage driving the data lines and corresponding to the original overvoltage driving table. In a same frame image, when gray level of a current sub-pixel is greater than gray level of a previous sub-pixel of a same data line with the current sub-pixel, and gray level difference between the two sub-pixels is greater than a first threshold value, the overvoltage driving unit drives the current sub-pixel according to the first overvoltage driving table.
US09460670B2 Array substrate, liquid crystal display panel and liquid crystal display device
An array substrate, a liquid crystal display panel and a liquid crystal display device. The array substrate comprises data lines, gate lines and a pixel array provided on a base substrate. Each data line is connected with at least one type of sub-pixels in the pixel array, and sub-pixels of same type connected with a same data line have same polarity, and the sub-pixels connected with the same data line are connected with different gate lines, respectively.
US09460668B2 Display device for improving crosstalk affecting three dimensional image quality and related method
A display device for showing 3D images includes a backlight module and a display section. The backlight module includes n light source units. The display unit section includes n display sections. Upon conditions that a first through kth display section are scanned to receive an image in an current frame, a (k+1)th through an nth display section receives an image in a previous frame, a first through a kth light source unit generate light, and a (k+1)th through nth light source unit do not generate light, the first through the kth display sections display according to the image in the current frame and the light from the first through the kth light source unit, while the (k+1)th display section through the nth display section do not display the image in the previous frame due to the (k+1)th light source unit through the nth light source unit not generating light.
US09460665B2 Nano-media information carrier based on pixelated nano-structures combined with an intensity control layer
A display media including a pixel layer containing subpixels for different optical bands composed of nano-scale structures and an intensity control layer that can pattern the luminance of the subpixels. The display media includes a substrate layer, a sub-wavelength substrate supported by the substrate layer and including subpixels, each subpixel defined by at least one sub-wavelength structure having at least one specific optical property including a specific optical band, at least two of the subpixels having a different specific optical property, and an intensity control layer to individually control an amount of luminance of each individual subpixel in a pattern. Some of the subpixels may have colors that define a color space, while some other subpixels may have an invisible radiation spectrum band. For example, the display media can allow both overt information (color images) and covert information to be embedded together with high density.
US09460663B1 Electrowetting display device control method
A method of controlling an electrowetting display device with display elements arranged in a matrix with n rows. In examples each display element is addressable with a voltage pulse having a pulse duration longer than Tf/n, where Tf is a pre-determined frame period for addressing the n rows. In examples the pulse duration may be longer than ReCe, with Re being an electrical resistance of an electrically conductive fluid of a display element and Ce being an electrical capacitance of a capacitor of the display element.
US09460662B2 Pixel and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display having the same
A pixel and an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display having the same are disclosed. In one aspect, a pixel includes an OLED including an anode and a cathode and configured to emit light corresponding to data signals applied during first and second frame periods. Each of the first and second frame periods includes a first discharge period and a light-emitting period subsequent to the first discharge period. The pixel also includes a pixel circuit configured to control light emission of the OLED, apply a first voltage to the anode during the light-emitting period, apply a second voltage to the cathode, the second voltage having a voltage level less than that of the first voltage, and apply a third voltage to the anode so as to discharge the anode during the first discharge period. The second voltage has different voltage levels during the first and second frame periods.
US09460658B2 Pixel and organic light emitting display device using the same
A pixel for a display panel includes an organic light emitting diode and two driving transistors. The first driving transistor supplies current from a first power source to the organic light emitting diode based on a voltage applied to a first node. The second driving transistor coupled between an electrode of the first driving transistor and the organic light emitting diode. The second driving transistor is turned on or turned off corresponding to a data signal supplied from a data line. A third transistor, coupled between a gate electrode of the second driving transistor and the data line, is turned on when a scan signal is supplied to a scan line. A compensation circuit is coupled to the first node to compensate for a voltage corresponding to a threshold voltage of the first driving transistor.
US09460655B2 Pixel circuit for AC driving, driving method and display apparatus
A pixel circuit for AC driving, a driving method and a display apparatus relate to the field of display manufacture, and are capable of removing effect of internal resistance of a power supply line on the current for light-emitting and effect of the threshold voltage of the driving transistor on the display nonuniformity of a panel while effectively avoiding rapid aging of OLED. The pixel circuit comprises: a capacitor (C1), a first voltage input unit (11), a second voltage input unit (12), a data signal input unit (13), a first light emitting unit (14), a second light emitting unit (15) and a light emitting control unit (16). The present disclosure can be applied in display manufacture.
US09460652B2 Display device and method for controlling display device
According to one embodiment, a display device displays an n−1th frame (n is an integer which is greater than or equal 2) and an nth frame in this order. The display device includes a display panel, calculator, adjuster, and controller. The calculator calculates power consumption of the n−1th frame. The adjuster determines whether or not the nth frame is brighter than the n−1th frame, and adjusts brightness of the nth frame based on a brightness adjustment magnification of the nth frame calculated based on the power consumption of the n−1th frame and a decreasing function, when the nth frame is not brighter than the n−1th frame. The controller stops light emission with an arbitrary timing when the nth frame is displayed, when the nth frame is brighter than the n−1th frame.
US09460647B2 Image display apparatus
An image display apparatus, including: a light source which emits coherent light; a spatial modulation element which diffracts the coherent light by displaying a diffraction grating pattern corresponding to an input image and which displays a virtual image by the diffracted light; and a control unit which calculates a total brightness representing a sum total of brightnesses of all pixels of the input image, and controls at least one of the light source and the spatial modulation element in such a manner that, if the total brightness has decreased, the virtual image is displayed at a lower brightness than a reference virtual image displayed when the input image is used directly.
US09460638B2 Smart injection training device and system
In an embodiment, an injection training device configured to interact with an injection device having an injection member is provided herein. The injection training device includes a housing having an opening, a pad component disposed in the opening, wherein the pad component is configured to receive an injection member of an injection device. The injection training device further includes a signal output component and circuitry associated with the housing to receive information about the operation of the injection device and to provide a communication about an operation of the injection device to a user of the injection training device through the signal output component.
US09460635B2 Obstacle avoidance using mobile devices
Methods, systems, and products estimate distances to aid a visually impaired user of a mobile device. As the user carries the mobile device, a camera in the mobile device captures images of a walking cane. The images of the walking cane are analyzed to infer a distance between a tip of the walking cane and the mobile device. The distance may then used by navigational tools to aid the visually impaired user.
US09460632B2 System and method for rewarding physical activity
A system incentivizes people to engage in physical activity. A person's physical activity may be monitored over a period of time. Such monitoring may occur by using a sensing device carried or worn by the user. In the system, one or more thresholds for physical activity are established. Information tracked using the sensing device can be compared to the thresholds. A percentage of physical activity relative to the threshold can be translated to a reward established for the physical activity, and the percentage may be used to determine a reward value for an electronic device relative to a full available value. Rewards may include times or amounts. Time values may indicate durations during which particular activities or devices may be used. Amount values may indicate an amount of a battery charge, a number of communications, a currency value, or other values relative to use of an electronic device.
US09460626B2 Driving support device and driving support method
A driving support device and a driving support method, which can appropriately determine whether driving support is necessary and perform effective driving support, are provided. A driving support device calculates TTC, which is a time required for the vehicle to arrive at an intersection point at which the vehicle and a moving object intersect in the traveling direction of the vehicle and in a direction intersecting with the traveling direction, and TTV required for the moving object to arrive at the intersection point, and performs driving support in the vehicle based on the relative relation between TTC and TTV.
US09460622B1 Approach for estimating the geometry of roads and lanes by using vehicle trajectories
A method and apparatus is provided for controlling the operation of an autonomous vehicle. According to one aspect, the autonomous vehicle may track the trajectories of other vehicles on a road. Based on the other vehicle's trajectories, the autonomous vehicle may generate a representative trajectory. Afterwards, the autonomous vehicle may change at least one of its speed or direction based on the representative trajectory.
US09460619B2 Methods and systems for controlling traffic flow
Methods and systems for controlling vehicular traffic flow in a transport system are provided. The method includes defining a plurality of queues through the transport system, assigning each of a plurality of vehicles into one of the plurality of queues, determining a number of vehicles in each queue and a period of time each vehicle remains in the queue, and permitting traffic flow in at least one queue that facilitates reducing the congestion of the plurality of queues.
US09460618B1 System and method for providing traffic congestion relief using dynamic lighted road lane markings
A system and method for providing increased traffic carrying capacity of a road, such as a highway, by modifying an existing roadway from, for example, four lanes to five lanes, to create an additional travel lane. The system and method dynamically changes the width of travel lanes using, for example, embedded pavement lights, or other lighting arrangements, in lieu of traditional painted lane lines. As traffic volumes increase and speeds decrease along the road, an intelligent transport system (ITS) sends a congestion signal to the overhead lane controls and dynamic message signs (DMS) along the entire road segment of interest. The posted speed limits are changed, and the lane markings are controlled to dynamically increase the number of lanes in the road segment to five, for example, of narrower widths until traffic volumes reduce and the number of lanes can be returned to four, for example, with normal speed limits.
US09460612B2 Tamper-alert and tamper-resistant band
A tamper alert band includes a housing, a latch, and a latch-blocking member. The latch is configured to move between at least an unsecured position and a secured position, in the unsecured position first and second housing elements are movable with respect to each other and in the secured position the latch secured the first housing element with the second housing element. The latch-blocking member is controllably moveable between at least a first position and a second position, the blocking member being moveable to the first position when the latch is in the secured position to thereafter obstruct movement of the latch to the unsecured position.
US09460606B2 Perishable food timing system
Apparatus and associated methods relate to a set of timers each corresponding to one of a set of visual indicia, and each timer configured to be associated with one or more predetermined timing thresholds associated with temporal hazards of a perishable food item. In an illustrative embodiment, each timer may have three timing thresholds, one associated with a room-temperature spoilage hazard, one with a refrigerator spoilage hazard, and one with a freezer spoilage hazard. In some embodiments, an identifying tag having one of the set of visible indicia may attach to a perishable food container. The identifying tag may be a color or a symbol attached to a nipple of a baby bottle, for example. In some embodiments, an alarm signal may be generated when the timer equals one of the predetermined timing threshold to advantageously warn a user that the associated temporal hazard may have occurred.
US09460604B1 Multifunctional modular system for sensing and utilizing corporal dynamics and impact related forces
A sensor module that includes an outer casing configured to be removably inserted into a receptacle in an article of wear or sports equipment, a processor positioned within the outer casing, an accelerometer connected to the processor, a communications module connected to the processor, a proximity sensor connected to the processor, an identifier sensor connected to the processor, wherein the identifier sensor is configured to read an identifier connected to or embedded in an article of wear or sports equipment, and an alert module connected to the processor.
US09460601B2 Driver distraction and drowsiness warning and sleepiness reduction for accident avoidance
The present invention relates to a vehicle telematics device for driver monitoring for accident avoidance for drowsiness and distraction conditions. The distraction and drowsiness is detected by facial processing of driver's face and pose tracking as a function of speed and maximum allowed travel distance, and issuing a driver alert when a drowsiness or distraction condition is detected. The mitigation includes audible alert, as well as other methods such as dim blue night to perk up the driver. Adaptation center of driver's gaze direction and allowed maximum time for a given driver and camera angle offset as well as temporary offset for cornering for shift of vanishing point and other conditions is also performed.
US09460599B1 School perimeter security system
A school perimeter security system includes a registry database including: registered student mobile device identifiers, registered non-student mobile device identifiers, and a matching of students with authorized non-students with whom the students are permitted to be paired with near the perimeter. At least three beacon devices are located within the school's perimeter, positioned to establish a boundary area near the perimeter, detect and establish communication with mobile devices entering the boundary area, obtain an identifier from each mobile device that enters the boundary area, and facilitate tracking of all mobile devices within the boundary area. The processor and beacon devices interact to identify every mobile device entering the boundary area, track their location within the boundary area, compare the identified mobile devices with identifiers in the registry database and, transmit an alert notice when a condition is satisfied but not transmit that alert when a different condition is satisfied.
US09460596B1 Portable wireless remote monitoring and control systems
A user-programmable portable wireless remote monitoring system includes a base unit a series of sensor units and a remote control device. The base unit is connected to the internet, and receives wireless alerts from sensor arrays deployed in the sensor units. When the sensor units detect a problem, then they send an alert to the base unit, which then relays the alert to the remote control device that is preferably a smart phone, tablet, or the like, including software for operating the system. The system may also incorporate smart outlets that are remotely operable by the remote control device, various monitors, a touchscreen, and wearable tracking devices to monitor a person within the home. The system is designed to provide security, home system monitoring, personal medical monitoring, and remote control of various electrical appliances, as well as providing alerts of problem situations sent to the remote control device.
US09460595B2 Multiple detection function modularized lighting device
A multiple detection function modularized lighting device includes a housing having a front end in which positioning holes are formed and a detection module including sensors, a control module including a camera lens, an LED module, and a main power supply board mounted inside the housing. The control module is arranged to extend through a central portion of the detection module with the camera lens and the sensors embedded in the positioning holes. The main power supply board is electrically connected to the modules to allow the control module to drive the modules to each perform a corresponding operation, so as to provide the device with functions of detection, image recording, and lighting in multiple ranges.
US09460593B2 Container breach detector system
A container breach detector system to monitor breaches of a transportation container. A self-contained container breach detector provides activation, status, and/or breach event date and time stamp data and a unique identification number of a communication tower, for a user to determine when and where authorized and/or unauthorized breaches of the transportation container occurred. Furthermore, the self-contained container breach detector serves as a recording device to record the activation, status, and/or breach event date and time stamp data; and communicates via various communication means including text via short message service, SMS, and/or e-mail. A container breach detector is intended for a one-time use only, to be discarded at destination. Each container breach detector has individual serial numbers. An encapsulating composition ensures that the self-contained container breach detector is used only once, and is not removed, recharged and reused, whereby removal of the encapsulating composition would damage its electrical system.
US09460592B2 Human audible localization for sound emitting devices
Audible signals are created and emitted that provide a human user with improved sound localization cues to quickly and efficiently find the emitting device. The different audible signals have been observed to efficiently help a human locate emitting devices that are either in close proximity to the user or that are a large distance from the user. Additionally some examples emit audible signals that have been observed to efficiently help a human locate emitting devices that are located inside a sealed enclosure, such as a box. Some audible signals include audible noise processed by band-pass filters with spectral peaks at about 500 Hz, 4 kHz, and 8 Khz. Such audible signals are alternately emitted in time with audible signals having simultaneously occurring fundamental tone frequencies that each have harmonic components.
US09460585B2 Keno board ball reduction and reel keno
Methods and systems are provided keno game play. A keno board is displayed showing a set of available spots. A player selection of a plurality of player selected spots is received. A set of removed spots to be removed from play is determined from the set of available spots. A plurality of drawn spots is selected from at least some of the set of available spots, where the plurality of drawn spots exclude the set of removed spots.
US09460583B2 Gaming method and gaming apparatus with in-game player stimulation
A method for operating a gaming apparatus includes displaying a set of stopped reels in place of one or more spinning reels, each stopped reel having at least one symbol thereon and the total number of stopped reels being less than the total number of reels originally spinning. The method also includes determining an in-game outcome associated with a configuration of the symbols on the set of stopped reels, and providing an in-game stimulation selected from the group consisting of a 3-dimensional aural stimulation, a visual stimulation, a value stimulation and a physical stimulation according to the in-game outcome. The method further includes displaying stopped reels in place of all of the spinning reels, determining a game outcome associated with the configuration of the symbols on all of the stopped reels, and determining a value payout based on the game outcome. The apparatus is also included.
US09460580B1 Gift card holder
A gift card holder including a carrier panel for holding a removably attached gift card and a flap attached forward of the carrier panel to cover and obscure the gift card when the holder is presented for sale. The flap may include decorative elements or information and may include additional flaps or pages to form a greeting card or booklet.
US09460579B2 Sensor for checking value documents
The invention relates to a sensor for checking value documents with a detection device having at least two photodetectors through which the detection light of the value document is detectable in at least two different spectral regions. The detection device contains a collecting optic common to the photodetectors, through which the detection light emitted by the value document in a detection region can be collimated to a light beam. Each of the photodetectors has associated therewith a detector lens which receives a partial light beam of the light beam collimated by the collecting optic and directs it onto the respective photodetector, so that the detection region substantially coincides for the different photodetectors. By the sensor there can be detected different spectral portions of the detection light of the same detection region separately from each other at the same point in time.
US09460576B2 Capacitive fingerprint sensing device with demodulation circuitry in sensing element
A capacitive fingerprint sensing system includes excitation signal providing circuitry and a plurality of sensing elements. Each sensing element includes a protective dielectric top layer, an electrically conductive sensing structure coupled to the excitation signal for providing a sensing signal indicative of a change of a charge carried by the sensing structure resulting from a change in potential difference between the finger and the sensing structure, and demodulation circuitry connected to the sensing circuitry for combining the sensing signal and a demodulation signal being timing-related to the excitation signal to provide a combined signal including a DC signal component indicating the change of the charge carried by the sensing structure. The fingerprint sensing system further includes readout circuitry connected to each of the sensing elements for providing a representation of the fingerprint pattern based on the DC signal component from each of the sensing elements.
US09460575B2 Vehicle control apparatus and method thereof
A vehicle includes a sensing unit for sensing an authentication input of a user, the sensing unit including a sensor configured to sense one or more taps that are applied by the user to arbitrary positions within a preset region of the vehicle as the authentication input. The vehicle control apparatus also includes a control apparatus that includes a memory configured to store an authentication information and a controller configured to determine whether the authentication input matches the stored authentication information. The controller is also configured to control the vehicle according to the stored authentication information when the authentication input matches the stored authentication information.
US09460572B2 Portable user control system and method therefor
A portable control system for use by an agent in the travel industry and the like is disclosed. A reader reads user data from a user identity document and also reads further user data from a token associated with a product or service. A display is provided for displaying a field of view for the agent. In response to the agent positioning the user identity document and token within the field of view, the reader reads the user data from the document and reads the further user data from the token and compares the user data and further user data.
US09460569B2 Vehicular electronic control apparatus
A vehicular electronic control apparatus includes a non-volatile memory, a storing portion, and a determination unit. The non-volatile memory is capable of storing a permanent diagnostic trouble code of a vehicle. The storing portion stores a real-time destination value indicating a currently set destination of the vehicle. The determination unit determines, based on the real-time destination value stored in the storing portion, whether the permanent diagnostic trouble code is a target permanent diagnostic trouble code to be stored in the non-volatile memory.
US09460567B2 Establishing secure communication for vehicle diagnostic data
A vehicle diagnostic communication system and a method of establishing a secure diagnostic session at a vehicle is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a seed value from an electronic control unit (ECU) to a vehicle diagnostics tool; determining a first challenge response at the diagnostics tool, a remote server coupled to the diagnostics tool, or both, wherein the first challenge response is calculated using the seed value and one or more iterations of a key derivation function; providing the first challenge response to the ECU; and if the first challenge response is validated at the ECU, conducting a diagnostic session between the diagnostics tool and the ECU.
US09460564B2 Detecting the passing between a transmitter and a detector
Method and a system for detecting the passing between a transmitter module and a detecting module is described. The method may comprise: detecting a plurality of signals transmitted by said transmitter module; determining phase information associated with at least a part of said plurality of detected signals; and, determining said passing on the basis of said phase information.
US09460563B2 Differential mapping of a body organ
A method for mapping a body organ, including receiving a three-dimensional (3D) map of the body organ having a multiplicity of map elements, each map element having a graphic attribute indicative of a local property of the body organ. The method further includes delineating a selected region of the map, so that the map is divided into the selected region and a non-selected region. The 3D map is displayed while the graphic attribute of the map elements specifically within the selected region are altered.
US09460562B2 Providing volume indicators based on received images of containers
In order to aid a user in filling a container with a target volume of a substance, an image is received. The image includes a view of the container and a view of a reference object. The reference object has a known dimension. The view of the reference object and the view of the container are then compared with reference to the known dimension. Based on the comparison, a volume of the container is determined. Based on the volume of the container, a volume indicator is provided.
US09460560B2 Narrowcasting from public displays, and related methods
A user with a cell phone interacts, in a personalized session, with an electronic sign system. In some embodiments, the user's location relative to the sign is discerned from camera imagery—either imagery captured by the cell phone (i.e., of the sign), or captured by the sign system (i.e., of the user). Demographic information about the user can be estimated from imagery captured acquired by the sign system, or can be accessed from stored profile data associated with the user. The sign system can transmit payoffs (e.g., digital coupons or other response data) to viewers—customized per user demographics. In some arrangements, the payoff data is represented by digital watermark data encoded in the signage content. The encoding can take into account the user's location relative to the sign—allowing geometrical targeting of different payoffs to differently-located viewers. Other embodiments allow a user to engage an electronic sign system for interactive game play, using the cell phone as a controller.
