| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09484301B2 |
Controlled metal extrusion opening in semiconductor structure and method of forming
Aspects of the present invention relate to a controlled metal extrusion opening in a semiconductor structure. Various embodiments include a semiconductor structure. The structure includes an aluminum layer. The aluminum layer includes an aluminum island within the aluminum layer, and a lateral extrusion receiving opening extending through the aluminum layer adjacent the aluminum island. The opening includes a lateral extrusion of the aluminum layer of the semiconductor structure. Additional embodiments include a method of forming a semiconductor structure. The method can include forming an aluminum layer over a titanium layer. The aluminum layer includes an aluminum island within the aluminum layer. The method can also include forming an opening extending through the aluminum layer adjacent the aluminum island within the aluminum layer. The opening includes a lateral extrusion of the aluminum layer of the semiconductor layer. |
| US09484299B2 |
Signal line connection structure and apparatus using the same
The present disclosure relates to a signal line connection structure and apparatuses using the same. The signal line connection structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a first signal line and a second signal line, one end of the first signal line and one end of the second signal line corresponding to each other and being connected through a conductive layer; and a first tip end arranged in the first signal line; and a second tip end arranged in the second signal line. The first tip end and the second tip end are arranged as opposed to but not connected with each other, and static charges in the first signal line and the second signal line are discharged through the first tip end and the second tip end. |
| US09484297B2 |
Semiconductor device having non-magnetic single core inductor and method of producing the same
Integrated circuits with single core inductors and methods for producing them are provided. Embodiments include forming a trench in a dielectric layer; forming a first metal-oxide hard mask by disposing a metal hard mask and an oxide hard mask over the dielectric layer and in strips in the trench; forming metal line trenches through the first metal-oxide hard mask and into the first dielectric layer on opposite sides of the inductor trench and first vias; filling the first metal line trenches, first vias, and trench; forming another dielectric layer and a second metal-oxide hard mask over the filled trench; forming a second trench through the second metal-oxide hard mask and into the second dielectric layer and second metal line trenches and second vias; and filling the second metal line trenches, second vias, and second trench. |
| US09484296B2 |
Self-aligned integrated line and via structure for a three-dimensional semiconductor device
At least one via level dielectric layer and at least one line level dielectric layer are sequentially formed over an array of device structures. Conductive line structures are formed within the at least one line level dielectric layer. A mask layer is applied over the conductive line structures, and is lithographically patterned to form opening therein. Portions of the conductive line structures are removed from underneath the openings in the patterned mask layer to form via cavities. The via cavities are vertically extended through the at least one via level dielectric layer employing a combination of the mask layer and the at least one line level dielectric layer as an etch mask. At least one conductive material can be deposited in the via cavities to form conductive via structures, which, in conjunction with the conductive line structures, constitute integrated line and via structures. |
| US09484295B2 |
Image forming apparatus, chip, and chip package to reduce cross-talk between signals
An image forming apparatus including an engine unit to perform an image forming operation, and a board unit to control the engine unit. The board unit includes at least one chip package that includes a chip. The chip includes first pads to transmit a first type of signal, a second pad to transmit a second type of signal, and a third pad interposed between the first and second pads, to reduce cross-talk between the first and second types of signals. |
| US09484291B1 |
Robust pillar structure for semicondcutor device contacts
Methods and systems for a robust pillar structure for a semiconductor device contacts are disclosed, and may include processing a semiconductor wafer comprising one or more metal pads, wherein the processing may comprise: forming a second metal contact on the one or more metal pads; forming a pillar on the second metal contact, and forming a solder bump on the second metal contact and the pillar, wherein the pillar extends into the solder bump. The second metal contact may comprise a stepped mushroom shaped bump, a sloped mushroom shaped bump, a cylindrical post, and/or a redistribution layer. The semiconductor wafer may comprise silicon. A solder brace layer may be formed around the second metal contact. The second metal contact may be tapered down to a smaller area at the one or more metal pads on the semiconductor wafer. A seed layer may be formed between the second metal contact and the one or more metal pads on the semiconductor wafer. The pillar may comprise copper. |
| US09484286B2 |
Semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same
A technique which improves the reliability in coupling between a bump electrode of a semiconductor chip and wiring of a mounting substrate, more particularly a technique which guarantees the flatness of a bump electrode even when wiring lies in a top wiring layer under the bump electrode, thereby improving the reliability in coupling between the bump electrode and the wiring formed on a glass substrate. Wiring, comprised of a power line or signal line, and a dummy pattern are formed in a top wiring layer beneath a non-overlap region of a bump electrode. The dummy pattern is located to fill the space between wirings to reduce irregularities caused by the wirings and space in the top wiring layer. A surface protection film formed to cover the top wiring layer is flattened by CMP. |
| US09484284B1 |
Microfluidic impingement jet cooled embedded diamond GaN HEMT
A MMIC power amplifier circuit assembly comprised of a SiC substrate having a plurality of microchannels formed therein, where a diamond layer is provided within each of the microchannels. A plurality of GaN HEMT devices are provided on the substrate where each HEMT device is positioned directly opposite to a microchannel. A silicon manifold is coupled to the substrate and includes a plurality of micro-machined channels formed therein that include a jet impingement channel positioned directly adjacent each microchannel, a return channel directly positioned adjacent to each microchannel, a supply channel supplying a cooling fluid to the impingement channels and a return channel collecting heated cooling fluid from the supply channels so that an impingement jet is directed on to the diamond layer for removing heat generated by the HEMT devices. |
| US09484279B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of forming EMI shielding layer with conductive material around semiconductor die
A semiconductor device has a plurality of first semiconductor die mounted over an interface layer formed over a temporary carrier. An encapsulant is deposited over the first die and carrier. A flat shielding layer is formed over the encapsulant. A channel is formed through the shielding layer and encapsulant down to the interface layer. A conductive material is deposited in the channel and electrically connected to the shielding layer. The interface layer and carrier are removed. An interconnect structure is formed over conductive material, encapsulant, and first die. The conductive material is electrically connected through the interconnect structure to a ground point. The conductive material is singulated to separate the first die. A second semiconductor die can be mounted over the first die such that the shielding layer covers the second die and the conductive material surrounds the second die or the first and second die. |
| US09484275B2 |
Semiconductor module for high pressure applications
A semiconductor module comprising a plurality of electrically conductive top plates, an electrically conductive base plate, a plurality of semiconductor chips installed on the base plate, a first power supply connected to the plates, a second power supply connected to the plates and an electrically insulating outer casing component. The semiconductor chips are individually in contact with the top plates. Each semiconductor chip comprises a first electrode electrically coupled with the base plate, and a second electrical pole electrically coupled with the corresponding top plate. The first power supply connecting plate is equipped with protruding parts that are individually in electrical contact with the top plates. The second power supply connecting plate is electrically connected to the base plate. The outer casing component is used to integrate the first power supply connecting plate and the second power supply connecting plate. The outer casing component comprises at least one opening. |
| US09484271B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
Characteristics of a semiconductor device are improved. A semiconductor device of the present invention includes: (a) a MISFET arranged in an active region formed of a semiconductor region surrounded by an element isolation region; and (b) an insulating layer arranged below the active region. Further, the semiconductor device includes: (c) a p-type semiconductor region arranged below the active region so as to interpose the insulating layer; and (d) an n-type semiconductor region whose conductivity type is opposite to the p-type, arranged below the p-type semiconductor region. And, the p-type semiconductor region includes a connection region extending from below the insulating layer, and the p-type semiconductor region and a gate electrode of the MISFET are connected to each other by a shared plug which is an integrally-formed conductive film extending from above the gate electrode to above the connection region. |
| US09484270B2 |
Fully-depleted silicon-on-insulator transistors
A fully-depleted silicon-on-insulator (FDSOI) semiconductor structure includes: a first PFET, a second PFET, and a third PFET each having a different threshold voltage and each being over an n-well that is biased to a first voltage; and a first NFET, a second NFET, and a third NFET each having a different threshold voltage and each being over a p-type substrate that is biased to a second voltage. The second voltage is different than the first voltage. |
| US09484267B1 |
Stacked nanowire devices
A semiconductor device comprises first stack of nanowires arranged on a substrate comprises a first nanowire and a second nanowire, the second nanowire is arranged substantially co-planar in a first plane with the first nanowire the first nanowire and the second nanowire arranged substantially parallel with the substrate, a second stack of nanowires comprises a third nanowire and a fourth nanowire, the third nanowire and the fourth nanowire arranged substantially co-planar in the first plane with the first nanowire, and the first nanowire and the second nanowire comprises a first semiconductor material and the third nanowire and the fourth nanowire comprises a second semiconductor material, the first semiconductor material dissimilar from the second semiconductor material. |
| US09484266B1 |
Complementary heterogeneous MOSFET using global SiGe substrate and hard-mask memorized germanium dilution for nFET
A method includes providing a substrate that underlies a layer of SiGe; forming a plurality of fins in the layer of SiGe. Each formed fin has a fin shape and fin location preserving hard mask layer on a top surface. The method also includes depositing Si on a first subset of the set of fins in what will be an nFET area; performing a Si—Ge inter-mixing process on the first subset of fins to reduce a concentration of Ge in the first subset while producing a Si—Ge intermix layer; removing the Si—Ge intermix layer leaving the first subset of fins having the reduced concentration of Ge, and forming a second subset of fins in what will be a pFET area. The second subset is also formed from the layer of SiGe and has a greater percentage of Ge than a percentage of Ge in the first subset of fins. |
| US09484261B2 |
Formation of self-aligned source for split-gate non-volatile memory cell
A memory device having a pair of conductive floating gates with inner sidewalls facing each other, and disposed over and insulated from a substrate of first conductivity type. A pair of spaced apart conductive control gates each disposed over and insulated from one of the floating gates, and each including inner sidewalls facing each other. A pair of first spacers of insulation material extending along control gate inner sidewalls and over the floating gates. The floating gate inner sidewalls are aligned with side surfaces of the first spacers. A pair of second spacers of insulation material each extend along one of the first spacers and along one of the floating gate inner sidewalls. A trench formed into the substrate having sidewalls aligned with side surfaces of the second spacers. Silicon carbon disposed in the trench. Material implanted into the silicon carbon forming a first region having a second conductivity type. |
| US09484260B2 |
Heated carrier substrate semiconductor die singulation method
In one embodiment, die are singulated from a wafer having a back layer by placing the wafer onto a first carrier substrate with the back layer adjacent the carrier substrate, forming singulation lines through the wafer to expose the back layer within the singulation lines, and using a mechanical device to apply localized pressure to the wafer to separate the back layer in the singulation lines. The localized pressure can be applied through the first carrier substrate proximate to the back layer, or can be applied through a second carrier substrate attached to a front side of the wafer opposite to the back layer. Heat is applied to the first carrier substrate while the localized pressure is applied. |
| US09484259B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of forming protection and support structure for conductive interconnect structure
A semiconductor device has a semiconductor wafer with a plurality of contact pads. A first insulating layer is formed over the semiconductor wafer and contact pads. A portion of the first insulating layer is removed, exposing a first portion of the contact pads, while leaving a second portion of the contact pads covered. An under bump metallization layer and a plurality of bumps is formed over the contact pads and the first insulating layer. A second insulating layer is formed over the first insulating layer, a sidewall of the under bump metallization layer, sidewall of the bumps, and upper surface of the bumps. A portion of the second insulating layer covering the upper surface of the bumps is removed, but the second insulating layer is maintained over the sidewall of the bumps and the sidewall of the under bump metallization layer. |
| US09484255B1 |
Hybrid source and drain contact formation using metal liner and metal insulator semiconductor contacts
An electrical device including a first semiconductor device having a silicon and germanium containing source and drain region, and a second semiconductor device having a silicon containing source and drain region. A first device contact to at least one of said silicon and germanium containing source and drain region of the first semiconductor device including a metal liner of an aluminum titanium and silicon alloy and a first tungsten fill. A second device contact is in contact with at least one of the silicon containing source and drain region of the second semiconductor device including a material stack of a titanium oxide layer and a titanium layer. The second device contact may further include a second tungsten fill. |
| US09484252B2 |
Integrated circuits including selectively deposited metal capping layers on copper lines and methods for fabricating the same
Integrated circuits and methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. In one example, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes selectively depositing a metal capping layer on first sidewalls of a copper line while leaving exposed portions of a dielectric layer that are laterally adjacent to the copper line exposed. An ILD layer is deposited overlying the metal capping layer and the exposed portions of the dielectric layer. |
| US09484246B2 |
Buried signal transmission line
A buried conductive layer is formed underneath a buried insulator layer of a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. A deep isolation trench laterally surrounding a portion of the buried conductive layer is formed, and is filled with at least a dielectric liner to form a deep capacitor trench isolation structure. Contact via structures are formed through the buried insulator layer and a top semiconductor layer and onto the portion of the buried conductive layer, which constitutes a buried conductive conduit. The deep capacitor trench isolation structure may be formed concurrently with at least one deep trench capacitor. A patterned portion of the top semiconductor layer may be employed as an additional conductive conduit for signal transmission. Further, the deep capacitor trench isolation structure may include a conductive portion, which can be electrically biased to control the impedance of the signal path including the buried conductive conduit. |
| US09484244B2 |
Structures and methods for forming fin structures
Structures and methods are provided for forming fin structures. A first fin structure is formed on a substrate. A shallow-trench-isolation structure is formed surrounding the first fin structure. At least part of the first fin structure is removed to form a cavity. A first material is formed on one or more side walls of the cavity. A second material is formed to fill the cavity, the second material being different from the first material. At least part of the STI structure is removed to form a second fin structure including the first material and the second material. At least part of the first material that surrounds the second material is removed to fabricate semiconductor devices. |
| US09484240B2 |
Film adhesive, dicing tape with film adhesive, method of manufacturing semiconductor device, and semiconductor device
The present invention provides a film adhesive that can prevent a thermal effect to a semiconductor wafer and that can suppress warping of the semiconductor wafer; a dicing tape with a film adhesive; and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device.The present invention relates to a film adhesive comprising a thermoplastic resin and electrically conductive particles, the film adhesive having an adhesion strength measured at 25° C. after the film adhesive is pasted to a mirror silicon wafer at 40° C. of 0.5 N/10 mm or more. |
| US09484238B2 |
Attachment method
An attachment method including an overlapping step of overlapping a support plate over a substrate under a reduced pressure environment; a temporary fixing step of temporarily fixing the support plate to the substrate; and an attaching step of attaching the support plate to the substrate under a reduced pressure environment. The method further includes, prior to the overlapping step, at least one of a first heating step in which heating is performed under an atmospheric pressure environment and a second heating step in which heating is performed under a reduced pressure environment. |
| US09484231B2 |
Temperature controller for semiconductor manufacturing equipment, method for calculating PID constants in semiconductor manufacturing, and method for operating temperature controller for semiconductor manufacturing equipment
A temperature adjustment system configured to adjust the temperature of a fluid used in a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus includes: a heat exchanger including therein a temperature adjuster for heating and cooling the fluid, the heat exchanger being configured to perform heat exchange between the fluid therein and the temperature adjuster; a temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature of the fluid; a PID-constant calculator configured to calculate PID constants for PID control based on the physical properties of the fluid and a time constant of the temperature sensor; and a PID-control calculator configured to perform the PID control on the temperature adjuster with the PID constants calculated by the PID-constant calculator. |
| US09484229B2 |
Device and method for processing wafer-shaped articles
A device for processing wafer-shaped articles includes a spin chuck for holding and rotating a wafer-shaped article about a rotation axis and at least one dispenser for dispensing liquid onto at least one surface of a wafer-shaped article. A liquid collector surrounds the spin chuck for collecting liquid spun off the substrate during rotation, with at least two collector levels for separately collecting liquids in different collector levels. At least one lifting device moves the spin chuck relative to the liquid collector. At least two exhaust levels are provided for separately collecting gas from an interior of the liquid collector. Each of the exhaust levels includes at least one opening communicating with an ambient exterior of the liquid collector and a door that closes and opens the opening. Each door on one of the exhaust levels can be opened and closed separately from each door on another exhaust level. |
| US09484228B2 |
Simultaneous independently controlled dual side PCB molding technique
Molding assemblies and methods for dual side package molding are described. In an embodiment, a molding compound is injected into a front cavity with a first actuator, and a molding compound is injected into a back cavity with a second actuator, with the first and second actuator assemblies being independently controlled. In an embodiment, the molding compound flows through a through-hole in a molding substrate from a front side of the molding substrate to a back side of the molding substrate, and into the back cavity. |
| US09484225B2 |
Method for packaging circuits
A method for packaging integrated circuit chips (die) is described that includes providing a base substrate with package level contacts, coating a base substrate with adhesive, placing dies on the adhesive, electrically connecting the die to the package level contacts, and removing the backside of the base substrate to expose the backside of the package level contacts. Accordingly, an essentially true chip scale package is formed. Multi-chip modules are formed by filling gaps between the chips with an encapsulant. In an embodiment, chips are interconnected by electrical connections between package level contacts in the base substrate. In an embodiment, substrates each having chips are adhered back-to-back with through vias formed in aligned saw streets to interconnect the back-to-back chip assembly. |
| US09484220B2 |
Sputter etch processing for heavy metal patterning in integrated circuits
A method for fabricating one or more conductive lines in an integrated circuit includes providing a layer of copper containing conductive metal in a multi-layer structure fabricated upon a wafer, providing a first hard mask layer over the layer of copper containing conductive metal, performing a first sputter etch of first hard mask layer using a chlorine-based plasma or a sulfur fluoride-based plasma, and performing a second sputter etch of first hard mask layer using a second plasma, wherein a portion of the layer of copper containing conductive metal residing below a portion of the first hard mask layer that remains after the second sputter etch forms the one or more conductive lines. In one embodiment, the second plasma is a fluorocarbon-based plasma. |
| US09484219B2 |
Methods of fabricating memory devices using wet etching and dry etching
A method of fabricating semiconductor devices may include forming a mold structure on a lower layer, the mold structure including an etch stop layer doped at a first impurity concentration, a lower mold layer doped at a second impurity concentration, and an undoped upper mold layer. The method may include forming a trench exposing the lower layer in the mold structure using dry etching, extending a width of the trench in the etch stop layer using wet etching, and forming a first conductive pattern in the extended width trench, wherein an etch rate of the etch stop layer with respect to the dry etching may be smaller than an etch rate of the lower mold layer with respect to the dry etching, and an etch rate of the etch stop layer with respect to the wet etching may be proportional to the first impurity concentration. |
| US09484212B1 |
Chemical mechanical polishing method
A chemical mechanical polishing method is provided comprising: providing a substrate, wherein the substrate comprises a silicon oxide and a silicon nitride; providing a polishing slurry; providing polishing pad, comprising: a polishing layer having a composition that is a reaction product of ingredients, comprising: a polyfunctional isocyanate and an amine initiated polyol curative; wherein the stoichiometric ratio of the amine initiated polyol curative to the polyfunctional isocyanate is selected to tune the removal rate selectivity of the polishing layer; creating dynamic contact between the polishing surface and the substrate; dispensing the polishing slurry on the polishing pad at or near the interface between the polishing surface and the substrate; and, removing at least some of the silicon oxide and the silicon nitride from the substrate. |
| US09484209B1 |
Flexible and stretchable sensors formed by patterned spalling
A material removal process referred to as spalling is used to provide flexible and stretchable sensors that can be used for healthcare monitoring, bio-medical devices, wearable electronic devices, artificial skin, large area sensing, etc. The flexible and stretchable sensors of the present application have high sensitivity that is comparable to that of a bulk silicon sensor. The flexible and stretchable sensors comprise single crystalline spring-like structures that couple various resistor structures together. |
| US09484208B2 |
Preparation method of a germanium-based schottky junction
The present invention discloses a preparation method of a germanium-based Schottky junction, comprising, cleaning a surface of N-type germanium-based substrate, then depositing a layer of CeO2 on the surface, and further depositing a layer of metal. The stability Ce—O—Ge bonds can be formed at the interface after rare earth oxides CeO2 are in contact with the germanium substrate, and this is beneficial to reduce the interface state density, improve the quality of the interface, and reduce the MIGS and suppress Fermi-level pinning. Meanwhile, the tunneling resistance introduced by CeO2 between the metal and the germanium substrate is smaller relative to the case of Si3N4, Al2O3, Ge3N4 or the like. In view of the excellent surface characteristics and small conduction band offset relative to the germanium substrate, interposing of the CeO2 dielectric layer is applicable to the preparation the germanium-based Schottky junction having a low resistivity. |
| US09484206B2 |
Semiconductor device including catalyst layer and graphene layer thereon and method for manufacturing the same
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device is disclosed. The device includes a foundation layer including first and second layers being different from each other in material, and the foundation layer including a surface on which a boundary of the first and second layers is presented, a catalyst layer on the surface of the foundation layer, and the catalyst layer including a protruding area. The device further includes a graphene layer being in contact with the protruding area. |
| US09484201B2 |
Epitaxial silicon germanium fin formation using sacrificial silicon fin templates
A method of forming semiconductor fins includes forming a plurality of sacrificial template fins from a first semiconductor material; epitaxially growing fins of a second semiconductor material on exposed sidewall surfaces of the sacrificial template fins; and removing the plurality of sacrificial template fins. |
| US09484198B1 |
Physical vapor deposition of an aluminum nitride film
A method for physical vapor deposition of an aluminum nitride film, comprising: positioning a substrate and an aluminum target in a chamber; vacuuming the chamber so that a chamber pressure is at a base pressure between 7.1×10−7-5×10−6 torr; conducting a working gas composed of argon gas and nitrogen gas into the chamber so that the chamber pressure is at a working pressure between 3-7 mtorr; and depositing the aluminum nitride film on the substrate by applying a high power impulse power supply to the aluminum target and applying a direct current bias power supply to the substrate under the working pressure and a substrate temperature between room temperature (25° C.) to 200° C.; wherein a power of the high power impulse power supply is between 500-600 W and a frequency thereof is between 750-1250 Hz, and a bias of the direct current bias power supply is between −50-0 V. |
| US09484197B2 |
Lateral growth semiconductor method and devices
A method of growing high quality crystalline films on lattice-mismatched or amorphous layers is presented allowing semiconductor materials that would normally be subject to high stress and cracking to be employed allowing cost reductions and/or performance improvements in devices to be obtained. Catalysis of the growth of these films is based upon utilizing particular combinations of metals, materials, and structures to establish growth of the crystalline film from a predetermined location. The subsequent film growth occurring in one or two dimensions to cover a predetermined area of the amorphous or lattice-mismatched substrate. Accordingly the technique can be used to either cover a large area or provide tiles of crystalline material with or without crystalline film interconnections. |
| US09484196B2 |
Semiconductor structures including liners comprising alucone and related methods
A semiconductor device including stacked structures. The stacked structures include at least two chalcogenide materials or alternating dielectric materials and conductive materials. A liner including alucone is formed on sidewalls of the stacked structures. Methods of forming the semiconductor device are also disclosed. |
| US09484194B2 |
Controlling hydrogen-deuterium exchange on a spectrum by spectrum basis
A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a liquid chromatography device for separating ions. A gas phase ion-neutral reaction device is arranged downstream to perform a gas phase ion-neutral reaction such as Hydrogen-Deuterium exchange. A control system is arranged to automatically and repeatedly switch the reaction device back and forth between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, wherein in the first mode of operation at least some parent or precursor ions are caused to react within the reaction device and wherein in the second mode of operation substantially fewer or no parent or precursor ions are caused to react. |
| US09484191B2 |
Pulsed remote plasma method and system
A system and method for providing pulsed excited species from a remote plasma unit to a reaction chamber are disclosed. The system includes a pressure control device to control a pressure at the remote plasma unit as reactive species from the remote plasma unit are pulsed to the reaction chamber. |
| US09484187B2 |
Arrangement for transporting radicals
The invention relates to an arrangement for transporting radicals. An electron beam system is presented comprising a beamlet generator; a beamlet manipulator (204) comprising an array of apertures; a plasma generator comprising a chamber for forming a plasma, an inlet receiving input gas and outlets removing plasma or radicals created therein, the plasma generator further comprising outlets in flow connection with the plasma chamber outlets; and a hollow guiding body (309b) guiding radicals formed in the plasma towards the array of apertures for removing contaminant deposition. The hollow guiding body (309b) is removably connectable to an extended portion (307b) of the plasma generator outlet. A cover (400) can be placed over a connection between the hollow guiding body (309b) and the extended portion (307b). The extended portion (307b) of the plasma generator outlet and the hollow guiding body (309b) can be similarly formed as a slit. |
| US09484182B2 |
Charged-particle-beam device and method for correcting aberration
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for correcting an aberration in a charged-particle-beam device. The apparatus includes a charged-particle-beam source, a charged-particle optical system that irradiates a specimen with charged particles emitted from the charged-particle-beam source, an aberration corrector that corrects an aberration of the charged-particle optical system, a control unit that controls the charged-particle optical system and the aberration corrector, a through-focus imaging unit that obtains plural Ronchigrams in which a focal position of the charged-particle optical system is changed, and an aberration calculation unit that divides the obtained Ronchigram into plural local areas, and calculates the amount of the aberration based on line focuses detected in the local areas. |
| US09484178B2 |
Target and X-ray generating tube including the same, X-ray generating apparatus, X-ray imaging system
The target includes a target layer configured to be irradiated with an electron to generate an X-ray and a support substrate configured to support the target layer. The support substrate includes a polycrystalline diamond and includes multiple structure planes having different area densities of plane orientations from one another. The target layer is supported by the support substrate at a structure plane with a smaller area density of the {101} plane than the area density of the {100} plane and the area density of the {111} plane. |
| US09484177B2 |
Longitudinal high dose output, through transmission target X-ray system and methods of use
An X-ray tube for accelerating electrons under a high voltage potential, said X-ray tube includes an evacuated elongated housing that is sealed, a through transmission target anode deposited on an inner surface of said elongated housing, said through transmission target anode configured having a cross-sectional center, a cathode structure disposed in said elongated housing, said cathode structure configured to emit the electrons toward said through transmission target anode, two or more filaments disposed linearly in said elongated housing, said two or more filaments linearly positioned end-to-end proximate said cross-sectional center, said evacuated housing configured to vacuum seal therein said two or more filaments, and, thus, such X-ray tube functions to provide a lengthened, elongated, symmetrical radiation field. |
| US09484174B2 |
Fuse unit
A fuse unit includes a bus bar and an insulating protection portion. The bus bar has a power supply connection portion, an output connection portion, and a terminal installation recess provided around the power supply connection portion. The insulating protection portion is disposed on an outer surface of the bus bar so that portions of a surface of the bus bar in the power supply connection portion, the output connection portion, and the terminal installation recess are exposed from the insulating protection portion. |
| US09484171B2 |
Thermal protector
A thermal protector has superiority in current responsiveness or thermal responsiveness with a simple configuration that does not need a separate manufacturing step of incorporating a resistor. At a stage of press processing for cutting from an original material, a movable plate body part of a movable plate is partitioned into a narrow-width part and a wide-width part by a slim hole. The movable plate is assembled to a fixed conductor with columns of an insulator, a bimetal is assembled to the movable plate, the entire configuration is pressed down by a resinous block, and the entire fixing part is fixed by melting tips of the columns. The wide-width part serves as a normal movable plate, whereas the narrow-width part serves as a conductor in a normal state and as a resistor against an overcurrent. |
| US09484166B1 |
Double-throw switch with positive stops for preventing movement of the stationary contacts
A double-throw switch comprises: a housing; a push button that is mounted for movement with respect to the housing; a first stationary terminal; a second stationary terminal; a moveable terminal that, when in contact with the first stationary terminal, closes a first circuit, and when in contact with the second stationary terminal, closes a second circuit; a first set of one or more positive stops that engage the first stationary terminal; and a second set of one or more positive stops that engage the second stationary terminal. The first set of one or more positive stops applies pressure to and maintains a predetermined position of the first stationary terminal. The second set of one or more positive stops applies pressure to and maintains a predetermined position of the second stationary terminal. |
| US09484165B2 |
Illumination display switching device
An illumination display switching device includes a board, a push button-type switch mounted on the board, a light source mounted on the board, and a switch knob that is supported to a frame member to be slidable in an operation direction of the push button-type switch. The switch knob includes a display design part that is molded with a light-transmitting resin, a non-display design part except for the display design part that is molded with an opaque resin and a light guide member that is integrally molded with the light-transmitting resin of the display design part. The light guide member includes a base part and an arm part, and the base part is integrally molded with the display design part and the arm part extends from the base part and is connected to a switch part of the push button-type switch. |
| US09484163B2 |
Disconnect operating handles suitable for circuit breakers and related bucket assemblies
Disconnect operating handles for circuit breakers are configured with a rotary handle attached to an inwardly oriented shaft that connects to a gear assembly that translates rotational input to linear input. The disconnect operating handles include pivoting lockout levers that automatically “pop” out to expose the lockout space for a padlock when a user touches the lever in an appropriate location. |
| US09484154B2 |
Capacitor device and method for manufacturing same
An object of the invention is to provide a capacitor device that can be made slimmer and lighter and that enables the strength and heat dissipation properties to be improved. A capacitor device (1) has a plurality of capacitor units (2) integrally housed within a housing case (3), the housing case (3) having cylindrical housing sections (5) for housing the capacitor bodies. The housing sections (5) are longitudinally aligned in the same direction and are joined together as an integrated whole. A capacitor unit (2) is inserted via an opening (9) at one end of each of the housing sections (5) so that the entire circumference of the capacitor unit (2) is covered by the corresponding housing section (5). The housing sections (5) have a uniform thickness at least on the outer side along the outer periphery of the capacitor units. |
| US09484149B2 |
Resonance-type non-contact power supply system
A resonance-type non-contact power supply system includes a power-transmission-side metal shield to cover an area around a primary coil and a primary resonance coil. A coaxial cable outer conductor of a power-transmission-side coaxial cable and the power-transmission-side metal shield are threadedly engaged using a coaxial male connector and a coaxial female connector. |
| US09484137B2 |
Magnet arrays
Method and device for self-regulated flux transfer from a source of magnetic energy into one or more ferromagnetic work pieces, wherein a plurality of magnets, each having at least one N-S pole pair defining a magnetization axis, are disposed in a medium having a first relative permeability, the magnets being arranged in an array in which gaps of predetermined distance are maintained between neighboring magnets in the array and in which the magnetization axes of the magnets are oriented such that immediately neighboring magnets face one another with opposite polarities, such arrangement representing a magnetic tank circuit in which internal flux paths through the medium exist between neighboring magnets and magnetic flux access portals are defined between oppositely polarized pole pieces of such neighboring magnets, and wherein at least one working circuit is created which has a reluctance that is lower than that of the magnetic tank circuit by bringing one or more of the magnetic flux access portals into close vicinity to or contact with a surface of a ferromagnetic body having a second relative permeability that is higher than the first relative permeability, whereby a limit of effective flux transfer from the magnetic tank circuit into the working circuit will be reached when the work piece approaches magnetic saturation and the reluctance of the work circuit substantially equals the reluctance of the tank circuit. |
| US09484133B2 |
Filler assembly for cable gland
A dispenser apparatus for a curable liquid material is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a flexible bag defining a first compartment for accommodating a first component of a curable liquid material, and a second compartment for accommodating a second component of the curable liquid material and adapted to communicate with the first chamber to enable mixing of the first and second components to initiate curing of the curable liquid material. A first clamp temporarily prevents mixing of the first and second components, and an elongate nozzle communicates with the second compartment to dispense the mixed curable liquid material therefrom. A second clamp temporarily prevents passage of the curable liquid material from the second compartment to the nozzle. |
| US09484131B2 |
Method and device for positioning electrical conductors, and conductor group
A method for positioning electrical conductors includes arranging a first flat conductor and a second flat conductor such that the second flat conductor is on top of the first conductor. The arranged conductors create a conductor group. The method also includes providing a wrapping tape. The wrapping tape is configured in such a manner that it is able to engage with itself, but not able to engage with the conductors. The method further includes wrapping the wrapping tape around the conductor group. |
| US09484129B2 |
Manufacturing method of superconducting wire and superconducting wire made thereby
Provided is a method of manufacturing a superconducting wire. A superconducting tape having an outer surface is provided, a copper layer is formed on the outer surface of the superconducting tape, and first metal tape and second metal tape are respectively attached on a first surface and a second surface of the superconducting tape on which the copper layer is formed. |
| US09484126B2 |
Covering material for electric wire, insulated electric wire, and wiring harness
A covering material for electric wire, and an insulated electric wire and a wiring harness including the same, wherein the wire including the covering material has a reduced diameter, is inserted into a connector. The covering material containing a polyvinyl chloride having, with respect to 100 parts by mass of the polyvinyl chloride, 10 to 20 parts by mass of a plasticizer, 1 to 6 parts by mass of a chlorinated polyethylene, and 1 to 6 parts by mass of an MBS resin, and a total amount of the chlorinated polyethylene and the MBS resin is 2 to 7 parts by mass. The wire has an external diameter of smaller than 1.1 mm, and has a conductor 1 and an insulator 2 that covers the conductor 1. The insulator 2 is made of the covering material, and has a thickness of 0.25 mm or smaller. |
| US09484125B2 |
Mica-based strip
The present invention relates to a multilayer strip (1) comprising at least: an essentially mica-based layer (3) and a polymeric layer (2) comprising 60 to 85% by weight of a mineral filler (4) and 15 to 40% by weight of a polymer. |
| US09484120B2 |
Method for annulus spacer detection and repositioning in nuclear reactors
The present invention provides an apparatus for detecting and/or repositioning annulus spacers used to maintain the position of a pressure tube within a calandria tube of a nuclear reactor. The method comprises the steps of: vibrationally isolating a section of the pressure tube; vibrating the wall of said pressure tube within said isolated section; detecting vibration of the wall at a minimum of two axial positions within said isolated sections; and detecting the reduction in vibration level of the wall at one or more of said axial positions in comparison to the remaining axial positions. The apparatus comprises a tool head to be inserted into the pressure tube, the tool head comprising a first end and a second and a clamping block m each of said ends. The clamping blocks are used to vibrationally isolate a section of the pressure tube located between said ends. The apparatus also comprises piezo-actuators operable to vibrate said pressure tube; and accelerometers used for measuring vibration of said pressure tube. |
| US09484117B2 |
Semiconductor memory device having compression test mode
A semiconductor memory device having a compression test mode is provided. The semiconductor memory device comprises a memory unit, i test pads, a timing circuit, a compression circuit, and a signal distribution circuit. The memory unit comprises m memory banks divided into n activating groups, wherein each bank comprises a plurality of sensing amplifiers for sensing and amplifying data in bit lines. The timing circuit sequentially generates n control signals each for activating a plurality of sensing amplifiers in one of the n activating groups. The compression circuit compresses data sensed and amplified by the plurality of sensing amplifiers in each bank in a compression test mode. The signal distribution circuit distributes signals output from the compression circuit among the i data pads in rotation. The integer n and the integer i are adjustable. |
| US09484115B1 |
Power savings via selection of SRAM power source
A subsystem configured to select the power supply to a static random access memory cell compares the level of a dedicated memory supply voltage to the primary system supply voltage. The subsystem then switches the primary system supply to the SRAM cell when the system voltage is higher than the memory supply voltage with some margin. When the system voltage is lower than the memory supply voltage, with margin, the subsystem switches the memory supply to the SRAM cell. When the system voltage is comparable to the memory supply, the subsystem switches the system voltage to the SRAM cell if performance is a prioritized consideration, but switches the memory supply to the SRAM cell if power reduction is a prioritized consideration. In this manner, the system achieves optimum performance without incurring steady state power losses and avoids timing issues in accessing memory. |
