| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09467609B2 |
Machine vision inspection systems and methods and aperture covers for use therewith
Machine vision inspection systems and methods for inspecting objects, such as objects with shiny surfaces, as well as illuminators with aperture covers for use therewith. Use of such an aperture cover eliminates the void (dark spot) in the illumination field that inherently results from the presence of an aperture through which an associated camera views an object to be inspected. |
| US09467608B2 |
Auxiliary lens for mobile photography
An auxiliary optical assembly for a camera-enabled mobile device includes a removable lens assembly including a lens holder, a lens coupled to the lens holder, and a coupling interface. A lens attachment interface that is configured to stably couple to the mobile device, and that is configured in accordance with the coupling interface of the removable lens assembly to stably couple and align the removable lens along the optical path of the miniature camera module. |
| US09467606B2 |
Wafer level stepped sensor holder
An apparatus includes an image sensor that is bonded to a spacer. The spacer has a thinned wall that defines a step and a recess in an interior wall at a first end of the spacer. The image sensor is bonded to the step within the recess of the spacer such that the image sensor is accepted completely within the recess of the spacer. A glass wafer is mounted on a second end of the spacer. A lens is mounted on the glass wafer such that light is to be directed through the lens to the image sensor. |
| US09467605B2 |
Shutter for thermal imaging camera
Various embodiments of shutters for thermal imaging cameras, cameras comprising such shutters, and methods for providing such shutters are disclosed. The shutter may include a substrate with various layers and components thereon, such as a temperature sensor. The shutter may resemble a printed circuit board (PCB), utilizing efficient, cost-effective materials and methods known in the art. |
| US09467602B2 |
Control terminal, imaging system, control method, and non-transitory medium saving program for controlling a target terminal responsive to detection of a predetermined state of an object or a predetermined motion of the object
A control terminal includes: an imaging unit configured to capture an image of a shooting area and to generate a first image; a shielding object detecting unit configured to detect a shielding object fixed to the control terminal, the shielding object shielding part of the shooting area; an operation detecting unit configured to detect a predetermined state of an object other than the shielding object or a predetermined motion of the object based on a second image, which is an image of at least an area based on an image of the shielding object in the first image, after the shielding object has been detected; and an output unit configured to output a control signal to a control target terminal when the predetermined state of the object or the predetermined motion of the object is detected. |
| US09467600B2 |
Device for video filming of a subject
A device (1) for video filming of a subject comprising at least a rod (3), a support (2) for the rod (3), an anchoring element (6) of the support (2) to the subject to be filmed, means (7) for a rotary jointing of the support (2) to the anchoring element (6), a first and at least a second TV camera (4,5) supported by the rod (3) on opposite sides with respect to the rotation axis of the support (2). |
| US09467599B2 |
Video processing method, video processing circuit, liquid crystal display, and electronic apparatus
A video processing circuit detects a risk boundary, which a portion of the boundary between a dark pixel and a bright pixel in an image represented by a video signal Vid-in, and is determined by a tilt azimuth of liquid crystal molecules, from the boundary, and corrects a video signal corresponding to at least one of the dark pixel and the bright pixel which is contiguous to the detected risk boundary in at least one field of a plurality of fields constituting one frame such that a period in which the risk boundary is present in one frame period is shortened. |
| US09467596B2 |
Image-processing apparatus, image-processing method, and computer program product
An image-processing apparatus includes a correlation coefficient calculating unit that generates two-dimensional distribution of color information of color image data on a two-dimensional plane in a three-dimensional color space and calculates a correlation coefficient related to the two-dimensional distribution, and a correlation coefficient determining unit that determines the color image data as color convertible image data based on the correlation coefficient. |
| US09467594B2 |
Communication apparatus that specifies network, control method therefor and storage medium
A communication apparatus enabling a user to easily specify a network for communication. A communication apparatus, to which a telephone is adapted to be connected, is capable of communicating with a plurality of networks. A dial tone output unit outputs, when off-hook of the telephone is detected, a dial tone to the telephone in accordance with dial tone setting information includes a dial tone, to be output to the telephone, which is based on whether a connection to the networks is available. A detection unit detects, when the dial tone is output to the telephone by the dial tone output unit, input contents. A storage unit stores registration information, used for identifying one network from among the plurality of networks based on the detected contents. An identification unit identifies a network for communication including a communication destination based on the detected contents, in accordance with the registration information. |
| US09467592B2 |
Facsimile machine, non-transitory computer readable medium, and facsimile communication method for sorting image data received into storage destinations
A facsimile machine includes an image data receiving unit, a transmitting subscriber identification receiving unit, and a sorting unit. The image data receiving unit receives image data transmitted from a transmitting facsimile machine. The transmitting subscriber identification receiving unit receives transmitting subscriber identification specified as an arbitrary signal in a Group 3 standard and transmitted from the transmitting facsimile machine. The sorting unit sorts the image data received by the image data receiving unit into at least one of plural storage destinations on the basis of the transmitting subscriber identification received by the transmitting subscriber identification receiving unit and one or more predetermined sorting conditions. |
| US09467590B2 |
Image processing system, device, and method that deletes or prohibits reading of destination information
An information terminal device which is an image receiving device receiving image data from a multifunction device which is an image processing device transmits setting information such as resolution, color/monochrome setting and data format for generating image data to be received, and destination information of the information terminal device itself to the multifunction device, as a profile. The multifunction device receives the profile, generates image data of an image read based on the setting information of the received profile when scanning is executed, and automatically transmits the image data to the information terminal device based on the destination information of the profile. |
| US09467589B2 |
Display input apparatus and computer-readable non-transitory recording medium with display input control program recorded thereon
A display input apparatus includes a display section, a touch panel, a gesture acceptance section, a display control section, a job generating section, a communication section, and a communication control section. The job generating section is configured to, when a slide gesture in a predetermined first direction is made on a candidate image, generate an image formation job based on a piece of data represented by the candidate image. The display control section is configured to, when the slide gesture in the first direction is made on the candidate image, allow the display section to display a pending image indicating a piece of data pending on an image forming apparatus and thereafter, when the communication section receives a report indicating a completion of the image formation job, allow the display section to eliminate the display of the pending image. |
| US09467588B2 |
Server and method for the same
A server is provided that includes a connection establishing unit configured to establish a connection with an intended image processing device, an information acquiring unit configured to acquire user information for identifying a user who requests to establish the connection with the intended image processing device, a storage unit configured to store the user information acquired by the information acquiring unit, in association with the intended image processing device, and a changing unit configured to change a setting for each image processing device belonging to a group that includes image processing devices stored in the storage unit in association with user information identical to the acquired user information. |
| US09467586B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus which can control to turn on/off a light emitting element depending on a sheet state on a manual sheet tray is provided. The image forming apparatus includes the manual feed tray on which the sheet is placed. The image forming apparatus is configured to be switchable between normal power mode and power saving mode. In the normal power mode, normal power is supplied. In the power saving mode, less power is consumed as compared to the power consumed in the normal power mode. The image forming apparatus includes a manual sheet feeding sensor which detects presence/absence of the sheet on the manual feed tray. The image forming apparatus includes a sheet length sensor S and a sheet length sensor L which include the light emitting element and a light receiving element to detect approximate sheet length of sheet placed on the manual feed tray in a conveying direction. |
| US09467585B2 |
Print apparatus and method having control until that cancels print processing depending upon authentication mode
It is determined that the multi-function peripheral operates according to a first mode in which user authentication is available and department authentication is not available or operates according to a second mode in which both of the user authentication and department authentication are available. In a case that the multi-function peripheral operates according to the first mode, user authentication information is transmitted to the multi-function peripheral. In a case that the multi-function peripheral operates according to the second mode, authentication information is transmitted to the multi-function peripheral. The authentication information is used to causing the multi-function peripheral to perform selection authentication before performing a job. The selection authentication is one selected from the user authentication and department authentication by a user. |
| US09467582B2 |
Information processing apparatus, data generating apparatus, information processing method, and information processing system
An information processing apparatus includes: a reception unit configured to receive a start request transmitted from an external apparatus; a time processing unit configured to obtain a time of receipt when the reception unit receives the start request and to give a time stamp to first data; and a transmission unit configured to transmit the time of receipt obtained by the time processing unit to the external apparatus, to transmit to the external apparatus the first data generated after the time of receipt and given the time stamp by the time processing unit, and to in real-time transmit second data generated after the time of receipt to the external apparatus. |
| US09467580B2 |
Multiple job submission from local user interface
A multifunction device (MFD) includes a control system and a plurality of associated local user interfaces including a first local user interface in communication with the control system for user selection of a selected one of a first group of mutually exclusive operations under the control of the control system and a second local user interface in communication with the control system for user selection of a selected one of a second group of mutually exclusive operations, different from the first group of operations, which are under the control of the control system. The device optionally includes a third local interface in communication with the control system, which serves as an interface between the first and second local user interfaces and the control system. |
| US09467575B2 |
System and process for selective metering of data usage for a wireless network
A device, system, and process of metering data usage of a wireless device includes receiving a request for data usage of a web resource by the wireless device, determining if the web resource corresponds to at least one entry in a database, allowing access to the web resource by the wireless device, and tracking data usage of the web resource by the wireless device. The metering data usage of the web resource by the wireless device based on information contained in the database and the metering data usage of the web resource by the wireless device further includes not metering all data usage with respect to a user's plan if the database indicates the web resource is associated with specialized metering parameters. |
| US09467572B2 |
Determining usage predictions and detecting anomalous user activity through traffic patterns
A system for selecting and monitoring data plans for telecommunications systems, and methods of determining, learning and estimating usage patterns in-order to predict usage and tie this to cost and the overlaying of plan selection for cost optimization. Further, additional methods are applied to determine anomalous user behaviors and raise security and data leakage related events. |
| US09467571B2 |
Echo removal
Echo removal techniques are described. An echo path of the echo in a received audio signal is modelled using a first model to determine a first model estimate of the echo. The first model estimate is used to determine a first performance value according to a performance metric. The first performance value is compared with a threshold value. It is determined if the echo path can be deemed linear based on the comparison. If so, the first model estimate of the echo is used to remove the echo in the received audio signal. Otherwise, the echo path of the echo is switched to be modelled using a second model to determine a second model estimate of the echo, and the second model estimate of the echo is used to remove the echo in the received audio signal. |
| US09467570B2 |
Call transfer with network spanning back-to-back user agents
A communication system, method, and components are described. Specifically, a communication system having the ability to facilitate call transfer across a Session Border Controller (SBC) is provided. The transfer is facilitated by an intelligent mapping process performed at the SBC on one or more messages transmitted during a call transfer. |
| US09467569B2 |
Methods and apparatus for reducing audio conference noise using voice quality measures
Methods and apparatus for monitoring audio quality and controlling noise in telephone conferences. In one example, voice activity detection processing is implemented based on the energy in the audio signal of each channel and the zero crossing rate of the audio signal to differentiate noise from speech. Certain examples further include the use of a voice quality index and activity timer to determine audio quality. |
| US09467567B1 |
System, method, and computer program for proactive customer care utilizing predictive models
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for proactive customer care utilizing predictive models. In use, historical data associated with a plurality of customers of a service provider is identified. Further, at least one first predictive model is generated based on the historical data associated with the plurality of customers, the at least one first predictive model indicating a propensity of each of the plurality of customers to call a call center associated with the service provider. Additionally, a portion of the plurality of customers are proactively notified based on call propensity information associated with the at least one first predictive model, in response to identifying at least one customer issue associated with the plurality of customers, the portion of the plurality of customers including customers identified as persuadable customers based on the at least one first predictive model. Furthermore, a behavior of the plurality of customers is monitored. In addition, at least one second predictive model is generated, based at least in part on the behavior of the plurality of customers. |
| US09467566B2 |
System and method for maximizing efficiency of call transfer speed
A system and method for maximizing efficiency of call transfer from being between a customer and a dialing agent, to being between the customer and a talker is provided. The method contains the steps of: entering a dialing agent and a talker into a campaign to maintain direct communication with the dialing agent and with the talker; calling a customer via use of a dialing agent device; receiving from the dialing agent a request to transfer a connected customer from communicating with the dialing agent to communicating with a talker; and after receiving the request to transfer, transmitting an identification of a customer record associated with the connected customer to a talker computer for identifying the customer record, where the customer record has been previously stored on the talker computer prior to receiving the request to transfer. |
| US09467565B2 |
Supervisory communication system
A method may include identifying diverse applications associated with supervision of agent work stations. The method may include generating a unified view interface based on supervisory communications associated with the diverse applications and receiving a request for the unified view interface from a supervisory interface device. The method may include exporting the unified view interface to the supervisory interface device. The method may further include receiving notifications associated with the diverse applications, and sending the notifications to the supervisory interface device. |
| US09467555B2 |
Mobile terminal apparatus
A mobile terminal apparatus includes: a microphone; a switch control unit, which switches between a normal mode, in which a voice uttered toward the microphone is transmitted to an intended party, and a mute mode, in which the voice is not transmitted to the intended party; and a proximity sensor, which detects whether a detection object is in proximity to the proximity sensor, wherein, while the mute mode is being executed, if the detection object is detected by the proximity sensor, the switch control unit switches to the normal mode. |
| US09467553B2 |
Mobile terminal and method of controlling the same
Provided is a mobile terminal including a main body, a sensing unit that senses wearing of the main body, movement information on a wearer, and a biological signal of the wearer, a user input unit into which a control command is input for activating either a recording mode or a control mode when the wearing of the main body is sensed, and a controller that, in the recording mode, records the movement information and the biological signal in a specific situation and stores a movement pattern that occurs in the specific situation and which, in the control mode, senses the movement information and the biological signal and when the already-stored movement pattern in the specific situation that corresponds to the movement information and the biological signal that are sensed is detected, provides a control command corresponding to the detected movement pattern to a connected external device. |
| US09467549B2 |
External apparatus, communication apparatus, and control method therefor
An external apparatus which is controlled by a communication apparatus, comprises a control unit configured to execute functions corresponding to operation information received from the communication apparatus, a changing unit configured to change the operation information that are assigned in every function, wherein the operation information is changed by the changing unit each time connection to the communication apparatus is established, and a transmission unit configured to transmit the changed operation information that are assigned in every function to the communication apparatus together with decryption information for the changed operation information that is encrypted. |
| US09467533B2 |
System and method for developing real-time web-service objects
A system and method for developing real-time web-service objects. The method includes providing a client-side application running on a connected device. The client-side application executes Webpage definition files having a composite Web-service objects, including a first and second composite Web-service objects where each of the object has been associatively linked to a data service from a data source. The method includes receiving, during runtime of the client-side application, a first updated data content from the data source. The method includes caching the first updated data content in memory and, upon receiving a second updated data content, retrieving the first updated data content from memory and updating the composite Web-service objects of the Webpage definition files using the first and second update data contents. |
| US09467532B2 |
Server, arithmatic processing method, and arithmatic processing system
A computing method is provided which includes calling a general purpose graphics processing subroutine for execution of a target program by a client; sending a program code and resource data for execution of the target program to a server by the client; and executing the program code using a general purpose graphics processing unit by the server. |
| US09467531B1 |
Method and system for integration of user-generated content with social media content management system
A method and a social media content management system (SCMS) (104) to manage user-generated content across one or more social media networks are disclosed. The SCMS (104) comprises a specialized computer system coupled with the communication network (102). The specialized computer system generates a user-generated content (UGC) uploader based on uploader preference. The UGC uploader enables a pre-authorized user to send user-generated content for a customer associated with the SCMS (104). The pre-authorized user has an established trust relationship with the customer such that the pre-authorized user is allowed to send the user-generated content for the customer. Thereafter, the specialized computer system sends the UCG uploader to the pre-authorized user and receives the user-generated content send by the pre-authorized user. The SCMS (104) also includes a database coupled with the specialized computer system to store the user-generated content such that the user-generated content is accessible to the customer. |
| US09467526B2 |
Network communication using intermediation processor
Cooperative interaction of a message processor and an intermediation processor. The message processor processes messages received from a network and to be sent over a network. The intermediation processor intermediates between the message processor and the network using a shared memory that includes a memory portion that is within the address space of the message processor. The message processor writes messages into the memory portion over a physical channel and reads message from the memory portion over the physical channel. The intermediation processor provides messages received from a network into the memory portion so that the received messages can be read by the message processor over the physical channel. The intermediation processor dispatches messages written to the memory portion by the message processor over the network. |
| US09467523B2 |
Small footprint node controller core in a grid communications system
A grid communication system provides distributed processing of business workflows. Each node has a core with a small footprint which provides control of business process and data flow and synchronization. The node controller communicates with applications and with other nodes through the use of messages. Messages are processed by the node controller according to a set of rules. The rules reside in a versioned repository. The rules may be set or modified through the use of messages from other nodes, allowing for enterprise control of individual nodes. The node controller includes a plurality of adapters for converting data and/or messages to and from formats for different applications. |
| US09467516B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing resource
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method for managing a resource using an apparatus for managing a resource is provided. The apparatus for managing a resource generates a first instance for a first community using a first ontology class about communities including at least one resource as a member according to a goal. The apparatus for managing a resource generates a second instance for a first resource using a second ontology class about resources. Further, the apparatus for managing a resource estimates a relation between the first instance and the second instance. |
| US09467515B1 |
Methods and systems for sending contextual content to connected vehicles and configurable interaction modes for vehicle interfaces
Methods and systems are provided. One method includes receiving, at a server, a geo-location of a vehicle. The method further includes receiving from time to time, at the server, vehicle condition. The method includes identifying a user account for the vehicle. The user account includes preferences associated with a profile of a user. The method also includes sending data to the vehicle. The data is for presentation on a display screen or output via an audio system of the vehicle. The data is selected based on a context of the geo-location and the vehicle condition or the preferences associated with the profile of the user. Interaction modes can be used to define what information is displayed and when information is provided to the display screen. |
| US09467513B2 |
Method and apparatus for web based storage on-demand
The operation efficiency of a large scale distributed computing system in a world wide web environment is critical to any enterprises, ISP, or ASP due to a larger number of individual computing units in the distributed computing system are required to be operated. A multi-layered server structure with deployment of middle level control server for the distributed computing system of this invention can lead to a more secure and efficient computing environment for managing and access the larger number of computing units in the distributed computing system due to the middle level control server can effectively shared the burden of controlling the larger number of the computing units from a centralized control server of the distributed computing system. |
| US09467512B2 |
Techniques for remote client access to a storage medium coupled with a server
Examples include client access to a storage medium coupled with a server. A network input/output device for the server receives a remote direct memory access (RDMA) command including a steering tag (S-Tag) from a client remote to the server. For these examples, the network input/output device forwards the RDMA command to a Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) controller and access is provided to a storage medium based on an allocation scheme that assigned the S-Tag to the storage medium. In some other examples, an NVMe controller generates a memory mapping of one or more storage devices controlled by the NVMe controller to addresses for a base address register (BAR) on a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) bus. PCIe memory access commands received by the NVMe controller are translated based on the memory mapping to provide access to the storage device. |
| US09467510B2 |
Methods, devices and systems enabling a secure and authorized induction of a node into a group of nodes in a distributed computing environment
A messaging model and node induction methods and corresponding devices and systems are disclosed herein that are effective to enable an inductor node to induct an inductee node into a distributed computing system and to enable the inducted node to carry out predetermined tasks. |
| US09467508B2 |
Method and system for sending trigger message to MTC UE, and MTC UE
The disclosure discloses a method for sending trigger message to a Machine Type Communication (MTC) User Equipment (UE), including that: an MTC server sends the trigger message to an MTC InterWorking Function (MTC-IWF); the MTC-IWF packages the trigger message as a short message, and sends the short message to a serving node of the MTC UE via an interface T5; and after receiving the trigger message sent by the MTC-IWF via the short message, the serving node sends the MTC UE the trigger message via control signalling or a short message. The disclosure further discloses a system for sending the trigger message, and an MTC UE. With the disclosure, the trigger message can be sent to the MTC UE via an interface T5. |
| US09467504B2 |
Techniques and systems for supporting podcasting
Improved podcasts and techniques that facilitate their use are disclosed. The improved techniques can pertain to creating, publishing, hosting, accessing, subscribing, managing, transferring, and/or playing podcasts. According to one aspect, a client application can subscribe to podcasts and then automatically monitor the podcasts for updates to be downloaded. In the event that user interest in a podcast becomes inadequate, downloading of further updates can be restricted. According to another aspect, a podcast can be subscribed to through use of a portable subscription file. According to still another aspect, podcast feeds can be enhanced to include segment elements and other metadata. |
| US09467502B2 |
Method, client and cloud server for realizing complex software service
A method, client, cloud server, and system for realizing complex software services are provided. The method includes: after receiving software service information required by a user to be provided, a client sending a request to a cloud server, wherein, the request carries the software service information required by the user to be provided; and after receiving the request, the cloud server selecting a corresponding cloud-end functional module to interact with the client according to the software service information required by the user to be provided, and providing the software service for the user. The embodiment of the present document solves the contradiction between software user demand and software user purchasing power, and the user can enjoy more abundant, powerful, steady and secure software and hardware resource services. |
| US09467498B2 |
Remote automated updates for an application
In one embodiment, a method updates a media program streaming application. The method includes running an update application to determine when the streaming application on the computing device needs to be updated based on update information from a remote server and reviewing the update information to determine when the media program streaming application needs to be updated. When the media program streaming application needs to be updated, the method loads a set of updateable core files in a plurality of updateable core files from a core memory into an application execution memory. Then, the method sends a request for a set of remote core files to the remote server, receives the set of remote core files, and loads the set of remote core files into the application execution memory. The set of updateable core files and the set of remote core files in the application execution memory are executed. |
| US09467497B2 |
Image forming device and web application system
An image forming device having a function of a web server receives a data transmission request relating to a first web page from an external device; and transmits first data (including a first script for automatically transmitting a periodic request (first periodic request) from a browser of the external device to the web server) to the external device in response to the data transmission request. The image forming device transmits second data (including a second script for automatically transmitting a periodic request (second periodic request) from the browser to the web server while the second web page is being displayed) to the external device in response to a new page call command transmitted from the external device, the new page call command being for calling the second web page from the first web page. |
| US09467495B2 |
Transferring assets via a server-based clipboard
Systems and methods are provided for transferring assets via a server-based clipboard. In one embodiment, an asset is stored on a server system. The asset is transmitted to the server system from a first application in response to a first input to the first application from an input device. A request for the asset is received from a second application in response to a second input to the second application from the input device. The second application is different from the first application. A rendering attribute is identified for the asset. The rendering attribute has a first value that is specific to rendering the asset via the first application. The rendering attribute is modified to have a second value that is specific to rendering the asset via the second application. The asset is provided with the rendering attribute having the second value specific to the second application. |
| US09467493B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing streaming content
A method and apparatus for an adaptive Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) streaming service using metadata of content are provided. The metadata may include one or more BaseURL elements. Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) of segments forming media may be generated based on the BaseURL elements. Additionally, a URL of a segment may be generated by mapping a BaseURL element among the BaseURL elements to a sourceURL attribute of the segment. Segments indicated by generated URLs may be identical to each other. |
| US09467484B2 |
Transmission management system, transmission system, and transmission management system program
A management system receives, when a state of a terminal is changed based on control by another management system, state information after change that indicates the state after the change from the another management system. Consequently, there is an effect that, even if control associated with communication is executed by the another management system, the management system can control the state of the terminal based on the received state information after change. |
| US09467481B2 |
Multi-access gateway for direct to residence communication services
Different residences can be communicatively linked to a communication backbone via a multi-access gateway, where each residence comprises an adapter through which a set of IP devices directly connect to the multi-access gateway via IPSec compliant communication channels. The multi-access gateway can connect each of the IP devices to remotely located resources. Telecommunication services can be provided to the IP devices in the residences for fees. The multi-access gateway can controls specifics of the telecommunication services, which can include emergency (e.g., 911) services, home control services, and residential administration services. Any of the telecommunication services can be initiated, modified, or terminated by a carrier maintaining the multi-access gateway on a per residence basis for any of the different residences. |
| US09467479B2 |
User aliases in a communication system
A technique is disclosed in the context of a communications system whereby parties accessible through the system may be referenced by multiple alternative symbolic names. User profile information for a given party may be maintained in the system to control features and routing behavior in response to session request involving the party. By virtue of a mapping capability, one or more symbolic names may be associated with the same user profile information. A session request involving any of the alternative names for a party will evoke the same user profile. |
| US09467477B2 |
Method and system for automatically managing secrets in multiple data security jurisdiction zones
Data security jurisdiction zones are identified and data security policy data for the data security jurisdiction zones is obtained. The data security policy data for the data security jurisdiction zones is then automatically analyzed to determine allowed secrets data with respect to each of the identified data security jurisdiction zones. The allowed secrets data with respect to each of the data security jurisdiction zones is then automatically obtained and provided to resources in the respective data security jurisdiction zones, either from a central secrets data store or from an allowed secrets data store associated with each data security jurisdiction zone. |
| US09467475B2 |
Secure mobile framework
Systems and methods for a secure mobile framework to securely connect applications running on mobile devices to services within an enterprise are provided. Various embodiments provide mechanisms of securitizing data and communication between mobile devices and end point services accessed from a gateway of responsible authorization, authentication, anomaly detection, fraud detection, and policy management. Some embodiments provide for the integration of server and client side security mechanisms, binding of a user/application/device to an endpoint service along with multiple encryption mechanisms. For example, the secure mobile framework provides a secure container on the mobile device, secure files, a virtual file system partition, a multiple level authentication approach (e.g., to access a secure container on the mobile device and to access enterprise services), and a server side fraud detection system. |
| US09467472B2 |
Controlling access to a software application
A method for controlling access to a software application includes generating a policy machine template based on at least one role and at least one permission for an operator, generating a policy machine based on the operator and at least one object associated with the operator, and maintaining at least one logical link between the policy machine template and the policy machine. The policy machine is an access control framework permitting directed acyclic graph relationships between objects, and the policy machine controls access to the software application. |
| US09467466B2 |
Certification of correct behavior of cloud services using shadow rank
Determining potential harm associated with a network endpoint external to an enterprise includes receiving information about a network-based communication by a resource of the enterprise directed to the network endpoint external to the enterprise, and calculating a plurality of individual scores related to a risk associated with the network-based communication, wherein each individual score corresponds to a different category of risk. The determination also includes receiving data specifying a policy related to rules defined by the enterprise regarding usage of cloud services; calculating a composite risk score related to the network-based communication, wherein the composite risk score is based on the individual scores and the policy; and notifying an entity of the enterprise about the composite risk score. |
| US09467460B1 |
Modularized database architecture using vertical partitioning for a state machine
A modularized architecture using vertical partitioning of a database is configured to store object metadata and processing results of one or more objects analyzed by a state machine, such as an analysis engine of a malware detection system. The database may include a plurality of data structures, such as one or more master blocks, state sub-blocks, and state co-tables, as well as state transition queues. The modularized architecture may organize the database as one or more stages of a state machine, wherein each stage includes a state sub-block, a state co-table and a state transition queue. The modularized architecture may further organize the database such that each stage corresponds to an action, i.e., module, of the state machine on the object. The module may process the data structures of its corresponding stage such that a state sub-block receives information from its state transition queue, wherein the module generates results that are stored in its associated state co-table, which then provides information for a next stage. |
| US09467457B2 |
Identity management and authentication system for resource access
A system that authorizes access to a resource by a client validates the client and generates a Security Assertion Markup Language (“SAML”) assertion for the valid client. The system then sends an access request with the SAML assertion to a OAuth server. In response, the OAuth server returns an access token for the resource to the client. |
| US09467454B2 |
Systems and methods for network filtering in VPN
Described are systems and methods for managing network packet traffic between a client device and an enterprise server. A list of enterprise-authorized applications is maintained. Data packets, such as TCP and UDP data packets, communicated from applications running on the device are analyzed to determine an originating application corresponding to each packet. The originating application is compared to the list of authorized applications, and a VPN tunnel is created for the packet to access the enterprise server if the corresponding originating application is an authorized application. |
| US09467453B2 |
Network access and control for mobile devices
Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments enable content controls to be implemented by a modem of a mobile device to ensure the controls are implemented regardless of whether an application processor of the mobile device has been rooted. In an embodiment, content controls may be implemented by a modem or list component separate from the application processor when in a subsidized content delivery mode. In an embodiment, content controls may include a whitelist and/or a blacklist of IP addresses that addresses of content requests may be compared against to filter authorized content from unauthorized content. Content requests for authorized content may be sent to the content location, while content requests for unauthorized content may be dropped. In the various embodiments, a whitelist and/or blacklist may be updated on demand and/or automatically by a whitelist/blacklist management portal. |
| US09467452B2 |
Transferring services in a networked environment
The computer transitions services from a first user to a second user by receiving a notification of transition of job function from a first user to a second user. The computer determines, by one or more computer processors, services utilized by the first user in performance of the job function. The computer determines, by one or more computer processors, usage information for each of the services. The computer notifies the second user of the services utilized by the first user in performance of the job function and the determined usage information for each of the services. |
| US09467450B2 |
Data driven schema for patient data exchange system
A patient data exchange system comprises at least one device. Each of the devices implements an interface. When a device in the patient data exchange system publishes patient data, the device generates a metadata envelope that encapsulates the patient data. The metadata envelope conforms to a schema that defines allowable metadata attributes of the metadata envelope. When a device in the patient data exchange system receives a metadata envelope that conforms to the schema, the device determines, based at least in part on a metadata attribute of the metadata envelope, a particular patient data handling policy to apply to patient data encapsulated by the metadata envelope. In some instances, the metadata attribute indicates that authorization is required from an authorization service to access the patient data encapsulated by the metadata envelope. |
| US09467449B2 |
Method for protection of data shared between devices connected in a network and corresponding apparatus
The invention proposes a method and device for protection of data for devices connected in a network such as a local area network or LAN. The method and device can for example be implemented on a gateway, which acts as an interconnecting device between the devices in the LAN network and that can offer these devices an access to an external network such as a wide area network or WAN. The method and device thus offers a protected environment for applications that are executed on the gateway, such as applications downloaded from the WAN. The method and device gives the applications executed on the gateway controlled access to the LAN resources in order to protect the data that the LAN devices share within the LAN, while giving the applications access to the WAN. |
| US09467444B2 |
Network resource management system utilizing physical network identification for privileged network access
The disclosed network resource management system employs a hardware configuration management (HCM) information handling system (IHS) that may couple to a single administered IHS or to multiple administered IHSs via an administrative network. An HCM tool in the HCM IHS may generate, modify and store hardware configuration information, including physical network identifications (PNet IDs), in an HCM database and share the HCM database with the administered IHSs. The administered IHS may be a privileged network access (PNA) IHS. The PNA IHS may receive a privileged network access management (PNAM) database from a PNAM IHS via the administrative network. The PNA tool may extract hardware configuration information, including PNet IDs, from the HCM database and privileged network access information, including PNet IDs, from the PNAM database. The PNA tool may utilize the information, including PNet IDs, to enable the PNA IHS to limit access to privileged networks. |
| US09467436B2 |
Captcha systems and methods
Systems and methods for verifying human users through cognitive processes that computers cannot imitate are described herein. Human cognitive language processing techniques may be used to verify human users. Visual patterns and tests may be used to distinguish between humans and computers because computer-based visual recognition is fundamentally different from human visual processing. Persistent plugins and tests may be used to continuously verify human users. |
| US09467433B2 |
Authentication of warning messages in a network
There is described herein a device (101) for communicating with a network. The device (101) comprises a communications unit for receiving data, a notification device for providing a notification to a user, and a control unit for controlling the operation of the communications unit and notification unit. The communications unit is configured to receive an information message (110, 112, 115), and to receive security authentication data (110, 112, 115) associated with the information message if such security authentication data is available. The control unit is configured to operate in a first or second configuration. In the first configuration it ignores the security authentication data, (111, 113), and instructs the notification unit to convey the notification to the user. In the second configuration, it verifies the information message (116) on the basis of the security authentication data and instructs the notification unit to convey the notification to the user if the verification is successful. The communications unit is configured to receive a configuration message (114) indicating the configuration in which the control unit should operate, and the control unit is configured to change configuration if the indicated configuration is different to the current configuration. |
| US09467428B2 |
Information security attachment device for voice communication and information security method for voice communication using the same