US09460548B2 Method and apparatus for displaying medical image
Disclosed is an apparatus for displaying a medical image, the apparatus including: a data acquisition unit for acquiring volume data of an object; an image generation unit for generating a medical image, which includes at least one three-dimensional (3D) stereoscopic image and at least one 2D stereoscopic image generated based on at least one of a direction, a gradient, and a depth of an object shown in the 3D stereoscopic image, from volume data of the object; and a displaying unit for displaying the generated medical image.
US09460544B2 Device, method and computer program for generating a synthesized image from input images representing differing views
The invention relates to a method of generating a synthesized image representing a view of a scene from a first input image representing the view and a second input image representing the view, the synthesized image comprising synthesized image positions, by assigning a synthesized image data value to a synthesized image position. The method comprises determining whether input images have at the synthesized image position data values associated with them. If either one has a data value associated, that data value is assigned to the synthesized image position. If both, an average of both values is assigned. The average is a weighed average, with weighing factors being a function of a distance or distances to a closest image position with no image data value or valid image data value assigned.
US09460543B2 Techniques for stereo three dimensional image mapping
An apparatus may include processor to retrieve a stereo three dimensional (S3D) frame of an S3D game, the frame comprising a red-green-blue (RGB) frame and depth frame; and an interest aware disparity mapping component to: generate a depth edge frame from the depth frame; and to generate a depth distribution diagram for the depth frame based on the depth edge frame, the depth distribution diagram defining a multiplicity of camera regions for generating a mapped S3D frame for a target device based upon viewing parameters of the target device.
US09460542B2 Browser-based collaborative development of a 3D model
A system for collaborative three-dimensional (3D) modeling in a browser application is stored as instructions on a computer-readable medium. The instructions include a browser interface module that executes on the one or more processors to receive user commands from the browser application for modifying a 3D model and cause a rendering of the 3D model to be displayed in a window controlled by the browser application. The instructions further include a modeling engine module that executes on the one or more processors to interpret model data corresponding to the 3D model to generate the rendering of the 3D model, and modify the model data in accordance with the received user commands. Still further, the instructions include a collaboration module that executes on the one or more processors to cause the modified 3D model to be synchronized in real time.
US09460540B2 Method for animating characters, with collision avoidance based on tracing information
A method for determining a moving direction or moving velocity for a character in a group comprises reading tracing information from a cell in a terrain map on which the character is located, determining if collision avoidance is needed, and if a collision avoiding maneuver is necessary then updating the tracing information in the current terrain cell.
US09460539B2 Data compression for real-time streaming of deformable 3D models for 3D animation
Systems and methods are described for performing spatial and temporal compression of deformable mesh based representations of 3D character motion allowing the visualization of high-resolution 3D character animations in real time. In a number of embodiments, the deformable mesh based representation of the 3D character motion is used to automatically generate an interconnected graph based representation of the same 3D character motion. The interconnected graph based representation can include an interconnected graph that is used to drive mesh clusters during the rendering of a 3D character animation. The interconnected graph based representation provides spatial compression of the deformable mesh based representation, and further compression can be achieved by applying temporal compression processes to the time-varying behavior of the mesh clusters. Even greater compression can be achieved by eliminating redundant data from the file format containing the interconnected graph based representation of the 3D character motion that would otherwise be repeatedly provided to a game engine during rendering, and by applying loss-less data compression to the data of the file itself.
US09460538B2 Animation for conveying spatial relationships in multi-planar reconstruction
Spatial relationships are conveyed in multi-planar reconstruction (MPR). A 3D MPR display indicates relative position of MPR imaging planes to each other and/or anatomy at a given time. To better assist user understanding of the location of the MPR planes relative to each other and/or anatomy in transitioning to different relative locations, the transition is animated. The shift in planar position occurs gradually in the 3D MPR display despite user indication of a jump to another arrangement.
US09460535B2 Information processing device, information processing method, and program
Provided is an information processing device including an obtaining section configured to obtain a commonly-displayed object which is commonly displayed before and after a display state is updated, a layout determination section configured to determine a display position of the commonly-displayed object on a display screen after an operation of changing the display state based on a direction of the operation, and an image generating section configured to generate a display image including the commonly-displayed object at the determined display position.
US09460532B2 Imaging device, image signal processing method, and program
There is provided an imaging device including a recorded image signal exposure information corrector that, on the basis of information related to different exposure times, corrects a recorded image signal recorded with the different exposure times, a mixing coefficient calculator that calculates a mixing coefficient used for mixing the corrected recorded image signal with a mixed image signal, in which recorded image signals recorded with the different exposure times are mixed, retrieved from a storage unit that saves the mixed image signal, and a mixer that outputs the mixed image signal in which the mixed image signal retrieved from the storage unit and the corrected recorded image signal are mixed on the basis of the mixing coefficients, and writes the mixed image signal to the storage unit.
US09460531B2 Effect control device, effect control method, and program
There is provided an effect control device including an effect control unit that controls an effect added to a target image based on information regarding a direction of a sound.
US09460526B1 Dual technique compression
Systems and methods for ensuring that images are compressed in a format that may be decompressed at a speed that is acceptable to a particular user and/or viewing environment are disclosed herein.
US09460525B2 Tile-based compression and decompression for graphic applications
Systems and method for tile-based compression are disclosed. Image data, such as a frame, may be divided into tiles. The tiles may be sized based on a size of a line buffer. Tiles are compressed and decompressed individually. As portions of the image frame are updated, corresponding updated tiles may be compressed and stored. Likewise, as tiles are accessed they may be de-compressed and streamed to a requesting device. In some embodiments, a decoder operable to decompress tiles may be interposed between a memory device and a requesting device. Data encoding one or more compressed tiles may be grouped to enable decompression at a rate of four pixels per clock cycle. Methods for compressing image data including both RGB and RGBα components are disclosed.
US09460523B1 Image processing device, image processing method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium
In an image processing device, first to third color values are acquired. The first color value is a color value of a specific pixel in a first image obtained by photographing a subject illuminated by a photographic light source. The second color value is a color value of a pixel corresponding to the specific pixel in a second image obtained by photographing the subject not illuminated by the photographic light source. The third color value expresses a luminance closer to that of the first color value than the second color value, and a chroma closer to that of the second color value than the first color value. For a third image generated from the first and second images, a setting unit sets the color value of a pixel corresponding to the specific pixel in the third image to the third color value.
US09460522B2 Incremental update for background model thresholds
Techniques are disclosed for creating a background model of a scene using both a pixel based approach and a context based approach. The combined approach provides an effective technique for segmenting scene foreground from background in frames of a video stream. Further, this approach can scale to process large numbers of camera feeds simultaneously, e.g., using parallel processing architectures, while still generating an accurate background model. Further, using both a pixel based approach and context based approach ensures that the video analytics system can effectively and efficiently respond to changes in a scene, without overly increasing computational complexity. In addition, techniques are disclosed for updating the background model, from frame-to-frame, by absorbing foreground pixels into the background model via an absorption window, and dynamically updating background/foreground thresholds.
US09460520B2 Method and arrangement for identifying a difference between a first 3D model of an environment and a second 3D model of the environment
The invention relates to a method for identifying a difference between a first 3D model of an environment and a second 3D model of the environment. The first and second 3D model each comprise a plurality of points or parts, wherein each point or part of the first and second model comprises geometrical information and texture information. Corresponding points or parts of the first and second 3D model are matched based on the geometrical information and/or the texture information. The matched points or parts of the first and second model are compared to determine at least one difference value based on the geometrical information and the texture information of the first and second model. A difference between the first and second model is identified if the at least one difference value exceeds a predetermined value. The invention also relates to an arrangement, a computer program, and a computer program product.
US09460517B2 Photogrammetric methods and devices related thereto
The inventions herein relate generally to improvements in photogrammetry and devices suitable for obtaining such improvements. Some embodiments use only a single passive image-capture device to obtain overlapping 2D images, where such images at least partially overlap with regard to at least one object of interest in a scene. Such images can be processed using methods incorporating structure from motion algorithms. Accurate 3D digital representations of the at least one object of interest can be obtained. Substantially accurate measurements and other useful information regarding the at least one object of interest are obtainable from the methodology herein.
US09460516B2 Method and image processing apparatus for generating a depth map
In a method for generating a depth map for an image, an image processing apparatus is configured to: determine a depth level for each of at least two objects in the image according to an angle of incidence in which light incident upon the object is projected onto an image sensor of a light-field camera; calculate a depth value of the depth level associated with one of the objects; estimate a depth value for the depth level associated with another one of the objects; and generate a depth map according to the depth values. The depth value is estimated based on a distance between first and second locations on the image sensor, on which light incident upon the reference and relative objects are projected.
US09460515B2 Processing of light fields by transforming to scale and depth space
Light field images of a three-dimensional scene are transformed from an (image,view) domain to an (image,scale,depth) domain. Processing then occurs in the (image,scale,depth) domain.
US09460513B1 Method for reconstructing a 3D scene as a 3D model using images acquired by 3D sensors and omnidirectional cameras
A method reconstructs a three-dimensional (3D) scene as a three-dimensional (3D) model by first acquiring red, green, blue, and depth (RGBD) images with a sensor, and wide field-of-view (FOV) red, green, and blue (RGB) images with a camera from different viewpoints. Pair-wise point matches among the RGBD images and the RGB images are identified, and a graph of nodes and edges is constructed using the pair-wise point matches. Initial poses of the RGBD images and the RGB images are estimated using pose constraints associated with the edges, and an initial 3D model of the scene is estimated using the estimated poses. Then, erroneous edges are removed in the graph, and bundle adjustment is applied to the initial poses and the initial 3D model to obtain refined poses and the 3D model of the scene.
US09460509B2 Image processing apparatus, medical image diagnosis apparatus, and image processing method
In an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment, a noise information obtaining unit obtains information about an obstructive factor that is related to the precision level of perfusion images and is contained in pieces of medical image data acquired chronologically; on the basis of a TDC at an inflow blood vessel for an analysis target tissue of which the perfusion state is analyzed and on the basis of a perfusion model of the analysis target tissue, an estimating unit estimates a TDC of the analysis target tissue; on the basis of the estimated TDC of the analysis target tissue and on the basis of the information about the obstructive factor, a generating unit generates assessment information used for assessing reliability of the perfusion images generated from the pieces of medical image data; and a display control unit exercises control so that a display unit displays the assessment information.
US09460507B2 Iron quantification of brain microbleeds
An automatic method for detection and quantification of localized sources of magnetic susceptibility in images using a computer with instructions for a parameter module; an image input and filtering module; a second image filtering module; and a pattern quantification module.
US09460504B2 Method for modifying a medical data set
A method for modifying a first data set, which is called the target data set and represents the contour of an anatomical object, the method comprising the steps of: —matching a second data set, which is called the template data set and comprises a template for the modification and a template of the object, to the target data set such that the object template in the template data set matches the object in the target data set, thereby also adapting the modification template; —applying the adapted modification template to the target data set.
US09460503B2 Automated video testing using QR codes embedded in a video stream
A test system is provided for analyzing a video frame received from a device under test such as a video rendering device includes a video capture device, a matrix code reader and a video quality analyzer. The video capture device receives a video stream from a video rendering device that includes a plurality of video frames. At least one of the video frames includes a matrix code overlaid thereon. The matrix code encodes one or more test parameters specifying one or more quality tests that are to be performed on the video frame on which the matrix code is overlaid. The matrix code reader scans and decodes the matrix code. The video quality analyzer analyzes the quality of the video frame based on the one or more quality tests embodied in the matrix code and decoded by the matrix code decoding device.
US09460501B1 Objective assessment method for stereoscopic video quality based on wavelet transform
An objective assessment method for a stereoscopic video quality based on a wavelet transform fuses brightness values of pixels in a left viewpoint image and a right viewpoint image of a stereoscopic image in a manner of binocular brightness information fusion, and obtains a binocular fusion brightness image of the stereoscopic image. The manner of binocular brightness information fusion overcomes a difficulty in assessing a stereoscopic perception quality of a stereoscopic video quality assessment to some extent and effectively increases an accuracy of a stereoscopic video objective quality assessment. When weighing qualities of each frame group in a binocular fusion brightness image video corresponding to a distorted stereoscopic video, the objective assessment method fully considers a sensitivity degree of a human eye visual characteristic to various types of information in the video, and determines a weight of each frame group based on a motion intensity and a brightness difference.
US09460499B2 Systems and methods for selective enhancement of a region of interest in an image
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for receiving ultrasound image data corresponding to an ultrasound image with a master dynamic range and displaying a globally tone-mapped version of the ultrasound image on an electronic display. A region of interest (ROI) within the ultrasound image may be regionally tone mapped to provide an enhanced, optimized, and/or otherwise improved image of the ROI. The regional tone mapping may allow for features within the ROI to be more easily distinguishable that are not or at least not easily distinguishable in the global tone mapping of the same region.
US09460495B2 Joint video stabilization and rolling shutter correction on a generic platform
In one embodiment, a video processing system 300 may filter a video data set to correct skew and wobble using a central processing unit 220 and a graphical processing unit 230. The video processing system 300 may apply a rolling shutter effect correction filter to an initial version of a video data set. The video processing system 300 may simultaneously apply a video stabilization filter to the initial version to produce a final version video data set.
US09460493B2 Automatic video quality enhancement with temporal smoothing and user override
Technologies for a single-pass process for enhancing video quality with temporal smoothing. The process may include providing for user overrides of automatically enhanced video/frame characteristics and providing substantially immediate previews of enhanced video frames to a user. The process may also include detecting a degree of shakiness in a portion of the video, and performing or recommending stabilization based on the detected shakiness.
US09460486B2 Image display system, information processing device, server, and image processing method
Links are set among three hierarchical data and one moving image data. When a display area overlaps with a first link area while an image is being displayed by using first hierarchical data, switching to display by use of the 0-th hierarchical level of the second hierarchical data is made. When the display area overlaps with a second link area while an image is being displayed by using the second hierarchical data, switching to display by use of the 0-th hierarchical level of the third hierarchical data is made. The link destination of another link area is the moving image data and moving image reproduction is started as a result of zoom-up of this area. The hierarchical data are held on the client terminal side and the data existing on the other side of a switching boundary are transmitted to the client terminal in a data stream format.
US09460484B2 Control apparatus for displaying vehicle information synthesized with external information
The main object of the present invention is to enable image synthesis without obscuring important displays and information. This vehicle display control apparatus includes a display control unit (4) that can display vehicle information obtained from a vehicle information input unit (3) on a display device (1). The display control unit (4) includes an image-processing unit (7) that can image-synthesize the vehicle information from the vehicle information input unit (3) on an external image from an external information terminal (2) and displays the image-synthesized image on the display device (1). Further, this image-processing unit (7) comprises: a displayable area-setting unit (11) that searches for a non-important section within the external image and sets the section as a displayable area (A); and an image-synthesizing unit (12) that image-synthesizes the vehicle information on the displayable area (A).
US09460483B2 Methods, systems and apparatus to manage power consumption of a graphics engine
Methods and apparatus are disclosed to manage power consumption at a graphics engine. An example method to manage power usage of a graphics engine via an application level interface includes obtaining a policy directive for the graphics engine via the application level interface, the policy directive identifying a threshold corresponding to power consumed by the graphics engine operating in a first graphics state. The example method also includes determining a power consumed by the graphics engine during operation. The example method also includes comparing the power consumed to the threshold of the policy directive, and when the threshold is met, setting the graphics engine in a second graphics state to cause the graphics engine to comply with the policy directive.
US09460481B2 Systems and methods for processing desktop graphics for remote display
Systems and methods described herein facilitate processing or rendering desktop graphics for remote desktop display in, for example, a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), by decreasing the amount of data being transferred from a graphics processing unit (GPU). More specifically, the embodiments described herein include a host for hosting virtual machines within a VDI, the host includes a GPU that is configured to access a reference frame associated with desktop graphics. The GPU is further configured to generate a current frame associated with desktop graphics. The GPU is also configured to compare the reference frame with the current frame to identify one or more changed portions of the current frame relative to the reference frame, wherein the changed portions are used for the generation of an encoded frame that is configured to be displayed.
US09460479B1 Dispensable smart target/ re-usable smart target
A method for aiding construction of a building is proposed. The building includes a plurality of building components. The method comprises: (A) providing at least one building component marking attached to at least one building component, (B) providing at least one RFID tag, and C) of using at least one building component marking to identify at least one building component on the building site. An RFID tag is attached to at least one building component. The RFID tag is configured to store a predetermined location of at least one building component on a building site. A building component marking is selected from the group consisting of: an optical reflective target; and a physical marking.
US09460478B2 System and method for wind generation forecasting
Systems and methods for managing electricity of an electrical supply grid electrically connected to a wind farm are disclosed. Some systems and methods may include identifying relationships among a plurality of turbines in the wind farm with a minimum spanning tree, calculating a power output relationship among the plurality of turbines with the minimum spanning tree, creating a finite state space Markov chain forecast model for the plurality of turbines in the wind farm, predicting a power output of the wind farm with the finite state space Markov chain forecast model, and modifying at least one of a generation of electricity and a distribution of electricity based on the predicted power output of the wind farm. Also disclosed are systems and methods for predicting the power output of a wind farm.
US09460475B2 Determining connectivity within a community
Systems and methods to determine trust scores and/or trustworthiness levels and/or connectivity are described herein. Trust and/or Trustworthiness and/or connectivity may be determined within, among or between entities and/or individuals. Social analytics and network calculations described herein may be based on user-assigned links or ratings and/or objective measures, such as data from third-party ratings agencies. The trust score may provide guidance about the trustworthiness, alignment, reputation, status, membership status and/or influence about an individual, entity, or group. The systems and methods described herein may be used to make prospective real-world decisions, such as whether or not to initiate a transaction or relationship with another person, or whether to grant a request for credit.
US09460474B2 Providing access to a private resource in an enterprise social networking system
Disclosed are methods, apparatus, systems, and computer readable storage media for providing access to a private resource in an enterprise social networking system. One or more servers may receive a request for access to a private resource to be granted to a user from a publisher. The publisher may be configured to publish a message as a feed item to one or more feeds, where the message includes a user identification identifying the user. The user does not have access to the private resource. The feed item may be provided to display in the one or more feeds. Access may be granted to the user via the one or more feeds. In some implementations, access may be granted in response to a user input from the feed item associated with a moderator or owner, the moderator or owner having a privilege to control user access to the private resource.
US09460471B2 System and method for an automated validation system
An automated validation system validates whether a property of a policyholder receiving at least one insurance benefit is currently receiving remote monitoring services, as represented by the policyholder. The system includes an application server, a trusted third party server, and a business logic computer. The application server requests the trusted third party server to validate whether the property of the policyholder is presently receiving remote monitoring services from a service provider. A business logic computer can adjust the policyholder's insurance policy based on the received validation results.
US09460467B2 Used automobile transaction facilitation for a specific used automobile
A system, methods, and apparatus for performing used automobile transactions are disclosed. In an example embodiment, automobile market data representative of current automobile market characteristics is stored. The automobile market data may include pricing and consumer interest information received from consumers, dealers, and manufacturers. A consumer seller or manufacturer off-lease seller may provide a request for a response regarding a specific used automobile with a specific a vehicle identification number. Automobile market data may be provided to a used automobile buyer based on the request. Bids to purchase the specific used automobile may be requested from used automobile buyers based on the request. Buyer bids may be provided to the consumer seller or manufacturer off-lease seller with prices and a delivery options. The consumer seller or manufacturer off-lease seller may select a bid to sell the specific used automobile based on the bid.
US09460463B2 Method, web server and web browser of providing information
The present disclosure discloses a method, a web server and a web browser of providing information. The method of providing information includes: in response to receiving a webpage access request of a user, obtaining, by a web server, attribute information of second product information that matches with first product information corresponding to a webpage which the user requests to browse; finding second product information which satisfies the attribute information; and sending the found second product information to a web browser used by the user in order for the webpage browser to include the received second product information in the webpage for provision to the user. The technical scheme of the present disclosure solves the problem of repeatedly performing actions (such as searching, clicking, browsing, etc.) by a user in an electronic commerce website and thereby wasting a relatively large amount of processing resources of the electronic commerce website under existing technologies.