| US09484114B1 |
Decoding data using bit line defect information
A data storage device includes a memory including a plurality of storage elements configured to store data. The plurality of storage elements includes a first group of storage elements and a second group of storage elements. The data storage device further includes a selection module configured to retrieve first bit line defect information affecting the first group of storage elements and to retrieve second bit line defect information affecting the second group of storage elements. |
| US09484113B2 |
Error-correction coding for hot-swapping semiconductor devices
A memory read operation is directed at a group of semiconductor devices from which a first semiconductor device has been removed. An error in data for the memory read operation is detected based on error-correction coding (ECC). The error is caused at least in part by the first semiconductor device having been removed. ECC is used to determine corrected data for the memory read operation. |
| US09484110B2 |
Mask-programmed read only memory with enhanced security
A mask-programmed read-only memory (MROM) has a plurality of column line pairs, each having a bit line and a complement bit line. The MROM includes a plurality of memory cells corresponding to a plurality of intersections between the column line pairs and a plurality of word lines. Each memory cell includes a high Vt transistor and a low Vt transistor. |
| US09484108B2 |
Integrated circuit, semiconductor memory device, and operating method thereof
An integrated circuit includes an internal circuit including a input/output unit suitable for inputting/outputting data, and a voltage supplying circuit suitable for supplying a first operating voltage to the internal circuit in response to a first control signal during a general operation, and supplying a second operating voltage that is higher than the first operating voltage to the input/output unit in response to a second control signal during an output of the data. |
| US09484104B2 |
Nonvolatile memory system with block managing unit and method of operating the same
According to example embodiments, a nonvolatile memory system includes a nonvolatile memory device and a memory controller. The nonvolatile memory device includes a plurality of planes and each plane includes a plurality of memory blocks. The memory controller is configured to classify the memory blocks of each of the planes into a plurality of groups. The memory controller is configured to select at least two memory blocks in a corresponding one of the groups, and to control the nonvolatile memory device so that the selected at least two memory blocks are multi-block erased. |
| US09484103B1 |
Electronic storage device
A solution for reducing erase cycles in an electronic storage device that uses at least one erase-limited memory device is disclosed. |
| US09484101B2 |
Methods of programming memories
Methods of programming memories include applying a first plurality of programming pulses to the group of memory cells to program first data to the group of memory cells, determining an upper limit of a resulting threshold voltage distribution for the group of memory cells following a particular programming pulse of the first plurality of programming pulses, and applying a second plurality of programming pulses to the group of memory cells to program second data to the group of memory cells, wherein a characteristic of at least one of the programming pulses of the second plurality of programming pulses is at least partially based on the determined upper limit of the threshold voltage distribution. Methods of programming memories further include programming information indicative of usage of memory cells of a page of memory cells to the page of memory cells during a portion of a programming operation. |
| US09484100B2 |
Memory devices having source lines directly coupled to body regions and methods
Memory devices, memory cell strings and methods of operating memory devices are shown. Configurations described include directly coupling an elongated body region to a source line. Configurations and methods shown should provide a reliable bias to a body region for memory operations such as erasing. |
| US09484097B2 |
Multipage program scheme for flash memory
A circuit and method for programming multiple bits of data to flash memory cells in a single program operation cycle. Multiple pages of data to be programmed into one physical page of a flash memory array are stored in page buffers or other storage means on the memory device. The selected wordline connected to the cells to be programmed is driven with predetermined program profiles at different time intervals, where each predetermined program profile is configured for shifting an erase threshold voltage to a specific threshold voltage corresponding to a specific logic state. A multi-page bitline controller biases each bitline to enable or inhibit programming during each of the time intervals, in response to the combination of specific logic states of the bits belonging to each page of data that are associated with that respective bitline. |
| US09484096B1 |
Ternary content-addressable memory
A ternary content-addressable memory comprises a first switch, a first static random-access memory cell, a second switch and a second static random-access memory cell. The first switch is connected between a first search line and a match line. The first switch has a first control electrode. The first static random-access memory cell has a first storage node connected to the first control electrode of the first switch. The second switch is connected between a second search line and the match line. The second switch has a second control node. The second static random-access memory cell has a second storage node connected to the second control electrode of the second switch. |
| US09484092B2 |
Intrinsic vertical bit line architecture
Methods for reducing leakage currents through unselected memory cells of a memory array during a memory operation are described. In some cases, the leakage currents through the unselected memory cells of the memory array may be reduced by setting an adjustable resistance bit line structure connected to the unselected memory cells into a non-conducting state. The adjustable resistance bit line structure may comprise a bit line structure in which the resistance of an intrinsic (or near intrinsic) polysilicon portion of the bit line structure may be adjusted via an application of a voltage to a select gate portion of the bit line structure that is not directly connected to the intrinsic polysilicon portion. The intrinsic polysilicon portion may be set into a conducting state or a non-conducting state based on the voltage applied to the select gate portion. |
| US09484088B2 |
Permutational memory cells
Various embodiments include at least one resistance change memory (RCM) cell, In one embodiment, three or more pairs of electrical contacts are coupled to the at least one RCM cell. A first portion of the pairs are arranged laterally to one another in a first grouping and a second opposing portion of the pairs are arranged laterally to one another in a second grouping. A memory cell material is disposed between opposing sides of the pairs of the three or more electrical contacts. The memory cell material is configured to form a conductive pathway between one or more of the pairs, with each of the three or more pairs being configured to be accessed individually for at least one operation including program, erase, and read operations. Additional apparatuses and methods are described. |
| US09484086B2 |
Determination of word line to local source line shorts
A number of techniques determine defects in non-volatile memory arrays, which are particularly applicable to 3D NAND memory, such as BiCS type. Word line to word line shorts within a memory block are determined by application of an AC stress mode, followed by a defect detection operation. An inter-block stress and detection operation can be used to determine word line to word line leaks between different blocks. Select gate leak line leakage, for both the word lines and other select lines, is considered, as are shorts from word lines and select lines to local source lines. In addition to word line and select line defects, techniques determine shorts between bit lines and low voltage circuitry, such as in sense amplifiers. |
| US09484085B1 |
Static memory apparatus and static memory cell thereof
A static memory apparatus and a static memory cell thereof are provided. The static memory cell includes a data latch circuit, a data write-in circuit and a data read-out circuit. The data latch circuit has a first tristate output inverting circuit and a second tristate output inverting circuit. The data write-in circuit provides a first reference voltage to a power receiving terminal of a selected tristate output inverting circuit which is one of the first and second tristate output inverting circuits, and provides a second reference voltage to an input terminal of the selected tristate output inverting circuit during a data write-in time period. The data read-out circuit generates read-out data according to a voltage at an output terminal of the second tristate output inverting circuit and the second reference voltage during a data read-out time period. |
| US09484084B2 |
Pulling devices for driving data lines
A circuit includes a first data line, a second data line, a first pulling device, a second pulling device, a third pulling device, and a fourth pulling device. The first pulling device is configured to be activated or deactivated responsive to a first control signal; and is configured to pull a first signal at the first data line toward a voltage level of a first voltage based on a second signal at the second data line when the first pulling device is activated. The second pulling device is configured to be activated or deactivated responsive to a second control signal; and is configured to pull the second signal at the second data line toward the voltage level of the first voltage based on the first signal at the first data line when the second pulling device is activated. |
| US09484083B2 |
Semiconductor device and semiconductor storage device
A semiconductor device includes a circuit block that is switchable between selection and non-selection, and a leakage current control circuit disposed between the circuit block and a first power supply line. The leakage current control circuit includes a first transistor disposed between the circuit block and the first power supply line, and a resistor device disposed between the circuit block and the first power supply line. |
| US09484079B2 |
Memory device and memory system including the same
A memory device may include a temperature sensor suitable for generating temperature information and a smart refresh circuit suitable for activating a smart refresh signal when an internal refresh signal is activated a set number of times, and controlling the set number based on the temperature information. |
| US09484078B2 |
Providing services from a remote computer system to a user station over a communications network
A method includes receiving the second information at the remote computer system during a second user initiated communication session from the user station automatically, wherein the user station triggers automatically sending the second information to the remote computer system, retrieving the previously stored third information at the remote computer system and matching at least a portion of the received second information with the stored third information. |
| US09484076B1 |
Systems and methods of double/quad data rate memory involving input latching, self-timing and/or other features
Systems and methods relating to memory and/or memory latching are disclosed. In one exemplary implementation, an illustrative memory device may include self-timed pulse generator circuitry, first input latch circuitry, read/write control circuitry, and second input latch circuitry. According to further implementations herein, fast address access for read and write may be provided in the same cycle via a self-timed pulse in the input latch circuit and/or via associated control/scheme from the control circuit. |
| US09484068B2 |
MTP-thyristor memory cell circuits and methods of operation
An MTP (Many Times Programmable) memory cell for integrated circuit memory arrays is described. The cell includes an MTP device and a thyristor interconnected so that the MTP device triggers the thyristor to turn on during a Read or Verify operation. The difference in threshold voltages between a data memory cell and a reference memory cell is used to determine the information in the data memory cell. Different memory cell structures may be constructed for different memory array requirements. |
| US09484066B2 |
Image display device and control method thereof
The present disclosure relates to an image display device including a display unit for playing video and a control method thereof, and the method may include selecting at least one of characters contained in video, searching at least one region containing the selected character within the entire region of a frame using at least one frame provided in the video, extracting a major playback section containing the selected character based on at least one of the size and location of the retrieved at least one region, and playing the extracted major playback section. |
| US09484056B2 |
Dynamic adjustments of tape head wrap angles
Embodiments of the present invention provide tape drives and methods for operating a tape drive. In one embodiment, tape head wrap angles are dynamically adjusted to increase or decrease contact pressure of magnetic tape on modules of a tape head. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to extend the lifespan of tape drives and components, and enable usage of tape media having increased smoothness and areal density. |
| US09484049B2 |
TMR device with novel free layer
A TMR sensor with a free layer having a FL1/FL2/FL3 configuration is disclosed in which FL1 is FeCo or a FeCo alloy with a thickness between 2 and 15 Angstroms. The FL2 layer is made of CoFeB or a CoFeB alloy having a thickness from 2 to 10 Angstroms. The FL3 layer is from 10 to 100 Angstroms thick and has a negative λ to offset the positive λ from FL1 and FL2 layers and is comprised of CoB or a CoBQ alloy where Q is one of Ni, Mn, Tb, W, Hf, Zr, Nb, and Si. Alternatively, the FL3 layer may be a composite such as CoB/CoFe, (CoB/CoFe)n where n is ≧2 or (CoB/CoFe)m/CoB where m is ≧1. The free layer described herein affords a high TMR ratio above 60% while achieving low values for λ (<5×10−6), RA (1.5 ohm/μm2), and Hc (<6 Oe). |
| US09484046B2 |
Smartphone-based methods and systems
Arrangements involving portable devices (e.g., smartphones and tablet computers) are disclosed. One arrangement enables a content creator to select software with which that creator's content should be rendered—assuring continuity between artistic intention and delivery. Another utilizes a device camera to identify nearby subjects, and take actions based thereon. Others rely on near field chip (RFID) identification of objects, or on identification of audio streams (e.g., music, voice). Some technologies concern improvements to the user interfaces associated with such devices. For example, some arrangements enable discovery of both audio and visual content, without any user requirement to switch modes. Other technologies involve use of these devices in connection with shopping, text entry, and vision-based discovery. Still other improvements are architectural in nature, e.g., relating to evidence-based state machines, and blackboard systems. Yet other technologies concern computational photography. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed. |
| US09484045B2 |
System and method for automatic prediction of speech suitability for statistical modeling
An embodiment according to the invention provides a capability of automatically predicting how favorable a given speech signal is for statistical modeling, which is advantageous in a variety of different contexts. In Multi-Form Segment (MFS) synthesis, for example, an embodiment according to the invention uses prediction capability to provide an automatic acoustic driven template versus model decision maker with an output quality that is high, stable and depends gradually on the system footprint. In speaker selection for a statistical Text-to-Speech synthesis (TTS) system build, as another example context, an embodiment according to the invention enables a fast selection of the most appropriate speaker among several available ones for the full voice dataset recording and preparation, based on a small amount of recorded speech material. |
| US09484044B1 |
Voice enhancement and/or speech features extraction on noisy audio signals using successively refined transforms
Voice enhancement and/or speech features extraction may be performed on noisy audio signals using successively refined transforms. Downsampled versions of an input signal may be obtained, which include a first downsampled signal with a lower sampling rate than a second downsampled signal. Successive transforms may be performed on the input signal to obtain a corresponding sound model of the input signal. The successive transforms performed may include: (1) performing a first transform on the first downsampled signal to yield a first pitch estimate; (2) performing a second transform on the second downsampled signal to yield a second pitch estimate and a first harmonics estimate based on the first pitch estimate; and (3) performing a third transform on the input signal to yield a third pitch estimate and a second harmonics estimate based on the second pitch estimate and the first harmonics estimate. |
| US09484043B1 |
Noise suppressor
Provided is a method, non-transitory computer program product and system for an improved noise suppression technique for speech enhancement. It operates on speech signals from a single source such as either the output from a single microphone or the reconstructed speech signal at the receiving end of a communication application. The system performs background noise monitoring of an in-coming speech signal and determines its level, and performs a time domain gain calculation. The noise suppressed output signal is the gain shaped original speech signal. |
| US09484042B2 |
Speech enhancing method, device for communication earphone and noise reducing communication earphone
The present invention provides a speech enhancing method for communication earphone including two parts: sending end noise reduction processing and receiving end noise reduction processing, wherein the sending end noise reduction processing part includes: determining a wearing condition of the earphone by comparing energy difference of sound signals picked up by microphones of the communication earphone; if the earphone is normally worn, subjecting the sound signal first to multi-microphone noise reduction and then to single channel noise reduction to further suppress residuary stationary noise; otherwise suppressing stationary noise in the sound signal by single channel noise reduction directly. |
| US09484040B2 |
Audio decoding method and associated apparatus
An audio decoding method is provided. In the audio decoding method, a synchronization word and a corresponding packet header are inserted at the beginning of each packet data. A position of the packet data is confirmed according to the synchronization word, and the packet data is then decoded according to information in the packet header. Accordingly, when an error occurs during the decoding process, the decoding process skips to a next packet data for decoding to avoid noise. In addition, a packet header can be directly accessed in the situation of a fast-forward operation to obtain decoding information of the packet data to perform audio decoding. |
| US09484033B2 |
Processing and cross reference of realtime natural language dialog for live annotations
An approach is provided to receive audible speech and convert the received speech to text while the audible speech is being delivered to a user. An annotation candidate is identified in the text and an annotation reference relating to the identified annotation candidate is retrieved and presented to the user. |
| US09484031B2 |
Correcting text with voice processing
The present invention relates to voice processing and provides a method and system for correcting a text. The method comprising: determining a target text unit to be corrected in a text; receiving a reference voice segment input by the user for the target text unit; determining a reference text unit whose pronunciation is similar to a word in the target text unit based on the reference voice segment; and correcting the word in the target text unit in the text by the reference text unit. The present invention enables the user to easily correct errors in the text vocally. |
| US09484028B2 |
Systems and methods for hands-free voice control and voice search
In one embodiment the present invention includes a method comprising receiving an acoustic input signal and processing the acoustic input signal with a plurality of acoustic recognition processes configured to recognize the same target sound. Different acoustic recognition processes start processing different segments of the acoustic input signal at different time points in the acoustic input signal. In one embodiment, initial states in the recognition processes may be configured on each time step. |
| US09484023B2 |
Conversion of non-back-off language models for efficient speech decoding
Techniques for conversion of non-back-off language models for use in speech decoders. For example, a method comprises the following step. A non-back-off language model is converted to a back-off language model. The converted back-off language model is pruned. The converted back-off language model is usable for decoding speech. |
| US09484022B2 |
Training multiple neural networks with different accuracy
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for training a deep neural network. One of the methods includes generating a plurality of feature vectors that each model a different portion of an audio waveform, generating a first posterior probability vector for a first feature vector using a first neural network, determining whether one of the scores in the first posterior probability vector satisfies a first threshold value, generating a second posterior probability vector for each subsequent feature vector using a second neural network, wherein the second neural network is trained to identify the same key words and key phrases and includes more inner layer nodes than the first neural network, and determining whether one of the scores in the second posterior probability vector satisfies a second threshold value. |
| US09484017B2 |
Speech translation apparatus, speech translation method, and non-transitory computer readable medium thereof
A first speech processing device includes a first speech input unit and a first speech output unit. A second speech processing device includes a second speech input unit and a second speech output unit. In a server therebetween, a speech of a first language sent from the first speech input unit is recognized. The speech recognition result is translated into a second language. The translation result is back translated into the first language. A first speech synthesis signal of the back translation result is sent to the first speech output unit. A second speech synthesis signal of the translation result is sent to the second speech output unit. Duration of the second speech synthesis signal or the first speech synthesis signal is measured. The first speech synthesis signal and the second speech synthesis signal are outputted by synchronizing a start time and an end time thereof, based on the duration. |
| US09484011B2 |
Echo modulation methods and system
Methods and systems for echo modulation are described. In one embodiment, intensities of a plurality of values in multiple windows of an audio signal may be obtained. The windows may be subject to a periodic boundary condition. A plurality of echo values may be calculated for each of the respective windows. The audio signal may be altered in one or more of the windows using a windowing function and echo values. Additional methods and systems are disclosed. |
| US09484009B2 |
Microphone stand base
According to some embodiments a microphone stand base is provided. The microphone stand base may comprise a backer to couple a post and a bottom plate extending from the backer. The backer is coupled to the bottom plate such that the backer is flush with a plurality of edges of the bottom plate. |
| US09484006B2 |
Manipulation of textual content data for layered presentation
A method for creating visual content to be output in a layered manner, wherein content items are received, and are categorized into at least two categories. At least one of the categories includes at least one image content item and at least one other category includes at least one textual content item. The content items in each of the categories are manipulated, wherein the textual content data is manipulated with at least one operation applicable for textual content and the manipulation produces at least one data file including textual content data for the text layer to be prepared for outputting in a client device. Finally, data files including manipulated image content data and the manipulated textual content data are stored. A system, a computer program product, a method in the client device and the client device are also described. |
| US09484003B2 |
Content bound graphic
A method can include accessing content stored in a data store where the content includes a bound and content adjacent to the bound; rendering a portion of the content to a display; receiving a scroll command that calls for rendering the content adjacent to the bound; and, responsive to receipt of the scroll command, rendering a bound graphic. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed. |
| US09483997B2 |
Proximity detection of candidate companion display device in same room as primary display using infrared signaling
A candidate companion screen device is located by a primary display device as being in the same room as the primary device using IRDA, and in response ancillary content related to content being shown on the primary display device is provided to the companion screen device. The ancillary content may be provided from the Internet based on information in the content being presented on the primary display device by, e.g., providing a link to a website to the companion device. |
| US09483995B2 |
Display device, method for driving the same, and electronic device
A display device including a display unit including first and second lines, light emitting elements and pixel circuits; a first drive unit sequentially applying a selection pulse to the first lines; and a second drive unit applying a signal pulse including first to third voltages to each of the second lines. Each of the pixel circuits includes a first transistor sampling the signal pulse, and a second transistor driving one of the light emitting elements. The first drive unit applies the selection pulse when the first voltage is being applied by the second drive unit, before a correction of a threshold voltage of the second transistor is initiated and within a period that the one of the light emitting elements is being turned out, and the first drive unit applies the selection pulse when the second voltage is being applied by the second drive unit. |
| US09483985B2 |
Field-sequential-color liquid crystal device and the driving method thereof
A driving method of the FSC-LCD is disclosed. The method includes: calculating grayscale values of four pixels of each images, the grayscale values of four pixels comprises grayscale values for a white pixel, for a first color pixel, for a second color pixel, and for a third color pixel; within a first color field of the n-th image, a white backlight source is provided to the pixel cells, the grayscale value for the white pixel of the n-th image is inputted to the transparent subpixel, the grayscale value for the first color pixel of the n-th image is inputted to the first color subpixel, and the grayscale value for the second color pixel of the n-th image is inputted to the second color subpixel; within a second color field of the n-th image, a third-color backlight source is provided to the pixel cells, the grayscale value for the third color pixel of the n-th image is inputted to the transparent subpixel, a grayscale value is inputted to the first color subpixel and the second color subpixel such that the first color subpixel and the second color subpixel remain in a turn-on state. In addition, FSC-LCD driven by the above driving method is also disclosed. |
| US09483983B2 |
Display device, in particular for cooktops
A display device in particular for cooktops is provide that has a glass ceramic with a front side and a back side and a lamp arranged in the area of the back side. The display device further includes an optical compensation filter arranged between the front side and the lamp so as to implement any color impressions easily and inexpensively and in a preselectable manner. |
| US09483981B2 |
Dynamic display adjustment
Devices such as electronic book readers, televisions, and so forth use displays to present information to users. Described herein are devices and methods for dynamically adjusting illumination, waveforms used to generate the image, presentation of the information, or a combination thereof based on one or more of ambient light level, display illumination level, and so forth. |
| US09483978B2 |
Display device and method of driving the same
A display device includes a display unit having display elements arrayed in rows and columns. The display elements each include a current-driven light emitting unit and a drive circuit for driving the light emitting unit. A power supply unit supplies a drive voltage for driving the display elements to power supply lines corresponding to the rows of display elements. A signal output unit supplies video signal voltages to data lines corresponding to the columns of the display elements. A control unit detects maximum grayscale values of input signals corresponding to the display elements arranged in the rows, and accordingly controls duty ratios of the drive voltage supplied to the power supply lines corresponding to the rows of the display elements. The control unit also controls values of video signals corresponding to the display elements in each row. |
| US09483970B2 |
Method, system, and device for selecting and displaying information on a mobile digital display device
A method, system, and device for selecting and displaying information on a mobile digital display device includes determining preference criteria for local viewers of the mobile digital information display device, selecting digital information to be displayed on the mobile digital information display device as a function of the preference criteria, and displaying the selected information on a display of the mobile digital information device. |
| US09483969B2 |
Liquid crystal panel, and testing circuit and testing method thereof
A liquid crystal panel, the testing circuit and the testing method thereof are disclosed. The testing circuit includes shorting bars, bonding pads, and switches. The switches are arranged between the shorting bars and the bonding pads. In the testing process, the switches are turn on upon receiving the testing signals so as to transmit the testing signals from the shorting bars to the bonding pads. When the testing process ends, the switches are turn off to prevent the liquid crystal panel from being affected by the signals of the bonding pads during the normal screen display of the liquid crystal panel. In this way, the manufacturing cost is reduced. |
| US09483964B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus includes a display panel which receives a light to display an image, a backlight unit which provides the light to the display panel, and a first protection member accommodating the backlight unit therein. The first protection member includes a bottom part, an inclined part connected to an edge of the bottom part and bent upward at a predetermined angle with respect to the bottom part, a connection part connected to an edge of the inclined part, and a first sidewall part connected to an edge of the connection part and extending upward. The display panel, the backlight unit, the bottom part and the connection part have a curved surface shape in a first direction and have a flat shape in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. |
| US09483958B1 |
Magnetic writing board chore chart
An Improved chore chart assembly consisting of a writable, erasable and rewritable surface capable of removably securing labels to display lists of tasks and chores and a method for creating and displaying lists and tasks. The chore chart assembly further consisting of a drawer capable of holding the labels which are capable of being removably affixed. |
| US09483957B1 |
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for promoting behavioral intervention via evidence-based recommendations and game mechanics
The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable media for promoting behavioral intervention via evidence-based recommendations and game mechanics. According to one aspect, a method for promoting behavioral intervention via evidence-based recommendations is provided. The method occurs at a computing platform including a processor and memory. The method includes receiving information regarding characteristics and/or activities of a user, wherein the user is associated with a medical condition or an age group. The method further includes determining, using the received information and predetermined health information associated with the medical condition or the age group, an action for promoting behavioral intervention. The method also includes providing the action or information associated with the action to the user. |
| US09483947B2 |
Passing assistance system and method
A passing assistance system and method is provided for one's vehicle having an electronic control device for at least receiving messages from car-to-car communication systems of other vehicles. The messages include information about the presence or absence of a vehicle that trails the vehicle transmitting the message. The control device evaluates these messages as follows: the control device has a filter for identifying the first oncoming vehicle and its message and activates a warning system in the ego-vehicle to prevent a passing process if this message includes the information about the presence of a trailing vehicle. |
| US09483942B2 |
Transportation location and alert application for mobile device
An application program interface (API) for communicating with a transportation integration network is provided wherein an application can utilize the API to retrieve, store, and otherwise access or modify transportation location tracking data from disparate data stores and then display the data in a single API, website or computer software program. |
| US09483941B1 |
Communicating an alert notification to a particular vehicle
Communicating a notification to a particular vehicle is provided. A processor: identifies, one or more vehicles within a particular radius to a first vehicle based on one of: WiFi network visibility, a geo-fenced radius with known geo-tags of the one or more vehicles, or scanning for visible Bluetooth devices; receives a selection for a particular vehicle of the one or more vehicles identified based on descriptive wireless tags or line-of-sight selection from a first device in the first vehicle; establishes a connection between the first device in the first vehicle and a second device in the particular vehicle; receives a selection for a predetermined message; receives an image of a problem associated with the particular vehicle; and sends the predetermined message and the image from the first device to the second device. |
| US09483938B1 |
Diagnostic system, method, and recording medium for signalized transportation networks
A diagnosis system for an adaptive signal control system in a network, the diagnosis system including a traffic state identification device configured to estimate a traffic state describing a supply-demand mismatch by identifying a relationship between real time data feed from a sensor and a control strategy of said adaptive signal control system and a network transition model device configured to diagnose the supply-demand mismatch and an evolution of the supply-demand mismatch on a network level based on said relationship and infrastructure data of the network. |
| US09483935B2 |
Channel-switching remote controlled barrier opening system
An improved barrier door one way wireless communication system for operating a barrier, such as a garage door, includes the transmission and reception of multibit code hopping data packets in combination with automatic RF channel switching. Packet data is transmitted automatically on more than one RF channels in a switching style while sending two or more redundant multibit code hopping data packets on each of the RF channels. The system also provides for the learning of a transmitter to a receiver where two or more code hopping data packets must be received and decoded by the receiver on all RF channels before a transmitter can be learned to a receiver. Once the transmitter is learned, actuation of the transmitter during a learn mode can open a window for learning of a single channel transmitter. |
| US09483934B2 |
Presence based system and method for controlling devices
System and method for presence based control of connected devices including a smart device configured to operate at least one connected device, and a locator configured to supervise an entrance of a subarea of a monitored area, wherein the smart device and the locator are configured to exchange radio frequency (RF) signals and to determine the presence of the smart device within the subarea based on received RF signals, and wherein the smart device to issue control commands to operate the at least one connected device based on a predefined scheme and on the presence of the smart device within the subarea. |
| US09483932B2 |
Systems and methods for a safety status indicator system
The present invention provides systems and methods for tracking a safety status of a number of individuals, and providing pro-active security and response based on historical safety data collected by the system, as well as third-party information such as crime, traffic, weather, and news data. |
| US09483928B2 |
Input/output circuits and devices having physically corresponding status indicators
Systems and methods are provided for aligning status indicators on a terminal block of an I/O device by locating the status indicators directly adjacent to or integrated directly within their respective terminals on the terminal block. The status indicators are illuminated by LEDs or other light emitters disposed within a housing of the I/O device. Light from the LEDs are directed to the status indicators by light pipes disposed within the housing of the I/O device. LED activation circuitry disposed within the housing determines a manner in which to activate the LEDs to illuminate the status indicators based on inputs and outputs between the I/O device and a controlled process. In certain embodiments, the status indicators are disposed on a raised section of the I/O device, which may be part of a removable LED indication assembly including the LEDs, light pipes, and LED activation circuitry. |
| US09483926B2 |
Monitoring inmate movement with RFID
The disclosure relates to systems and methods for tracking offender movement with RFID. Such a system can include a transponder associated with an offender and a radar module configured to determine a direction of a moving object passing within range of the radar module. The system can include a radio frequency identification reader situated near the radar module and configured to transmit an interrogating signal to the transponder and receive an identifying signal in response to the transponder receiving the interrogating signal. The system can include a server configured to receive data from the radio frequency identification reader and the radar module through a network, transmit the received data to a web service through the network, and receive an alert from the web service that a monitoring rule of a plurality of monitoring rules associated with the offender was violated. |
| US09483924B2 |
Smoke detector with airflow barrier
A smoke detector system that includes an airflow barrier installed between a detector base unit and a mounting surface to ensure there is separation between the detector base unit and the mounting surface. The barrier isolates and seals the smoke detector to prevent the formation of condensation in or around the smoke detector. The barrier further includes a cavity that can collect condensation if condensation does occur. The condensation is then directed to a channel that extends around the periphery of the airflow barrier. Additionally, the channel includes weep holes so that condensation has a means to exit the detector. |
| US09483921B2 |
Integrated visual notification system in an accessory device
The described embodiments relate generally to an accessory device for a tablet device. The accessory device takes the form of a flexible screen protector that can be disposed over a display portion of the tablet device. Because the flexible screen protector covers the display of the tablet there is no visual way for the tablet to provide notifications to the user while the screen protector overlays it. By providing a data and power connection between the tablet and the accessory device, the processor of the tablet device can command illumination elements disposed in the accessory device to be illuminated in any of a number of illumination states. Each of the illumination states can be associated with an operating state of the tablet device thereby allowing the tablet device to visually communicate operating state information while the display is covered. |
| US09483918B2 |
Personal illumination device with variable lighting patterns
A personal illumination device is described and taught. The personal illumination device is intended for use by motorcyclists, however, it may be used by any number of individuals looking to increase their visibility in environments where high visibility and safety is paramount. The illumination device has two illuminated strips that sit across the front and back of a user. The strips have LEDs positioned across capable of creating various illuminate patterns. Additionally, a user can choose to have either the front, back, or both strips illuminated at the same time. The personal illumination device further has straps that provide for adjustments to create a custom fit, as well as enhancement strips placed on the straps to further increase one's visibility. |
| US09483916B2 |
Gaming system, gaming device and gaming method providing stacking symbols and convertible reels
The gaming system, gaming device and method provides a reel game that includes stacks of symbols configured on the reels to provide a large number of winning symbol combinations. The gaming device includes a plurality of reels wherein each reel includes a reel-strip and a plurality of symbols. Each of the plurality of reels is configured to include one or more stacks of symbols wherein a stack of symbols is formed by placing a plurality of identical symbols adjacent to each other on a single reel. If two non-adjacent reels each generated a stack of identical symbols and at least one reel positioned between the two non-adjacent reels generated symbols different from the symbols used to form the stack of identical symbols, at least one symbol on the at least one reel positioned between the two non-adjacent reels is modified into the symbol that forms the stacks of identical symbols. |
| US09483915B2 |
Methods and systems for electronic gaming
Methods and apparatuses for administering game play include displaying an electronic reel simulation including a multiple reel array for a wagering game on a display. A user input indicates a selected play option from a plurality of play options. All play options enable all displayed positions of the multiple reel array to be considered in winning outcomes. A game outcome is determined and presented as game symbols on the display. Winning combinations of the game symbols are determined, wherein each winning combination includes three or more matching game symbols appearing in the displayed positions on each of three or more adjacent reels and at least one of the three or more matching game symbols is not used in another winning combination. A payout is determined and multiplied by a multiple correlated to the selected play option when a substitute multiplier symbol appears as one of the game symbols. |
| US09483894B2 |
Bezel assembly for use with an automated transaction device
The bezel assembly for data reception, for use with a bill validator in a financial transactional device, includes a bezel housing and a data reception assembly. The bezel housing includes a customer-facing front portion and a back plate connectable to the bill validator that is mounted within the transactional device cabinet. The front portion includes an insertion/dispensing slot for receiving currency and a projecting protrusion forward of the casing. The forward-extending protrusion accommodates at least a portion of the data reception assembly. The bezel assembly can include a wireless communication function that is communicably connectable with a mobile device via a wireless communication method, a manual entry function, a biometric reader, one or more cameras for scanning and decrypting 2D barcodes and the like, thus enhancing the overall functionality of the financial transactional device. |
| US09483893B2 |
Securable banknote carrier, and a banknote handling apparatus and banknote cassette for use with the securable banknote carrier
A securable banknote carrier comprising an enclosure of flexible material attached to an articulated bi-fold frame delimiting a banknote aperture, wherein the frame comprises a pair of hingedly coupled opposing jaw members, and wherein the frame is configured such that when moving from a banknote aperture open position to a banknote aperture closed position the opposing jaw members rotate inwardly towards one another from a position in which the jaw members are substantially coplanar to a position m which the members are substantial adjacent and parallel to each other. |
| US09483891B1 |
Wireless lock
A network lock system and a method for operating the network lock system. The network lock system includes: a lock mechanism for locking a first lock part to a second lock part together and for releasing the first lock part locked to the second lock part on application of a power signal to the lock mechanism; a wireless signal receiver for receiving a wireless signal from a network device; and a power converter for converting the wireless signal into the power signal for application to the lock mechanism. |