An information security attachment device for voice communication and an information security method for voice communication using the same are provided. The information security attachment device includes a user interface unit, a compression unit, an encryption and decryption unit, and a conversion unit. The user interface unit receives an information security request from a user, and displays whether or not information security is being performed. The compression unit compresses a voice signal. The encryption and decryption unit encrypts the compressed voice data in response to an information security request or an information security control command, requests a terminal to send the encrypted voice data, decrypts the encrypted voice data in response to an information security request or an information security control command, and outputs the decrypted voice data. The conversion unit restores the voice data to an analog voice signal, and outputs the restored analog voice signal. |
| US09467427B2 |
Methods and systems for authorizing and deauthorizing a computer license
A system and method of deauthorizing a computer-based licensed product. During the deauthorization process, an end user device transmits an encrypted character string (i.e., the Proof Of Removal Code), including a Transaction ID, to a licensing authority. The licensing authority receives the Proof Of Removal Code from the end user device and decrypts the Transaction ID using a decryption key associated with a product for which the end user is seeking deauthorization. The licensing authority compares Transaction IDs and produces a Deauthorization number, which is sent to the end user device. Each product is associated with a different decryption key resulting in a different Deauthorization number being produced for each product based on the same Transaction ID. Thus, the same identical Transaction ID can be decrypted into as many different Deauthorization numbers as there are products. |
| US09467424B2 |
Methods and systems for proxying data
Methods and systems are provided for proxying data between an application server and a client device. One exemplary application system includes an application server to generate a virtual application and a proxy server coupled to the application server over a network to provide the virtual application to a client device. The proxy server receives input data from the client device and provides the input data to the application server, wherein the application server encodes the input data for an action in response to authenticating the proxy server and provides the data encoded for the action to the proxy server. The proxy server performs the action on the data and provides the result to the client device. |
| US09467422B2 |
Event aggregation in a distributed processor system
A method in a security device for processing network flows includes storing local counter values for one or more events and providing global event counters to maintain event statistics for events in the security device. In one embodiment, the method stores local counter value of an event for each packet processor reporting the event in a counter memory and the method sums the local counter values of an event stored in the counter memory to generate the global counter sum value for the event. In another embodiment, the method compares the global counter sum to a threshold value to put the event in a conforming state or non-conforming state. The method sends a multicast message to the interested packet processors indicating an event has transitioned to a non-conforming state. |
| US09467419B2 |
System and method for N port ID virtualization (NPIV) login limit intimation to converged network adaptor (CNA) in NPIV proxy gateway (NPG) mode
Aspects of the present invention include an NPG system that can stop the CNA from requesting a login if the system has reached the ACL login limit. In embodiments of the present invention, the number of available logins can be dynamically calculated and sent to the CNA. |
| US09467411B2 |
Identifying content in an incoming message on a social network
Identifying content in an incoming message on a social network includes categorizing a sender-recipient relationship between a sender and a recipient of an incoming message in an activity stream in a display. |
| US09467410B2 |
Just-in-time, email embedded URL reputation determination
A system allows just-in-time checking of information about an email in which a hyperlink is embedded. Upon receipt of the email containing the hyperlink, the resource locator of the hyperlink is modified to allow checking the reputation of the email upon traversal of the hyperlink. At traversal of the hyperlink, the current reputation of the resource locator and the current reputation of the email are both determined, and one or more actions are performed responsive to the determination. |
| US09467409B2 |
System and method for contextual mail recommendations
An email system that enables users to request for and receive recommended messages which are relevant and contextually related to a received message via activation of a user interface element is disclosed. When a message is received, it is analyzed and keywords relevant to the received message along with named entities comprised in the received message are retrieved and stored. Upon activation of a user interface element, the relevant keywords are employed to retrieve other similar messages which are grouped into clusters. The clusters are further ranked based on their relevance to the received message and the top ranked messages from the most relevant cluster are selected for display to the user as the messages that are contextually relevant to the received message. The email system also facilitates execution of batch operations on the contextually relevant messages. |
| US09467405B2 |
Routing messages between applications
A system and method for enabling the interchange of enterprise data through an open platform is disclosed. This open platform can be based on a standardized interface that enables parties to easily connect to and use the network. Services operating as senders, recipients, and in-transit parties can therefore leverage a framework that overlays a public network. |
| US09467400B2 |
Managing unavailability notices
A computer-implemented method, carried out by one or more processors, for managing unavailability notices. In an embodiment, the method comprises the steps of initializing an out of office notice, wherein the out of office notice is associated with a first user of an e-mail service; receiving inputs for the out of office notice, wherein the inputs include one or more of: a duration of time selection, alternative contact information, and message content; receiving a list of one or more user to whom to send an out of office alert notice with the received inputs; and sending to the one or more users from the list the out of office alert notice with the received inputs and a reminder function, wherein the reminder function allows for each of the one or more users to receive a reminder about unavailability at another time. |
| US09467398B2 |
Using virtual networking devices to connect managed computer networks
Techniques are described for providing managed virtual computer networks whose configured logical network topology may have one or more virtual networking devices, such as by a network-accessible configurable network service, with corresponding networking functionality provided for communications between multiple computing nodes of a virtual computer network by emulating functionality that would be provided by the networking devices if they were physically present. The networking functionality provided for a managed computer network may include supporting a connection between that managed computer network and other managed computer networks, such as via a provided virtual peering router to which each of the managed computer networks may connect, with the functionality of the virtual peering router being emulated by modules of the configurable network service without physically providing the virtual peering router, including to manage data communications between computing nodes of the inter-connected managed computer networks in accordance with client-specified configuration information. |
| US09467391B2 |
Controlling a packet flow from a user equipment
A method and User Equipment (UE) for limiting excessive packet flow from the UE to a communication network. The UE receives from the network, an instruction to activate a logic parameter for controlling the packet flow from the UE to the network. In response to receiving the instruction, the UE requests configuration of a network connection for transmitting packets to the network according to the logic parameter. The UE then requests deactivation of all other network connections upon successful configuration of the network connection for transmitting packets to the network according to the logic parameter. |
| US09467389B2 |
Handling large frames in a virtualized fibre channel over ethernet (FCoE) data forwarder
A switch unit has one frame buffer pool for storing received frames and another frame buffer pool for storing large frames. The frame size in the large frame buffer pool may be optimized to the largest amount of data the switch unit that an FCoE switching is running on can support (i.e., a limitation of zone entries). Should free space be unavailable in the large frame buffer pool, or if a sequence grows bigger than can be supported, the switch unit may still continue to send response frames back to the sender. While the switch unit may store header information of the frame, the switch unit does not store the data of subsequent frames any longer. Once the sequence has been received completely, a rejection message is sent back with an appropriate error or reason code. The rejection message enables the sender to attempt a retransmission or cancel the current request altogether. |
| US09467385B2 |
Cloud-based network tool optimizers for server cloud networks
Network tool optimizers for server cloud networks and related methods are disclosed. In part, master filters are defined to segregate and control user traffic, and user filters are defined to forward the user traffic to cloud-based network tools or tool instances. A master user interface and user interfaces for each user are provided so that the master filters and user filters can be defined and managed. A filter rules compiler within the cloud-based network tool optimizer then combines the master filters with the user filters, resolves conflicts in favor of the master filters, and generates filter engine rules that are applied to filter engines within the network tool optimizer for the cloud network. The filter engines then forward packets received at input ports for the network tool optimizer to output ports for the network tool optimizer that are coupled to network tools or tool instances within the cloud network. |
| US09467381B2 |
Choice of initialization technique for load balancing attempts
A cable network facilitates communication between a CMTS and cable modems over a plurality of channels. The Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) protocol access system for load balancing in a cable network transmits a change request directing movement of a cable modem to a different channel. The change request indicates an initialization technique for the cable modem to perform once synchronized to the different channel(s). If the cable modem is not successfully initialized on the different channel or channel set, the CMTS is configured to iteratively transmit subsequent retry requests. The subsequent retry requests may indicate an initialization technique based on a list of initialization techniques. |
| US09467378B1 |
Method of generating subflow entries in an SDN switch
A method involving a Software-Defined Networking (SDN) switch. A packet is received onto a SDN switch via a NFX circuit. The NFX circuit determines that the packet matches no flow entry stored in any flow table in the NFX circuit and forwards the packet to a NFP circuit. The NFP circuit determines that the packet matches a first flow entry that applies to a relatively broad flow of packets stored in a flow table in the NFP circuit, generates a new flow entry that applies to a relatively narrow subflow of packets, and forwards the new flow entry to the NFX circuit that stores the new flow entry in a flow table in the NFX circuit. A subsequent packet is received onto the SDN switch via the NFX circuit and is switched using the new flow entry stored in the NFX circuit without forwarding the packet to the NFP circuit. |
| US09467375B2 |
Service migration
At a migration server separate from a first server, a plurality of incoming internet protocol, IP, packets directed at an IP address associated with an IP service are received. On the basis of one or more source characteristics associated with IP packets in the plurality, it is determined that a first subset of packets in the plurality originated from one or more client devices which have not been migrated to a second server and that a second subset in the plurality originated from one or more client devices which have been migrated to the second server. IP packets determined to be in the first subset are forwarded to a first physical address associated with the first server for processing at the first server. IP packets determined to be in the second subset are processed at the second server. |
| US09467374B2 |
Supporting multiple IEC-101/IEC-104 masters on an IEC-101/IEC-104 translation gateway
In one embodiment, a network device, such as a router, receives a frame containing a message from a first terminal unit. The network device modifies the received frame by replacing an original value of an originator identifier field in the frame with a new value that is locally unique on a particular data link. The network device than forwards the modified frame to a selected second terminal unit selected from a plurality of terminal units. |
| US09467373B2 |
Broadband access for virtual private networks
Communications between a source and a destination include receiving, at an egress edge device from an ingress edge device, an upper layer packet including a virtual private network identification identifying a destination. The upper layer packet is authenticated at the egress edge device using the virtual private network identification by comparing the virtual private network identification against an expectation for the upper layer packet. Upon authentication, the upper layer packet is decapsulated into a lower layer packet for the destination. |
| US09467370B2 |
Method and system for network traffic steering based on dynamic routing
An approach is provided for steering network traffic (e.g., IP traffic) based on dynamic routing to a service node or a chain of service nodes that can provide in-line services. In an exemplary embodiment, traffic is steered from a first router to an in-line service router by tunneling through a second router, wherein in-line service router is configured to provide in-line services to the traffic. |
| US09467366B2 |
Method and apparatus providing single-tier routing in a shortest path bridging (SPB) network
A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) and gateway Media Access Controller (MAC) distribution is presented. At least one subnet associated with a Layer 2 Virtual Switching Network (L2VSN) is provided on a network device. A message is propagated to a distributed Datapath. Network devices install the message as a routable MAC address on the L2VSN for the Layer 3 Virtual Switching Network/Virtual Routing and Forwarding (L3VSN/VRF) associated with the message. Edge devices route packets on the L2VSN addressed to the gateway MAC address. |
| US09467365B2 |
Mechanism and framework for finding optimal multicast tree roots without the knowledge of traffic sources and receivers for fabricpath and TRILL
The proposed methodology enables finding the most efficient roots in the network to carry multicast traffic, while further providing a theoretical basis for such selection. It guarantees the minimum expected delivery cost for multicast frames in the absence of any knowledge about the source and receivers. |
| US09467364B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing a communications pathway with high reliability
A method and apparatus for managing a communications network. A potential pathway in a group of potential pathways formed between each pair of adjacent node groups in a plurality of node groups is identified. A communications link is formed along the potential pathway identified between each pair of adjacent node groups in the plurality of node groups such that a series of communications links is formed between a first end node group in the plurality of node groups and a second end node group in the plurality of node groups. Information is exchanged between a first end point and a second end point using the series of communications links between the first end node group and the second end node group. |
| US09467363B2 |
Network system and method of managing topology
In an open flow network, a load of a switch on a secure channel network when a controller maintains and updates a physical topology of the switch in the situation that a network among the switches is in a high delay state. More specifically, the controller sets a flow entry having a rule and an action defined to uniformly control a packet as a flow to each of a plurality of switches. The controller sets to each switch, a circulation flow entry to be deleted when a circulation packet which is mutually transmitted and received among the switches gets not to arrive. Then, when receiving a notice that the circulation flow entry has been deleted, from each switch, the controller detects a failure among the switches. |
| US09467359B1 |
Methods, systems, and media for resuming playback of media content across multiple devices
Systems and methods for facilitating cross device resumable media content consumption. In an aspect, a system includes an update component that receives a media statistics update where the media statistics update includes information identifying an account, media content identification information, and a first playback time position associated with media content. A monitoring component is also included that identifies when the account accesses the media content associated with the media content identification information. A resume component is also included that plays back the media content at the first playback time position in response to identifying an access of the media content associated with the account. |
| US09467358B2 |
Alarm triggering device for a security system
An alarm triggering device (200) for a security system (10), includes an interface (210) arranged so as to connect the alarm triggering device (200) to a central monitoring station (100) of the security system (10) via a wireless connection (50); elements (220) for triggering an alarm in the case of detection of a predetermined event; supply elements (230) for enabling the power supply of the alarm triggering system from a supply source; fault detection elements (240) for detecting an operating fault of the triggering device; and signaling elements (250) for signaling, to the alarm triggering device (200), the operating fault of the alarm triggering device (200). |
| US09467347B2 |
Systems and methods that utilize scalable vector graphics to provide web-based visualization of a device
The present invention relates to systems and methods that employ scalable vector graphics (SVG) to view and effectuate an industrial device from a remote Web interface. The systems and methods can be utilized to retrieve an SVG XML markup language-based file associated with the device and execute the SVG file via basic ASCII drawing commands. Thus, a faceplate of an industrial device and/or other device-related information can be represented via SVG syntax and stored with the device. A user can employ a Web browser from a remote location (e.g., via a Web client) to retrieve the SVG file, wherein the file can be loaded within the Web browser and/or an open source software package. The SVG file can be executed to render an interactive graphical faceplate that can depict LEDs, alphanumeric displays, inputs/output, etc., trending mechanisms (e.g., graphs, charts, etc.), and capabilities to load parameters. |
| US09467345B2 |
Interactive group content systems and methods
In an exemplary system, a content hub subsystem is selectively and communicatively coupled to a plurality of access devices. At least a subset of the access devices is associated with a predefined group of users. The content hub subsystem is configured to receive data representative of content from at least one of the access devices associated with the predefined group of users, map the content to the predefined group of users, and provide data representative of the content to the access devices associated with the predefined group of users. Each of the access devices associated with the predefined group of users is configured to generate at least one interactive graphical object representative of the content, and generate and present a graphical user interface including the interactive graphical object. |
| US09467343B1 |
Collaborative analytics for independently administered network domains
A method includes receiving a first analytics set performed on a first network security appliance operated internal to a first organization, receiving a second analytics set performed on a second network security appliance operated internal to a second organization, processing the first analytics set and the second analytics set, and responsive to the processing, disseminating to the second network security appliance information indicating that the second analytics set has also been performed on at least the first network security appliance, without revealing an identity of the first organization. In one embodiment at least part of the first analytics set or the second analytics set is hashed. |
| US09467340B2 |
Logical channel establishing method and system, edge virtual bridging station and bridge
Provided are a logical channel establishing method and system, an edge virtual bridging (EVB) station, and a bridge. The method includes: an EVB station respectively sending a first CDCP message to a first EVB bridge and a second EVB bridge, both of which belong to a same LAG portal, to request for SVIDs corresponding to required logical S-channels, wherein the EVB station requests the first EVB bridge for SVIDs of a part of logical S-channels in the required logical S-channels, and the EVB station requests the second EVB bridge for SVIDs of the rest part of logical S-channels in the required logical S-channels; the EVB station respectively obtaining the SVIDs allocated by the first EVB bridge and the second EVB bridge according to the first CDCP message; and the EVB station configuring the allocated SVIDs to the corresponding logical S-channels, and respectively sending a second CDCP message to the first EVB bridge and the second EVB bridge, to respectively inform the first EVB bridge and the second EVB bridge of all SVIDs configured by the EVB station for the required logical S-channels. |
| US09467339B2 |
Testing toll-free data service campaigns
A device may receive information that identifies a toll-free data service campaign to be tested. The device may receive information that identifies a network to be used to test the toll-free data service campaign. The device may deploy the toll-free data service campaign on the network by deploying a campaign rule, associated with the toll-free data service campaign, that identifies a condition for charging a content provider, associated with the toll-free data service campaign, for data used by a mobile device in association with the toll-free data service campaign. The device may determine a testing criteria for testing the toll-free data service campaign on the network. The device may test the toll-free data service campaign on the network using the testing criteria. The device may determine a test result based on testing the toll-free data service campaign, and may provide information that identifies the test result. |
| US09467335B2 |
Method, terminal, and system for fiber network management
The present invention provides a method, terminal and system for fiber network management. A terminal obtains configuration information from a management system and sending an identifier of a configuration port connected to a fiber to an Optical Distribution Network (ODN) device to allow the ODN device to indicate, according to the configuration port identifier, a corresponding configuration port into which one end of the fiber is inserted. The method includes sending, according to a received first identifier of one end of the fiber and a corresponding configuration port identifier, which are sent by the ODN device, and a second identifier of an other end of the fiber, an identifier of a peer configuration port connected to the fiber to the ODN device to allow the ODN device to indicate, a corresponding peer configuration port into which the other end of the fiber is inserted. |
| US09467330B2 |
Diagnosing connectivity in a network
Diagnosing connectivity in a network includes obtaining information from a network wherein the network is a hybrid network including software-defined networking (SDN) network components and other network components, querying a SDN controller for network metrics of the network, and diagnosing a connectivity issue in the network based on the information from the network and the network metrics. |
| US09467328B2 |
Remote management of digital signage devices
Certain aspects of the present disclosure are related to a signage device controller. In certain embodiments, the signage device controller has: (a) a processor, (b) a network interface controller, (c) a communication control point in accordance with a control protocol and (d) a memory containing firmware. The firmware is configured to, when executed at the processor, (a) be in communication with managed signage device through the communication control point, (b) receive, through the network interface controller, a management request in a communication protocol from a remote management system through an out-of-band network for instructing the firmware to perform a management operation at the managed signage device, and (c) construct a control command in accordance with the control protocol and send the control command to the managed signage device through the communication control point to instruct the managed signage device to perform the management operation. |
| US09467325B2 |
Methods and systems for controlling a communication session
A method of controlling a communication session is provided. The communication session is established in a telecommunications network between a first communication client of a plurality of communication clients on one or more communication devices associated with a first party and a communication device associated with a second party, the established communication session comprising at least a first communication session leg established between the first communication client and an intermediate node in the telecommunications network. The method includes detecting a loss in connectivity associated with the first communication session leg, and in response to detecting the loss in connectivity, initiating set up of a second communication session leg between an intermediate node in the telecommunications network and at least a second communication client of the plurality of communication clients on one or more communication devices associated with the first party. |
| US09467324B2 |
Firewall security for computers with internet access and method
A firewall security platform is provided for enhancing security of a network. The firewall security platform includes at least one interface to communicate the identity and current status of one or more traffic requesters and at least one device for receiving instructions from a user. Communication data packets associated with the one or more traffic requesters are allowed for communication via the network or denied and blocked by the firewall security platform based on the current status of each of the one or more traffic requesters. The user's instructions include making a selection, with the selection including members that are at least one of the one or more traffic requesters. The current status of each member of the selection is altered in response to the making of the selection. |
| US09467320B2 |
Method and system for performing initial ranging in cognitive radio network
Disclosed herein are a method and a system for performing initial ranging in a cognitive radio network The method for performing initial ranging in a cognitive radio network includes: detecting signals received in one or more ranging sections; estimating a tint time offset based on a correlation between subcarrier indices of the signals detected in the one or more ranging sections; estimating a second time offset based on correlations for the signals detected in the one or more ranging sections and a plurality of codes that are predetermined and detecting an initial ranging code among the plurality of codes; and estimating a time offset of a CPE performing initial ranging with the detected initial ranging code using the first time offset and the second time offset that are estimated. |
| US09467319B1 |
Expanding a capacity of a single radio channel
A method of expanding a capacity of a single radio channel, and a radio. The method includes receiving a primary signal and a secondary signal. The method also includes a transmitter modulating the primary signal and the secondary signal. The method further includes the transmitter scaling a power of the secondary signal below a power of the primary signal to create a power differential. The method also includes the transmitter offsetting a carrier frequency of the secondary signal from a carrier frequency of the primary signal to create a carrier frequency offset. The method further includes the transmitter combining the primary signal and the secondary signal to generate a composite signal. The method also includes the transmitter transmitting the composite signal within the single radio channel via an antenna. The antenna is coupled to the transmitter. |
| US09467312B2 |
Speed improvement for a decision feedback equalizer
Circuits, apparatus, and methods are disclosed for decision feedback equalization. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a plurality of time-interleaved slices for processing an input data stream. Each of the slices includes a sampler circuit, a multiplexer, and a latch. In each slice, the multiplexer and the sampler circuit provide sampled output data corresponding to one of a plurality of different versions of the input data stream at times designated uniquely for the slice, according to one or more selection signals. The selection signals are derived from a output of the multiplexer of at least one other of the time-interleaved slices. The latch provides a controlled output in response to the multiplexer and the sampler circuit, as a function of the designated unique times. |
| US09467311B2 |
Method for sending and receiving signal, and corresponding device and system
A method for sending and receiving a signal is disclosed, and a corresponding device and system. The method includes performing constellation mapping on a data stream to obtain a mapped signal, and performing pre-filtering on the mapped signal to convert the mapped signal into a narrowband signal filtered signal. The pre-filtering is finite impulse response filtering. A bandwidth of the narrowband signal filtered signal is less than bandwidth of the mapped signal, and the narrowband signal filtered signal is a baud rate signal. The method also includes performing waveform forming according to the narrowband signal filtered signal to obtain a shaped signal, and performing digital-to-analog conversion on the shaped signal to convert a shaped second signal into an analog signal, and sending the analog signal. |
| US09467308B2 |
Methods and apparatus to control synchronization in voice over internet protocol networks after catastrophes
Example methods and apparatus to control synchronization in voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) networks after catastrophes are disclosed. An example border element comprises a network interface to receive a VoIP network registration request message from a VoIP endpoint, a catastrophe detector to determine whether a catastrophe has been detected, a backoff time module to compute a backoff time using a priority assigned to the VoIP endpoint and an expected number of VoIP network registration request messages, a recovery module to determine whether the VoIP endpoint is currently registered with the VoIP network, and to send a response message having a header representing the backoff time to the VoIP endpoint when the catastrophe has been detected and the VoIP endpoint is not currently registered with a VoIP network, and a signaling processor to process the VoIP network registration request message when the VoIP endpoint is currently registered with the VoIP network. |
| US09467306B2 |
Switching device and relay system
A core switching device has a virtual path table and an address table, and selectively performs a PBB operation and a virtual path operation. The virtual path table retains a correspondence relation between a service instance identifier and two ports in a plurality of ports set in advance. The address table retains a correspondence relation between the plurality of ports and an encapsulation address. The core switching device relays an encapsulated frame based on the address table in the PBB operation and relays an encapsulated frame containing the service instance identifier retained in the virtual path table between the two ports retained in the virtual path table in the virtual path operation. |
| US09467304B2 |
128 gigabit fibre channel speed negotiation
The FC port state machine enhanced by determining if various lanes are configured to be operated in 128 Gbps mode by operating as parallel lanes as indicated by using a reserved bit in a link training field. If so and if all of the ports are 32 Gbps ports and pass training, then four lanes can be combined to form a 128 Gbps link. If the ports are configured for 128 Gbps only operation and at least one lane does not negotiate to 32 Gbps or fails training, the link is not activated and none of the lanes are activated. If the ports are configured to do either 128 Gbps or independent operation and at least one lane cannot operate at 128 Gbps, then the lanes operate independently at the negotiated and trained speed. If the lanes are configured for only independent operation the transceiver develops independent links as negotiated. |
| US09467301B2 |
Network interface utilization dependent charging determination
Certain embodiments may have measures that include establishing a connection between a network and a neighboring network for transiting a transmission session, obtaining connection state parameters based on at least one of the connection, the network, and the neighboring network, and generating a charging information message based on the connection state parameters at a network interface side, and receiving a charging information message related to a connection between a network and a neighboring network for transiting a transmission session, storing connection state parameters based on the charging information message, and generating an account for the transmission session based on the connection state parameters at a charging evaluation side. |
| US09467296B2 |
Virally distributable trusted messaging
Technologies for utilizing trusted messaging include a local computing device including a message client and a local trusted message module established in a trusted execution environment. The local trusted message module performs attestation of a remote computing device based on communication with a corresponding remote trusted message module established in a trusted execution environment of the remote computing device. The local trusted message module further exchanges, with the remote trusted message module, cryptographic keys in response to successful attestation of the remote computing device. The message client forwards outgoing messages to the local trusted message module and receives incoming messages from the local trusted message module. To securely transmit an outgoing message to the remote computing device, the local trusted message module receives the outgoing message from the message client, encrypts the outgoing message, and cryptographically signs the outgoing message, prior to transmittal to the remote trusted message module of the remote computing device. To securely receive an incoming message from the remote computing device, the local trusted message module receives the incoming message from the remote trusted message module of the remote computing device, decrypts the incoming message, and verifies a cryptographic signature of the incoming message, based on the exchanged cryptographic keys and prior to transmittal of the incoming message to the message client. |
| US09467293B1 |
Generating authentication codes associated with devices
A method and system for use in generating authentication codes associated with devices is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the method and system may generate a secret value that depends on event state data that specifies an operating condition of a device, and may generate a series of authentication codes that depends on the secret value and a series of dynamic values. |
| US09467291B2 |
Information processing system, information processing method, and non-transitory computer readable medium for processing requests using an authority object
An information processing system includes a management unit that manages information of an object that determines at least one of a parent and a child of the object, a receiving unit that receives specification of an authority object that is an object with which authority information is associated and a request of processing that is to be executed by using the authority object, and a determining unit that determines whether to accept the request or not on the basis of results of a comparison between information of an owner object that is an object that approves the authority information and information of an object that is a parent of the authority object. |
| US09467288B2 |
Encryption key destruction for secure data erasure
Techniques for encryption key destruction for secure data erasure via an external interface or physical key removal are described. Electrical destruction of key material retained in a memory of a storage device renders the device securely erased, even when the device is otherwise inoperable. The memory (e.g. non-volatile, such as flash) stores key material for encrypting/decrypting storage data for the device. An eraser provides power and commands to the memory, even when all or any portion of the device is inoperable. The commands (e.g. erase or write) enable zeroizing or destroying the key material, rendering data encrypted with the destroyed key material inaccessible, and therefore securely erased. Alternatively, the memory is a removable component (e.g. an external security device or smartcard) coupled to the device during storage operation. Removing and physically destroying the memory renders the device securely erased. The device and/or the memory are sealed to enable tamper detection. |
| US09467284B2 |
Transmitter, receiver, quantum key distribution (QKD) system and quantum key distribution method
According to an embodiment, a transmitter transmits first transmission key data and second transmission key data as quantum information. The transmitter includes a first privacy amplifier and a second privacy amplifier. The first privacy amplifier generates first secure key data by performing privacy amplification to remove information that has possibly been acquired by an eavesdropper of the first transmission key data on the first transmission key data. The second privacy amplifier generates second secure key data by performing the privacy amplification to remove information that has possibly been acquired by the eavesdropper of the second reception key data on the decoded key data. |
| US09467282B2 |
Encryption scheme in a shared data store
An improved key encryption system is provided for encrypting sensitive data on a shared data store. Various embodiments contemplate a system where a plurality of data clients are connected to one or more shared data stores. A secure data storage facility is provided on one or more of the shared data stores by using an encryption scheme. Encryption keys for decrypting the sensitive data are stored on the same data store as sensitive data, which may be decrypted using the encryption keys. To provide another layer of security, the data encryption keys are themselves encrypted using a key encryption key (“KEK”), which is generated by, and stored in a local data store associated with the data clients. |
| US09467281B2 |
Information processing apparatus and program product
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus, which is connected to an external apparatus, includes a device key storage unit, a creating unit, a calculating unit, a communication unit, and a key calculating unit. The device key storage unit stores therein a device key. The creating unit creates a media key from the device key and a media key block. The calculating unit calculates first output information on the basis of first inherent information inherent to the information processing apparatus and public information. The communication unit transmits the first output information to the external apparatus and receives second output information calculated by the external apparatus from the external apparatus. The key calculating unit calculates a shared key shared between the information processing apparatus and the external apparatus on the basis of the media key, the first inherent information, and the second output information. |
| US09467273B2 |
Apparatus and method for reducing inter-cell interference in multiple input multiple output system
An apparatus and method for operating a Codebook Subset Pattern (CSP) of a Base Station (BS) in a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) system are provided. The method includes determining whether there is a CSP-updated BS among the BS and adjacent BSs, exchanging the updated CSP between cells if it is determined that there is a CSP-updated BS, and broadcasting the CSP of each cell acquired through the exchange thereby reducing an inter-cell interference in the MIMO system. |
| US09467267B2 |
Method and apparatus for proximity-based service between more than two operators
The present invention is directed to a method and an apparatus for use in a wireless communication system. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a method of setting up a ProSe connection by a ProSe-enabled UE of a first MNO in a cellular communication system and an apparatus therefore, in which the method comprises: broadcasting a first message including first resource allocation information for a first radio resource of the first MNO, wherein the first message is broadcast using a specific radio resource that is available to ProSe-enabled UEs of a second MNO; and receiving acknowledgement information regarding the first message from one or more ProSe-enabled UEs of the second MNO by using the first radio resource of the first MNO. |
| US09467262B2 |
Method for configuring reference signal, UE, and eNB
The present invention provides a method for configuring a reference signal, a UE, and an eNB. The method includes: determining, by a UE, a reference signal configuration priority set, and sending information of the reference signal configuration priority set to an eNB; and receiving, by the UE, a reference signal configuration measurement set sent by the eNB, where the reference signal configuration measurement set is configured by the eNB according to the information of the reference signal configuration priority set, and the reference signal configuration measurement set is used for the UE to measure and feed back channel state information. In embodiments of the present invention, a reference signal configuration matched with an optimal actual channel of a UE can be selected when an RRH or a base station is geographically separated, so that the UE can acquire a good channel condition. |
| US09467258B2 |
Methods and arrangements for supporting retransmission
The herein suggested technology gives principles for how HARQ-feedback, or corresponding, can be predicted using distributed data from scheduling decisions and optionally also from radio measurements. This data can be sent between base stations after the finished scheduling, and does not require a backhaul with very low latency. The predicted HARQ feedback can then be used for scheduling a retransmission or new transmission sooner than the actual HARQ feedback is received. |
| US09467257B2 |
Overhead reduction for transmission of acknowledgment signals
A method and apparatus for compressing resources used for transmitting acknowledgment signals from User Equipments (UEs). An acknowledgment signal is in response to detections from a UE of one or more Physical Downlink Control CHannels (PDCCHs) in respective one or more Transmission Time Interval (TTIs) within M TTIs. Each PDCCH is transmitted over Control Channel Elements (CCEs). Resources account for both CCEs in a same TTI and for TTIs within the M TTIs. A Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) Acknowledgment Resource Offset (HRO) field in a Downlink Control Information (DCI) format is used to compress resources in both CCE and TTI domains. For the first TTI of the M TTIs, all HRO values compress resources in the CCE domain while for all remaining TTIs, half HRO values compress resources in the CCE domain and half HRO values compress resources in the TTI domain. |
| US09467255B2 |
Systems and methods for digital radio broadcast with cross platform reception
Systems and methods are described for rendering content at a digital radio broadcast receiver system. A digital radio broadcast signal comprises data for rendering content at the digital radio broadcast receiver. The digital radio broadcast signal is processed to determine whether the data from the digital radio broadcast transmission contains a data error. A portion of the data containing the data error is identified. A download request is transmitted to a computing system, where the download request requests duplicate data for the portion of the data containing the data error. The duplicate data is received at the digital radio broadcast receiver for the portion of the data containing the error via other wireless communication other than the digital radio broadcast. The duplicate data is processed to provide an uninterrupted rendering of the content. |
| US09467245B2 |
Polarization multiplexing optical transceiver
It is provided a polarization multiplexing optical transceiver including a polarization multiplexing optical transceiver, a polarization multiplexing optical receiver, a transmission side polarization state control unit and a reception side polarization state control unit. The polarization multiplexing optical receiver includes: a polarization demultiplexing unit; a plurality of information signal reconstruction units configured to receive the reconstructed polarization component on the transmission side as an input, and reconstruct and extract information signals; and an information signal coupling unit configured to one of couple and select the information signals output by the plurality of information signal reconstruction units and output the resultant under control of the reception side polarization state control unit. The polarization multiplexing optical receiver is configured to control, in the single polarization reception state, the polarization demultiplexing unit and at least a part of the plurality of information signal reconstruction units to transition to a power saving mode. |
| US09467243B2 |
Packet relay device and packet transmission device
A packet relay device includes: a first buffer configured to store a packet; and a processor coupled to the first buffer and configured to: calculate a delay time for reading from the first buffer based on a packet length and a packet interval of the packet which is inputted to the first buffer, and delay the packet according to the calculated delay time, the packet being read from the first buffer. |
| US09467242B2 |
System and method for producing an electronic program guide for user-created content