US09460460B2 Onsite automated customer assistance
Methods and a system for automated onsite customer assistance are provided. A customer operating a Self-Service Terminal (SST) onsite of an enterprise establishes a communication session with a host system. Information passed between the SST and the host system is relayed to a device operated by a clerk that is also onsite. A real-time determination is made as to whether the customer is in need of assistance of the clerk during the communication session.
US09460457B1 Automatically annotating content items with an entity
Methods and systems for providing content for display including receiving a first content item, receiving a second content item, automatically annotating the first content item and the second content item with an entity, comparing the entity annotation of the first content item and the entity annotation of the second content item, and, based on the comparison, displaying the annotated first content item with the second content item to a user.
US09460450B2 Method and apparatus for providing application list
The present disclosure provides a method for providing an application list. The method includes: a mobile terminal records and processes information on a user's usage of third party applications to obtain history data about the third party applications, matches the history data about the third party applications with application information in a database of an application store, forms a third party application selection list from the matched result, and pushes the content of the third party application selection list to a display interface of the application store on the mobile terminal. An apparatus for providing an application list is also provided. The method and the apparatus can push different third party application selection lists to different users, display the third party applications in which users may be interested to indirectly realize user's customization, enable a user to rapidly choose and purchase the third party applications the user like, improve the purchasing and using ratio of various applications in the application store, and ensure Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) of an operator.
US09460448B2 Environmental monitoring system which leverages a social networking service to deliver alerts to mobile phones or devices
A system for remote monitoring of environmental conditions at a site and transmitting alerts to interested parties' mobile devices via a social networking service is described. The system employs a wireless communications device, partially exposed outside a small, metal enclosure, to transmit SMS (text message) alerts to a social networking site. Interested parties, including other devices, receive the alerts by simply subscribing to the ‘user’ device. Thus, no configuration of the device by interested parties is required. Temperature alerts are generated by the device without user-configured or fixed thresholds. A wall-mounted installation of the device conceals the external antenna within the wall cavity.
US09460447B2 Mobile coupon analysis systems and methods
Methods and systems are described for issuing and settling electronic coupons. A financial service host may receive authorization and settlement information, wherein the authorization and settlement information comprises an account number of the consumer. The account number may be linked to an account of the consumer enrolled in an electronic coupon program. The methods and system may also include transmitting a notification to the consumer that indicates the electronic coupon has been redeemed. A monetary value associated with the electronic coupon may be debited from an account linked to the merchant, and the account of the consumer may be credited with the monetary value associated with the electronic coupon.
US09460446B2 Network of tags
Systems and methods are disclosed for communicating product or service information to a potential purchaser. A product or item describing a service are scanned to obtain both a product or service code and an advertisement promotion code provided by a vendor/retailer or manufacturer of the product or service using a smartphone of a first user. A barcode is generated on the smartphone by combining the product or service code and the advertisement promotion code with information from the smartphone associated with the product or service and with an advertiser code that uniquely identifies the first user. The barcode is communicated to a communication device of a second user that is the potential purchaser of the product or service. When the communication device is presented to a point of sale (POS) terminal, the terminal scans the barcode, decodes the barcode, and compensates the first user according to the advertisement promotion code.
US09460445B2 Surveying wireless device users by location
The present invention is a system and method for conducting survey using wireless devices. The system architecture of the present invention comprises a location server and a location system. The location server can receive a survey request from a subscriber, delineate a survey area for the survey, broadcast a query containing the survey to a plurality of wireless devices, process responses received from the wireless devices, and deliver a result of the survey to the subscriber. The location system can generate location information for each of the wireless devices that received the query. The location system may be a network-based unit or a portable unit provisioned at each of the wireless devices. In one of the embodiments, the location system is a GPS receiver that generates the longitude and the latitude of the wireless devices at which it is provisioned.
US09460444B2 Visual representation of a cell-based calendar transparently overlaid with event visual indicators for mining data records
A system causes display of a visual representation of a cell-based calendar having cells representing data records, where the cells have corresponding visual indicators corresponding to values of the respective data records. The cells are arranged in plural blocks corresponding to time intervals of the cell-based calendar. Event visual indicators transparently overlay cells in at least some of the plural blocks, where the event visual indicators represent events that occurred in time intervals corresponding to the at least some blocks. The events are separate from activities represented by the data records. Providing the event visual indicators transparently overlaid over the cells in the at least some blocks depict a relationship and relative impact between the data records and the events.
US09460442B2 Sensor data gathering
A sensor data gathering environment that associates a sensor with a smart tag attached to a product. The sensor receives product identification data from the smart tag. An application, web service or a computing device associated with the sensor collects customer behavior data, such as a length of time the sensor is associated with the smart tag, the proximity of the sensor to the smart tag, the location of the sensor while in a threshold distance from the smart tag, and the like. The application, web service or the computing device associated with the sensor transmits the product identification data and the customer behavior data to a remote computing system for analysis. Based on the analysis, a message or communication is initiated to provide the customer with personalized customer service.
US09460440B2 Systems and methods for providing electronic transaction auditing and accountability
Embodiments of the invention can provide systems and methods for electronic transaction auditing and accountability. In one embodiment, a method of providing electronic transaction auditing can be implemented. The method can include determining at least one unique identifier associated with a respective transaction. The method can also include communicating the at least one unique identifier to a destination server. In addition, the method can include receiving data associated with an electronic transaction and at least one unique identifier corresponding to the unique identifier previously communicated to the destination server and associated with the respective transaction.
US09460438B1 Authenticating a request for an electronic transaction
In an approach for authenticating a request for an electronic transaction, a computer receives a request for an electronic transaction on a user account. The computer determines whether the request for the electronic transaction is suspicious, and responsive to determining the request is suspicious, the computer retrieves profile information for the user. The computer determines based on at least the profile information, one or more contacts of the user, wherein the one or more contacts are identified by the user. The computer then determines, based on at least a response from the one or more contacts, whether the request for the electronic transaction is suspicious, wherein determining the request is not suspicious validates authentication of the electronic transaction.
US09460437B1 Triggers for session persistence
Methods, media, and servers are provided for maintaining persistent sessions for a network device and providing quick authorization to a user of the network device. The network server maintains persistent sessions with network devices based on a usage profile associated with the network devices. The persistent sessions are maintained during time periods when the network device experience peak transaction activity. Additionally, during these time periods, the network device may provide quick authorizations to users of the network device. Quick authorizations allow a transaction to complete on the network device without waiting for authorization if the user is identified as a returning user.
US09460436B2 Systems and methods to apply the benefit of offers via a transaction handler
A system includes a transaction handler configured to split a transaction, initiated between an acquirer processor representing a merchant and an issuer processor representing an account holder, into separate transactions with the issuer processor and at least one sponsor processor that is configured to provide the benefit of offers to applicable transactions. A portal is configured to notify the account holder of the award/redemption of the benefit of an offer using a communication channel separate from the transaction terminal that initiates and approves the transaction between the account holder and the merchant.
US09460433B2 Proximity detection, virtual detection, or location based triggering of the exchange of value and information
A system, methods, and apparatuses are provided for valuation and exchange of stored value assets, information of value, and the transfer of value to or among individuals. The exchanged assets may be of a similar nature, e.g., music files exchanged for other music files, and exchange or trade of information such as rewards value or a restaurant coupon. The exchanged assets may also be other dissimilar assets exchanged between individuals and/or entities. The exchange may be initiated in numerous ways such as after completing a review, exchanging or trading a gift card, a prepaid card, a reward card, a coupon, a ticket, a pass, and/or the like when in proximity to a specific location or a location of some type or category, and/or exchanging or trading of other assets between individuals based on one or more constraints such as time, location, need, desire for the assets, and/or proximity.
US09460432B2 On-premises device transaction collaboration
Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, methods, and software for on-premises device transaction collaboration. Some embodiments include a method. The method of such embodiments includes identifying a mobile device present within a facility and associating the mobile device with an account holder. Such embodiments further include transmitting, to the mobile device, data representative of transaction options identified in stored data based on an identity of the facility and the account holder.
US09460431B2 Condition status-based device system and operation
A device, system or method may optionally include a processor, remote to a device, configured to generate information to control, at least in part, a function of the device based, at least in part, on a condition of conveyance of the device, and a transmitter, remote to the device, configured to transmit the information related to the condition of conveyance to the device.
US09460428B2 ATM customer defined user interface for security purposes
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system, method, or computer program product for receiving a customization that will be displayed on the screen of an ATM based on a customer initiating a session with the ATM. The customization is associated with a function to perform a financial transaction. The function is performed as a result of the customer interacting with the customization on the screen of the ATM. The customization may be altered based on a handicap impairment of the customer. The displaying of the customization may be restricted for security purposes or as a request of the customer.
US09460424B2 Hybrid interactive electronic technical manual
A method, apparatus, and computer program product of developing a hybrid interactive electronic technical manual. A set of sub-elements associated with core maintenance tasks is selected from a plurality of sub-elements in technical data for a device to form a set of core sub-elements. A cost-benefit analysis is performed on each sub-element in the set of remaining sub-elements to identify a sub-element benefit rating for the each sub-element. Sub-elements in the set of remaining sub-elements having a sub-element rating greater than or equal to a threshold benefit rating are selected to form a set of high benefit sub-elements. The set of core sub-elements and the set of high benefit sub-elements are converted from the non-interactive native file format to an interactive electronic technical manual database format. A set of links to the set of unconverted sub-elements is generated to form the hybrid interactive electronic technical manual.
US09460423B2 Task prioritization and optimization using interconnected data sources
A computer identifies a location that is associated with a task, included in a first list of tasks, based on a first information. The computer determines a first travel time from a second location that is associated with a mobile device to the first location based on a second information. The second information indicates an amount of travel time that is associated with a route from the second location to the first location. The computer generates a plurality of permutations of the tasks included in the first list of tasks. The computer selects a permutation from the plurality of permutations based on the first travel time. The computer generates a second list of tasks using the selected permutation. The organization of the tasks included in the second list of tasks reduces the travel time that is required to complete those tasks.
US09460422B2 Systems and methods for managing to-do list task items to automatically suggest and add purchasing items via a computer network
A system and method for managing to-do list task items provides a user interface having user interface elements for allowing the user to add one or more task items to a to-do list, for allowing the user to edit one or more fields associated with a task item added to the to-do list, and for allowing the user to designate a task item within the to-do list as completed whereupon the designated task item is placed into a completed list and removed from the to-do list. Within the system, a task item is defined by at least a title, a description, a due date, and a tag. The tags provide a means for the task items to be organized within lists as well as within the system to, for example, allow task items to be shared, searched on, and the like.
US09460417B2 Using dynamic object modeling and business rules to dynamically specify and modify behavior
A system and a method are provided for using dynamic object modeling and one or more types of policy rules to dynamically specify and modify system behavior at various levels of abstraction, including business, system, and device implementation. The system and method allow for specifying, instantiating, managing, and removing sets of temporary or permanent additions and/or modifications to the attributes or behavior of a set of objects, relationships, scripts, and/or applications of a device, module, subsystem, or system, without having to change the underlying code of these objects, relationships, scripts, and/or applications. The systems and methods enable attributes, methods and/or relationships (e.g., associations, aggregations, and/or compositions), as well as constraints on any of these elements, to be dynamically added or changed at runtime without changing any underlying code of the components being managed by instantiating and manipulating object instances in accordance with certain policy rules.
US09460412B2 Item handling and tracking system and method therefor
In an airport baggage handling system bag information, flight information and airport topology information are provided to a central processor which determines a path for the bag through the handling system. The bag is scanned at various points along the path and the scan time is compared with a predetermined arrival time for the bag at the scan point. A bag is marked at risk if it arrives at a scan point after the predetermined time and the system may suggest an alternative handling path for the bag if it is determined that the risk of the bag not making an outbound flight is too high.
US09460411B2 Secure package delivery
Methods and systems for facilitating delivery of a package to a customer are described. The methods include receiving a delivery order, the order including a signature requirement; requesting a visual identification of an authorized receiver of the package from a user; receiving the visual identification from the user; and transmitting the visual identification to a shipping carrier.
US09460407B2 Generating graphical representations of data
Techniques for generating a data-based graphical representation include providing, to a user, a graphical user interface that comprises selectable attribute names; receiving a user selection of a first attribute name; in response to receiving the user selection, invoking a call to a back-end server that comprises a database, the database storing sets of attribute values, each set of attribute values associated with one of the selectable attribute names; receiving, from the back-end server, a response to the invoked call, the response comprising a particular set of attribute values that is associated with the user-selected first attribute name; generating the graphical representation of a relationship between the received attribute values associated with the user-selected first attribute name and a key figure of the attribute values; and preparing the graphical representation for display on the graphical user interface.
US09460399B1 Dynamic event driven storage system optimization
An improved technique involves proactively adjusting data storage system configuration in response to detecting external events. The improved technique predicts load changes based on historical correlations between events and load changes and directs an administrator to modify system configurations to prepare for the predicted changes in load. Advantageously, the improved technique enables administrators to better prepare for changes in load brought about by external events and thus to better maintain required service levels. Further, the improved technique reduces need for stressful and urgent responses by system administrators.
US09460397B2 Quantum computing device spin transfer torque magnetic memory
A quantum computing device magnetic memory is described. The quantum computing device magnetic memory is coupled with a quantum processor including at least one quantum device corresponding to at least one qubit. The quantum computing device magnetic memory includes magnetic storage cells coupled with the quantum device(s) and bit lines coupled to the magnetic storage cells. Each of the magnetic storage cells includes at least one magnetic junction. The magnetic junction(s) include a reference layer, a nonmagnetic spacer layer, and a free layer. The nonmagnetic spacer layer is between the reference layer and the free layer. The magnetic junction(s) are configured to allow the free layer to be switched between stable magnetic states. The magnetic junction(s) are configured such that the free layer has a nonzero initial writing spin transfer torque in an absence of thermal fluctuations.
US09460396B1 Computer-implemented method and system for automated validity and/or invalidity claim charts with context associations
A system correlates intellectual property analyses, for example, patent claim charts, with respect to analyzed intellectual property and a target product or other intellectual property. Analyses are stored to enable searching and/or creating reports over multiple analyses. Units of the analysis are associated with a context, inherited, e.g., from the intellectual property document's assignment to a relative role within organizational hierarchy; and associated with a context derived from the analysis itself. The analysis and respective documents and/or targets of the analysis can be searched/retrieved/analyzed from the hierarchical analysis, the context analysis, and/or the content of the analysis. This obviates the need to store each analysis as a separate document. The target or annotations may be visually represented by an item such as a thumbnail or hyperlink, and the system automatically associates the item with the appropriate application program.
US09460387B2 Apparatus and methods for implementing event-based updates in neuron networks
Event-based updates in artificial neuron networks may be implemented. An internal event may be defined in order to update incoming connections of a neuron. The internal event may be triggered by an external signal and/or internally by the neuron. A reinforcement signal may be used to trigger an internal event of a neuron in order to perform synaptic updates without necessitating post-synaptic response. An external event may be defined in order to deliver response of the neuron to desired targets. The external and internal events may be combined into a composite event configured to effectuate connection update and spike delivery to post-synaptic target. The scope of the internal event may comprise the respective neuron and does not extend to other neurons of the network. Conversely, the scope of the external event may extend to other neurons of the network via, for example, post-synaptic spike delivery.
US09460385B2 Apparatus and methods for rate-modulated plasticity in a neuron network
Apparatus and methods for activity based plasticity in a spiking neuron network adapted to process sensory input. In one approach, the plasticity mechanism of a connection may comprise a causal potentiation portion and an anti-causal portion. The anti-causal portion, corresponding to the input into a neuron occurring after the neuron response, may be configured based on the prior activity of the neuron. When the neuron is in low activity state, the connection, when active, may be potentiated by a base amount. When the neuron activity increases due to another input, the efficacy of the connection, if active, may be reduced proportionally to the neuron activity. Such functionality may enable the network to maintain strong, albeit inactive, connections available for use for extended intervals.
US09460381B2 Universal IC tag, method of manufacturing same, and communication management system
A universal IC tag comprises a metal sheet M1 having a hollow slot functioning as an antenna; plastic sheets laminated on the front and the rear surfaces of the metal sheet M1; an IC arranged in the hollow slot, and a metal sheet M2 laminated on the rear plastic sheet having a reflecting amplifying function. Such universal IC tag can transmits/receive maximum energy by matching IC impedance with slot impedance and by attaining resonance between an IC capacitor and a slot inductance.
US09460380B1 RFID integrated circuits with large contact pads
Technologies are generally directed to assembly of a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag precursor. An assembly may be provided, the assembly having an RFID integrated circuit (IC), a nonconductive repassivation layer on a surface of the IC and confined within a perimeter of the surface, and a conductive redistribution layer on the repassivation layer and confined within the perimeter of the surface, in which a first portion of the redistribution layer is electrically connected to the IC through a first electrical connection. A substrate having a first antenna terminal to the assembly may be attached with an adhesive, and at least a first portion of a nonconductive barrier present on at least one of the first antenna terminal and the first portion of the redistribution layer may be reacted with a reactant to make the first portion of the nonconductive barrier conductive. A second electrical connection may then be formed between the first antenna terminal and the first portion of the redistribution layer through the first portion of the nonconductive barrier.
US09460376B2 Radio IC device
A radio IC device includes an electromagnetic coupling module includes a radio IC chip arranged to process transmitted and received signals and a feed circuit board including an inductance element. The feed circuit board includes an external electrode electromagnetically coupled to the feed circuit, and the external electrode is electrically connected to a shielding case or a wiring cable. The shielding case or the wiring cable functions as a radiation plate. The radio IC chip is operated by a signal received by the shielding case or the wiring, and the answer signal from the radio IC chip is radiated from the shielding case or the wiring cable to the outside. A metal component functions as the radiation plate, and the metal component may be a ground electrode disposed on the printed wiring board.
US09460371B2 Information processing apparatus and image forming apparatus
An information processing apparatus includes a first processing unit for performing a first process according to a first request signal; a second processing unit for performing a second process according to a second request signal; and a control unit for controlling at least one of the first processing unit and the second processing unit to perform the first process or the second process at a low processing speed when the control unit detects the second request signal when the first processing unit performs the first process.
US09460370B2 Card storage and ejection module
A card storage and ejection module may include a card storage cassette comprising a plurality of card storage parts each of which stores one card; a lifting mechanism structured to lift and lower the card storage cassette; and a support frame which supports the card storage cassette. The plurality of the card storage parts may be disposed so as to be overlapped with each other in an upper and lower direction. The lifting mechanism may include a parallel link mechanism having at least two link arms which connect the support frame with the card storage cassette and are disposed in an aligned state in a horizontal direction so as to be parallel to each other for lifting and lowering the card storage cassette in a state that a horizontal posture of the card storage cassette is maintained.
US09460367B2 Method and system for automating an image rejection process
Systems and methods for automating an image rejection process. Features including texture, spatial structure, and image quality characteristics can be extracted from one or more images to train a classifier. Features can be calculated with respect to a test image for submission of the features to the classifier, given an operating point corresponding to a desired false positive rate. One or more inputs can be generated from the classifier as a confidence value corresponding to a likelihood of, for example: a license plate being absent in the image, the license plate being unreadable, or the license plate being obstructed. The confidence value can be compared against a threshold to determine if the image(s) should be removed from a human review pipeline, thereby reducing images requiring human review.
US09460363B2 Method for estimating rotation axis and mass center of spatial target based on binocular optical flows
A method for estimating a rotation axis and a mass center of a spatial target based on binocular optical flows. The method includes: extracting feature points from binocular image sequences sequentially and respectively, and calculating binocular optical flows formed thereby; removing areas ineffective for reconstructing a three-dimensional movement trajectory from the binocular optical flows of the feature points, whereby obtaining effective area-constrained binocular optical flows, and reconstructing a three-dimensional movement trajectory of a spatial target; and removing areas with comparatively large errors in reconstructing three-dimensional motion vectors from the optical flows by multiple iterations, estimating a rotation axis according to a three-dimensional motion vector sequence of each of the feature points obtained thereby, obtaining a spatial equation of an estimated rotation axis by weighted average of estimated results of the feature points, and obtaining spatial coordinates of a mass center of the target according to two estimated rotation axes.
US09460359B1 Predicting a target logogram
For predicting a target logogram, code generates a logogram prediction from a contiguous written input. In addition, the code removes a connective stroke between two connective points in the contiguous written input. The code generates a sub-logogram prediction for a sub-logogram formed by removing the connective stroke. In addition the code predicts a target logogram for the contiguous written input based on both the logogram prediction and the sub-logogram prediction.