| US09483889B2 |
Method for controlling an electronically secured device and transponder for it
A method for controlling an electronically secured device by means of a transponder has the following procedural steps: a) Access authorization information is sent from an electrical access management system to the transponder via a mobile communications link, b) The access authorization information is received by the transponder, c) The access authorization information is transmitted from the transponder to the device, and d) A function of the device is activated if the received access authorization information matches reference information belonging to the device. |
| US09483888B2 |
Reusable electronic seal
A container including a reusable electronic seal, as well as a system and method for using the electronic seal are described. The container includes a closure member configured to detachably affix to a portion of the container, thereby sealing the container. In response to the closure member sealing the container, a signal generating component generates an electronic signal and transmits the electronic signal to a processing circuit operably connected to the signal generating component. The processing circuit includes a processing device configured to generate a unique code when the closure member is manipulated to open or close the container and an output device operably connected to the processing device and configured to output the unique code. The unique code is updated each time the container is opened, thereby providing a recipient with a way to determine whether the container has been opened during delivery. |
| US09483885B2 |
Method for detecting a failure of at least one sensor onboard an aircraft implementing wind detection, and associated system
A method for detecting a failure of at least one sensor onboard an aircraft implementing wind detection is provided. The method includes measuring an airspeed of the aircraft; measuring a geographical speed of the aircraft; determining an instantaneous wind vector, based on the measured airspeed and geographical speed; establishing an instantaneous wind variation vector, based on the determined instantaneous wind vector; projecting the instantaneous wind variation vector on the direction of the vector of an air or geographical speed of the aircraft; and determining the presence of a failure based on the obtained projection. |
| US09483881B2 |
System and method for testing vehicle emissions and engine controls using a self-service on-board diagnostics kiosk
A system and method for testing vehicle emissions and engine control components using a standalone self-service kiosk. The self-service kiosk includes a computer capable of gathering Vehicle Information (VIN) and OBD information from a vehicle being tested using a barcode reader and an OBD reader, respectively. The self-service kiosk generates a readable display or printed report to the user indicating any detected diagnostic trouble codes found during the vehicle emissions testing. By networking a plurality of self-service kiosks together in a secure network and accessible through the Internet, the self-service kiosk network maintains a centrally located vehicle information database for storing and retrieving pertinent vehicle-related information during vehicle emissions testing. If the vehicle being tested passes the vehicle emissions testing, then the self-service kiosk prints out a registration renewal sticker, registration renewal document and/or receipt for the user. |
| US09483876B2 |
Augmentation of elements in a data content
A computing device can augment video content by receiving video content from an image capturing device and detecting and tracking a self-propelled device in the video content. The computing device can display a plurality of augmented reality elements selectable to augment the self-propelled device and receive a user selection of one of the plurality of augmented reality elements to augment the self-propelled device. The computing device may then augment the self-propelled device in the video content by superimposing the selected augmented reality element over the self-propelled device as the self-propelled device moves. |
| US09483874B2 |
Displaying panoramic images in relation to maps
An example non-limiting game apparatus as an information processing apparatus includes a CPU which causes the game apparatus to function as a guide apparatus. A map image of a place or area to be guided is displayed on a lower LCD. When a predetermined position on the map image is designated, a photograph image of a part of a panoramic image produced from a panoramic photograph taken at a real position in a real space that corresponds to the predetermined position is displayed on a stereoscopic LCD. Therefore, not only a planar map image but also an actual photograph at the predetermined position are presented. Furthermore, if the map image is turned, the photograph image of a part of the panoramic image is changed such that the photograph image corresponds to a turned direction. |
| US09483873B2 |
Easy selection threshold
A method, system, and computer readable storage medium/computer program product provide the ability to select an object in a three-dimensional (3D) scene. A 3D scene is displayed and consists of a first object that is displayed in the foreground and a second object that is occluded or partially occluded by the first object. An object selection option is activated. A transparency threshold value is defined for the first object. A location in the displayed 3D scene is selected. Such a location is located on a portion of the first object that occludes the second object. Based on the transparency threshold value and the location, either the first object or the second object is selected and displayed in a visually distinguishable manner. |
| US09483872B2 |
Graphical representation of roads and routes using hardware tessellation
A technical solution is provided for graphical representation of road segments by employing hardware tessellation, wherein cartographic data that describe at least one two-dimensional or three-dimensional road contour of the road segment are assigned to each road segment. One method aspect comprises the steps of piecewise partitioning the parametrization of the road segment into mutually independent curve segments, of providing at least one tessellation factor for each curve segment, the at least one tessellation factor specifying into how many subsegments each curve segment is to be subdivided in the direction of the road contour, of generating a tessellation pattern for each curve segment based on the at least one tessellation factor, and of generating primitives, capable of being represented on a screen, on the basis of the generated tessellation pattern and on the basis of the parametrized road contour. |
| US09483866B2 |
User interface for efficiently displaying relevant OCT imaging data
The present invention is an OCT imaging system user interface for efficiently providing relevant image displays to the user. These displays are used during image acquisition to align patients and verify acquisition image quality. During image analysis, these displays indicate positional relationships between displayed data images, automatically display suspicious analysis, automatically display diagnostic data, simultaneously display similar data from multiple visits, improve access to archived data, and provide other improvements for efficient data presentation of relevant information. |
| US09483864B2 |
System and method for photorealistic imaging using ambient occlusion
Scene model data, including a scene geometry model and a plurality of pixel data describing objects arranged in a scene, is received. A primary pixel color and a primary ray are generated based on a selected first pixel data. If the primary ray intersects an object in the scene, an intersection point is determined. A surface normal is determined based on the object intersected and the intersection point. The primary pixel color is modified based on a primary hit color, determined based on the intersection point. A plurality of ambient occlusion (AO) rays each having a direction, D, are generated based on the intersection point, P and the surface normal. Each AO ray direction is reversed and the AO ray origin is set to a point outside the scene. An AO ray that does not intersect an object before reaching the intersection point is included in ambient occlusion calculations. The primary pixel color is shaded based on the ambient occlusion and the primary hit color and an image is generated based on the primary pixel color for the pixel data. |
| US09483862B2 |
GPU-accelerated path rendering
A graphics processing unit (GPU) comprises a memory, and at least one processor configured to: receive a primitive type buffer comprising a plurality of primitive type entries, wherein each of a plurality of vertices of a vertex buffer of the GPU are associated with one or more of the plurality of primitive type entries, determine primitives based on the plurality of vertices and the associated one or more primitive type entries, and rendering, by the GPU, the primitives based on the plurality of vertices and the associated one or more primitive type entries of the primitive type buffer. |
| US09483851B2 |
Systems and methods for filtering for image generation
A method is provided including acquiring imaging data of an object to be imaged from a computed tomography (CT) detector. The method also includes reconstructing the acquired imaging data into an initial reconstruction image, and performing material characterization of an image volume of the initial reconstruction image to provide a re-mapped image volume. Further, the method includes performing forward projection on the re-mapped image volume to provide forward projection data, and providing an error projection based on the forward projection data. Also, the method includes filtering at least one of the initial reconstruction image, the re-mapped image volume, the forward projection data, or the error projection. The method also includes using the error projection to update the initial reconstruction image to provide an updated reconstruction image. |
| US09483850B2 |
Cylinder source software-positioning method for PET calibration and image quality assurance
A method and system for determining a position of a source including obtaining prompt data and related delayed data from a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner, generating a sinogram from the prompt data, generating crystal efficiency correction factors by performing a normalization calibration based on the obtained delayed data, performing normalization correction on the generated sinogram based on the crystal efficiency correction factors to generate a corrected sinogram, rebinning the corrected sinogram to generate a plurality of two-dimensional sinogram slices, and determining a central axis for each of the plurality of two-dimensional sinogram slices using a center estimation process. |
| US09483849B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling camera for color calibration of multi-displays
A method for controlling a camera for color calibration of multi-displays including: acquiring a first image of data displayed on the multi-displays by photographing the multi-displays with the camera; analyzing color of the data displayed on at least one individual display from among the multi-displays using the acquired first image; determining image capture settings suitable for the color calibration of the multi-displays, based on a result of the analyzing; adjusting the image capture settings of the camera in accordance with the determined image capture settings; acquiring a second image of the data displayed on the multi-displays by photographing the multi-displays with the camera using the adjusted image capture settings of the camera; and performing color calibration of the multi-displays based on the second image. |
| US09483848B2 |
Image processing apparatus having a plurality of image processing blocks that are capable of real-time processing of an image signal
An image processing apparatus is provided which offers higher versatility than conventional image processing apparatuses. When an input signal to a spatial filtering block is a monochrome signal that contains Y component only, a selector selects its input terminal and a selector selects its input terminal. Then, a low-pass filter output signal of a programmable spatial filter is inputted to a spatial filter, and a low-pass filter output signal of the spatial filer is inputted to a spatial filter. That is, the programmable spatial filter and the spatial filters are connected in series (in cascade), and the cascade-connected three spatial filters perform filtering operation. In this example, low-pass filters with 5H5 taps are connected in cascade in three stages, which enables low-pass filtering with 13H13 taps. |
| US09483845B2 |
Extending prediction modes and performance of video codecs
A video frame compression system includes a rendering engine that provides a current video frame and current additional rendering information. Additionally, the video frame compression system includes a warping engine that generates a warped video frame, wherein the warped video frame is a transformation of a previous video frame that is based on the current additional rendering information. Further, the video frame compression system includes a video encoder that compresses the current video frame by using the warped video frame as a reference frame and separately compresses the current additional rendering information. Still further, the video frame compression system includes a packetizer that provides main and auxiliary data streams corresponding to the compressed current video frame and the compressed current additional rendering information, respectively. A video frame decompression system and methods of video frame compression and decompression are also provided. |
| US09483843B2 |
Method and system for expediting bilinear filtering
The present document describes a method and system for expediting bilinear filtering of textures, by reducing the number of data load operations. The method expands the original data layout with additional borders containing replicated texels. The replicated texels correspond either to wrapped-around texels for two-dimensional textures or neighboring faces in cube textures. Therefore, a 2×2 filter kernel for bilinear filtering is built which requires only one texel address to be computed, with all texel data readable with two load operations which are a predetermined stride apart. Different addressing modes are implemented by adjusting the sampling locus. |
| US09483836B2 |
Method and apparatus for real-time conversion of 2-dimensional content to 3-dimensional content
Various aspects of a method and apparatus for video processing may include a computing device communicably coupled to an external device. The computing device may be operable to determine an average vertical velocity and an average horizontal velocity of a subset of pixels in an image frame and determine a depth value for each pixel of the subset of pixels based on calculated motion vectors of the pixel of the subset of pixels, the average vertical velocity of the subset of pixels and the average horizontal velocity of the subset of pixels. |
| US09483830B2 |
Depth map generation method, related system and computer program product
A depth map is generated from at least a first and a second image. A plurality of reference pixels are selected in the first image. A cost function is used to associate each reference pixel with a respective pixel in the second image. A masking operation is used to identify a subset of pixels in a block of pixels surrounding a reference pixel and the cost function is based on the identified subset of pixels. A disparity between each reference pixel and the respective pixel in said second image is determined, and a depth value is determined for each reference pixel as a function of the respective disparity. A depth map is generated based on the determined depth values. |
| US09483829B2 |
Efficient visual surface finding
A structure for determining a plane in a depth image includes dividing a portion of a depth image into a plurality of areas, fitting a two-dimensional line to depth points in each of the plurality of areas, and combining two or more of the plurality of two-dimensional lines to form a three-dimensional plane estimate. |
| US09483828B2 |
System for recognizing vehicle identification number
A system for recognizing a vehicle identification number includes a three dimensional scanner configured to scan, in a direction in which the vehicle identification number is engraved, a vehicle identification number engraved in a vehicle body to obtain an image. The system further includes an image processor configured to convert the image obtained by the three dimensional scanner into a gray image, divide the gray image according to a gray scale to extract a symbol in the image corresponding to a symbol engraved in the vehicle body, and compare the symbol with standard symbols to determine the vehicle identification number. |
| US09483822B2 |
Co-occurrence of local anisotropic gradient orientations
Methods, apparatus, and other embodiments associated with distinguishing disease phenotypes using co-occurrence of local anisotropic gradient orientations (CoLIAGe) are described. One example apparatus includes a set of logics that acquires a radiologic image (e.g., MRI image) of a region of tissue demonstrating disease pathology (e.g., cancer), computes a gradient orientation for a pixel in the MRI image, computes a significant orientation for the pixel based on the gradient orientation, constructs a feature vector that captures a discretized entropy distribution for the image based on the significant orientation, and classifies the phenotype of the disease pathology based on the feature vector. Embodiments of example apparatus may generate and display a heatmap of entropy values for the image. Example methods and apparatus may operate substantially in real-time. Example methods and apparatus may operate in two or three dimensions. |
| US09483821B2 |
Method and ultrasound apparatus for displaying ultrasound image corresponding to region of interest
Provided is an ultrasound image display method. The ultrasound image display method includes displaying an ultrasound image of an object, selecting at least one region of interest (ROI) in the ultrasound image based on a user input, converting image pixel information corresponding to the at least one ROI into height values, and three-dimensionally displaying a partial ultrasound image corresponding to the at least one ROI by using the height values. |
| US09483819B2 |
Contour-based array inspection of patterned defects
One embodiment relates to a method of inspecting an array of cells on a substrate. A reference image is generated using a cell image that was previously determined to be defect free. A reference contour image which includes contours of the reference image is also generated. The reference contour image is used to detect defects in the array of cells on the substrate. Another embodiment relates to a system for detecting defects in an array on a substrate. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed. |
| US09483816B2 |
Method and system for high accuracy and reliability registration of multi modal imagery
A method for mapping a target image to a reference image includes receiving a target image; receiving a reference image that overlaps the target image; preprocessing the target image, wherein the preprocessing includes: rejecting a target image with a shadow region above a shadow threshold while keeping a target image with a shadow region below a shadow threshold; providing an uncertainty in a location of the kept target image relative to the reference image; transforming the kept target image to an atlas projection to match the reference image; partitioning the transformed kept target image into a sub-region; and determining a matching statistic for each sub-region to determine a location for each sub-region relative to the reference image. |
| US09483815B2 |
Systems and methods for computational lighting
A device for creating a digital image is described. The device that may receive two or more input images. The input images may have a common viewpoint with unique lighting configurations. The device may utilize basis light functions and modifiers to create a final composite image. The device may include a computing device configured to provide user a graphical user interface enabling a user to create a final composite image. Devices described herein may be useful for computational light workflows in photography. |
| US09483814B1 |
Methods and apparatus for the filtering of spatial frequencies
A single still input image is converted into a decomposition video that, when played, appears to be a close facsimile of the input image. Each frame of the decomposition video has a subset of the pixels of the input image that is disjoint from the subset of pixels selected for any other frame. A union of the subsets, represented by each decomposition video frame, contains all the pixels of the input image. To preserve sufficient brightness, a decomposition video generally needs to contain a relatively small number of frames. To achieve effective and efficient blocking, of the content of the input image as it appears in each frame of a decomposition video, the present invention focuses upon a spatial filtering strategy and, preferably, a two-tiered strategy. A first tier focuses upon the obscuring of relatively high frequency spatial frequencies, while a second tier focuses upon the obscuring of relatively low frequency spatial frequencies. |
| US09483812B2 |
Enhancing motion pictures with accurate motion information
Methods and systems for digitally enhancing the characteristics of an image sequence including video and motion picture images are provided. Highly accurate motion information represented by trajectories are generated through analyzing available image frames in the image sequence. Some embodiments of the present invention relate to generating multiple layer trajectories from an image sequence. Certain aspects may be applicable to the enhancement of three-dimensional (3D) image sequences including 3D video and 3D motion pictures. |
| US09483811B2 |
Division of processing between systems based on external factors
A method includes acts for rendering, on a data processing system, a result derived from a set of data by performing data processing across a first data processing system and a second data processing system. The amount of processing performed by the second data processing system can be dynamically adjusted depending on factors affecting the second data processing system. The first data processing system receives information defining how the result will be rendered at the second data processing system. The first data processing system receives information indicating factors affecting the second data processing system. The first data processing system dynamically allocates the needed data processing between the first data processing system and the second data processing system, based on factors affecting the second data processing system. |
| US09483810B2 |
Reducing the number of IO requests to memory when executing a program that iteratively processes contiguous data
Methods and apparatuses to reduce the number of IO requests to memory when executing a program that iteratively processes contiguous data are provided. A first set of data elements may be loaded in a first register and a second set of data elements may be loaded in a second register. The first set of data elements and the second set of data elements can be used during the execution of a program to iteratively process the data elements. For each of a plurality of iterations, a corresponding set of data elements to be used during the execution of an operation for the iteration may be selected from the first set of data elements stored in the first register and the second set of data elements stored in the second register. In this way, the same data elements are not re-loaded from memory during each iteration. |
| US09483809B2 |
Method and system for identifying content
Disclosed is a method for identifying content, preferably media content for publishing including the steps of a) Providing a content element for a user, b) Marking the content element with a global mark, c) Marking the content element with a local mark, d) Presenting the marked content element, e) Detecting at least part of the presented content element, f) Extracting the global mark and the local mark from the detected part of the content element, g) Identifying the extracted local mark and the global mark, and h) Identifying the content element based on the global and local mark. The invention relates also to a corresponding system and a use of the method and the system. |
| US09483805B1 |
Limited tokens in online education
A method of limiting tokens for use by a student within an education application displays numerous membership options. For a price, a certain number of tokens are allowed per month. At the end of each month, tokens do not roll over; the account is reset with the monthly allotment of tokens. If the number of tokens in the account reaches zero, access is blocked. A method limits account sharing by using a limited time viewing window for videos and documents. A stated time limit displayed to the student is greater than the length of the video. An actual time limit not displayed to the student is greater than the stated time limit. Requests to restart the video within the actual time limit are granted. A request to restart the video after the actual time limit is denied unless the student again pays the number of tokens equal to the value of the video. |
| US09483803B2 |
Search intent for queries on online social networks
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a client system of a first user, a structured query comprising references to one or more selected objects accessible by the computing device, generating one or more search results corresponding to the structured query, wherein each search result corresponds to a particular object accessible by the computing device, determining one or more search intents based at least on whether one or more of the selected objects referenced in the structured query match objects corresponding to a search intent indexed in a pattern-detection model, and scoring the search results based on one or more of the search intents. |
| US09483799B2 |
Methods and apparatus for the aggregation of data
Embodiments include a method of aggregating data from a plurality of QuickBooks (QB) files that may be in physically separate locations, and having at least one account name in common. In one embodiment, the method includes, assigning a different parent account identification (ID) number to each differently named parent account. The method includes creating an entry in a hash table for each parent account ID, the contents of the entry being a collection of rows including a row for each different sub account of the parent account, wherein data for multiple instances of like named parent accounts are aggregated, the key of the entry in the hash table being the parent account ID. |
| US09483797B1 |
Method and system for recording a transaction using a dynamic user interface within an application
A method for recording a transaction using a Dynamic User Interface (DUI) within an application, including receiving, from a user of the application, the transaction relating to a customer of the user; receiving a request to generate a form for the transaction; generating, based on the request to generate the form, the form containing a customer list and a form element; receiving a request to generate the DUI; generating, based on the request to generate the DUI, the DUI adjacent to the form displayed within the application; receiving an identification of the customer from the customer list; populating, based on the identification of the customer, the DUI with the transaction relating to the customer; receiving, from the user, a selection of the transaction from the DUI; populating, within the form adjacent to the DUI, the form element using the transaction; and recording, within the application, the transaction. |
| US09483796B1 |
Surveillance and positioning system
A position determining system includes a surveillance and monitoring special purpose computer, one or more sensors in electrical communication with the surveillance and monitoring special purpose computer, one or more surveillance cameras in electrical communication with the surveillance and monitoring special purpose computer, the surveillance and monitoring special purpose computer receiving from the one or more sensors positional data about an asset and assembling and forwarding instructions to the one or more surveillance cameras in electrical communication with the surveillance and monitoring special purpose computer, the instructions requesting specific surveillance to be undertaken by the one or more surveillance cameras; and a processor in electrical communication with the surveillance and monitoring special purpose computer that determines if additional data is required about the asset and when additional data is required, assembling and forwarding instructions regarding an action. |
| US09483794B2 |
Systems and methods for identification document processing and business workflow integration
A method includes: capturing or receiving at least one image of one or more identity documents (IDs) using a mobile device; determining identifying information from one or more of the IDs; building an ID profile based on the identifying information; storing the ID profile to a memory of the mobile device; invoking a workflow configured to facilitate a business transaction; detecting a predetermined stimulus in the workflow, the stimulus relating to the business transaction; providing at least a portion of the ID profile to the workflow in response to detecting the predetermined stimulus; and driving at least a portion of the workflow using the provided portion of the ID profile. Related systems and computer program products are also disclosed. |
| US09483792B2 |
Screen-based method and system for sizing an oral appliance
An oral appliance is sized by obtaining a scaled image of a patient's dental arch. Dimensions of the arch are marked on a screen image, and the processor chooses an oral appliance having a best fit for a particular patient. |
| US09483790B2 |
Systems and methods for providing goods
A robobox may automate all of the functions of a retail store, combining the best of online and traditional retail in a platform that costs significantly less to operate than a brick and mortar store while providing greater availability, a more predictable experience, and instant gratification to the shopper. Customers may use a touch screen interface to choose products from an inventory of the robobox. They may also place orders in advance through the web or with mobile devices. As soon as an order is completed and the payment has been collected electronically, the inner workings of the robobox pick the items in the order and may deliver it to the customer on-site. |
| US09483786B2 |
Gift card ordering system and method
A personalized gift card creation system and method includes providing an application to be executed on a computing device in which the application includes a peripheral application program interface (API) for interfacing with one or more peripheral devices of the computing device. A server in communication with the application generates a graphical user interface (GUI) on the computing device using the application, receives at least one of user-supplied textual, audio, or video content from the one or more peripheral devices using the application, and generates a gift card holder from the received user-supplied content. The server also receives information associated with a merchant of a gift card and a monetary amount to be associated with the gift card, and transmits the gift card holder and the gift card to a recipient. |
| US09483785B1 |
Utilizing excess resource capacity for transcoding media
A transcoding service is described that is capable of utilizing the excess capacity of the computing resources of a service provider. The customer of the transcoding service can submit a bid price for completing the transcodes. As long as the specified price exceeds the fluctuating price of the unused resource instances, the transcoding service will execute the job on the unused instance(s). If the price of the unused resource instances exceeds the customer's bid, the transcoding process stops. The transcoding service may pause the transcoding when the dynamically fluctuating price of the unused resource exceeds the customer's bid and then resume when the price falls back down. Users can specify constraints for transcoding, such as timeframes during which the transcode must be completed, a total price for completing transcoding or priorities of the media files. The system can automatically optimize the utilization of the resource instances according to the constraints. |
| US09483783B1 |
Purchase system using a computing device
The invention relates to a method for purchasing a product by a consumer using a computing device. The method includes transmitting product information from a payee to the computing device, obtaining a purchase request for the product from the computing device, wherein the purchase request comprises a security identifier input by the consumer, inferring a consumer identity based on the purchase request and consumer information, authorizing the consumer to access the consumer information based on the purchase request and the consumer identity, wherein the consumer information is used to purchase the product, and generating a purchase authorization for the product and sending the purchase authorization to the payee based on the purchase request and the consumer information. |
| US09483777B2 |
Content display on moving vehicles
Systems and methods are provided for displaying content on a vehicle with at least one display device coupled to a frame member and extending to the right or left of the license plate receiving area of the vehicle. Content is selected and altered as desired, including based on user preferences and/or vehicle location. |
| US09483774B2 |
Systems and methods for generating surveys
Embodiments introduced describe single-action surveys, wherein a survey requires a single action only, such as a click on a mouse, a touch, tap, or stroke on a touch screen. Each single action means selecting one specific survey answer and a survey session may end after a single action is taken. In addition, a survey may end automatically within a substantially short period of time in the absence of any action. |
| US09483773B2 |
Point of view shopper camera system with orientation sensor
A point of view shopper camera system is provided to generate and analyze shoppers' view data. The point of view shopper camera system may comprise a head device including an eye camera and a head orientation sensor, a position tracking sensor to identify a shopper's position, and an analysis computing device. The eye camera may be configured to be mounted to the head of the shopper, and to capture a still or moving image of the field of view of the shopper. The analysis computing device may be configured to receive the captured image data from the eye camera, head orientation data from the head orientation sensor, and the shopper's position data from the position tracking sensor, and determine an estimated field of view of the shopper during a trip in a shopping environment. |
| US09483768B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for modeling customer interaction experiences
A computer-implemented method and an apparatus for modeling customer interaction experiences receives interaction data corresponding to one or more interactions between a customer and a customer support representative. At least one language associated with the interaction data is detected. Textual content in a plurality of languages is generated corresponding to the interaction data based at least in part on translating the interaction data using two or more languages different than the at least one language. At least one emotion score is determined for text corresponding to each language from among the plurality of languages. An aggregate emotion score is determined using the at least one emotion score for the text corresponding to the each language. An interaction experience of the customer is modeled based at least in part on the aggregate emotion score. |
| US09483767B2 |
Retail location services
Methods of preparing retail establishments are disclosed. An area for a retail location may be chosen and an individual may be selected to manage the retail location. The selection of the area may include an evaluation of geographical factors. From the area, a retail location may be selected based on an aggregate score of a set of characteristics of the retail location. The individual may remotely select the layout and furnishing of the retail location and may remotely monitor the progress of the preparation of the retail location. In an embodiment, the individual may be prepared to manage the retail location at a centralized location that is distinct from the area where the retail location is located. |
| US09483764B1 |
Biometric financial transaction system and method
Tokenless biometric authorization of transaction between a consumer and a merchant uses an identicator and an access device. A consumer registers with the identicator a biometric sample taken from the consumer. The consumer and merchant establish communications via the access device. The merchant proposes a transaction to the consumer via the access device. The access device communicates to the merchant associated with the access device. After the consumer and merchant have agreed on the transaction, the consumer and the identicator use the access device to establish communications. The access device communicates to the identicator the code associated with the access device. The identicator compares biometric sample from the consumer with registered biometric sample. Upon successful identification, the identicator forwards information regarding the consumer to the merchant. These steps accomplish a biometrically authorized electronic financial transaction without the consumer having to present any personalized man-made memory tokens. |
| US09483762B1 |
Invariant biohash security system and method
Systems, methods, and program products for providing secure authentication for electronic messages are disclosed. A method may comprise generating an asymmetric private key based at least in part upon an invariant biometric feature vector derived from an input biometric reading. The private key may be further based at least in part upon a user password. The resulting private key may not be stored but rather may be generated when required to authenticate an electronic message, at which time it may be used to provide a digital signature for the electronic message. The private key may be deleted after use. The private key may be regenerated by inputting both a new instance of the biometric reading as well as a new instance of the password. |
| US09483754B2 |
Interactive building stacking plans
A method for generating an interactive stacking plan of a building is disclosed. A building data file with one or more external tenant records in a first format is received on a server computer system. Data values of one or more of the external tenant record fields are imported into master tenant records, each of which is defined by a plurality of master tenant record attributes. Stacking plan graphical elements are generated for each of the master tenant records with a size proportional to a leased space. A user-activatable link that generates an independent display of at least one of the master tenant record attributes is included in the stacking plan graphical element. The stacking plan graphical elements are arranged in the interactive stacking plan according to the floor identifier attributes of the corresponding master tenant records. The interactive stacking plan is then transmitted to the client computer system. |
| US09483752B1 |
Multi-user thin client
System and method enabling multiple users to simultaneously share a client computing device are disclosed. Method includes retrieving a plurality of I/O device groups, wherein a first I/O device group in the plurality of I/O device groups is associated with a first group of input or output (IO) devices locally connected to a client computing device, and wherein a second I/O device group in the plurality of I/O device groups is associated with a second group of I/O devices locally connected to the client computing device. Method includes launching first and second instances of an application. Method includes associating the first instance of the application with the first I/O device group on the client computing device. Method includes associating the second instance of the application associated with the second I/O device group on the client computing device. |
| US09483751B2 |
Label privileges
Methods, systems, and apparatus for managing labeling privileges. In one aspect, a method includes receiving label data defining a label to be associated with an image of a first user in a photograph, the first user identified by a first user identifier and the label data associated with a submitting user identifier; accessing data defining labeling privileges for the first user identifier, the labeling privileges being for second users identified by respective second user identifiers, and the labeling privileges defining, for each second user, a labeling privilege for the second user to label an image of the first user in a photograph; determining whether the submitting user identifier is included in the second user identifiers; in response to determining that the submitting user identifier is included in the second user identifiers: determining the labeling privileges for the user identified by the submitting user identifier, and processing the label accordingly. |
| US09483745B2 |
Business network GUI
A computer program product tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage device includes instructions that, when executed, generate in a display device a graphical user interface comprising: a business view area with first objects representing business entities participating in a business network and second objects representing business connections between the business entities; and a connect view area with third objects representing applications participating in the business network and fourth objects representing logical interactions between the applications; wherein the graphical user interface dynamically updates the first, second, third and fourth objects with metadata that is at least in part automatically gathered in the business network. |
| US09483743B1 |
System and method for improving recovery of a telecommunications network from an unscheduled loss of service using repeatable requirements for applications by design criticality classification
A system provides repeatable requirements for projects designed for criticality. A user interface outputs a list of business requirements for a project to assist in functional requirement selection, outputs a set of general functional requirements associated with an application that is associated with the project for selection, and receives selection of the set of general functional requirements. A server determines a design class for an application based on the selection, wherein the design class is based at least in part on at least one of an upstream application and a downstream application, wherein the application depends on the upstream application, and wherein the downstream application depends on the application. The user interface also outputs specific functional requirements for the application based on the design class for the application, receives selection of the specific functional requirements, and outputs a list of selected specific functional requirements to assist in developing system requirements for the application. |
| US09483739B2 |
Transductive feature selection with maximum-relevancy and minimum-redundancy criteria
Various embodiments select features from a feature space. In one embodiment, a set of training samples and a set of test samples are received. The set of training samples includes a set of features and a class value. The set of test samples includes the set of features absent the class value. A relevancy with respect to the class value is determined for each of a plurality of unselected features based on the set of training samples. A redundancy with respect to one or more of the set of features is determined for each of the plurality of unselected features in the first set of features based on the set of training samples and the set of test samples. A set of features is selected from the plurality of unselected features based on the relevancy and the redundancy determined for each of the plurality of unselected features. |
| US09483733B2 |
Global regular expression backreferences
A system and a method are provided for querying a knowledge resource. The querying system is configured for executing queries in a query language that accepts global backreferences that are not limited to a being located in the condition including a regular expression (regex) to which the global backreference refers. In the method, an input query is received, a query based thereon containing one or more global backreferences is executed, and results are retrieved. One condition of the query includes a regex that identifies strings that match the regex. The regex includes one or more capturing groups for capturing substrings of an identified matching string. The global backreference retrieves the captured substring(s). Each global backreference in the query can be a remote backreference, which is outside the regex condition to which it refers, or a local backreference, which is in the same condition as the regex. |
| US09483726B2 |
Three dimensional electronic patch
A three-dimensional electronic patch includes a flat flexible circuit substrate that includes an elastic layer including a first portion and a second portion. The second portion includes at least side connected to the elastic layer and one or more sides defined by one or more cuts in the elastic layer. The three-dimensional electronic patch further includes a first sensor on the first portion of the elastic layer, a first conductive sensing pad under the first portion of the elastic layer and in electrical connection with the first sensor, and a conductive layer under the second portion of the elastic layer and in electrical connection with the first sensor. The second portion is folded to position the conductive layer away from the first portion. |
| US09483725B2 |
Semiconductor device including a radio frequency identification tag
A device includes a semiconductor element and a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. The RFID tag is configured to provide information about at least one of a property of the device and a property of a manufacturing of the device. |
| US09483724B2 |
Passive tamper-resistant seal and applications therefor