A system and method are provided for producing a personalized Electronic Program Guide (EPG), that includes a content server for receiving from a content producer a request for upload of content, transmitting to the content producer a request for information related to the content, receiving from the content producer the content and the information related to the content, and generating a personalized EPG from the content and the information related to the content. |
| US09467240B2 |
Apparatus for providing urgent alarm service through broadcast system and method therefor
The present invention relates to a method for receiving urgent alarm contents through a broadcast system. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for receiving urgent alarm contents through a broadcast system includes the steps of: receiving a broadcast signal; parsing an urgent alarm table contained in the broadcast signal, the urgent alarm table containing an urgent alarm message and an urgent alarm contents transmission structure descriptor for signaling the information of the urgent alarm contents concerning the urgent alarm message, and the urgent alarm contents transmission structure descriptor containing the IP address of an IP datagram for transmitting the urgent alarm contents; receiving the IP datagram of the IP address; and decoding the IP datagram so as to reproduce the urgent alarm contents. |
| US09467238B2 |
On-chip stimulus generation for test and calibration of NFC reader receivers
A method of determining a calibration of a near field communication, NFC, device, the NFC device comprising a receiver circuit, a transmitter circuit and a load modulator circuit, the method comprising: generating a carrier signal in the transmitter circuit, generating a modulation signal in the load modulator circuit, generating a modulated carrier signal, comprising first and second frequencies, by applying the modulation signal to the carrier signal, applying the modulated carrier signal at an input of the receiver circuit, and determining a response parameter of the receiver circuit on the basis of the response of the receiver circuit to the first and second frequencies in the modulated carrier signal. |
| US09467236B2 |
Method of In-device interference mitigation for cellular, bluetooth, WiFi, and satellite systems coexistence
A coexistence interference mitigation method is provided. In a wireless network, a wireless device is equipped with multiple radios in the same device platform. The wireless device also has a control entity that communicates with the multiple co-located radio modules. A first radio module receives a notification from the control entity. The notification informs a critical signaling status of a second radio module co-located with the first radio module. Upon receiving the notification, the first radio module stops uplink transmission due to coexistence interference and transmits a coexistence indicator to its serving eNB. After a certain period, the first radio module receives a second notification that informs a completion status of the critical signaling of the second radio module. Upon receiving the second notification, the first radio module resumes uplink transmission and transmits a coexistence resume indicator to the eNB. |
| US09467235B1 |
Circuits, systems and methods of hybrid electromagnetic and piezoelectric communicators
Circuits, systems and methods that utilize two transducers, of which at least one is a piezoelectric transducer, adapted and coupled to receive and/or generate signals in the forms of sound waves, mechanical vibrations, and/or electromagnetic energy. In one version, two transducers each receive and/or generate separate vibrational energy signals that bear information. Two or more transducers coupled to a switching circuit may send or receive piezo-electrical circuit output signals that include a carrier wave having different frequencies that are within separate frequency ranges. Two or more transducers may generate output signals that are simultaneously processed by or multiplexed by a switching circuit. |
| US09467234B2 |
Optical receiver, optical reception module and method for controlling an optical receiver
An optical receiver includes a semiconductor optical amplifier configured to amplify wavelength multiplexed light, an optical demultiplexer configured to demultiplex the wavelength multiplexed light amplified by the semiconductor optical amplifier into light of a plurality of signals having different wavelengths, a plurality of light-receiving elements configured to receive the signal light obtained by demultiplexing of the optical demultiplexer, a detector configured to detect an intensity of the wavelength multiplexed light of a previous stage of the optical demultiplexer, a memory configured to store an upper limit value of a drive current of the semiconductor optical amplifier corresponding to a detection result of the detector, and a controlling the drive current of the semiconductor optical amplifier by referring an output of the detector and the upper limit value. |
| US09467233B1 |
Power meter ratio method of stabilizing a resonant modulator
Methods and systems for stabilizing a resonant modulator include receiving pre-modulation and post-modulation portions of a carrier signal, determining the average power from these portions, comparing an average input power to the average output power, and operating a heater coupled to the modulator based on the comparison. One system includes a pair of input structures, one or more processing elements, a comparator, and a control element. The input structures are configured to extract pre-modulation and post-modulation portions of a carrier signal. The processing elements are configured to determine average powers from the extracted portions. The comparator is configured to compare the average input power and the average output power. The control element operates a heater coupled to the modulator based on the comparison. |
| US09467229B2 |
Multilevel intensity modulation and demodulation system and method
A multilevel-intensity modulation and demodulation system includes: a digital-to-analog conversion unit to convert an output level value of a digital signal into an analog signal; a multilevel-intensity-modulated light transmission unit to transmit an optical signal multilevel-intensity modulated based on the analog signal; a multilevel-intensity-modulated light reception unit to receive the optical signal multilevel-intensity modulated, and convert the received optical signal into an analog reception electrical signal; an analog-to-digital conversion unit to convert the analog reception electrical signal into a reception level value; and a controller to convert a transmission multiple gradation level being one of a plurality of multiple gradation levels of multilevel-intensity modulation to which the digital signal is mapped, into the output level value so as to cause the reception level value to be in a desired reception state, and to receive a digital signal corresponding to a reception multiple-gradation-level determined from the reception level value. |
| US09467226B2 |
Controlling brightness of light sources used for data transmission
A method includes receiving a transmitted code via visible light communication from a light source. The transmitted code is decoded using a translation table. The translation table indicates raw data corresponding to the transmitted code as well as a duty cycle corresponding to the transmitted code. |
| US09467224B2 |
Method and device for determining input optical power
A method and a device for determining an input optical power are provided. The method include: after determining a bias current value of an optical amplifier unit when the optical amplifier unit amplifies a target optical signal and a voltage value output after an optical receiving unit converts the amplified target optical signal into an electrical signal, determining, according to a predetermined first correspondence that is among a bias current value, a voltage value, and an input optical power value and corresponds to a wavelength of the target optical signal, an input optical power value corresponding to the determined bias current value and the determined voltage value. By using the solution in the embodiments of the present invention, an input optical power of an optical signal on which optical amplification is performed can be determined. |
| US09467223B2 |
System and method for broadband signal disambiguation based on sub-sampled analog optical links employing sample rate modulation
A system for measuring an RF input signal frequency includes a sampling optical pulse train with a frequency-dithered repetition-rate, and a sub-sampled analog link coupled to the optical pulse train whereby the RF input signal frequency is determined. This frequency dither imparts well-characterized modulation sidebands onto the input RF signal to be measured. By measuring the amplitude of these sidebands relative to the incoming aliased signal amplitude the frequency of the original signal is readily determined. The use of optical sampling dramatically increases the bandwidth over which the disambiguation technique is applied, and coarse disambiguation is achieved in a single acquisition. |
| US09467220B2 |
Controller device implemented in a repeating system associated with a vehicle for extending network signal range
A controller device, implemented in a repeating system associated with a vehicle, may activate an antenna device included in the repeating system to cause the antenna device to receive a network signal and transmit an amplified network signal, corresponding to the network signal, to an area around the vehicle; and cause an amplification device, included in the repeating system, to receive the network signal, amplify the network signal to form the amplified network signal, and provide the amplified network signal for transmission by the antenna device. |
| US09467215B2 |
Transmission method, transmission device, reception method, and reception device
Provided is a precoding method for generating, from a plurality of baseband signals, a plurality of precoded signals to be transmitted over the same frequency bandwidth at the same time, including the steps of selecting a matrix F[i] from among N matrices, which define precoding performed on the plurality of baseband signals, while switching between the N matrices, i being an integer from 0 to N−1, and N being an integer at least two, generating a first precoded signal z1 and a second precoded signal z2, generating a first encoded block and a second encoded block using a predetermined error correction block encoding method, generating a baseband signal with M symbols from the first encoded block and a baseband signal with M symbols the second encoded block, and precoding a combination of the generated baseband signals to generate a precoded signal having M slots. |
| US09467210B2 |
Transmission parameter adaptation in cooperative signal communication
With respect to cooperative signal communication between a mobile terminal (200) and a plurality of access nodes (100-1, 100-2), a combined signal quality value is calculated on the basis of a first individual signal quality value (Q1) of a communication link between a first access node (100-1), e.g. a serving base station, and the terminal (200), and a second individual signal quality value (Q2) of a second communication link between a second access node (100-2), e.g. a supporting base station, and the terminal (200). On the basis of the combined signal quality value, a transmission parameter (50) for future cooperative transmissions is adapted. The transmission parameter (50) may be a modulation scheme, a coding scheme, a transmit power, or a resource allocation. |
| US09467206B2 |
Electric power transmission apparatus, contactless electric power transmission system, and signal generation method
An electric power transmission apparatus includes a resonance circuit, a first signal generation unit, and a second signal generation unit. The resonance circuit is used for contactless electric power transmission. The first signal generation unit is connected to one end of the resonance circuit, and generates a first high-frequency signal which includes one or more harmonic components using a switching method. The second signal generation unit is connected to the other end of the resonance circuit, and generates a second high-frequency signal which includes a specific harmonic component using the switching method. The first high-frequency signal is input to the one end of the resonance circuit, and the second high-frequency signal is input to the other end of the resonance circuit. |
| US09467204B2 |
Voltage regulator with current mirroring circuitry for transmitters for near field communication (NFC) devices and chips, and electronic devices including such NFC chips
A transmitter of a NFC device includes a current detector which detects a first current flowing in an output node of a regulator and outputs a current detection signal related to a result of the detection, and a control block which compares the current detection signal with a reference current and generates a control signal for controlling a voltage of the output node according to a result of the comparison. |
| US09467203B2 |
Near field communication extending method and extension apparatus
A near field communication (NFC) extending method and an extension apparatus are provided. The method includes the following steps: controlling a first NFC unit to perform a matching operation with a second NFC unit of a host device through an NFC function to establish a first wireless connection between a second communication unit in the host device and a first communication unit of the extension apparatus based on a wireless communication protocol; determining whether a matching data has been received from an electronic device through the NFC function; if yes, determining whether the first wireless connection is valid; and if yes, transmitting the matching data to the host device through the first wireless connection. |
| US09467197B2 |
Front end circuit
A front end circuit includes a switch including two ports disposed at a primary side of the switch and ports disposed at a secondary side of the switch. The front end circuit also includes a filter unit forming return paths using at least a portion of the ports disposed on the secondary side of the switch. The filter unit includes a filter positioned on each of the return paths. |
| US09467193B2 |
Multi-band filter
A multi-band filter is disclosed. The multi-band filter includes: a housing including an antenna connector connected to an antenna and a plurality of input/output connectors inputting/outputting signals transmitted and received through the antenna depending on a preset frequency band; a plurality of band pass filter units provided in the housing and passing the signals in the preset frequency band therethrough between the antenna connector and the input/output connectors; and a coupling unit including a plurality of feeding parts so as to couple the antenna connector and each of the plurality of band pass filter units to each other. |
| US09467190B1 |
Mobile electronic device covering
A protective covering configured for use with a mobile electronics device, including a front wall and a plurality of side walls defining a primary cavity. A back wall is disposed within the primary cavity separating the primary cavity into a protective covering electronics housing cavity and a mobile electronic device housing cavity. One or more apertures are disposed within the front wall. A light source is disposed within the protective covering electronics housing cavity, wherein at least a portion of the light source is disposed outside of the protective covering electronics housing cavity and through at least one of the one or more apertures in the front wall. A heat sink is disposed within the protective covering electronics housing cavity and in contact with the light source. |
| US09467187B2 |
Method for selecting mobile communication network provider using provisioning profile, and apparatus using same
Disclosed are a method for selecting a specific provisioning profile from among a plurality of provisioning profiles and an apparatus using same. In a terminal to which an embedded UICC (eUICC) is mounted, the eUICC includes at least one provisioning profile wherein each of the one or more provisioning profile enables a user terminal to communicate with a subscriber management entity supporting at least one network provider. Accordingly, a specific provisioning profile can be selected from among the one or more provisioning profiles, and a network can be connected with a specific mobile communication provider using the selected provisioning profile. |
| US09467185B2 |
Receiver and method for receiving a signal
A receiver includes a receiver circuit to receive a pulse width encoded signal and a sampling circuit to determine a position of a transition of the pulse of the signal by oversampling the received signal with respect to a quantization function and to generate a signal indicating an unexpected event, when the determined position of the transition deviates from an expected position according to the quantization function by more than a predetermined range, wherein the quantization function maps a plurality of expected positions to a plurality of values. |
| US09467181B2 |
Radio frequency receiver capable of determining a noise estimate in case of received power unbalanced antennas and method of operating thereof
The present application suggests a receiver and a method of operating thereof for determining a noise estimate based on a radio frequency signal from an interference source over different propagation paths through a plurality of antennas. A covariance matrix estimator coupled through separate processing paths to a respective one of the plurality of antennas is arranged to determine an estimate of a covariance matrix based on the received radio frequency signal. A noise estimator coupled to the covariance matrix estimator for receiving the estimate of the covariance matrix is arranged to determine a noise estimate by solving a polynomial equation of second order as a function of the noise estimate on the basis the elements of the covariance matrix estimate relating to a set of two antennas. |
| US09467176B2 |
Computationally efficient convolutional coding with rate-matching
An error coding circuit comprises a non-systematic convolutional encoder for coding an input bit stream to produce two or more groups of parity bits, an interleaver circuit for interleaving parity bits within each group of parity bits, and a rate-matching circuit for outputting a selected number of the interleaved parity bits ordered by group to obtain a desired code rate. |
| US09467173B2 |
Multi-code Chien's search circuit for BCH codes with various values of m in GF(2m)
The present invention discloses a multi-code Chien's search circuit for BCH codes with various values of m in GF(2m). The circuit includes: a combined matrix unit, a number of first multiplexers, a number of registers and a number of second multiplexers. By designing the Chien's search circuit having several Chien's search matrices, with peripheral components, it is able to achieve applications for different code rates, different code lengths and even different m in GF(2m). |
| US09467171B1 |
Systems and methods for on-demand exchange of extrinsic information in iterative decoders
Systems and methods are provided for decoding a codeword using an iterative decoding process. The systems and methods include receiving a codeword comprising a plurality of symbols, and concurrently processing the received codeword with a detector and a decoder based in part on extrinsic information associated with the plurality of symbols to obtain updated extrinsic information. The systems and methods further include modifying the extrinsic information associated with the plurality of symbols based on the updated extrinsic information, and repeating the processing and modifying steps until a stopping criterion is met. |
| US09467166B2 |
Enhanced compression, encoding, and naming for resource strings
Technology is disclosed herein for compressing, encoding, and otherwise reducing the size of resource files. In at least one implementation, similarity compression is employed to reduce the size of a resource file. In another implementation, map-less encoding is employed to reduce the number of bytes used to represent a resource string. Bit-level compression is employed in another implementation to reduce the quantity of bits used to encode each character in a string. In addition, implementations are disclosed related to technology for naming strings and accelerated string location and retrieval. |
| US09467165B2 |
Physical layer encoding and decoding method and apparatuses thereof
This application discloses a physical layer encoding and decoding method and apparatuses thereof, where the method includes: receiving an MII control block and a first 256-bit to-be-encoded block that are input; determining a control block in the first 256-bit to-be-encoded block, and compressing the determined control block; determining a physical layer encoding format, a value of a sync header, a hierarchy of a block type field, and a value of the block type field according to the MII control block; and obtaining an encoding result by means of mapping the compressed to-be-encoded block to data in a physical layer data format according to the determined physical layer encoding format, adding a sync header to the data, and adding, according to the hierarchy of the block type field, a block type field to space obtained by compression. This application may be used to meet a requirement of an RS-FEC algorithm. |
| US09467164B2 |
Apparatus and method for supporting polar code designs
A method includes simulating transmission of multiple symbols representing multiple bits over at least one communication channel, where the multiple symbols are associated with a polar code. The method also includes identifying error rates of equivalent bit channels associated with the simulated transmission of the symbols. The method further includes selecting a specified number of the bits as frozen bits in the polar code using the identified error rates. Simulating the transmission of the symbols could include computing log likelihood ratio (LLR) values associated with the equivalent bit channels and simulating polar decoding of received symbols using the LLR values. Identifying the error rates could include calculating means and variances of the LLR values associated with the equivalent bit channels and identifying probability density functions of the LLR values using the means and variances. The selected bits could represent the specified number of bits identified as having worst error rates. |
| US09467163B1 |
Power reduction in delta sigma modulator
A high-order delta-sigma modulator is realized with amplifying/integrating circuits each having a small circuit scale, to thereby provide a small-size and low-power consumption delta-sigma modulator having a high precision. The delta-sigma modulator including the amplifying/integrating circuits connected in series in a plurality of stages has a delta-sigma modulator configuration in which one of adjacent amplifying/integrating circuits includes a delay integrating circuit and another thereof includes a non-delay integrating circuit. In an actual circuit, one amplifying circuit is operated in a time division manner to be shared between the adjacent amplifying/integrating circuits. The circuit scale is reduced in this way. |
| US09467160B2 |
Flash ADC with interpolators
An ADC is provided. The ADC includes a plurality of pre-amplifiers, dynamic comparators coupled to the pre-amplifiers, interpolators and an encoder. Each pre-amplifier provides a pair of differential outputs according to a pair of differential analog signals and a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage different from the first reference voltage. Each dynamic comparator provides a first comparing signal and a second comparing signal according to the pair of differential outputs of the corresponding pre-amplifier. Each interpolator provides an interpolating signal according to the first and second comparing signals of two of the dynamic comparators. The encoder provides a digital output according to the interpolating signals. The first and second comparing signals are the same in a reset phase, and the first and second comparing signals are complementary according to the pair of differential outputs of the corresponding pre-amplifier in an evaluation phase. |
| US09467159B1 |
Analog-to-digital converting device and related calibration method and calibration module
An analog-to-digital converting device includes a converting module, for sampling an analog input voltage according to a plurality of sampling signals to generate a comparing voltage and generating a comparing signal according to the comparing voltage, wherein the converting module comprises a plurality of capacitors and each of the plurality of capacitors couples between one of the plurality sampling signals and the comparing voltage; a control module, for adjusting the plurality of sampling signals according to the comparing signal, to generate a digital signal corresponding to the analog input voltage, wherein a plurality of bits of the digital signal are respectively corresponding to the capacitances of the plurality of capacitors; and a calibration module, for adjusting the capacitances of the plurality of capacitors according to the digital signal. |
| US09467158B1 |
Apparatus and a method for providing oscillator signals
An apparatus for providing oscillator signals includes a first digital-to-time converter module configured to generate a first oscillator signal based on a first adapted input signal, a second digital-to-time converter module configured to generate a second oscillator signal; and a first processing module configured to generate the first adapted input signal of the first digital-to-time converter module by adding noise to a first input signal. |
| US09467155B2 |
Phase-locked loop circuit including voltage down converter consisting of passive element
A phase-locked loop circuit includes a first circuit, a second circuit, and a voltage down converter. The first circuit generates a first signal based on a reference signal and a feedback signal, and operates based on a first supply voltage. The second circuit generates an oscillation signal based on a second signal, generates the feedback signal by dividing the oscillation signal, and operates based on a second supply voltage lower than the first supply voltage. The voltage down converter generates the second signal by decreasing an activation voltage level of the first signal. The voltage down converter includes at least one passive element electrically connected between the first circuit and the second circuit. |
| US09467152B2 |
Output circuit
An output circuit includes: an output portion which includes a plurality of output blocks each of which converts 2-bits parallel data to 1-bit serial data and outputs the converted serial data; a control signal generation circuit; a first clock generation portion; and a plurality of second clock generation portions which individually generate second clocks, wherein each of the output blocks includes: a latency expansion circuit which sequentially latches the 2-bits parallel data according to the reference clock and an inverted reference clock, selects two from the latched data signals based on the latency adjustment signal; and two-clocks flip-flop circuit which latches one of two outputs from the latency expansion circuit in synchronization with the second clock corresponding to the output block and latches the other of the two outputs from the latency expansion circuit in synchronization with the inverted second clock. |
| US09467150B2 |
Dynamic clock rate control for power reduction
A pipeline system may adjust clock rates of variable-rate clock signals sent to different processing circuit blocks in a pipeline based on their respective, individual input and output buffer fill levels and processor busy statuses. Variable-rate clock generation circuitry may generate the variable-rate clock signals based on a common clock signal. Additionally, the variable-rate clock generation circuity may set or adjust the rates of variable-rate clock signals linearly in evenly-spaced increments and decrements. |
| US09467147B2 |
Counter circuit and image sensor including the same
An integrated circuit counter includes a cascaded chain of bit counters, which are collectively configured to count a number of first edges of a counter input signal received at an input thereof and output the count as a counter output signal. The cascaded chain includes at least two bit counters, which are: (i) configured to support both counter and buffer modes of operation, and (ii) responsive to respective bypass control bit signals having values that specify whether a corresponding one of the at least two bit counters is disposed in the counter or buffer mode of operation. |
| US09467146B2 |
Output circuit adapted for integrated circuit and associated control method
An output circuit adapted for an integrated circuit is provided. The output circuit includes a driver, a pre-driver and a buffer circuit. The driver is electrically connected to two output nodes outside the integrated circuit to output signals. The pre-driver controls the driver, and includes a load and an input transistor connected in series. Between the load and the input transistor is a connection node for controlling the driver. The buffer circuit controls the load and the input transistor according to an internal signal. Before turning off the input transistor, the buffer circuit pre charges the connection node through the load. |
| US09467142B2 |
Semiconductor device with buffer and replica circuits
A semiconductor device, includes an input buffer, first and second PMOS transistors serially interconnected between a first power supply node and an output node of the input buffer. First and second NMOS transistors are serially interconnected between a second power supply node and the output node of the input buffer. A replica circuit includes a third and fourth PMOS transistors serially interconnected between the first power supply node and an output node of the replica circuit. Third and fourth NMOS transistors are serially interconnected between the second power supply node and the output node of the replica circuit. The input node of the replica circuit is connected to the output node of the replica circuit and a comparison circuit compares a voltage at the output node of the replica circuit to a reference voltage. |
| US09467140B2 |
Field-effect transistor driver
A field-effect transistor (FET) driver is provided that includes an input modulator and an isolating capacitor. The input modulator is configured to output an alternating current (AC) signal. The isolating capacitor is configured to receive the AC signal as an input and to store a charge based on the AC signal in a filter capacitor. The filter capacitor is configured to drive a capacitor-driven FET based on the stored charge. |
| US09467139B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device capable of reducing power consumption is provided. A writing potential is supplied to the cell 11 in which data rewriting is to be performed, whereby data is written. Meanwhile, in the cell 11 in which data rewriting is not to be performed, the data is transferred to the cell 12 and then the transferred data is rewritten to the cell 11. As a result, the data stored in the cell 11 in which data rewriting is not to be performed can be maintained without the reading and writing operation in a driver circuit. This results in a higher rewriting speed and lower power consumption in the driver circuit. |
| US09467133B2 |
Comparator apparatus and method
A comparator comprises a differential input stage comprising a first n-type transistor and a second n-type transistor, an output stage coupled to the differential input stage, a clock transistor coupled to the differential input stage and a pre-charge apparatus connected in parallel with the clock transistor. |
| US09467131B2 |
Delay circuit
A delay circuit includes a current circuit, a first current mirror circuit, a second current mirror circuit, a self-compensation circuit, and a delay capacitor. A fixed ratio is between the first current and the second current provided by the current circuit. The first current mirror circuit generates a first mirror current in response to the first current. A partial current of the second current flowing through the second current mirror circuit is a base current, and the second current mirror circuit generates a second mirror current in response to the base current. The self-compensation circuit generates a feedback current in response to the second mirror current. The delay capacitor generates a delay signal. The charging current is equal to the second current subtracting the base current. The first mirror current is the sum of the base current, the second mirror current, and the feedback current. |
| US09467130B2 |
Delay line circuits and semiconductor integrated circuits
A delay line circuit is provided and includes a fine delay unit and coarse delay units. Each fine delay circuit includes a first PMOS transistor; a first NMOS transistor; second PMOS transistors whose widths of gate features of the second PMOS transistor are equal; at least one third PMOS transistor, coupled between the power voltage and the source of the first PMOS transistor, whose width of gate features is smaller than the widths of the gate features of the second PMOS transistors, second NMOS transistors whose widths of gate features of the second NMOS transistors are equal; and at least one third NMOS transistor, coupled between the ground voltage and the source of the first NMOS transistor, whose width of gate features is smaller than the widths of the gate features of the second NMOS transistors. |
| US09467128B2 |
Linearization circuit for high frequency signal phase adjustment
A circuit includes a phase adjustment capacitor (PAC) coupled to a signal path and configured to adjust a phase of a signal on the signal path. A transistor switch device is coupled in series with the PAC to provide a circuit branch parallel with the signal path. The transistor switch device is configured to selectively open or close the circuit branch of the signal path to enable or disable, respectively, the adjustment of the phase of the signal on the signal path via the PAC. A nonlinear capacitance is coupled to a node interconnecting the PAC and the transistor switch device. The nonlinear capacitance is configured to vary inversely proportional with a capacitance of the transistor switch device with respect to the signal on the signal path and to linearize a total capacitance provided by the circuit branch when the circuit branch is open. |
| US09467126B1 |
Josephson current source systems and method
One embodiment describes a Josephson current source system. The system includes a flux-shuttle loop comprising a plurality of stages arranged in a series loop. Each of the plurality of stages includes at least one Josephson junction. The flux-shuttle loop can be configured, when activated, to sequentially trigger the at least one Josephson junction in each of the plurality of stages about the flux-shuttle loop in response to an inductively-coupled AC clock signal to generate a DC output current provided through an output inductor. The system also includes a flux injector system that is configured to activate the flux-shuttle loop. The flux injector system is further configured to automatically deactivate the flux-shuttle loop in response to an amplitude of the DC output current increasing to a predetermined deactivation threshold. |
| US09467125B2 |
CMOS Schmitt trigger circuit and associated methods
The Schmitt trigger circuit includes a signal input, a first inverter coupled to the signal input and configured to operate at a first voltage, and a second inverter coupled downstream of the first inverter and configured to operate at a second voltage lower than the first voltage. A protection device is coupled between the first inverter and the second inverter, and configured to limit a voltage input to the second inverter at the second voltage. A feedback circuit is coupled downstream of the protection device between the first inverter and the second inverter and configured to introduce hysteresis. An output circuit is coupled to the second inverter and configured to provide an output signal at the second voltage. The approach provides an architecture for 3.3V receivers designed by using 1.8V devices, without active power consumption from the I/O PAD during transition, and/or that supports CMOS standard levels for 1.8V and 3.3V receivers. |
| US09467123B2 |
Reception circuit, and reception apparatus
There is provided a reception circuit that includes a local signal generation section, a duty-cycle correction section, an oscillation signal generation section, and a mixture section. The local signal generation section is configured to generate a local signal, the local signal being different in frequency from a modulated reception signal. The duty-cycle correction section is configured to correct a duty cycle of the generated local signal to be a predetermined value. The oscillation signal generation section is configured to generate a plurality of oscillation signals, the oscillation signals being generated using the duty-cycle-corrected local signal to vary in phase. The mixture section is configured to mix the reception signal with each of the oscillation signals. |
| US09467116B2 |
Broad band diplexer using suspended strip-line capacitor technology
A broad band diplexer employing suspended strip-line capacitors is disclosed. The diplexer has a low pass filter circuit and a high band pass filter circuit. The high band pass filter circuit has a first set of conductive pathways formed on the first surface of a suspended dielectric substrate, a second conductive pathway formed on the second surface of the substrate such that first and second conductive pathways are capacitively coupled, and plural resonators. The high pass filter circuit provides plural transmission poles within the band of operation exceeding the number of resonators. |
| US09467111B2 |
Operator adjustable full-bandwidth audio spectral shifting control with a simple listener interface
A spectral response shifting method allows a listener to shift a system response to match their preferences. The method includes a lookup table of coefficients for a number of Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) filter or Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filter which are selected by the listener to shift the response either toward bass or towards treble. In one embodiment, 5th order IIR biquads filters are used at ½ dB increments from −6 dB to +6 dB. For example, when a listener selects the “more treble by 1 dB” setting, a set of coefficients is loaded providing −1 dB in bass cut at the lowest frequency of the audible spectrum (20 Hz) and +1 dB of treble boost at the highest frequency of the audible spectrum (20 kHz). The frequency response at all other points is defined by interpolating between the highest frequency (20 kHz) and the lowest frequency (20 Hz). |
| US09467109B2 |
Differential amplifier with high-speed common mode feedback
The differential signals at the outputs of a differential amplifier quickly change in response to common mode changes in the output differential signals. The amplified input signals amplified by the differential amplifier quickly change in response to common mode changes in the differential signals input into the differential amplifier. A bias voltage input to the differential amplifier is isolated to remove low-frequency components from the bias voltage. |
| US09467107B2 |
Rail-to-rail follower circuits
In some embodiments, a source follower circuit may include a first level shifter configured to receive an input voltage; an N-type Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (NMOS) transistor having a gate terminal coupled to an output of the first level shifter; a second level shifter configured to receive the input voltage; a P-type Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (PMOS) transistor having a gate terminal coupled to an output of the second level shifter and a source terminal coupled to a source terminal of the NMOS transistor; and an amplifier configured to receive the input voltage and to output a current at a node between the source terminal of the NMOS transistor and the source terminal of the PMOS transistor, wherein the current is determined based upon a difference between the input voltage and a reference voltage. |
| US09467101B2 |
Systems, circuits and methods related to multi-mode power amplifiers having improved linearity
Multi-mode power amplifiers (PAs) having improved linearity. A PA can include an amplifying bipolar junction transistor (BJT) configured to receive and amplify a radio-frequency (RF) signal. The PA can further include a biasing circuit configured to provide a first bias signal or a second bias signal to the BJT for operation in a first mode or a second mode. Each of the first bias signal and the second bias signal can be routed to the BJT through a path that includes a common node and a ballast. The PA can further include a linearizing circuit implemented between the common node and a node along an input path for the BJT. The linearizing circuit can be configured as a coupling path to improve linearity of the PA operating in the first mode while allowing the ballast to be sufficiently robust for the PA operating in the second mode. |
| US09467098B2 |
Slew rate control boost circuits and methods
The present disclosure amplifier circuits and methods having boosted slew rates. In one embodiment, an amplifier circuit comprises an output stage comprising a first output transistor, the first output transistor comprising a gate, a source, and a drain, wherein the gate receives a signal to be amplified. A bias circuit biases the gate of the first output transistor. A damping circuit is coupled the gate of the first output transistor and is configured to produce a high impedance at low frequencies and a low impedance at high frequencies. The damping circuit includes a current limit circuit to limit current to the gate of the first output transistor when a voltage on the gate of the first output transistor decreases in response to the signal. |
| US09467092B1 |
Phased locked loop with multiple voltage controlled oscillators
A phased locked loop (PLL) incorporates multiple voltage controlled oscillators including one that operates in a lower frequency range than an operational VCO used by the PLL. A VCO selection circuit allows the system to select from one or more alternate VCOs. A ring oscillator VCO may be used as the alternate VCO for a PLL that uses a LC VCO for the operational VCO. While the ring oscillator VCO provides lower performance, the ring oscillator VCO allows the system with the PLL to be run at a lower speed for testing, debugging or characterization. |
| US09467083B1 |
Wound-field generator including electrically isolated engine alternator
An isolated power management system includes at least one electronic power generator with a stationary side and a rotational side. The stationary side has an exciter field stator winding, a main field stator winding, and an isolator stator winding. The rotational side rotates with respect to the stationary side and includes a rotor power converting unit. At least one digital engine microcontroller generates a first electrical excitation current and excites the exciter field stator winding to generate a first electromagnetic field. The rotor power converting unit generates a second electromagnetic field in response to being energized by the first electromagnetic field. The main field stator winding and the isolator stator winding output first and second power signals, respectively, in response to being energized by the second electromagnetic field, where the second power signal is independent and isolated from the first power signal. |
| US09467077B2 |
Method and architecture for processing electrical energy regenerated from an aircraft
A method and architecture processing electrical energy regenerated from an aircraft, to address drawbacks posed by customary solutions for dissipating low energy of resistors, conventionally ceramics, which require a significant volume of ceramic and an additional power converter. The method and architecture return energy to an electric generator to convert the energy into mechanical energy. The architecture includes a reversible electric generator, driven by a thermal machine and configured to deliver an AC voltage, electric actuators, and a voltage converter circuit with multiple links. The circuit includes AC voltage rectifiers for voltage originating from the generator and power converters arranged on the multiple links to drive as many electric actuators. The converter circuit also includes a mechanism for electrical energy inverse transmission applied to the generator operating in a motor mode. |
| US09467062B2 |
Capacitor input type smoothing circuit
A pulsating circuit suppling a pulsating voltage to a load when a capacitor is not discharged, and a control circuit which controls discharging the capacitor. The control circuit includes a smoothing circuit, and a voltage detection circuit. The voltage detection circuit includes a first switch that is turned off by detecting the pulsating voltage is in a voltage range; a second switch connected to the first switch and is turned on when the first switch is turned off; and a third switch connected to the second switch and is turned on when the second switch is turned on When the pulsating voltage is not in the discharge voltage range of the capacitor, the first switch is turned on and the second and third switches are turned off. A discharge voltage of the capacitor is set within a range that is slightly higher than a lower limit of a voltage. |
| US09467060B2 |
Capacitive level shifter devices, methods and systems
Systems and methods of use relate to a circuit that is designed to detect the state of two control signals, wherein one control signal indicates an ON state for the gate driver and the other control signal indicates an OFF state for the gate driver. The circuit responds to each of the control signals by controlling the gate driver so that it drives an output either high or low. The circuit can also be configured to control the gate driver so that it to drives the output (either high or low) when neither control signal is present. |
| US09467049B2 |
Control for switching between PWM and PFM operation in a buck converter
A buck switching voltage regulator, with high side and low side switching transistors, includes mode control circuitry for switching between PWM and PFM modes based on sensing inductor current through the low side switch during switching cycle OFF times (inductor discharge). Mode switching is based on comparing a an integrated inductor current sense signal with an integrated reference signal corresponding to a predefined average inductor current IAVE. In one embodiment, a mode switching condition is based in part on [IVALLEY=2IAVE−IPEAK], where IPEAK is a detected peak inductor current at the beginning of an OFF time, and IVALLEY is an inductor current value determined by IAVE and IPEAK. |
| US09467046B2 |
Switched-mode power supply controller
The present invention relates to nonlinear and time-variant signal processing, and, in particular, to methods, systems, and apparatus for adaptive filtering and control applicable to switching power supplies. |
| US09467045B2 |
SMPS with adaptive COT control and method thereof
A SMPS has a switching circuit and a controller. The switching circuit has an input terminal and an output terminal, and also includes a switch and an inductor, wherein the switching circuit regulates an output voltage at the output terminal based on an input voltage at the input terminal by controlling a switching action of the switch. The controller generates a switching control signal to control the switch, where the switching control signal transits from a first state to a second state when an output signal at the output terminal satisfies a predetermined condition, and the switching control signal transits from the second state to the first state after a period of time. And a switching frequency of the switch and an inductor ripple current of the inductor both vary with the input voltage. |
| US09467042B2 |
Method for controlling a multiphase interleaving converter and corresponding controller