US09460357B2 Processing text images with shadows
Embodiments disclosed facilitate robust, accurate, and reliable recovery of words and/or characters in the presence of non-uniform lighting and/or shadows. In some embodiments, a method to recover text from image may comprise: expanding a Maximally Stable Extremal Region (MSER) in an image, the neighborhood comprising a plurality of sub-blocks; thresholding a subset of the plurality of sub-blocks in the neighborhood, the subset comprising sub-blocks with text, wherein each sub-block in the subset is thresholded using a corresponding threshold associated with the sub-block; and obtaining a thresholded neighborhood.
US09460352B2 Lane boundary line recognition device
In a lane boundary line recognition device, an extraction unit extracts lane boundary line candidates from image acquired by an in-vehicle camera. A position estimation unit estimates a position of each lane boundary line based on drive lane information containing a number of drive lanes on a roadway and a width of each drive lane when (a) and (b) are satisfied, (a) when an own vehicle drives on an own vehicle lane specified by the drive lane specifying unit, and (b) when the lane boundary line candidate corresponds to lane boundary lines of the own vehicle lane. A likelihood calculation unit increases a likelihood of the lane boundary line candidate when a distance between a position of the lane boundary line candidate and an estimated position of the lane boundary line candidate obtained by the drive lane boundary line position estimation unit is within a predetermined range.
US09460351B2 Image processing apparatus and method using smart glass
An image processing apparatus using a smart glass is provided, the image processing apparatus including an extractor to extract a first target to be observed by a user from a first image received from the smart glass and generate a second image using the extracted first target, an information collector to collect information related to the first target, and an image generator to reconstruct a third image using at least one of the second image and the information related to the first target, based on user settings.
US09460348B1 Associating location history with photos
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for identifying a photo that lacks location metadata indicating where the photo was captured and determining a photo location to associate with the photo. In some implementations, a photo associated with a user is identified that includes metadata indicating a date and/or time it was captured, but lacks location data indicating where the photo was captured. In some versions of those implementations, a relationship of the metadata of the photo to at least one of a location date and a location time associated with a visit location of the user is determined. A photo location may be determined based on the visit location and associated with the photo. In some implementations, the visit location of the user may be determined independent of any location sensor.
US09460343B2 Method and system for proactively recognizing an action of a road user
A method and system are provided to proactively recognize an action of a road user in road traffic, wherein an image of the road user, which is structured in a pixel-wise manner, is captured by way of at least one camera, and corresponding image data is generated. Image data of multiple pixels is grouped in each case by cells, wherein the image comprises multiple cells. A respective centroid is determined based on the image data within a cell. For each of the pixels, the respective distance from the centroids of a plurality of cells is ascertained, wherein a feature vector that is assigned to the pixel is formed based on coordinates of the respective pixel and the centroids. The feature vector is compared to at least one reference vector cluster, and a pose is associated with the road user based on the comparison.
US09460342B1 Determining body measurements
Implementations generally relate to determining body measurements. In some implementations, a method includes receiving a plurality of images associated with a subject user. The method also includes generating a 3-dimensional composition of the subject user based on the images. The method also includes determining one or more initial body measurements based the 3-dimensional composition and one or more known reference dimensions. The method also includes modifying the one or more initial body measurements based on one or more modifying criteria.
US09460339B2 Combined color image and depth processing
A method for image processing includes receiving a depth image of a scene containing a human subject and receiving a color image of the scene containing the human subject. A part of a body of the subject is identified in at least one of the images. A quality of both the depth image and the color image is evaluated, and responsively to the quality, one of the images is selected to be dominant in processing of the part of the body in the images. The identified part is localized in the dominant one of the images, while using supporting data from the other one of the images.
US09460338B2 Face detection method and apparatus with lookup table
Apparatuses, methods and storage medium associated with face detection are disclosed. In embodiments, an apparatus may comprise one or more processors, cache memory, a lookup table of feature patterns, and a face detector. The lookup table is to be loaded into the cache memory, during operation, for use to detect whether a face is present in an image. The feature patterns within the lookup table are organized within the lookup table in accordance with relative connectivity of the feature patterns. The face detector to detect whether a face is present in an image, may use the lookup table of feature patterns loaded into the cache memory during detection for the face. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US09460337B2 Information processor and information processing method
An image storage section 48 stores shot image data with a plurality of resolutions transmitted from an imaging device. Depth images 152 with a plurality of resolutions are generated using stereo images with a plurality of resolution levels from the shot image data (S10). Next, template matching is performed using a reference template image 154 that represents a desired shape and size, thus extracting a candidate area for a target picture having the shape and size for each distance range associated with one of the resolutions (S12). A more detailed analysis is performed on the extracted candidate areas using the shot image stored in the image storage section 48 (S14). In some cases, a further image analysis is performed based on the analysis result using a shot image with a higher resolution level (S16a and S16b).
US09460335B2 Method for detecting the reality of venous networks for the purposes of identifying individuals, and biometric recognition method
A method of detecting a venous network in a portion of a human body, the method comprising the steps of capturing an infrared image of said human body portion in order to reveal a venous network of said human body portion; analyzing contrast in the infrared image in order to determine contrast characteristics of the infrared image; and determining whether the human body portion is real on the basis of contrast characteristics determined in the infrared image and of contrast characteristics determined from reference human body portions. A method of biometric recognition with a prior stage of detecting whether a portion of a human body is real.
US09460334B2 Control method for fingerprint recognition apparatus
An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes: a processor; a fingerprint recognition apparatus comprising a plurality of fingerprint sensing cells and a plurality of touch sensing cells; and a housing, wherein the processor is installed inside the housing. When an application executed by the processor does not utilize the fingerprint recognition apparatus, the processor controls the fingerprint recognition apparatus to enter a power-down mode to turn off the fingerprint sensing cells and the touch sensing cells. When the processor receives a fingerprint recognition request signal from the application, the processor further controls the fingerprint recognition apparatus to enter a power-saving mode to capture a first sensed image. When the processor determines that the first sensed image is a fingerprint image, the processor further controls the fingerprint recognition apparatus to enter an operation mode.
US09460330B2 Display device and method of controlling therefor
A display device and a method of controlling therefor are disclosed. A display device includes a main display unit configured to receive an input of at least one fingerprint and display information, a sub display unit configured to be exposed from a stored position and a controller configured to set a mode based on the inputted at least one fingerprint. If an inputted first fingerprint is matched with a fingerprint of a group of registered fingerprints, the controller is configured to set a first mode. If an inputted first fingerprint and a second fingerprint are matched with fingerprints of the group of the registered fingerprints, the controller is configured to set a second mode.
US09460327B2 RFID tag movement distinguishing method and RFID tag movement distinguishing program
Provided are an RFID tag movement distinguishing method and an RFID tag movement distinguishing program with which are an RFID tag that has moved in front of an antenna and an RFID tag that is static are identified. Chronological read data of RFID tags including a moving RFID tag and a static RFID tag is acquired by an RFID reader, and the static RFID tag is specified by a static RFID tag filter based on information of read RFID tags. In the RFID tag movement distinguishing method, the static RFID tag filter identifies the moving RFID tag by identifying the static RFID tag and the moving RFID tag using an individual static RFID tag filter among a quick-read filter, an RSSI absolute value filter, an RSSI non-contiguous increase filter, an RSSI valley-shaped filter, an excess read filter, a phase shift reduction filter, and a vertical direction movement filter.
US09460325B2 Wireless tag initialization device and wireless tag initialization method
A wireless tag initialization device includes a reader and writer that weakens supply power to a first threshold value at which a wireless tag to be initialized is activated and other wireless tags are not activated, transmit a first command to invert a flag of the wireless tag to be initialized, increases the supply power to a second threshold value which is sufficient to write an initial value, and writes the initial value in the wireless tag with the inverted SL flag.
US09460323B2 Tag powersave
A tag includes a communication interface that is configured to receive and transmit wireless transmissions, a movement detector and a digital logic circuit configured to perform operations. The operations may include broadcasting wireless transmissions comprising a tag ID of the tag from the communication interface according to a transmission pattern. A stationary movement pattern of the tag may be detected with the movement detector. The operations may further include adjusting the transmission pattern responsive to detecting the stationary movement pattern. A confirmation from a computing device indicating that information for the tag ID has been received by a server tracking the tag. The adjustment to the transmission pattern may also be responsive to receiving the confirmation. The tag broadcasts wireless transmissions according to the adjusted transmission pattern.
US09460322B2 Mobile reader device
The subject technology relates to methods for processing a payment using a mobile card reader. Implementations of the subject technology provide include steps for determining, using a first communication module, a first available bandwidth for data transacted between the card reader and a payment processing service, and determining, using the second communication module, a second available bandwidth for data transacted between a local device and the payment processing service. In some implementations, the method can further include steps for selecting a communication path for communicating with the payment processing service based on the first available bandwidth and the second available bandwidth. Systems and computer-readable media are also provided.
US09460321B1 Zero-power receiver
An unpowered signal receiver and a method for signal reception detects and responds to very weak signals using pyroelectric devices as impedance transformers and/or demodulators. In some embodiments, surface acoustic wave devices (SAW) are also used. Illustrative embodiments include satellite and long distance terrestrial communications applications.
US09460320B2 Transceiver and radio frequency identification tag reader
In a transceiver, on a top surface of a rectangular plate-shaped substrate, transmission radiating elements and receiving radiating elements are provided. The transmission radiating elements extend in the horizontal or lateral direction from the center of the substrate. The receiving radiating elements extend in the vertical or longitudinal direction from the center of the substrate. Inductors included in a matching feeding element are individually electromagnetically coupled to transmission-side feeding points that are inner end portions of the transmission radiating elements and receiving-side feeding points that are inner end portions of the receiving radiating elements. A transmission signal is transmitted with a wave polarized in the horizontal or lateral direction, and a signal having a vertical or longitudinal polarization direction is received.
US09460319B1 Device for securing a computer port
The present invention is directed to a security device for securing computer ports that are in use and also for securing unused computer ports of an electronic device. The invention is also directed to physically blocking access to the computer port. The security device typically comprises a securing mechanism configured for releasably locking the security device within the computer port. The security device further comprises a controlling mechanism that is configured to cause the securing mechanism to move between a locked state and an unlocked state. The security device is further configured to establish an operative connection with an external computing device and authenticate the device via a communication port of the security device.
US09460312B2 Data integrity protection from rollback attacks for use with systems employing message authentication code tags
One feature pertains to an efficient procedure for storing data units in a storage device that allows for authentication of data units to prevent rollback attacks and other attacks such as cut-and-paste attacks. In one aspect, a message authentication code (MAC) is generated or otherwise obtained based on a primary key, a data unit to be stored, a corresponding index for the data unit (such as a page index) and a secondary key for the corresponding data unit, which is generated for each new write operation. The MAC and the corresponding data unit are stored in a bulk storage device such as a relatively insecure off-chip storage. Secondary keys are stored in a separate storage device such as a more secure on-chip storage. In some examples, new secondary keys are generated upon each data write based on a non-zero random or pseudorandom value.
US09460306B1 System and method for controlling access of machine code to operating system resources
Disclosed is a system and method for controlling access of a native image of a machine code to resources of an operating system of a device. An example method includes obtaining the native image of the machine code; identifying a parent assembly from which the native image was created; determining and forming a correspondence between the native image and the parent assembly based at least upon a template; in response to detecting an update to the native image, generating an updated image of the native image; determining whether there is a correspondence between the updated image of the native image and the parent assembly based at least upon the template; and in response to detecting no correspondence between the updated image of the native image and the parent assembly, restricting an access of the updated image of the native image to the resources of the operating system of the device.
US09460300B1 Utilizing multiple access control objects to manage access control
Access control systems and methods are described, including receiving a request from a user to access a first object, where first access-control information is associated with the first object; determining that the first object is referenced by a second object; determining second access-control information associated with the second object, where the second access-control information identifies the user as having access to the second object; and providing to the user access to the first object based on to the second access-control information.
US09460299B2 System and method for monitoring and reporting peer communications
A computer-implemented subject monitoring method is provided. The method includes providing an online-monitoring agent configured for monitoring a personal computing device, receiving identifying information associated with at least one of an account, email address, site, and service from the personal computing device via the online-monitoring agent, and monitoring via a network the at least one of the account, email address, site, and service based on the identifying information received via the online-monitoring agent.
US09460298B1 Sensitive data aliasing
Database management and security is implemented in a variety of embodiments. In one such embodiment, data sets containing sensitive data elements are analyzed using aliases representing sensitive data elements. In another embodiment, the sensitive data elements are stored in an encrypted form for use from a secure access, while the alias is available for standard access.
US09460296B2 Systems, methods and media for selective decryption of files containing sensitive data
Systems, methods and media are provided for selective decryption of files. One method includes monitoring a secure file storage area including at least one file using a selective decryption process associated with the secure file storage area. Content of each of the at least one file is protected with an encryption. The method also includes detecting a request by an application program for one of the at least one file. The method further includes determining whether the application program needs to access the content of the requested file. The method also includes, when it is determined that the application program does not need to access the content of the requested file, allowing the application program to access the file content without decrypting the encryption.
US09460294B2 Document origin designator
A document rights management system (DRM) defines an unrenderable origin designator in a media item that does not display or alter the physically rendered version of an instantiation of the media item. The unrenderable designator does not appear as an obscured or occluded feature in a printed or displayed versions. The rendered version is unaffected by the unrenderable designator because it does not result in any displayable features. The unrenderable designator is stored in a display list of the media item and appears as an attribute of objects such that the function to cause the display object to be undisplayable, or unrenderable, are not immediately apparent. The DRM system encodes a designator in an attribute of a display object for rendering according to a media rendering format such as PDF, such that the designator causes the display object to be unrenderable and indicates the origin of the media item.
US09460290B2 Conditional security response using taint vector monitoring
An embodiment or embodiments of a computing system can conditionally trap based on a taint vector. A computing system can comprise at least one taint vector operable to list at least one of a plurality of taints indicative of potential security risk originating from at least one of a plurality of resources, and response logic operable to monitor the at least one taint vector and respond to a predetermined taint condition.
US09460289B2 Securing a virtual environment
Securing a virtual environment includes: in a host device, intercepting a packet addressed to a virtual machine implemented by the host device; redirecting the packet to a security device external to the host device through an egress tunnel; and delivering the packet to the virtual machine if the host device receives an indication from the security device that the packet is approved.
US09460287B2 Efficient data transfer in a virus co-processing system
Circuits and methods are provided for detecting, identifying and/or removing undesired content. According to one embodiment, a processor maintains a page directory and a page table within a system memory that contain information for translating virtual addresses to physical addresses. Virus processing of a content object is offloaded to a hardware accelerator coupled to the processor by storing scanning parameters, including the content object and a type of the content object, to the memory using one or more virtual addresses and indicating to the hardware accelerator that the content object is available for processing. Responsive thereto, the hardware accelerator: (i) translates the virtual addresses to corresponding physical addresses based on the page directory and the page table; (ii) accesses the scanning parameters based on the physical addresses; (iii) scans the content object for viruses by applying multiple virus signatures; and (iv) returns a result of the scanning to the processor.
US09460285B2 Security policy deployment and enforcement system for the detection and control of polymorphic and targeted malware
The present system and method pertain to the detection of malicious software and processes such as malware. A cloud security policy system receives hashes and behavioral information about applications and/or processes executing on user devices. The cloud security policy system records this information and then evaluates the trustworthiness of the hashes based on the information received from the user devices to provide a security policy for the applications and/or processes. The security policy is sent from the cloud security policy system to user devices to be applied by the user devices.
US09460284B1 Behavioral malware detection using an interpreter virtual machine
Described systems and methods allow protecting a computer system from computer security threats such as malware and spyware. In some embodiments, a security application executes a set of detection routines to determine whether a set of monitored entities (processes, threads, etc.) executing on the computer system comprise malicious software. The detection routines are formulated in bytecode and executed within a bytecode translation virtual machine. Execution of a detection routine comprises translating bytecode instructions of the respective routine into native processor instructions, for instance via interpretation or just-in-time compilation. Execution of the respective routines is triggered selectively, due to the occurrence of specific events within the protected client system. Detection routines may output a set of scores, which may be further used by the security application to determine whether a monitored entity is malicious.
US09460283B2 Adaptive integrity validation for portable information handling systems
Portable information handling systems dynamically allocate resources to anti-malware functions based upon available resources and threat status. Dynamic allocation of resources to anti-malware functions provides a timely and targeted response to specific threats with resources dedicated based upon availability and the impact on other information handling system functions. An adaptive mobile integrity validation system interfaces with plural portable information handling systems to selectively update anti-malware settings as threats emerge.
US09460281B2 Method of securing non-native code
A method to secure a non-native application. The non-native application is processed to obtain an application stub to be triggered within a virtual machine. The processing of the non-native application also provide a native code function upon which the application stub depends. The non-native function is part of a trusted module that extends security services from the trusted module to the virtual machine. The trusted module is a native code application that creates a trusted zone as a root of trustiness extending to the virtual machine by an execution-enabling mechanism between the application tab and the non-native function.
US09460278B2 Automatic PIN creation using password
A PIN is automatically generated based on at least one rule when the user enters a password through a user device. In one example, the PIN is a truncated version of the password where each character in the truncated version is mapped onto a number. The mapping can be a truncation at the beginning or end of the password, or the mapping can be with any pattern or sequence of characters in the password. This PIN generation may be transparent to the user, such that the user may not even know the PIN was generated when the password was entered. When the user attempts to access restricted content, the user may enter the PIN instead of the password, where the user may be notified of the rule used to generate the PIN so that the user will know the PIN by knowing the password.
US09460275B1 Fingerprinting content via a playlist
A system and method for fingerprinting content via a playlist are provided. The system includes a content requestor to receive an indication that a request for content is to be served, the content being served with a duplication restriction; a code generator to generate a code with a plurality of bits associated with the content being served, a number of the plurality of bits of the code being defined based on the length of the content divided by a predetermined length of equally sized segments; a playlist generator to generate a playlist to serve a plurality of segments, each of the plurality of segment's length being determined by a corresponding bit of the code; and a playlist transmitter to transmit the playlist along with the content to a visitor or device associated with the request.
US09460273B2 Automatic generation of license terms for service application marketplaces
A processor stores information associated with one or more programming modules, including one or more license terms associated with the one or more programming modules. The processor receives an input indicating a set of programming modules selected from the one or more programming modules, based on the information which is stored. The processor compares the one or more license terms associated with the set of programming modules. In response to determining a conflict between the one or more license terms of the set of programming modules, the processor applies a set of rules to resolve the conflict between the one or more license terms of the set of programming modules, and the processor composes a composite license for the set of programming modules, based on the one or more license terms of the set of programming modules and the set of rules applied to resolve the conflict.
US09460271B2 DRM system
A method of and system for digital rights management, in which access to a piece of content is granted in accordance with a license owned by a license owner to a client who is a member of a domain. This requires successfully verifying that a membership relation exists between the client and the domain as reflected in a first state variable, and that an association relation exists between the license owner and the domain as reflected in a second state variable. Both relationships are revoked by executing an online protocol between the parties in the relationship after which both remove the corresponding state variable. The domain controller propagates the state administration relating to the domain is propagated to the client so that the client can update its state administration.
US09460270B2 Generating child virtual machine to execute authorized application with reduced risk of malware attack
When a predetermined application program becomes the target of execution on a virtual machine that is currently being executed, the virtual machine that is currently being executed is designated as a parent virtual machine, and a child virtual machine to execute the predetermined application program is generated by forking. The generated child virtual machine is configured not to execute any application program other than the predetermined application program. The parent virtual machine executes a dummy application program instead of the predetermined application program.
US09460269B2 Communications security management
Implementing communications security includes creating levels of permissions for association with inbound communications. The levels of permissions are indicative of components of the communications enabled for transmission to a recipient computer. The communications security also includes creating conditions upon which currently-assigned levels of permissions are adjustable to a next level of the levels of permissions. In response to identifying an inbound communication received from a sender, the communications security evaluates content of the inbound communication, determines a trust value for the inbound communication responsive to the evaluating, applies the conditions to the inbound communication and the sender, determines an assignment of one of the levels of permissions for the inbound communication in response to applying the conditions, and transmits the inbound communication to the recipient computer, including any components enabled for transmission, based on the assignment of the level of permissions.
US09460266B2 System and a method for scoring functional abilities of a patient
A method for scoring one or more functional abilities of a patient that comprises exercising a patient according to an exercising pattern, using at least one sensor for sensing one or more manipulations of the patient during the exercising, and scoring the one or more functional abilities according to the sensed manipulations. The scoring is performed according to a visual rehabilitation evaluation scale for scoring the one or more functional abilities.