A ribbon comprises a substrate, and a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) seals on the substrate. Different RFID seals detune in response to differing tensile loads. |
| US09483722B2 |
Amplifier and transmission solution for 13.56MHz radio coupled to smartcard controller
An RFID card includes a smartcard controller that receives power from a host device. The RFID card also includes a small inductive device capable of inductive coupling with an RFID reader. The small inductive device is small enough to fit in the form factor of a memory card or SIM card. Enhancement circuits enhance the usable read and write distance of the RFID card. |
| US09483718B1 |
Encoding and decoding data in two-dimensional symbology
Examples of techniques for encoding data in a 2D symbology are disclosed. In one example implementation according to aspects of the present disclosure, a computer-implemented method for encoding data in a 2D symbology is provided. The method includes assigning a first color representative of a 0-bit and a second color representative of a 1-bit. The method further includes designating a starting indicator and an ending indicator. The method also includes generating, by a processor, the 2D symbology, the 2D symbology includes a series of data segments and null segments representing a binary string. The series of data segments and null segments starts with the starting indicator and ends with the ending indicator. The data segments include 0-bit segments of the first color and 1-bit segments of the second color. The null segments are positioned between each of the data segments and are of a third color. |
| US09483714B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
In a case where generating a training image of an object to be used to generate a dictionary to be referred to in image recognition processing of detecting the object from an input image, model information of an object to be detected is set, and a luminance image of the object and a range image are input. The luminance distribution of the surface of the object is estimated based on the luminance image and the range image, and the training image of the object is generated based on the model information and the luminance distribution. |
| US09483713B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, and imaging device
An image processing device includes: a common region sum of absolute differences (SAD) calculation unit configured to define each of a common target region in which a plurality of target regions predetermined for each target pixel overlap and a common reference region in which a plurality of reference regions predetermined for each corresponding reference pixel overlap and output a common SAD calculation result obtained by performing SAD calculation based on values represented by pixel signals of pixels included in the common target region and the common reference region; and addition processing units equal in number to the target pixels to be simultaneously correlated and configured to correspond to the target pixels and output SAD calculation results obtained by performing addition processes based on the common SAD calculation result and an SAD calculation result of a region which is not included in the common target region within a target region. |
| US09483707B2 |
Method and device for recognizing a known object in a field of view of a three-dimensional machine vision system
A method for recognizing a known object in a field of view of a three-dimensional (3D) vision system includes capturing a bitmap image file of the field of view and executing a first feature extraction to generate appearance features including a color histogram and an edge direction histogram. A reduced search space is identified based upon the appearance features including the color histogram and the edge direction histogram. A second feature extraction of the bitmap image file is executed to identify geometric features including a viewpoint feature histogram and an ensemble of shape functions. The appearance features and the geometric features are fused with contents of the reduced search space. The fused appearance features, geometric features and contents of the reduced search space are compared with a plurality of predetermined partial views of a plurality of known objects to recognize one of the known objects. |
| US09483705B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, and image processing program
Based on a long diameter of a set specific region, a first region estimated as the specific region and a second region estimated as a background region are set within an input image. Based on a density histogram of each pixel in the first region and a density histogram of each pixel in the second region, a first evaluation value which indicates a likelihood that a density value represents the specific region is calculated for each density value. For each pair of two adjacent pixels within the input image, based on the first evaluation values, a second evaluation value which indicates a likelihood that the two adjacent pixels represent a contour is calculated. Based on the second evaluation value, connection costs between a plurality of nodes respectively representing each pair of the two adjacent pixels are set. The plurality of nodes are connected based on the connection costs. |
| US09483702B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for determining a saliency map for an input image
A method of determining a saliency map (e.g., 900) for an input image (e.g., 600) is disclosed. Pre-determined data defining relative salience of image features is accessed. The input image (600) is decomposed according to the predetermined data to identify features of the input image (600) corresponding to the image features in the predetermined data. A portion of the predetermined data corresponding to a range of the identified image features is selected. A perceptual scale is determined using the selected portion of the predetermined data. The saliency map (900) for the input image using the determined perceptual scale. |
| US09483701B1 |
System and method for using segmentation to identify object location in images
A computing device segments an image into a plurality of segments, wherein each segment of the plurality of segments has a segment location and a set of pixels that share visual characteristics. The computing device determines an initial set of bounding boxes for the image based on the plurality of segments. The computing device determines a reduced set of bounding boxes based on combining bounding boxes of the initial set of bounding boxes, the reduced set of bounding boxes corresponding to one or more objects in the image, each of the one or more objects having an object class and an object location. |
| US09483700B1 |
System and method for lane vehicle localization with lane marking detection and likelihood scoring
A computer-implemented method and a system for vehicle localization. The method includes identifying expected lane lines based on a lane level map and a position of a vehicle and identifying observed lane lines based on images captured by an imaging device of the vehicle and the position of the vehicle. The method includes matching the expected lane lines to the observed lane lines and determining a likelihood score based on the matching. The method includes determining a best vehicle pose based on the likelihood score. |
| US09483695B2 |
Cost effective and robust system and method for eye tracking and driver drowsiness identification
A cost-effective and robust method for localizing and tracking drowsiness state of the eyes of driver by using images captured by near infrared (IR) camera disposed on the vehicle, the said method comprising the processor implemented steps of: Real-time tracking of the face and localizing eye bounding box within the face bounding box in the captured image by comparing the gray values with threshold using the segmentation process; tracking the eyes by computing the centroid of the eye, target model histogram and target candidate model histogram for one location to another by comparing them to identify distance and calculating the displacement of the target center by the weighted means, wherein the target model histogram and target candidate model histogram are computed based on the feature space; and detecting the drowsiness state of the eyes using histogram equalization, Morphological operations and texture based parameters using histogram and grey level co-occurrence matrices. |
| US09483694B2 |
Image text search and retrieval system
An imaging device comprising a flexible sensor attached to a control case. The flexible sensor provides both a source of illumination to the image being captured and a method of capturing the image. The method of capture comprises a field of reactors disbursed across the facial area of the sensor, the output of which produces a dot-pattern capture of the intended image which is passed to a storage device. |
| US09483693B1 |
Free-hand character recognition on a touch screen POS terminal
Various methods and devices that involve character recognition on a touch display, or other input device, are disclosed. Some of these may facilitate the recognition of characters that are input by people with physical impairments such as those with limited eyesight. A disclosed free-hand character recognition device comprises: an input device having stroke detection circuitry to accept input data from a user; a character recognition engine instantiated using a processing system and a data store; and a network connection to a server. The device additionally comprises a memory storing instructions to: conduct an unobtrusive user recognition procedure to obtain a user identifier from the user; download a cipher from the server to the data store using the network connection and the user identifier; and generate a prediction vector using the character recognition engine, the input data, and the cipher. |
| US09483692B2 |
Gesture recognition apparatus using vehicle steering wheel, and method for recognizing hand
A gesture recognition apparatus capable of recognizing a hand by means of a binary image regardless of direction of light contacting the hand. A binarizing processing section binarizes an input image from a camera to a hand recognizing section to prepare a first binary image by a predetermined method. A rebinarizing processing section only rebinarizes a predetermined area of the input image to prepare a second binary image. A contraction processing section performs a contraction processing on the second binary image. The rebinarizing processing can increase the possibility of recognizing the hand by classifying a portion of the hand that was classified into black in the first binary image into white. The hand is determined to be recognizable if the hand can be recognized in the first binary image and/or in the second binary image. |
| US09483686B2 |
Method and apparatus for automated platelet identification within a whole blood sample from microscopy images
A method and apparatus for identifying platelets within a whole blood sample. The method includes the steps of: a) adding at least one colorant to the whole blood sample, which colorant is operable to tag platelets; b) disposing the blood sample into a chamber defined by at least one transparent panel; c) imaging at least a portion of the sample quiescently residing within the chamber to create one or more images; and d) identifying one or more platelets within the sample using an analyzer adapted to identify the platelets based on quantitatively determinable features within the image using a analyzer, which quantitatively determinable features include intensity differences. |
| US09483685B2 |
System and method for automated identification of abnormal ciliary motion
A method of classifying ciliary motion includes receiving digital video data representing the ciliary motion generated by an image capture device, wherein the digital video data includes a plurality of frames. The method further includes receiving an indication of a region of interest applicable to each of the frames, wherein the region of interest includes a plurality of pixels in each of the frames, calculating time series elemental motion data for at least one elemental motion parameter for the region of interest based on the digital video data, and using the time series elemental motion data to classify the ciliary motion. |
| US09483682B1 |
Fingerprint recognition method and device thereof
An electronic device and method thereof are provided. The fingerprint recognition method includes: scanning a verifying fingerprint, obtaining a similarity value between the verifying fingerprint and a registered fingerprint, comparing the similarity value with a first threshold, determining that the verifying fingerprint matches the registered fingerprint if the similarity value is equal to or greater than the first threshold; comparing the similarity value with a second threshold, wherein the second threshold is greater than the first threshold; and storing the verifying fingerprint if the similarity value is equal to or smaller than the second threshold. |
| US09483681B2 |
Method of 3D biometrics identification
The present invention discloses a contactless 3D biometric feature identification system and the method thereof. The system comprises of a fixed-viewpoint image capturing means, a lighting module capable of producing different illuminations on the object of interest and a microprocessor configured to execute a biometric identification algorithm. The algorithm starts with capturing a plurality of images with different illuminations. The captured images are then utilized to reconstruct a three dimensional surface model. Different features, for instance 2D and 3D coordinates and orientations of the biometric feature, surface curvature of the object and the local surface orientation of the object, are extracted from the captured images and the reconstructed 3D surface model. Different matching scores are also developed based on the aforesaid features to establish the identity of the biometric features. |
| US09483676B2 |
Information acquiring method and information provision apparatus both of which are based on augmented reality
To provide a non-transitory computer-readable recording-medium storing an information acquiring program (IAP) that can be implemented by a computer controlling a mobile terminal (MT). The IAP includes five program codes (PCDs). The 1st-PCD causes the computer to use a camera for capturing an on-printed-matter marker. The 2nd-PCD causes the computer to detect a mobile state of the MT. The 3rd-PCD causes the computer to recognize the mark for creating a provision request based on recognition information of the recognized marker and mobile information representing the MT's mobile state detected by the 2nd-PCD. The 4th-PCD causes the computer to transmit the provision request to an information provision apparatus and to receive indication information as a reaction to the provision request from the IA. The 5th-PCD causes the computer to create image information (II) based on the indication information and causes a display part to display the II. |
| US09483672B2 |
Conveyor system for identifying RFID tags on parcels
A conveyor system for identifying an object (16) on which an identification tag (26) is affixed, comprising a conveyor frame (12) for supporting between its two opposite sides (12A, 12B) a plurality of transverse conveyor rollers (14) each having a roller shaft (14A) and an RFID interrogator exciting a radiant antenna for reading information from the identification tag, the radiant antenna being a first magnetic loop (22) formed by the conveyor frame and two adjacent roller shafts and excited by an excitation circuit (18) connected to, but distinct from, said RFID interrogator. |
| US09483670B2 |
RFID tag writing system and method for writing RFID tag data
According to one embodiment, a RFID tag writing system has a conveying unit configured to convey a plurality of RFID tags, an antenna configured to transmit a first write signal towards the RFID tags and receive return signals generated by the RFID tags in response to the first write signal, and a controller configured to determine an intensity of a second write signal to be transmitted by the antenna based on intensities of the return signals. |
| US09483669B2 |
Barcode imaging workstation having sequentially activated object sensors
A workstation includes a proximity system having multiple object sensors each associated with an object field of view for detecting a target object outside the housing. Each object sensor includes an IR emitter for emitting IR light into an IR emission field and an IR sensor for sensing returned IR light within an IR detection field that intersects the IR emission field. The workstation also includes a controller is operatively connected to the proximity system for activating each one of the multiple object sensors sequentially. |
| US09483664B2 |
Address dependent data encryption
Encryption of data within a memory 6 is provided by key generation circuitry 12 which serves to generate a key as a function of the address within the memory 6 being accessed and then encryption circuitry 14 or decryption circuitry 16 which serve respectively to encrypt or decrypt the data as a function of the key that has been generated based upon the address. The encryption and the decryption may be performed using a bitwise XOR operation. The key generation circuitry may have the form of physically unclonable function circuitry, which varies from instance to instance of implementation and that operates to generate the same key for the same address upon both write and read operations within the same instance. |
| US09483660B2 |
Enterprise content management platform validator
The present invention is directed to a system that enables a user (an associate, a data specialist, a researcher, an adjuster, an agent, a teller, or the like) of a financial institution to quickly and accurately validate a repository of an enterprise content management platform. The user typically utilizes the system of the present invention to schedule and/or execute a variety of validation processes for one or more repositories. For example, the user may test read and write capabilities of a particular storage of a server. Once execution of desired validation processes is complete, the system of the present invention generates a report based on the completed validation processes. The generated report may assist the user in identifying unwanted errors in repository performance. |
| US09483659B2 |
Instant personalization security
Some embodiments involve methods and systems for instant personalization security. For example, a social networking system can provide a platform for a user to open applications and/or access external websites. In some cases, an application does not have access to the user's fully identifying profile (e.g., UID or other public information). Instead, the application has access to a pseudonymous profile corresponding to a hashed ID that is generated by the platform and provided to the application. Access to the pseudonymous profile enables the application or an external website to personalize its environment without breaching the security of the platform. |
| US09483652B2 |
Enabling user privacy for changes of access to shared content
In one embodiment, a method for enabling user privacy for content on a network includes receiving input from a first user instructing at least one change in user access to shared content provided by a network system. The change modifies the user access from an existing set of one or more users of the network system to a different set of one or more users of the network system. The method checks a privacy setting associated with each of one or more referred users of the network system who are referred to by the shared content. The privacy setting indicates whether the associated referred user is to be sent a notification indicating that the at least one change in user access has been instructed. |
| US09483650B2 |
Systems and methods for managing data incidents
Systems and methods for managing a data incident are provided herein. Exemplary methods may include receiving data breach data that comprises information corresponding to the data breach, automatically generating a risk assessment from a comparison of data breach data to privacy rules, the privacy rules comprising at least one federal rule, at least one state rule, and at least one contractual obligation, each of the rules defining requirements associated with data breach notification laws, and providing the risk assessment to a display device that selectively couples with the risk assessment server. |
| US09483649B2 |
Image processing device, image processing system, image processing method, and program
There is provided an image processing device including a photographic subject position acquisition unit that acquires position information of a photographic subject corresponding to a person image included in a photographic image, a transmission unit that transmits the position information of the photographic subject to an information processing device that compares the position information of the photographic subject with position information of a communication terminal transmitted from the communication terminal, and a determination unit that determines whether a process of protecting the person image is performed based on information according to a result of the comparison received from the information processing device. |
| US09483646B2 |
Data exfiltration prevention from mobile platforms
Technology is disclosed for preventing an exfiltration of a data associated with an application executing on a mobile device. The technology can migrate the application from a computing platform of the mobile device to a secure computing platform, where the secure computing platform is independent of the computing platform of the mobile device. The technology can further receive a request to access the application through the mobile device, execute the requested application on the secure computing platform, and provide an access to the requested application executing on the secure computing platform through the mobile device. The access provided through the mobile device includes displaying information on the mobile device, where the displayed information includes data generated by the execution of requested application on the secure platform. |
| US09483645B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for identifying unwanted data based on an assembled execution profile of code
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for identifying unwanted data based on an assembled execution profile of code. In use, an execution profile of code is assembled by tracking interface usage of the code. Further, it is determined whether the code is associated with unwanted activity, based on the execution profile. |
| US09483638B2 |
Method and system for preventing unauthorized processor mode switches
A system comprising a processor adapted to activate multiple security levels for the system and a monitoring device coupled to the processor and employing security rules pertaining to the multiple security levels. The monitoring device restricts usage of the system if the processor activates the security levels in a sequence contrary to the security rules. |
| US09483637B2 |
Program execution integrity verification for a computer system
A computer system may be employed to verify program execution integrity by receiving a request to launch a program that has been instrumented to include at least one integrity marker, instantiating the program with an integrity marker value, and verifying the execution integrity of the program based on the integrity marker value and information received from the program during execution. A computer system may also be employed for program instrumentation by modifying the program to include at least one instruction for passing an integrity marker value to an operating system kernel during execution of the instruction. |
| US09483636B2 |
Runtime application integrity protection
Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are described for checking the integrity of applications installed on a computing device and preventing the launch of applications that appear to have been tampered with or modified. In accordance with embodiments, the content of an application is validated at the time the application is to be launched, but before the launch has actually occurred. In accordance with additional embodiments, integrity protection can also be extended to content that is generated by an application (e.g., documents or other files generated by the application), thereby enabling applications to write their own files and data with the same degree of integrity protection. |
| US09483635B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer readable medium for active monitoring, memory protection and integrity verification of target devices
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for active monitoring, memory protection, and integrity verification of a target device are disclosed. For example, a normal world virtual processor and a secure world virtual processor are instantiated on a target device. A target operating system is executed on the normal world virtual processor. An integrity verification agent is executed on the secure world virtual processor. One or more predetermined operations attempted on the normal world virtual processor are trapped to the secure world virtual processor. The integrity verification agent is used to determine the effect of the execution of the trapped operations on the target device. |
| US09483633B2 |
Method and terminal for authenticating a stlyus
Disclosed are a terminal authentication method and a terminal. The authentication method comprises: setting on the terminal a detection device; setting on a stylus a label device capable of being detected by the detection device; the detection device detecting for label information preconfigured in the label device, and authenticating the stylus according to a detection result. Employment of the technical solution of the disclosure solves the technical problems in the related art of the incapability of the terminal to authenticate the stylus. |
| US09483627B1 |
Abstracting credentials for mobile client authentication
A computing system receives an authentication request from a user device for access to a web application hosted in a cloud and determines that the authentication request is a candidate for modification based on initial user credentials in the authentication request. The computing system modifies the authentication request to include replacement user credentials that correspond to the initial user credentials and transmits the modified authentication request to the web application in the cloud. The web application determines whether the modified authentication request is valid based on the replacement user credentials. |
| US09483626B2 |
Multi-security-CPU system
A computing system includes a first security central processing unit (SCPU) of a system-on-a-chip (SOC), the first SCPU configured to execute functions of a first security level. The computing system also includes a second SCPU of the SOC coupled with the first SCPU and coupled with a host processor, the second SCPU configured to execute functions of a second security level less secure than the first security level, and the second SCPU executing functions not executed by the first SCPU. |
| US09483620B2 |
Reminder programming device and method
An electronically controlled reminder device is adapted to be set in a programming mode by a user, perform a user-actuated operation, and detect when a user-actuated operation is performed. When in programming mode the device is adapted to record and set reminders in accordance with a detected time pattern of operation(s) of the device, wherein the programming mode is activated for a pre-determined number of operations or for a pre-determined period of time, after which the device automatically returns to the operational mode in which it provides reminders to the user based on the recorded time pattern of operations. Thus, normal use of the device provides automatic programming of the reminder scheme. |
| US09483614B2 |
Dynamic presentation of actionable content items
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for determining and generating content items that provide patient information and content provided by, for example, a third-party content provider that is relevant to information associated with an open healthcare application. The content items are displayed in a separate display space from the healthcare application's user interface and dynamically change and update in response to changes in the information being displayed on the healthcare application's user interface. Additionally, the content items are actionable thereby enabling healthcare providers to address alerts, take actions, view supporting documentation, and the like. |
| US09483612B2 |
CHD risk stratification evaluations for subjects with high levels of large HDL-P
Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods, systems and computer programs that provide improved risk stratification for people having elevated large HDL-P using at least one defined HDL risk interaction parameter. |
| US09483610B2 |
Bioinformatics systems, apparatuses, and methods executed on an integrated circuit processing platform
A system, method and apparatus for executing a sequence analysis pipeline on genetic sequence data includes an integrated circuit formed of a set of hardwired digital logic circuits that are interconnected by physical electrical interconnects. One of the physical electrical interconnects forms an input to the integrated circuit connected with an electronic data source for receiving reads of genomic data. The hardwired digital logic circuits are arranged as a set of processing engines, each processing engine being formed of a subset of the hardwired digital logic circuits to perform one or more steps in the sequence analysis pipeline on the reads of genomic data. Each subset of the hardwired digital logic circuits is formed in a wired configuration to perform the one or more steps in the sequence analysis pipeline. |
| US09483607B2 |
Downhole dynamics measurements using rotating navigation sensors
A method for making downhole dynamics measurements using rotating navigational sensors includes rotating navigational accelerometers in a subterranean borehole to obtain a string of accelerometer measurements while rotating. The measurements are differentiated to obtain a string of differentiated accelerometer measurements and may then be further processed to obtain a drill string vibration parameter. Substantially simultaneous magnetometer measurements may be obtained and utilized to compute a corrected vibration parameter in which at least one of a gravitational acceleration component, a tangential acceleration component, and a centripetal acceleration component is removed from the vibration parameter. |
| US09483606B1 |
Lifescore
Methods and systems are disclosed that generate life scores for individuals based on various information associated with the individuals. For example, life scores may be based on data associated with several aspects of the individual's life, such as work, family, hobbies, education, etc. The life scores may be generated in realtime and/or periodically and provided to the individual and/or shared with others in various formats. |
| US09483600B2 |
Multi supply cell arrays for low power designs
A MOS device includes a number of standard cells configured to reduce routing congestions while providing area savings on the MOS device. The standard cells may be single height standard cells that share an n-type well isolated from other nearby n-type wells. The input and output signal pins of the single height standard cells may be configured in a lowest possible metal layer (e.g., M1), while the secondary power pins of the single height standard cells may be configured in a higher metal layer (e.g., M2). Interconnects supplying power to secondary power pins may be configured along vertical tracks and shared among different sets of standard cells, which may reduce the number of vertical tracks used in the MOS device. The number of available horizontal routing tracks in the MOS device may remain unaffected, since the horizontal tracks already used by the primary power/ground mesh are used for power connection. |
| US09483598B2 |
Intellectual property block design with folded blocks and duplicated pins for 3D integrated circuits
An intellectual property (IP) block design methodology for three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuits may comprise folding at least one two-dimensional (2D) block that has one or more circuit components into a 3D block that has multiple tiers, wherein the one or more circuit components in the folded 2D block may be distributed among the multiple tiers in the 3D block. Furthermore, one or more pins may be duplicated across the multiple tiers in the 3D block and the one or more duplicated pins may be connected to one another using one or more intra-block through-silicon-vias (TSVs) placed inside the 3D block. |
| US09483589B1 |
System and method for employing model repository
Model metadata for each of a plurality of models is stored. The model metadata includes a statistical analysis technique identifier and one or more model input data identifiers. A request to execute a model is received. The request includes data identifying one of the plurality of models, and a model execution start date and end date. On the model execution start date, execution of the model associated with the model execution request is commenced. Outputs of the executed model are stored in a database. The outputs are associated with a model instance identifier, information describing a context for execution of the model, and model output type information. The outputs are retrieved, using the model instance identifier, for analysis. |
| US09483588B2 |
Solid identification grid engine for calculating support material volumes, and methods of use
A method for calculating a support material volume, the method comprising generating a grid of cells for a tree data structure of a digital part, where the cells define a plurality of cell arrays, and pinging the cells of one of the cell arrays until a cell containing a subset of the tree data structure is reached or until each cell in the cell array is pinged, where if a cell containing the subset of the tree data structure is reached, then designating the reached cell and all remaining unpinged cells in the cell array as filled. The method also includes repeating the pinging step for each remaining cell array to determine a total filled volume, and subtracting a volume of the digital part from the total filled volume to determine a support material volume. |
| US09483583B2 |
Syslog parser
A computerized method performed in a computer operatively connected to storage. Parsing rules are determined for parsing logs output as text and/or symbols from multiple devices in a computer network. The logs are stored in the storage. Multiple log samples are sampled from the logs. The log samples are input into an application running on the computer. The log samples are each sectioned into multiple sections which include variable information separated by static structural text. Each of the log samples is processed by: comparing the sections to a list of regular expressions. The list is maintained in the storage, and upon matching a matched section of the sections to a matched regular expression from the list of the regular expressions, the matched section is tagged with a tag associated with the matched regular expression. The tag associated to the matched regular expression is stored and combined with any unmatched sections and with the static structural text to create a log pattern. The log pattern is stored in a table only if the log pattern is distinct from all log patterns previously stored in the table. |
| US09483581B2 |
Evaluation of substitution contexts
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for evaluating substitute terms. One of the methods includes receiving a query having an original term and determining one or more substitution contexts for the original term, wherein a substitution context includes one or more context terms and an indication of a position in the query of the original term and the one or more context terms. The substitution contexts are classified into a first category or a second category based on a respective score of each substitution context. The original term is associated with one or more substitution contexts in the first category. |
| US09483580B2 |
Estimation of closeness of topics based on graph analytics
Embodiments relate to estimating closeness of topics based on graph analytics. A graph that includes a plurality of nodes and edges is accessed. Each node in the graph represents a topic and each edge represents a known association between two topics. A statistical traversal experiment is performed on the graph. A strength of relations between any two topics represented by nodes in the graph is inferred based on statistics extracted from the statistical traversal experiment. |
| US09483579B2 |
Method, system and computer program for adding content to a data container
There is described a system for adding content to a data container, the data container comprising one or more segments arranged in a sequence, each segment containing payload data and wherein at least one of the one or more segments is compressed. The system comprises parsing through at least a portion of the data container so as to determine at least one of a beginning and an end of the sequence of segments; and adding content to the data container at the at least one of the beginning and the end of the sequence of segments, while the at least one of the segments remains compressed. |
| US09483577B2 |
Small form factor web browsing
A large web page is analyzed and partitioned into smaller sub-pages so that a user can navigate the web page on a small form factor device. The user can browse the sub-pages to find and read information in the content of the large web page. The partitioning can be performed at a web server, an edge server, at the small form factor device, or can be distributed across one or more such devices. The analysis leverages design habits of a web page author to extract a representation structure of an authored web page. The extracted representation structure includes high level structure using several markup language tag selection rules and low level structure using visual boundary detection in which visual units of the low level structure are provided by clustering markup language tags. User viewing habits can be learned to display favorite parts of a web page. |
| US09483568B1 |
Indexing system
A hybrid-sharded index includes document-sharded posting lists and term-sharded posting lists. Implementations include systems and methods using a distributed hybrid-sharded index. For example, a method may include receiving, at a root node, a query having a first term and a second term and determining, that the first term is term-sharded. The method may also include retrieving a term-sharded posting list for the first term from a first leaf node that stores the term-sharded posting list and determining, at the root node, a second leaf node that stores a document-sharded posting list for the second term. The method may include sending the second term and a sub-set of documents from the term-sharded posting list to the second leaf node, the sub-set being documents assigned to the second leaf node; and generating a search result using a response received from the second leaf node. |
| US09483566B2 |
System and method for determining the legitimacy of a listing
A system and method is provided wherein, in one aspect, the likelihood of a listing being spam or enhanced by spam is determined based on whether the number of times that each term appears in descriptions of the listing tend to be equal or tend to reflect a natural language distribution. The likelihood that the listing is spam or enhanced by spam may be used to determine the position of the listing within search results to be displayed to a user. |
| US09483564B2 |
Method for providing on-demand digital representations other geographic locations
A request is received from a mobile device located in a first geographic location for an image displaying a second geographic location. Mobile devices are geolocated and those located within a predetermined distance from the second geographic location are identified. A description of the desired image is delivered to each such identified such mobile device, whereupon the desired image is received from at least one such identified mobile device and forwarded to the requesting mobile device. |
| US09483561B2 |
Server inventory trends
Methods for monitoring and reporting server inventory trends are disclosed. An authorized user may access a website and input a specified time period and platform to view pertinent server inventory trends. A managing computing server receives the request for server inventory trends and may run one or more procedures to retrieve relevant information from at least one database. The relevant information may be transferred from the database to a fusion chart to be plotted for display. The managing computing server may display a report of server inventory information, such as the number of active servers, added servers, and retired servers for the platform over the specified time period. |
| US09483560B2 |
Data analysis control
According to an example, data analysis control may include receiving a predetermined number of search results for a query, and organizing the predetermined number of search results by checksum values of content of the search results in an ascending or a descending order. A generally final or a generally initial checksum value may be respectively used from the ascending or the descending order of the organized search results to determine a total content number representing an approximate total content of a search related to the query, where the total content number is greater than the predetermined number of search results. Further, the determined total content number may be used to determine a number of sub-tasks needed to complete a full search of the approximate total content. |
| US09483555B2 |
Flexible methods for cataloguing metadata and for specifying a play queue for media systems
A flexible method for cataloguing metadata makes it possible for users of digital media systems to define the set of metadata tags that best describe recordings within each genre. Tagging recordings with appropriate metadata facilitates selection of a desired recording. In addition, flexible metadata tags minimize the display area required to present information essential to selecting the desired recording. A flexible method for specifying a Play Queue makes it possible to queue items comprising Collections of Tracks. Tracks can be collected according to various criteria. One type of Collection simply lists the desired Tracks from a single album. Other Collections specify Tracks based on a search of the catalog, a random selection from the catalog, or a previously saved list. Collections maintain their identity in the Play Queue, so users can easily modify or remove a Collection or change the sequence of Collections. |
| US09483554B2 |
System and method for evaluating text to support multiple insurance applications
A system for evaluating text data to support multiple insurance applications is disclosed. In some embodiments, text input data is received from multiple sources. The text input data may then be aggregated and mapped to create composite text input data. A semantic event in the composite text input data may be automatically detected, such as by being triggered by a semantic rule and associated semantic tag. A text mining result database may be updated by adding an entry to the database identifying the detected semantic event and the triggering semantic rule. An indication associated with the text mining result database may then be transmitted to a plurality of insurance applications. |
| US09483548B2 |
Single user interface for selecting, modifying, and querying images
Methods and apparatus are presented for a morphing search tool that provides a single user interface through which a user may both modify a displayed image and perform an image similarity query based on the modified image. The morphing search tool may allow a user to repeat this process until a desired image is found and displayed. Further, the image repository to be searched may be specified by a user and the images to be modified and searched for may be any type of image. The morphing search tool may be integrated within a merchant website, an image management system, or as a stand alone application. |
| US09483546B2 |
System and method for associating related records to common entities across multiple lists
Computer implemented systems and methods are disclosed for associating records across lists, wherein the lists include a plurality of records and the plurality of records is associated with a respective entity. In accordance with some embodiments, the systems and methods further comprise grouping one or more records from a first list into a first group based on fields of the records in the first list, grouping one or more records from a second list into a second group based on fields of the records in the second list, pairing a record from the first group with a record from the second group, assessing each pair of records based on an evaluation of the respective pair according to fields of the pair, and associating records from the first group and records of the second group with an entity based on the assessment. |
| US09483544B2 |
Systems and methods for calculating category proportions
Systems and methods are provided for classifying text based on language using one or more computer servers and storage devices. A computer-implemented method includes receiving a training set of elements, each element in the training set being assigned to one of a plurality of categories and having one of a plurality of content profiles associated therewith; receiving a population set of elements, each element in the population set having one of the plurality of content profiles associated therewith; and calculating using at least one of a stacked regression algorithm, a bias formula algorithm, a noise elimination algorithm, and an ensemble method consisting of a plurality of algorithmic methods the results of which are averaged, based on the content profiles associated with and the categories assigned to elements in the training set and the content profiles associated with the elements of the population set, a distribution of elements of the population set over the categories. |
| US09483542B2 |
System for live-migration and automated recovery of applications in a distributed system