A method is provided for controlling a converter of the multiphase interleaving type. According to the method, there is detected when a change of the load applied to an output terminal of the converter occurs. All the phases of the converter are simultaneously turned off, and a driving interleaving phase shift is recovered so as to restart a normal operation of the converter. A controller for carrying out such a method is also provided. |
| US09467039B2 |
Power supply system with ripple suppression circuit and ripple suppression method thereof
A ripple suppression circuit has a filter circuit and a follower circuit. The filter circuit has a first input terminal coupled to a signal source to receive a ripple signal and an output terminal to output a filter signal which is the sum of the average value of the ripple signal and a positive bias signal. The follower circuit has a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal, wherein the first input terminal is coupled to the signal source to receive the ripple signal, the second input terminal is coupled to the output terminal of the filter circuit to receive the filter signal, the follower circuit provides an output signal at the output terminal, the output signal at least partially follows the filter signal. |
| US09467028B2 |
Electric motor
An electric motor has a stator, a rotor, two motor terminals and a filter circuit for suppressing electromagnetic interference. The filter circuit includes a flexible circuit assembly having a FPCB. Multiple filter elements are mounted to the FPCB. There are less connection points between the filter circuit and the motor terminals, which leads to higher reliability of the motor. |
| US09467027B2 |
Direct current electric machine
The disclosure relates to a direct current electric machine comprising a housing, a rotor having coils configured as electromagnets, and a stator with stator magnets. The rotor and the stator are positioned inside the housing. The electric machine also comprises sliding contacts configured to conduct current which is to be conducted through the coils of the rotor, as a commutator. The electric machine further comprises an interference suppressor configured to suppress electrical interference that emanates from the direct current electric machine. The interference suppressor is positioned outside of the housing. |
| US09467025B2 |
Display operation conditions of electric motor
An electric motor includes a signal device (5) for the display of at least two different operating conditions. For this, the signal device (5) includes six light diodes (A1-A6) which, with a running motor, are switched in a flashing manner synchronously to one another but shifted in time, so that they represent the rotational movement of the motor. |
| US09467024B2 |
Super conducting synchronous machine comprising a rotor which can rotate in relation to a stator and which has at least one super conducting winding
A super conducting synchronous machine including a rotor which may rotate in relation to a stator and which has at least one super-conducting winding which is cooled by means of a cooling machine is provided. The cooled areas of the rotor are surrounded at least partially by a vacuum chamber rotating with the rotor. A pump line connecting the vacuum chamber to a vacuum pump is provided in a connection area produced by means of at least two rotational seals, fixed in relation to a rotor and defining the vacuum chamber. |
| US09467022B2 |
Hydraulic-electrical transducer, transducer arrangement and method for driving a transducer
A hydraulic-electrical transducer, a transducer arrangement having a plurality of such transducers, and a method for driving a hydraulic-electrical transducer includes driving two adjustable hydraulic machines of each transducer in such a way that a predetermined damping pressure is set in a pressure line of a pump of a PTO (Power Take Off device) depending on the mechanical power which is input into the PTO. |
| US09467021B2 |
Engine and induction generator
An internal combustion power-plant comprising a combustion housing having a crankshaft that is driven when a fuel is combusted in the combustion housing. An induction generator is positioned around the combustion housing. The induction generator includes a stator connected to an outer surface of the combustion housing and an induction rotor that rotates about the stator. The induction rotor and the crankshaft are mechanically coupled to a sprocket via a clutch mechanism. The stator is electrically connected to power electronics that are within a nacelle that supports and surrounds the power-plant, as well as acts as a heat exchanger for the power-plant and power electronics closed loop cooling system. The induction generator operates as a generator to draw power off the crankshaft, via the clutch mechanism, to rotate the induction rotor which in turn induces current in the stator. |
| US09467019B2 |
Electric motor
A connection housing (11) which arranged outside on the motor housing (9), receives electrical connections as well as electronic components and, with respect to the motor axis, extends peripherally and axially of the motor housing (9). The connection housing (11) has two individual housings (12, 13) which are connected to one another and whose interiors are connected. |
| US09467015B2 |
Rotor magnet positioning device
A device for positioning a planar array of magnets within a permanent magnet electrical machine of the type having a rotor and stator with an air gap there between. The device includes a body made of non-ferrous material and having a first side which is attachable to the rotor and a second side which, in an assembled machine, faces the air gap. The first side of the body has a plurality of recesses therein for receiving a corresponding plurality of magnets. The recesses are shaped and arranged to separate the magnets from each other and maintain a consistent spacing between them. When the device is attached to the rotor the magnets are held in a fixed position against the rotor. The electrical machine may be a motor or a generator. |
| US09467009B2 |
Dipolar transverse flux electric machine
The present invention relates to an improved electric machine which, when operating in motor mode, produces rotational torque without using alternating magnetic polarity, but rather magnetic axial flux that utilizes coils arranged in a dipolar manner around an axial plane. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the use of energy is significantly enhanced therein by injecting the energy harvested from the collapsing fields of electromagnetic drive components, and then directing said energy from said primary-drive coils of the machine into an isolated circuit which is thereafter introduced as a transient secondary process to power secondary-drive coils of the machine in order to increase the overall efficiency of the machine. |
| US09467004B2 |
Wireless charging circuit for power bank and power bank thereof
A wireless charging circuit for power bank and a power bank thereof are provided in the present invention. The wireless charging circuit includes a boost DC to DC converter, a unidirectional conductive element and a wireless power converter. The input terminal of the boost DC to DC converter is coupled to the battery to receive the battery voltage. The output terminal of the boost DC to DC converter outputs a converted DC voltage. The first terminal of the unidirectional conductive element is coupled to the battery to receive the battery voltage. The input terminal of the wireless power converter is coupled to the second terminal of the unidirectional conductive element. When the wireless charging circuit performs the detection for the wireless power receiver, the wireless power converter disables the boost DC to DC converter. |
| US09467002B2 |
Vehicle charging system
A vehicle is provided comprising a battery, a charge plate electrically connected to the battery, and a thermal sensor configured to output a signal indicative of a sensed temperature. The thermal sensor can be positioned to determine temperature in the area proximate to the charge plate. The vehicle further includes at least one controller configured to (a) cause an association signal to be repeatedly transmitted during a battery charge procedure such that charging of the battery via the charge plate is maintained, and (b) in response to the sensed temperature exceeding a primary threshold, cause the repeated transmission of the association signal to be interrupted such that charging of the battery ceases. |
| US09467000B2 |
Intelligent independent battery management system and method
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a method for monitoring a battery pack is provided. The battery pack includes a plurality of modules and a pack controller, and each module includes a corresponding module controller. For each module, the method includes measuring a module current and measuring a module voltage. The measured module current and the measured module voltage are compared to state of health (SOH) data in at least one dynamic look-up table. A state of charge for the module is determined based on the comparison of the measured module current and the measured module voltage to the SOH data in the dynamic look-up table. For a particular embodiment, the dynamic look-up table is initially configured based on a type of battery chemistry for the battery pack, and after each charge cycle for the module, the dynamic look-up table is updated based on empirical data for the module. |
| US09466999B2 |
Vehicle with an electric storage section capable of discharging (supplying) an electric power to an external electric load, discharge system including the vehicle and a power cable, method for discharging the electric storage section, and equipment external to the vehicle used in the discharge system
A vehicle 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to a charge-discharge system CDS. The charge-discharge system includes the vehicle 10, an electric power cable 20, a plug-in station 30, a HEMS 40, and a commercial power supply 50. In a state where the connector 21 of the electric power cable 20 is connected with the inlet of the vehicle 10, an electric power is discharged/supplied from the vehicle electric storage device 11 to an external electric load (e.g., external electric storage device 41). Further, the vehicle electric storage device 11 is capable of being charged by the external power supply 50 through the electric power cable 20. A control device 12 of the vehicle 10 obtains/detects a permissible current value of the electric power cable 20, based on a specific signal (control pilot signal) which is transmitted through a CPLT terminal of the connector 21 before it starts the discharge to the external electric load from the vehicle electric storage device 11. |
| US09466997B2 |
System for pre-charging a capacitor by a battery
There is provided a system for pre-charging a capacitor by means of a battery, including a switch and an element for limiting charging current of the capacitor, said switch and said limiting element being connected whereby a charging current from the battery to the capacitor may pass through said switch and said limiting element, which is characterized in that the limiting element for limiting the charging current of the capacitor is an energy transfer device. |
| US09466995B2 |
Self-contained automatic battery charging systems and methods
Disclosed herein is an embodiment of a charger having a power printed circuit board (PCB) that enables an alternating current (AC) power to flow into a self-contained automatic battery charging system. A first switchmode converter converts an AC input power into a direct current (DC) power thereby to provide an active power factor correction to obtain an improved power factor. The first switchmode converter comprising a high frequency isolation transformer which provides an electrical isolation between a primary circuitry and a secondary circuitry of the self-contained automatic battery charging system. A second switchmode converter connected to a DC output from the first switchmode converter regulates system output voltage and limits system output current to an electrical load. The DC output is connected to a battery and/or another electrical storage device to be charged and/or to a parallel-connected DC load to be powered. An optional accessory PCB is electrically connected to the power PCB, and they are housed in a same chassis or enclosure. The optional accessory PCB provides optional features including an LCD, alarm output relay(s), and/or a controller area network bus (CANbus) interface. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US09466994B2 |
Mobile terminal power receiving module utilizing wireless power transmission and mobile terminal rechargeable battery including mobile terminal power receiving module
A mobile terminal power receiving module 1 which is housed together with a rechargeable battery 3 in a rechargeable battery pack 2 in a mobile terminal such as a smart phone 5, includes a sheet coil 13 in which a coil 12 constituted by conductors is formed on a flexible circuit board 11 as a circuit pattern and a magnetic sheet 14 made of resin in which magnetic powder is dispersed. |
| US09466993B2 |
Charge and discharge control circuit having an intermediate terminal disconnection detecting circuit for detecting disconnection with secondary batteries
The present invention provides a charge and discharge control circuit and a battery device capable of detecting an intermediate terminal disconnection without causing the balance between battery voltages to collapse and shortening the service life of the battery device. A charge and discharge control circuit which controls charging/discharging of a plurality of secondary batteries connected in series is equipped with intermediate terminal disconnection detecting circuits each of which is provided between a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal of each secondary battery and detects an intermediate terminal disconnection of each intermediate terminal by intermittently equal detection currents. |
| US09466988B2 |
Induction power transfer for auxiliary vehicle lights
An induction power transfer system for auxiliary vehicle lights is provided. A transmitting power module coupled to an interior surface of a windshield includes a transmitting induction coil. The transmitting induction coil generates an oscillating magnetic field in response to receiving an electric current. A receiving power module is coupled to an exterior surface of the windshield of the vehicle. The receiving power module is substantially aligned with the transmitting power module coupled to the interior surface of the windshield. The receiving power module includes a receiving induction coil. The receiving induction coil generates an alternating electric current in response to a presence of the oscillating magnetic field. An auxiliary vehicle LED light coupled to an exterior surface of the vehicle is connected to the receiving power module by an insulated conductor. The receiving power module supplies the alternating electric current to the auxiliary vehicle LED light. |
| US09466985B2 |
Control method for fuel cell power
A power controlling method for a power supplying system coupled to a load is disclosed. City energy is detected. It is determined whether the city energy corresponds to a first pre-determined condition. When the city energy corresponds to the first pre-determined condition, the city energy is transformed to generate a main power to the load. When the city energy does not correspond to the first pre-determined condition, a fuel cell unit is activated to provide a backup power to the load. |
| US09466983B2 |
Auxiliary winding for extended current measurement
A power controller controls power to a load and includes a primary current sensor, a controller and a current source. The primary current sensor includes a primary conductor and an auxiliary conductor. The primary conductor carries a primary current to the load and the auxiliary conductor carries an auxiliary current in the opposite direction of the primary current to provide partial flux cancellation. The primary current sensor provides an output voltage based upon a magnetic field generated by the primary current and auxiliary current. The controller determines the primary current based upon the output voltage and the auxiliary current. The current source provides the auxiliary current. The controller controls the current source to provide the auxiliary current to the auxiliary conductor if the primary current is greater than a threshold value. |
| US09466978B2 |
Electrostatic discharge protection for level-shifter circuit
A circuit, a multiple power domain circuit, and a method are disclosed. An embodiment is a circuit including an input circuit having a first output and a second output, the input circuit being coupled to a first power supply voltage, and a level-shifting circuit having a first input coupled to the first output of the input circuit and a second input coupled to the second output of the input circuit, the level-shifting circuit being coupled to a second power supply voltage. The circuit further includes a first transistor coupled between a first node of the level-shifting circuit and the second power supply voltage, and a control circuit having an output coupled to a gate of the first transistor, the control circuit being coupled to the second power supply voltage. |
| US09466974B2 |
Systems and methods for inductive overvoltage protection of PFC bulk capacitors in power supplies
Systems and methods are provided that may be implemented for overvoltage protection of bulk capacitors employed in power factor correction (PFC) circuitry components of switched mode power supply units (PSUs) using one or more inductive overvoltage feedback protection paths (OVPs) to monitor a voltage indicative of a PFC bulk capacitor by sensing the real time voltage at one or both of the primary and/or secondary side windings of a PSU transformer, and/or using an auxiliary windings of a PSU transformer. |
| US09466967B2 |
Oil-cooled equipment harness
An oil-cooled equipment harness includes a front end to be enclosed in a shielding case of an oil-cooled equipment for connecting to a terminal of a body of the oil-cooled equipment disposed in the shielding case, a wire including a conductor, a sheath including an insulating elastic member on a periphery side of the conductor, and a flexibility, a terminal fitting enclosing a portion of the conductor and a portion of the sheath of the wire, connecting to the conductor, and connecting to the terminal of the body of the oil-cooled equipment, a housing attached to shielding case and enclosing a periphery of the wire a predetermined distance away from the terminal fitting such that the wire is exposed from the terminal fitting, and an oil entry-preventing unit disposed between the wire and the terminal fitting for preventing oil in the shielding case from entering into the conductor. |
| US09466965B2 |
Motor control center unit withdraw with door closed
An electrical enclosure wherein an electrical component can be moved between various positions (e.g., connected, disconnected, test, etc.) without opening an enclosure door. The electrical enclosure supports a component for movement between a withdrawn position, a test position, and an inserted position. A handle is accessible by an operator from an exterior of the enclosure and is configured to move the component between the respective positions without having to open the enclosure. The handle is integral with the enclosure and thus an operator needs no special tool or other device to effect movement of the electrical component between its respective positions. |
| US09466964B1 |
Multilevel cable management system
A rack-mountable computer system includes a horizontal divider that divides a chassis interior of the computer system into a first level and a second level. A plurality of electronic components are mounted on the first level and a plurality of electronic components are mounted on a moveable tray of the second level. The horizontal divider includes one or more elongated openings and a plurality of cables that pass through the one or more elongated openings. The plurality of cables connect the electronic components mounted on the first level to the electronic components mounted on the moveable tray. The one or more elongated openings guide the plurality of cables to slide within the one or more elongated openings as the moveable tray is moved into or out of the chassis interior. |
| US09466963B2 |
Safety channel for breaker boxes
A breaker box suitable for safely housing an electrical connection. The electrical connection can be made between at least two electrical conductors. The breaker box includes a bottom and a plurality of adjacent side walls, each the side wall being at least partially joined to the bottom and to each adjacent side wall to form an open box. Each side wall can have a top edge wherein the top edges define a box interior and an open box perimeter. At least one the side wall includes a screw connection near the box perimeter, the screw connection including threads for engaging mating threads of a screw. The screw connection can be disposed to receive the screw generally parallel to and adjacent the at least one side wall. A screw guard can be disposed on the side wall, the screw guard encompassing and isolating the screw from the interior when the screw is screwed into the screw connection. |
| US09466960B2 |
Binding band unit of electric wire passing guide
A hole for inserting a binding band is arranged through a gutter shape electric wire passing guide. A widening width guide groove for guiding the binding band is arranged at an inner surface of the electric wire passing guide so as to expand its width gradually from the hole toward an opening end of one sidewall of the electric wire passing guide. In condition that a plurality of electric wires is inserted in the electric wire passing guide, a tip end of the binding band is inserted from the guide groove into the hole. One side surface of the guide groove is curved convexly toward the projecting top between the hole and the opening end. The one side surface of the guide groove is inclined toward the projecting top between a bottom surface of the guide groove and the inner surface of the electric wire passing guide. |
| US09466958B2 |
Conduit end with demarcation
A coated conduit end with a perceivable demarcation quickly and reliably indicates how far conduit is screwed or inserted into a coated conduit fitting to form a conduit system. |
| US09466956B2 |
Handheld wire stripper tool device
A wire stripper tool device is disclosed. The disclosed device comprises a wire retaining dial defining a plurality of graduated holes adjacent to a circumference thereof and an inlet for each hole defined from the circumference to a radius of each hole. The dial is configured to retain and center an insulated wire in one of the graduated holes for a blade to cut the wire through a respective inlet thereof. A spring-loaded two piece body is configured to allow the cutting blade set in a first body piece thereof to be raised and lowered relative to the wire retaining dial set in a second body piece thereof. A limiter set in the first body piece is configured in opposition to a boss in the second body piece. The limiter predetermines a minimum lateral displacement between the two body pieces based on an extension of the limiter relative to the boss. |
| US09466954B1 |
Rack mountable power distribution units
Example implementations relate to rack mountable power distribution units (PDUs). For example, a PDU includes a plurality of receptacles to couple to power cords of a plurality of computing devices, where each receptacle includes a retention mechanism to hold the power cords in the receptacles. The PDU includes a first set of mounting holes and a second set of mounting holes on either side of the PDU, where the first and second set of mounting holes are to receive a plurality of mounting buttons to mount the PDU to a rack. |
| US09466953B2 |
Intra-event control strategy for corona ignition systems
The invention provides a system and method for controlling corona discharge and arc formations during a single corona event, i.e. intra-event control. A driver circuit provides energy to the corona igniter and detects any arc formation. In response to each arc formation, the energy provided to the corona igniter is shut off for short time. The driver circuit also obtains information about the arc formations, such as timing of the first arc formation and number of occurrences. A control unit then adjusts the energy provided to the corona igniter after the shut off time and during the same corona event based on the information about the arc formations. For example, the voltage level could be reduced or the shut-off time could be increased to limit arc formations and increase the size of the corona discharge during the same corona event. |
| US09466947B2 |
Semiconductor laser diode with shortened cavity length
A semiconductor laser diode (LD) with a shortened cavity length is disclosed. The LD provides a rectangular substrate and, on the substrate, a cavity structure including a mesa with facets forming the laser cavity. The facets of the mesa are stood back from the side of the substrate. Pads to provide electrical signals are arranged in both sides of the mesa close to the sides of the substrate. |
| US09466944B2 |
Compact tunable laser device
The present invention relates to a compact tunable laser device that can change the oscillation laser wavelength. The laser device includes: a laser diode chip 100 that emits laser light; an optical feedback-partial reflective mirror 500 that feeds some of light emitted from the laser diode chip 100 back to the laser diode chip 100 by reflecting it; a collimating lens 300 that is disposed in a light path between the laser diode chip 100 and the optical feedback-partial reflective mirror 500 and collimates light emitted from the laser diode chip 100; a tunable-selective filter 300 of which the transmissive wavelength changes in accordance with temperature; and a 45°-reflective mirror 400 that changes laser light traveling horizontally to a package bottom into laser light traveling perpendicular to the package bottom, wherein the laser diode chip 100 or the tunable-selective filter 300 is disposed on a thermoelectric element 900 and has an oscillation wavelength changing in accordance with a change in temperature of the thermoelectric element 900. |
| US09466943B2 |
Heat-swap device and method
A TOSA can include: a light emitting element; and one or more heating elements thermally coupled to the light emitting element so as to provide a substantially constant heat generation profile and/or temperature profile across the TOSA during a light emitting element dormant period and a light emitting element firing period. The TOSA can include a controller operably coupled with the one or more heating elements so as to control the substantially constant heat generation profile and/or temperature profile. In one aspect, the one or more heating elements can include one or more dedicated heating elements. In one aspect, the one or more of the dedicated heating elements can include a resistor element or coil. |
| US09466936B2 |
Bulb socket and lighting system
A bulb socket and a lighting system, which can reduce components and dimensions and improve a force for holding a bulb, are provided. A housing has an insertion hole including an opening for receiving a base portion of a bulb, and a plurality of projection portions projecting from a deep side wall of the insertion hole toward an opening side. The projection portions are opposed to each other so that the base portion is sandwiched therebetween. A distance between the projection portions is formed smaller than a cross-sectional dimension of the base portion. When the base portion is inserted into the insertion hole, the projection portions are elastically deformed away from each other, and contacts slidingly a surface of the base portion. The base portion is sandwiched by a biasing force of the elastically deformed projection portions in a biasing state, and thereby the bulb is held. |
| US09466932B2 |
Electrical connector and plug-in module for the same
The present disclosure discloses an electrical connector and a plug-in module. The plug-in module includes a base, a plurality of input terminals, a plurality of output terminals and a PCB module. The base includes a bottom plate, a front plate and a back plate, and a tongue plate extending from the bottom plate forward beyond the front plate; the plurality of input terminals are fixed to the back plate, and two ends of each of the input terminals extend respectively beyond a top end of the back plate and a bottom end of the bottom plate; the plurality of output terminals are fixed to the tongue plate and the front plate, and two ends of each of the output terminals extend respectively beyond a top end of the front plate and the tongue plate; and the PCB module includes at least one circuit board. |
| US09466930B2 |
Flippable electrical connector
A plug connector mateable with the receptacle connector, includes an insulative housing enclosed in a metallic shell, defining a receiving cavity to receive the mating tongue, and equipped with a plurality of contacts on opposite sides in the vertical direction. A latch forms a pair of locking heads extending into two opposite lateral sides of the receiving cavity to lock with a shielding plate embedded within a mating tongue of the complementary receptacle connector during mating. |
| US09466926B2 |
Switch device
A switch device includes a first contacting portion including a first fixed contact, a first movable contact contactable to the first fixed contact, and a first break contact, the first movable contact being configured to selectively contact one of the first fixed contact and the first break contact; a second contacting portion including a second fixed contact, a second movable contact contactable to the second fixed contact, and a second break contact, the second movable contact being configured to selectively contact one of the second fixed contact and the second break contact; and a mechanical switch that mechanically moves the first movable contact and the second movable contact toward the first fixed contact and the second fixed contact, and toward the first break contact and the second break contact, respectively. |
| US09466925B2 |
Paddle card assembly for high speed applications
A paddle card assembly is disclosed for use in providing a high speed transmission line for connecting electronic devices together. The paddle card takes the form of a circuit board that has two distinct portions, a base portion to which wires of a cable are terminated, and an extension portion that extends rearwardly toward the cable wire in order to extend between sets of wires. The extension portion has one or more ground plane layers formed therewith and supported thereby and as such, the extension portion places a ground plane in the termination area of the connector, rear of the trailing edge of the paddle card to provide shielding between pairs of wires on opposite sides of the paddle card where the cable shields are cut back. The extension portion may have either a reduced thickness, or wire-receiving channels formed therein which accommodate portions of the wires of the cable. |
| US09466924B2 |
Electrical connector with a positioning member
An electrical connector includes an insulating body having a base and a tongue protruding from the base, a metal casing surrounding the insulating body, multiple terminals grouped into upper and lower rows and fixedly at the insulating body, a shielding sheet disposed at the insulating body and located between the upper and lower rows of terminals, and a positioning member. A positioning slot is disposed at the base. A first buckling portion is disposed inside the positioning slot. Each terminal has a contact portion extending forward and exposed partially from the tongue, and a soldering portion extending backward out of the base. The shielding sheet has a reserved space corresponding to the positioning slot. The positioning member has multiple positioning holes for positioning the soldering portions, and a second buckling portion passing through the reserved space and fixed to the first buckling portion. |
| US09466922B2 |
Electric component connection unit and electric connection box
Block positioning means is provided at an insertion permission frame and a component mounting block, the block positioning means being for positioning the component mounting block with respect to an insertion permission section in a crossing direction crossing an insertion direction in which the component mounting block to which an electric component is attachable is inserted into the insertion permission section. |
| US09466918B2 |
Signal connector having grounding member for pressing and preventing from short-circuit
The present invention is to provide a signal connector which includes an insulating body having a plurality of through grooves cut through top and bottom surfaces thereof adjacent to a front end thereof; an insulating terminal seat mounted inside the insulating body and having a plurality of metal terminals fastened thereon and separated from each other; two metal grounding members having rear ends respectively assembled with the top and bottom surfaces of the insulating body, having pressing parts respectively formed adjacent to front ends thereof and corresponding in position to the through grooves and having insulating layers respectively covered on side surfaces thereof facing the through grooves; such that the pressing part is able to apply a restoring force on the metal terminal when the signal connector is plugged with other signal connector and the metal terminal is moved away from the insulating terminal seat through the corresponding through groove. |
| US09466916B2 |
Multi-contact connector assembly
A multi-contact electrical connector assembly includes a first connector housing to electrically couple to a second connector housing. A moveable piston is disposed in a bore of the first housing and is biased to be adjacent a first plurality of electrical contacts on a surface of the bore. An end of the first housing has a first pressure connector electrically coupled to the first plurality of electrical contacts. A moveable annular piston is disposed about a rod in a bore of the second connector housing and is biased to isolate a second plurality of electrical contacts on an outer surface of the rod. The second housing also has a pressure connector electrically coupled to the second plurality of electrical contacts. The moveable piston and the moveable annular piston are simultaneously moveable to expose and matingly engage the electrical contacts. |
| US09466912B2 |
Connector
A connector is mateable with a mating connector along a predetermined direction. The connector comprises a holding member, a plurality of contacts and a plurality of contact prevention members. The holding member includes a holding portion. The plurality of contacts include held portions and main portions, respectively. The held portions are held by the holding portion. The main portions extend from the held portions, respectively, in the predetermined direction. The main portions project over the holding portion in the predetermined direction. Each of the main portions has a tubular shape. Each of the contact prevention members is made of insulator. The contact prevention members occupy insides of the main portions, respectively. The contact prevention members project over the main portions, respectively, in the predetermined direction. |
| US09466911B1 |
Terminal base having fastening structure
A terminal base (100) having a fastening structure includes a body (110), a conductive terminal (200), a metal elastic element (300), and a press block (170). The body (110) includes an accommodating space (120), a wiring hole (130), a receiving hole (140), and a hook element (150) disposed adjacent to the receiving hole (140). The wiring hole (130) and the receiving hole (140) communicate with the accommodating space (120). The hook element (150) is elastically connected to the body (110). The metal elastic element (300) includes a contact end (310) and a movable end (320), the contact end (310) is in contact with the conductive terminal (200), and the movable end (320) is elastically disposed inside the accommodating space (120). The press block (170) is movably disposed in the receiving hole (140), the press block (170) presses the movable end (320) to be engaged with the hook element (150). |
| US09466910B2 |
Electric connector having terminals with outwardly extending extension arms
The present disclosure relates to an improved structure of an electric connector. Each of terminals has a butt joint part and is vertically linked with a joint part, and each joint part has an arch-shaped necked-down section with two grooves , and other side of joint part is linked with a positioning section which has an accommodating cavity and a protruding body separately formed at two opposite side surfaces thereof and is linked with an extension arm by other side. The extension arm is linked with an insertion section in a vertical direction. The insulative base member is formed integrally to encapsulate terminals, butt joint parts can be suspended and extended in a docking chamber, and extension arms and soldering parts are respectively exposed out of the insulative base member, so the terminals can be tightly fastened in insulative base member and the endurability of the electric connector can be enhanced. |
| US09466904B2 |
Method for manufacturing terminal, and terminal
A method for manufacturing a terminal includes: an electrically conductive member that has an electrical connection, which is formed at an end portion of the electrically conductive member; and a seal film that is formed on a surface of a intermediate portion of the electrically conductive member, which is other than the electrical connection. In the method for manufacturing, the electrically conductive member is formed by processing an end portion of a rounded rod, which has a cross section having an arcuate shape, into a planar shape to form the electrical connection. Furthermore, a liquid seal agent is coated on an intermediate portion of the rounded rod, which is other than the end portion. Then, the coated liquid seal agent is solidified to form the seal film. |
| US09466902B2 |
Method of producing a detector
A detector comprising a circuit board, a board-side connector which is mounted on the circuit board, and a flexible cable which has a terminal part inserted in the board-side connector, wherein a reinforcement member of the flexible cable is attached to an end part of the flexible cable which includes the terminal part, and the reinforcement member includes a foldable part which allows local bending of the end part of the flexible cable. |
| US09466900B1 |
Circuit board socket with rail frame
Various apparatus and methods of electrically connecting a packaged integrated circuit to a circuit board are disclosed. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a first frame to be mounted on the circuit board and having a first end. An insulating housing is adapted to be mounted on the circuit board and positioned in the first frame. A second frame is pivotally coupled to the first frame. The second frame includes two spaced-apart rail members and a cross member coupled to and between the rail members opposite the first end of the second frame. The rail members are operable to receive the packaged integrated circuit. The second frame has at least one engagement member to engage a first portion of the insulating housing when the second frame is pivoted toward the insulating housing. A third frame is pivotally coupled to the first frame to apply force to the packaged integrated circuit. |
| US09466895B2 |
Conductor terminal
A conductor connection clamp is described that comprises a housing that is embodied from an insulating material and comprises at least one resilient force clamping connector in the housing that is embodied from an insulating material, and also comprises at least one actuating element that is received in a pivotable manner in the housing that is embodied from an insulating material, said actuating element being designed so as to open in each case at least one allocated resilient force clamping connector. The actuating element comprises two lever arm sections that are spaced apart from one another and protrude at least in part with a pivot bearing region into the housing that is embodied from an insulating material and are connected one to the other spaced apart with respect to the pivot bearing region by a transverse connecting piece to a lever arm. The at least one resilient force clamping connector is covered on the side of the housing that is embodied from an insulating material on which the at least one actuating element is arranged by an outer boundary wall of the housing that is embodied from an insulating material and extends from the outer boundary wall on both sides of lateral wall sections that are adjacent to a respective allocation resilient force clamping connector into the inner space of the housing that is embodied from an insulating material. |
| US09466894B2 |
Electrical connection terminal having a metal leaf spring actuated by a shift member and an elastic unit
An electrical connection terminal structure includes: a main body defining a chamber; a metal leaf spring disposed in the chamber, the metal leaf spring being movable with the motion of a shift member to press a conductive wire into electrical connection or release the conductive wire; and an elastic unit mounted in the chamber. When the metal leaf spring is released from the pressing of the shift member to release the conductive wire from the pressing, the elastic unit normally makes the metal leaf spring and the shift member move toward a position where the conductive wire is released. This improves the shortcoming of the conventional electrical connection terminal that when released, the metal leaf spring is apt to interfere with the conductive wire and make it hard to extract the conductive wire out of the main body. |
| US09466890B2 |
Switch device
A switch device includes a circuit board disposed in a tubular holder case, a control button disposed for movement along the longitudinal directions of the holder case, the control button being actuated by pressing from outside of the switch device, and a switch unit mounted on the circuit board, the switch unit being actuated in response to rearward movement of the control button by pressing. A coil antenna is disposed rearwardly of the control button and has an outside diameter which is substantially the same as an outside diameter of the control button. |
| US09466888B2 |
Suppressing modes in an antenna feed including a coaxial waveguide
An antenna feed with mode suppression includes a transition section, having a window for connecting to an output port of a waveguide and having inner and outer conductors forming a coaxial waveguide that couples energy from the waveguide into a horizontal TE11 mode in the coaxial waveguide. A polarizer section is coupled to the transition section and generates circular polarization from the horizontal mode of the transition section. A radiator section is coupled to the polarizer and provides an output signal for the antenna feed. The transition section includes an electrical short coupling the inner and outer conductors. The electrical short is disposed adjacent to the window of the transition section. A dielectric block is also disposed between the inner and outer conductors and adjacent to the electrical short along the axis of the coaxial waveguide. A surface of the dielectric block is coated with a thin film sheet resistance. |
| US09466875B2 |
Antenna system
An antenna system is disclosed. The antenna system includes a printed circuit board, a metallic frame surrounding and electrically connecting with the printed circuit board, a low frequency antenna unit electrically connecting to the metallic frame and an antenna feed, a high frequency antenna unit electrically connecting to the metallic frame and the antenna feed, a ground terminal disposed on the metallic frame for grounding the metallic frame, and an adjusting terminal for being grounded via a matching component for adjusting the low frequency performance of the antenna system. The antenna system enables covering the operational frequency bands of 791 MHz˜960 MHz, and 1710 MHz˜2690 MHz. By virtue of the adjusting terminal, ultra wide low frequency of dual-resonance is accordingly performed. |
| US09466870B2 |
Electricity meter antenna configuration
An improved electricity meter antenna configuration is disclosed herein. An electricity meter may include, for example, a radio, a first printed circuit board element, a second printed circuit board element and a flexible printed circuit element. The first printed circuit board element may be, for example, a main printed circuit board to which one or more electrical components are attached. The flexible printed circuit element may include at least a portion of an antenna element that is connected to the radio. In some cases, the second printed circuit board element may serve to shield the antenna element on the flexible printed circuit element from noise generated by electrical components on the first printed circuit board element. In some cases, an electrical connection path between the antenna element and the radio may be configured such that it does not include any coaxial cabling. |
| US09466869B2 |
Optimal direction determination of radio signals
Mobile communication devices, e.g., cellphones, may integrate an antenna array that includes one or more antenna to form radio beams at a preferred direction and a signal locator to identify coordinates corresponding to a strongest signal strength and direct the antenna array towards the strongest single strength. |
| US09466865B2 |
Systems and methods for improved ferrite circulator RF power handling
Systems and methods for improved ferrite circulator RF power handling are provided. In one embodiment, a high power circulator switch comprises: at least three ferrite circulators, the at least three ferrite circulators arranged as a triad switch, wherein a first circulator is coupled to a first output of the triad switch, a second circulator is coupled to a second output of the triad switch, and a third circulator is coupled to an input of the triad switch; and a shared high power load having a first port coupled to the first circulator and a second port coupled to the second circulator. |
| US09466862B2 |
Battery state notifying unit, bus bar module, battery pack, and battery state monitoring system
Disclosed are a battery state notifying unit readily exchangeble between battery packs differing in the number of battery cell, a bus bar module and a battery pack including the battery state notifying unit, and a battery state monitoring system including the battery state notifying unit. The battery state notifying unit includes a plurality of subunits corresponding to every battery cell, and the subunits in accordance with a cell temperature signal corresponding to a voltage outputted by a bus bar and a terminal fitting, generates a battery state data composed of a digital signal including a data indicating a state of the battery cell corresponding to the subunit, and transmits the battery state data to the external battery state monitoring unit. |
| US09466853B2 |
High energy density aluminum battery
Compositions and methods of making are provided for a high energy density aluminum battery. The battery comprises an anode comprising aluminum metal. The battery further comprises a cathode comprising a material capable of intercalating aluminum or lithium ions during a discharge cycle and deintercalating the aluminum or lithium ions during a charge cycle. The battery further comprises an electrolyte capable of supporting reversible deposition and stripping of aluminum at the anode, and reversible intercalation and deintercalation of aluminum or lithium at the cathode. |
| US09466852B2 |
Proton conductor and proton conductor device
A proton conductor includes an electrolytic layer having first and second main surfaces; and a plurality of catalyst particles. The first main surface of the electrolytic layer includes a flat portion and a plurality of recessed portions. The plurality of catalyst particles are respectively located in the plurality of recessed portions. The flat portion of the first main surface and parts of surfaces of the plurality of catalyst particles exposed from the plurality of recessed portions form a third main surface. The electrolytic layer is formed of a single crystal of a perovskite-type oxide having a proton conductivity. The catalyst particles are formed of a single crystal of a noble metal material. The perovskite-type oxide of the electrolytic layer) has a crystal orientation that matches a crystal orientation of the noble metal material of the plurality of catalyst particles. |