US09460264B2 Devices, systems, and methods for automated data collection
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods, devices, and computer systems thereof for automated data collection from a subject. In certain embodiments, one or more characteristics of a subject are sensed, and the subject is given a queue status indicator based on a comparison of the subject's one or more sensed characteristics with corresponding sensed characteristics from other subjects. In one embodiment, the subject is a healthcare worker and the system, methods, and devices are utilized to evaluate the overall health of the worker as part of the check-in process for work.
US09460256B1 Integrated circuit design scaling for recommending design point
In one aspect, a method for providing design point recommendations for an integrated circuit (IC) design is disclosed. The method comprises receiving an IC design along with a reference PPA (power, performance, area) metric at a reference design point, and a target PPA metric. The method also comprises estimating trial PPA metrics for the IC design at multiple design points, wherein estimating trial PPA metric at each design point includes accessing a PPA database containing PPA metrics for multiple test components, determining scale factors from the reference design point to the trial design point for test components equivalent to components of the IC design, and applying the scale factors to the reference PPA metric to determine the trial PPA metric for the trial design point. The method further comprises recommending a trial design point based on the estimated trial PPA metric and the received target PPA metric.
US09460253B1 Selecting predefined circuit implementations in a circuit design system
In an example, a method of processing a circuit design includes: determining a first partition in a description of the circuit design having a hierarchy of design objects, the first partition including at least one design object in the hierarchy of design objects; generating a signature for the first partition; querying a database with the signature of the first partition to identify a plurality of predefined implementations of the first partition; and generating an implementation of the circuit design for a target integrated circuit (IC) based on a selected predefined implementation of the plurality of predefined implementations for the first partition.
US09460251B1 Formal verification driven power modeling and design verification
A computer-implemented method includes receiving a unit, wherein each unit includes one or more blocks. The computer-implemented method further includes selecting one or more input pins for each of said one or more blocks. The computer-implemented method further includes assigning a numerical value to each of said one or more input pins to yield at least one numerical sequence. The computer-implemented method further includes, for each numerical sequence of the at least one numerical sequence, performing a check on the numerical sequence to yield a number of fails. The computer-implemented method further includes determining a simulation condition for power modeling of the unit based on optimizing a numerical sequence with respect to the number of fails. The computer-implemented method further includes determining a number of design errors of the unit based on the simulation condition. A corresponding computer system and computer program product are also disclosed.
US09460249B2 Verification of asynchronous clocking systems
A circuit simulator includes at least one clock generator. The at least one clock generator is configured to generate at least one root clock signal for an associated clock domain part of the circuit under simulation. The circuit simulator also includes a clock modifier configured to generate at least one delay to be applied to at least one of the at least one root clock signal.
US09460248B2 Method for predicting degree of contamination of molten steel during ladle exchange
Predicting a degree of molten steel contamination during ladle exchange includes setting a casting quantity (Q) and a residual quantity (Qrm). Casting quantity (Q) is the molten steel amount transferred from a tundish to a mold when a first ladle operation ends. Residual quantity (Qrm) is the molten steel amount existing in the tundish when a second ladle starts. Casting amount (Qplug), a first contaminant concentration is calculated as a function of Qrm and a proportional coefficient. Casting amount (Qpeak), the amount a second contaminant concentration, is calculated as a function of Qrm and a second proportional coefficient. A preliminary degree of contamination is a linear function of Q, Qplug, and Qpeak. A second preliminary degree of contamination is an exponential function of Q, Qplug, and Qpeak. The smaller of the two preliminary degrees of contamination is selected to obtain a degree of contamination at the ladle operation end and a second degree of contamination at the second ladle operation start.
US09460245B2 Method for simulating polymer material
A computer-implemented method for simulating a polymer material comprising a polymer, a filler and a modifying agent for increasing the affinity of the polymer to the filler is disclosed. In order to make a relaxation calculation of filler models and modified polymer models in a short period of time, a pair of filler models are defined by a pair of parallelly-opposed wall surfaces of a virtual space in which the modified polymer models are disposed, and a molecular dynamics calculation is performed.
US09460244B2 Modular unit for stimulating performance in multi-lines digital subscriber line (xDSL) system
According to embodiments of the present invention, a multi-lines cable simulator is provided which is able to simulate also crosstalk between lines. The multi-lines cable simulator is comprised in a modular unit configured to simulate increased number of lines by means adding further modular units. According to further embodiments, the modular unit is configured to also simulate increased line length by means of adding further modular units.
US09460243B2 Selective importance sampling
Selective importance sampling includes: first phase importance sampling of a plurality of data points to form a first subset of data points; determining a center of gravity of the first subset; determining, based upon the center of gravity, an orthogonal hyperplane; and a second phase importance sampling comprising: determining, for each point in the first subset, whether each point is above the hyperplane; and forming a second subset of data points, wherein the second subset is a subset of the first subset and wherein the second subset excludes each point of the first subset that has been determined to be above the hyperplane. The second subset also excludes all points within an ellipse below the hyperplane. Critical radial distances are determined from binary search or projection of first phase samples onto center of gravity direction as well as the maximal radius of the first subset around the center of gravity.
US09460234B2 System and method of determining complexity of collaborative effort
A method of determining the complexity of a collaborative effort which method includes receiving data via a processor, the data including identities of social actors or sets of social actors in the collaborative effort, and storing the data in a repository accessible by the processor; defining nodes, via the processor, and associating the nodes with each of the social actors of or with each of the sets of social actors in the collaborative effort to define nodes that represent each of the social actors or each of the sets of social actors; identifying, via the processor, one or more dimensions for each social actor; defining a coordination complexity (G), via the processor, and determining, for each dimension, a sum of a difference between every two of the nodes, multiplying the sum by a weight specific for that dimension, and adding each of the multiplied sums for each dimension. In another aspect, the invention includes a system of determining complexity of a collaborative effort.
US09460231B2 System of generating new schema based on selective HTML elements
The present invention provides a system which is able to detect similar web page elements which are described in mark-up language, such that the content of those elements can be captured. Text content may then be sent to a text classifier for further analysis.
US09460225B2 System and method for collecting application performance data
Systems and methods are provided for collecting application performance data. The system (100) includes a server (110) for hosting a server-side application (120). An instrumentation module (130) is included on the server. The instrumentation module can selectively instrument functions (125) of the server-side application to obtain instrumented function operation data. The instrumentation module can also maintain an instrumented function call stack (190) for each application thread. A sampling module (140) is included on the server. The sampling module can sample application threads of the server-side application to obtain sampled function operation data. The sampling module can sample application threads based on at least one of an age of a timestamp obtained through instrumentation and a determination of which threads are executing server requests based on emptiness of the stack.
US09460218B2 Indicating location status
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for indicating location status. A computing device can receive a query from a user device, a current time, and a location for the user device. The computing device identifies results responsive to the query, including one or more business results that are each associated with a business location and operating hours. The computing device can select a subset of the business results as open results based on the operating hours of the business results, the current time, and travel times from the device location to the respective business locations. Data can be provided for a search engine results page that designates the subset of the business results as open results.
US09460215B2 Ranking recommended search queries on online social networks
In one embodiment, a method includes accessing a social graph that includes a number of nodes and edges connecting the nodes. Each of the edges between two of the nodes representing a single degree of separation between them. The nodes include a first node corresponding to a first user associated with an online social network and a plurality of second nodes that each correspond to a concept or a second user associated with the online social network. The method also includes generating a card cluster including a number of cards. Each card includes a suggested query referencing a query-domain associated with the online social network and zero or more query-filters. Each query-filter references one or more nodes of the plurality of nodes or one or more edges of the plurality of edges.
US09460213B2 Method and apparatus for determining search results based on filtered information
An approach is provided for determining results based on filtered information. A context request is detected from one or more programs. Another program determines to filter the content request, the one or more programs, or a combination thereof. One or more results of the content request are determined based, at least in part, on the filtered content request, the filtered one or more programs, or a combination thereof.
US09460211B2 Apparatus, system and method for a semantic editor and search engine
We describe here a system and method for creating, maintaining and using a semantic search engine environment for precise retrieval of curated answers to questions where the answers may be drawn from an authoritative document collection. The invention combines processing by human developers and software: semantic editing tools for creating, storing, maintaining queries and variants of queries, and query and document passage categories; links from queries to text passages that provide answers to these queries; a document retrieval store; means for matching user queries against stored queries; means for creating, storing, maintaining, and retrieving semantic and management metadata and categories about queries and documents and using these data for navigating the document collection; and means for finding information related to the user's information need by text and semantic similarity retrieval.
US09460209B1 Identifying non-search actions based on a search query
In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for invoking a non-search action based on a search query. A server system receives a search query from a remote computing device. The server system determines whether the search query includes reserved text that indicates an intent by a user that provided the search query to the remote computing device to perform a non-search messaging action instead of or in addition to obtaining search results. The server system provides to the computing device, in response to determining that the search query includes the reserved text, code for causing the remote computing device to display a draft communication that includes at least the search query without the reserved text, and for allowing the user to edit the draft communication before transmitting the draft communication for receipt by recipient users.
US09460207B2 Automated database generation for answering fact lookup queries
Technologies pertaining to fact lookup queries are described herein. A relational database is automatically built by extracting attribute identities and attribute values from a one dimensional table, wherein the one dimensional table does not include an entity identity that corresponds to the attribute identity and the attribute value. The entity identity is inferred, and the attribute value is indexed in a relational database by the entity identity and the attribute identity. When a query is issued by a user that includes the entity identity and the attribute identity, the corresponding attribute value in the relational database is returned to the user.
US09460199B2 Application of text analytics to determine provenance of an object
A computer identifies a first source of information that includes unstructured text and one or more keywords associated with an object. The computer retrieves the unstructured text included in the first source. The computer identifies provenance information of the object that is included in one or more segments of the unstructured text. The computer adds the identified provenance information of the object to a timeline.
US09460187B2 Creation of a graph database of a virtualization infrastructure
In a computer-implemented method for creating a graph database of a virtualization infrastructure, data defining entities and relationships of the entities of a virtualization infrastructure is received at a graph database, wherein the relationships of the entities are in accordance with an inventory structure of the virtualization infrastructure. The graph database is populated with the entities and the relationships of the entities of the virtualization infrastructure.
US09460185B2 Storage device selection for database partition replicas
A system that implements a data storage service may store data in multiple replicated partitions on respective storage nodes. The selection of the storage nodes (or storage devices thereof) on which to store the partition replicas may be performed by administrative components that are responsible for partition management and resource allocation for respective groups of storage nodes (e.g., based on a global view of resource capacity or usage), or the selection of particular storage devices of a storage node may be determined by the storage node itself (e.g., based on a local view of resource capacity or usage). Placement policies applied at the administrative layer or storage layer may be based on the percentage or amount of provisioned, reserved, or available storage or IOPS capacity on each storage device, and particular placements (or subsequent operations to move partition replicas) may result in an overall resource utilization that is well balanced.
US09460184B2 Application of a differential dataset to a data store using sequential change sets
Systems and methods are described herein for creating, maintaining and applying a dataset that can be used to synchronize multiple instances of a data store. The dataset includes a sequentially-ordered sequence of change sets associated with the data store, wherein each change set includes zero or more entries that specify how the state of certain entities in the data store have changed since state changes represented by a previous change set in the sequence were applied to the data store. When a new change set is added to the dataset, any entries in any previously-added change sets dealing with the entities identified in the new change set are removed. Consequently, the dataset provides a concise and complete representation of all the state changes that have occurred to the data store since a known origin state.
US09460183B2 Split brain resistant failover in high availability clusters
Method and high availability clusters that support synchronous state replication to provide for failover between nodes, and more precisely, between the master candidate machines at the corresponding nodes. There are at least two master candidates (m=2) in the high availability cluster and the election of the current master is performed by a quorum-based majority vote among quorum machines, whose number n is at least three and odd (n≧3 and n is odd). The current master is issued a current time-limited lease to be measured off by the current master's local clock. In setting the duration or period of the lease, a relative clock skew is used to bound the duration to an upper bound, thus ensuring resistance to split brain situations during failover events.
US09460181B2 Distributed computing system with resource managed database cloning
In a distributed computing system, cloning operations determine when each of multiple backup database instances most recently experienced an update. If a most recently updated backup database instance was updated within a prescribed time period of one or more other backup database instances, a source instance for cloning is deemed to be one of these database instances satisfying a prescribed proximity criteria relative to a designated database instance. If a difference in update times is greater than the prescribed time period for the two most recent backup database instances, the source instance for cloning is deemed to be the most recently updated backup database instance. The control center conducts cloning to a target instance using the selected backup database instance as a source instance.
US09460179B1 Systems and methods for providing adaptive visualization of synchronization of multiple files
A system and method for synchronizing files to a cloud storage service provides an adaptive visual display that offers details of the synchronization process of each file being synchronized. Information included in the display can include details of the progress and status of the file synchronization for a particular file, as well as a group of files. Files being actively synchronized are locked in the display for the user view. Files that are not actively synchronized may scroll in the display so that the user can view information about multiple files being synchronized during a given synchronization.
US09460175B1 Server implemented geographic information system with graphical interface
Example embodiments described herein pertain to a geographic information system (GIS), configured to obtain geospatial data representing a geographic area, assign a projection and coordinate system to the geospatial data, apply a transformation to the geospatial data, and generate a tile cache based on the transformed geospatial data, the tile cache including the determined projection and coordinate system.
US09460171B2 Processing data in data migration
A computer-implemented method for processing information related to an extract-transform-load (ETL) data migration, including aggregating operational metadata and determining: a plurality of metrics, organized by business object, corresponding to the migration; a number of business object instances not successfully loaded; a first end-to-end execution time for at least one business object; relevant input metadata; load readiness status per business object; impact of a business object that is not load ready by analyzing business process hierarchies; business object load readiness by reference to incomplete development status or data defects; scope per test cycle based, at least in part, upon business object load readiness; and high-priority defects of business objects that stop testing based, at least in part, upon analysis of business process hierarchies.
US09460166B2 Presenting a combined search results summary in a graphical view
Provided are a computer implemented method, computer program product, and system for presenting a combined search results summary in a graphical view. Selection of two or more search results are received, wherein each of the two or more search results has an associated search result summary, and wherein each associated search result summary includes one or more entries. Relationships between the one or more entries of each associated search result summary and strengths of the relationships are identified. A graphical view is displayed that shows the one or more entries of each associated search result summary, the relationships, and the strengths of those relationships.
US09460164B2 Apparatus and method for single action approval of legally categorized documents
A computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions to display a document with legal categorizations. The legal categorizations are accepted and invoke a subsequent document for viewing with a single input action. The subsequent document is displayed. Revised legal categorizations are received. The revised legal categorizations are accepted and invoke an additional document for viewing with a single input action.
US09460153B2 Method and system for estimating the size of a joined table
A method, system, and/or computer program product estimate a cardinality of a joined table (T) obtained by joining at least a first data column (R) and a second data column (S), where R and S each comprise attribute values. A first density distribution function f(x) describes a frequency of the attribute values of R. A second density distribution function (g(x)) describes the frequency of the attribute values of S. A first information on values in R is based on a sample of values of R. A second information on values in S is based on a sample of values of S. One or more processors then estimate a cardinality of a joined table (T) based on the first and second density distribution function (f(x), g(x)) and the first and second information on values.
US09460150B2 Information processing apparatus, distributed processing system, and distributed processing method
An information processing apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives an access request for data from one of a plurality of information processing apparatuses in a distributed processing system in which the information processing apparatuses execute a process in a distributed manner, a query issuing unit that issues, when the access request for the data is received by the receiving unit, a query to each of the information processing apparatuses as to whether the data is stored in a page cache managed by an operating system on each of the information processing apparatuses, and a responding unit that makes a response to the access request, the response specifying, as an access destination, an information processing apparatus that has responded to the query issued by the query issuing unit.
US09460148B2 Completing distribution of multi-media content to an accessing device
A method begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module determining whether to complete downloading of a data segment of multi-media content to an accessing device that possess a partial set of encoded data slices. When the downloading is to be completed, the method continues with the DS processing module determining a user set of encoded data slices, wherein the user set of encoded data slices includes first and second sub-sets of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices, determining whether encoded data slices of the partial set of encoded data slices substantially matches encoded data slices of the first sub-set of encoded data slices, and when the encoded data slices of the partial set of encoded data slices substantially matches encoded data slices of the first sub-set of encoded data slices, sending the second sub-set of encoded data slices to the accessing device.
US09460143B2 Methods, systems, and computer readable media for a multi-view data construct for lock-free operations and direct access
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for a multi-view data construct that supports lock-free operations and direct access are disclosed. According to one aspect, a system includes a multi-view data construct including a persistent collection of elements, each element being associated with a unique identifier. Each element includes at least one pointer for configuring the element as a member of a linked list that contains as members elements of the multi-view data construct, data that indicates access status, and a data area within the collection itself or a pointer to a statically or dynamically allocated data area outside of the collection. A control module can identify elements in the collection by each element's respective identifier and can traverse elements in the collection using the pointers contained in each element. Concurrent access to an element by multiple entities is mediated using that element's access status and without using locks or locking operations.
US09460142B2 Detecting renaming operations
System, method, and computer program product embodiments transform data from a first version, for example an initial version of a database, to a second version, for example a subsequent version of a database. An embodiment includes modifying the metadata of the data to include transformational clauses, each of which describes how a portion of the data in the first version is transformed to data in the second version. Another exemplary embodiment includes differentiating between rename and add/delete operations to reduce the amount of transformational clauses included in the metadata. For example, rename operations can be identified by ignoring commonly-named columns between two versions, and identifying columns where the name has changed between the two versions while the data type has not changed.
US09460141B1 Automatic expiring of cached data
A method includes determining a time shift for data validity windows corresponding to a user, receiving a request for an incremental data update from the user, the user having cached data, determining that the request for the incremental data update is received within an unexpired data validity window for the cached data, wherein the data validity window is based on the determined time shift and in a case the incremental data update is received within the unexpired data validity window for the user, determining that the user is eligible for the incremental data update.
US09460137B2 Handling an increase in transactional data without requiring relocation of preexisting data between shards
A method, system and computer program product for handling an increase in transactional data load without requiring the relocation of preexisting data. A range of attribute values and identifications of associated shards are stored in a data structure. In response to adding a new shard, the data structure is updated by associating a range of attribute values to the added shard while maintaining the same range of attribute values being associated with one of the pre-existing shards. As a result, the new data assigned within this range of attribute values will be stored in the newly added shard while the older data assigned within this range of attribute values will continue to be stored in one of the preexisting shards. In this manner, an increase in transactional data load can be handled by adding a new shard without requiring the relocation of preexisting data.
US09460128B1 Sliding window view group constructs in relational database query language
This disclosure relates to populating an aggregated sliding window view group comprising one or more internal views, and each of the internal views in group has its own interval. In some implementations of this disclosure, the aggregated sliding window view group can store the history of previous view results and each row in a view inside the aggregated sliding window view group can correspond to a fixed interval of time. In various implementations, a view inside the aggregated sliding window view group can be populated from lower-level sliding window views based on a relationship between the aggregated sliding window view and the lower-level sliding window views. In some implementations, a sliding window view can store a constant number of view results. The aggregated sliding window view group can provide a user with a convenient and efficient means for displaying multiple data aggregates associated with multiple periods of time simultaneously.
US09460127B2 Datacenter database generation using task fingerprint and allocated resources
Technologies and implementations for allocating datacenter resources are generally disclosed.
US09460126B1 Rotational maintenance of database partitions
A distributed database management system may comprise a group of partitions that includes a master writeable partition and one or more additional partitions that act as read-only replicas of the master. A rotational mechanism for performing maintenance operations on non-master partitions may be employed to transition a second partition, selected for undergoing maintenance, into a role as the new master following performance of the maintenance operation.
US09460124B2 Image processor and method for memory access control
An image processor includes a memory including multiple memory banks each having multiple unit storage areas and holding an image, an image processing unit that processes an image, and an access controller that controls an access from the image processing unit to the memory. In storing the image in the memory, the access controller splits the image in multiple groups of unit pixel data pieces including pixel data of multiple columns by multiple rows, and stores groups of unit pixel data pieces aligned in at least two columns in a pixel space in the same unit storage area in the same memory bank.