A method and apparatus for distribution of applications amongst a number of servers, ensuring that changes to application data on a master for that application are asynchronously replicated to a number of slaves for that application. Servers may be located in geographically diverse locations; the invention permits data replication over high-latency and lossy network connections and failure-tolerance under hardware and network failure conditions. Access to applications is mediated by a distributed protocol handler which allows any request for any application to be addressed to any server, and which, when working in tandem with the replication system, pauses connections momentarily to allow seamless, consistent live-migration of applications and their state between servers. Additionally, a system which controls the aforementioned live-migration based on dynamic measurement of load generated by each application and the topological preferences of each application, in order to automatically keep servers at an optimum utilization level. |
| US09483540B2 |
Cloud based data migration and replication
A mechanism is provided in a data processing system for data replication. The mechanism divides a set of data to be replicated into a plurality of slices. Each slice of the plurality of slices is to be copied from a primary site to a master secondary site within a plurality of secondary sites. The plurality of secondary sites comprises the master secondary site and at least one subsidiary peer site. The mechanism copies the plurality of slices from the primary site to the plurality of secondary sites such that the master secondary site stores a first slice of the set of data and each of the at least one subsidiary peer site stores a corresponding slice of the set of data. Responsive to completion of copying the plurality of slices to the plurality of secondary sites, for each of the at least one subsidiary peer site, the mechanism initiates copying of the corresponding slice of the set of data to the master secondary site. |
| US09483539B2 |
Updating local data utilizing a distributed storage network
A method begins by a device of a distributed storage network (DSN) sending read-if-revised requests to storage units of the DSN with regards to data cached in local memory with one or more local memory revision numbers. The method continues with a storage unit determining whether a revision number of one portion of the data stored by the storage unit is a more recent revision number than the one or more local memory revision numbers. When the revision number is the more recent revision number, the method continues with the storage unit sending a read response that includes the portion of the data to the device. When the revision number is not the more recent revision number, the method continues with the storage unit sending a read response that includes an indication that the data cached in the local memory is a current revision level of the data. |
| US09483534B2 |
User interfaces for a document search engine
A method includes receiving a search query, identifying a document based on the search query, and providing a search result based on the document. The search result includes, for example, an image associated with the document, an excerpt from the document that is associated with the search query, and links to other excerpts in the document that are associated with the search query. The method may also include providing other information associated with the document. |
| US09483533B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing time series data
The present invention relates to processing of time series data. There is disclosed a method and apparatus for processing time series data, the method comprising: receiving a time series data set, wherein each element of the time series data set contains a timestamp and an original value associated with the timestamp, and times represented by all timestamps constitute a time series having fixed time intervals; converting each original value into a coded value occupying a smaller storage space, according to a predetermined monotone numerical compression coding scheme; dividing the times represented by all timestamps into a plurality of time intervals having a predetermined length; assembling coded values corresponding to all timestamps within each time interval into a data package such that the data package contains coded values arranged in an order of timestamps; and storing in a database record each data package and its associated identification of a time interval. |
| US09483531B2 |
Combined online and offline ranking
Approaches are described for ranking multiple products or other items, such as products obtained in response to a search request submitted to a server. The ranking system determines a ranking score for the products based on both data available online and item data that must be computed offline due to longer computation time or unavailability of data. The ranking score can be used to rank the products and determine which products are the most relevant to the user. A hybrid boosting method is used to first train an online ranking function to produce an online ranking score for the item. In the second phase, an offline ranking function is trained to produce a second ranking score for the item. The online rank score is combined with the offline rank score at query time to produce a combined rank for the items in the search results. |
| US09483530B1 |
Determining query terms of little significance
A system determines whether a term of a search query is a term with little significance based on a context of the search query. The system performs a search based on the search query while considering the term with little significance as optional when the search query includes the term with little significance and presents a list of search results based on the search. |
| US09483525B2 |
Reducing update conflicts when maintaining views
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to reducing update conflicts when maintaining views. In aspects, a transaction in snapshot isolation may update a materialized view. Instead of being able to view the update within the transaction, the update is hidden to prevent the transaction from obtaining inconsistent data. When a transaction is not supposed to see an update to a materialized view that occurs within the transaction, additional information associated with the materialized view may indicate this. When a query of the materialized view is made within the transaction, the query engine may use the additional information to exclude data from the update in the result. |
| US09483518B2 |
Queryless search based on context
Computer-readable media, computer systems, and computing devices for initiating a queryless search is provided. In this regard, a search can be initiated without a user inputting a query. In one embodiment, the method includes recognizing a search indication provided by a user to indicate a desire to view one or more search results related to content being presented. Such a search indication can be performed without accessing a web page associated with a search engine. In accordance with the search indication, contextual information related to the content being presented can be automatically captured. Thereafter, the captured contextual information is provided to initiate a search for information corresponding with the contextual information. Search results corresponding with the contextual information are received and presented. |
| US09483511B2 |
Stubbing systems and methods in a data replication environment
Stubbing systems and methods are provided for intelligent data management in a replication environment, such as by reducing the space occupied by replication data on a destination system. In certain examples, stub files or like objects replace migrated, de-duplicated or otherwise copied data that has been moved from the destination system to secondary storage. Access is further provided to the replication data in a manner that is transparent to the user and/or without substantially impacting the base replication process. In order to distinguish stub files representing migrated replication data from replicated stub files, priority tags or like identifiers can be used. Thus, when accessing a stub file on the destination system, such as to modify replication data or perform a restore process, the tagged stub files can be used to recall archived data prior to performing the requested operation so that an accurate copy of the source data is generated. |
| US09483507B2 |
Method for managing data and an electronic device thereof
A data storage and retrieval method of an electronic device is provided. More particularly, an apparatus and a method for retrieving data through a contact application in the electronic device are provided. The method for retrieving data in the electronic device includes generating tagging data including added tag information when data is stored in the electronic device by executing a first application, storing the tagging data, updating a tagging data table which contains tagging data information, executing a second application, and when a search word for data retrieval is input, retrieving and outputting tagging data including the same tag information as the search word. |
| US09483504B2 |
System and method for application aware de-duplication of data blocks in a virtualized storage array
A system and method for application aware de-duplication of data blocks in a virtualized storage array is disclosed. In one embodiment, in a method of de-duplication of data, a master list of metadata is created based on a number of occurrences of data blocks within a storage array. A first sublist of metadata is created from the master list of metadata. The first sublist of metadata is provided to a first component of a networked storage system. It is determined whether the data block being written has a corresponding entry in the master list of metadata based on a determination that a data block being written does not have any corresponding entry in the first sublist of metadata. The data block being written is replaced with a pointer based on a determination that the data block being written has a corresponding entry in the master list of metadata. |
| US09483503B2 |
Placing a database
A method and system for placing database. The method includes: receiving a request of creating a new database; determining whether there is a need to migrate current database among current virtual machines based on resource demand and free resource in the current virtual machines; determining database placement plan based on the resource demand, migration strategy and migration cost associated with the migration strategy in response to whether there is a need to migrate the database; and executing the database placement plan. The invention can help a database service provider to optimize database layout in database provision through database migration. |
| US09483498B2 |
Apparatus and method for profiling users
Provided is a process of profiling a user of a mobile computing device, the process including: obtaining a location history of a user, the location history being based on signals from a mobile computing device of the user; obtaining a location-attribute score of a location identified in, or inferred from, the location history; determining, with a computer, a user-attribute score based on the location-attribute score; and storing the user-attribute score in a user-profile datastore. |
| US09483493B2 |
Method and system for accessing a distributed file system
A method and system for accessing an HDFS is disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of providing access to an HDFS includes: at an interface server having one or more processors and memory: maintaining a respective connection pool comprising a respective plurality of persistent connections to the HDFS; receiving respective access requests from a plurality of accessing devices to access the HDFS; creating a corresponding Hadoop operation for each of the respective access requests received from the plurality of accessing devices; and executing the corresponding Hadoop operation created for each of the respective access requests through a respective set of persistent connections selected from the respective connection pool maintained by the interface server. |
| US09483490B1 |
Generation of a cloud application image
A software application designed to operate within an enterprise system is modified to operate properly within a system of a third-party provider. In one embodiment, a site manager obtains pertinent information about the software application from the source systems that make up the enterprise system and provides it to a cloud manager, and the cloud manager uses the information to generate a modified version of the software application for use on the cloud provider. The modification may include operations such as driver injection, file system mounting customization, customization of hostname-to-network address mappings, and boot image creation. |
| US09483489B2 |
Partial sharing of secondary storage files in a data storage system
The data storage system according to certain aspects can allow users to share a portion of a file (e.g., a document) in secondary storage. The user may specify a portion of a secondary storage file to share and send a link to the portion to another user. The other user can access the shared portion from the link, and just the shared portion may be restored from secondary storage. The data storage system according to certain aspects can also provide a native view of secondary storage data on a client computer. The index data and/or metadata relating to secondary storage data may be stored in native format (e.g., format of the application(s) that generated the secondary storage data) so that the secondary storage data can be displayed in a native view. The index data and/or metadata may be synchronized on the client without synchronizing the secondary storage data itself. |
| US09483485B1 |
Restore database from backup system where full and incremental backups are performed simultaneously
This disclosure relates to a method, article of manufacture, and apparatus of restoring a database allowing simultaneous full and incremental backups. In some embodiments, this includes receiving, by a server, a request for restoring as of a restore point-in-time, in response to the request, retrieving by the server a set of backup objects, sorting the set of backup objects in descending order, locating a first incremental backup in the set of backup objects based on the restore point-in-time and a first incremental backup start time associated with the first incremental backup, locating a full backup in the set of backup objects based on the first incremental backup start time, a full backup start time and a full backup end time associated with the full backup, storing the full backup and the first incremental backup in a list of restoring objects, and sending, by the server, the list of restoring objects. |
| US09483482B2 |
Partitioning file system namespace
Technology is disclosed for partitioning a namespace of a large scale data storage service. In various embodiments, the technology receives a file path; employs a hashing function to produce a hash value for the received file path; and identifies a name node handling the produced hash value, wherein the name node is configured to communicate with one or more data nodes for handling file requests on the file path. |
| US09483481B2 |
Files having unallocated portions within content addressable storage
A request to access to a logical location in a file stored in a content addressable storage (CAS) system can be handled by retrieving first tree data from a first node in a hash tree that represents the file, the first tree data including a first hash tree depth, a first CAS signature, a block size and a file size. Based on the tree data, a second node is selected from a higher level in the hash tree. Second tree data from the second node of the hash tree that represents the file is retrieved, including a second CAS signature. The second CAS signature is determined to match a reserved CAS signature, and in response, an indication that the requested logical location is unallocated within the file is provided. |
| US09483480B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for using eye movement tracking for retrieval of observed information and of related specific context
Methods and systems to identify a portion of content, for each of multiple instances of content presented at a display, based on eye contact of a user, populate records of the portions of content with contextual information, and search a data field(s) of the record to identify content of interest to the user amongst the portions of content. The search may be based on a, without limitation, a user-specified application program, file type, URL, time, display position, content presented at the display prior to, concurrently with, and/or subsequent to presentation of content of interest to the user, and/or an action performed by the user prior to and/or subsequent to a time at which the content of interest to the user had been presented at the display. |
| US09483479B2 |
Main-memory based conceptual framework for file storage and fast data retrieval
A conceptual framework is built including a conceptual hierarchy, a containment hierarchy, and concept relationships. The concepts created in the conceptual framework are associated with resources located on the local file system. The resources are stored in the conceptual framework that is stored in the main memory of the system. Thus, search capabilities based on complex multivariate queries involving relationships and multiple conditions between concepts are provided. The conceptual framework is based on an in-memory engine that enables superfast resource access, reduced file storage redundancy, reduced updating errors, increased consistency, greater data integrity and independence from application level programs, query based concept and file access. |
| US09483477B2 |
Automated data intake system
In a system automatically processing data from a first computing device for use on a second computing device, a registry file including a plurality of filename parameters is read. Each filename parameter identifies a matching filename pattern, an extract script indicator, and a read file indicator. The extract script indicator indicates an extract script for a file having a filename that matches the matching filename pattern. The read file indicator indicates how to read the file having the filename that matches the matching filename pattern. One parameter of the plurality of filename parameters is selected by matching a filename of a source file to the matching filename pattern of the one parameter. The associated extract script is selected and used to read data from the source file using the associated read file indicator and the read data is output to a different file and in a different format. |
| US09483476B2 |
System decommissioning through reverse archiving of data
In one embodiment, a source database table associated with a source system is received. Further, one or more fields of the received source database table are mapped with one or more fields in an archive file associated with a destination system using a pre-constructed template. One or more entries corresponding to the one or more fields of the source database table is generated in the archive file based on the mapped one or more fields. Furthermore, the source system is decommissioned upon generating the one or more entries in the archive file. |
| US09483474B2 |
Document retrieval/identification using topics
A system for retrieving/identifying a document comprising text stored in a document repository is described. A memory stores a graphical structure comprising a first plurality of nodes each representing a person, and a second plurality of nodes each representing a document in the document repository, the nodes being connected by edges according to automatically observed interactions between the represented people and documents. At least some of the nodes have one or more annotations each denoting a topic. A node relatedness calculator computes distances between nodes of the graphical structure using the topic annotations. An input receives an identifier of a user who is represented by one of the first plurality of nodes. An identifier/retriever identifies one or more documents from the document repository by using the identifier and using the computed distances between nodes. |
| US09483471B2 |
Ensuring access to long-term stored electronic documents
Mechanisms are provided for ensuring access to long-term stored electronic documents. In one example, one or more methods may provide for automatically ensuring access to long-term stored electronic documents. In another example, one or more algorithms may provide for automatically ensuring access to long-term stored electronic documents. |
| US09483470B2 |
Document navigation method
A document navigation tool that automatically navigates a document based on previous input from the user. The document navigation tool is utilized each time a page loads. The method recognizes user behavior on pages using patterns, which are based on four criterion: location, frequency, consistency, and scope. If the user has visited the page previously and has established a pattern, the method automatically focuses on the portion of the page indicated by the pattern, e.g. the location on a web page of the link clicked by the user in the user's last three visits to the page. If the user has not visited the page previously, the method logs the events that occur during this visit to the page. |
| US09483466B2 |
Translation system and method
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method comprising receiving an input as part of a translation request from a requestor, performing a first translation of the input; wherein the first translation is a machine translation, returning the first translation to the requestor; and based on feedback on the first translation from the requestor performing the following (a) fragmenting the input into multiple translation jobs, (b) distributing the multiple translation jobs to a plurality of human translators; (c) generating a second translation of the input based on translations of the multiple jobs by the human translators; and (d) returning the second translation to the requestor. |
| US09483461B2 |
Handling speech synthesis of content for multiple languages
Techniques that enable a user to select, from among multiple languages, a language to be used for performing text-to-speech conversion. In some embodiments, upon determining that multiple languages may be used to perform text-to-speech conversion for a portion of text, the multiple languages may be displayed to the user. The user may then select a particular language to be used from the multiple languages. The portion of text may then be converted to speech in the user-selected language. |
| US09483458B2 |
Method for logical organization of worksheets
According to one embodiment of the present invention, methods, systems and computer-readable media of accessing data within a spreadsheet are provided. A set of attributes is assigned to each worksheet of a plurality of worksheets within the spreadsheet. One or more worksheets may be identified by comparing the set of attributes for each worksheet to one or more attributes specified within a request for data, and the identified worksheets may be displayed. |
| US09483457B2 |
Method for logical organization of worksheets
According to one embodiment of the present invention, methods, systems and computer-readable media of accessing data within a spreadsheet are provided. A set of attributes is assigned to each worksheet of a plurality of worksheets within the spreadsheet. One or more worksheets may be identified by comparing the set of attributes for each worksheet to one or more attributes specified within a request for data, and the identified worksheets may be displayed. |
| US09483454B2 |
Systems and methods for context specific annotation of electronic files
Embodiments described herein are directed to an annotation system having a remote processor, and a client processor in data communication with the remote processor. The client processor is adapted to send a first request for an electronic file to the remote processor, receive the electronic file from the remote processor, define at least one new annotation about the electronic file, and define at least one anchor associated with the at least one annotation. The at least one of the remote processor and the client processor is adapted to store the at least one anchor and the at least one annotation in an annotation file that is separate from the electronic file. |
| US09483453B2 |
Clipping view
System and process for handling clips with annotations. A user annotates a document that is displayed in an access session. Information is gathered regarding the annotation, which is associated with active content included in the document. The annotation is stored with a static image of the active content. A link to the content is stored. An image is rendered that has a clip including the stored annotation and the image of the content, and is displayed. |
| US09483452B2 |
Generating document content from application data
Methods and apparatus of generating document content are disclosed. Document content is generated by identifying a location in a document at which to insert content, the location associated with a content template, generating the content in accordance with the content template and application data generated by an application, and inserting the content into the document at the location in the document. The document content generation can further include retrieving application data from the application in accordance with a data mapping that maps application output data to the application data references in the template, where generating the content comprises generating text by replacing application data references in the template with the application data in accordance with the data mapping. The document content generation can further include retrieving one or more instances of previous application data from a historical record of previous application output. |
| US09483449B1 |
Optimizing page output through run-time reordering of page content
Technologies are described herein for optimizing page output by performing run-time reordering of the content of a page. A request for a content page is received from a client application. A page layout corresponding to the requested content page is transmitted to the client application. The page layout contains a number of placeholder elements corresponding to the content sections of the content page arranged in a particular layout. Upon receiving the page layout, the client application renders the content page to the display with the placeholder elements occupying the positions of the content sections. The content sections corresponding to the placeholder elements are generated and transmitted to the client application in an order independent of the order of rendering of the content sections. As the client application receives each content section, the corresponding placeholder element in the page layout is replaced with the content section. |
| US09483448B2 |
Method and apparatus for the implementation of a real-time, sharable browsing experience on a host device
The present invention describes a method and apparatus for the implementation of a real-time, sharable web browsing experience on a host device, utilizing the transfer of URL and form data information. The present invention further describes a method for establishing a synchronized browsing session, comprising sending a request to establish the synchronized browsing session to a synchronization server, receiving a confirmation message from the synchronization server including a session identifier associated with the established synchronized browsing session, and sending an invitation to an invitee to join the synchronized browsing session, wherein the invitation includes the session identifier. The present invention further describes a method for implementing a synchronized browsing session, comprising recording a shared web browsing interaction, and transmitting information related to the shared web browsing interaction to a synchronization server. |
| US09483441B2 |
Quality control system
In a clinical laboratory, the degree of contamination of an automatic analyzer may constantly change due, for instance, to the operation of the automatic analyzer and newly added examinations, and there is a risk of failure to adequately maintain the performance of the automatic analyzer by performing calibration at conventional intervals. Meanwhile, the result of quality control varies depending on the performance of an unsealed reagent. Hence, performing calibration at predetermined intervals may fail to flexibly calibrate the reagent when the performance of the reagent is changed by reagent replenishment or by contamination. Provided is a quality control method for issuing a warning to indicate an optimum calibration method and calibration intervals in accordance with the contents of a quality control screen and with the pattern of variation in the result of calibration. |
| US09483440B2 |
Method and system for dispersion measurements
A method for determining a size or shape related parameter of an effective observation volume for an observation technique for particles undergoing at least partially stochastic motion in a dispersion is based on a time-series of observations. The method involves determining one or more time-dependent characteristics of the dispersion or its particles based on the time-series of observations, determining at least one stochastic motion-related parameter representative for the at least partially stochastic motion of at least one particle in the dispersion, and determining a size or shape related parameter of the effective observation volume by modeling of the at least partially stochastic motion of the particle movement in the dispersion, the modeling taking into account the at least one stochastic motion-related parameter and the determined one or more characteristics. |
| US09483429B2 |
Unified input/output controller for integrated wireless devices
A novel and useful apparatus for and method of a unified IO controller well suited for use in integrated wireless devices incorporating multiple functions. The unified IO controller is operative to provide a single host interface PHY/MAC that is shared among all functions on the controller. The invention provides an IO protocol handler comprising common and unified logic that provides IO access to any function on the device. The common and unified IO PHY interface logic is shared between multiple functions within the same device (e.g., WLAN, GPS, Bluetooth, etc.). This implementation provides optimized hardware partitioning in which common SDIO logic serves multiple functions thereby eliminating the need to provide a protocol handler for each function, reducing pin count, power consumption and die size, since the SDIO protocol handling is implemented in a shared module. |
| US09483426B2 |
Locking a system management interrupt (SMI) enable register of a chipset
Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to locking a system management interrupt (SMI) enable register of a chipset. Example embodiments include at least one contact configuration register to configure a contact of a chipset, and a contact SMI enable register of a chipset to store an enable value or a disable value. In example embodiments, the disable value stored in the contact SMI enable register is to prevent the chipset from providing an SMI request to a processor in response to an SMI signal received at the contact. Example embodiments further include locking the contact SMI enable register. |
| US09483425B2 |
Memory including a band width conversion unit, memory system and memory control method using the same
A memory includes a buffer which retains data, a band conversion unit converts a band of an internal data bus that is used for data transfer between the band conversion unit and the buffer which retains data into a band wider than that of an external data bus that is used for data transfer between the band conversion unit and a memory controller, and an access control unit controls access to a memory cell using the buffer, during a wait time occurring in the internal data bus due to a difference between the band of the internal data bus and the band of the external data bus. |
| US09483420B2 |
Self-service terminal (SST) device driver
Methods for extensible device drivers and an extensible device driver Self-Service Terminal (SST) are provided. A SST includes an operating system (OS) having a communication port and an application having low-level commands that are specific to a hardware device, which is coupled to the SST; the low-level commands directly capable of being executed by the device. The communication port is operable to relay information and commands (including the low-level commands) between the device and the application. The application directly controls the device, with the low-level commands, and the low-level commands unrecognized by the OS. |
| US09483417B2 |
Mobile electronic device with transceiver for wireless data exchange
A mobile electronic device (1) comprises a data store (11), a transceiver (13) for wireless data exchange with another electronic device (2), and a processor (12) connected to the transceiver (13) and the data store (11). The processor (12) is programmed to implement a virtual card reader (121) which is configured to communicate with a smart card module (122, 20) that is arranged in the mobile electronic device (1). The virtual card reader (121) is implemented as a program running on processor (12). At least one smart card module (122) is a virtual card implemented as a program running on the processor (12). The virtual card reader (121) makes it possible to access smart card modules which are implemented locally in the mobile electronic device as a virtual card, thereby enabling access to a smart card module, without requiring an external reader device. |
| US09483416B1 |
Secure processor operation using integrated circuit configuration circuitry
A method of processor operation using an integrated circuit (IC) can include loading encrypted program code into the IC through a configuration port of the IC and decrypting the encrypted program code using configuration circuitry of the IC. Decryption of the encrypted program code can result in decrypted program code which can be provided to a target destination. |
| US09483413B2 |
Nonvolatile memory devices and methods of controlling the same
At least one example embodiment discloses a method of controlling a nonvolatile memory device including a plurality of blocks, each block including a plurality of physical pages. The method includes receiving a plurality of logical pages associated with a first plurality of logical addresses, respectively, and writing the first plurality of logical pages to the plurality physical addresses according to an ascending order of the logical addresses of the first plurality of logical pages. |
| US09483411B2 |
Memory system which transfers management information between first and second memories in a burst mode before a read process is performed on a third memory
According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a first memory, a second memory, a third memory, a data transmission controller, and a processing unit. The second memory is configured to store first management information to manage the first memory. The third memory is configured to be accessed at a speed higher than the second memory. The processing unit causes the data transmission controller to transmit second management information and third management information from the second memory to the third memory in a burst mode before a read process is performed on the first memory. The second management information and the third management information are related to the read process and are included in the first management information. The processing unit performs the read process on the first memory using the second management information and the third management information stored in the third memory. |
| US09483406B2 |
Communicating prefetchers that throttle one another
A microprocessor includes a first hardware data prefetcher that prefetches data into the microprocessor according to a first algorithm. The microprocessor also includes a second hardware data prefetcher that prefetches data into the microprocessor according to a second algorithm, wherein the first and second algorithms are different. The second prefetcher detects that it is prefetching data into the microprocessor according to the second algorithm in excess of a first predetermined rate and, in response, sends a throttle indication to the first prefetcher. The first prefetcher prefetches data into the microprocessor according to the first algorithm at below a second predetermined rate in response to receiving the throttle indication from the second prefetcher. |
| US09483402B2 |
Methods and systems for dynamically controlled caching
Systems and methods for improving caching mechanisms in a storage system are disclosed. The method includes storing data associated with a write input/output (I/O) request at a cache; determining an amount of dirty data stored in the cache, where the dirty data is data in the cache that has not yet been written to a persistent storage location managed by a storage system; determining if the amount of dirty data exceeds a threshold value; determining a cache flush rate based on the amount of dirty data stored at the cache, when the amount of dirty data exceeds the threshold value; and writing data from the cache at the determined cache flush rate to the persistent storage location. |
| US09483397B2 |
Erase management in memory systems
Computer processor hardware receives notification that data stored in a region of storage cells in a non-volatile memory system stores invalid data. In response to the notification, the computer processor hardware marks the region as storing invalid data. The computer processor hardware controls the magnitude of erase dwell time (i.e., the amount of time that one or more cells are set to an erased state) associated with overwriting of the invalid data in the storage cells with replacement data. For example, to re-program respective storage cells, the data manager must erase the storage cells and then program the storage cells with replacement data. The data management logic can control the erase dwell time to be less than a threshold time value to enhance a life of the non-volatile memory system. |
| US09483394B1 |
Reserving a storage area and building page frame table entries
In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes receiving a large frame area (LFAREA) request, including a request for a plurality of page frame table entries (PFTEs) to back a plurality of frames in an LFAREA of main memory. Each of the plurality of frames has one of a first size and a second size, where the second size is larger than the first size. The method further includes counting how many frames in the main memory have yet to be initialized and have one of the first size and the second size. A size needed for the plurality of PFTEs is calculated, based at least in part on the counting. A storage area is reserved for the plurality of PFTEs, by a computer processor, where a size of the storage area is the size calculated based at least in part on the counting. |
| US09483393B1 |
Discovering optimized experience configurations for a software application
Technologies are described herein for performing experiments on a software application and identifying optimized experience configurations for the software application. An application experiment system receives an experiment configuration from a developer of the software application. Based on the experiment configuration, the application experiment system determines an experiment strategy and generates a set of experience configurations for testing. Users available to participate in the experiment are identified, and the set of experience configurations are allocated to user computing devices associated with the available users to configure instances of the software application executing on the user computing devices. Experiment data related to the execution of the instances of the software application are collected and analyzed by the application experiment system to identify the optimized experience configuration for the software application. |
| US09483391B2 |
Efficient method data recording
According to one general aspect, a method may include monitoring the execution of at least a portion of a software application. The method may also include collecting subroutine call information regarding a plurality of subroutine calls included by the portion of the software application, wherein one or more of the subroutine calls is selected for detailed data recording. The method may further include pruning, as the software application is being executed, a subroutine call tree to include only the subroutine calls selected for detailed data recording and one or more parent subroutine calls of each subroutine calls selected for detailed data recording. |
| US09483385B2 |
Method, program, and system for generating test cases
To provide a technique for generating, at a high speed, a smaller-sized set that satisfies an intended property such as, for example, being pair-wise, and includes many test cases that match a set of existing test cases given as an input, candidates to be used from a set of existing input test cases are determined in the following manner: for some parameters, values to be held by test case candidates are determined; test cases having the determined values, among those included in the set of input test cases, are selected as the candidates. A test case having the highest score among one or more test case candidates generated with the method of the related art and one or more test case candidates selected from the set of input test cases is added to a set of output test cases. |
| US09483382B2 |
Data synchronization method and apparatus
Embodiments of the present invention provide a data synchronization method and apparatus. The method includes: scanning a code to capture a synchronization instruction; replacing the captured synchronization instruction with a trap instruction; and when the code runs to the trap instruction, trapping a code execution right into a distributed shared memory (DSM) unit, where the DSM unit implements a concurrent multi-write protocol, but implements a single-write protocol when executing the synchronization instruction, thereby supporting the concurrent multi-write protocol and solving the synchronization problem caused by the concurrent multi-write protocol. |
| US09483380B2 |
Parameterized states in symbolic execution for software testing
Methods and systems for symbolic execution of software under test include the use of parametric states to losslessly represent a group of concrete execution states. Mathematical abstractions may represent differences between execution states and may define a parametric constraint for a parametric state. The parametric states may be usable for symbolic execution to reduce an amount of memory resources consumed and/or reduce a computational load during symbolic execution. Using parametric states, a larger state space and more program behaviors may be testable using symbolic execution. |
| US09483379B2 |
Randomly branching using hardware watchpoints
A system and method for efficiently performing program instrumentation. A processor processes instructions stored in a memory. The processor allocates a memory region for the purpose of creating “random branches” in the computer code utilizing existing memory access instructions. When the processor processes a given instruction, the processor both accesses a first location in the memory region and may determine a condition is satisfied. In response, the processor generates an interrupt. The corresponding interrupt handler may transfer control flow from the computer program to instrumentation code. The condition may include a pointer storing an address pointing to locations within the memory region equals a given address after the point is updated. Alternatively, the condition may include an updated data value stored in a location pointed to by the given address equals a threshold value. |
| US09483375B2 |
Streaming operator with trigger
One or more operators in a flow graph of a streaming application may include one or more triggers that indicate when action needs to be taken for the operator. A streams manager monitors performance of a streaming application and receives a notification when a trigger in an operator fires. In response to a trigger firing, the streams manager determines an appropriate action corresponding to the trigger. When the trigger indicates an adjustment of cloud resources are needed, the streams manager formulates a cloud resource request to a cloud manager. In response, the cloud manager adjusts the cloud resources for the operator to improve performance of the streaming application. A trigger may specify a trigger action for an operator, and may additionally specify a trigger action for one or more other affected operators. The firing of a trigger in one operator can therefore result in adjusting resources to multiple operators. |
| US09483372B2 |
Continuous power leveling of a system under test
Power leveling a system under test (SUT). An input signal is provided at an initial power level to the SUT. Multiple iterations are performed, each including measuring, over a specified measuring interval, power of a signal produced by the SUT in response to the input signal, and dynamically adjusting the power of the input signal in response. The measuring interval is increased over the iterations, thereby increasing accuracy of the measuring over the iterations while converging the signal to a specified power level. An initial power leveling operation may be performed for the SUT to establish a specified power level, after which the SUT is tested, during which multiple power leveling operations are performed, each including measuring power of a signal from the SUT over a specified measuring interval, and adjusting the input signal in response, thereby maintaining the specified power level during the testing while correcting for thermal droop. |
| US09483369B2 |
Method and apparatus for failover detection and recovery using gratuitous address resolution messages
An approach for efficient failover detection includes detecting an attempt by a first server to transition from a standby mode to an active mode, diagnosing a loss of connectivity to the first server in a control plane as a cause of the attempt, and transitioning to a standby mode based on the diagnosed cause of the attempt. |
| US09483366B2 |
Bitmap selection for remote copying of updates
In one embodiment of the present description, a copy relationship is established between a storage location at a first site and a storage location at a second site in a data storage system, wherein a dynamically assignable bitmap preset to one of a plurality of different predetermined bit patterns is selected as a function of both the availability of the selected bitmap and the type of predetermined bit pattern identified for the selected bitmap. The selected bitmap may be assigned as an out-of-sync bitmap wherein updates to the storage location at one site, which are to be copied to the storage location at the other site, are indicated in the selected bitmap, and data writes being written to the storage location at the one site, are copied to the storage location at the other site, using the selected bitmap as an out-of-sync bitmap. Other aspects are described. |