| US09466851B2 |
Fuel-cell gas diffusion layer and method of forming the same
This fuel-cell gas diffusion layer includes a conductive porous layer constituted by: porous carbon formed so as to have a porosity distribution substantially uniform in a stacking direction with respect to a membrane electrode assembly; and a PTFE resin arranged dispersedly across the inside of the carbon. When a ratio of a surface of the carbon to a surface that is exposed without being covered with the PTFE resin is defined as an exposure ratio, the exposure ratio of a surface, on a cathode electrode side, of the conductive porous layer, is higher than the exposure ratio, on a diffusion-layer base material side, of the conductive porous layer. |
| US09466850B2 |
Filtering device, in particular for the air to be supplied to a fuel cell
A filtering device features a carrier medium and activated carbon as adsorbent which is immobilized due to the addition of adhesive. |
| US09466845B2 |
Valve assembly
A valve assembly for supplying gas, in particular for supplying air to a fuel cell, includes a valve assembly having at least two individually controllable valves, a common housing, in which the valves are accommodated, including a common inlet and at least one outlet for each valve, wherein the housing is formed of at least two housing parts, wherein the common inlet is formed in a first housing part, said inlet being coupled to one valve in each case, and wherein the valves are accommodated in a second housing part, wherein the two housing parts are sealed with respect to one another by means of assigned joining surfaces, wherein at least one valve seat for a valve is provided at the joining surface of the first housing part, said valve seat being closable with a sealing surface of the valve. |
| US09466841B2 |
Battery
Provided is a battery having an outer package made of a laminated film, and further with a terminal having a plate-form first metal layer, and second metal layers laid over both surfaces of the first metal layer, respectively. The terminal is sandwiched between portions of the resin layer or between the resin layers, and at its sandwiched region the second metal layers of the terminal contact the resin layer(s) of the laminated film. |
| US09466835B2 |
Cathode active material
A cathode active material is provided which has a charge and discharge capacity larger than that of FeF3 when used in a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery. The cathode active material for use in secondary batteries with a non-aqueous electrolyte includes an amorphous metal fluoride represented by a general formula Fe(1-x-ny)NaxMyF(3-2(x+ny)), wherein M is a metal element selected from a group consisting of Co, Ni, Cu, Mg, Al, Zn, and Sn, n represents an oxidation number of the metal element M, 0 |
| US09466832B2 |
Lithium secondary battery including a nickel containing lithium complex oxide
Provided is a lithium secondary battery that comprises a positive electrode having a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode having a negative electrode active material, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode active material is a nickel-containing lithium complex oxide having a layered structure. The oxide has a composition in which W and Zr are added, and contains no Nb. |
| US09466828B2 |
Method for preparing electrode active material for rechargeable lithium battery, electrode active material for rechargeable lithium battery, and rechargeable lithium battery
Disclosed is a method for preparing an electrode active material for a rechargeable lithium battery, including: performing first mixing to mix a carbon-based active material with a low crystalline carbon material; performing second mixing to mix the mixture of the carbon-based active material and the low crystalline carbon material with a ceramic; and performing a heat treatment, an electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery including the electrode active material for the rechargeable lithium battery prepared by the method, and a rechargeable lithium battery. |
| US09466824B2 |
Sealed battery
A sealed battery includes an electrode body; a battery case housing the electrode body and having an open surface; a lid member closing the case; a liquid inlet formed penetrating through the lid member; and a sealing member. The sealing member has: a metal sealing plate welded to the lid member to cover and seal the liquid inlet; and an annular movable portion displaceable between a contact position contacting the entire circumference of the inlet and a non-contact position not contacting at least a portion of the inlet. The movable portion is displaced to the non-contact position when the pressure of the inside region of the battery case sealed by the movable portion in the contact position is increased beyond a limit value with respect to the pressure of the outside region opposite from the inside region with respect to the movable portion. |
| US09466820B2 |
Separator incorporating electrode, electrical storage device, and vehicle
Provided is a separator incorporating an electrode, provided with two of separator sheets facing each other, an electrode sandwiched between the separator plates. Each of the facing surfaces of the separator sheets is provided with a coated portion coated with a ceramic, and a non-coated portion that is not coated with the ceramic, located in at least a portion of ranges corresponding to peripheral edges of the electrode. The separator sheets are joined to one another in the non-coated portion. |
| US09466811B2 |
Light-emitting device, module, electronic device, and manufacturing method of light-emitting device
A novel light-emitting device that is highly convenient or reliable is provided. A method for manufacturing a novel light-emitting device that is highly convenient or reliable is also provided. Further, a novel light-emitting device, a method for manufacturing a novel light-emitting device, or a novel device is provided. The present inventor has conceived the structure in which a first insulating film and a light-emitting element are provided between a first support having certain isotropy and a second support. |
| US09466810B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display includes a substrate including a pixel area and a surrounding peripheral area. The pixel area includes at least one pixel including an organic light emitting element. The OLED display includes a common voltage line disposed in the peripheral area and configured to transmit a common voltage to the pixel area, a barrier rib disposed on the substrate and covering one side of the common voltage line, a protection member covering another side of the common voltage line, at least one thin film transistor (TFT) disposed in the pixel area, a first electrode disposed in the pixel area and connected to the at least one TFT, an organic emission layer disposed on the first electrode, a second electrode disposed on the organic emission layer and connected to the common voltage line, and an encapsulation layer disposed on the protection member and the second electrode. |
| US09466807B2 |
Coating system and method for manufacturing light-emitting device
Provided is a coating system allowing on-demand preparation and coating of an ink. The coating system (10) includes an ingredient ink supply portion (20), a first pipe (90a), a stirring tank (50) including an ink stirring mechanism (52), a supply regulator portion (30) regulating the respective amounts of ingredient inks supplied to the stirring tank, a controller portion (70) connected to the supply regulator portion through an electric telecommunication line (80), determining a mixing ratio of the ingredient inks, and controlling operation of the supply regulator portion based on the mixing ratio, and a coating device (100) including an ink transport portion (120) connected to the stirring tank and including an ink discharge portion (130). |
| US09466806B2 |
Electroluminescent device
An electroluminescent device (10) comprising a substrate (40) and on top of the substrate (40) a substrate electrode (20), a counter electrode (30) and an electroluminescent layer stack with at least one organic electroluminescent layer (50) arranged between the substrate electrode (20) and the counter electrode (30), characterized in that at least one image carrier body (200) is at least partially arranged on the substrate electrode (20), suitable to influence the appearance of the device (10). |
| US09466804B2 |
Organic light-emitting element
Provided is an organic light-emitting element having high light-emitting efficiency and a long element lifetime. The organic light-emitting element includes an anode, a cathode, and an organic compound layer placed between the anode and the cathode, and the organic compound layer includes an iridium complex represented by the following general formula [1] and a metal complex represented by the following general formula [9]. Ir(L1)(L2)(L3) [1] MLL′ [9]. |
| US09466802B2 |
Organic electroluminescent element
Provided is an organic electroluminescent device (organic EL device) which has improved luminous efficiency and a simple configuration, while ensuring sufficient driving stability. This organic electroluminescent device includes a light-emitting layer between an anode and a cathode that are laminated on a substrate. The light-emitting layer contains a phosphorescent light-emitting dopant, and a carbazole compound represented by the following formula (1) as a host material. In the formula (1), E represents oxygen or sulfur, and R1 to R6 each represent hydrogen, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, or an aromatic group represented by the formula (2). In the formula (2), X represents CR9 or nitrogen. |
| US09466801B2 |
Organic light-emitting device and organic light-emitting display apparatus including the same
An organic light-emitting device includes a first electrode, a second electrode facing the first electrode, a phosphorescent emission layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, and an electron transport layer between the phosphorescent emission layer and the second electrode. The phosphorescent emission layer includes a compound represented by one of Formulae 1a to 1c, and the electron transport layer includes a metal-containing compound and a compound represented by Formula 2. |
| US09466799B2 |
Organic devices, organic electroluminescent devices and organic solar cells
An organic device, including an organic compound having charge-transporting ability (i.e., transporting holes and/or electrons) and/or including organic light emissive molecules capable of emitting at least one of fluorescent light or phosphorescent light, has a charge transfer complex-contained layer including a charge transfer complex formed upon contact of an organic hole-transporting compound and molybdenum trioxide via a manner of lamination or mixing thereof, so that the organic hole-transporting compound is in a state of radical cation (i.e., positively charged species) in the charge transfer complex-contained layer. |
| US09466791B2 |
Storage device and storage unit
A storage device includes: a first electrode; a storage layer including an ion source layer; and a second electrode. The first electrode, the storage layer, and the second electrode are provided in this order. The ion source layer includes a chalcogen element, oxygen, and one or more transition metal elements selected from the group of Groups 4, 5, and 6 elements of the Periodic Table. |
| US09466787B2 |
Memory cells, methods of fabrication, semiconductor device structures, memory systems, and electronic systems
A magnetic cell core includes a seed region with a plurality of magnetic regions and a plurality of nonmagnetic regions thereover. The seed region provides a template that enables formation of an overlying nonmagnetic region with a microstructure that enables formation of an overlying free region with a desired crystal structure. The free region is disposed between two nonmagnetic regions, which may both be configured to induce surface/interface magnetic anisotropy. The structure is therefore configured to have a high magnetic anisotropy strength, a high energy barrier ratio, high tunnel magnetoresistance, a low programming current, low cell-to-cell electrical resistance variation, and low cell-to-cell variation in magnetic properties. Methods of fabrication, memory arrays, memory systems, and electronic systems are also disclosed. |
| US09466786B2 |
Magnetic electronic device and manufacturing method thereof
A magnetic electronic device comprises a substrate, a first buffer layer, a first CoFeB layer, a first metal oxidation layer, a second buffer and a capping layer. The first buffer layer is disposed on the substrate. The first CoFeB layer is disposed on the first buffer layer. The first metal oxidation layer is disposed on the first CoFeB layer. The second buffer is disposed on the first metal oxidation layer, and the material of the second buffer layer includes platinum, palladium, tantalum or their any combination. The capping layer disposed on the second buffer. A manufacturing method of the magnetic electronic device is also disclosed. |
| US09466784B2 |
Semiconductor device having multiple magnetic shield members
A semiconductor device includes a wiring substrate, a lower magnetic shield member, a semiconductor chip, and an upper magnetic shield member. The lower magnetic shield member is provided on the wiring substrate. The semiconductor chip is provided on the lower magnetic shield member. The semiconductor chip includes a magnetic memory element. The upper magnetic shield member is provided over the semiconductor chip. The semiconductor chip is disposed between the upper magnetic shield member and the lower magnetic shield member. The lower magnetic shield member and the upper magnetic shield member are in direct contact with each other. |
| US09466783B2 |
Suspension element having integrated piezo material for providing haptic effects to a touch screen
Methods of manufacturing a haptic device having a compliant suspension element. Segments of piezo material are coupled to at least one surface of at least one compliant suspension element, and the at least one suspension element is coupled to a touch screen component. The at least one suspension element is also coupled to a housing component. The segments of piezo material are configured to produce a force that moves the touch screen component relative to the housing component and thereby provide a haptic effect to a user of the touch screen component. In reaction to the force produced by the segments of piezo material, the at least one suspension element is configured to allow movement of the touch screen component relative to the housing component in a first direction and to limit movement between the touch screen component and the housing component in at least a second direction. |
| US09466782B2 |
Method for manufacturing boundary acoustic wave device
A manufacturing method for a boundary acoustic wave device is capable of certainly providing the boundary acoustic wave device with desired target frequency characteristics. The manufacturing method for the boundary acoustic wave device includes a process for preparing a laminated body that includes a first medium, a second medium laminated on the first medium, and an IDT electrode that is disposed at an interface between the first and second media, and a process for implanting ions from an outer portion of the second medium and adjusting a frequency. |
| US09466778B2 |
Thermoelectric generator unit
The invention relates to a thermoelectric generator unit (1) comprising at least one thermoelectric module (2), which comprises an exhaust gas heat exchanger (3) on one side and a coolant heat exchanger (4) on the opposite side in a sandwich-like arrangement, wherein the exhaust gas heat exchanger and the coolant heat exchanger (3, 4) are designed as flat tubes, the flat sides (9, 13) of which are each connected by means of lateral wall sections (10, 20). According to the invention, side walls (15) are fastened to the lateral wall sections (10, 20) of at least the two heat exchangers (3, 4) lying on the outside, which side walls absorb the clamping forces for an even, permanent compression of the individual elements (2, 3, 4) of the thermoelectric generator unit (1). The thermoelectric module (2) is laterally sealed by means of the side walls (15) that absorb the clamping forces. |
| US09466774B2 |
Light source and display device including the same
A display device includes a light source which comprises a first line receiving power, a second line connected to a ground terminal, a plurality of light source units generating light, first to k-th conductive patterns connecting the light source units to the first and second lines in series, where k is a natural number greater than 1, and a discharge pattern disposed adjacent to the conductive patterns and the second line, and leading static electricity flowing into the conductive patterns to the second line. |
| US09466772B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing high-temperature multi-layer optics
A solid-state light-emitting device (“SLD”) converting electrical energy to photon energy using a light emitter diode (“LED”) and high-temperature multi-layer optics (“HMO”) is disclosed. The SLD, in one aspect, includes a chip-on-board (“COB”), a silicone inner layer (“SIL”), and a Poly methyl methacrylate (“PMMA”) layer. The COB includes a first surface and a second surface wherein the first surface includes at least one LED. The LED converts electrical energy to optical light and the light subsequently leaves the LED becoming visible light. The SIL includes a first silicone surface and a second silicone surface wherein the second silicone surface is in contact with the first surface of COB and the second silicone surface is in contact with the PMMA layer. The operating temperature of PMMA layer is lower than the operating temperature of SIL. |
| US09466771B2 |
Wavelength converters and methods for making the same
Disclosed herein are wavelength converters and methods for making the same. The wavelength converters include a single layer of a polymeric matrix material, and one or more types of wavelength converting particles. In some embodiments the wavelength converters include first and second types of wavelength converting particles that are distributed in a desired manner within the single layer of polymeric matrix material. Methods of forming such wavelength converters and lighting devices including such wavelength converters are also disclosed. |
| US09466767B2 |
Optoelectronic device and method for manufacturing the same
An optoelectronic device comprises a semiconductor stack, a first metal layer formed above the semiconductor stack, wherein the first metal layer comprises a first major plane and a first boundary with a gradually reduced thickness, and a second metal layer formed above the first metal layer, wherein the second metal layer comprise a second major plane paralleling to the first major plane and a second boundary with a gradually reduced thickness, and the second boundary of the second metal layer exceeds the first boundary of the first metal layer. |
| US09466756B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
An object is to improve reliability of a semiconductor device. A semiconductor device including a driver circuit portion and a display portion (also referred to as a pixel portion) over the same substrate is provided. The driver circuit portion and the display portion include thin film transistors in which a semiconductor layer includes an oxide semiconductor; a first wiring; and a second wiring. The thin film transistors each include a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer which each have a shape whose end portions are located on an inner side than end portions of the semiconductor layer. In the thin film transistor in the driver circuit portion, the semiconductor layer is provided between a gate electrode layer and a conductive layer. The first wiring and the second wiring are electrically connected in an opening provided in a gate insulating layer through an oxide conductive layer. |
| US09466755B2 |
MIS-IL silicon solar cell with passivation layer to induce surface inversion
The present invention relates generally to a photovoltaic solar cell device and more particularly, to a structure and method of inducing charge inversion in a silicon substrate by using a highly charged passivation layer on an upper side of the silicon substrate. A positively charged passivation layer comprising hafnium oxide may be formed on an insulating layer covering an upper surface of a p-doped silicon substrate and on a metal contact to induce a strong inversion layer in an upper portion of the p-doped silicon substrate. |
| US09466752B2 |
Module assembly for thin solar cells
Solar cells are packaged by placing the solar cells between sheets of encapsulants. The encapsulants are exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light to cure the encapsulants and bond the encapsulants together to encapsulate the solar cells. The UV curing steps may be performed to bond one of the encapsulants to a transparent top cover and the solar cells, and to bond the other encapsulant to the solar cells and a backsheet. A protective package that includes the transparent top cover, encapsulated solar cells, and the backsheet is then optionally mounted on a frame. |
| US09466746B1 |
Compound-barrier infrared photodetector
Using a multiple layer, varied composition barrier layer in place of the typical single layer barrier layer of an infrared photodetector results in a device with increased sensitivity and reduced dark current. A first barrier is adjacent the semiconductor contact; a second barrier layer is between the first barrier layer and the absorber layer. The barrier layers may be doped N type or P type with Beryllium, Carbon, Silicon or Tellurium. The energy bandgap is designed to facilitate minority carrier current flow in the contact region and block minority current flow outside the contact region. |
| US09466745B2 |
Composite quantum-dot materials for photonics detectors
A method of manufacturing a composite quantum-dot photodetector formed by alternatively dipping a substrate into a colloidal solution containing at least one type of a quantum dot, thereby forming a monolayer of the quantum dots and then dipping the substrate with the monolayer of the quantum dots into a ligand spacing solution to build a film of the quantum dots and then alternatively exposing the film of the quantum dots to a vapor and an infill material. |
| US09466742B2 |
Method for fabricating photoelectric conversion material
A photoelectric conversion material is disclosed in the present invention and comprises at least a cone material. The cone material is composed of an isomer and comprises a plurality of grains. The sizes of the grains are arranged from smaller ones to larger ones along a direction. In the meantime, a method for fabricating the above photoelectric conversion material is also disclosed here. The method comprises the following steps. First, a precursor is provided. The precursor comprises at least a cone material and the cone material is a multilayer structured material, such as sodium titanate and potassium titanate, formed by stacking first materials and second materials. And then, the precursor is annealed to let the second materials leave from the cone material, and the cone material becomes the above photoelectric conversion material with a plurality of grains. |
| US09466740B2 |
Integrated photodetector waveguide structure with alignment tolerance
An encapsulated integrated photodetector waveguide structures with alignment tolerance and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming a waveguide structure bounded by one or more shallow trench isolation (STI) structure(s). The method further includes forming a photodetector fully landed on the waveguide structure. |
| US09466739B1 |
Surface plasma wave coupled detectors
The present disclosure relates to an electromagnetic energy detector. The detector can include a substrate having a first refractive index; a metal layer; an absorber layer having a second refractive index and disposed between the substrate and the metal layer; a coupling structure to convert incident radiation to a surface plasma wave; additional conducting layers to provide for electrical contact to the electromagnetic energy detector, each conducting layer characterized by a conductivity and a refractive index; and a surface plasma wave (“SPW”) mode-confining layer having a third refractive index that is higher than the second refractive index disposed between the substrate and the metal layer. |
| US09466737B2 |
Solar panel string converter topology
The inventive technology, in certain embodiments, may be generally described as a solar power generation system with a converter, which may potentially include two or more sub-converters, established intermediately of one or more strings of solar panels. Particular embodiments may involve sweet spot operation in order to achieve improvements in efficiency, and bucking of open circuit voltages by the converter in order that more panels may be placed on an individual string or substring, reducing the number of strings required for a given design, and achieving overall system and array manufacture savings. |
| US09466735B2 |
Junction barrier schottky diode and method for manufacturing the same
A junction barrier Schottky diode is formed by shifting second semiconductor regions of a second conductivity type in a staggered shape in a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type so that pn junction regions are formed at predetermined distances between the second semiconductor regions and the first semiconductor region. A third semiconductor region of the first conductivity type is formed between the second semiconductor regions in order to form a Schottky junction region. An electrode is formed on the second and third semiconductor regions. The second semiconductor regions arranged at equal distances in an X direction are formed in a plurality of columns in a Y direction. An amount of shift between adjacent columns in the X direction is set such that a Y-direct ion distance between the second semiconductor regions in the different columns is larger than an X-direction distance between the second semiconductor regions in each column. |
| US09466731B2 |
Dual channel memory
Technologies are generally described related to a dual channel memory device, system and method of manufacture. Various described devices include utilization of both a front channel and a back channel through a substrate formed underneath a dual gate structure of a semiconductor device. Using two pairs of contacts on opposing sides of the gate structure, where the contact pairs are formed on differently doped layers of the semiconductor device, multiple bits may be stored in the semiconductor device acting as a single memory cell. Memorization may be realized by storing different amount or types of charges on the floating gate, where the charges may impact a conduction status of the channels of the device. By detecting the conduction status of the channels, such as open circuit, close circuit, or high resistance, low resistance, data stored on the device (“0” or “1”) may be detected. |
| US09466730B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
The invention provides a semiconductor device, including: a substrate of a first conductivity type having an active region and a termination region; an epitaxial layer of the first conductivity type over the substrate; a plurality of first trenches and second trenches in the epitaxial layer; an implant blocker layer formed at bottoms of the first and second trenches; a liner of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type conformally formed along sidewalls of the first and second trenches; a dielectric material filled in the first and second trenches defining a plurality of first columns and a plurality second column, respectively; a gate dielectric layer over the epitaxial layer; two floating gates formed on the gate dielectric layer; a source region; an inter-layer dielectric layer; and a contact plug formed on the source region. |
| US09466729B1 |
Etch stop region based fabrication of bonded semiconductor structures
Bonded semiconductor device structures and device structure fabrication processes to obviate the need for SOI wafers in many device fabrication applications are disclosed. In some examples, an etch stop layer is formed in situ during fabrication of an active device structure on a bulk semiconductor wafer. The etch stop layer enables the active device structure to be separated from the bulk semiconductor wafer in a layer transfer process in which the active device structure is bonded to a handle wafer. These examples enable the production of high-performance and low-power semiconductor devices (e.g., fully or partially depleted channel transistors) while avoiding the high costs of SOI wafers. In some examples, the gate masks the etch stop layer implant in a self-aligned process to create a fully depleted channel under the gate and deeper implants in the source and drain regions without requiring a separate masking layer. |
| US09466728B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A highly reliable semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device is manufactured with a high yield, so that high productivity is achieved. In a semiconductor device including a transistor in which a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer are provided over and in contact with an oxide semiconductor film, entry of impurities and formation of oxygen vacancies in an end face portion of the oxide semiconductor film are suppressed. This can prevent fluctuation in the electric characteristics of the transistor which is caused by formation of a parasitic channel in the end face portion of the oxide semiconductor film. |
| US09466727B1 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device and a method of forming the same, the semiconductor device includes a substrate, a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistor, a plug, a hydrogen blocking layer and an oxide semiconductor (OS) structure. The MOS transistor is disposed on the substrate, and the plug is disposed on the MOS transistor to electrically connect thereto. The hydrogen blocking layer is disposed only on sidewalls of the plug, wherein the hydrogen blocking layer includes a high-k dielectric layer. The OS structure is disposed on the substrate, wherein the OS structure includes an oxide semiconductor layer. |
| US09466724B2 |
Semiconductor devices having source/drain and method of fabricating the same
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present embodiment, a semiconductor device is provided as follows. An active fin protrudes from a substrate, extending in a direction. A gate structure crosses a first region of the active fin. A source/drain is disposed on a second region of the active fin. The source/drain includes upper surfaces and vertical side surfaces. The vertical side surfaces are in substantially parallel with side surfaces of the active fin. |
| US09466723B1 |
Liner and cap layer for placeholder source/drain contact structure planarization and replacement
A method includes forming a placeholder source/drain contact structure above a semiconductor material. A conformal deposition process is performed to form a liner layer above the placeholder contact structure. A dielectric layer is formed above the liner layer. A first planarization process is performed to remove material of the dielectric layer and expose a first top surface of the liner layer above the placeholder contact structure. A first cap layer is formed above the dielectric layer. A second planarization process is performed to remove material of the first cap layer and the liner layer to expose a second top surface of the placeholder contact structure. The placeholder contact structure is removed to define a source/drain contact recess in the dielectric layer. The sidewalls of the dielectric layer in the source/drain contact recess are covered by the liner layer. A conductive material is formed in the contact recess. |
| US09466721B1 |
Semiconductor device having stressor and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device may include a fin active region including a lower fin active region surrounded by a device isolation layer and an upper fin active region protruding from a top surface of the device isolation layer, a gate pattern disposed on top and side surfaces of the upper fin active region, and a source/drain region formed in the fin active region located at a side of the gate pattern. The gate pattern extends onto the device isolation region. The source/drain region includes a trench and epitaxial layers that fill the trench. Sidewalls of the trench include first sidewalls and second sidewalls that connect the first sidewalls to a bottom surface of the trench. The bottom surface of the trench is located at a lower level than the top surface of the device isolation layer beneath the gate pattern, and the second sidewalls of the trench have inclined {111} planes. |
| US09466719B2 |
Semiconductor-on-insulator with back side strain topology
Embodiments of the present invention provide for the enhancement of transistors in a semiconductor structure using a strain layer. The structure comprises a patterned layer consisting of an excavated region and a pattern region, a strain layer located in the excavated region and on the pattern region, an active layer located above the strain layer, a field effect transistor formed in the active layer, and a handle layer located above the active layer. The field effect transistor comprises a source, a drain, and a channel. The channel lies completely within a lateral extent of the pattern region. The source and the drain each lie only partially within the lateral extent of the pattern region. The strain layer alters a carrier mobility of the channel. In some embodiments, the strain layer is introduced to the back side of a semiconductor-on-insulator structure. |
| US09466715B2 |
MOS transistor having a gate dielectric with multiple thicknesses
A novel MOS transistor including a well region, a gate dielectric layer, a gate electrode, a source region and a drain region is provided. The well region of a first conductivity type extends into a semiconductor substrate. The gate dielectric layer is located over the well region. The gate electrode is located over the gate dielectric layer. The source region of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type and a drain region of the second conductivity type are located in the well region and on opposite sides of the gate electrode. The gate dielectric layer has a first portion and a second portion respectively closest to the source region and the drain region. The thickness of the second portion is greater than that of the first portion, so as to raise breakdown voltage and to maintain current simultaneously. |
| US09466712B2 |
Resurf semiconductor device charge balancing
Breakdown voltage BVdss is enhanced and ON-resistance reduced in RESURF devices, e.g., LDMOS transistors, by careful charge balancing, even when body and drift region charge balance is not ideal, by: (i) providing a plug or sinker near the drain and of the same conductivity type extending through the drift region at least into the underlying body region, and/or (ii) applying bias Viso to a surrounding lateral doped isolation wall coupled to the device buried layer, and/or (iii) providing a variable resistance bridge between the isolation wall and the drift region. The bridge may be a FET whose source-drain couple the isolation wall and drift region and whose gate receives control voltage Vc, or a resistor whose cross-section (X, Y, Z) affects its resistance and pinch-off, to set the percentage of drain voltage coupled to the buried layer via the isolation wall. |
| US09466705B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device according to one embodiment includes an n-type first GaN-based semiconductor layer, a p-type second GaN-based semiconductor layer on the first GaN-based semiconductor layer. The second GaN-based semiconductor layer includes a low impurity concentration region and a high impurity concentration region. An n-type third GaN-based semiconductor layer is provided on the second GaN-based semiconductor layer. The device includes a gate electrode being located adjacent to the third GaN-based semiconductor layer, the low impurity concentration region, and the first GaN-based semiconductor layer intervening a gate insulating film. The device includes a first electrode on the third GaN-based semiconductor layer, a second electrode on the high impurity concentration region, and a third electrode on the opposite side of the first GaN-based semiconductor layer from the second GaN-based semiconductor layer. |
| US09466704B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device and method of manufacturing the same
A nonvolatile memory device and method of manufacturing the same are provided. In the nonvolatile memory device, a blocking insulation layer is provided between a trap insulation layer and a gate electrode. A fixed charge layer spaced apart from the gate electrode is provided in the blocking insulation layer. Accordingly, the reliability of the nonvolatile memory device is improved. |
| US09466703B2 |
Method for fabricating semiconductor device
Provided are a method for fabricating a semiconductor device The method for fabricating include providing a substrate including a first region and a second region, the first region including first and second sub-regions, and the second region including third and fourth sub-regions, forming first to fourth fins on the first and second regions to protrude from the substrate, the first fin being formed on the first sub-region, the second fin being formed on the second sub-region, the third fin being formed on the third sub-region, and the fourth fin being formed on the fourth sub-region, forming first to fourth dummy gate structures to intersect the first to fourth fins, the first dummy gate structure being formed on the first fin, the second dummy gate structure being formed on the second fin, the third dummy gate structure being formed on the third fin, and the fourth dummy gate structure being formed on the fourth fin, forming a first doped region in each of the first and second fins and a second doped region in each of the third and fourth fins by doping impurities into the first to fourth fins on both sides of the first to fourth dummy gate structures by performing an ion implantation process simultaneously in the first and second regions; and removing the first doped region of the first fin and the second doped region of the third fin, or removing the first doped region of the second fin and the second doped region of the fourth fin. |
| US09466702B1 |
Semiconductor device including multiple fin heights
A semiconductor device comprising a substrate, an base layer disposed on the substrate having a thickness C in first area and a thickness B in a second area and a hole extending to the substrate filled with semiconductor, a first semiconductor fin disposed on the first area and having a height A, and a second semiconductor fin disposed on the second area and having a height D, wherein (A+C)=(B+D). |
| US09466689B2 |
Method for manufacturing a semiconductor device and semiconductor device manufactured thereby
A semiconductor device includes an input electrode provided on a front surface of a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type and an output electrode provided on a rear surface of the semiconductor substrate. The device has reduced deterioration of electrical characteristics when manufactured by a method including introducing impurities into the rear surface of the semiconductor substrate; activating the impurities using a first annealing process to form a first semiconductor layer, which is a contact portion in contact with the output electrode, in a surface layer of the rear surface; radiating protons to the rear surface; and activating the protons radiated using a second annealing process to form a second semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type, which has a higher impurity concentration than the semiconductor substrate, in a region that is deeper than the first semiconductor layer from the rear surface of the semiconductor substrate. |
| US09466683B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a pillar-shaped silicon layer on a fin-shaped silicon layer. A gate insulating film and a metal gate electrode are around the pillar-shaped silicon layer and a metal gate line extends in a direction perpendicular to the fin-shaped silicon layer and is connected to the metal gate electrode. A contact resides on the metal gate line and a nitride film is on an entire top surface of the metal gate electrode and the metal gate line, except for the bottom of the contact. A vertical thickness of the nitride film relative to the substrate is greater than a horizontal thickness of the nitride film on the sidewall of the metal gate electrode and gate line relative to the substrate. |
| US09466681B2 |
Method and apparatus for forming a semiconductor gate
The present disclosure provides an apparatus and method for fabricating a semiconductor gate. The apparatus includes, a substrate having an active region and a dielectric region that forms an interface with the active region; a gate electrode located above a portion of the active region and a portion of the dielectric region; and a dielectric material disposed within the gate electrode, the dielectric material being disposed near the interface between the active region and the dielectric region. The method includes, providing a substrate having an active region and a dielectric region that forms an interface with the active region; forming a gate electrode over the substrate, the gate electrode having an opening near a region of the gate electrode that is above the interface; and filling the opening with a dielectric material. |
| US09466680B2 |
Integrated multiple gate length semiconductor device including self-aligned contacts
A multi-channel semiconductor device includes a first and second gate channels formed in a semiconductor substrate. The first gate channel has a first length and the second gate channel has a second length greater than the first length. A gate dielectric layer is formed in the first and second gate channels. A first plurality of work function metal layers is formed on the gate dielectric layer of the first gate channel. A second plurality of work function metal layers is formed on the gate dielectric layer of the second gate channel. A barrier layer is formed on each of the first and second plurality of work function metal layers, and the gate dielectric layer. The multi-channel semiconductor device further includes metal gate stacks formed on of the barrier layer such that the barrier layer is interposed between the metal gate stacks and the gate dielectric layer. |
| US09466679B2 |
All around contact device and method of making the same
A device is provided that comprises a first pillar disposed in a first region and overlying a base structure, and a second pillar disposed in a second region and overlying the base structure and being spaced apart from the first pillar by a device region. A bridge is disposed in the device region with a first end connected to the first pillar and a second end connected to the second pillar. The bridge includes a top, sides, and a bottom. The bridge is formed from one or more heterostructures with an undercut opening extending from the bottom to an underlying structure. A four-sided conductive contact wraps around and substantially surrounds the bridge around its top, its sides, and its bottom along at least a portion of its length between the first and second end. |
| US09466675B2 |
Method of manufacturing silicon carbide semiconductor device
A recess is formed by partially etching a silicon carbide substrate. A mask layer is formed on the silicon carbide substrate by means of photolithography using the recess as an alignment mark. An impurity is implanted into the silicon carbide substrate using the mask layer. The silicon carbide substrate is annealed. After the annealing, a first electrode layer is deposited on the silicon carbide substrate. The first electrode layer is patterned by means of photolithography using the recess in the silicon carbide substrate as an alignment mark. |
| US09466674B2 |
Semiconductor devices with non-implanted barrier regions and methods of fabricating same
An electronic device includes a silicon carbide layer including an n-type drift region therein, a contact forming a Schottky junction with the drift region, and a p-type junction barrier region on the silicon carbide layer. The p-type junction barrier region includes a p-type polysilicon region forming a P-N heterojunction with the drift region, and the p-type junction barrier region is electrically connected to the contact. |
| US09466671B2 |
Semiconductor device having fin gate, resistive memory device including the same, and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device having a fin gate that improves an operation current, and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes an active pillar formed on a semiconductor substrate, and including a first region and a second region surrounding at least one surface of the first region, and a fin gate extending to overlap an upper surface and a lateral surface of the active pillar. The first region of the active pillar is formed of a semiconductor layer having a lattice constant smaller than that of the second region of the active pillar. |
| US09466670B2 |
Sandwich epi channel for device enhancement
The present disclosure relates to a method of forming a transistor device having a channel region comprising a sandwich film stack with a plurality of different layers that improve device performance, and an associated apparatus. In some embodiments, the method is performed by selectively etching a semiconductor substrate to form a recess along a top surface of the semiconductor substrate. A sandwich film stack having a plurality of nested layers is formed within the recess. At least two of the nested layers include different materials that improve different aspects of the performance of the transistor device. A gate structure is formed over the sandwich film stack. The gate structure controls the flow of charge carriers in a channel region having the sandwich film stack, which is laterally positioned between a source region and a drain region disposed within the semiconductor substrate. |
| US09466663B2 |
Semiconductor arrangement having capacitor separated from active region
A semiconductor arrangement includes an active region including a semiconductor device. The semiconductor arrangement includes a capacitor having a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and an insulating layer between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. At least three dielectric layers are between a bottom surface of the capacitor and the active region. |
| US09466662B2 |
Energy storage devices formed with porous silicon
In one embodiment, an energy storage device (e.g., capacitor) may include a porous silicon layer formed within a substrate. The porous silicon layer includes pores with a mean pore diameter less than approximately 100 nanometers. A first conductive layer is formed on the porous silicon layer and a first dielectric layer is formed on the first conductive layer. A second conductive layer is formed on the first dielectric layer to form the capacitor. |
| US09466659B2 |
Fabrication of multilayer circuit elements
Wafer-level methods of forming circuit elements, such as multilayer inductors or transformers, are provided. The methods include, for instance: forming, in at least one layer above a substrate, at least one conductive portion of the circuit element; providing an uncured polymer-dielectric material surrounding, at least in part, and overlying the conductive portion(s) of the element; partially curing the polymer-dielectric material to obtain a partially-hardened, polymer-dielectric material; and polishing the partially-hardened, polymer-dielectric material down to the conductive portion(s). The polishing planarizes the partially-hardened, polymer-dielectric material and exposes an upper surface of the conductive portion(s) to facilitate forming at least one other conductive portion of the element above and in electrical contact with the conductive portion(s). After polishing, curing of the polymer-dielectric material is completed. In one embodiment, the conductive portion(s) and the other conductive portion(s) define, at least in part, a conductive coil(s) of the element. |