US09460122B2 Long-query retrieval
Described herein is a technology that facilitates efficient large-scale similarity-based retrieval. In several embodiments documents, images, and/or other multimedia files are compactly represented and efficiently indexed to enable robust search using a long-query in a large-scale corpus. As described herein, these techniques include performing decomposition of a file, e.g., an image, a document containing an image, or a document-like representation of an image. The techniques use dimension reduction to obtain three parts, low-dimensional representations (major semantics), file specific terms (minor semantics), and background words, representing the major semantics in a feature vector and the minor semantics as keywords. Using the techniques described, file vectors are matched in a topic model and the results ranked based on the keywords.
US09460121B2 Contact card recognition system and recognition method using a touch screen
A contact card recognition system and a recognition method using a touch screen, and to a contact card used in a contact card recognition system.
US09460120B2 Travel route planning using geo-tagged photographs
Systems, methods, and devices are described for providing customized trip plans. Based on information provided by a user, geo-tagged photographs, and/or travelogues, one or more travel destinations are identified. Travel paths typically taken by tourists within each of the travel destinations and stay times within those travel destinations may be determined. A customized trip plan including a travel route plan among the one or more travel destinations and recommended internal paths within each travel destination are provided to the user. A revised customized trip plan may also be provided in response to changes made to information associated with the user.
US09460117B2 Image searching
The present disclosure introduces a method and an apparatus for searching images. With respect to each image in an image searching database, respective labels of respective images are generated based on description information corresponding to the respective images. A corresponding relationship between the generated respective labels and the respective images is stored. Based on a received image searching request, description information corresponding to an image for search in the image searching request is obtained. Based on the description information of the image for search, the label of the image for search is generated. Based on the stored corresponding relationship between the respective labels and the respective images, one or more images corresponding to the label of the image for search are determined. The determined one or more images are sent to the client terminal that sends the image searching request.
US09460115B2 Location-based data service apparatus and method
One aspect of the invention provides a method including: receiving shape information describing a shape of a first space of interest (SOI); receiving location information describing a location of the first SOI; associating the shape information with the location information and a first unique ID to form a first SOI object; receiving second information describing at least one of a shape or a location of a second SOI; associating the second information and a second unique ID to form a second SOI object; and associating the first SOI object with the second SOI object.
US09460112B2 Method and apparatus for virtualization of a file system, data storage system for virtualization of a file system, and file server for use in a data storage system
The method and an apparatus provides a virtualized file system enabling indirect access to a second file system in a data storage system comprising a plurality of client computers 100 and a second file system managing unit 410 for managing the second file system and enabling client access to the second file system, the method comprising interconnecting a first file system managing unit 310 between the plurality of client computers 100 and the second file system managing unit 410, creating a directory /root in a first file system managed by the first file system managing unit 310, a directory /root of the second file system with the directory /root of the first file system, enabling on-demand virtualization of the second file system by the first file system managing unit 310 based on client requests received from the client computers 100 at the first file system managing unit 310.
US09460110B2 File system extension system and method
A file system extension (FSE) system and method that permits an on-disk-structure (ODS) incorporating spatially diverse data (SDD) to be stored on a daisy-chain of multiple SATA disk drive storage elements (DSE) that are coupled together with one or more pass-thru disk drive controllers (PTDDC) is disclosed. The PTDDC chain appears as a single logical disk drive to a host computer system (HCS) via a host bus adapter (HBA) or pass-thru input (PTI) port. The PTDDC chain may appear to the HCS as virtual disk storage (VDS) that is larger than the actual physical disk storage (PDS) contained within the DSEs. The PTDDC chain is configured to map the SDD to portions of the DSE that are actually present within the VDS and thus allow critical portions of the ODS to reside on the PTDDC chain with transparent access by an operating system running on the HCS.
US09460109B1 Centralized provisioning process leveraging network attached storage
A method of building application server instances. The method comprises configuring, by a script, a first application server instance with parameter definitions exported from an environment properties file, wherein an environment properties file comprises common parameter definitions for a plurality of different application server instances under the same environment. The method further comprises configuring, by the script, the first application server instance with parameter definitions exported from a first instance properties file, wherein an instance properties file comprises parameter definitions specific to an individual application. The method further comprises building the first application server instance on a build server, wherein the build server is a central server, storing the first application server instance on a network attached storage (NAS) file system, mounting files of the first application server instance by a first target computer from the NAS system, and running the first application server instance on the first target computer.
US09460099B2 Dynamic selection of storage tiers
An operating system is configured to receive a request to store an object that does not specify the location at which the object should be stored. The request might also include an optimization factor and one or more object location factors. The operating system might also generate object location factors or retrieve object location factors from one or more external locations. Object location factors might also be utilized that are based upon properties of the object to be stored. Utilizing the object location factors, and the optimization factor if provided, the operating system dynamically selects an appropriate storage tier for storing the object. The tiers might include a local storage tier, a local network storage tier, a remote network storage tier, and other types of storage tiers. The object is then stored on the selected storage tier. The object may be retrieved from the storage tier at a later time.
US09460096B2 Methods and systems for managing data
Systems and methods for managing data, such as metadata. In one exemplary method, metadata from files created by several different software applications are captured, and the captured metadata is searched. The type of information in metadata for one type of file differs from the type of information in metadata for another type of file. Other methods are described and data processing systems and machine readable media are also described.
US09460094B1 System and method for determining a nearest network resource using GPS coordinates
A system and method are provided for determining a nearest network resource using GPS coordinates. A GPS enabled computer device may obtain its location by requesting its GPS location. A list of network servers storing the desired data may be obtained by the computer system and the distance between each of the servers and the computer device may be calculated. The system then connects to the resource having the shortest distance without requiring a user to know and decide which server is closest to their location.
US09460092B2 Media asset recommendation service
A media asset recommendation service is described. In embodiments, friends of a user are identified in a social graph that is associated with the user, and interactions with media assets by the friends of the user are compiled. Friend interaction data for each of the media assets can be determined from the media assets, the social graph, and the interactions with the media assets by the friends of the user. When a selection of one of the media assets is received from the user via a user device, the friend interaction data that is associated with the media asset selected by the user is communicated to the user device.
US09460090B2 Method of recognizing situation requiring translation and performing translation function, and electronic device implementing the same
Disclosed are a method of recognizing a translation situation and performing a translation function, and an electronic device implementing the same. The electronic device recognizes a situation involving translation and automatically performs a translation function, thereby improving user convenience. An electronic device includes an audio module configured to receive and output audio signal, and a processor. A language translation program is executed in response to detecting that an audio signal received through the audio module includes at least a first language and a second language, a portion of the audio signal that is in the second language is translated into the first language, and the translated portion is outputted through the audio module.
US09460088B1 Written-domain language modeling with decomposition
An automatic speech recognition system and method are provided for written-domain language modeling. According to one implementation, a process includes accessing decomposed training data that results from applying rewrite grammar rules to original training data, the decomposed training data comprising (i) regular words from the original training data that have not been rewritten using the set of rewrite grammar rules, and (ii) decomposed segments that result from rewriting non-lexical entities from the original training data using the rewrite grammar rules, generating a restriction model that (i) maps language model paths for regular words to themselves, and (ii) restricts language model paths for decomposed segments for non-lexical entities, training a n-gram language model over the training data, composing the restriction model and the language model to obtain a restricted language model, and constructing a decoding network by composing a context dependency model and a pronunciation lexicon with the restricted language model.
US09460082B2 Management of language usage to facilitate effective communication
Provided are techniques for providing annotations for revising a message. A message to be sent from a sender to a recipient is received. A meaning map associated with the sender and a meaning map associated with the recipient are obtained. The message is parsed into sub-constructs. The sub-constructs are compared in the meaning map associated with the sender and the meaning map associated with the recipient. Alternative language for the sub-constructs is identified. Annotations are provided based on the alternative language.
US09460079B2 Method, system and recording medium for providing dictionary function and file distribution system
A method of providing a dictionary service may include configuring a first area of a display to receive a keyword as an input thereto and a second area of the display to display a dictionary search result of the keyword when the user terminal is operating in a dictionary mode; switching from the dictionary mode to a translation mode in response to the keyword input into the first area being greater than or equal to a threshold length; and setting the extended keyword as a source text to translate and display in a third area of the display.
US09460078B2 Identifying glossary terms from natural language text documents
A device may obtain text to be analyzed to identify glossary terms. The device may analyze a linguistic unit to generate multiple linguistic units related to the linguistic unit. The device may analyze the multiple linguistic units to generate potential glossary terms. The device may perform a glossary term analysis on the potential glossary terms to generate glossary terms that include a subset of the potential glossary terms. The device may identify included terms that are included in the glossary terms. The device may identify excluded terms that are excluded from the glossary terms. The device may determine a semantic relatedness score between at least one excluded term and at least one included term. The device may selectively add the excluded linguistic term to the glossary terms to form a final set of glossary terms based on the semantic relatedness score, and may output the final set of glossary terms.
US09460076B1 Method for unsupervised learning of grammatical parsers
The invention comprises a core algorithm to use language regularity in large collections of human created textual documents, as well as optimization techniques to make the algorithm tractable. The core algorithm includes receiving tuples of text units that may be grammatically linked and processing a stream of such tuples to discover language regularities. After this learning is completed, the algorithm's output is used to evaluate the perceived likelihood that different interpretations of novel sentences would have been intended by a speaker of the language.
US09460071B2 Rule development for natural language processing of text
In a computing device that defines a rule for natural language processing of text, annotated text is selected from a first document of a plurality of annotated documents. An entity rule type is selected from a plurality of entity rule types. An argument of the selected entity rule type is identified. A value for the identified argument is randomly selected based on the selected annotated text to generate a rule instance. The generated rule instance is applied to remaining documents of the plurality of annotated documents. A rule performance measure is computed based on application of the generated rule instance. The generated rule instance and the computed rule performance measure are stored for application to other documents.
US09460070B2 Mobile terminal and corresponding method for transmitting messages with memos written thereon
A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed, which facilitates a terminal to be used in further consideration of user's convenience. The present invention includes a touchscreen, a wireless communication unit configured to perform a wireless communication with at least one or more external terminals including a 1st external terminal, and a controller controlling a 1st image message including an image received from the 1st external terminal to be displayed on the touchscreen together with at least one of a previously saved transmitted message and a previously saved received message, the controller, if a 1st user command is inputted in the course of displaying the 1st image message, controlling a 1st memo to be written on the image of the received 1st image message.
US09460067B2 Automatic sentence punctuation
An aspect provides a method, including: receiving, at an information handling device input component, user input comprising a sentence; identifying, using a processor, the sentence; determining, using the processor, correct punctuation for the sentence identified; determining, using the processor, a confidence level for the correct punctuation determined; and responsive to the confidence level exceeding a predetermined threshold, automatically modifying, using the processor, the sentence based on the correct punctuation determined. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09460066B2 Systems and methods for character correction in communication devices
Systems and methods for character error correction are provided, useful for a user of mobile appliances to produce written text with reduced errors. The system includes an interface, a word prediction engine, a statistical engine, an editing distance calculator, and a selector. A string of characters, known as the inputted word, may be entered into the mobile device via the interface. The word prediction engine may then generate word candidates similar to the inputted word using fuzzy logic and user preferences generated from past user behavior. The statistical engine may then generate variable is error costs determined by the probability of erroneously inputting any given character. The editing distance calculator may then determine the editing distance between the inputted word and each of the word candidates by grid comparison using the variable error costs. The selector may choose one or more preferred candidates from the word candidates using the editing distances.
US09460065B2 Generating caption based computer data
Correcting data by expediting identification of a part of the data, which needs to be corrected. In response to receiving an instruction, outputting the information, and identifying the part which needs to be corrected. In response to a received instruction, expediting correction of the part by correcting the part and outputting the information.
US09460063B2 Identification, selection, and display of a region of interest in a document
Some embodiments provide a method for displaying a structured document that includes a hierarchy of structural elements. The hierarchy is constructed by analyzing an unstructured document. The method displays the structured document on a device. The method receives a selection of a position of interest in the document. Based on the position of interest, the method identifies a structural element within the hierarchy as a region of interest. The method modifies the display of the document to highlight the identified region of interest.
US09460061B2 Print system, print server, control method, and storage medium
A webpage print server transmits script to a client terminal that has run a bookmarklet, and the client terminal that has run the script transmits an HTML of a webpage under display by a web browser to the webpage print server. In the case where the webpage print server was unable to acquire the external files in accordance with an external file reference command contained in this HTML, the webpage print server transmits script that causes acquisition of external files to the client device, and the webpage print server acquires the external files from the client device. The webpage print server then generates printing data based on the acquired external files and the aforementioned HTML.
US09460059B2 Method and apparatus for visualizing the underlying structure of a document using an interactive viewport overlay
A method and apparatus for visualizing the underlying structure of a document using an interactive viewport overlay is disclosed. The method comprises accessing a document having a structure comprising a plurality of elements; displaying visible elements of the plurality of elements of the document; creating a new element for a corresponding one of each of a plurality of the visible elements, wherein each new element identifies structural information about a corresponding visible element; and displaying one or more overlays on top of an area of the displayed document, wherein the one or more overlay is less than the entire area of the displayed document, and wherein each overlay comprises the new elements displaying an underlying structure of the displayed document.
US09460058B2 Operating system support for location cards
Innovations in the area of presentation of location-related actions and location information are presented. For example, an application calls an operating system to generate a location card. The location card can show a map of a location as well as additional information about the location and one or more action indicators. With an action indicator, a user can launch an application to perform an action related to the location immediately and directly from the location card. Depending on usage scenario, an application can specify different actions to be represented with action indicators in a location card. At the same time, location cards supported by the operating system provide a consistent way to expose location information and location-related actions to users.
US09460056B2 Dynamic image layout for personalized packages
A method of determining a layout of a structural document may include receiving a plurality of images, determining a design associated with a structural document, determining a number of facets associated with the structural document based on the determined design, determining an image area associated with the structural document, and determining a layout associated with the structural document based on the determined image area. The method may include determining an image aspect ratio associated with each of the plurality of received images, determining an area aspect ratio associated with each of the one or more areas, assigning each received image to one of the one or more areas based on the determined aspect ratio associated with the image and the determined area aspect ratio associated with the area, and causing a graphical representation of the structural document to be displayed.
US09460045B2 Apparatus for real-time management of the performance of security components of a network system
An apparatus for real-time management of a plurality of security components (SCs) connected to a network. The apparatus comprises a network interface for communication with the plurality of SCs connected to the network; a permanent storage unit for storing at least logon information to each of the plurality of SCs; a security component management unit (SCMU) having a plurality of integration point components (IPCs) enabled to identify the plurality of SCs connected to the network; a temporal storage unit for storing at least data collected from the plurality of SCs in the form of information units, each of the information units has a predefined limited lifetime after which such information unit is voided, thereby rendering the apparatus stateless; and a processing unit for carrying out at least one process designated to perform a specific generic task irrespective of a physical manifestation of each of the plurality of SCs.
US09460044B2 Formula calculation method and electronic device therefor
A method for calculating a formula included in text in an electronic device includes detecting the text, detecting at least one formula included in the detected text, calculating at least the one formula, and displaying the calculated result. An apparatus for implementing the method includes at least one processor, at least one memory, and at least one program which is stored in at least the one memory and is configured to be executable by at least the one processor. The at least one program detects input text, detects at least one formula included in the detected text, calculates at least the one formula, and displays the calculated result.
US09460043B2 Flash drive with transforming mechanism
A flash drive includes a storage module, a switching module, and a transforming mechanism. The storage module has a storage unit and a first interface electrically connected to each other. The switching module has a second interface and a third interface which are in different types but are electrically connected to each other, and the first interface corresponds to the second interface. The transforming mechanism is located at a first position or a second position relative to the storage module, and the switching module is located in the transforming mechanism. When the transforming mechanism is located at the first position, the first interface is electrically connected to the second interface, so that the storage unit is electrically connected to a host through the third interface. When the transforming mechanism is located at the second position, the first interface of the storage unit is electrically connected to the host.
US09460039B2 PCI express fabric routing for a fully-connected mesh topology
A PCIe Fabric that includes an IO tier switch, hub tier switches, and a target device connected to one of the hub tier switches. The IO tier switch is configured to receive a TLP from a client, make a determination that an address in the TLP is not associated with any multicast address range in the first IO tier switch and is not associated with any downstream port in the first IO tier switch, and, based on the determinations, route the TLP to the first hub tier switch via a upstream port on the IO tier switch. The hub tier switch is configured to make a determination that the TLP is associated with a multicast group, and, based on the determination, generate a rewritten TLP and route the rewritten TLP to a target device via a downstream port on the hub tier switch.
US09460038B2 Multi-core microprocessor internal bypass bus
Microprocessors with multi-core dies that include bypass buses are provided. Each microprocessor comprises a plurality of physical pins for coupling the microprocessor to a processor bus coupled to a chipset. The multi-core die has at least two complementary sets of one or more processing cores, each providing a bus interface coupling respective core inputs and outputs to corresponding processor bus lines. A bypass bus on the die enables cores of the complementary sets to bypass the processor bus and communicate directly with each other. The bypass bus does not carry signals off the die, drive signals on the processor bus to the chipset, or receive chipset-drive signals from the processor bus. Moreover, the microprocessor is operable to detect whether the chipset or a complementary core is driving the processor bus, and if the latter, to select the higher quality bypass bus signals over the corresponding processor bus signals.
US09460035B2 Method for operating a slave node of a digital bus system
A method for operating a slave node of a digital bus system is described. The slave node comprises two sending and receiving devices. In the bus system, an input data frame is sent to a master node in input direction. The slave node receives the input data frame by the first sending and receiving device. The slave node stores service data packets contained in the input data frame in a FIFO memory. The slave node attaches at least one process data packet of its own to a last process data packet in the input data frame. The slave node attaches the service data packets to the process data packet, which is now last, in the input data frame. The slave node sends the input data frame, which was changed in this manner, to the next node in input direction by the second sending and receiving device.
US09460030B2 Host device and slave device controlling method
A host device is provided, which includes a network communication unit connected to network; a local communication unit locally connected to a slave device; a virtualization unit to virtualize the slave device as a network device within the network; and a controlling unit to control the virtualized slave device as the network device. Therefore, a developer may implement an application in consideration of a single type of network without considering various physical input and output ports.
US09460027B2 Digital rights management system
Disclosed herein is a digital rights management system that includes a storage module that stores a usage right for digital content in a tamper-resistant portion of a memory. The system also includes a flag status module that generates a flag corresponding with a transfer status of the usage right, sets the flag to one of a plurality of transfer statuses, and stores the flag in the tamper-resistant portion of the memory. The transfer statuses include a status indicating a request for the usage right was generated by a device with a usage right recovery mechanism.
US09460024B2 Latency reduction for direct memory access operations involving address translation
Latency reduction for direct memory access operations involving address translation is disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein to perform direct memory access (DMA) operations include initializing a ring of descriptors, the descriptors to index respective buffers for storing received data in a first memory. Such example methods also include causing prefetching of a first address translation associated with a second descriptor in the ring of descriptors to be performed after a first DMA operation is performed to store first received data in a first buffer indexed by a first descriptor in the ring of descriptors and before second received data to be stored in the first memory is received, the first address translation being associated with a second DMA operation for storing the second received data in the first memory.
US09460022B2 Mechanism for facilitating dynamic and efficient management of translation buffer prefetching in software programs at computing systems
A mechanism is described for facilitating dynamic and efficient binary translation-based translation lookaside buffer prefetching according to one embodiment. A method of embodiments, as described herein, includes translating code blocks into code translation blocks at a computing device. The code translation blocks are submitted for execution. The method may further include tracking, in runtime, dynamic system behavior of the code translation blocks, and inferring translation lookaside buffer (TLB) prefetching based on the analysis of the tracked dynamic system behavior.
US09460021B2 System including hierarchical memory modules having different types of integrated circuit memory devices
Volatile memory devices corresponding to a first memory hierarchy may be on a first memory module that is coupled to a memory controller by a first signal path. A nonvolatile memory device corresponding to a second memory hierarchy may be on a second memory module that is coupled to the first memory module by a second signal path. Memory transactions for the nonvolatile memory device may be transferred from the memory controller to the first memory hierarchy using the first signal path, and data associated with an accumulation of the memory transactions may be written from the first memory hierarchy to the second memory hierarchy using the second signal path and a first and second control signal. The first control signal may be generated in view of a detection of wear and the second control signal may be generated in view of a detection of a defect.