| US09483364B2 |
Synchronization of local secondary copies with a remote storage management component
According to certain aspects, an information management cell with failover management capability can include secondary storage computing devices configured to conduct primary data from a primary storage device(s) to a secondary storage device(s) during secondary copy operations, at the direction of a remote storage manager, wherein a first secondary storage computing device implements a failover storage manager configured to, in the event of a loss of connectivity between the cell and the remote storage manager: access a stored storage policy; initiate first and secondary copy operations according to the storage policy in which the first and second secondary storage computing devices are each involved in the creation of a first and second secondary copies; and subsequent to reestablishment of connectivity between the cell and the remote storage manager, transmit synchronization information associated with the secondary copy operations to the remote storage manager. |
| US09483356B2 |
Heuristic journal reservations
Example apparatus and methods reserve space in a journal using an observation based approach instead of a fixed sized approach or a worst case scenario approach. One example method receives a request to allocate space in a journal to support a file system transaction. The example method reserves an amount of space in the journal based on a pre-existing reservation size estimate. Unlike conventional systems, the estimate is not based on a worst-case scenario. The example method observes the actual amount of storage used in the journal by the file system transaction and then selectively automatically adjusts the pre-existing reservation size estimate. The estimate may slowly shrink if no overflows are encountered but may quickly grow if an overflow is detected. |
| US09483350B1 |
Flash memory codeword architectures
A flash memory codeword architecture is provided. A non-integer count of logical pages is packed into a codeword payload data container. A codeword payload header is generated. The codeword payload header includes an offset to a first logical page that is packed, at least in part, into the codeword payload data container. The codeword payload data container and the codeword payload header are concatenated to generate a codeword payload. Error-correcting code data is generated based, at least in part, on the codeword payload using a systematic error-correcting code. The codeword payload and error-correcting code data is concatenated to generate a codeword. A physical page is programmed with the codeword. |
| US09483347B2 |
Soft-decision compensation for flash channel variation
In an SSD controller reading from flash memory, subsequent to failure of an initial soft-decision decoding attempt based on a nominal LLR, soft-decision re-decoding attempts are made using compensated LLR soft-decision information sets, pre-calculated at respective read-equilibrium points corresponding to mean shifts and variance change in the actual charge-state distributions of the flash memory channel. According to embodiment, soft-decision re-decoding attempts are performed without a retry read, or overlapped with one or more retry reads. By overlapping re-decoding with one or more retry reads, the probability of successful decoding increases, the need for further retry reads diminishes, and throughput is improved. The LLR compensation becomes very effective over a large number of retry reads, improving decoding reliability and achieving close to optimal bit error rates, even in the presence of large channel variation. |
| US09483343B2 |
System and method of visualizing historical event correlations in a data center
Systems, methods, architectures and/or apparatus providing a visualization tool wherein an initial or simplified correlation tree includes a path between two hierarchically related objects; namely, a root cause object and an object representing an entity associated with an event of interest caused by the root cause entity, wherein the correlation tree may be incrementally increased in size and complexity in response to user input, such as via a graphical user interface, such that the user attention is focused on the specific entities and their relationships to thereby enable a user to quickly understand the various failure relationships. |
| US09483342B2 |
Supporting failure mode and effects analysis
A method for supporting failure mode and effects analysis includes storing a meta-model in a computer-readable storage medium. The meta-model includes generic parts of technical systems, generic failure modes, and associations between the generic parts and the generic failure modes. The associations indicate, for each generic part, one or more generic failure modes associated with the generic part. Each generic failure mode identifies a type of failure for a respective generic part. A processor instantiates the generic parts and the generic failure modes to generate part instances and failure mode instances specifying a technical system. The part instances and the failure mode instances are stored, such as in the computer-readable storage medium. |
| US09483334B2 |
Methods and systems of predictive monitoring of objects in a distributed network system
Predictive monitoring of objects in a distributed network system providing cloud services is disclosed. In one embodiment, the methods and systems observing one or more update messages sent and received among components of the distributed network system, the update messages comprising information associated with a state of an object on the distributed network system, determine the state of the object in response to the one or more update messages, and reference a predictive object state model to predict occurrence of an artifact in response to the state of the object. Advantageously, the present embodiments provide advanced warning of potential failures in a distributed network systems, which may enable a system administrator or dynamic process to resolve the failure before it ever occurs. Additional benefits and advantages of the present embodiments will become evident in the following description. |
| US09483330B2 |
Trusted client-centric application architecture
Trusted Client-Centric Application Architecture (TC2A2) provides the ability to securely exchange data between applications. TC2A2 may be used to perform functions requiring data exchange between applications that typically may not be able to communicate with each other. TC2A2 uses a universal data set to exchange data. Application data from a source application is converted to a universal data set, and then converted to application data for one or more target applications. Application data is then propagated to respective native applications. TC2A2 provides the ability to update, modify, and manipulate data for a plurality of applications using a single user interface. |
| US09483329B2 |
Categorizing and modeling integration adapters
The disclosure generally describes computer-implemented methods, software, and systems, including a method for generating and storing adapter characterization information. Adapter-related information associated with an adapter is received. Communication patterns associated with the adapter are determined. Quality-of-service patterns are applied to the communication patterns. An adapter flow is configured for the adapter. A visualization of the adapter flow for the adapter is provided. Characterization information determined for the adapter is stored. |
| US09483326B2 |
Non-invasive upgrades of server components in cloud deployments
A method, system, and computer program product for performing software upgrades. The method serves to preserve an inter-process connection between two endpoints during patching operations. The method commences by suspending at least some communication activity over the inter-process connection while preserving one or more functioning states of the inter-process connection. A patching facility produces a patched endpoint (e.g., a software component) by performing a patch operation to one of the endpoints of the inter-process connection while the at least some communication activity remains suspended. After patching, a process reconfigures at least some of the one or more preserved functioning states of the inter-process connection to connect to the patched endpoint. When the preserved functioning states of the inter-process connection have been restored, then communication activity resumes over the connection, using the patched endpoint. The inter-process communication can comprise one or more connections between a server process and a client process. |
| US09483322B1 |
Heterogenous core microarchitecture
Embodiments relate to a heterogeneous core microarchitecture. An aspect includes binding, by an operating system that is executing on a processor comprising a core comprising a heterogeneous microarchitecture comprising two or more flows, a job that is being executed by the operating system to a flow of the two or more flows. Another aspect includes issuing an instruction corresponding to the job with a tag indicating the binding of the job to which the instruction corresponds. Yet another aspect includes executing the instruction by the flow in the core that is indicated by the tag. |
| US09483321B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining to-be-migrated task based on cache awareness
A method and an apparatus for determining a to-be-migrated task based on cache awareness in a computing system having multiple processor cores is disclosed. In the method, the computing system determines a source processor core and a destination processor core according to a load of each processor core. Through respectively monitoring the number of cache misses of each task and the number of executed instructions of each task in the source processor core and the destination processor core, the computing system obtain an average cache miss per kilo instructions of the source processor core and an average cache miss per kilo instructions of the destination processor core. Then, the computing system determines, according to the obtained average cache miss per kilo instructions of the source processor core and the destination processor core, a task to be migrated from the source processor core to the destination processor core. |
| US09483312B2 |
Locating service endpoints from a service registry
A system and computer program product, operable by a service registry in a service orientated architecture system, for providing a service within the system. A service request is received from a service requester in the system. The status of the service is checked as registered in the service registry. In response to the service not having a registered service endpoint or a property of the service falling below a defined threshold, a request is sent to service providers or subsequent service registries to provide a new service and according to the defined threshold. In response to a service provider providing the new service according to the defined standard, the service registry is updated with the new service and responding to the service requester that the service is available. The embodiments allow both direct interaction between the requester and provider or indirect interaction via a service management layer. |
| US09483309B2 |
Eliminating execution of jobs-based operational costs of related reports
Optimizing operational costs in a computing environment includes identifying high-cost jobs that are executed to generate one or more reports in the computing environment, identifying one or more reports the generation of which is dependent on the execution of the high-cost jobs, and culling at least a first job from among the high-cost jobs, in response to determining that a benefit achieved from the reports that depend on the first job does not justify costs associated with generating the reports. |
| US09483305B1 |
Partial resume for operating system modules
A computing device may receive a data packet. The computing device may be operating a plurality of kernel-space software modules that are in a suspended state, and the computing device may also be operating a plurality of user-space software modules that are in the suspended state. It may be determined that the data packet is of a particular packet type. Data packets of the particular packet type may be consumed by any of a particular subset of the kernel-space software modules. While the user-space software modules remain in the suspended state, the computing device may further (i) transition at least some kernel-space software modules to a non-suspended state, (ii) consume, by a particular one of the non-suspended kernel-space software modules, the data packet, and (iii) transition the non-suspended kernel-space software modules to the suspended state. |
| US09483303B2 |
Differential stack-based symmetric co-routines
A computing device initiates execution of a first co-routine on the computing device. The first co-routine utilizes an execution stack in a memory of the computing device. A differential symmetric co-routine module pauses execution of the first co-routine and, subsequently, resumes execution of the first co-routine utilizing the same execution stack. |
| US09483302B2 |
Providing virtual machine services via introspection
The present disclosure includes methods and systems for providing virtual machine services. A number of embodiments can include a user VM with a virtual workstation, a number of service modules that can provide a number of services without communicating with the user VM and/or the virtual workstation, a communication channel that allows the number of service modules to communicate with each other, a computing device, and a manager. A number of embodiments can also include a virtual machine monitor to enforce an isolation policy within the system. |
| US09483299B2 |
Capacity risk management for virtual machines
An access data collector collects access assignment data characterizing active access assignment operations of a hypervisor in assigning host computing resources among virtual machines for use in execution of the virtual machines. Then, a capacity risk indicator calculator calculates a capacity risk indicator characterizing a capacity risk of the host computing resources with respect to meeting a prospective capacity demand of the virtual machines, based on the access assignment data. |
| US09483298B2 |
Converting virtual machine I/O requests
Systems, computer readable mediums, and techniques are described for converting virtual machine input/output (I/O) requests. One of the techniques includes obtaining access request data for one or more virtual machines (VMs) executing on a physical machine, wherein the access request data characterizes data access requests received from the one or more VMs; classifying, using the access request data, each of the one or more VMs as having either a sequential data access pattern or a random data access pattern;receiving a first I/O request packet from a first VM of the one or more VMs; determining that the first VM has been classified as having a random data access pattern; andsplitting the first I/O request packet into a plurality of second I/O request packets based at least in part on determining that the first VM has been classified as having a random data access pattern. |
| US09483295B2 |
Transparent dynamic code optimization
A transparent dynamic code optimization capability natively executes code and identifies hot regions within the code or identifies code that is to otherwise be optimized; notifies an optimizer that such hot region or code has been identified enabling the optimizer to create optimized code; efficiently passes control to the newly optimized code; and transfers control back from such optimized code. |
| US09483293B2 |
Technology abstraction layer
Embodiments of a system and method for triggering an event in a hardware abstraction layer (HAL) are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the HAL can include unarchitected hardware or software that can be used to, for example, facilitate instruction emulation and debug; enable protection of model specific resources, instructions, and behaviors; redirect, resteer, or substitute instructions; and provide a framework for additional capabilities and features. |
| US09483292B2 |
Method, device, and system of differentiating between virtual machine and non-virtualized device
Devices, systems, and methods of detecting user identity, differentiating between users of a computerized service, and detecting a cyber-attacker. An end-user device (a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a smartphone, a tablet, or the like) interacts and communicates with a server of a computerized server (a banking website, an electronic commerce website, or the like). The interactions are monitored, tracked and logged. Communication interferences are intentionally introduced to the communication session; and the server tracks the response or the reaction of the end-user device to such communication interferences. The system determines whether the user is a legitimate human user; or a cyber-attacker posing as a legitimate human user but actually utilizing a Virtual Machine. |
| US09483291B1 |
Hierarchical accelerator registry for optimal performance predictability in network function virtualization
A virtualization platform for Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) is provided. The virtualization platform may include a host processor coupled to an acceleration coprocessor. The acceleration coprocessor may be a reconfigurable integrated circuit to help provide improved flexibility and agility for the NFV. To help improve performance predictability, a hierarchical accelerator registry may be maintained on the coprocessor and/or on local servers. The accelerator registry may assign different classes and speed grades to various types of available resources to help the virtualized network better predict certain task latencies. The accelerator registry may be periodically updated based on changes detected in the local storage and hardware or based on changes detected in remote networks. |
| US09483290B1 |
Method and system for virtual machine communication
Methods and systems for a virtual environment are provided. A method includes receiving a packet from a first virtual machine at a virtual switch; determining if the packet is destined to a second virtual machine by comparing a destination address to a mapping data structure maintained by the virtual switch; transferring the packet to a first virtual function of a device assigned to the first virtual machine by directly mapping the first virtual function to the first virtual machine; the first virtual function initiating a direct memory access (DMA) operation to transfer the packet to the second virtual machine based on a logical memory address of the second virtual machine that is received from a second virtual function; and using the DMA operation to transfer the packet to the second virtual machine. |
| US09483281B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer readable mediums for updating components in a converged infrastructure system
Methods, systems, and computer readable mediums for updating components in a converged infrastructure system are disclosed. According to one method, the method includes identifying components in a converged infrastructure system that require remediation in order to comply with a defined converged infrastructure configuration and determining remediation content to enable each of the identified components to be compliant with the defined converged infrastructure configuration. The method further includes retrieving the remediation content for the identified components from a repository and utilizing the remediation content to update the identified components on the converged infrastructure system in accordance with the defined converged infrastructure configuration. |
| US09483273B2 |
Dependent instruction suppression in a load-operation instruction
A method includes suppressing execution of an operation portion of a load-operation instruction in a processor responsive to an invalid status of a load portion of load-operation instruction. A processor includes an instruction pipeline including an execution unit operable to execute instructions and a scheduler unit. The scheduler unit includes a scheduler queue and is operable to store a load-operation in the scheduler queue. The load-operation instruction includes a load portion and an operation portion. The scheduler unit schedules the load portion for execution in the execution unit, marks the operation portion in the scheduler queue as eligible for execution responsive to scheduling the load portion, receives an indication of an invalid status of the load portion, and suppresses execution of the operation portion responsive to the indication of the invalid status. |
| US09483272B2 |
Systems and methods for managing return stacks in a multi-threaded data processing system
A processor is configured to execute instructions of a first thread and a second thread. A first return stack corresponds to the first thread, and a second return stack to the second thread. Control circuitry pushes a return address to the first return stack in response to a branch to subroutine instruction in the first thread. If the first return stack is full and borrowing is not enabled by the borrow enable indicator, the control circuitry removes an oldest return address from the first return stack and not store the removed oldest return address in the second return stack. If the first return stack is full and borrowing is enabled by the borrow enable indicator and the second thread is not enabled, the control circuitry removes the oldest return address from the first return stack and push the removed oldest return address onto the second return stack. |
| US09483269B2 |
Hardware based run-time instrumentation facility for managed run-times
Embodiments of the invention relate to performing run-time instrumentation. Run-time instrumentation is captured, by a processor, based on an instruction stream of instructions of an application program executing on the processor. The capturing includes storing the run-time instrumentation data in a collection buffer of the processor. A run-time instrumentation sample point trigger is detected by the processor. Contents of the collection buffer are copied into a program buffer as a reporting group based on detecting the run-time instrumentation sample point trigger. The program buffer is located in main storage in an address space that is accessible by the application program. |
| US09483268B2 |
Hardware based run-time instrumentation facility for managed run-times
Embodiments of the invention relate to performing run-time instrumentation. Run-time instrumentation is captured, by a processor, based on an instruction stream of instructions of an application program executing on the processor. The capturing includes storing the run-time instrumentation data in a collection buffer of the processor. A run-time instrumentation sample point trigger is detected by the processor. Contents of the collection buffer are copied into a program buffer as a reporting group based on detecting the run-time instrumentation sample point trigger. The program buffer is located in main storage in an address space that is accessible by the application program. |
| US09483267B2 |
Exploiting an architected last-use operand indication in a system operand resource pool
A pool of available physical registers are provided for architected registers, wherein operations are performed that activate and deactivate selected architected registers, such that the deactivated selected architected registers need not retain values, and physical registers can be deallocated to the pool, wherein deallocation of physical registers is performed after a last-use by a designated last-use instruction, wherein the last-use information is provided either by the last-use instruction or a prefix instruction, wherein reads to deallocated architecture registers return an architected default value. |
| US09483262B2 |
Apparatus and method for identifying correspondence between an installed program and an interface in a source code
An apparatus specifies, for each of interfaces described in a source code, an installed program associated with the each interface, based on a description of the source code including a relevant source code corresponding to the installed program, and stores an identifier of the specified installed program in the memory in association with an interface associated with the installed program. The apparatus specifies an interface to be executed upon execution of a program based on the source code, according to contents defined in the source code. The apparatus, upon execution of the program based on the source code, outputs information on the installed program whose identifier is stored in the memory in association with the specified interface, so that the installed program is identifiable. |
| US09483260B1 |
Documentation generation for web APIs based on byte code analysis
Documentation for application or web service, such as a web application programming interface (API), is generated by analyzing bytecode for the application itself. Metadata contained within the bytecode and that specifies the functionality of the web service is extracted and used as a template and basis for documentation. A second source of documentation, which contains detailed documentation of the web service, is contributed by the web service developer and merged with the metadata extracted from the bytecode. |
| US09483259B1 |
System and method for providing real-time execution of source code in a collaborative online software development environment
Access to a source code file stored at a server is provided to a plurality of user devices, via a network. The source code file may comprise software code. The source code file stored at the server is updated based on a plurality of changes received from respective user devices, substantially in real-time. A selection of an option to execute the source code file is received from one of the plurality of user devices. In response to the selection, the source code file is executed, substantially in real-time. |
| US09483257B2 |
Universal and adaptive software development platform for data-driven applications
A software application platform that abstracts a computing platform, a database layer, and a rendering medium is disclosed. A platform-independent application programming interface is disclosed, as well as an abstract database layer. The abstraction of the database layer comprises two sub-layers, including a layer having a uniform interface that treats data records as plain objects and a layer having constructs that facilitate the automated generation of user interfaces for data record navigation and management. Further, a software application platform that is independent of rendering medium is disclosed. |
| US09483256B2 |
Virtualized application image patching
Virtual applications are automatically kept up to date with the current version of a virtual application. Instead of the client having to obtain the entire version of the current virtual application, the client obtains the portions of the current virtual application that are changed from its version of the virtual application. After obtaining the changes needed to update its version of the virtual application, the client integrates those changes into its version of the virtual application. |
| US09483250B2 |
Systems management based on semantic models and low-level runtime state
Various embodiments manage deployable computing environments. In one embodiment, a semantic model of a computing environment is analyzed. The computing environment is deployed based on the analysis of the semantic model. The deployment of the computing environment includes executing one or more automation scripts. One or more changes in a state of the computing environment are identified, for each automation script executed during the deployment of the computing environment, based on executing the automation script. The semantic model is updated based on the one or more changes in state identified for each automation script. |
| US09483248B2 |
Automatic generation and execution of server update processes
A method of updating a plurality of servers may include receiving a plurality of patch requests, receiving a selection of a computing environment from a plurality of computing environments, and selecting patch requests from the plurality of patch requests that are associated with the selected computing environment. The method may also include accessing a configuration for the selected computing environment, and generating patch command scripts for each of the selected patch requests. The patch command scripts may be generated based on the configuration of the selected computing environment and a respective selected patch request. The method may additionally include executing each of the patch command scripts to update the plurality of servers. |
| US09483247B2 |
Automated software maintenance based on forecast usage
Various embodiments illustrated and described herein schedule a software upgrade as part of normal workload assignment and management. In one embodiment, a workload automation system evaluates the projected workload on a system affected by a software upgrade. Policies may determine requirements that should be met during the software upgrade, such as jobs that may or may not be postponed, preferred times of software upgrade, etc. The software upgrade may also have constraints associated with it, such as a time by which the upgrade must be completed, the order of upgrade if multiple systems are involved, etc. These constraints may be part of the policies or may be separate. Based on forecasted workload automation, policies, and any other constraints a time slot for software upgrade is selected and the upgrade is scheduled for the time slot as part of a work queue. |
| US09483245B2 |
Matching database schema with application code using dependency management
A package manager receives a request to install a version of an application on a host server, the version of the application having an associated database script provided by database scripts package. The package manager determines a currently installed schema in a management database associated with the host server and compares the database script associated with the application to the currently installed schema in the management database. Prior to installing the version of the application, the package manager verifies that the database script is installed and updated to match the database schema and performs the database upgrade if required. |
| US09483244B2 |
Compiling method and compiling device
A computer converts a source program into intermediate code. The computer detects, based on profile information related to a memory access for accessing target data stored in a memory, a memory access that fits an access pattern corresponding to an operating condition of a hardware prefetch function for the target data. The target data is data for which a prefetch instruction is to be inserted in advance. The prefetch instruction is an instruction for transferring data stored in the memory to a cache memory. The computer computes an evaluation value for the target data based on a length of successive memory accesses that fit the access pattern, and determines, based on the evaluation value, whether to suppress insertion of a prefetch instruction for the target data. The computer updates the intermediate code based on a result of the determination, and converts the updated intermediate code into a machine language program. |
| US09483242B2 |
Wholesale replacement of specialized classes in a runtime environments
Wholesale replacement of specialized classes may involve the ability to replace the auto specialization of a generic class may not be used at all and instead, a completely different, hand-written, class when the class is specialized for particular type parameterizations, according to some embodiments. The replacement class may have the same interface as the generic or auto specialized version, but it may have a completely different representation and/or implementation. A runtime environment may load the alternate version of the class, based on information identifying the alternate version, whenever the particular specialization is instantiated. The runtime may not have to load the generic or auto specialized version of the class when using the alternate version of the class. |
| US09483241B2 |
Method ranking based on code invocation
Disclosed herein is a framework for analyzing and determining the impact and importance of software code or method changes. In accordance with one aspect, invocations of methods are tracked by generating marking records. The marking records may be used to rebuild a call stack, which can be used to organize the methods to generate a calling dependency representation. The methods may then be ranked based on such calling dependency representation. |
| US09483230B1 |
Wearable device zone group control
Examples disclosed and described herein facilitate zone grouping and adjustment of zone representation dependent upon a zone's grouping status. An example method includes affecting, via a computing device, display and control of a user interface configured for a display of a wearable device, the user interface arranged to display at least a first item and a second item. The first item is displayed using a first graphical characteristic, and the second item is displayed using a second graphical characteristic. Each item corresponds to a zone and selectable to cause the corresponding zone to be added to a zone group. The example method includes triggering, via the computing device based on a selection, a joining of a second zone with a selected first zone group including a first zone represented by the first item. |
| US09483228B2 |
Live engine
Non-media data relating to real-world objects or persons are collected from a scene while media data from the same scene are collected. The media data comprise audio data only or audiovisual data, whereas the non-media data comprise telemetry data and/or non-telemetry data. Based at least in part on the non-media data relating to the real-world objects or persons in the scene, emitter-listener relationships between a listener and some or all of the real-world objects or persons are determined. Audio objects comprising audio content portions and non-audio data portions are generated. At least one audio object is generated based at least in part on the emitter-listener relationships. |
| US09483225B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program product for joining the displays of multiple devices
A method is provided for enhancing a user interface with a mobile device by joining the displays of multiple devices together to function together with one another. In particular, example methods may provide for detecting a first touch or drag event, receiving a message indicating a second touch or drag event from a nearby device occurring during the first touch or drag event, creating a join event, and providing for transmission of the join event to the nearby device. The method may also include updating a registry of nearby devices in response to receiving a message regarding a touch or drag event from a nearby device. The method may further include providing for presentation of content on a display of a device and direction of content to be presented on a display of the nearby device, wherein the content to be presented on the display of the nearby device is related to the content on the display of the device. |
| US09483224B2 |
ePOS printing
A script language compatible with HTML is used to define methods or objects capable of communicating directly with an intelligent module for printing operations without going through a web browser's print selection option. A print API library provides the needed methods/objects for embedding into a web page. The intelligent module may be a stand-alone electronic device, or may be an intelligent device incorporated into a printer. The intelligent module may manage multiple printers directly or through a network, and it functions to provide a communication bridge for translating/conveying communication between the print APIs on a web page and a target printer. The print API knows the fixed IP address of the intelligent module, and define a print document or print commands and send it directly to the intelligent module by means of the known IP address. |
| US09483218B2 |
Network printing
Systems and methods for printing a document over a network are described herein. In one implementation, a method for network printing comprises receiving a request from a node to connect to a parent node and determining whether a number of child nodes of the parent node has reached a predefined threshold number. The method further comprises transmitting a connection acknowledgement message to the node on determining the number of child nodes not to have reached the predefined threshold number. |
| US09483217B2 |
Printing system and printer
A printing server includes a registration request reception unit, a registration unit which allocates connection information for connection with the transmission origin of the registration request and an electronic mail address for receiving a printing request to the transmission origin of the registration request, a registration information transmission unit which transmits the registration information which has been allocated, a connection unit which receives the connection information and starts connection, a printing data generation unit which generates printing data, a printing waiting information transmission unit which transmits printing waiting information to the transmission origin of the XMPP connection request using XMPP when the printing data is generated, and a printing data transmission unit which receives an acquisition request for the printing data and transmits the printing data to the transmission origin of the acquisition request for the printing data according to the acquisition request for the printing data. |
| US09483216B2 |
Image forming system and image forming method for selecting between two separate image forming apparatuses
An image forming system according to an embodiment includes: a first image forming apparatus that forms an image using a decolorable color material, a second image forming apparatus that forms an image using a non-decolorable color material, an information terminal that communicates over a network with the first and second image forming apparatuses. When a trial printing operation is initiated from the information terminal, the information terminal prompts a user for an input selecting the first image forming apparatus to perform the trial printing operation using the decolorable color material. |
| US09483215B2 |
Printing system for enabling optimization of printer operation rate, printing control device, and recording medium for recording printing control program
To provide a printing system, printing control device, and printing control program that can optimize the operating rate of a printer. An operation optimization processing part includes a comparison part and an output destination determination part, and performs a process that in order to the optimize the operating status of a printer, before an RIP process is performed, in accordance with a condition determined by the relationship between an RIP processing speed and a printing speed, for each print data, preliminarily determines a raster data output destination for temporarily storing raster data generated by performing the RIP process of the print data. |
| US09483213B1 |
Virtual media changers
A virtual tape system utilizes multiple virtual tape libraries. Some virtual elements of the virtual tape libraries are connected elements, such as virtual import/export slots, that logically connect two or more virtual tape libraries. Virtual media changers of the virtual tape libraries can be commanded, as if physical media changers, to virtually move virtual media, such as virtual tapes, within and among the virtual tape libraries. By moving a virtual medium to a connected element, the virtual medium can be virtually moved from one virtual tape library to another. |
| US09483212B2 |
Non-volatile memory devices and control methods therefor
A non-volatile memory device is provided. The non-volatile memory device includes a non-volatile memory, a connection interface, and a controller. The non-volatile memory is divided into a plurality of physical blocks. Each physical block is divided into a plurality of physical pages. The connection interface is connected to a host. The controller is connected to the connection interface. When the controller performs a block-reconfiguration operation, the controller re-adjusts a position in the physical blocks where data is disposed to obtain a usable physical block. Movement of one portion of the data related to the block-reconfiguration operation is performed when the controller operates an initial operation. Movement of another portion of the data related to the block-reconfiguration operation is performed when the controller processes a read command from the host. |
| US09483211B2 |
Storage control apparatus, storage control method, and computer-readable recording medium having stored storage control program
A storage apparatus includes a processing unit that functions a SAN OS which performs SAN control and a NAS OS which performs NAS control to be operated on a virtualized OS, an inter-OS communication unit that transmits and receives data between the NAS OS and the SAN OS, a transmission controller that transmits a NAS input/output request received in the NAS OS to the SAN OS through the inter-OS communication unit, and a NAS request processing unit that processes the NAS input/output request received from the transmission controller in the SAN OS. With this configuration, the NAS and the SAN can be efficiently integrated in a storage apparatus. |
| US09483209B2 |
Interface system and method
An interface system has a first media access controller having a first MAC buffer for storing at least one first-type frame in a first frame format according to a first communication protocol. A time synchronization module is arranged to, upon detecting the start of the first-type frame, determine a first timestamp from a master clock signal and latch the first timestamp into a first timestamp register. A processor is arranged to: retrieve the first timestamp from the first timestamp register, and transfer a first-type frame between the first MAC buffer and a first local memory in a block-wise manner as a plurality of blocks. The processor is arranged to process the plurality of blocks of the first-type frame using the first timestamp as retrieved from the first timestamp register. |
| US09483207B1 |
Methods and systems for efficient caching using an intelligent storage adapter
Systems and methods for caching information are provided. A method includes receiving an input/output (I/O) request for writing data at a storage device, the I/O request including a logical unit number (LUN) identifier, a logical block address (LBA) associated with storage space at the storage device and a data payload; determining a hash value using the data payload; using the hash value to determine if the data payload already has been cached by an adapter; updating a reference count at a hash data structure indicating that the cached data payload is referenced by more than one I/O request, when the data payload has been cached by the adapter; and updating the hash data structure, when the data payload does not exist at a cache managed by the adapter. |
| US09483203B2 |
Temporary mirroring, logical segregation, and redundant programming or addressing for solid state drive operation
The present disclosure includes methods and devices for operating a solid state drive. One method embodiment includes mirroring programming operations such that data associated with a programming operation is programmed to two or more locations in memory of the solid state drive. The method also includes ceasing to mirror programming operations upon an occurrence of a particular event. |
| US09483200B2 |
System and method for optical cold storage wherein plurality of first and second chunks are encoded and placed on different optical disks
Various embodiments (“systems”) are described for transferring data from a primary storage (e.g., magnetic disk drives, solid state drives, etc.) to an optical cold storage rack. The optical cold storage rack may include many physical optical storage disks, but a much smaller number of burners and readers (e.g., optical disk drives). When data is to be transferred to the optical cold storage rack, the system may generate a plan for performing the transfer. “Migration worker” components may then implement the plan and may be exclusively dedicated to implementing such plans. In various embodiments, the plan may specify how large data file “aggregates” (collections of portions of one or more data files) are to be distributed across optical disks (“disks”) to improve throughput during subsequent reading operations from the optical cold storage rack. The plan may also anticipate the relation between the limited number of burners/readers and the overall optical cold storage rack disk capacity. |
| US09483199B1 |
Data deduplication using multiple devices
Among other things, a technique of data deduplication using multiple devices includes presenting, to host devices, a quantity of logical data storage greater than physical data storage available on a storage area network (SAN) device, by deduplicating at least some of the data received from the host devices for storage at the SAN device in a manner that is coordinated with over-provisioning capability of the SAN device. |
| US09483198B1 |
Increasing storage space for processes impacting data storage systems
A processing request is received. The processing request includes information about a first location where a set of data is stored and information about a second location where the set of data is to be transferred. The size of the set of data is determined. The size of the available portion of the second location is determined. If the size of the set of data is smaller than the size of the available portion of the second location is determined. Responsive to determining the size of the set of data is larger than the size of the available portion of the second location, the size of the available portion is requested to be increased. The size of the available portion of the second location is increased to a size larger than the determined size of the set of data. |
| US09483197B1 |
Transaction-based storage system and method that uses variable sized objects to store data
Aspects of the innovations herein are consistent with a storage system for storing variable sized objects. The storage system may be a transaction-based system that uses variable sized objects to store data. The storage system may be implemented using arrays disks that are arranged in ranks. Each rank may include multiple stripes. Each stripe may be read and written as a convenient unit for maximum performance. A rank manager may be provided to dynamically configure the ranks to adjust for failed and added disks by selectively shortening and lengthening the stripes. The storage system may include a stripe space table that contains entries describing the amount of space used in each stripe. An object map may provide entries for each object in the storage system describing the location (e.g., rank, stripe and offset values), the length and version of the object. |