| US09466658B2 |
Organic light emitting display devices
An organic light emitting display device may include a substrate and a plurality of pixels. The plurality of pixels may be arranged on the substrate, and each of the pixels may include an opaque region and a transparent region. Here, the opaque region may include a first sub-pixel region in which a first sub-pixel is disposed, a second sub-pixel region in which a second sub-pixel is disposed, a third sub-pixel region in which a third sub-pixel is disposed, and a wiring region in which a plurality of wirings is arranged. A sub-pixel region among the first sub-pixel region, the second sub-pixel region, and the third sub-pixel region is overlapped with the wiring region. |
| US09466649B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display
An organic light emitting diode display is provided including: a substrate including a display area and a non-display area positioned at a circumference of the display area; a thin film transistor formed on the substrate; a first electrode formed on the thin film transistor and electrically connected to the thin film transistor; a pixel definition layer formed on the first electrode and defining a pixel area; and an emission layer formed on the first electrode and contacting the first electrode in the pixel area, wherein the display area is divided into a first region, and a second region including a remainder of the display area except for the first region, and a cross-sectional area ratio of the pixel definition layer that a cross-section of the pixel definition layer occupies for a unit pixel is different in the first region and the second region. |
| US09466648B2 |
Organic light emitting display device and manufacturing method thereof
An organic light emitting diode display may include a substrate, a pixel defining layer on the substrate, being configured to define a pixel area, a pixel electrode on the pixel area, a light emitting layer on the pixel electrode, a common electrode on the light emitting layer, and an auxiliary wire spaced apart from the pixel electrode and disposed on the same layer as the pixel electrode. The pixel defining layer may include a pixel defining part configured to define a pixel area and a spacer protruding from the pixel defining part. The auxiliary wire may not overlap the spacer. |
| US09466646B2 |
On-cell TSP active matrix organic light emitting diode structure
An on-cell Touch Screen Panel (TSP) Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode (AMOLED) structure is provided. The on-cell TSP AMOLED structure includes an AMOLED, a display driver for driving the AMOLED, a display driver reinforcing material positioned at an upper part of the display driver, and a window positioned at an upper part of the display driver reinforcing material, wherein a resin or Optical Clear Adhesive (OCA) is applied between an upper surface of the display driver reinforcing material and a lower surface of the window. Therefore, separation and twist of a display driver reinforcing material can be prevented. |
| US09466645B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and imaging apparatus
The present technique relates to a solid-state imaging device and an imaging apparatus that enable provision of a solid-state imaging device having superior color separation and high sensitivity. |
| US09466640B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor apparatus
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor apparatus, comprising forming a structure including an insulating layer on a substrate, and an electrode on the structure, forming an insulating first film covering the electrode and the structure, forming an opening in a projection, of the first film, formed by a step between upper faces of the electrode and the structure, to expose part of the upper face of the electrode as a first portion, forming a second film covering the first film and the first portion, forming a protective film in the opening by processing the second film, the protective film covering a side face defining the opening and the first portion and being not formed on an upper face of the projection, and forming a third film on the first film and the protective film by spin coating. |
| US09466639B2 |
Method of manufacturing solid-state imaging apparatus
A method of manufacturing a solid-state imaging apparatus, comprising preparing a substrate on which photoelectric conversion portions are arranged, forming inner lenses corresponding to the photoelectric conversion portions, and forming microlenses corresponding to the photoelectric conversion portions, wherein the forming inner lenses includes forming, on the substrate, a dielectric film for forming the plurality of inner lenses, and etching second portions of the dielectric film around first portions serving as central portions of the inner lenses while leaving upper faces of the first portions, so as to form curved faces or inclined faces connected to the upper faces. |
| US09466638B2 |
Seemless tiling and high pixel density in a 3D high resolution x-ray sensor with integrated scintillator grid for low noise and high image quality
Various embodiments of a 3D high resolution X-ray sensor are described. In one aspect, an indirect X-ray sensor includes a silicon wafer that includes an array of photodiodes thereon with each of the photodiodes having a contact on a front side of the silicon wafer and self-aligned with a respective grid hole of an array of grid holes that are on a back side of the silicon wafer. Each of the grid holes is filled with a scintillator configured to convert beams of X-ray into light. The indirect X-ray sensor also includes one or more silicon dies with an array of photo-sensing circuits each of which including a contact at a top surface of the one or more silicon dies. Contact on each of the photodiodes is aligned and bonded to contact of a respective photo-sensing circuit of the array of photo-sensing circuits of the one or more silicon dies. |
| US09466636B2 |
Image sensors including well regions of different concentrations and methods of fabricating the same
An image sensor includes a high concentration well region in contact with a device isolation layer extending along a periphery of a photoelectric converting part, which can improve dark current properties of the image sensor. The image sensor also includes a low concentration well region in contact with a sidewall of the device isolation layer overlapped with a transfer gate, which can improve image lag properties of the image sensor. Related fabrication methods are also discussed. |
| US09466634B2 |
Pixels, imagers and related fabrication methods
Pixels, imagers and related fabrication methods are described. The described methods result in cross-talk reduction in imagers and related devices by generating depletion regions. The devices can also be used with electronic circuits for imaging applications. |
| US09466629B2 |
Image sensor and method of fabricating the same
An image sensor includes a substrate, a shallow trench isolation layer, a first deep trench isolation layer, and a second deep trench isolation layer. The substrate includes a first surface, a second surface opposing the first surface, and a plurality of unit pixel regions. The shallow trench isolation layer is adjacent to the first surface. The first deep trench isolation layer is adjacent to the shallow trench isolation layer and extends toward the second surface in the substrate. The second deep trench isolation layer is adjacent to the second surface and vertically overlaps the first deep trench isolation layer. The first and second deep trench isolation layers isolate the unit pixel regions from each other. |
| US09466627B2 |
Solid-state image pickup device, image pickup system using solid-state image pickup device, and method of manufacturing solid-state image pickup device
In a solid-state image pickup device including a pixel that includes a photoelectric conversion portion, a carrier holding portion, and a plurality of transistors, the solid-state image pickup device further includes a first insulating film disposed over the photoelectric conversion portion, the carrier holding portion, and the plurality of transistors, a conductor disposed in an opening of the first insulating film and positioned to be connected to a source or a drain of one or more of the plurality of transistors, and a light shielding film disposed in an opening or a recess of the first insulating film and positioned above the carrier holding portion. |
| US09466624B2 |
Array substrate and fabrication method thereof, and display device
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an array substrate and a fabrication method thereof, and a display device. The fabrication method of the array substrate includes: forming a gate metal layer, a gate insulating layer, an active layer and a source-drain metal layer on a base substrate. The forming the gate insulating layer, the active layer and the source-drain metal layer on the base substrate comprises: forming a gate insulating film, an active layer film and a source-drain metal film on the base substrate; forming the gate insulating layer, the active layer and the source-drain metal layer by a single patterning process. The number of the exposing process is reduced, the production cycle is shortened and the fabrication cost is reduced. |
| US09466620B2 |
Method for manufacturing array substrate, array substrate, and display device
The present invention relates to the field of liquid crystal display, and provides a method for manufacturing an array substrate, the array substrate, and a display device. In the array substrate, a gate insulating layer between source and drain electrodes and a pattern of a gate electrode has a thickness greater than that of the gate insulating layer between an active layer and the pattern of the gate electrode. Due to the thick gate insulating layer between the source and drain electrodes and the pattern of the gate electrodes, the capacitance between the source and drain electrodes and the gate electrodes will be reduced. |
| US09466619B2 |
Resistor, display device, and electronic device
To provide a novel resistor. To provide a display device having a novel structure that can improve its reliability. To provide a display device having a novel structure that can reduce electrostatic discharge damages. The resistor includes a semiconductor layer and an insulating layer formed over the semiconductor layer, and the semiconductor layer is an oxide represented by an In-M-Zn oxide that contains at least indium (In), zinc (Zn), and M (M is a metal such as Al, Ga, Ge, Y, Zr, Sn, La, Ce, or Hf) and the insulating layer contains at least hydrogen. |
| US09466618B2 |
Semiconductor device including two thin film transistors and method of manufacturing the same
It is an object to form a buffer circuit, an inverter circuit, or the like using only n-channel TFTs including an oxide semiconductor layer. A buffer circuit, an inverter circuit, or the like is formed by combination of a first transistor in which a source electrode and a drain electrode each overlap with a gate electrode and a second transistor in which a source electrode overlaps with a gate electrode and a drain electrode does not overlap with the gate electrode. Since the second transistor has such a structure, the capacitance Cp can be small, and VA′ can be large even in the case where the potential difference VDD−VSS is small. |
| US09466616B2 |
Uniform junction formation in FinFETs
The present invention relates generally to semiconductor devices and more particularly, to a structure and method of forming an abrupt junction in the channel regions of high density technologies, such as tight pitch FinFET devices, using recessed source-drain (S-D) regions and annealing techniques. In an embodiment, a faceted buffer layer, deposited before the S-D region is formed, may be used to control the profile and dopant concentration of the junction under the channel. In another embodiment, the profile and dopant concentration of the junction may be controlled via a dopant concentration gradient in the S-D region. |
| US09466615B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device that is suitable for miniaturization is provided. A semiconductor device including a first element, a first insulator over the first element, a first barrier film over the first insulator, a first conductor over the first barrier film, a second barrier film over the first conductor, a second insulator over the second barrier film, and a semiconductor over the second insulator is provided. The first conductor is surrounded by the first barrier film and the second barrier film. |
| US09466613B2 |
Vertical type memory device
A semiconductor device, comprising: a plurality of memory cell strings; a bitline; and an interconnection coupling at least two of the memory cell strings to the bitline. Memory cell strings can be coupled to corresponding bitlines through corresponding interconnections. Alternate memory cell strings can be coupled to different bitlines through corresponding different interconnections. |
| US09466609B2 |
3-dimensional nonvolatile memory device and method of manufacturing the same
The device includes plural control gates stacked on a substrate, plural first channels, configured to penetrate the control gates, and plural memory layer patterns, each located between the control gate and the first channel, configured to respectively surround the first channel, wherein the memory layer patterns are isolated from one another. |
| US09466608B1 |
Semiconductor structure having a dual-gate non-volatile memory device and methods for making same
A method for making a semiconductor structure includes forming an oxide layer onto non-volatile memory, high, and low voltage device regions of a substrate and forming a first gate material layer over the oxide layer. The first gate material layer is patterned to form a set of memory device select gates in the non-volatile memory device region and a set of gates in the high voltage device region. The patterning is performed while maintaining the oxide and first gate material layers over the low voltage device region. The method also includes forming a second gate material layer over the structure and forming a non-volatile storage layer between the set of select gates and the second gate material layer, from which a set of memory device control gates is patterned. Thereafter, the first gate material layer is patterned to form a set of gates in the low voltage device region. |
| US09466606B2 |
Semiconductor storage device
A semiconductor storage device according to an embodiment comprises stacks comprising insulating films and first wires that are alternately stacked. Semiconductor parts are provided in the stacks. The longitudinal direction of the semiconductor parts is a stacking direction of the insulating films and the first wires. Charge accumulation layers are provided between the first wires and the semiconductor parts and a plurality of the charge accumulation layers are provided corresponding to one of the semiconductor parts in a cross-section in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the semiconductor parts. A width of first side surfaces of the semiconductor parts on which the charge accumulation layers are provided is larger at bottom ends of the semiconductor parts than at top ends of the semiconductor parts. |
| US09466604B2 |
Metal segments as landing pads and local interconnects in an IC device
Methods for utilizing metal segments of an additional metal layer as landing pads for vias and also as local interconnects between contacts in an IC device and resulting devices are disclosed. Embodiments include forming source/drain and gate contacts connected to transistors on a substrate in an integrated circuit device, each contact having an upper surface with a first area; forming metal segments in a plane at the upper surface of the contacts, each metal segment being in contact with one or more of the contacts and having a second area greater than the first area; and forming one or more vias between one or more of the metal segments and one or more first segments of a first metal layer. |
| US09466603B2 |
Semiconductor device with air gap and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of first conductive structures formed over a substrate, second conductive structures each formed between neighboring first conductive structures of the first conductive structures, air gaps each formed between the second conductive structures and the neighboring first conductive structures thereof, third conductive structures each capping a portion of the air gaps, and capping structures each capping the other portion of the air gaps. |
| US09466600B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same. The semiconductor device may include a first metal gate electrode provided in a NMOS region of a substrate; and a second metal gate electrode provided in a PMOS region of the substrate, wherein the first and second metal gate electrodes may be formed of TiN material or TiAlN material. Here, the first metal gate electrode may have a higher titanium (Ti) content than the second metal gate electrode, and the second metal gate electrode may have a higher nitrogen (N) content than the first metal gate electrode. |
| US09466599B2 |
Static current in IO for ultra-low power applications
An input/output (IO) circuit including: an IO driver circuit; an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection semiconductor switch with a first input configured to receive an ESD, a second input connected to an ESD rail, and a switch control input; an ESD trigger circuit connected to the switch control input, wherein the ESD trigger circuit is configured to produce a trigger signal to close the protection semiconductor switch when the ESD detection circuit detects an ESD; and a bias circuit configured to provide a back bias signal to an isolated well of the ESD protection semiconductor switch when IO circuit is in normal operation. |
| US09466591B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor chip that includes a first main surface, a first inductor formed on the first main surface, and a first external connection terminal formed on the first main surface; a second semiconductor chip that includes a second main surface, a second inductor formed on the second main surface, a second external connection terminal formed on the second main surface; and a first insulating film that is located between the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip, wherein the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip overlap each other such that the first main surface and the second main face each other, the semiconductor device includes a facing region in which the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip overlap each other when seen in a plan view. |
| US09466586B1 |
Method for manufacturing wafer-level fan-out package
Provided are a semiconductor package and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor package. The method for manufacturing a wafer-level fan-out package includes attaching semiconductor chips sawed to have a predetermined size to one surface of a wafer at predetermined intervals, forming a first passivation layer on surfaces of the semiconductor chips and the wafer, forming a redistribution layer electrically connected to the semiconductor chips on portions of an upper surface of the first passivation layer, forming a second passivation layer on the upper surface of the first passivation layer and surfaces of portions of the redistribution layer, forming external connection terminals on portions of the redistribution layer in which the second passivation layer has not been formed, and performing sawing along package boundary lines (sawing lines) and polishing the wafer to be removed such that lower surfaces of the semiconductor chips are exposed. |
| US09466581B2 |
Semiconductor package device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a die, a pad disposed on the die and configured to be electrically coupled with a bump through a conductive trace attached on the pad, a polymer disposed over the die and patterned to provide a path for the conductive trace passing through, and a molding surrounding the die and the polymer. A top surface of the molding is substantially in a same level as a top surface of the polymer. Further, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a die, forming a pad on the die, disposing a first polymer over the die, patterning the first polymer with an opening over the pad, disposing a sacrificial layer over the patterned first polymer, disposing a molding surrounding the die, removing a portion of the molding thereby exposing the sacrificial layer, removing the sacrificial layer thereby exposing the pad and the first polymer, disposing a second polymer on the first polymer, patterning the second polymer with the opening over the pad, and disposing a conductive material on the pad within the opening. |
| US09466580B2 |
Semiconductor package and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device structure and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. As a non-limiting example, various aspects of this disclosure provide a semiconductor device structure (e.g., a sensor device structure), and method for manufacturing thereof, that comprises a three-dimensional package structure free of wire bonds, through silicon vias, and/or flip-chip bonding. |
| US09466579B2 |
Reinforced structure for a stack of layers in a semiconductor component
The present application relates to a reinforcing structure for reinforcing a stack of layers in a semiconductor component, wherein at least one reinforcing element having at least one integrated anchor-like part, is provided. The basic idea is to reinforce bond pad structures by providing a better mechanical connection between the layers below an advanced underbump metallization (BUMA, UBM) by providing reinforcing elements under the UBM and/or BUMA layer. |
| US09466577B2 |
Semiconductor interconnect structure with stacked vias separated by signal line and method therefor
A semiconductor device is made by forming a first conductive layer over a substrate, forming a first passivation layer over the first conductive layer, forming a first via in the first passivation layer to expose the first conductive layer, forming a second conductive layer over the first passivation layer and within the first via to electrically connect to the first conductive layer, forming a second passivation layer over the second conductive layer, and forming a second via in the second passivation layer to expose the second conductive layer. The second via is smaller than the first via. The second via is either physically separate from or disposed over the first via. The second conductive layer within the second via has a flat surface which is wider than the second via. An under bump metallization is formed in the second via and electrically connected to the second conductive layer. |
| US09466566B2 |
Stacked bit line dual word line nonvolatile memory
An arrangement of nonvolatile memory devices, having at least one memory device level stacked level by level above a semiconductor substrate, each memory level comprising an oxide layer substantially disposed above a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of word lines substantially disposed above the oxide layer; a plurality of bit lines substantially disposed above the oxide layer; a plurality of via plugs substantially in electrical contact with the word lines and, an anti-fuse dielectric material substantially disposed on side walls beside the bit lines and substantially in contact with the plurality of bit lines side wall anti-fuse dielectrics. |
| US09466561B2 |
Packaged semiconductor device for high performance memory and logic
A packaged semiconductor device is disclosed. The device comprises a substrate having multiple layers between first and second oppositely disposed faces, and a cavity with an opening at the first face to nest at least one integrated circuit memory device. Logic circuitry is disposed on the second face and includes contacts for electrically coupling to the stacked integrated circuit memory devices. The logic circuitry is coupled to electrical contacts formed on the first face through first electrical paths formed in the multiple layers of the substrate, the first electrical paths including conductive traces and vias. |
| US09466560B2 |
Interposer fabricating process and wafer packaging structure
An interposer fabricating process includes the following steps. A substrate, an oxide layer, and a dielectric layer are stacked from bottom to top, and an interconnect in the dielectric layer is provided, wherein the dielectric layer includes a stop layer contacting the oxide layer and the interconnect includes a metal structure having a barrier layer protruding from the stop layer. The substrate and the oxide layer are removed until exposing the stop layer and the barrier layer by a removing selectivity between the oxide layer and the stop layer. A wafer packaging structure formed by said interposer is also provided. |
| US09466555B2 |
Semiconductor chip and stack type semiconductor apparatus using the same
A semiconductor may include a core block configured to store and output data, and may be configured to output internal information. The semiconductor may include a through via configured for signal transfer with another semiconductor chip. The semiconductor may include an internal information processing circuit configured to transmit internal information selected from the internal information to the through via, or may be configured to output internal information of the other semiconductor chip, which has been transmitted through the through via, to an exterior through a special purpose pin, in response to test signals. |
| US09466547B1 |
Passivation layer topography
A topographical structure is formed within an integrated circuit (IC) chip passivation layer. The topographical structure includes a trench extending below the top surface of the passivation layer and above the top surface of an uppermost inter-metallic dielectric layer underlying the passivation layer associated with the uppermost wiring line of the IC chip. The topographical structure may also include a ridge above the top surface of the passivation layer along the perimeter of the trench. The topographical structure may be positioned between a series of IC chip contact pads and/or may be positioned around a particular IC chip contact pad. The topographical structures increase the surface area of the passivation layer resulting in increased underfill bonding to the passivation layer. The topographical structures also influence capillary movement of capillary underfill and may be positioned to speed up, slow down, or divert the movement of the capillary underfill. |
| US09466546B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of forming the same
A semiconductor device includes a wiring board; a stack of semiconductor chips disposed over the wiring board, each of the semiconductor chip comprising via electrodes, the semiconductor chips being electrically coupled through the via electrodes to each other, the semiconductor chips being electrically coupled through the via electrodes to the wiring board; a first seal that seals the stack of semiconductor chips; and a second seal that covers the first seal. The first seal is smaller in elastic modulus than the second seal. |
| US09466539B2 |
Automated fillet inspection system with closed loop feedback and methods of use
Systems and methods for automated inspection of fillet formation along on or more peripheral edges (13a) of a packaged microelectronic device (14) that is attached to a supporting substrate (16), such system (10) including a feedback loop for controlling fillet formation. More specifically, the system (10) includes a dispensing system (18) configured for dispensing underfill material (22) onto the supporting substrate (16). The system (19) further includes an automated optical inspection (AOI) system (19) configured for determining a value of a measurable attribute of the fillet (12), such as whether the fillet (12) is properly dimensioned, i.e., sized and shaped. A feedback loop (66) is included between the dispensing system (18) and automated optical inspection system (19). The feedback loop (66) is configured to communicate information from the AOI system (19) to the dispensing system (18) to permit adjustment of one or more operating parameters thereof, thereby maintaining proper dimensions of the fillet (12). |
| US09466537B2 |
Method of inspecting semiconductor device and method of fabricating semiconductor device using the same
A method of inspecting a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate, on which a mold layer with a plurality of mold openings is provided, milling the mold layer in a direction inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a direction normal to a top surface of the substrate, such that an inclined cutting surface exposing milled mold openings is formed, the milled mold openings including first milling openings along a first column extending in a first direction and having different heights, obtaining image data of the cutting surface, the image data including first contour images of the first milling openings, and obtaining a first process parameter, which represents an extent of bending of the mold openings according to a distance from a top surface of the substrate, using positions of center points of the first contour images. |
| US09466535B2 |
Method of forming target patterns
A method of forming target patterns is disclosed. A substrate with multiple fins is provided. A plurality of mask patterns is formed across the fins and in at least a part of non-target areas. Target patterns are formed respectively in trenches between the mask patterns. The mask patterns are removed. With the disclosed method, the target patterns can be formed with substantially equal thickness. In the case that the target patterns are dummy gates, the conventional defects such as dummy gate residues or gate trench widening caused by uneven thicknesses are not observed upon the dummy gate removal step. |
| US09466534B1 |
Cointegration of directed self assembly and sidewall image transfer patterning for sublithographic patterning with improved design flexibility
After forming transfer layer portions over a portion of a dielectric cap layer overlying a first portion of a substrate by a directed self-assembly process, a hard mask layer is formed over the dielectric cap layer to fill spaces between the transfer layer portions. Spacers are then formed over a portion of the hard mask layer overlying a second portion of the substrate by a sidewall image transfer process. A top semiconductor layer of the substrate is subsequently patterned using the transfer layer portions and the spacers as an etch mask to provide densely packed semiconductor fins in the first region and semi-isolated semiconductor fins in the second region of the substrate. |
| US09466533B2 |
Semiconductor structure including a through electrode, and method for forming the same
A semiconductor structure including a through electrode includes a lamination body including at least three layers, including respective vertically aligned electrode parts, the electrode part on the surface of an uppermost layer and including an aperture, the electrode part of the intermediate layer having an aperture smaller than the aperture of the uppermost layer; a through-hole extending from the aperture of the electrode part on the uppermost layer to the surface of the electrode part on a lowermost layer, the through-hole having a depressed part on a side wall thereof between the electrode parts therein; an insulating layer disposed on the entire side wall in the through-hole at a part other than on surfaces of the electrode parts; and a conductive material filling the through-hole from the surface of the electrode part on the lowermost layer to the surface of the electrode part on the uppermost layer. |
| US09466530B2 |
Methods of forming an improved via to contact interface by selective formation of a metal silicide capping layer
One illustrative method disclosed herein includes, among other things, forming an opening in at least one layer of insulating material so as to thereby expose at least a portion of a conductive contact, performing a selective metal silicide formation process to selectively form a metal silicide layer in the opening and on the conductive contact, depositing at least one conductive material above the selectively formed metal silicide layer so as to over-fill the opening, and performing at least one planarization process so as to remove excess materials and thereby define a conductive via that is positioned in the opening and conductively coupled to the selectively formed metal silicide layer and to the conductive contact. |
| US09466525B2 |
Interconnect structures comprising flexible buffer layers
A structure includes a substrate, a low-k dielectric layer over the substrate, and a conductive barrier layer extending into the low-k dielectric layer. The conductive barrier layer includes a sidewall portion. A metal line in the low-k dielectric layer adjoins the conductive barrier layer. An organic buffer layer is between the sidewall portion of the conductive barrier layer and the low-k dielectric layer. |
| US09466524B2 |
Method of depositing metals using high frequency plasma
Methods for depositing metal layers, and more specifically TaN layers, using CVD and ALD techniques are provided. In one or more embodiments, the method includes sequentially exposing a substrate to a metal precursor, or more specifically a tantalum precursor, followed by a high frequency plasma. |
| US09466522B2 |
Method for fabricating semiconductor structure
A method for fabricating semiconductor structure is provided. A substrate having a plurality of blocks is provided. Each of the blocks includes a first region and a second region. The first region and the second region are disposed alternately. A plurality of composite layers is formed on the substrate. The top-most layer of the composite layers is patterned. A plurality of composite blocks is formed on the first region of the substrate. The composite layers and the composite blocks on the blocks are removed successively by a removal process. A staircase structure is formed on the substrate. |
| US09466519B2 |
De-chuck control method and control device for plasma processing apparatus
A de-chuck control method is provided for de-chucking a workpiece from an electrostatic chuck, which includes a chuck electrode and electrostatically attracts the workpiece. The de-chuck control method includes acquiring a time-integration value of a current by measuring the current flowing from the chuck electrode for a predetermined time period after a plasma process is ended and a voltage applied to the chuck electrode is turned off; calculating a difference between the time-integration value of the current and an electric charge charged to the chuck electrode during the plasma process; calculating a counter voltage according to a residual charge of the electrostatic chuck based on the difference and a predetermined correlation between the time-integration value of the current and a torque acting on a support pin for supporting the workpiece; and applying the counter voltage to the chuck electrode while introducing gas into a processing chamber and generating plasma. |
| US09466517B2 |
Microwave annealing apparatus and method of manufacturing a semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, a microwave annealing apparatus is provided, including a housing shielding electromagnetic waves, a first electromagnetic wave source configured to apply a first electromagnetic wave into the housing, a second electromagnetic wave source configured to apply, into the housing, a second electromagnetic wave having a higher frequency than the first electromagnetic wave, a susceptor configured to hold a semiconductor substrate, made of a material transparent to the first electromagnetic wave and provided in the housing, a temperature measuring device configured to measure the temperature of the semiconductor substrate, and a control unit configured to control the power of each of the first and second electromagnetic wave sources in accordance with the temperature measured by the temperature measuring device. |
| US09466516B2 |
Method of manufacturing thermal insulation wall body
A method of manufacturing a cylindrical thermal insulation wall body having a holding unit of a heater element formed in an inner peripheral surface includes processing a plate-shaped thermal insulation member such that a plurality of groove portions are formed at a predetermined pitch, processing the thermal insulation member such that an angle between either of the first surface and the second surface, and a third surface on which the groove portions are formed, is 90+180/n degrees, and manufacturing the cylindrical thermal insulation wall body by bonding a plurality of sectional thermal insulation members, wherein the plurality of sectional thermal insulation members are bonded such that the groove portions of the adjacent sectional thermal insulation members are aligned with each other and to form the holding unit in the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical thermal insulation wall body. |
| US09466513B2 |
Treatment liquid supply apparatus and substrate treatment apparatus including the same
A treatment liquid supply apparatus supplies a treatment liquid to a predetermined object for treatment of a substrate, and recovers the supplied treatment liquid for reuse. The apparatus includes: a first tank in which the treatment liquid to be supplied to the object is stored; a second tank in which the treatment liquid recovered from the object is stored; a transfer unit which transfers the treatment liquid from the second tank to the first tank; a first temperature regulating unit which regulates the temperature of the treatment liquid to be supplied from the first tank to the object; and a second temperature regulating unit which regulates the temperature of the treatment liquid to be transferred from the second tank to the first tank by the transfer unit. |
| US09466512B2 |
Substrate cleaning apparatus and substrate processing apparatus
A substrate cleaning apparatus which can sufficiently clean a pen-sponge in its entirety, and can prevent particles, which have been once removed, from being reattached to the pen-sponge is disclosed. The substrate cleaning apparatus includes: a substrate holder configured to hold and rotate a substrate; a sponge cleaning tool to be brought into contact with a surface of the substrate; a cleaning element provided adjacent to the substrate held by the substrate holder; and a cleaning-tool moving mechanism configured to bring the sponge cleaning tool into contact with the cleaning element. The cleaning element has a cleaning surface that is to come in contact with the sponge cleaning tool, and a central portion of the cleaning surface is located at a higher position than a portion, of the cleaning surface, outside the central portion. |
| US09466507B2 |
Etching method, and recording medium
An etching method includes a modification process of supplying a mixture gas to a surface of a silicon oxide film, modifying the silicon oxide film to generate a reaction product, and a heating process of heating and removing the reaction product. The modification process includes a first modification process of supplying the mixture gas containing a gas including a halogen element and an alkaline gas to the surface of the silicon oxide film, and a second modification process of stopping supplying the alkaline gas and supplying the mixture gas containing the gas including the halogen element to the surface of the silicon oxide film. |
| US09466505B2 |
Methods of patterning features having differing widths
A method includes forming a layer of material above a semiconductor substrate and performing a first sidewall image transfer process to form a first plurality of spacers and a second plurality of spacers above the layer of material, wherein the first and second pluralities of spacers are positioned above respective first and second regions of the semiconductor substrate and have a same initial width and a same pitch spacing. A masking layer is formed above the layer of material so as to cover the first plurality of spacers and expose the second plurality of spacers, and a first etching process is performed through the masking layer on the exposed second plurality of spacers so as to form a plurality of reduced-width spacers having a width that is less than the initial width, wherein the first plurality of spacers and the plurality of reduced-width spacers define an etch mask. |
| US09466504B1 |
Methods of fabricating features associated with semiconductor substrates
Some embodiments include a method of fabricating features associated with a semiconductor substrate. A first region of the semiconductor substrate is altered relative to a second region. The altered first region has different physisorption characteristics for polynucleotide relative to the second region. The altered first region and the second region are exposed to polynucleotide. The polynucleotide selectively adheres to either the altered first region or the second region to form a polynucleotide mask. The polynucleotide mask is used during fabrication of features associated with the semiconductor substrate. |
| US09466503B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a second insulating layer over a first insulating layer, forming a mask over the second insulating layer, after the forming the mask, a first etching of the second insulating layer which is not covered by the mask, and after the first etching, a second etching of the second insulating layer and the first insulating layer which are not covered by the mask. At the first etching, the second insulating layer left over the first insulating layer and the first insulating layer is not exposed. At the second etching, the left over second insulating layer and the first insulating layer are etched. The first insulating layer has a lower dielectric constant than the second insulating layer. A second etching condition of the second etching includes a larger flow rate of oxygen than a first etching condition of the first etching. |
| US09466501B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving CMP planarity
Provided is a method of planarizing a semiconductor device. A dielectric layer is formed over a substrate. A plurality of openings is formed in the dielectric layer. The openings have varying distribution densities. The openings are filled with a metal material. A first chemical-mechanical-polishing (CMP) process is performed to remove portions of the metal material over the dielectric layer. Thereafter, a sacrificial layer is formed over the dielectric layer and the metal material. The sacrificial layer has a planar surface. The sacrificial layer is formed through one of: a spin-on process or a flowable chemical vapor deposition (FCVD) process. A second CMP process is then performed to remove the sacrificial layer and portions of the dielectric layer and the metal material therebelow. The second CMP process uses a slurry configured to have a substantially similar polishing selectivity between the sacrificial layer, the dielectric layer, and the metal material. |
| US09466499B2 |
Combinatorial methods for developing electrochromic materials and devices
A substrate having a plurality of site-isolated regions defined thereon is provided. A first electrochromic material, or a first electrochromic device stack, is formed above a first of the plurality of site-isolated regions using a first set of processing conditions. A second electrochromic material, or a second electrochromic device stack, is formed above a second of the plurality of site-isolated regions using a second set of processing conditions. The second set of processing conditions is different than the first set of processing conditions. |
| US09466498B2 |
CMOS gas sensor and method for manufacturing the same
A CMOS gas sensor comprises a membrane (13) extending over an opening (12) of a silicon substrate (1). A patch (2) of sensing material is arranged on the membrane (13) and in contact with electrodes (3) of platinum. A heater (5) of tungsten is located in or on the membrane (13) at the location of the patch (2) of metal-oxide sensing material. Combining platinum electrodes (3) with a tungsten heater (5) on top of a CMOS structure provides a gas sensor of high reliability and stability. |
| US09466497B1 |
Method for fabricating a silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) non-volatile memory cell
The invention provides a method for fabricating a silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) non-volatile memory cell, comprising: (S1) forming a pad oxide pattern on a silicon substrate having a recess exposing a tunnel region of the silicon substrate; (S2) forming a bottom oxide layer, a nitride layer, a top oxide layer covering the recess and the pad oxide pattern to form a first ONO structure; (S3) forming a photoresist on the first ONO structure covering the recess and a peripheral region of the pad oxide pattern; (S4) removing a part of the first ONO structure exposed by the photoresist to form an U-shaped ONO structure; (S5) trimming the photoresist to exposed a part of the U-shaped ONO structure above the recess; (S6) removing the part of the U-shaped ONO structure; (S7) removing the photoresist; (S8) removing the pad oxide pattern and the top oxide layer; and (S9) forming a gate structure. |
| US09466494B2 |
Selective growth for high-aspect ration metal fill
An improved conductive feature for a semiconductor device and a technique for forming the feature are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the semiconductor device includes a substrate having a gate structure formed thereupon. The gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer disposed on the substrate, a growth control material disposed on a side surface of the gate structure, and a gate electrode fill material disposed on the growth control material. The gate electrode fill material is also disposed on a bottom surface of the gate structure that is free of the growth control material. In some such embodiments, the gate electrode fill material contacts a first surface and a second surface that are different in composition. |
| US09466487B2 |
Photolithographic methods of producing structures in radiation-emitting semiconductor components
A photolithographic method which produces a structure in a radiation-emitting semiconductor component by providing a semiconductor wafer having a semiconductor layer sequence, applying a first photoresist layer to the semiconductor wafer, providing a mask, and arranging the mask relative to the coated semiconductor wafer, exposing the first photoresist layer and imaging the mask in the first photoresist layer, arranging the mask or a different mask relative to the semiconductor wafer at another position different from a first position and again exposing the first photoresist layer and imaging the mask in the first photoresist layer or applying a second photoresist layer to the first photoresist layer, arranging the mask or a different mask relative to the semiconductor wafer at a second position, and exposing the second photoresist layer and imaging the mask in the second photoresist layer, forming a patterned photoresist layer and patterning the semiconductor wafer. |
| US09466486B2 |
Method for integrated circuit patterning
A method of forming a target pattern includes forming a first trench in a substrate with a cut mask; forming a first plurality of lines over the substrate with a first main mask, wherein the first main mask includes at least one line that overlaps the first trench and is thereby cut into at least two lines by the first trench; forming a spacer layer over the substrate and the first plurality of lines and over sidewalls of the first plurality of lines; forming a patterned material layer over the spacer layer with a second main mask thereby the patterned material layer and the spacer layer collectively define a second plurality of trenches; removing at least a portion of the spacer layer to expose the first plurality of lines; and removing the first plurality of lines thereby resulting a patterned spacer layer over the substrate. |
| US09466483B2 |
Film deposition apparatus and film deposition method