US09460019B2 Sending packets using optimized PIO write sequences without SFENCEs
Method and apparatus for sending packets using optimized PIO write sequences without sfences. Sequences of Programmed Input/Output (PIO) write instructions to write packet data to a PIO send memory are received at a processor supporting out of order execution. The PIO write instructions are received in an original order and executed out of order, with each PIO write instruction writing a store unit of data to a store buffer or a store block of data to the store buffer. Logic is provided for the store buffer to detect when store blocks are filled, resulting in the data in those store blocks being drained via PCIe posted writes that are written to send blocks in the PIO send memory at addresses defined by the PIO write instructions. Logic is employed for detecting the fill size of packets and when a packet's send blocks have been filled, enabling the packet data to be eligible for egress.
US09460018B2 Method and apparatus for tracking extra data permissions in an instruction cache
Systems and methods are disclosed for maintaining an instruction cache including extended cache lines and page attributes for main cache line portions of the extended cache lines and, at least for one or more predefined potential page-crossing instruction locations, additional page attributes for extra data portions of the corresponding extended cache lines. In addition, systems and methods are disclosed for processing page-crossing instructions fetched from an instruction cache having extended cache lines.
US09460016B2 Cache way prediction
In an example, a system and method are provided for predicting in which way a requested memory address is most likely to be held in a multi-way cache, based on the last way accessed by the specified address register if available. If not available, then the system may determine that no best prediction is available. In that case, each way is read, and the superfluous values are disregarded, or a cache fill is performed as necessary. In certain embodiments, only a portion of the least significant bits of an add operation are used for way prediction in base-plus-offset addressing modes. This enables the decision to be made before the full-width add is complete, so that the clock cycle length is not unnecessarily lengthened by the prediction operation.
US09460015B2 Storage system
A storage system in an embodiment of this invention comprises a non-volatile storage area for storing write data from a host, a cache area capable of temporarily storing the write data before storing the write data in the non-volatile storage area, and a controller that determines whether to store the write data in the cache area or to store the write data in the non-volatile storage area without storing the write data in the cache area, and stores the write data in the determined area.
US09460011B1 Memory reference estimation method and device based on improved cache
A computer system that includes a processor, a memory and a processor cache for the main memory with a check-in-cache instruction may be provided. The processor executes computer readable instructions stored in the memory that include receiving a check-in-cache instruction from a check-in-cache storage location. The instructions also include responsive to receiving the check-in-cache instruction, determining whether data bytes specified by the check-in-cache instruction are at least partially available in the processor cache. The instructions further include storing a condition code of the determination result in a storage location.
US09460010B1 Method, data storage system and computer program product for managing copy on first write data for snapshot purposes
A data storage system, method and computer program product for managing copy on first write data for snapshot purposes are disclosed. In one embodiment, a determination is made whether new data is a first update of original data in a first section of a data storage device in response to receiving a write instruction to write the new data. The new data is provided to a first location of a cache memory and the original data to a second location of the cache memory. Providing the new data to the first location in the cache memory is not dependent on whether the original data has been copied from the data storage device. Further, the original data can be provided to the second location of the cache memory after new data is provided to first location of the cache memory. Completion of the write instruction is confirmed in response to providing the new data to the first location of the cache memory.
US09460006B2 Nonvolatile memory system, system including the same, and method of adaptively adjusting user storage region in the same
A method is for adaptively adjusting a user storage region in an entire storage region of a nonvolatile memory system. The method includes a host transmitting a user region information request command to the nonvolatile memory system, the nonvolatile memory system transmitting user region information to the host, the host changing the user region information, the host transmitting a user region information setting command to the nonvolatile memory system, and the nonvolatile memory system controlling a size of the user storage region in response to the user region information setting command.
US09460002B1 Memory allocation
There is disclosed a technique for use in memory allocation. In one embodiment, the technique comprises a method. The method comprises the step of determining the size of an item. The method also comprises the step of determining whether to allocate the item to stack or heap memory based on the size of the item.
US09460001B2 Systems and methods for identifying access rate boundaries of workloads
A computer-implemented method for identifying access rate boundaries of workloads may include (1) tracking the number of times each region of data within a plurality of regions of data is accessed during a period of time, (2) creating an ordered list of each region of data from the plurality of regions of data, (3) calculating one or more drops in access rates between two or more regions of data in the ordered list, (4) determining that a calculated access-rate drop from a first region of data to a second region of data exceeds a predefined threshold, and (5) calculating a boundary access rate for a workload of data. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US09459995B2 Compliance testing engine for integrated computing system
A technique tests whether an integrated computing system having server, network and storage components complies with a configuration benchmark expressed as rules in first markup-language statements such as XML. The rules are parsed to obtain test definition identifiers identifying test definitions in a second set of markup-language statements, each test definition including a test value and an attribute identifier of system component attribute. A management database is organized as an integrated object model of all system components. An interpreter invoked with the test definition identifier from each rule process each test definition to (a) access the management database using the attribute identifier obtain the actual value for the corresponding attribute, and (b) compare the actual value to the test value of the test definition to generate a comparison result value that can be stored or communicated as a compliance indicator to a human or machine user.
US09459994B2 Mobile application testing systems and methods
Approaches for application testing are provided. An approach includes recording a test case of an application running on a mobile device. The approach also includes generating an expected layout based on object data received from the mobile device during the recording. The approach additionally includes receiving playback object data based on the test case being played back on the mobile device or a different mobile device. The approach further includes comparing the playback object data to the expected layout data.
US09459992B2 System and method of debugging multi-threaded processes
A system and method of debugging a multi-threaded process with at least one running thread and at least one suspended thread is disclosed. Embodiments utilize a blocking function to block the thread of a process while other threads are allowed to run. The blocking function may be executed in a suspended thread by a debugger under control of a thread blocking controller. The other threads may implement interprocess communication channels for enabling communication between the process and another application. A simulated user interface (UI) of a debugger enables interaction with users while a hardware simulation thread is blocked, where blocking of the hardware simulation thread may be implemented by a thread blocking component implemented externally to the debugger. Where a thread blocking controller is implemented within the debugger, a debugger UI may interact with a user while the hardware simulation thread is blocked and interprocess communication threads are running.
US09459990B2 Automatic and transparent application logging
Automatic application logging, in one aspect, may receive a directive for logging data associated with an application. One or more runtime objects of an instance of the application running on a processor may be modified according to the directive to collect the data. The data may be collected via the modified one or more runtime objects.
US09459988B2 Dynamic code switching in debugging process
An optimized version of a binary and a non-optimized debuggable version of a binary for each compiling unit in the source code program are generated. The optimized versions of binaries of all compiling units are loaded into memory for debugging, which is monitored. In response to determining that a first compiling unit in the source code program is to be debugged, the non-optimized debuggable version of the binary is loaded into a memory location that was previously used by the optimized version of the binary. In response to determining that debugging of a second compiling unit in the source code program is to be cancelled, the optimized version of the binary of the second compiling unit is loaded into a memory location that was previously used by the non-optimized debuggable version of the binary.
US09459977B2 Data processing system with debug control
A data processing system includes a processor configured to execute processor instructions and a memory. The memory has a data array and a checkbit array wherein each entry of the checkbit array includes a plurality of checkbits and corresponds to a storage location of the data array. The system includes error detection/correction logic configured to, during normal operation, detect an error in data access from a storage location of the data array using the plurality of checkbits in the entry corresponding to the storage location. The system further includes debug logic configured to, during debug mode, use a portion of the plurality of the checkbits in the entry corresponding to the storage location to generate a breakpoint/watchpoint request for the processor.
US09459973B2 Storage subsystem, and method for verifying storage area
There is provided a method for verifying a full drive as an error check processing of a storage drive, but along with the increase in capacity of the storage drive, there are cases where error check cannot be executed before using the storage area. In the present invention, quantity of use of data is estimated, and the storage areas corresponding to the estimated quantity are verified periodically. By verifying the storage area to be used in advance before actual data use, the occurrence of error can be prevented without having to execute a check of the full drive.
US09459972B2 Alternative port error recovery with limited system impact
Various embodiments for troubleshooting a network device in a computing storage environment by a processor. In response to an error in a specific port, an alternative error recovery operation is initiated on the port by performing at least one of initiating a silent recovery operation by reloading a failed instruction, taking the port offline, cleaning up any active transactions associated with the port, performing a hardware reset operation port, and bringing the port online.
US09459970B2 Performance during playback of logged data storage operations
Technology is disclosed for improving performance during playback of logged data storage operations. The technology can monitor a log to which data storage operations are written before data is committed to a data storage device or a volume; determine counts of various types of data storage operations; and when the counts exceed a specified threshold, cause the data storage operations to be committed to the data storage device or the volume. Some data storage operations can be coalesced during playback to further improve performance.
US09459969B1 Method and system for enhanced backup database indexing
A method and system for implementing enhanced indexing in a backup system as well as manage file recovery. The method implemented at a backup server receives backup meta data from a client over a network. The backup meta data is checked to determine whether the backup meta data is directory data or node data and the directory data and node data from the received backup meta data is committed to a set of databases as received during the backup process.
US09459968B2 Single index to query multiple backup formats
The disclosed techniques include generation of a single index table when backing up data in a first backup format to a backup storage system that uses a second backup format. Using the single index table, a query for a data item can be answered by searching the single index table. The single index table avoids having to search through multiple index tables, each corresponding to a different backup format that may be used for backing up the searched data item.
US09459967B2 Cascade ordering
A system and computer program product of handling multiple backup processes have been provided. The system comprises receiving one or more instructions initiating a plurality of backup processes from a single source storage volume to a plurality of target storage volumes, adding each target storage volume to a cascade of target storage volumes from the source storage volume, the target storage volumes added to the cascade in an order inversely proportional to the copy rate of the respective backup process such that a first target storage volume added to the cascade of target storage volumes has a slowest copy rate, a next added target storage volume to the cascade of target storage volumes has a faster copy rate than an immediately prior added target storage volume, and a most recent target storage volume added to the cascade of target storage volumes has a fastest copy rate.
US09459962B2 Methods for accessing a storage unit of a flash memory and apparatuses using the same
An embodiment of a method for accessing a storage unit of a flash memory, performed by a processing unit, includes at least the following steps. A multiplexer is controlled to couple a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) to a buffer. A DMA (Direct Memory Access) controller is directed to store a message of the DRAM to the buffer through the multiplexer and to output the message of the DRAM to a RAID-encoding (Redundant Array of Independent Disk-encoding) unit in multiple batches. After a first condition is satisfied, the processing unit controls the multiplexer to couple the RAID-encoding unit to the buffer and directs the RAID-encoding unit to output a vertical ECC (Error Correction Code) to the buffer through the multiplexer in at least one batch.
US09459961B2 Magnetic random access memory
A magnetic random access memory includes memory cells, a read circuit, (ECC) circuit, an address register, a flag register, a flag check circuit, and a write back circuit. The memory cells each include a magnetoresistive element. The address register stores the address at which the error has been detected by the ECC circuit. The data register stores corrected data in which the error has been corrected by the ECC circuit. The flag register sets an error flag in association with the address at which the error has been detected by the ECC circuit. The flag check circuit checks whether the error flag is set in the flag register. The write back circuit writes back the data to the memory cell designated by the address corresponding to the error flag.
US09459954B2 Feedback signaling error detection and checking in MIMO wireless communication systems
A method of feedback in a wireless transmit receive unit includes providing a precoding matrix index (PMI), error checking the (PMI) to produce an error check (EC) bit, coding the PMI and the EC bit and transmitting the coded PMI and EC bit.
US09459951B2 Dynamic cache row fail accumulation due to catastrophic failure
A technique is provided for accumulating failures. A failure of a first row is detected in a group of array macros, the first row having first row address values. A mask has mask bits corresponding to each of the first row address values. The mask bits are initially in active status. A failure of a second row, having second row address values, is detected. When none of the first row address values matches the second row address values, and when mask bits are all in the active status, the array macros are determined to be bad. When at least one of the first row address values matches the second row address values, mask bits that correspond to at least one of the first row address values that match are kept in active status, and mask bits that correspond to non-matching first address values are set to inactive status.
US09459948B2 Auxiliary method, apparatus and system for diagnosing failure of virtual machine
Embodiments of the present invention relate to an auxiliary method, apparatus, and system for diagnosing a failure of a virtual machine. An operation and maintenance system receives a failure message when a virtual machine fails; obtains running information of the virtual machine according to identifier information carried in the message, where the running information is used for diagnosing the failure of the virtual machine; generates graphic multi-dimensional display information of the virtual machine according to the running information; and sends the display information to a user end for displaying. The present invention provides an auxiliary method for diagnosing a failure of a virtual machine. The method may provide correlation analysis for diagnosing a failure of a virtual machine, allow the user end to diagnose the cause of the failure of the virtual machine in a comprehensive multi-dimensional manner, and improve the convenience and accuracy of diagnosing the virtual machine.
US09459947B2 Error report processing using call stack similarity
Techniques for error report processing are described herein. Error reports, received by a developer due to program crashes, may be organized into a plurality of “buckets.” The buckets may be based in part on a name and a version of the application associated with a crash. Additionally, a call stack of the computer on which the crash occurred may be associated with each error report. The error reports may be “re-bucketed” into meta-buckets to provide additional information to programmers working to resolve software errors. The re-bucketing may be based in part on measuring similarity of call stacks of a plurality of error reports. The similarity of two call stacks—a measure of likelihood that two error reports were caused by a same error—may be based in part on functions in common, a distance of those functions from the crash point, and an offset distance between the common functions.
US09459943B2 Fault isolation by counting abnormalities
An information processing device includes a plurality of components and a processor. The processor is configured to measure, upon detection of abnormalities in first components among the plurality of components, a number of abnormalities that occur in each of the first components. The processor is configured to measure an access processing value in each of the first components. The access processing value represents an amount of a predetermined feature relating to each of the first components. The processor is configured to calculate a ratio of the number of abnormalities to the access processing value in each of the first components. The processor is configured to identify a component as a fault location based on the calculated ratios.
US09459942B2 Correlation of metrics monitored from a virtual environment
Correlation of metrics monitored from a virtual environment is described herein. A method for detecting correlations between metrics monitored from a virtual environment includes monitoring network operation metrics of network devices in the virtual environment. Network operation metric irregularities exceeding a threshold are detected. A first network operation metric irregularity is selected from the detected network operation metric irregularities. A time frame of the first network operation metric irregularity is identified for analysis. A second network operation metric irregularity is selected from the detected network operation metric irregularities. The first network operation metric irregularity and the second network operation metric irregularity can be compared to determine a correspondence between the first network operation metric irregularity and the second network operation metric irregularity using a comparison engine and based on a predetermined analysis method.
US09459941B2 Apparatus and method for synchronizing the processing of events associated with application sessions in a telecommunications network
A processing platform, for example a Java Enterprise Edition (JEE) platform comprises a JEE cluster (1) having a plurality of processors (3), which include a resource adapter (11) for handling events associated with one or more application sessions Si to Sn. Each application session Si to Sn comprises a session state (15) and an event queue (17), the event queue (17) containing a list of events to be executed for a particular one of the sessions S1 to Sn. A thread pool (19) comprises one or more processing threads t1 to tN for enabling the processor (3) to perform multiple tasks in parallel. The thread pool (19) comprises a task queue (21) containing the tasks to be executed by the processing threads t1 to tN. The resource adapter (11) comprises a synchronizing unit (23) for controlling how the plurality of threads t1 to tN from the thread pool handle the events in the plurality of application sessions S1 to Sn. In particular, the synchronizing unit (23) is configured such that only one event queued in an event queue (17) has a task scheduled thereto in the task queue (21), thereby preventing more than one event from a particular event queue of an application session being executed in parallel.
US09459940B2 Data transmission method for data transmission system
The present invention relates to a data transmission method applied to a data transmission system comprising a data transmission device, at least one host computer and at least one associated computer, wherein all the at least one host computer and the at least one associated computer are disposed with a plurality of switching system clipboards, and have one computer clipboard thereof. Therefore, by the disposing of the plurality of switching system clipboards, two or more users are allowed to simultaneously carry out their computer switching operations and data transmissions between multi computers through one identical data transmission system, moreover, the file size of the transmitted data does not be limited by the data transmission device of the data transmission system.
US09459930B1 Distributed complementary workload scheduling
In a multiple computer environment, workloads are classified as first-class or second-class, depending on their priorities. The workloads are profiled to determine computer capabilities that they are expected to use. Based upon this information, second-class workloads are chosen for execution alongside first-class workloads in such a way that the expected capabilities used by the first-class and second-class workloads are complementary.
US09459925B2 System and method for managing a computing cluster
A method and system for managing a computing cluster including hosting a plurality of machines in a networked computing cluster, wherein the plurality of machines include service instances running on hosts, where the services have configured machine state; and wherein machine state includes configuration data and software of the machine; integrating the plurality of machines of the cluster with at least one configuration controller component; and the at least one configuration controller component, altering the machine state of at least one service instance.
US09459921B2 Creating a system on the fly and applications thereof
Disclosed herein are systems, apparatuses, and methods for creating a system of wireless-enabled components (WECs). Such a system includes a server and a plurality of wireless-enabled component (WECs). Each WEC includes a functional resource (e.g., a processing resource and/or a memory resource) and is configured for wireless communication with the server and one or more other WECs. A first WEC is configured to wirelessly upload, to the server, an availability of the functional resource of the first WEC. The first WEC is further configured to wirelessly download, from the server, a linking resource for linking with one or more of the plurality of WECs. The plurality of WECs may be located on a single chip, on multiple chips of a single device, or on multiple chips of multiple devices.
US09459919B2 Methods and apparatus for managing and controlling power consumption and heat generation in computer systems
Methods and systems of operating a computer system including a processor are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes providing a discretized operating system for controlling applications executed by the computer system, and replacing an idle task of the discretized operating system with a substitute idle task that causes the processor to enter a dormant mode, a priority level of the substitute idle task being the same as a priority level of the idle task.
US09459916B2 System and method for controlling execution of jobs performed by plural information processing devices
A system includes a plurality of information processing devices and a management device configured to manage execution of jobs performed by the plurality of information processing devices. The management device detects any one of the plurality of information processing devices which is executing a first job, at a predetermined time, and determines whether a second information processing device different from the first information processing device is able to be allocated to a second job which is scheduled to use the first information processing device being used by the first job after the predetermined time, among the plurality of information processing devices. The management device modifies an execution schedule of the jobs such that the second job is executed using the second information processing device when it is determined that the second information processing device is able to be allocated to the second job.
US09459913B2 System and method for providing print ready content to a printing device
A script file is maintained on a server system. The script file captures semantics of a task previously performed by a user on a web browser. The server system executes the script file to reproduce the task in response to a request for print ready content where the request is associated with performing the task. The server system converts content obtained from reproducing the task into print ready content and provides the print ready content via a network connection to a printing device.
US09459911B2 Dynamically adjusting a log level of a transaction
A computer system and program product dynamically adjusts a log level of a transaction by: buffering the most detailed logs of a transaction having highest log level into a memory; checking if all dependency-defined transactions within a dependency list/tree for the transaction are completed; and, in response to the completion of all dependency-defined transactions within the dependency list/tree for the transaction, obtaining a log filter level for the transaction in association with the transaction results (success/failure) of dependency-defined transactions, wherein the log filter level is a new log level for the transaction.
US09459909B2 Performing collective operations in a distributed processing system
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for performing collective operations on a hybrid distributed processing system including: determining by at least one task that a parent of the task has failed to send the task data through the tree topology; and determining whether to request the data from a grandparent of the task or a peer of the task in the same tier in the tree topology; and if the task requests the data from the grandparent, requesting the data and receiving the data from the grandparent of the task through the second networking topology; and if the task requests the data from a peer of the task in the same tier in the tree, requesting the data and receiving the data from a peer of the task through the second networking topology.
US09459908B2 Implementing dynamic SRIOV virtual function resizing
A method, system and computer program product are provided for implementing dynamic configuration of a Single Root Input/Output Virtualization (SRIOV) virtual function in a virtualized system. A management function, a hypervisor, a hypervisor based PF device driver and a partition based virtual function (VF) device driver are used to implement usage based VF resizing. The management function periodically queries the SRIOV adapter for activity statistics for every assigned virtual function. The management function builds a usage heuristic based on these statistics and calculates VF resource usage based on these statistics. The usage information determines whether VF resources need to be scaled-up or scaled-down. A corresponding resize event is generated and send by the management function to both the hypervisor based PF device driver and partition based VF device driver. Both the PF and VF device drivers scale to the corresponding VF resource of the resize event.
US09459903B2 Techniques for routing service chain flow packets between virtual machines
Examples may include a host computing platform having a multi-core processor capable of supporting a host operating system and a plurality of virtual machines (VMs). Support may include processing elements or cores for the multi-core processor being capable of separately supporting individual VMs. The individual VMs may be capable of executing separate applications used to process packets for a service chain flow. In some examples, techniques for routing the packets for the service chain flow between the individual VMs may include distributing at least some switch logic between the individual VMs.