| US09483196B2 |
Systems and methods for virtualizing storage systems and managing data independently
Various embodiments are provided for virtualizing and managing a storage virtualization system (SVS) in a storage management architecture. Source data is copied from the source storage media to target data in a target storage media based on a predefined copy policy in a copy mapping table. A relation between the source data and the target data is tracked in a copy mapping table. It is determined if a copy of the requested data exists using the copy mapping table. Tiered storage policies are configured in a migration mapping table pertaining to the SVS, and a source storage media is mapped to a target storage media and a migration policy. |
| US09483194B2 |
File processing method and apparatus, and storage device
A file processing method and a storage device for storing a file in a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) are disclosed. In this method, the storage device divides received F files into multiple data blocks, and obtains a first matrix with T rows according to the multiple data blocks. Data blocks belonging to one file are located in one row of the first matrix. The storage device then writes a stripe, which consists of data blocks in each column in the first matrix and a check block that is obtained by computing according to the data blocks in the column, into the RAID. By using the file processing method, the storage device can write one file into one disk of the RAID while ensuring security of file storage, thereby achieving a better energy saving effect when the file is read. |
| US09483191B2 |
Multi-tier storage for delivery of services
Methods, systems, and computer readable media can be operable to facilitate the transfer of content between two or more storage units. The transfer of content between two or more storage units can be based upon a count of the number of hits to a storage unit entry associated with the content. In embodiments, the transfer of content between two or more storage units can be further based upon a predetermined threshold associated with a period. |
| US09483190B2 |
Average response time improvement from a file system for a tape library
A mechanism is provided for improving the average response time of a tape library. Prior to receiving a next access request for data from one of a set of tape mediums, a determination is made as to whether a number of tape drives that are unoccupied is less than a predetermined minimum open tape drive threshold (N). Responsive to the number of tape drives that are unoccupied being less than the predetermined minimum open tape drive threshold (N), a least recently used idle tape medium is unmounted and unloaded from an associated tape drive. |
| US09483189B2 |
Systems and methods for scheduling write requests for a solid state storage device
An I/O scheduler can manage and schedule write requests that are sent to a storage device in order to prevent the write requests from dominating a storage buffer of the storage device. The I/O scheduler can monitor the number of I/O requests in the storage buffer and maintain a balance between write requests and read requests in the storage buffer. The I/O scheduler monitor the latency of the storage device in processing write requests and manage the write requests sent to the storage device based on the latency. The I/O scheduler can utilize one or more write thresholds. The write thresholds can define thresholds of the number of write requests in the storage buffer and thresholds for the latency of the storage device in processing write requests. The write threshold can represent acceptable levels of write request in the storage buffer and acceptable latency for write requests. |
| US09483185B2 |
Gradual context saving in a data storage device
The present disclosure is directed to gradual context saving in a data storage device. An example data storage device may comprise at least a non-volatile memory and a control module. The control module may cause context data to be gradually saved to the non-volatile memory based on monitoring write activity to the nonvolatile memory, wherein the context data may correspond to a current state of the data storage device. The control module may cause context data to be saved based on a budget ratio. For example, a budget ratio may compare an amount of total budget consumed (e.g., based a capacity of the data storage device, an amount of data stored in the data storage device, a target time-to-ready for the data storage device, etc.) to an amount of total context data that has already been written to the non-volatile memory. |
| US09483183B2 |
Snapshotting of a performance storage system in a system for performance improvement of a capacity optimized storage system
A system for storing data comprises a performance storage system for storing one or more data items. A data item of the one or more data items comprises a data file or a data block. The system further comprises a segment storage system for storing a snapshot of a stored data item of the one or more data items in the performance storage system. The taking of the snapshot of the stored data item enables recall of the stored data item as stored at a time of the snapshot. At least one newly stored segment is stored as a reference to a previously stored segment. |
| US09483181B2 |
Data storage device and operating method thereof
An operating method of a data storage device includes receiving a read request from a host device, and selectively collecting position information of read-requested data. |
| US09483177B2 |
Diagnostic imaging apparatus, diagnostic ultrasonic apparatus, and medical image displaying apparatus
The diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the present embodiments includes a display unit, an input unit, and a display control unit. The display unit includes a display area in which a medical image and a menu in relation to the medical image are displayed. The input unit receives input to the display area. The display control unit displays different menus in the display area in accordance with the input received by the input unit. |
| US09483175B2 |
Device, method, and graphical user interface for navigating through a hierarchy
A multifunction device displays a view of a top level of a hierarchical user interface. The hierarchical user interface has a plurality of levels including the top level and one or more lower levels. In response to detecting a first input, the device displays a view of at least one of the lower levels and at least a predefined portion of the view of the top level. While displaying a view of a respective lower level and concurrently displaying at least the predefined portion of the view of the top level, the device detects a second input. When the second input corresponds to a request to enter a content modification mode for the respective lower level, the device enters the content modification mode for the respective lower level and ceases to display the predefined portion of the view of the top level. |
| US09483174B2 |
Storage medium storing object control program and information processing apparatus
An information processing apparatus includes, for example, a touch panel placed over a display screen. For example, when a start of a touch input is detected, the first-touch-input coordinates are determined as object generation coordinates and an object is displayed in the coordinates. When an input direction based on coordinates continuously detected after the object generation coordinates until, for example, a touch-off is determined to be a predetermined direction, the object is moved in a specific direction. Alternatively, an input direction is determined based on coordinates continuously detected after the object generation coordinates until a touch-off, and then, based on the input direction, the direction opposite to the input direction, for example, is determined to be a moving direction and the object is moved in the moving direction. |
| US09483169B2 |
Computer system for automatic organization, indexing and viewing of information from multiple sources
A computer data processing system including a central processing unit configured with an integrated computer control software system for the management of data objects including dynamic and automatic organization, linking, finding, cross-referencing, viewing and retrieval of multiple objects regardless of nature or source. The system provides an underlying component architecture having an object-oriented database structure and a metadata database structure which stores only one instance of each object while linking the object to multiple collections and domains for grouping into and retrieval from any of the collections. The system employs configurable, extensible attribute/properties of data objects in metadata format, and a user-configurable interface that facilitates information management. |
| US09483168B2 |
Correcting scrolling gesture
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium may comprise instructions stored thereon. When executed by at least one processor, instructions may be configured to cause a computing system to at least receive, on a tactile input device of the computing system, a first contact and a second contact, the first and second contacts being maintained on the tactile input device, at least one of the first and second contacts changing location on the tactile input device, determine a direction of movement by the first and second contacts based on the at least one of the first and second contacts changing locations on the tactile input device, assign the determined direction of movement to one of a plurality of directional zones, and modify the determined direction based on the assigned directional zone. |
| US09483165B2 |
Intermediate in-game resource hybrid gaming system
An intermediate in-game resource hybrid gaming system is provided. In an entertainment game, utilization of an entertainment game element by a player may trigger a wager in accordance with a gambling proposition. Based on the outcome of the wager, the player may be awarded an intermediate in-game resource for use in the entertainment game. The intermediate in-game resource may be used by the player to acquire an entertainment game resource or element that may be used to enhance the player's play of the entertainment game. |
| US09483163B2 |
Information display apparatus, information display method, and computer readable medium
An information display apparatus includes a display, a receiver, a memory, and a display controller. The display displays plural items in a list format in accordance with an order in a display field. The memory stores therein selection record information representing past record of selection of each of the plural items. The receiver receives an operation for updating items displayed in the display field based on the selection record information. The display controller specifies, when the operation is received by the receiver, at least one of the plural items by referring to the selection record information, and controls the display to display a part of the plural items including the specified item in the list format in accordance with the order in such a manner that the specified item is displayed at a reference position in the display field. |
| US09483158B2 |
Discovering and presenting décor harmonized with a décor style
Technology is disclosed for discovering décor harmonized with a décor style (“the technology”). The décor includes décor items, e.g. artworks, paintings, pictures, artifacts, architectural pieces, arrangement of artworks, color selection, room décor, rugs, mats, furnishings, household items, fashion, clothes, jewelry, car interiors, garden arrangements etc. The technology facilitates analyzing user input to identify a décor style from a décor style dictionary, obtaining décor that harmonizes with décor style, and presenting a representation of the décor to the user. The décor style dictionary includes décor styles that are generated based on an analysis of content, including images and description of décor, from a plurality of sources. The décor styles can be based on a number of concepts, including a theme of the décor, a color/color palette, a mood of the person, a fashion era, a type of architecture, etc. The technology facilitates presentation of discovered décor using computer generated imagery techniques. |
| US09483154B2 |
Display device
A touch panel includes a plurality of first electrodes, a plurality of second electrodes, and a plurality of wirings. Each of the plurality of first electrodes has a first portion formed on a layer different from that on which the second electrodes are formed and intersecting the second electrodes, and a second portion formed on the same layer as that on which the second electrodes are formed, but separated from the second electrode. The second electrode and the second portion of the first electrode are formed on a layer different than the layer where the wiring is formed. The first portion of the first electrode is connected to the second portion through a contact portion formed in an insulating film made of a negative resist between the first portion and the second electrode. |
| US09483153B2 |
Touch panel and display device
A touch panel and a display device are disclosed. The shapes of a plurality of cells formed by crossing of silver fine wires that constitute a first electrode or a second electrode are different from each other and do not have regularity (uniformity). In other words, the cells are random. On the first electrode and/or the second electrode shaped as above, an adhesive (OCA) having a loss factor (tan δ) of 0.13 or more at 140° C. and 1 Hz and a storage elastic modulus of 8.9×104 Pa or less at 25° C. and 1 Hz is disposed. |
| US09483148B2 |
Method for manufacturing touch substrate
A method of manufacturing a touch substrate is disclosed. The method includes forming a shading layer on one lateral surface of a base substrate, forming a first transparent conductive film on the other lateral surface of the base substrate, and forming the first conductive film into an auxiliary lead layer with a patterning process using the shading layer as a mask pattern. The method also includes forming a driving electrode on the base substrate, and forming a sensing electrode on the base substrate. |
| US09483146B2 |
Input classification for multi-touch systems
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for input classification for multi-touch systems. In one aspect, a method includes receiving data describing a first region of contact with a touch sensitive display and a second region of contact with the touch sensitive display. The method includes determining at least one characteristic of the first region of contact. The method includes based on the at least one characteristic of the first region of contact, determining that the first region of contact corresponds to intended touch input provided by a user's body part or stylus. The method includes determining at least one characteristic of the second region of contact. The method includes based on the at least one characteristic of the second region of contact, determining that the second region of contact corresponds to incidental touch input provided by a user's resting body part. |
| US09483144B1 |
Method and apparatus of position tracking and detection of user input information
A method and apparatus of detecting user initiated movement by an input element handled by a user is disclosed. The method may include performing a calibration procedure that is initiated by the user via a physical movement performed by the user. The method may also include positioning at least one sensor to dynamically adjust a size of an effective workspace range capable of detecting the user's movement of the input element. |
| US09483142B2 |
Combination touch and transducer input system and method
A combination touch and transducer input system is provided, which facilitates user input into an electronic system with a finger and/or a transducer (e.g., a stylus). The system includes a transducer configured to generate an electric field, and a sensor including an array of electrodes and a controller. The transducer is configured to transmit digital data, such as pen pressure data and switch status data, to the sensor. For example, the transducer comprises electronic circuitry configured to encode the digital data in a signal for transmission to the sensor. The sensor controller is configured to operate both in a touch sensing mode and in a transducer sensing mode. During the touch sensing mode, the controller determines a position of a proximate object (e.g., a finger) by capacitively sensing the object with the array of electrodes. During the transducer sensing mode, the controller determines a position of the transducer based on a signal received by the array of electrodes from the transducer, and also receives and decodes the digital data encoded in the received signal. Digital data can be encoded in a signal using any suitable digital modulation techniques, such as a Frequency-Shift Keying (FSK) technique. |
| US09483140B2 |
Touch sensor
Disclosed is a touch sensor including a touch panel including driving lines and sensing lines, a node capacitor being formed between the neighboring driving and sensing lines, and a sensing unit electrically connected to the sensing lines to sense variation in the capacitance of the node capacitor. The sensing unit includes an amplifier including a first input terminal configured to receive a signal from any one of the sensing lines, a second input terminal connected to a first power source, and an output terminal, a feedback capacitor connected between the first input terminal and the output terminal, and a current controller connected in parallel to the feedback capacitor between the first input terminal and the output terminal to control current flowing to the feedback capacitor. |
| US09483136B2 |
Touch panel
A touch panel is presented, which includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a third substrate. The first substrate includes a first side having a first circuit. The second substrate includes a first side arranged on the first side of the first substrate and a second side having a second circuit. The third substrate is arranged on the second side of the second substrate. Therefore, by using the structure of the touch panel, the substrates of the touch panel can be integrated, so as to achieve the objective of decreasing the overall thickness of an electronic device. |
| US09483134B2 |
Systems and methods for actively resisting touch-induced motion
A system for actively resisting touch-induced motion includes a touchscreen device and a processing circuit. The touchscreen device includes one or more sensors configured to generate motion data based on a motion of a touchscreen display of the touchscreen device, where the motion is induced by a touch on the display. The touchscreen device further includes one or more motion control devices configured to apply a force to the display. The processing circuit is configured to determine, based on the motion data, a force to counteract the motion. The processing circuit is further configured to cause the motion control devices to apply a force to the display to counteract the motion of the display. |
| US09483121B2 |
Event recognition
While displaying one or more views of a first software application, an electronic device detects a sequence of touch inputs. The electronic device, in accordance with a determination that no gesture recognizer of the first software application recognizes a portion of the sequence of touch inputs, delivers the sequence of touch inputs to the second software application, and in accordance with a determination that at least one gesture recognizer in the second software application recognizes the sequence of touch inputs, processes the sequence of touch inputs with the at least one gesture recognizer in the second software application that recognizes the sequence of touch inputs. |
| US09483119B2 |
Stereo interactive method, display device, operating stick and system
The present invention relates to a stereo interactive method adapted for an interactive scene of a stereo display device and a stereo interactive operating stick. The method includes: obtaining motion trajectory information of the operating stick; calculating invasion degree information of an invasion that the operating stick applies to a virtual object displayed by the display device according to motion trajectory information and preset property information of the virtual object; calculating interaction feedback information according to motion trajectory information, invasion degree information and the preset property information; and controlling the operating stick and the virtual object to make responses matched with the preset property of the virtual object according to the interaction feedback information. The present further provides stereo interactive display device, operating stick and system. When using the operating stick to interact with the virtual object, real operation tactile can be experienced by the user of operation. |
| US09483118B2 |
Methods and systems for selecting media guidance functions based on tactile attributes of a user input
Methods and systems are disclosed herein for a media guidance application that determines the tactile attributes (e.g., an amount of pressure applied by a user, a length of time pressure is applied by a user, a velocity of the user input, etc.) associated with a received user input and determines which media guidance function, of a plurality of media guidance functions, is associated with the tactile attributes. |
| US09483107B2 |
Adaptive idle timeout for storage devices
In embodiments of adaptive idle timeout for storage devices, a computing device includes a storage device that stores data for read and write access on a rotating media. An operating system of the computing device maintains a device cycle number as an accounting of each time the storage device is powered on-off. The computing device implements a storage device driver that is implemented to obtain the device cycle number of the storage device from the operating system, and determine a projected cycle number over a duration of operational time of the storage device based on the device cycle number. The storage device driver can then determine whether the projected cycle number exceeds a maximum of power on-off cycles within a warranty period of the storage device, and control a frequency of the storage device being powered-off if the projected cycle number exceeds the maximum of power on-off cycles. |
| US09483106B2 |
Electronic apparatus, power management system, and non-transitory computer readable medium storing program
Provided is an electronic apparatus including a changing unit that changes control modes of the electronic apparatus including a first mode and a second mode, a first notification unit that notifies a management unit of circumstances of the electronic apparatus at a notification timing which is determined by the electronic apparatus or an external device when the control mode is the first mode, a recording unit that estimates the circumstances at a predicted notification timing and records the circumstances in a storage medium in advance before the changing unit changes the control mode to the second mode, and a second notification unit that notifies the management unit of the circumstances recorded by the recording unit at the notification timing when the control mode is the second mode. |
| US09483103B2 |
Process state of a computing machine
A computing machine to power a memory to retain a process state of the computing machine if the computing machine is in a sleep state and transfer the process state from the memory to a non-volatile storage device, where the computing machine remains in the sleep state as the process state is transferred from the memory to the non-volatile storage device. |
| US09483101B2 |
Multicore processor system and power control method
A multicore processor system includes multiple processors; a device; a memory that stores information of voltage and clock frequency for minimizing power consumption in connection with a number of the processors accessing to the device; and a power control unit that controls the voltage and the clock frequency of the processors on the basis of the information stored in the memory if the number of the processors accessing to the device changes. |
| US09483099B2 |
Wakeup receiver circuit, electronic system and method to wake up a device
A device is operated in a low power mode of operation. The device receives a differential signal that includes a first polarity signal and a second polarity signal. A slope of a first direction is detected in the differential signal and a slope of a second direction is detected in the differential signal. A wakeup of the device is caused in response to the detection of the first slope of the differential signal and the second slope of the differential signal. |
| US09483098B2 |
Circuits, systems and methods to detect and accommodate power supply voltage droop
Circuits, systems, and methods for monitoring a power supply voltage and determining if the power supply voltage has drooped are disclosed. In one embodiment, a voltage monitoring circuit is provided and configured to determine if the power supply voltage supplied to a functional circuit has drooped. When no droop of the power supply voltage is detected, the voltage monitoring circuit is configured to provide an indication to the functional circuit to operate in a first mode. When droop of the power supply voltage is detected, the voltage monitoring circuit is configured to provide an indication to the functional circuit to operate in a second mode. In this manner, operating margin in the power supply may be reduced since the functional circuit may be configured to properly operate when a voltage droop of the power supply voltage occurs. |
| US09483095B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing a modular power supply with multiple adjustable output voltages
An apparatus and method for supplying operating voltages to a plurality of electronic devices is disclosed. A plurality of power supply modules of a modular power supply may output voltages to at least two electronic devices. The apparatus may identify a failure of one of the power supply modules. The electronic device may be disconnected from the failed power supply module, and then reconnected to a functional power supply module of the modular power supply. A supplied voltage of the functional power supply module of the modular power supply may be varied, such as wherein the supplied voltage matches the set output voltage of the failed power supply module. |
| US09483092B2 |
Performance state boost for multi-core integrated circuit
An integrated circuit includes a multiple number of processor cores and a system management unit. The multiple number of processor cores each operate at one of a multiple number of performance states. The system management unit is coupled to the multiple number of processor cores, for setting performance states of the multiple number of processor cores. The system management unit boosts a first performance state of a first processor core of the multiple number of processor cores based on both a first temperature calculated from an estimated power consumption, and a second temperature based on a temperature measurement. |
| US09483090B1 |
Self-contained power and cooling domains
A method for providing for conditioning of a computer data center includes supplying a working fluid from a common fluid plane to a plurality of power/cooling units distributed across a data center facility in proximity to electronic equipment that is distributed across the data center facility; converting the working fluid into electric power and cooling capacity at each of the plurality of power/cooling units; and supplying the electric power to a common electric power plane serving a plurality of racks of the electronic equipment in the data center facility and being served by a plurality of the power/cooling units in the data center facility, wherein the common fluid plane serves at least 10 percent of the power/cooling units in the data center facility and the common electric power plane serves at most 5 percent of the electronic equipment in the data center facility. |
| US09483087B2 |
Multi-orientation mobile device, computer-readable storage unit therefor, and methods for using the same
A multi-orientation mobile communication device having a first button positioned at the first side of a device at a first relative positioning with respect to a second button on the first side and a third button positioned at a second side of the body at the first relative positioning with respect to a fourth button positioned on the second side. The device also includes instructions causing a processor to perform operations comprising determining that an orientation of the device has changed and reassigning, responsively, button characteristics based on relative positioning of the first through fourth buttons following the re-orientation. |
| US09483086B2 |
Business object detail display
Scale(s) on one or more axes may be displayed. The scale(s) may present a range of values associated with at least one business object attribute. Visual representation(s) of business object(s) may be displayed. The visual representation(s) may be positioned relative to the scale(s). Detail boxes corresponding to each visually represented business object may be displayed. Each detail box may present information about a corresponding business object. All detail boxes may be displayed. Information presented by the detail box(es) may be an image and/or text. The information presented by the detail box(es) may be interactive. Displaying or not displaying the detail box(es) may be toggled. The visual representation(s) of the business object(s) may be repositioned based on the toggling. |
| US09483083B1 |
Rotation lock mechanism for load bearing hinges
For information display devices and other uses, a mechanism for unlocking and locking the rotation of a load-bearing hinge at multiple specific angles with the press and release of a push button—with an option for a default angular position. |
| US09483081B2 |
Mobile terminal
A mobile terminal includes a flexible display unit configured to be deformed from a first state as an unfolded state to a second state as a folded state or from the second state to the first state, a first body unit configured to support one region of the display unit, a second body unit rotatably connected to the first body unit, configured to support the other remaining region of the display unit, and configured to become away from the first body unit while the flexible display unit is being changed from the second state to the first state, and a hinge unit configured to rotatably connect the first and second body units. |
| US09483080B2 |
Electronic device with convertible touchscreen
Particular embodiments described herein provide for an electronic device, such as a notebook computer or laptop, that includes a circuit board coupled to a plurality of electronic components (which includes any type of components, elements, circuitry, etc.). One particular example implementation of the electronic device may include a first housing, a hinge, and a touchscreen, where the touchscreen is rotatably coupled to the first housing using the hinge. The first housing can include a display and the touchscreen can rotate from a front of the display when the electronic device is in a tablet configuration to a clamshell configuration. A template may visible on or through the touchscreen when the electronic device is in the clamshell configuration. |
| US09483076B2 |
External electronic device and related computer system
An external electronic device for connecting to a portable electronic device is disclosed in the present invention. The external electronic device includes a base, a sliding component, a holder and a first hinge mechanism. The sliding component is slidably disposed on the base. The holder includes a body, an accommodating portion, an attractive component and a pushing portion. The body supports the portable electronic device. The accommodating portion whereinside the magnetic is movably disposed is formed on the body. The holder utilizes a magnetic force to attract a magnetic of the portable electronic device, so as to connect the portable electronic device with the holder. The pushing portion is disposed on an outer surface of the body for contacting an inclined guiding structure of the sliding component, so as to move the sliding component relative to the base. The first hinge mechanism is disposed between the base and the holder. |
| US09483075B2 |
Handheld mount and stand assembly for portable electronic devices
A handheld mount assembly for portable electronic device includes a pistol style grip and suction cup assembly. The mount assembly functions as a gripping device for handheld use, a hands free stand, and a recharging station. The mount can be secured anywhere on the back of the electronic device, making the angle adjustable for stand use, and also allowing the user to position the device differently to accommodate his/her own needs. The mount can be secured to any planar, smooth surface including plates or trays providing a more stable and maneuverable option for eating without a table or carrying large trays. |
| US09483066B2 |
Adjustable non-dissipative voltage boosting snubber network
This disclosure describes a non-dissipative snubber circuit configured to boost a voltage applied to a load after the load's impedance rises rapidly. The voltage boost can thereby cause more rapid current ramping after a decrease in power delivery to the load which results from the load impedance rise. In particular, the snubber can comprise a combination of a unidirectional switch, a voltage multiplier, and a current limiter. In some cases, these components can be a diode, voltage doubler, and an inductor, respectively. |
| US09483061B2 |
Integral filter and regulator for valve
A bleed air control valve includes a pneumatic actuator operable to drive rotation of a closure disk, a connecting rod, a shaft, and an actuator fluid supply passage. The pneumatic actuator includes an integral filter and pressure regulator unit disposed in line with the actuator fluid supply passage. The actuator fluid supply passage provides communication between an inlet side of the flow control duct and at least one pressure chamber. The integral filter and pressure regulator unit has a cylindrical regulator cavity in selective communication with a cylindrical vent cavity. Filter media is secured to the pressure regulator unit and disposed across at least one of a regulator inlet orifice and a regulator outlet orifice. A regulator nozzle has at least one regulator port providing selective communication between a vent cavity and a regulator cavity. |
| US09483055B2 |
Autonomous coverage robot
A mobile robot that includes a robot body having a forward drive direction, a drive system supporting the robot body above a cleaning surface for maneuvering the robot across the cleaning surface, and a robot controller in communication with the drive system. The robot also includes a bumper movably supported by a forward portion of the robot body and a obstacle sensor system disposed on the bumper. The obstacle sensor system includes at least one contact sensor disposed on the bumper, at least one proximity sensor disposed on the bumper and a auxiliary circuit board disposed on the bumper and in communication with the at least one contact sensor, the at least one proximity sensor, and the robot controller. |
| US09483052B2 |
Aircraft departure profile generation compliant with noise abatement limits
Systems and methods are described for dynamically generating flight departure profiles that are in compliance with aircraft emission limits. Emission limits may include noise abatement limits. Flight departure profiles may be generated on a flight by flight basis, and/or may be based on then-current conditions such as wind speed, wind direction, and ambient temperature. |
| US09483048B2 |
Sample transport system and method for controlling the same
The sample transport system includes a management section which holds information on the status of a sample transport system as a whole as well as sample information in order to transport and control a plurality of carriers as a consecutive group and which generates group information on a group of carriers to be handled simultaneously based on sample attributes and request information; and units made up of a conveyer line, a connecting line, and a processing section to control received carriers at a converging point based on the group information, so as to permit group management control of the carriers. In this manner, the sample transport system processes as a single batch a plurality of samples collected for the same processing purpose. |
| US09483046B2 |
Printing a three dimensional object about a voxel structure assembled from preformed blocks
A computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, where the program instructions are executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform a method. The method comprises obtaining data describing external surfaces of a three dimensional object to be made using a three dimensional printer; determining, for a given voxel size, a voxel structure having a size and a shape to be subsumed within the external surfaces of the object; outputting user instructions for manually assembling the voxel structure and positioning the voxel structure into the three dimensional printer; and printing material onto the assembled voxel structure to form an object that subsumes the voxel structure. The use of a voxel structure can reduce print time and the amount of print resources required to form an object. |
| US09483041B2 |
Block execution sequence display system
A block execution sequence display system includes: a machine tool that has numerical control and sequence control; a programmable controller that executes a sequence program; a numerical control device that executes a NC program; block execution sequence array display means for displaying a block execution sequence array in which sequence functional blocks and a NC program execution block are arranged in an execution sequence; selecting means for selecting one of blocks in the array; and NC functional block execution sequence array display means for, when the NC program execution block is selected by the selecting means, displaying a NC functional block execution sequence array in which a plurality of NC functional blocks are arranged in an execution sequence. |
| US09483038B2 |
System for generating or modifying cams
A system for generating electronic cam profiles mimicking the action of mechanical cams operates on a variety of different cam profile inputs and converts them into a common form, for example, expressed as a polynomial spline and modifies that common form by predetermined adjustment relationships, for example by scaling coefficients of the common form cam profile according to desired changes in cam function and/or limitations in dynamic cam values input by a user. The common form of the cam profile may be obtained from a table of cam values by spline interpolation of those data values. |
| US09483033B2 |
Alternator controller and system and method for communicating with an alternator controller
According to various examples, alternator controllers, systems for communicating with an alternator controller and methods for communicating with an alternator regulator are described herein. As an example, the alternator controller includes an input terminal configured to be coupled to a coil of a stator of an alternator and an interface circuit coupled to the input terminal and configured to convert a multi-valued signal at the input terminal into parallel signals. According to another example, a system for communicating with an alternator controller is described herein. This example includes a device and an alternator controller. The device includes an encoder. The alternator controller includes a decoder and at least one phase terminal. The encoder and the decoder are coupled via the at least one phase terminal of the alternator controller. |
| US09483032B2 |
Multi-channel protection logic
A multi-channel controller uses multiple logic gates and multiple control channels to provide fault tolerant protection against undesired events. |
| US09483028B1 |
Hybrid analog-to-digital converter
An analog-to-digital converter (ATC) circuit includes a current source; a first amplifier coupled to the current source through a first discharging switch; and a second amplifier coupled to the first amplifier through a second discharging switch; wherein the first amplifier is configured to receive a residue signal of an analog input signal, upon the first discharging switch being turned on, the first amplifier amplifies the residue signal to generate an output signal and simultaneously the current source discharges the residue signal, upon the second discharging switch being turned on, the second amplifier detects when the output signal equals zero so as to determine a discharging time duration of the output signal. |
| US09483027B2 |
One-touch countdown timer
A plug-in wall timer has a prominent single “one touch” activator which causes a countdown period or varying length according to the number of times it is pressed, so that the timer's outlet may be energized only for that selected period. The device is simple to use, requires no programming, and operates independently of the current time of the day or day of the week. |
| US09483024B2 |
Plastic watch case covered with two metallic half shells
A wristwatch includes a bracelet or strap, a plastic case, a watch crystal, a back cover and pairs of horns to which the ends of the bracelet or strap are attached. It also includes a top half shell made of metal which covers the top of the case and a portion of the case middle and which has an opening revealing the crystal. It further includes a crown or a control push-button protruding from the case middle. The wristwatch further includes a bottom half shell covering the back cover and a portion of the case middle. The top half shell and the bottom half shell respectively have two, substantially symmetrical, peripheral rims which extend facing each other, the crown or the control push-button being located in an elongated space extending between the rims of the two half shells. The elongated space also reveals a portion of the case middle. |
| US09483023B2 |
Timepiece comprising a device for displaying the equation of time
The present invention relates to a timepiece comprising a frame and a device (1) for displaying the equation of time. The device (1) for displaying the equation of time comprises a first support (2) and a second support which are superposed, or, respectively, mounted so as to be able to rotate with respect to the frame, the first support (2) bearing a curve (6) that represents the equation of time, and the second support bearing a pointer (12) arranged such that the intersection of the pointer (12) with the curve (6) is visible, and means for driving the first (2) and second supports that are arranged such that the first (2) and second supports rotate at respective speeds that allow the value of the equation of time to be displayed at the intersection of the pointer (12) with the curve (6). |
| US09483018B2 |
Cooling device and image forming apparatus including same
A recording-material cooling device includes a first belt, a first cooling unit, and a second cooling unit. The first belt is disposed at a first face side of a recording material. The first cooling unit has a first heat absorbing surface to contact the first belt to absorb heat of the recording material. The second cooling unit has a second heat absorbing surface to directly or indirectly contact the recording material to absorb heat of the recording material. The second cooling unit is disposed at a second face side of the recording material. The first and second cooling units are offset from each other in a transport direction of the recording material. Each of the first and second surfaces has a shape in which an inner area protrudes beyond opposed ends in the transport direction. The first and second surfaces overlap each other in a direction crossing the transport direction. |
| US09483017B2 |
Developing unit having guide that stably supports toner cartridge
A developing device includes a developer cartridge and a developing unit. The developing unit includes a first guide and a second guide. The second is movable with respect to the developing frame between a first position where the second guide is in continuous with the first guide and a second position where a continuous state of the second guide with the first guide is interrupted. The developer cartridge includes a developer frame that accommodates a developer and a first guided member movable with respect to the developer frame. The first guide and the second guide at the first position guide the first guided member in the course of attaching the developer cartridge to the developing unit. When an attachment of the developer cartridge to the developing unit completes, the first guide receives the first guided member, and the second guide is at the second position. |
| US09483015B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor which is rotatable with respect to a body frame, an exposing member which is movable relative to the body frame, a spacing member which is provided between the exposing member and the photoreceptor to maintain a distance between the photoreceptor and the exposing member, a positioning member which makes a contact with the exposing member to position the exposing member in a direction of rotation of the photoreceptor, and a pressing member which is provided to the body frame to press the exposing member toward the photoreceptor and the positioning member. Accordingly, it is possible to position the exposing member accurately with respect to the photoreceptor, in any of the light-axis direction and the rotational direction of the photoreceptor. |
| US09483012B2 |
Electrical cable connecting apparatus, method for connecting electrical cable, and image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus main body (apparatus main body) and an automatic document feeder mounted on the apparatus main body are provided, and a cable-side connector provided at a front end of an electrical cable extending from the automatic document feeder is removably connected to a board-side connector provided on a circuit board of the apparatus main body. In this configuration, an opening portion is provided in a back face of a housing of the apparatus main body at a position opposing the board-side connector, a lid that covers this opening portion is attached to a front end portion of the electrical cable by an attachment member, and this lid is configured so as to be attachable to the opening portion by a hook and fixing by screwing by means of a screw insertion boss. |
| US09483003B2 |
Systems and methods for universal imaging components