A film deposition apparatus includes a turntable to rotate a substrate thereon, a process gas supply part to supply a process gas to form a thin film on the substrate, a heating part to heat the substrate up to a predetermined film deposition temperature to form a thin film, a plasma treatment part to treat the thin film for modification, a heat lamp provided above the turntable and configured to heat the substrate up to a temperature higher than the predetermined film deposition temperature by irradiating the substrate with light in an adsorption wavelength range of the substrate, and a control part to output a control signal so as to repeat a step of depositing the thin film and a step of modifying the thin film by the plasma, and then to stop supplying the process gas and to heat the substrate by the heat lamp. |
| US09466477B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device, substrate processing apparatus, and semiconductor device
There are provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a substrate processing apparatus, and a semiconductor device. The method allows rapid formation of a conductive film, which has a low concentration of impurities permeated from a source owing to its dense structure, and a low resistivity. The method is performed by simultaneously supplying two or more kinds of sources into a processing chamber to form a film on a substrate placed in the processing chamber. The method comprises: performing a first source supply process by supplying at least one kind of source into the processing chamber at a first supply flow rate; and performing a second source supply process by supplying the at least one kind of source into the processing chamber at a second supply flow rate different from the first supply flow rate. |
| US09466470B2 |
Systems and methods for acquiring data for mass spectrometry images
Systems and methods are provided for maximizing the data acquired from a sample in a mass spectrometry imaging experiment. An ion source device is instructed to produce and transmit to a tandem mass spectrometer a plurality of ions for each location of two or more locations of a sample. A mass range is divided into two or more mass window widths. For each location of the two or more locations, the tandem mass spectrometer is instructed to fragment the plurality of ions received for each location using each mass window width of the two or more mass window widths and to analyze resulting product ions. A product ion spectrum is produced for each mass window width, and a plurality of product ion spectra are produced for each location of the two or more locations. |
| US09466469B2 |
Remote plasma source for controlling plasma skew
A plasma source is provided including a core element extending from a first end to a second end along a first axis. The plasma source further includes one or more coils disposed around respective one or more first portions of the core element. The plasma source further includes a plasma block having one or more interior walls at least partially enclosing an annular plasma-generating volume that is disposed around a second portion of the core element. The annular plasma-generating volume includes a first region that is symmetrical about a plurality of perpendicular axes that are perpendicular to a first point positioned on the first axis, the first region having a width in a direction parallel to the first axis and a depth in a direction perpendicular from the first axis. The first region has a width that is at least three times greater than the depth of the first region. |
| US09466467B2 |
Ion implantation apparatus
An ion implantation apparatus includes: a plurality of units for accelerating an ion beam generated in an ion source; and a plurality of units for adjusting a scan beam and implanting ions into a wafer. A horizontal U-shaped folder type beamline having opposite long straight portions includes the plurality of units for adjusting the scan beam in a long straight portion to have substantially the same length as the ion source and the plurality of units for accelerating the ion beam. |
| US09466466B1 |
Determination of semiconductor chamber operating parameters for the optimization of critical dimension uniformity
Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for optimizing Critical Dimension Uniformity (CDU) during the processing of a substrate. One method includes identifying an operation of a recipe for processing a substrate within a chamber, the operation being configured to provide a pulsed radio frequency (RF) to the chamber. A plurality of tests are performed in the chamber for the operation utilizing the pulsed RF, each test having a duty cycle for the pulsed RF selected from a plurality of RF duty cycles. The method also includes for each test, measuring the critical dimension (CD) and the CDU for features in the substrate, and selecting a first duty cycle from the plurality of RF duty cycles based on the measured CDs and CDUs for the plurality of tests. The method also includes setting the selected first duty cycle in the operation of the recipe for processing the substrate. |
| US09466463B1 |
Charged particle beam substrate inspection using both vector and raster scanning
The present application discloses methods, systems and devices for using charged particle beam tools to inspect and perform lithography on a substrate using a combination of vectoring to move a beam to features to be imaged, and raster scanning to obtain an image of the feature(s). The inventors have discovered that it is highly advantageous to use an extra step, a fast raster scan to image the substrate at a lower resolution, to determine which features receive priority for inspection; this extra step can reduce total inspection time, enhance inspection results, and improve beam alignment and manufacturing yield. Using multiple beam-producing columns, with multiple control computers local to the columns, provides various synergies. Preferably, miniature, non-magnetic, electrostatically-driven columns are used. |
| US09466462B2 |
Inspection of regions of interest using an electron beam system
A system for scanning a plurality of regions of interest of a substrate using one or more charged particle beams, the system may include: an irradiation module having charged particle optics; a stage for introducing a relative movement between the substrate and the charged particle optics; an imaging module for collecting electrons emanating from the substrate in response to a scanning of the regions of interest by the one or more charged particle beams; and wherein the charged particle optics is arranged to perform countermovements of the charged particle beam during the scanning of the regions of interest thereby countering relative movements introduced between the substrate and the charged particle optics during the scanning of the regions of interest. |
| US09466461B2 |
Rotation angle measuring method of multi-charged particle beam image, rotation angle adjustment method of multi-charged particle beam image, and multi-charged particle beam writing apparatus
According to one aspect of the present invention, a rotation angle measuring method of a multi-charged particle beam image includes two-dimensionally scanning a mark arranged on a stage in a multi-charged particle beam writing apparatus using, among multi-charged particle beams that can be used for exposure, a plurality of representative beams of which number is smaller than the number of beams constituting the multi-charged particle beams, creating a two-dimensional image of the plurality of representative beams based on signals obtained by two-dimensional scanning, and acquiring a rotation angle of the multi-charged particle beam image using the two-dimensional image. |
| US09466459B2 |
Method for optimizing fluid flow across a sample within an electron microscope sample holder
A flow directing gasket for improving the flow of a gas or liquid across electron beam transparent membranes in environmental cells within a sample holder of an electron microscope, and uses of the sample holders comprising said flow directing gaskets. |
| US09466458B2 |
Scanning electron microscope
A scanning electron microscope suitable for imaging samples in a non-vacuum environment, the scanning electron microscope including an electron source located within an enclosure maintained under vacuum, an electron permeable membrane disposed at an opening of the enclosure separating an environment within the enclosure which is maintained under vacuum and an environment outside the enclosure which is not maintained under vacuum, the electron permeable membrane not being electrically grounded and at least one non-grounded electrode operative as an electron detector. |
| US09466456B2 |
X-ray tube with rotating anode aperture
An x-ray tube for generating a sweeping x-ray beam. A cathode is disposed within a vacuum enclosure and emits a beam of electrons attracted toward a rotating anode. The rotating anode is adapted for rotation with respect to the vacuum enclosure about an axis of rotation. At least one collimator opening or aperture corotates with the rotating anode within the vacuum enclosure, such that a swept x-ray beam is emitted. |
| US09466454B2 |
Spin rotation device
A spin device includes: a first condenser lens which focuses a spin polarized electron beam discharged from an electron gun or reflected on a sample; a spin rotator which includes a multipole having a point to which the electron beam is focused by the first condenser lens at a lens center or in the vicinity of the lens center and being capable of generating an electric field and a magnetic field; a Wien condition generating means which applies a voltage and a current which satisfy the Wien condition for rotating spin of the electron beam by a designated angle and making the electron beam advance straightly to the multipole which constitutes the spin rotator; and a second condenser lens which focuses the electron beam whose spin is rotated by the spin rotator. |
| US09466453B2 |
Cathode arrangement, electron gun, and lithography system comprising such electron gun
The invention relates to a cathode arrangement comprising: a cathode body housing an emission surface for emitting electrons in a longitudinal direction, wherein the emission surface is bounded by an emission perimeter; a focusing electrode at least partially enclosing the cathode body in a transversal direction and comprising an electron transmission aperture for focusing the electrons emitted by the emission surface, wherein the aperture is bounded by an aperture perimeter, wherein the cathode body is moveably arranged within the focusing electrode over a maximum transversal distance from an aligned position, and wherein the aperture perimeter transversally extends over the emission surface and beyond the emission perimeter over an overlap distance that exceeds the maximum transversal distance. |
| US09466452B1 |
Integrated cantilever switch
An integrated transistor in the form of a nanoscale electromechanical switch eliminates CMOS current leakage and increases switching speed. The nanoscale electromechanical switch features a semiconducting cantilever that extends from a portion of the substrate into a cavity. The cantilever flexes in response to a voltage applied to the transistor gate thus forming a conducting channel underneath the gate. When the device is off, the cantilever returns to its resting position. Such motion of the cantilever breaks the circuit, restoring a void underneath the gate that blocks current flow, thus solving the problem of leakage. Fabrication of the nano-electromechanical switch is compatible with existing CMOS transistor fabrication processes. By doping the cantilever and using a back bias and a metallic cantilever tip, sensitivity of the switch can be further improved. A footprint of the nano-electromechanical switch can be as small as 0.1×0.1 μm2. |
| US09466449B2 |
Drive circuit for n contactors and a method for driving n contactors
The disclosure provides a drive circuit for n contactors, which circuit comprises a first input and a second input as well as n first connections and n second connections, wherein a first connection and a second connection in each case can be respectively connected to one of the two connections of a drive coil of one of the n contactors in each case. According to the disclosure, the drive circuit also comprises an adjustable holding voltage source, the first pole of which is connected to the second input and the second pole of which is connected to the first of the first connections. A method for driving n contactors is also disclosed. |
| US09466444B2 |
Remote switch contact quality maintenance
A system for maintaining integrity of a switch contact includes a first resistor-capacitor circuit, a second resistor-capacitor circuit, and a control switch. The first resistor-capacitor circuit is connected to an output of the switch contact and includes a first resistor and a first capacitor. Upon closing of the switch contact, a first wetting current flows through the switch contact. The second resistor-capacitor circuit includes a second resistor and a second capacitor. The control switch is connected between the output of the switch contact and the second resistor-capacitor circuit and is selectively closable to generate a second wetting current through the switch contact. The control switch may be operated as needed to maintain the integrity of the mechanical switch contact. |
| US09466441B2 |
Trip bar stop
An operating mechanism including a number of biasing elements and a number of linkage members is provided. The linkage members are operatively coupled to each other and each are movable between a second configuration, an initial tripped configuration, a rebound configuration, and a final tripped configuration. The biasing elements are operatively coupled to the number of linkage members and bias the number of linkage members to the final, first configuration. A stop member is coupled to one of the linkage members. The stop member moves with the associated linkage member. The stop member is positioned to contact a stop surface when the linkage members are in the rebound configuration. Contact between the stop member and the stop surface substantially arrests the motion of the linkage members. |
| US09466440B2 |
Switch device with erroneous operation preventer and the erroneous operation preventer
A switch device with an erroneous operation preventer, including: a switch main body having a switch member supported by a shaft with respect to a casing and configured such that pushing a first end portion of the switch member causes a second end portion thereof to protrude and such that an on state and an off state of the switch main body are changed by pushing one of the first and second end portions; and a frame-shaped erroneous operation preventer disposed around the switch member for preventing an erroneous operation on the first end portion that takes a protruding posture when the switch main body is in one of the on and off states, the preventer having side protective walls extending in a longitudinal direction of the switch member so as to cover a surface of a flange portion of the casing on both sides of the first end portion. |
| US09466439B2 |
Laundry treating appliance and method of operation for a laundry treating appliance
A laundry treating appliance and a method operating a laundry treating appliance having at least one automatic cycle of operation, a plurality of components selectively operable by a controller to implement the at least one cycle of operation on a load of laundry received within a treating chamber of the appliance with the controller having a user interface for receiving input from a user and a door for closing an open face of the treating chamber, the method comprising determining a movement of the door in a closing direction and actuating the user interface when it is determined the door is moved in the closing direction. |
| US09466436B2 |
Aligned carbon nanotube assembly, carbon-based electrode, power storage device, and method of manufacturing aligned carbon nanotube assembly
The present invention provides an aligned carbon nanotube assembly constituted of carbon nanotubes each having a defective pore on its side surface, a method of manufacturing the aligned carbon nanotube assembly, a carbon-based electrode, and a power storage device. The aligned carbon nanotube assembly is formed by aggregating a large number of carbon nanotubes aligned in parallel along the same direction and having parallel orientation. In such a state that the aligned carbon nanotube assembly remains grown, the carbon nanotube constituting the aligned carbon nanotube assembly has a defective pore on its side surface. In a raman spectrum of the aligned carbon nanotube assembly in a Raman spectrometric method, when intensity of scattered light in D-band is represented by ID and intensity of scattered light in G-band is represented by IG, an ID/IG ratio is not less than 0.80. |
| US09466434B2 |
Dye-sensitized solar cell
Provided is a dye-sensitized solar cell which includes a working electrode having a porous titanium oxide layer on a conductive substrate, and a photosensitizing dye supported on the porous titanium oxide layer, in which the porous titanium oxide layer contains an anatase crystal-type TiO2 and a rutile crystal-type TiO2, the porous titanium oxide layer includes a plurality of layers, an outermost layer disposed at a position farthest from the conductive substrate contains the rutile crystal-type TiO2, at least one intermediate layer provided between the outermost layer and the conductive substrate contains the anatase crystal-type TiO2, a first intermediate layer disposed at a position closest to the outermost layer contains the anatase crystal-type TiO2 and the rutile crystal-type TiO2, and a content of the rutile crystal-type TiO2 in the outermost layer is greater than that of the rutile crystal-type TiO2 in the intermediate layer. |
| US09466424B2 |
Paste for external electrode, multilayer ceramic electronic component, and method of manufacturing the same
A multilayer ceramic electronic component may include: a ceramic body including a plurality of dielectric layers; internal electrodes disposed in the ceramic body and having one ends exposed to outer surfaces of the ceramic body; and external electrodes disposed on the outer surfaces of the ceramic body to be connected to the respective one ends of the internal electrodes and containing a conductive metal and a conductive ceramic powder. |
| US09466421B2 |
Resonance coupler and transmission device
A resonance coupler according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes first resonance wiring and second resonance wiring. The first resonance wiring includes first open loop wiring, first input/output wiring extending outwardly from a first connection portion of the first open loop wiring, and first stub wiring extending inwardly from a second connection portion of the first open loop wiring. The second resonance wiring includes second open loop wiring, and second input/output wiring extending outwardly from a third connection portion of the second open loop wiring. The first stub wiring includes a first connection end connected to the second connection portion and a first open end on an opposite side. A wiring length from the first connection portion to the first open end is one-quarter of a wavelength of an nth-order harmonic of a radio-frequency signal, where n is an integer not less than 2. |
| US09466419B2 |
Apparatus and system for charging a battery
An apparatus is disclosed for charging a battery of an electric or a hybrid vehicle. The apparatus includes first means for selectively coupling the battery to a high power electrical supply and second means for selectively coupling the battery to a lower power electrical supply, wherein the second means for coupling comprises a pickup pad electrically coupled to the battery. Power is transferred to the pickup pad from a charging pad by inductive power transfer. |
| US09466415B2 |
Reactor provided with a cooler
A reactor provided with a cooler, comprising: a coil, a core formed of a soft magnetic material, the core covers an inside of the coil and an outer periphery of the coil; the cooler being arranged on both sides of the core, the core and the cooler being pressed in a stacking direction of the core and the cooler; a thickness of the core in the stacking direction being smaller than a length of a height of a surface of the core that faces the stacking direction; and the thickness of the core in the stacking direction being smaller than a length of a width of the surface of the core that faces the stacking direction. |
| US09466413B2 |
Die-to-die inductive communication devices and methods
Embodiments of inductive communication devices include first and second galvanically isolated IC die and a dielectric structure. Each IC die has a coil proximate to a first surface of the IC die. The IC die are arranged so that the first surfaces of the IC die face each other, and the first coil and the second coil are aligned across a gap between the first and second IC die. The dielectric structure is positioned within the gap directly between the first and second coils, and a plurality of conductive structures are positioned in or on the dielectric structure and electrically coupled with the second IC die. The conductive structures include portions configured to function as bond pads, and the bond pads may be coupled to package leads using wirebonds. During operation, signals are conveyed between the IC die through inductive coupling between the coils. |
| US09466410B2 |
Slide-type variable resistor
A slide-type variable resistor comprises a shell, two side guiding tracks, two end locking parts, a variable resistor circuit base, and a manipulating device. The two side guiding tracks are symmetrically assembled in the allocation space. The two end locking parts are symmetrically pressing against the two side guiding tracks respectively to have the two side guiding tracks positioned in the allocation space. The variable resistor circuit base is assembled to the shell and utilized for pressing against the two end locking parts to have the two end locking parts and the two side guiding tracks fixed in the allocation space. The manipulating device comprises a brush base, at least a brush, and a bar. The brush base has two symmetrically positioned sliding tracks slidably positioned in the two side guiding tracks. The brush is connected to the brush base and has elastic recovery to press against the variable resistor circuit base. The bar is connected to the brush base and extended outward from the position restriction hole of the shell. |
| US09466409B2 |
Electrical insulation system
An electrical insulation system for a high voltage inductive device includes a cylindrical insulation barrier defining an axial direction, a longitudinal bar having a main extension in the axial direction, the longitudinal bar arranged to support the cylindrical insulation barrier along the axial direction and to provide spacing in a radial direction, and the longitudinal bar having a first side facing the cylindrical insulation barrier and a second side, opposite the first side, having a groove, and a spacer having a main extension in the radial direction, the spacer being arranged to provide spacing in the axial direction, the spacer having a groove fitting end portion. The longitudinal bar is adapted to receive the groove fitting end portion of the spacer in the groove, and wherein the spacer is dimensioned so relative to the groove that the groove captures any streamer propagating from the spacer towards the cylindrical insulation barrier. |
| US09466407B2 |
Electrical cable comprising at least one electrically insulating layer
An electrical cable has an elongate electrical conductor having, in cross section, a plurality of mutually electrically insulated segments having a plurality of metallic wires, at least one of the metallic wires in at least one of the segments being covered by at least one electrically insulating layer. The electrically insulating layer is obtained on the basis of a composition A having at least one acrylic polymer and at least one transition metal salt. |
| US09466404B2 |
Rigid/pliable sectional resin infused shielded wire harness
Electrical harnesses and methods of manufacturing electrical harnesses are disclosed. Electrical harnesses may comprise an electrically conductive wire, and a resin infused braided shield surrounding a portion of the electrically conductive wire, wherein at least a portion of the braided shield is infused with a curable resin. Electrical harnesses may comprise an electrically conductive wire, and a braided shield surrounding a portion of the electrically conductive wire, wherein at least a first portion of the braided shield comprises a first cured resin imparting rigidity to the first portion of the braided shield and at least a second portion of the braided shield that is pliable. |
| US09466403B2 |
Method for producing a flexible transparent electrode using cesium and a flexible transparent electrode produced thereby
An method for preparing a flexible transparent electrode film that has a high transmittance and low sheet resistance without having to go through a separate heating process by using cesium, and a flexible transparent electrode film prepared thereby, the method including: applying a nanowire transparent conductive film on a high molecular base material film; coating the nanowire transparent conductive film with a sol-gel solution wherein titanium dioxide and cesium are mixed; and welding the nanowire. |
| US09466402B2 |
Processes and systems for laser crystallization processing of film regions on a substrate utilizing a line-type beam, and structures of such film regions
Process and system for processing a thin film sample, as well as at least one portion of the thin film structure are provided. Irradiation beam pulses can be shaped to define at least one line-type beam pulse, which includes a leading portion, a top portion and a trailing portion, in which at least one part has an intensity sufficient to at least partially melt a film sample. Irradiating a first portion of the film sample to at least partially melt the first portion, and allowing the first portion to resolidify and crystallize to form an approximately uniform area therein. After the irradiation of the first portion of the film sample, irradiating a second portion using a second one of the line-type beam pulses to at least partially melt the second portion, and allowing the second portion to resolidify and crystallize to form an approximately uniform area therein. A section of the first portion impacted by the top portion of the first one of the line-type beam pulses is prevented from being irradiated by trailing portion of the second one of the line-type beam pulses. |
| US09466401B1 |
Tritium direct conversion semiconductor device
A device for producing electricity. The device comprises an indium gallium phosphide semiconductor material comprising a plurality of indium gallium phosphide material layers each layer having different dopant concentrations and doped with either n-type dopants or p-type dopants, a first terminal on a first surface of the semiconductor material, a beta particle source proximate the first surface for emitting beta particles that penetrate into the semiconductor material, and a second terminal on a second surface of the semiconductor material; the semiconductor material for producing current between the first and second terminals responsive to the beta particles penetrating into the semiconductor material. |
| US09466397B2 |
Indirect drive targets for fusion power
A hohlraum for an inertial confinement fusion power plant is disclosed. The hohlraum includes a generally cylindrical exterior surface, and an interior rugby ball-shaped surface. Windows over laser entrance holes at each end of the hohlraum enclose inert gas. Infrared reflectors on opposite sides of the central point reflect fusion chamber heat away from the capsule. P2 shields disposed on the infrared reflectors help assure an enhanced and more uniform x-ray bath for the fusion fuel capsule. |
| US09466394B1 |
Mismatch-compensated sense amplifier for highly scaled technology
Circuits and methods are provided for compensating an offset voltage measured between a first transistor and a second transistor of a sense amplifier circuit that is configured to sense a bit line signal during a sensing phase. The first transistor and the second transistor are cross-coupled. The first transistor is coupled to a first capacitor and the second transistor is coupled to a second capacitor. The first capacitor is further coupled to the second capacitor, and the first and second capacitors are coupled to a third transistor. The first capacitor applies a first bias voltage to the first transistor during a pre-sensing phase prior to the sensing phase, and the second capacitor applies a second bias voltage to the second transistor during the pre-sensing phase. |
| US09466393B2 |
Semiconductor device capable of rescuing defective characteristics occurring after packaging
A memory device capable of rescuing defective characteristics that occur after packaging includes a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells and an antifuse circuit unit including at least one antifuse. The antifuse circuit unit stores a defective cell address of the memory cell array in the at least one antifuse and reads the defective cell address to an external source. The antifuse circuit unit stores a defective characteristic code in the at least one antifuse, wherein the defective characteristic code is related to at least one of a timing parameter spec., a refresh spec., an input/output (I/O) trigger voltage spec., and a data training spec. of the memory device, and outputs the defective characteristic code to an external source. |
| US09466390B2 |
Nonvolatile memory system and programming method including a reprogram operation using a page buffer to reduce data load operations
A program method for a nonvolatile memory system including a reprogram operation that does not require a reload of first program data to page buffers of a constituent nonvolatile memory device between execution of a first coarse program step and execution of a first fine program step being performed after the execution of an intervening second coarse program step. |
| US09466386B2 |
Storage device and related programming method
A method of programming a storage device comprises determining whether at least one open page exists in a memory block of a nonvolatile memory device, and as a consequence of determining that at least one open page exists in the memory block, closing the at least one open page through a dummy pattern program operation, and thereafter performing a continuous writing operation on the memory block. |
| US09466384B1 |
Memory device and associated erase method
A memory device and an erase method for the memory device are provided. The memory device includes plural blocks and a controller. The plural blocks include at least one first block and at least one second block. The erase method is controlled by the controller and includes the following steps. A first stage erase operation and a second stage erase operation are sequentially performed on the at least one first block in a first time interval and a second time interval. The first stage erase operation and the second stage erase operation are sequentially performed on the at least one second block in the second time interval and a third time interval. |
| US09466383B2 |
Non-volatile memory and method with adaptive logical groups
A nonvolatile memory is organized into blocks as erase units and physical pages as read/write units. A host addresses data by logical pages, which are storable in corresponding physical pages. Groups of logical pages may be further aggregated into logical groups as addressing units. The memory writes host data in either first or second write streams, writing to respective blocks either logical-group by logical-group or logical-page by logical-page in order to reduce the size of logical-to-physical-address maps that are cached in a controller random-access memory (RAM). A group-level map may be used to track logical groups. A page-level map may be used to track logical pages. Only one block at a time needs be open in the second stream to accept logical pages from multiple logical groups that are active. Garbage collection is performed on the blocks from each write stream independently without data copying between the two streams. |
| US09466380B2 |
Semiconductor memory column decoder device and method
Semiconductor memory devices and methods include a flash memory cell array fabricated in a well, with memory cells in the same column connected to each other in series and connected to a respective bit line. The memory devices also include a column decoder, a data register buffer unit, a row decoder, an erase control unit, and an input/output buffer unit. In one or more embodiments, the erase control unit applies voltages to the well to erase the memory cells in a manner that avoids breaking down p-n junctions formed by transistors fabricated in the well. In another embodiment, high voltage transistors are used to selectively isolate the bit lines from and couple the bit lines to a peripheral circuit in pairs so that each high voltage transistor is shared by two bit lines. |
| US09466368B2 |
Connectible nanotube circuit
Carbon nanotube template arrays may be edited to form connections between proximate nanotubes and/or to delete undesired nanotubes or nanotube junctions. |
| US09466361B2 |
Memory devices
Some embodiments include memory devices having a wordline, a bitline, a memory element selectively configurable in one of three or more different resistive states, and a diode configured to allow a current to flow from the wordline through the memory element to the bitline responsive to a voltage being applied across the wordline and the bitline and to decrease the current if the voltage is increased or decreased. Some embodiments include memory devices having a wordline, a bitline, memory element selectively configurable in one of two or more different resistive states, a first diode configured to inhibit a first current from flowing from the bitline to the wordline responsive to a first voltage, and a second diode comprising a dielectric material and configured to allow a second current to flow from the wordline to the bitline responsive to a second voltage. |
| US09466360B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of operating the same
A method of operating a semiconductor device includes performing a program operation on selected memory cells of a selected page, and selectively performing a soft erase operation on memory cells having threshold voltages greater than a reference voltage, among the selected memory cells, to reduce a width of a threshold voltage distribution of the selected memory cells. |
| US09466358B1 |
Structure for static random access memory
A design structure can include elements that, when processed in a semiconductor manufacturing facility, produce an SRAM that includes a first local evaluator coupled to a first global bit line (GBL) and a first set of local bit lines (LBLs). The SRAM can also include a second local evaluator communicatively coupled to the first local evaluator. The second local evaluator is coupled to a second GBL and second set of LBLs. The second GBL is consecutive to the first GBL. The first and second evaluators are to generate signals from the LBLs such that one GBL of a combined first and second GBLs is active at any point in a read or write cycle. |
| US09466350B2 |
Magnetic memory device
According to one embodiment, a magnetic memory device includes a first interconnect, a second interconnect, a magnetoresistive effect element having first and second terminals, the first terminal being electrically connected to the first interconnect, a diode having first and second terminals, the first terminal being electrically connected to the first terminal of the magnetoresistive effect element, the second terminal being electrically connected to the second terminal of the magnetoresistive effect element, and a transistor having source and drain terminals, one of the source and drain terminals being electrically connected to the second terminal of the magnetoresistive effect element and the second terminal of the diode, the other of the source and drain terminals being electrically connected to the second interconnect. |
| US09466344B2 |
System and method for decoding commands based on command signals and operating state
A system and method for decoding command signals that includes a command decoder configured to generate internal control signals to perform an operation based on the command signals and an operating state. The same combination of command signals can request different commands depending on the operating state. A command is selected from a first set of operations according to the command signals when the memory system is in a first operating state and a command is selected from a second set of operations according to the command signals when the memory system is in a second operating state. |
| US09466342B2 |
Transistors with source and word line voltage adjusting circuitry for controlling leakage currents and its method thereof
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a source voltage adjustment circuit and a word line voltage adjustment circuit, which are configured to respectively supply a source voltage supply end and a word line switchingly with voltage-adjusted voltages, in response to a mode switching signal for switching between a retention state mode and an active state mode, wherein the source voltage supply end is connected to sources of MOS transistors forming a flip-flop of a memory cell, and the word line is connected to gates of access transistors. |
| US09466339B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of operating the same
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array having memory cells coupled to a plurality of word lines and a peripheral circuit group configured to supply a pass voltage to unselected word lines among the plurality of word lines, wherein the peripheral circuit group stepwise raises the pass voltage supplied to the unselected word lines to a target level. |
| US09466338B1 |
Pulse generator, memory device, memory system having the same, and method of controlling an internal power of the memory device
A pulse generator may include a switching control circuit suitable for compare an internal power with a reference voltage and output a comparison enable signal according to a result of the comparison. The pulse generator may include a comparison circuit suitable for measure a data variation by comparing a current data group and a previous data group, and output pre-pulse data in response to the data variation and the comparison enable signal. The pulse generator may include a pulse control circuit suitable for output main pulse data by controlling a pulse width of the pre-pulse data. |
| US09466337B1 |
Apparatuses and method for supply voltage level detection
Example apparatuses and methods may detect when one or more supply voltage levels have reached a trigger voltage. An example apparatus may include a terminal, a voltage reference circuit and a voltage detector circuit. The terminal may be configured to receive a first voltage, and the voltage reference circuit may be coupled to the terminal. The voltage reference circuit may be configured to receive the first voltage and provide a second voltage responsive, at least in part, to the first voltage. The voltage detector circuit may be configured to respond, at least in part, to the first and second voltages, and further configured to produce an output signal when the first voltage reaches a target level. The voltage detector circuit may include a first transistor including a gate configured to receive the second voltage, and a first resistor coupled in series between the terminal and the transistor. |
| US09466334B1 |
Monolithic tape head and actuator for high density recording
A monolithic tape head module for high density recording. The module includes an actuator rail, and a tape head transducer array coupled to the actuator rail that includes a plurality of tape head transducer elements. A flex circuit is electrically coupled to the tape head transducer array, and includes first electrical conductors in a first flex circuit path that are coupled to a portion of the tape head transducer elements, and second electrical conductors in a second flex circuit path that are coupled to the remainder of the tape head transducer elements. An actuator shaft is connected to the actuator rail and coupled to a motor that is operated to move the actuator shaft. A plurality of flexures are mechanically coupled to the actuator rail and operated to restrict movement of the actuator rail to a direction aligned with the longitudinal axis of the actuator rail. |
| US09466333B2 |
Content reproducing apparatus, content reproducing system, and content reproducing method
A content reproducing apparatus includes a reproducing unit configured to reproduce content including audio and video, and a power control unit configured to perform power control of the reproducing unit based on a reproducing position of the content and non-reproduction period information indicating at least one of a period during which reproduction of the audio of the content is unnecessary and a period during which reproduction of the video of the content is unnecessary. |
| US09466331B2 |
Data-providing apparatus, data-providing method and program-sorting medium
In the present invention, image data is edited in response to a demand transmitted from a data-processing apparatus through a network. A moving-picture server (3) acquires a scenario consisting of a plurality of scenes, each lasting for a given time, is acquired in response to a demand made by a personal computer (1-1). The server acquires from a temporary edition space (6) a given number of original data items that will be used in the scenario, also in response to a demand made by the data-processing apparatus. The moving-picture server (3) selects prescribed ones of the original data items acquired and allocate them to the scenes of the scenario acquired. The server corrects the original data items selected, in accordance with the prescribed image data items that have been allocated to the scenes of the scenario. The image data is thereby edited. |
| US09466328B1 |
Contact-detecting method, manufacturing method of disk drive, and disk drive
According to one embodiment, a contact-detecting method includes calculating a representative value for each of a plurality of first zones. The plurality of first zones is provided at different radial locations on the disk. The representative value is calculated based on values measured at a plurality of different radial locations included in each of the first zones. The method includes detecting a contact point at which a first member contacts with a second member based on a first difference. The first difference is a difference between a value measured at an objective measuring point and a representative value of a second zone among the plurality of first zones. The objective measuring point is included in a third zone among the plurality of first zones. The second zone is arranged radially inward of the third zone. |
| US09466327B1 |
Color coded glass disc spacer
Apparatus and method for supporting a data recording medium adjacent a spindle motor hub. In some embodiments, an annular disc spacer has a plurality of nominal dimensions and is formed of a glass material and at least one additive to provide the disc spacer with a selected color. The color of the disc spacer is selected responsive to at least one of the plurality of nominal dimension of the disc spacer. The color may have a wavelength in the human detectable range of from about 350 nanometers, nm to about 700 nm. |
| US09466325B2 |
Patterned growth guiding mechanism
Provided herein are apparatuses and methods related to creating a patterned resist layer on a substrate; selectively treating at least a resist-contacting layer of the substrate in contact with the patterned resist layer to create a patterned growth guiding mechanism and growing patterned magnetic features guided by the patterned growth guiding mechanism. |
| US09466323B2 |
Method of inspecting magnetic recording medium, and method of controlling movement of magnetic head in magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus by utilizing inspecting method
A method for moving magnetic heads in a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, which comprises the steps of writing high-frequency signals in the magnetic recording/reproducing tracks; and then, either (i) conducting DC erasing or AC erasing to inspect extra pulse signals reproduced from the erased tracks, or (ii) inspecting concurrently occurring signals of missing pulse and spike pulse, which are reproduced from the written signals, whereby minute protrusions on a surface of the tracks were detected. Reading and writing of information are conducted while the magnetic heads are moved in a manner controlled so that reading and writing of information in specific tracks having defects is avoided. This method enhances reliability and life of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus. |
| US09466322B2 |
Ultra-low profile multidentate lubricant for use as a sub-nanometer thick lubricant layer for magnetic media
According to one embodiment, a lubricant includes a multidentate perfluoropolyether having a chemical structure of: Re—Rz—Ri—Rz—Ri—Rz—Re, where Rz includes at least one perfluoroethyl ether unit, and where Re and Ri each include at least one functional group configured to attach to a surface. According to another embodiment, the aforementioned lubricant may be suitable for use in a sub-nanometer thick lubricant layer for various applications, and particularly useful for magnetic recording media. |
| US09466318B2 |
Allowing fast data zone switches on data storage devices
Some embodiments described herein are directed to reducing or eliminating latency caused by data zone switches in a rotating magnetic storage device. More specifically, some embodiments described herein are directed to storing parameters associated with different zones in a parameter register in response to one or more received commands. |
| US09466317B2 |
Generating a reference audio fingerprint for an audio signal associated with an event
An audio identification system generates a reference audio fingerprint associated with an event. The reference audio fingerprint is generated from samples of an audio signal associated with the event captured by multiple devices. To generate the reference audio fingerprint, fingerprints are generated from each sample, and the generated fingerprints are temporally aligned. Fingerprints associated a temporally overlapping portion of the audio signal are averaged, and the average value is associated with the temporally overlapping portion of the audio signal and included in the reference audio fingerprint. The reference audio fingerprint is stored along with identifying information, such as an event name, an event time, an event date, or other information describing the event associated with the audio signal from which the samples were captured. |
| US09466315B2 |
System and method for calculating similarity of audio file
A method for calculating a similarity of audio files includes constituting a pitch sequence of a first audio file and a pitch sequence of a second audio file; calculating an eigenvector of the first audio file according to the pitch sequence of the first audio file, and calculating an eigenvector of the second audio file according to the pitch sequence of the second audio file; calculating a similarity between the first audio file and the second audio file according to the eigenvector of the first audio file and the eigenvector of the second audio file. |
| US09466314B2 |
Method for controlling functional devices in a vehicle during voice command operation
For retrofitting an infotainment system of a motor vehicle which has the option of operating using voice commands, such voice commands are subsequently defined in an SCXML file. The voice commands are assigned state transitions, which are intended to run through the functional devices after the corresponding voice command is received. The SCXML file is interpreted by an interpreter. |
| US09466313B2 |
Time warp activation signal provider, audio signal encoder, method for providing a time warp activation signal, method for encoding an audio signal and computer programs