US09459898B2 Virtual server processing control method, system, and virtual server processing control management server
Each of hypervisors operates on one of physical servers, and a virtual server operates in accordance with a file image on one of data stores. A management server, when being instructed to execute a task that is configured by a series of steps for a hypervisor on the physical server, gives an instruction for changing the execution place of a step to a temporary execution place and executing the task in a case where there is no restriction on the execution place of the step and instructs a default hypervisor to execute the task in a case where there is a restriction on the execution place of the step.
US09459890B2 Controlling real time during embedded system development
Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, systems, and apparatus that can used to control real-time events (e.g., the real-time clock) during the design, simulation, or verification of an embedded system. In one exemplary embodiment disclosed herein, for example, a real-time clock signal is generated and tasks defined by an embedded software application are triggered with the real-time clock signal. In this embodiment, the embedded software application is executed by an embedded processor with a real-time operating system (“RTOS”), and the real-time clock signal is controllable independent of a processor clock signal driving the embedded processor in a manner that allows the real-time clock to have a different time base than the processor clock.
US09459888B2 Implementing browser based hypertext transfer protocol session storage
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for managing session data. The process determines whether preexisting session data associated with a request for content is present in response to receiving the request. Responsive to an absence of the preexisting session data being associated with the request, the process generates session data associated with the request. The process then generates a response page having a set of forms including a set of hidden fields. The set of hidden fields include the session data. Thereafter, the process sends the response page to a client browser.
US09459887B2 Automatic graphical user interface creation
Techniques for automated graphical user interface (GUI) creation and/or rendering are provided. Establishments are defined via items for sale and rules defining workflow processing for purchasing the items. Each establishment representing a sub hierarchy. A GUI is rendered to represent a custom hierarchy of the sub hierarchies and presented to a user. The user interacts with the GUI to select a specific establishment and perform a specific transaction with that establishment in accordance with that establishment's items for sale and rules.
US09459884B2 Self-healing using an alternate boot partition
Methods, apparatus and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that enable a computer system comprising networked computers to self-heal from a boot failure of one of the computers. In some embodiments, upon detecting a first computer failing to successfully load a first boot image, a second computer configures the first computer to boot a second boot image. Upon power cycling, the first computer loads the second boot image.
US09459883B2 Modifying disk images
A method includes identifying a first boot configuration type for a disk image. The disk image includes a master boot record and a disk partition. The disk partition comprises a volume boot record. The master boot record comprises first instructions for loading an operating system, and the volume boot record comprises second instructions for loading the operating system. The method further includes receiving an input indicative of a second boot configuration type. The method also includes modifying the disk image to use the second boot configuration type to load the operating system by modifying the first instructions and the second instructions.
US09459880B2 Information processing apparatus and output control method
An information processing apparatus includes a BIOS, a setting module, a determination module and a display controller. The setting module sets a display priority order at booting in the BIOS. The determination module determines connection of display units in order of priority based on the display priority order. The display controller performs a shortest waiting operation based on the connection determination and executes a display operation. An information processing apparatus having a screen display output includes a control program, a setting module, a determiner and a display controller. The setting module sets a display priority order at booting in the control program. The determiner determines whether display units are connected, in order of priority based on the display priority order. The display controller performs a shortest waiting operation based on the connection determination and executes a display operation.
US09459879B2 Systems and methods for thermal mitigation with multiple processors
A wireless communication device for thermal mitigation with multiple processors is described. The wireless communication device includes a first communications processor that processes a data call. The wireless communication device also includes a second communications processor coupled to the first communications processor. The first communications processor performs a thermal mitigation operation by sending instructions to the second communications processor when at least one thermal threshold is reached. The second communications processor receives and executes the instructions.
US09459878B2 Verifying forwarding paths in pipelines
A tool for formally verifying forwarding paths in an information pipeline. The tool creates two logic design copies of the pipeline to be verified. The tool retrieves a first and a second instruction, which have previously been proven to compute a mathematically correct result when executed separately. The tool defines driver input functions for issuing instructions to the two logic design copies. In accordance with the driver input functions, the tool issues instructions to the two logic design copies. The tool abstracts data flow of the two logic design copies to isolate forwarding paths for verification. The tool adjusts for latency differences between the first and second logic design copies. The tool checks a register for results, and when results from of two logic design copies become available in the register, the tool verifies the results to conclusively prove the correctness of all states of the information pipeline.
US09459872B2 High-word facility for extending the number of general purpose registers available to instructions
A computer employs a set of General Purpose Registers (GPRs). Each GPR comprises a plurality of portions. Programs such as an Operating System and Applications operating in a Large GPR mode, access the full GPR, however programs such as Applications operating in Small GPR mode, only have access to a portion at a time. Instruction Opcodes, in Small GPR mode, may determine which portion is accessed.
US09459867B2 Instruction to load data up to a specified memory boundary indicated by the instruction
A Load to Block Boundary instruction is provided that loads a variable number of bytes of data into a register while ensuring that a specified memory boundary is not crossed. The boundary may be specified a number of ways, including, but not limited to, a variable value in the instruction text, a fixed instruction text value encoded in the opcode, or a register based boundary.
US09459863B2 System for assessing an application for tablet compatibility and quality
Applications that have been designed for a smaller format device such as a smartphone and simply ported to a larger format device such as a tablet can be discerned from applications designed specifically for the larger format device. An application can be evaluated based on tablet compatibility criteria and can be assigned a tablet compatibility score. The application can be evaluated based on quality criteria and can be assigned a quality score. The compatibility score and the quality score can be used to help find and rate any number of applications.
US09459862B2 Automated porting of application to mobile infrastructures
Techniques to automatically port applications to a mobile infrastructure using code separation with semantic guarantees are disclosed. Porting enterprise applications from to a target architecture another is effected via separating code into constituent layers of the target architecture. To preserve semantics, code transformations are enforced via an abstract syntax tree structure. The generated code may have various code wrappers and/or infrastructure elements so the ported application will operate in the target architecture. Various techniques are disclosed regarding specific code wrappers and/or infrastructure elements to address operating issues including, but not limited to, architectural issues, network latency, framework changes, regulatory issues.
US09459860B2 Mixed mode session management
Systems and methods for managing multiple versions of applications executing on servers in a server pool are provided. A first server executing a first version of an application loads session data associated with a second, different version of the application. An error is detected based on the difference between the first version and the second version. A second server executing the second version of the application is selected by the first server in a server pool comprising one or more servers. The first server transmits a hypertext transfer protocol proxy request to the selected second server, which successfully processes the session data and handles the request without error.
US09459857B2 Managing wear of system areas of storage devices
Techniques are described for managing firmware versions for a storage device. In one example, a storage device includes a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to execute a first version of a firmware, receive information for a second version of a firmware that is different from the first version, determine, based on the information for the second version of the firmware, whether the version of the second version of the firmware is stored in a system area of the memory, responsive to determining that the second version of the firmware is stored in the system area, load the second version of the firmware, responsive to determining that the second version of the firmware is not stored in the system area, store the second version of the firmware in the system area, update an active firmware index, and execute the second version of the firmware.
US09459852B2 Execution control method and information processing apparatus
While a first code, in an object code generated from a source code, for a loop included in the source code or a second code in the object code is executed, a feature amount concerning the number of times that a condition of a conditional branch is true is obtained. The loop includes the conditional branch, and the conditional branch is coded in the first code. The second code is a code to perform computation of a branch destination for a case where the condition of the conditional branch is true, only for loop indices that were extracted as the aforementioned case. Then, a processor executes, based on the feature amount, the second code or a third code included in the object code. The third code is a code to write, by using a predicated instruction and into a memory, any computation result of computations of branch destinations.
US09459850B2 Adaptive cloud aware just-in-time (JIT) compilation
Clients accessing cloud computing services are allocated respective virtual machines, each client specifying defining parameters for its virtual machine(s). A just-in-time compiler executing within a client's virtual machine optimizes the executable code it generates based at least in part, on the defining parameters of the virtual machine. During execution of an application using the just-in-time compiler, the compiler is notified of changes made to the defining parameters of the virtual machine. Responsive to such notification, the just-in-time compiler thereafter optimizes compiled code it generates for execution in the virtual machine as modified.
US09459849B2 Adaptive cloud aware just-in-time (JIT) compilation
Clients accessing cloud computing services are allocated respective virtual machines, each client specifying defining parameters for its virtual machine(s). A just-in-time compiler executing within a client's virtual machine optimizes the executable code it generates based at least in part, on the defining parameters of the virtual machine. During execution of an application using the just-in-time compiler, the compiler is notified of changes made to the defining parameters of the virtual machine. Responsive to such notification, the just-in-time compiler thereafter optimizes compiled code it generates for execution in the virtual machine as modified.
US09459847B2 Multi-sized data types for managed code
Embodiments are directed towards generating applications that include multi-sized types running in managed code. During the compilation of an intermediate language version of an application, if a multi-size type is encountered, a runtime engine may perform actions to process the multi-size types. Accordingly, architecture information associated with the target computer may be determined. Data types corresponding to the architecture of the target computer and the multi-sized types may be determined based on the architecture information. Native code calls associated with an intermediate language code calls may be determined such that the parameters of the native code calls match the architecture dependent data types. And, a machine code version of the intermediate language code call may be generated. The generated machine code version of the intermediate language code may be executed with the data types specific to the target computer.
US09459846B2 User interface style guide compliance
This disclosure provides various embodiments for checking user interfaces' compliance with user style guide rules in connection with a UI development tool. A particular digital UI model is identified in a plurality of digital UI models, each UI model representing attributes of a corresponding software application user interface in a plurality of user interfaces available for access by a UI development tool adapted to modify attributes of user interfaces in the plurality of user interfaces. The particular UI model represents attributes of a particular user interface accessed by the UI development tool. The particular UI model is parsed to determine that at least one attribute of the particular user interface violates at least one UI style guide rule. Results are presented in a user interface of the UI development tool, the presentation indicating that the particular attribute of the particular user interface violates the UI style guide rule.
US09459845B2 Systems and methods for realtime creation and modification of a dynamically responsive media player
Methods and systems for a disabled user compliant video player for an end-to-end streaming web video solution affording accessibility for disabled users, including blind users and those with partial or poor vision, colorblind users, deaf users and those limited to only keyboard/voice input. Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to systems and methods for real-time creation and modification of specialized media players, to be used as stand-alone applications or as embedded data display applications.
US09459842B1 Multivariable transfer functions
In one embodiment, a method for supporting multivariable functions of an application includes receiving user input pertaining to two or more variables associated with a multivariable function of the application, and then causing code for the function to be automatically generated to update the variables based on the user input.
US09459841B2 Automated call center software build generator
A call center (CC) generator includes generator software (GSW) executing on a computerized appliance from a machine-readable physical medium, an input interface for receiving a CC configuration, access to a data repository storing CC software components, a function relating configuration parameters to individual ones of the stored CC software components, and an output interface for delivering a CC SW suite. The CC generator, executing the GSW, considers the CC configuration, applies the relating function, selects CC software components to copy from the data repository, and builds the CC SW suite for output.
US09459839B2 Systems and methods to synchronize artifact relationships across a plurality of repositories
Systems and methods synchronize artifact relationships across a plurality of repositories. One example method includes mapping a first relationship of a first relationship type between a first source artifact in a first repository and a second source artifact to a second relationship of a second relationship type between a first target artifact in a second repository and a second target artifact according to a relationship mapping provided by a schema mapping guide. One example system includes a repository synchronizer to synchronize artifact relationship across at least first and second repositories. The repository synchronizer can include at least one processor. The example system can further include one or more schema mapping guides that provide one or more relationship mappings between the first and second repositories.
US09459838B2 Path driven programming method and programming tool
A cloud servicing system is provided to support a consumer for interactively programming a programmable product such as programmable toys or home security system. A consumer friendly path driven programming method is introduced to supplement the servicing cloud and support the new world of intelligent home and consumer programmable applications. The system may comprise a consumer programmed smart phone/touch pad as well as proprietary smart phone circuit.
US09459837B2 Interface for a computer platform
A programming interface for a computer platform can include various functionality. In certain embodiments, the programming interface includes one or more of a first group of services related to re-usable user interface controls, a second group of services related to user interface dialogs and user interface wizards, a third group of services related to extending the user interface functionality, and a fourth group of services related to extending functionality of a desktop of the user interface.
US09459836B2 Simplified inversionless berlekamp-massey algorithm for binary BCH code and circuit implementing therefor
A simplified inversionless Berlekamp-Massey algorithm for binary BCH codes and circuit implementing the method are disclosed. The circuit includes a first register group, a second register group, a control element, an input element and a processing element. By breaking the completeness of math structure of the existing simplified inversionless Berlekamp-Massey algorithm, the amount of registers used can be reduced by two compared with conventional algorithm. Hardware complexity and operation time can be reduced.
US09459831B2 Fast computation of products by dyadic fractions with sign-symmetric rounding errors
A product of an integer value and an irrational value may be determined by a sign-symmetric algorithm. A process may determine possible algorithms that minimize metrics such as mean asymmetry, mean error, variance of error, and magnitude of error. Given an integer variable x and rational dyadic constants that approximate the irrational fraction, a series of intermediate values may be produced that are sign-symmetric. The intermediate values may include a sequence of addition, subtraction and right shift operations the when summed together approximate the product of the integer and irrational value. Other operations, such as additions or subtractions of 0s or shifts by 0 bits may be removed.
US09459823B2 Printing device, mobile terminal, and computer readable recording medium for the same
A printing device includes a printing device side wireless communication unit configured to execute wireless communication with a mobile terminal, an operation acquisition unit configured to acquire user operation thereof, and a processor. The processor is configured to acquire operation data which is generated as the operation acquisition unit acquires a user operation, acquire establishment data which is generated as the printing device side wireless communication unit establishes a wireless communication with the mobile terminal, and issue a request control to control the printing device side wireless communication unit to transmit request data requesting the mobile terminal to transmit print data necessary for printing, via the wireless communication, when the establishment data is acquired, the request control being issued in accordance with the operation data as acquired.
US09459822B2 System and method of mobile printing using near field communication
A method of mobile printing using near field communication (NFC) includes executing a mobile printing application installed in a mobile device; setting a wireless connection for data transmission between the mobile device and an image forming apparatus by performing NFC tagging on the image forming apparatus with the mobile device; and automatically performing a function corresponding to a status of the mobile printing application when NFC tagging is performed.
US09459821B2 Interface between output device and tracking computer
Methods and systems are described for tracking usage of an output device that is one of a printer, a copier, a fax machine, a scanner, or a multi-function device. According to one embodiment, the output device is connected to a network element that is also separately connected to a network. A tracker computer is also connected to the network. The network element receives status updates from the output device periodically. The network element receives a tracker query from the tracker computer. In response, the network element interprets the last status update and generates a tracker response including an interpreted status of the output device, and transmits the tracker response to the tracker computer. In some embodiments, the network element also allows a user of the output device to identify themselves and pay for their output device usage. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US09459820B2 Display processing apparatus, display processing method, and computer program product
A first acquiring unit acquires a background image being an image of a usage environment in which a printed material is used, a lighting image of a lighting installed in the usage environment, and light source information indicating an optical attribute in the usage environment. A second acquiring unit acquires print data. A display control unit displays a preview image on a display unit, where the preview image is an image in which a printed material image is superimposed on the background image, and the printed material image is an image in which the lighting image is mapped by environment mapping onto a print-image display surface generated based on the print data and in which the optical attribute specified by the light source information is set.
US09459817B2 Recording control system, control method of a recording control system, and recording device
Using the ability to print according to a template, a recording device adds value to the printed output. A printer in a recording control system stores area definition data defining areas in each of a plurality of templates composed of one or more printing areas. When a control command is received from a host computer, the printer records images in areas of a template based on the area definition data of the areas in the specified template. To record images related to a particular product with the printer, the host computer gets product information related to the product, and generates and sends a control command to convert and record information related to a specific area in the template based on the product information.
US09459816B2 Information processing apparatus, method, computer-readable storage medium, and information processing system
An information processing apparatus obtains a notification item regarding the status of a processing apparatus that executes predetermined processing. The information processing apparatus notifies an external apparatus of one or a plurality of messages so as to, when the number of notification items obtained within a predetermined time is equal to or smaller than a predetermined number, notify a plurality of messages corresponding to the plurality of notification items, and when the number of notification items exceeds the predetermined number, notify one message based on the contents of at least some items out of the plurality of notification items.
US09459809B1 Optimizing data location in data storage arrays
A technique is used for optimizing data location in data storage arrays. A primary storage array is associated with a secondary storage array, the primary storage array and secondary storage array including auto-tiering functionality, where the secondary storage array is configured as a backup storage array for the primary storage array. Tiering metadata is derived for a storage object stored on the primary storage array. The tiering metadata is transmitted to the secondary storage array. Auto-tiering is initiated at the secondary storage array, where the received tiering metadata is provided as input to the secondary storage array's auto-tiering function when auto-tiering replicated storage object associated with the tiering metadata.
US09459808B2 Automatically preventing large block writes from starving small block writes in a storage device
A mechanism is provided in a storage device for performing a write operation. The mechanism configures a write buffer memory with a plurality of write buffer portions. Each write buffer portion is dedicated to a predetermined block size category within a plurality of block size categories. For each write operation from an initiator, the mechanism determines a block size category of the write operation. The mechanism performs each write operation by writing to a write buffer portion within the plurality of write buffer portions corresponding to the block size category of the write operation.
US09459799B1 Identifying problematic application workloads based on associated response times
Described are techniques that identify problematic workloads. Measured response times for workloads associated applications are received. Each of the applications has one of the workloads resulting in one of the measured response times for the application. The applications share a set of one or more resources. In accordance with a first set of one or more criteria, it is determined whether there is an occurrence of abnormal performance with respect to performance of the applications. Responsive to determining the occurrence of abnormal performance with respect to performance of the applications, second processing is performed that includes determining, using the measured response times and in accordance with a second set of one or more criteria, an application set of one or more of the applications having an associated workload causing the occurrence of abnormal performance. A remediation may also be taken to address or alleviate the abnormal performance.
US09459798B2 Data processing system and data processing method
Embodiments of the present invention provide a data processing system and a data processing method. An MMIO address of a data request is obtained, where data stored in a PCIe storage device can be directly obtained from the MMIO address, and according to the MMIO address, a network adapter can directly read the data from the PCIe storage device of the data processing system, and transmit the data to a second data processing system, or directly write the data received from the second data processing system into the PCIe storage device. Therefore, the processing system can implement transmitting data directly from the PCIe storage device to the network adapter without using memory. During data transmission between the two data processing systems, a usage ratio of a resource, such as memory and a CPU, is reduced, and efficiency of data transmission is improved.
US09459796B2 Ordering logical units in a subgroup of a consistency group
Embodiments relate to method and computer program products which prioritize the logical units in a subgroup. Thereafter, in case of abnormal operation of the process for copying the consistency group from primary storage to secondary storage, low priority logical units of the subgroups of the consistency group are not copied from primary storage to secondary storage.
US09459795B2 Ergonomic motion detection for receiving character input to electronic devices
Sliding and non-sliding touch input to an electronic device may be selected so that the motions associated with a character to input are intuitive and thus easy to remember. The motions for the contacts of the touch input may be selected ergonomically in a way enabling touch-typing, thus increasing user comfort for longer periods of use. Multiple repositionable finger contact regions are maintained on a contact surface in an arrangement that is easily accessible for the user's fingertips. Each available input character is associated with a unique finger contact or set of simultaneously-entered contacts, each contact being either sliding or non-sliding contact, and the sliding contacts having a direction associated with the character. One example touch surface is a touch screen. Another example touch surface is the table upon which the electronic device sets and thus separate from the electronic device and freeing space on the device for other use.
US09459790B2 Method and apparatus for controlling dot rendering on a touch screen
A method and apparatus for controlling dot rendering for a touch screen. The method and apparatus receives indicia of pressure on the touch screen, where the pressure indicia represents an amount of force applied to the touch screen. From the indicia, the method and apparatus computes a dot size and renders a dot having the computed dot size on the touch screen.
US09459785B2 Electronic device and contents generation method thereof
An electronic device and a contents generation method thereof are provided. A first mode and a second mode are provided. In the first mode, a position of at least one object is determined in response to depth information of the at least one object and the at least one object is displayed at the determined position. In the second mode, contents including the at least one object are displayed as a stereoscopic image. Conversion between the first mode and the second mode is controlled on the basis of a motion of the electronic device.