An audio encoder has a window function controller, a windower, a time warper with a final quality check functionality, a time/frequency converter, a TNS stage or a quantizer encoder, the window function controller, the time warper, the TNS stage or an additional noise filling analyzer are controlled by signal analysis results obtained by a time warp analyzer or a signal classifier. Furthermore, a decoder applies a noise filling operation using a manipulated noise filling estimate depending on a harmonic or speech characteristic of the audio signal. |
| US09466312B2 |
Method for separating audio sources and audio system using the same
A method for separating audio sources and an audio system using the same are provided. The method introduces the concept of a residual signal to separate a mixed audio signal into audio sources, and separates an audio signal corresponding to at least two of the audio sources as a residual signal and processes the audio signal separately. Therefore, audio separation performance can be improved. In addition, the method re-separates a separated residual signal and adds the separated residual signals to corresponding audio sources. Therefore, audio sources can be separated more safely. |
| US09466309B2 |
Method and device for processing audio signal
An audio signal processing method includes following steps: playing a fundamental frequency signal by a media player; calculating a first fundamental frequency sound pressure value and a first harmonic sound pressure value of the fundamental frequency signal, and calculating a second fundamental frequency sound pressure value and a second harmonic sound pressure value of the audio signal; calculating a threshold sound pressure value according to the first fundamental frequency sound pressure value, the first harmonic sound pressure value, and the second fundamental frequency sound pressure value; and comparing the second harmonic sound pressure value and the threshold sound pressure value to generate a comparing result, and adjusting the second harmonic sound pressure value according to the comparing result. An audio signal processing device is also disclosed. |
| US09466302B2 |
Coding of spherical harmonic coefficients
In general, techniques are described for coding of spherical harmonic coefficients representative of a three dimensional soundfield. A device comprising a memory and one or more processors may be configured to perform the techniques. The memory may be configured to store a plurality of spherical harmonic coefficients. The one or more processors may be configured to perform an energy analysis with respect to the plurality of spherical harmonic coefficients to determine a reduced version of the plurality of spherical harmonic coefficients. |
| US09466296B2 |
Initiation of action upon recognition of a partial voice command
Apparatus, computer-readable storage medium, and method associated with orienting a display image are described. In embodiments, a computing device may include a speech recognition module to process and recognize a voice command and a voice command module coupled with the speech recognition module. The voice command module may be configured to select, in response to recognition of an initial portion of the voice command, a plurality of voice commands having the same initial portion. The voice recognition module may be further configured to initiate execution of or stage for execution individual voice commands of the plurality of voice commands. On recognition of the entire voice command, the voice command module may be configured to select a result of the execution of an individual voice command or initiate execution of a staged for execution voice command. |
| US09466294B1 |
Dialog management system
Techniques for facilitating transactions are described in which the system facilitating the transaction engages in natural language dialog with the user to achieve the desired result. Instead of treating successive input independently, the system maintains a dialog context in which information generated in response to recent input may be used to inform responses to further input. |
| US09466293B1 |
Speech interface system and method for control and interaction with applications on a computing system
A speech processing system which exploits statistical modeling and formal logic to receive and process speech input, which may represent data to be received, such as dictation, or commands to be processed by an operating system, application or process. A command dictionary and dynamic grammars are used in processing speech input to identify, disambiguate and extract commands. The logical processing scheme ensures that putative commands are complete and unambiguous before processing. Context sensitivity may be employed to differentiate data and commands. A multi faceted graphic user interface may be provided for interaction with a user to speech enable interaction with applications and processes that do not necessarily have native support for speech input. |
| US09466291B2 |
Voice retrieval device and voice retrieval method for detecting retrieval word from voice data
A voice retrieval device includes a processor; and a memory which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to execute: setting detection criteria for a retrieval word, based on a characteristic of the retrieval word, such that the higher the detection accuracy of the retrieval word or the lower the pronunciation difficulty of the retrieval word or the lower the appearance probability of the retrieval word, the stricter the detection criteria; performing first voice retrieval processing on voice data according to the detection criteria and detecting a section that possibly includes the retrieval word as a candidate section from the voice data; and performing second voice retrieval processing different from the first voice retrieval processing on each candidate section and determining whether or not the retrieval word is included in each candidate section. |
| US09466290B2 |
Systems and methods for aviation communication monitoring using speech recognition
Systems and methods for aviation communication monitoring using speech recognition are provided. In one embodiment, a method for multichannel avionics communication is provided. The method comprises: configuring a software defined radio to generate digitized audio data for a plurality of voice communication channels; audibly reproducing voice communication received over a first channel of the plurality of voice communication channels; applying a trigger word speech recognition algorithm to at least a second channel of the plurality of voice communication channels to detect a message containing a trigger word; and when a trigger word is detected, storing a communication containing the trigger word and generating an alert. |
| US09466285B2 |
Speech processing system
A method of deriving speech synthesis parameters from an input speech audio signal, wherein the audio signal is segmented on the basis of estimated positions of glottal closure incidents and the resulting segments are processed to obtain the complex cepstrum used to derive a synthesis filter. A reconstructed speech signal is produced by passing a pulsed excitation signal derived from the position of the glottal closure incidents through the synthesis filter, and compared with the input speech audio signal. The pulse excitation signal and the complex cepstrum are then iteratively modified to minimize the difference between the reconstructed speech signal and the input speech audio signal, by optimizing the position of the pulses in the excitation signal to reduce the mean squared error between the reconstructed speech signal and the input speech audio signal, and recalculating the complex using the optimized pulse positions. |
| US09466283B2 |
Sound attenuating structures
A sound attenuation panel is configured with a substantially acoustically transparent planar, rigid frame divided into a plurality of individual, substantially two-dimensional cells. A sheet of a flexible material is fixed to the rigid frame, and a plurality of platelets fixed to the sheet of flexible material such that each individual cell of the plurality of cells is provided with a respective platelet to establish a resonant frequency, the resonant frequency defined by the planar geometry of the individual cells, the flexibility of the flexible material and the platelets. The cells are divided into at least two different types of the individual cells, configured so that sound waves emitted by a first type of said different types of individual cells establishes a sound cancellation pattern with sound waves emitted by a second type of said different individual cells or an aggregation of different types of the individual cells. |
| US09466281B2 |
ANC noise active control audio headset with prevention of the effects of a saturation of the feedback microphone signal
The headset includes an active noise control, with an internal ANC microphone (28) placed inside the acoustic cavity (22) and delivering a signal including an acoustic noise component. A digital signal processor DSP (50) comprises a feedback ANC branch (54) applying a filtering transfer function (54, HFB2) to the signal delivered by the ANC microphone, and a mixer (60) for mixing the signal of the feedback branch with an audio signal to be reproduced (M). The headset comprises a movement sensor (64) mounted on one of the earphones. The DSP comprises an anti-saturation module (68) for analyzing concurrently i) the signal delivered by the internal microphone (28) and ii) the signal delivered by the movement sensor (64), and verifying whether current characteristics of these signals fulfill or not a set of predetermined criteria. Upstream from the feedback ANC filter (54), an anti-saturation filter (70, HFB1) is selectively switched as a function of the result of this verification. The filtering of an equalization branch (58, HEQ2) of the signal to be reproduced (M) is also modified by a similar anti-saturation filter (72, HEQ1). |
| US09466279B2 |
Synthetic simulation of a media recording
A method and system for generating a synthetic simulation of a media recording is disclosed. One embodiment accesses a sound reference archive and heuristically creates a new sound that is matched against at least one sound in the sound reference archive. The media recording is analyzed and a synthetic sound based on the analyzing of the media recording is generated. |
| US09466278B2 |
Systems and methods for providing immersive audio experiences in computer-generated virtual environments
Described herein are systems and method for providing an immersive audio experience in a computer-generated virtual environment. An audio-mixer is placed at a location in a domain of the virtual environment and receives a separate audio feed from each of the audio source nodes directly connected to the audio-mixer. The audio-mixer mixes the received audio feeds in dependence on corresponding location, position and intrinsic loudness information to generate a separate spatialized mixed audio feed for each of the directly connected audio listener nodes. The audio-mixer sends, to each of the audio listener nodes directly connected to the audio-mixer, the separate spatialized mixed audio feed generated for the audio listener. An audio-mixer also receives and sends non-spatialized mixed audio feeds to/from other audio-mixers. The location of the audio-mixer is preferably moved to account for audio source nodes moving and/or changes to which audio source nodes are directly connected to the audio-mixer. |
| US09466277B1 |
Adjustable directivity acoustic pickup for musical instruments
An acoustic pickup transducer device for converting sounds produced by a musical instrument into electrical signals proportional in amplitude and frequency to the instrument sounds includes a housing which has protruding therefrom a suction cup for removably attaching the device to an instrument, and a microphone interconnected through interface circuitry including a volume control potentiometer within the housing to an audio output signal jack. In a preferred embodiment, the microphone is fastened to the outer end of a flexible “gooseneck” stalk which extends from the housing at an angle adjustable by manually bending the stalk to a desired shape, which is retained by a bent wire within the stalk, thus enabling adjustment of the direction of peak sound responsivity or directivity over a wide range of angles. Preferably, the microphone is an electret type supplied with a D.C. bias voltage by a coin-cell battery within the housing. |
| US09466276B1 |
Stringed musical instrument having a resonator assembly
A stringed musical instrument having a resonator assembly is disclosed herein. The stringed musical instrument includes a musical instrument body; a neck having a first end portion and a second end portion, the second end portion of the neck being coupled to the musical instrument body; a plurality of strings extending from the first end portion of the neck to the musical instrument body; and a resonator assembly disposed in the musical instrument body, the resonator assembly including a resonator diaphragm and a pickup subassembly operatively coupled to the resonator diaphragm. The pickup subassembly includes a pickup body portion and an elongate piezo-film portion operatively coupled to the pickup body portion. In one or more embodiments, a first end of the elongate piezo-film portion is attached to the pickup body portion and a second end of the elongate piezo-film portion is attached to a side of the resonator diaphragm. |
| US09466274B1 |
Musical instrument
A musical instrument comprises a traditional musical instrument such as a guitar is joined to a chain saw so that the saw blade of the chain saw is mounted next to the body of the guitar. The saw chain of the chain saw is spaced from the body of the guitar so that it can rotate freely without contacting the guitar. A shield prevents the operator from contact with the saw chain. |
| US09466273B2 |
Snare cajón instrument
A snare cajón percussion instrument is disclosed. The instrument comprises a closed frame body having a plurality of sides, each side having a top portion, a bottom portion, an inner portion, and an outer portion. A rigid striking surface is securely affixed to the top portions of the plurality of sides. A snare apparatus having a brace, a fastener, and at least one snare element is securely attached to the inner portion of a first side of the frame body via the fastener and is configured to allow the snare element to alternatively contact and not contact the striking surface to produce a snare sound. The instrument may have a second striking surface that does not contact the snare apparatus and produces a cajón sound. |
| US09466259B2 |
Color management
Embodiments of techniques or systems for color management are provided herein. A graphic input may be received which includes pixels associated with color codes. Respective pixels or portions of the graphic input may be binned or indexed into color code bins. Each color code bin may be indicative or be associated with a color or color code. Sample color gradients may be assigned color codes based on counts for respective color code bins. A background or layers may be generated based on the sample color gradients. Additionally, patterns or aspects may be generated for the background or layers. In this manner, color management may be provided in the form of a dynamic, changing, or moving background which may be unique to the graphic input due to the patterns (e.g., movement patterns, shape patterns, movement speed, etc.) and sample color gradients determined based on the graphic input. |
| US09466252B2 |
Partial scanning gate driver and liquid crystal display using the same
An embodiment of the invention provides a liquid crystal display (LCD) device including a pixel array, a timing controller to output a clock signal and a gate driver. The gate driver receives the clock signal to control rows of the pixel array to be turned on or turned off. The gate driver includes a first shift register coupled to a first row of the pixel array, and a second shift register coupled to a second row of the pixel array. When the first row is determined to be skipped, the first shift register outputs a first voltage level to the first row, and when the second row is to be scanned, the second shift register outputs a second voltage level, wherein the first voltage level is between the second voltage level and a third voltage level which maintains a previously written display data. |
| US09466249B2 |
Display and operating method thereof
A display and an operating method thereof are provided. The display includes a display panel, a timing controller, and a plurality of source drivers. The source drivers are coupled to the timing controller and the display panel, and the source drivers are coupled to one another. The timing controller outputs a plurality of training packets to the source drivers. When the source drivers lock a clock of the timing controller according to the training packets, a lock signal is output to the timing controller. The timing controller outputs a plurality of color data packets and at least one latch signal to the source drivers based on the lock signal. The source drivers respectively output a plurality of pixel voltages to the display panel according to the latch signal. The training packets and the color data packets are serially transmitted to the source drivers. |
| US09466248B2 |
Liquid crystal display and method of driving the same
A LCD and a method of driving the LCD are provided. The LCD includes first and second gate lines extending in a first direction, a data line insulated from the first gate line and crossing the first gate line, a pixel electrode including first and second sub-pixel electrodes, the pixel electrode being disposed in a pixel having a long side in the first direction, a first thin film transistor (TFT) connected to the first gate line, the data line, and the first sub-pixel electrode, a second TFT connected to the first gate line, the data line, and the second sub-pixel electrode, and a third TFT connected to the second gate line, the second sub-pixel electrode, and a charge-sharing capacitor, the charge-sharing capacitor sharing a data voltage applied to the second sub-pixel electrode. |
| US09466246B1 |
Display stacks with integrated ambient light sensors
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for ambient light sensing for electronic displays. In one embodiment, a device may include a light guide with a first surface and a second surface, where the light guide has a first refractive index value. The device may include a light sensor mounted on either the first surface or the second surface, the light sensor positioned such that at least a portion of ambient light incident upon the light guide is directed to a detection window of the light sensor, where the detection window has a second material having a second refractive index value. The device may include an adhesive layer configured to optically couple the light sensor to the light guide, the adhesive layer having a third refractive index value equal to or greater than the first refractive index value and equal to or less than the second refractive index value. |
| US09466242B2 |
Pixel circuit for organic light emitting diode, driving method for pixel circuit and active matrix organic light emitting diode display device
A pixel circuit, a driving method for driving the pixel circuit and a display device comprising the pixel circuit. The pixel circuit insulates the electric connection between the drain of the driving transistor and the organic light-emitting diode by the insulating transistor when the data is written into the storage capacitor, and the threshold voltage of the driving transistor and the data voltage signal are pre-stored by the storage capacitor, which can compensate the shift in the threshold voltage effectively and in turn can ensure the uniformity and stabilization of the driving current. Additionally, the touch control circuit in the embodiments of the present disclosure multiplexes the scan signal of the pixel circuit, and the coupling capacitor in the touch control circuit is charged through the charging transistor while the storage capacitor is charged, therefore an integration of the touch control circuit into the pixel circuit is achieved perfectly. |
| US09466241B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display and image compensation method
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display includes a substrate and a display unit. The substrate includes a flat portion and a curved portion. The display unit includes pixels configured to display an image. At least some of the pixels are disposed in association with the flat portion and at least some of the pixels are disposed in association with the curved portion. The display unit includes first driving power lines connected to the pixels disposed in association with the flat portion and second driving power lines connected to the pixels disposed in association with the curved portion. The first driving power lines are configured to transmit a first power source voltage and the second driving power lines are configured to transmit a second power source voltage. The first power source voltage and the second power source voltage are different. |
| US09466236B2 |
Dithering to avoid pixel value conversion errors
Embodiments of the present invention generally provide a method for processing an image. The method includes receiving a plurality of input pixel values associated with a video frame and determining that a first portion of pixel values included in the plurality of input pixel values is within a first set of excluded values. The method further includes dithering the first portion of pixel values to generate a first plurality of dithered values. Each dithered value included in the first plurality of dithered values is not within the first set of excluded values. Additionally, a first average pixel value associated with the plurality of input pixel values is substantially similar to a second average pixel value associated with both the first plurality of dithered values and a plurality of pixel values that are spatially proximate to the first plurality of dithered values. |
| US09466233B2 |
Antifraud device for garments and other consumer products and devices and system and method related thereto
The present invention relate to an anti-fraud return device that deters persons from temporarily using garments and or other consumer goods for a short period of time and then returning them to a merchant for a refund, exchange or credit. The present invention includes a strip of material formable into a fixed loop that may be provided with one or more security features. |
| US09466231B2 |
Solar powered illuminated sign
A solar powered sign is provided. The solar powered sign may include a panel frame. The panel frame includes an inner surface forming an inner housing, and at least one rim forming an opening leading into the housing. A translucent panel covers the opening of the panel frame. The present invention further includes internal components. The internal components may include at least one support rod and a plurality of lights. The support rod of the present invention includes a mirrored outer surface and the plurality of lights are disposed within the housing to emit light towards the support rod. The present invention further includes a solar panel electrically powering the plurality of lights. |
| US09466229B2 |
Autorejecting spliced document product
A document product includes a web having a transverse splice therein. A mask is formed near the splice and is subsequently used for automatically rejecting a spliced document. |
| US09466228B2 |
Modular frames for arrangement and orientation of geometric solids
Modular frames for instructional use that provide secure mounts for geometric solids are presented. Some contemplated modular frames can be assembled into three dimensional modular devices and are particularly suitable for instructional purposes. Modular devices comprising two or more frames could be coupled via a clip in two or more different configurations. Containers including conductive material and configured to provide a Faraday cage around their contents are also provided. |
| US09466226B1 |
General purpose device to assist the hard of hearing
An approach to notifying a person who is hard of hearing of audible events based on a configurable device. The device has microphones and associated buttons mounted on its surface. The user programs the device by depressing a selected button longer than a preconfigured time to place the device in listen mode. The user generates the desired audible event and the device records the audible event. The selected button is depressed again to instruct the device to associate the audible event with a visual alarm indicator of colored/flashing lights and/or a text projection. The device listens for the audible event and activates the visual alarm indicator when the device detects the audible event. |
| US09466225B2 |
Speech learning apparatus and method
According to one embodiment, a speech learning apparatus includes a detection unit, a first calculation unit, a generation unit, an addition unit and a speech synthesis unit. The first calculation unit calculates a score indicating a degree of emphasis of a keyword based on a type of the marker and a manner of selecting the keyword. The generation unit generates a synthesis parameter to determine a degree of reading of the keyword in accordance with the score and the type of the marker. The addition unit adds to the keyword a tag for reading the keyword in accordance with the synthesis parameter. The speech synthesis unit generates synthesized speech obtained by synthesizing speech of the keyword in accordance with the tag. |
| US09466224B1 |
Mobile modular lab
An all-in-one symmetrical mobile modular mechanical and electrical lab that may be used to explore, expose, educate and provide basic hands on training in core technical skills. The modular lab is constructed using more than seven different types of materials and a variety of fasteners to enhance the learning experience. The modular lab consists of a middle section and end sections connected by hinges. The modular lab has a design consisting of removable and interchangeable panels. Individual components are interchangeable and may be easily removed, replaced or customized. In one specialized embodiment, the modular lab may be used to simulate the mechanical operation of a typical air conditioning system. The modular lab folds in to ease transporting and is mounted on wheels which makes it easy to move. Never before has a compact mobile lab existed that allows as many as twelve (12) individuals to utilize at any given time. |
| US09466223B2 |
Mobile platform
A motion platform for use in a simulator comprising linear slides providing surge and sway, and a rotary table providing yaw. A payload carrying platform is mounted on the rotary table via three bell cranks to provide heave, pitch and roll. |
| US09466222B2 |
System and method for hybrid course instruction
Systems and methods related to providing an electronic presentation to both in-class attendees and remotely located out-of-class attendees, in which video and audio associated with the presentation is provided to the remote attendees, and out-of-class programmable systems are programmed to execute an educational exercise associated with the presentation and be remotely operated by the remote attendees. |
| US09466220B2 |
Method and on-board system for ensuring the minimum longitudinal separation distance under wake turbulent conditions
Standardized distance minima for longitudinal separation is ensured during flight of a second aircraft behind a first aircraft on take-off or landing of the aircraft on one runway or on two parallel runways located near to each other, or during flight one behind the other at near altitude levels in conditions where there is the risk of turbulence from the vortex wake of the first aircraft possibly being present along the direction of movement of the second aircraft. Continuous monitoring of the level of wake vortex flight safety of the second aircraft is carried out in a buffer zone which surrounds the aircraft and is selected on the basis of the direction of the aircraft outside the standardized distance minimum, taking into account pilot reaction time and the time for the system for controlling the second aircraft to respond to a command to change speed. |
| US09466219B1 |
Unmanned vehicle mission planning, coordination and collaboration
A system and method are provided for implementing multi-mission tracking and re-tasking for a plurality of unmanned vehicles from a central location to provide mission deconfliction and mission modification in an operating environment, including an evolving and moving operating environment, to effectively employ the plurality of locally-operated unmanned vehicles. A mission controller, operating from a centralized location, takes a provided graphical situational awareness a step further in creating, modifying, or deleting/suspending missions for one or multiple unmanned vehicles to carry out, and then to transmit the proposed mission changes to the deployed unmanned vehicle operators for validation, acceptance, and execution. A non-voice communication capability is provided for a mission controller in a centralized location to generate and transmit new mission details in a graphical format to translate to each of a plurality of fielded unmanned vehicle operators, each controlling one or more unmanned vehicles for execution. |
| US09466217B2 |
Method for supporting a driver using a portable device in a vehicle
The invention relates to a method for supporting a driver of a motor vehicle (2) while driving the vehicle (2), wherein a sound signal indicating an information generated by a driver assistance system (3) of the vehicle (2) is output by a sound output device (7, 8) of the driver assistance system (3). The method comprises receiving acoustic sound by a microphone of a portable communication device (9) and checking by the portable communication device (9) whether or not the received acoustic sound comprises the sound signal of the driver assistance system (3) as well as, upon detecting the sound signal of the driver assistance system (3), generating a display (15) on a display means (14) of the portable communication device (9) in dependence on the information extracted from the sound signal. |
| US09466211B1 |
Early warning system of emergency vehicles for alerting roadway traffic
An early warning system for alerting traffic which comprises a plurality of roadside signals, a computer, and a communications network. Each roadside signal comprises LED illumination devices, solar power sources, battery energy storage, a flexible backing, and attachment straps. The signals are activated to alert traffic to stopped responder vehicles, and can be automatically activated when a responder vehicle performs such actions as stopping or turning its emergency lights on. The system also allows for centralized user control. |
| US09466208B2 |
Device and method for identifying a collision in a medical instrument
A device and an associated method for identifying a collision in a medical instrument are provided. The device includes a carrier module of the medical instrument, a housing cladding module that is detachably connected to the carrier module at at least one connection site, and at least one switching element arranged on the carrier module at a distance from the connection site. A partial portion of the housing cladding module has a spring-like flexible design in order to be pressed in the direction of the switching element during a collision with an object. |
| US09466196B2 |
Anomalous phenomena detector
Techniques are disclosed that utilize various devices, sensors, and/or systems as data points in a transportation system to establish normal operation of the transportation system and determine when one or more of the devices, sensors, and/or systems provides anomalous data indicative of a problem in the transportation system. Identifying a problem and/or implementing a solution can then be partially or fully automated, to help ensure a quick response and minimal disruption in service. |
| US09466188B2 |
Systems and methods for haptically-enabled alarms
One illustrative computing device disclosed herein includes a processor configured to receive a signal from an alarm device, wherein the signal is associated with an event. The processor is also configured to determine a haptic effect associated with the signal and transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect. The illustrative computing device also includes a haptic output device in communication with the processor. The haptic output device is configured to receive the haptic signal and output the haptic effect. |
| US09466186B2 |
Conditionally variable strobe notification appliance
A strobe notification device that operates based on a sensed environmental condition is disclosed. The strobe notification device includes a programmed candela setting, programmed locally at the strobe notification device or programmed remotely and sent to the strobe notification device. Based on the sensed environmental condition, one or more aspects of the operation of the strobe notification device may be modified to operate the strobe of the strobe notification device at least at the programmed candela settings. For example, the intensity, duration of the pulse, or pulse width modulation of the strobe may be modified, based on the sensed environmental condition, to produce a candela output greater than the programmed candela setting. As another example, the intensity, duration of the pulse, or pulse width modulation of the strobe may be modified, based on the sensed environmental condition, to produce a candela output that is equal to the programmed candela setting. |
| US09466182B2 |
Coordinating access to wagering game machine windows
Systems and methods coordinate requests to display content on one or more windows of a display screen of a wagering game machine. A display control process determines whether or not to honor a request to display content in accordance with an owner status of a window, a lock status of the window, a lock status of the wagering game machine, or a combination thereof. |
| US09466180B2 |
Gaming machine having a community game with side wagering
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system and method for conducting a wagering game on a plurality of gaming machines is disclosed. The method comprises the act of triggering a community event while conducting the wagering game on the plurality of gaming machines. Two or more gaming machines are selected to participate in the community event. The community event is selected from a plurality of independent community events. The gaming system comprises a plurality of gaming machines, at least one community display, and at least one controller. The controller is operative to select the two or more gaming machines to participate in the community event, and select the community event from the plurality of independent community events to display on the at least one community display. |
| US09466177B2 |
Gaming machine, gaming system, and gaming method
In a gaming machine, a display displays images of a free game. The controller executes a game, provides a plurality of free games when a result of the game satisfies a predetermined condition, determines at least one free game to a special mode from among the plurality of free game, and determine remaining free games to a base mode, rearranges a plurality of symbols to always appear at least one special symbol on the display in the free game of the special mode, rearranges the plurality of symbols to randomly determine whether to appear the special symbol on the display in the free game of the base mode, and provides a payout determined by a winning combination of symbols appeared on the display in each free game. |
| US09466176B2 |
Systems and methods for balance transfers associated with gaming environments
Systems and methods are disclosed for selectively increasing and decreasing the balances of gaming accounts and stored value accounts. Each of the gaming account and the stored value account are associated with a player. Instructions for balance transfers can be provided by the player to a remote computing device. |
| US09466170B2 |
Networked gaming system communication protocols and methods
A system, method and apparatus for a gaming system is provided. The gaming system includes a rewards server and a separate gaming or slot accounting server. The system may further include a separate player tracking server. The system further includes one or more game machines. The game machines may include a base game, rewards tracking module, and a game management module. Further details will be apparent from the description, drawings and claims. |
| US09466168B2 |
Gaming system and method for rewarding players
A gaming system and method of rewarding players of electronic gaming machines connected by a network to a host computer which stores player-useable points at a network-accessible location, awards a personal points multiplier to a player, and applies the personal points multiplier to at least some of the points. |
| US09466166B2 |
Banknote validator
A banknote validator (1) including a banknote transport mechanism (9) and a detachable printer module (3), said printer module comprising: a media printer device (10); a print media transport passage (11) interconnecting a print media input aperture (12) and the banknote transport mechanism (9) via the media printer device (10). A first wall section (13) of the print media passage disposed between the media printer device and the banknote transport mechanism is moveable to create a vent (14) that opens to the exterior of the banknote validator. |
| US09466164B2 |
Monitoring and control device for a door unit
A monitoring and control device for a door unit includes a sensor control device comprising an output side and an input side. At least one sensor assembly is arranged in a region of the door unit. The at least one sensor assembly is connected to and controlled by the sensor control device, and is configured to measure at least one of a 3D signal and a distance signal A drive device comprises a drive control unit connected with the output side and with the input side of the sensor control device. The drive device is configured to move the door unit. |
| US09466163B2 |
Electronic access control and location tracking system
A method and system that allows authorized individuals access into controlled access locations and the ability to grant temporary and limited access to guests into these locations. The method and system allows for navigational services to be provided to members and guests, and real-time tracking and confirmation to members and administrators that guests have arrived at their destination and did not enter any unauthorized areas. The method preferably can work through a system of wireless radio, sound and/or light-based beacons communicating with member and guest's electronic devices. Members and administrators can send one or more temporary electronic access keys to a guest's smartphone or other electronic device. Wireless radio, sound and/or light-based beacons provide an access control and location tracking system with real-time data about the member and guest whereabouts, allowing for the confirmation and tracking. |
| US09466159B1 |
Methods and systems for automatically identifying a data source for an on-board recorder
Apparatuses, methods, and systems installed in a vehicle. One method includes identifying, with a processing unit installed in a vehicle, one of a plurality of data sources providing vehicle data over a communication interface in the vehicle, wherein the plurality of data sources provide vehicle data from at least two different vehicle control modules. The method also includes incrementing, with the processing unit, a counter associated with the one of the plurality of data sources, comparing, with the processing unit, the counter to a threshold, setting, with the processing unit, the one of the plurality of data sources as an active data source for receiving vehicle data when the counter exceeds the threshold, and processing the vehicle data received provided by the one of the plurality of data sources. |
| US09466157B2 |
Wheel alignment measurement
A method of onboard determination of vehicle wheel alignment is provided. In a first step, a lateral acceleration signal is generated, using an accelerometer mounted on the vehicle wheel. In a second step, a first lateral acceleration value ay Acc is derived from a first portion of the lateral acceleration signal, which is during a longitudinal acceleration a0 of the vehicle. In a third step, a second lateral acceleration value ay CS is derived from a second portion of the lateral acceleration signal, which is measured when the longitudinal acceleration has ceased and the vehicle is travelling at constant speed. In a fourth step, the magnitude of the longitudinal acceleration a0 associated with the first portion of the lateral acceleration signal is measured. In a fifth step, a toe angle α of the vehicle wheel is determined according to the following relationship: α = arcsin ( a Y Acc - a Y CS - a 0 cos ( arcsin ( a Y CS g ) ) ) · 180 π where g is the gravitational acceleration constant. |
| US09466155B2 |
System to view automobile diagnostic information
A system has a Link device coupled to an on-board diagnostics (OBD) system of a vehicle, the Link device enabled to monitor trouble codes presented by the OBD system, and having a port enabled to transmit to and receive from external devices, a mobile communication device, the device having a display screen, and an application (App) executing on the mobile communication device from a non-transitory medium. The Link device receives trouble codes from the vehicle OBD system and transmits them to either to the App or to an Internet-connected server, where the trouble codes are associated with the issues they represent, and wherein the App, having associated the trouble codes with the issues or having received the association data from the server, presents a display to the driver comprising at least the problem represented by the problem code and suggested action to correct the problem. |
| US09466151B2 |
Bracket-slot-to-wire play compensation archwire design
A method and workstation are described for designing compensation in an orthodontic archwire in order to offset the bracket-slot-to-wire play and realize the disered displacement in a tooth from an initial position to the target position. Bracket-slot-to-wire play can reduce the effectiveness of an archwire in bringing the teeth of an orthodontic patient from malocclusion to desired target. Bracket-slot-to-wire play is the difference in volume between the size of a bracket slot, which is larger than the size of the archwire, and the size of the sliding segment of an archwire inserted in the bracket slot. Customized archwires comprise alternating sliding segments interconnected by segments with bends and/or twists in three-dimensional space. The sliding segments are placed in the bracket slots and exert forces on the brackets created by the segments with bends and/or twists for moving the teeth towards the target positions. |
| US09466149B2 |
Lighting of graphical objects based on environmental conditions
To provide digital maps on a portable device, a graphical representation of an object is displayed for display on a digital map, current orientation of the portable device relative to the sun is determined, and orientation of the graphical representation of the object relative to a virtual sun is determined based on the determined current orientation of the portable device relative to the sun. Using the virtual sun as a light source, a shadow cast by the graphical representation is generated for display on the digital map. |
| US09466143B1 |
Geoaccurate three-dimensional reconstruction via image-based geometry
A technique for generating a three-dimensional reconstruction of a scene involves generating a high-fidelity point cloud representing a three-dimensional reconstruction of a scene from two-dimensional images generated by at least one sensor whose position and orientation are known relative to a fixed coordinate system for each of the images. The high-fidelity point cloud is generated in a relative coordinate system without regard to the position and orientation of the sensor(s). A low-fidelity point cloud is generated in the fixed coordinate system from the two-dimensional images using the position and orientation of the sensor(s) relative to the fixed coordinate system. A transformation between the relative and fixed coordinate systems is determined based on a relationship between points in the high-fidelity and low-fidelity point clouds, and the high-fidelity point cloud is converted from the relative coordinate system to the fixed coordinate system by applying the transformation to the high-fidelity point cloud. |
| US09466142B2 |
Facial movement based avatar animation
Avatars are animated using predetermined avatar images that are selected based on facial features of a user extracted from video of the user. A user's facial features are tracked in a live video, facial feature parameters are determined from the tracked features, and avatar images are selected based on the facial feature parameters. The selected images are then displayed are sent to another device for display. Selecting and displaying different avatar images as a user's facial movements change animates the avatar. An avatar image can be selected from a series of avatar images representing a particular facial movement, such as blinking. An avatar image can also be generated from multiple avatar feature images selected from multiple avatar feature image series associated with different regions of a user's face (eyes, mouth, nose, eyebrows), which allows different regions of the avatar to be animated independently. |
| US09466141B2 |
System for providing three-dimensional digital animation viewer and method thereof
A method for providing a three-dimensional (3D) digital cartoon viewer comprises the steps of: converting a specific, user-selected 2D digital cartoon into a 3D digital cartoon and storing the 3D digital cartoon; producing a camera-directed 3D digital cartoon by storing user-generated camera walking data in corresponding frames of the 3D digital cartoon; and displaying the camera-directed 3D digital cartoon on the user terminal. The user can freely adjust a rotation angle and store live camera walking data in respective frames. Camera walking data directed by the user's experiences can be stored and shared with, or recommended to, a third party, and the degree of immersion and the degree of realism in the 3D digital cartoon can be improved using visual effects. |
| US09466140B2 |
System and method for making a map
A system and method for making a map is herein disclosed. In this embodiment, the method for making a map can comprise the steps storing in a map file within a data store a first set of shapes that together define a geographic region, and storing in the data store data related to a landmark at least partially within the geographic region. The shapes each comprising a unique track code. Additionally, the method further comprising the steps associating the landmark with each of the shape files comprising a relationship to the landmark and displaying on a map of the geographic region, visual representations of the attributes. The display viewable on a computer screen. |
| US09466139B2 |
Map obtaining method
A method for obtaining a map comprises: capturing a map image from a physical map, obtaining a plurality of geographical coordinates corresponding to a plurality of reference points from one of the physical map and the map image, calculating a corresponding geographical coordinate of each pixel in the map image, and embedding a relationship between each pixel and its corresponding geographical coordinate into the map image. |
| US09466138B2 |
Attribute-based stacking for diagrams
A system and method for facilitating adjusting a displayed representation of a visualization. An example method includes displaying a first visualization that includes plural nodes; providing a first user option to specify a first node attribute; and stacking nodes of the first visualization based on the first node attribute, resulting in display of one or more stacks of nodes. In a more specific embodiment, one or more links connect one or more of the plural nodes to one or more other nodes of the plural nodes. The method further includes adjusting the first visualization to illustrate the one or more stacks of nodes, while preserving any links, resulting in display of a second visualization in response thereto. The step of adjusting further includes animating a transition between display of the first visualization and display of the second visualization. |