A method of operating a cartridge chip installed in an imaging device includes: causing, by the cartridge chip, the imaging device to enter an error condition; monitoring the timing or sequence of communication signals received from the imaging device during at least a portion of the error condition; and operating, based on the timing or sequence of the communication signals received from the imaging device during at least a portion of the error condition, in a first mode of operation compatible with a first type of imaging device or in a second mode of operation compatible with a second type of imaging device. |
| US09483002B2 |
Image forming apparatus configured to control rotational speed of pressure roller using temperature of heat unit and parameter
An image forming apparatus includes a heat unit, a pressure roller, a temperature sensor, and a controller. The heat unit includes a heater and a heated member configured to be heated by the heater. The pressure roller is configured to rotate at a rotational speed while being in contact with the heated member upon receiving a driving force. The temperature sensor is configured to detect a temperature of the heat unit. The controller is configured to control the rotational speed of the pressure roller on a basis of: the temperature detected by the temperature sensor; and a parameter that causes temperature of the pressure roller to change. |
| US09483001B1 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device includes a rotatable fixing member provided in a fixing area where an unfixed image on surface of a medium is fixed, the fixing member including at least a thermoplastic surface layer that softens at a temperature below a fixing temperature at which the image is fixed; and a cleaning member provided on a downstream side with respect to the fixing area in a direction of rotation of the fixing member and that cleans the fixing member while coming into contact with a hardened portion of the fixing member in a cleaning area, the cleaning area being at a temperature below the temperature at which the thermoplastic surface layer of the fixing member softens. |
| US09482996B1 |
Transfer roller, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
A transfer roller includes a support, a foamed elastic layer disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the support, and a surface resin layer that covers the outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer and contains polyimide or polyamide-imide. Bubbles contained in a central portion in the roller axial direction have a shape crushed in the thickness direction of the foamed elastic layer as compared with bubbles at both ends in the roller axial direction. |
| US09482995B2 |
Image forming apparatus that changes a developing bias or surface potential
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member, a developer carrying member configured to carry developer to be supplied to the image carrying member, a transfer member configured to transfer a developer image formed on the image carrying member to a sheet passing between the image carrying member and the transfer member, a detector configured to detect a temperature, and a control device. The control device is configured to change, in response to a sheet interval, a developing bias to be applied to the developer carrying member from a first developing bias to a second developing bias at a changing rate based on a temperature detected by the detector, the changing rate being an amount of change in the developing bias per unit time based on the temperature. |
| US09482993B2 |
Image forming apparatus having containers for toners including wax
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming portion; a transfer member; a fixing portion; and a cleaning member. The image forming apparatus includes a first toner container containing a first formulation toner rich in hydrocarbon wax and a second toner container containing a second formulation toner rich in ester wax. The image forming apparatus is capable of executing an image forming operation and an operation in a toner supplying mode for supplying the toner or the toners to an intermediary transfer member when the image forming operation is not performed. The image forming apparatus is capable of executing the operation in the toner supplying mode in which only the first formulation toner is used or a mixture of the first formulation toner and the second formulation toner is used so that the first formulation toner is used in a larger amount than the second formulation toner. |
| US09482987B2 |
Powder container, powder supply device and image forming apparatus
Provided is a powder container having a new structure capable of stable discharge and transport of a powder contained in a container by enabling the powder to be reliably discharged to the outside of the package while preventing the powder from spilling and flying out of the container. The powder container has a container body (138) for transporting powder contained therein from a first end side (138a) to a second end side (138b) thereof by self-rotating; a nozzle receiver (139) having a nozzle receiving hole (insertion section) (139a) arranged inside the second end side of the container body and configured to allow a transport nozzle (162) having a powder receiving inlet (170) to be inserted therein, and a supply port 139b arranged in at least a part of the nozzle receiver (139) and configured to supply the powder in the container body (138) to the powder receiving inlet (170): and a shutter (140) supported by the nozzle receiver 139 and configured to open and close the nozzle receiving hole (insertion section) 139a by sliding in response to insertion of the transport nozzle 162 into the nozzle receiver (139). |
| US09482983B1 |
Image forming apparatus with moveable exposure device
An apparatus includes: an image holding element; an exposure device that exposes the image holding element to light; a holding member that holds the exposure device such that the exposure device is movable relative to an apparatus body between an exposure position, at which the exposure device exposes the image holding element to light, and a retracted position, at which the exposure device is located away from the image holding element; an open/close member that has a rotary shaft rotatably supported by the apparatus body and that opens and closes the apparatus body; a moving member that moves the exposure device between the exposure position and the retracted position via the holding member along with opening/closing movement of the open/close member; and a guide member formed with a guide surface that guides movement of the holding member and a holding portion that holds the holding member at the exposure position. |
| US09482977B2 |
Two-component developer
Disclosed is a two-component developer containing toner particles and carrier particles. The number-average particle diameter of the toner particles MDt ranges from 3.5 to 5.0 μm. The MDt of the toner particles and the volume-average particle diameter of the carrier particles MDc are at a specific ratio, and spherical fine toner particles in the toner particles and fine carrier particles in the carrier particles exist at specific percentages. |
| US09482975B2 |
Toner, developer, image forming apparatus, and process cartridge
Provided is a toner including a crystalline resin and a non-crystalline resin. In a reflected electron image of a cross-section of the toner stained by ruthenium tetroxide captured by a scanning electron microscope, the ratio of regions stained by ruthenium tetroxide is from 50 area % to 80 area %. In a reflected electron image of the surface of the toner stained by ruthenium tetroxide captured by a scanning electron microscope, the ratio of regions stained by ruthenium tetroxide is from 10 area % to 40 area %. |
| US09482968B2 |
Measuring system
An objective for a projection exposure apparatus includes a metrology stage arranged on the frame of the objective. The objective includes at least one optical component, an objective mount for mounting the optical component, and a positioning device for holding at least one measuring device. The positioning device is connected to the objective mount and has at least one degree of freedom of displacement for displacing the measuring device. |
| US09482965B2 |
Transmission balancing for phase shift mask with a trim mask
Implementations described and claimed herein include photolithography technology to alleviate the imbalance of transmission intensity induced. In one implementation, a method comprises exposing an alternating phase shift mask (Alt-PSM) and a trim mask, wherein an exposure placement of the trim mask is shifted relative to an exposure placement of the Alt-PSM. |
| US09482963B2 |
Method of controlling a patterning device in a lithographic apparatus, device manufacturing method and lithographic apparatus
A system for controlling a patterning device in a lithographic apparatus using a patterning device having individually controllable elements that may only be set to two states. The method includes converting a representation of a pattern to be formed on the substrate into a plurality of area intensity signals, each corresponding to a radiation intensity level required to be set in a respective area of the patterning device in order to provide the desired pattern on the substrate and a separate step of converting each of the area intensity signals into control signals for a plurality of individually controllable elements that each correspond to the area of the patterning device. |
| US09482956B2 |
Processing liquid and processing method for lithographic printing plate precursor
Disclosed are a processing liquid and a processing method that can favorably perform plate inspection of an on-press development-type lithographic printing plate precursor and image quality control, by using a processing liquid of a lithographic printing plate precursor having an image recording layer formable of an image by removing an unexposed region with at least one of printing ink and dampening water, the processing liquid containing a basic coloring dye expressed by General Formula (I) below and an anionic surfactant having an aromatic ring: wherein each of R1 to R14 independently represents a hydrogen atom and an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R10 and R14 may be bonded to each other to form a single bond, Ar1 represents a phenylene group or a naphthylene group, Ar2 represents an aryl group, and X− represents SO3− or COO−. |
| US09482955B2 |
Lithographic printing plate precursor and plate making method thereof
A lithographic printing plate precursor which is excellent in both the on-press development property and the printing durability and which is excellent particularly in the on-press development property after preservation for a long period of time, wherein the lithographic printing plate precursor includes an intermediate layer containing a polymer compound including a repeating unit (a1) having a support-adsorbing group and a repeating unit (a2) having a polyoxyalkylene group having a repeating number of oxyalkylene units from 8 to 120 between a support and a polymerizable image-recording layer, and contains a compound having a molecular weight of 1,500 or less and having an oxyalkylene group in at least any of the intermediate layer and the polymerizable image-recording layer. |
| US09482954B2 |
Lithographic printing plate precursor
A negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor includes a support and a coating containing a photopolymerisable layer; characterized in that the coating includes a compound including at least one moiety having a structure according to Formula (I) at a level above 10% wt and below 40% wt relative to the total dry weight of the ingredients of the coating: wherein n represents an integer equal to 0 or 1; L1 represents a divalent linking group; with the proviso that the carbonyl groups in Formula (I) are bonded to a carbon atom. |
| US09482944B2 |
Copolymers, polymeric particles comprising said copolymers and copolymeric binders for radiation-sensitive coating compositions for negative-working radiation-sensitive lithographic printing plates
There is provided a copolymer and polymeric particle comprising the copolymer, a method of producing a polymeric particle, a copolymeric binder, a method of producing a copolymeric binder, a near infrared radiation-sensitive coating composition, a negative working lithographic offset printing plate, a method of producing a negative working lithographic offset printing plate and methods of imaging the plate and printing with the imaged plate. |
| US09482942B2 |
Mask, glass substrate and manufacturing method thereof
A mask including a light-blocking area, a transparent area and a partial-transparent area is disclosed. The partial-transparent area protrudes from edges of the light-blocking area to admit some of the UV rays to pass through. In addition, a glass substrate and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. By arranging the partial-transparent area on the edges of the light-blocking, area, the mask is formed with the slope having the small angle after the lithography process. As such, in the etching process, the edge of the thin film is formed with the slope having the small angle, which contributes to the formation of the second thin film. The thin films are prevented from being fragmented around the slope and the ITO layer is also prevented from fragmented around the periphery of the through hole. |
| US09482930B1 |
Glove mount for GoPro® camera during scuba diving
A GoPro® pivoting/swivel mount that is securely integrated with high quality Mechanix® type gloves that are used for diving. |
| US09482926B2 |
Lens structure and 3D display device having the same
A lens structure and a 3D display device having the same are provided. The lens structure has unit regions. Each unit region includes upper and lower substrates, an anisotropic birefringence medium, center electrodes, edge electrodes and at least one set of side electrodes. The upper and the lower substrates are disposed oppositely to each other. The anisotropic birefringence medium is located between the upper and lower substrates. The center electrodes, the edge electrodes and the at least one set of side electrodes are located on the upper and lower substrates. The edge electrodes are disposed corresponding to the center electrodes. The at least one set of side electrodes are disposed between the center electrodes and the edge electrodes. An electric field distribution is formed between the center electrodes, the edge electrodes and the at least one set of side electrodes, so that the anisotropic birefringence medium constitutes a Fresnel lens. |
| US09482923B2 |
Colored composition and image display structure
A colored composition including a non-polar solvent and a methine dye represented by the following Formula (1) and having a solubility in n-hexane of 1% by mass or higher at 25° C. and 0.1 MPa: wherein, in Formula (1), R1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, —COOR11, or —CONR11R12; Ar represents an aromatic ring; each of R9 and R10 independently represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; each of R11 and R12 independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, and R11 and R12 may be linked to each other to form a 5-membered, 6-membered, or 7-membered ring; n represents an integer from 0 to 2; and none of R1, R9, R10 and Ar has a dissociable group different from NH. |
| US09482921B2 |
Electrochromic device
The invention relates to an electrochemical device (100) having electrically controllable optical and/or energy transmission properties comprising a substrate (40), a functional system (60) formed on the substrate and a cover film (56) formed on the functional system. The functional system comprises a bottom electrode coating (46), formed on the substrate, a top electrode coating (54) and at least one electrochemically active film (48, 52) located between the two electrode coatings, the electro-chemically active film being able to switch reversibly between a first state and a second state having optical and/or energy transmission properties different from the first state. The cover film defines at least one surface cavity (66) that passes through the cover film without penetrating the top electrode coating and the device comprises electrical connection means (70) arranged at least partially in at least one surface cavity for electrical contact with the top electrode coating. |
| US09482911B2 |
Display panel and display device
The embodiments of the present invention provides a display panel comprising a liquid crystal layer and a plurality of pixel units; the pixel units comprise at least two electrode units; the electrode units comprise an IPS mode electrode unit and an ADS mode electrode unit; the IPS mode electrode unit has an electrode angle different from an electrode angle of the ADS mode electrode unit. The present invention further provides a display device comprising the display panel. |
| US09482909B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display according to an embodiment includes: a lower panel including a pixel electrode having a first subpixel electrode and a second subpixel electrode and an insulating layer between the first subpixel electrode and the second subpixel electrode; an upper panel including a common electrode; and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the lower panel and the upper panel. The first subpixel electrode includes a first plate portion, a first stem having a cross portion extending from the first plate portion and a protrusion extending from the cross portion, and a plurality of first branches extending from the first plate portion and the first stem. The second subpixel electrode includes a second plate portion having an opening and a plurality of second branches extending from the second plate portion. The cross portion does not overlap with the second plate portion. The protrusion overlaps with the second plate portion. |
| US09482908B2 |
Liquid crystal display element
Provided is a liquid crystal display element including: a first substrate which includes a first electrode; a second substrate which is disposed to oppose the first substrate and includes a second electrode; and a liquid crystal layer which is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, in which at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode includes a plurality of openings which are elongated in a first direction and are adjacent to each other along the first direction, and when two openings of the plurality of openings which are adjacent to each other along the first direction are viewed, one of opening widths of opposing portions is large and the other thereof is small. |
| US09482907B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes a display substrate, an opposite substrate coupled to and facing the display substrate, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the display substrate and the opposite substrate. The display substrate includes a gate line extending in a first direction, a data line extending in a second direction crossing the first direction, a shielding electrode disposed along the data line covering the data line, a protruding electrode extending from the shielding electrode partially covering the gate line, and a pixel electrode electrically insulated from the shielding electrode and configured to receive a signal from the gate and data lines. |
| US09482906B2 |
Liquid crystal display
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display that can suppress generation of defects even when attachment misalignment of substrates is generated, and that is advantageous in providing high definition. The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display including: a first substrate; a second substrate; and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first and second substrates, the first substrate including an interlayer insulating film in which multiple openings are formed on the same straight line, the interlayer insulating film including multiple curved portions each provided with a curved upper surface, the curved portions each positioned between two adjacent openings, the second substrate provided with a spacer facing at least one of the curved portions, the spacer being longer in a first direction than in a second direction wherein the first direction is a direction parallel to the straight line, and the second direction is orthogonal to the first direction. |
| US09482899B2 |
Backlight unit
Provided is a backlight unit including a printed circuit board, a light-emitting diode package, a diffusion plate, and a reflection sheet. The light-emitting diode package including a light-emitting part configured to generate a first light. The diffusion plate includes a first diffusion pattern provided on a first region corresponding to the light-emitting diode package and a second diffusion pattern provided on a second region to have a transmittance higher than that of the first diffusion pattern. The reflection sheet includes an absorption pigment configured to absorb a fraction of the first light with a specific wavelength and converting the first light to a second light, and the reflection sheet is configured to reflect the second light toward the first diffusion pattern. The backlight unit can have improved color coordinate uniformity. |
| US09482895B2 |
Liquid crystal display device with different polarity signals provided to pixel electrodes facing a transparent filter and a green filter
According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal display device includes array substrate, counter substrate and liquid crystal layer. The array substrate includes a plurality of pixel electrodes, a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of source lines, a plurality of switching elements, a gate driver, and a source driver. The counter substrate includes a color filter. In each frame period, gradation signals of given polarity are applied to a plurality of pixel electrodes facing the transparent filter, while gradation signals of the reverse polarity are applied to a plurality of pixel electrodes facing the green filter. |
| US09482887B2 |
Optical phased array using guided resonance with backside reflectors
Methods and systems for controlling the phase of electromagnetic waves are disclosed. A device can consist of a guided resonance grating layer, a spacer, and a reflector. A plurality of devices, arranged in a grid pattern, can control the phase of reflected electromagnetic phase, through refractive index control. Carrier injection, temperature control, and optical beams can be applied to control the refractive index. |
| US09482885B2 |
Display device and method of manufacturing the same
A display device, including a display panel displaying an image; a cover receiving the display panel therein; and a protective layer between the display panel and the cover and including a chromic material. |
| US09482883B1 |
Eyewear having linkage assembly between a temple and a frame
Apparatuses, systems and methods for wearable devices such as eyewear are described. According to one embodiment, the wearable device can include a frame, a temple, electronics, and a linkage assembly. The frame can have two opposing connection portions and the temple can be adapted to selectively interface with one of the two connection portions. The electronics can be mounted to at least one of the temple and the frame. The linkage assembly can be pivotally coupled at a first end portion to the temple and pivotally coupled at a second end portion to the one of the two connection portions. The linkage assembly can be configured for movement of the temple between a wearable position and a folded position. |
| US09482881B1 |
Polymerizable composition for coloring contact lenses
The disclosure is related to a polymerizable composition for coloring contact lens, comprising a composite colorant and at least one hydrophilic monomer. The composite colorant is produced by a reaction of a colorant precursor and a (methyl)methacryloxy group-containing silane coupling agent. The colorant precursor is produced by a reaction of a metal oxide and a siloxane compound under alkaline solution. |
| US09482875B2 |
Polarization preserving DLP optical architecture
A DLP optical structure and corresponding method of controlling it are described including an optical integrator system having an optical integrator, a relay lens system, a TIR prism assembly, a digital imager, and a projection lens, said optical structure being adapted to accept a polarized light beam, said DLP optical structure comprising: at least one retarder positioned after said optical integrator for controlling the polarization state throughout said DLP optical structure, and achieving the desired polarization state after said projection lens; wherein said desired polarization state is substantially linear or circular. A DLP optical structure is also described including an optical integrator, a relay lens system, a TIR prism assembly, a digital imager and a projection lens, wherein the integrator is a fly-eye integrator for maintaining an input polarization of a light beam, and wherein said input polarization is linear or circular. DLP optical structures for use with a digital imager and a projection lens are also described, substantially as above but not including the features of the digital imager and projection lens. |
| US09482870B2 |
Light source apparatus
Provided is a light source apparatus including a plurality of semiconductor light sources that output beams of light having different wavelengths; a plurality of light collimating portions that convert the respective beams of light output from these light sources to collimated light beams; a combining portion that combines the plurality of collimated beams produced by these light collimating portions into a single light path; a light guide whose entrance end is disposed in the single light path; a focusing portion that focuses the collimated beams combined by the combining portion onto the entrance end; and a light-distribution-characteristics adjusting portion that adjusts beam diameters of the plurality of beams of light so that numerical apertures of the plurality of beams of light incident on the entrance end become substantially equal. |
| US09482865B2 |
Light scanning method and light scanning unit
In a light scanning method of scanning a light beam emitted from a light source on a plane to be scanned, a focal distance of an optical element that converges light emitted from the light source onto the plane to be scanned is sequentially varied to uniform a beam spot diameter at each position on the plane to be scanned where a distance from the light source varies. |
| US09482861B2 |
Optical devices with switchable particles
Optical display devices and methods of operating such devices are provided. The optical device includes a display component having a plurality of anisotropic multiphasic particles with at least two optically distinct phases. The plurality of anisotropic multiphasic particles is disposed in one or more regions of the display component that define an optic feature. Further, at least one of the phases of the anisotropic multiphasic particle comprises a material receptive to a force field, such as a magnetic material is receptive to an applied magnetic field. In this manner, the display component can reversibly exhibit a first optical state in the presence of the force field and thus is optionally switchable. |
| US09482854B2 |
Side-emitting LED lens and backlight unit and display device having the same
A side-emitting LED lens includes a bottom surface having an incident surface through which light from the LED enters, a top surface that reflects light, and a side surface which connects the bottom surface to the top surface, and through which light exits the lens. Within the incident surface, a central area directs light emitted from the LED to the top surface by refracting the light in a direction away from the optical axis, whereby the height of the lens can be reduced. A surrounding area connected to the central area directs light emitted from the LED to the top surface by refracting the light in a direction toward the optical axis, whereby the width or radius of the lens can be reduced. |
| US09482852B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus having the same
The zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens unit having a positive refractive power that does not move for zooming; a second lens unit having a negative refractive power that moves during zooming; at least one lens unit that moves during zooming; and a rear lens group including an aperture stop, wherein the rear lens group has a zooming rear lens unit that moves during zooming, and a refractive power of the rear lens group at a wide-angle end, a refractive power of the zooming rear lens unit, and a lateral magnification of the lens unit in the image side from the zooming rear lens unit, which is set at the wide-angle end and focuses on infinity, are appropriately set. |
| US09482851B2 |
Wide-angle lens
A wide-angle lens is disclosed. The wide-angle lens includes a first lens element L1, a second lens element L2, a third lens element L3, an aperture diaphragm S, a fourth lens element L4 and a fifth lens element L5 arranged from an object plane to an image plane. The first element L1 is a meniscus lens element having a negative focal power and protruding toward the object plane, the second element L2 is a meniscus lens element having a negative focal power and protruding toward the object plane, the third element L3 is a meniscus lens element having a positive focal power and protruding toward the image plane, the fourth element L4 is a meniscus lens element having a negative focal power and protruding toward the object plane, and the fifth element L5 is a lens element having a positive focal power. |
| US09482849B2 |
Optical photographing lens assembly, image capturing device and mobile terminal
An optical photographing lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element and a fifth lens element. The first lens element has refractive power. The second lens element has positive refractive power. The third lens element with positive refractive power has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof. The fourth lens element has refractive power. The fifth lens element with refractive power has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof, wherein an object-side surface and the image-side surface of the fifth lens element are aspheric, and at least one of the surfaces of the fifth lens element has at least one inflection point. The optical photographing lens assembly has a total of five lens elements with refractive power. |
| US09482848B2 |
Optical image capturing system
A five-piece optical lens for capturing image and a five-piece optical module for capturing image, along the optical axis in order from an object side to an image side, including a first lens with positive refractive power having an object-side surface which can be convex; a second lens with refractive power; a third lens with refractive power; a fourth lens with refractive power; and a fifth lens which can have negative refractive power, wherein an image-side surface thereof can be concave, and at least one surface of the fifth lens has an inflection point; both surfaces of each of the five lenses are aspheric. The optical lens can increase aperture value and improve the imaging quality for use in compact cameras. |
| US09482847B1 |
Optical image capturing system
A six-piece optical lens for capturing image and a six-piece optical module for capturing image are provided. In order from an object side to an image side, the optical lenses along the optical axis include a first lens with refractive power, a second lens with refractive power, a third lens with refractive power, a fourth lens with refractive power, a fifth lens with refractive power and a sixth lens with refractive power, and at least one of the image-side surface and object-side surface of each of the six lens elements is aspheric. The optical lens can increase aperture value and improve the imagining quality for use in compact cameras. |
| US09482841B2 |
Cable installation device
A method and apparatus for installing optical fiber cable. The apparatus comprises a cable installation device that includes a structure having a central axis with a length having a left and right end permitting a hole and a left and right slot with chamfered edges, capable of being inserted into a rotary tool and used to remove a ripcord from an optical fiber cable. |
| US09482839B2 |
Optical fiber cable with anti-split feature
An optical communication cable includes a jacket, optical transmission elements, and armor. The jacket is mostly formed from a first material and includes an elongate member formed from a second material embedded in the first material. The jacket defines a channel in which the optical transmission elements are located. The armor includes a wrapped sheet having a lateral edge and is positioned around the optical transmission elements within the channel. The elongate member has an inner surface aligned with and located exterior to the lateral edge of the armor; and, when viewed in cross-section, the elongate member fully overlays and extends tangentially beyond the lateral edge. Accordingly, the elongate member provides an obstacle in the jacket that limits zippering through the jacket originating from the lateral edge. Further, the elongate member may double as a tear feature for quickly accessing contents of the cable interior to the jacket. |
| US09482830B2 |
Device-to-device optical connectors
A device-to-device optical connector assembly is configured to provide an optical signal as an expanded beam to an expanded beam plug cable. The connector assembly includes an active receptacle having a lead-in portion that receives a light beam from an opto-electronic device, a lead-out portion and a turn portion that turns the light beam and delivers a collimated light beam to the lead-out portion. A waveguide rod is optically coupled to the lead-out portion of the active receptacle that receives the collimated light beam and carries the collimated light beam from the active receptacle to the expanded beam plug cable. In one embodiment, the waveguide rod has a step index core waveguide profile with its fundamental mode generally matching the coupling optics of a complementary cable assembly or the like within a predetermined value. |
| US09482828B2 |
One-piece alignment socket holder with locking means
The invention relates to an alignment socket supporting system for connectors, such as optical connectors, comprising: the assembly of parts, allowing more than one alignment socket to be secured in a pre-determined manner and the extraction and insertion of all of the alignment sockets simultaneously without dismantling the assembly, and locking means for locking the system once inserted. |
| US09482827B2 |
Optical connector
Optical connectors are provided for connecting sets of optical waveguides (104), such as optical fiber ribbons to each other, to printed circuit boards, or to backplanes. The provided connectors (100) include a housing (110) that has an attachment area (102) for receiving and permanently attaching a plurality of optical waveguides. Additionally, the provided connectors include a light coupling unit (120) disposed in and configured to move with the housing. The provided connectors also include a second attachment area (108) for receiving and permanently attaching to the plurality of optical waveguides that causes each optical waveguide to be bent between the two attachment areas. The provided connectors utilize expanded beam optics with non-contact optical mating resulting in relaxed mechanical precision requirements. The provided connectors can have low optical loss, are easily scalable to high channel count (optical fibers per connector) and can be compatible with low insertion force blind mating. |
| US09482826B2 |
Connector body for making crimp-less fiber optic cable connections
A connector body includes upper and lower housings. The lower housing defines a locking structure, a cable channel and a retention channel adjacent the cable channel. The upper housing defines a complementary locking structure for interlocking the housings, and a retention projection for registering with the retention channel. The connector body may be assembled by moving the housings along a first direction into a mated position in which upper and lower housings register with one another but are not interlocked, and then moving the housings along a second direction transverse to the first direction until the locking structures interlock and the retention projection is in registration with the retention channel with the strength members pinched therebetween. A cable connector assembly includes a terminated fiber optic cable received in the connector body, with the ferrule retained between the housings and the strength members pinched between the retention projection and retention channel. |
| US09482823B1 |
Fiber attenuator based on MPO loopback assembly having angled ferrules
An apparatus comprises a first array of angled ferrules and a second array of angled ferrules, a plurality of angled fibers, wherein first ends of the plurality of angled fibers are held in the first array of angled ferrules and second ends of the plurality of angled fibers are held in the second array of angled ferrules, a first array of non-angled ferrules and a second array of non-angled ferrules, a first plurality of non-angled fibers held in the first array of non-angled ferrules, a second plurality of non-angled fibers held in the second array of non-angled ferrules, wherein the first array of angled ferrules is aligned and connected with the first array of non-angled ferrules and the second array of angled ferrules is aligned and connected with the second array of non-angled ferrules. |
| US09482820B1 |
Connecting mid-board optical modules
A system for connecting a fiber optic cable to a laminate has a clip which attaches to a cover on the circuit board. The clip supports ferrules which are connected to a photonic device on the board. The clip has a backplane which supports retainers which hold the ferrules. The clip also has mating attachments for connecting to the cover. The cover additionally serves as a heat dissipator, which can include heat from the photonic device. An adapter is connected to the cover and receives the ferrules supported by the clip. The adapter connects to a standard connector, such as an LC connector. The adapter can be positioned at the edge of the laminate, or can be attached at an angle extending from an interior region of a circuit board to which the laminate is mounted. |
| US09482811B2 |
Backlight module and liquid crystal display device
The invention provides a backlight module, including: an optical plate and an optical film, wherein at least one edge of optical film being disposed with a protruding ear, protruding ear having a via hole; backlight module further comprising at least a hanging element; wherein a side of the optical plate corresponding to edge of optical film with protruding ear being fixedly connected to hanging element; optical film being disposed on top of optical plate and via hole hanging on hanging element so as to fasten optical film. The backlight module improves the fix reliability of optical plate and prevents from arching up caused by thermal expansion. Because optical plate and optical film expand simultaneously due to heat, the wavy curve of the optical film is avoided and optical quality is improved. The present invention also discloses a liquid crystal display device with the backlight module. |
| US09482809B2 |
Planar light source
A planar light source including an LGP and first and second light sources are provided. The LGP has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other and a first groove and a second groove. The first groove and the second groove are respectively located on the first surface and the second surface, and are respectively located at two sides of a center line of the LGP, where the center line equally divides the first surface and the second surface. The first groove has a first side surface and a first light incident surface, and the second groove has a second side surface and a second light incident surface, where the light sources are disposed in the grooves. The light sources are suitable for respectively providing a light beam entering the LGP through the corresponding light incident surface. |
| US09482797B2 |
Pixel array, camera using the same and color processing method based on the pixel array
A pixel array is provided. The pixel array comprises a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged 4*4 Bayer matrix units, in which the matrix unit comprises a plurality of pixels, any of a green filter, a red filter and a blue filter is disposed in one pixel, and one or more of the green filters are replaced by white color filters in the matrix units. A camera using the same and a color processing method based on the pixel array are also provided. |
| US09482794B2 |
Magnifying imaging optical unit and metrology system including same
A magnifying imaging optical unit has at least four mirrors to image an object field in an object plane into an image field in an image plane. An absolute value of the Petzval radius of the image field is greater than 500 mm. The imaging optical unit can be used to inspect with sufficient imaging quality relatively large mask sections of lithography masks used during projection exposure to produce large scale integrated semiconductor components. |
| US09482792B2 |
Security device for projecting a collection of synthetic images
A security device for projecting a collection of synthetic images as well as a computer-implemented method for producing such a security device are provided. The synthetic images may represent different viewpoints of a target object or image that change from one viewpoint image to another viewpoint image as the location of the observer changes relative to the device. The nature of each synthetic image can, however, be completely arbitrary, much like the images that are provided by a display device such as a television or computer monitor. In an exemplary embodiment, a special symmetry is used to generate the synthetic images, which allows the device to be manufactured without regard for registration. |
| US09482789B2 |
Anti-reflective coating film
The present invention relates to an anti-reflective coating film. This anti-reflective coating film shows more improved interface adhesion and scratch resistance, which can be manufactured by a simple process. |
| US09482788B2 |
UV-blocking silicone hydrogel composition and silicone hydrogel contact lens containing thereof
The present disclosure provides a UV-blocking silicone hydrogel composition including a hydrophilic silicone macromer, a UV-blocking monomer, a first hydrophilic monomer, a crosslinker and a polymerization initiator. The hydrophilic silicone macromer has a general formula: V-L-S-(L′-V′)x, wherein V and V′ are independently ethylenically-based polymerizable groups, L and L′ are independently a covalent bond or a linkage group, S is a siloxane group having a chemical structure such as and x is 0 or 1. A silicone contact lens containing the UV-blocking silicone hydrogel composition is also provided herein. |
| US09482783B2 |
Systems and methods for reducing marine fouling
Systems and methods are provided for a marine seismic streamer usable underwater for marine seismic surveys. The marine seismic streamer includes: a lead-in section; at least one bird section; at least one data acquisition module; and at least one vibration module configured to vibrate the marine seismic streamer, wherein the lead-in section, the at least one bird section, the at least one data acquisition module and the at least one vibration module are connected together to form the marine seismic streamer. |
| US09482782B2 |
Systems, methods, transmitter assemblies, and associated power supplies and charging stations to explore and analyze subterranean geophysical formations
Systems, methods, and transmitter assemblies for exploring geophysical formations at great depths. In order to explore the formation, transmitter assemblies with a size less than 500 nanometers are inserted into the formation. The transmitter assemblies include power supplies or are charged at charging stations, allowing the transmitter assemblies to propel through the formation, analyzing fluids and conditions as each moves through the formation. The transmitter assemblies can communicate with a machine on the surface via a series of receivers and transmitters located in the wellbore. The machine on the surface is able to combine and analyze the data from the nanorobots to create a three dimensional map of the formation. The map shows the locations of pathways through the formation, pockets of hydrocarbons within the formation, and the boundaries of the formation. |
| US09482774B2 |
Variable turn radius for marine vessels
Operation of a marine vessel is disclosed. A marine vessel may be operated so as to determine that an end of a first sail line is approaching. Once determined, a turn path from the end of the first sail line to the beginning of a second sail line may be determined. The turn path may be determined based on at least one of current direction and current magnitude. |
| US09482772B2 |
Reducing run time in seismic imaging computing
A system and computer program product for seismic imaging implements a seismic imaging algorithm utilizing Reverse Time Migration technique requiring large communication bandwidth and low latency to convert a parallel problem into one solved using massive domain partitioning. Since in RTM, both the forward and reverse wave propagation is iteratively calculated on time step increments, the method implements methods that includes partitioning memory between computation and intermediate results to optimize an RTM computation. The methods make maximum use of the memory to either eliminate storing the snapshot wavefield data to disk, or hide all or a significant portion of the disk I/O time. Furthermore, the schemes can provide the flexibility to vary a number of iterations (step size) for each snapshot to be kept in the memory. If any of the given conditions changes during the process, maximum usage of the available memory is ensured. |
| US09482770B2 |
Residual moveout estimation through least squares inversion
Method for estimating residual moveout in common image gathers (51) of seismic data for use in velocity tomography (57). The method iteratively (56) flattens (55) the common image gathers against a specified reference trace through the application of conjugate-gradient least-squares inversion (53). Different from other picking methods which need to identify and track strong amplitudes, the inventive method automatically inverts for the depth residual for every grid point in the image gather. There is no need to identify and track events. |
| US09482769B2 |
High performance and grid computing with partitioning quality of service control
High performance computing (HPC) and grid computing processing for seismic and reservoir simulation are performed without impacting or losing processing time in case of failures. A Data Distribution Service (DDS) standard is implemented in High Performance Computing (HPC) and grid computing platforms, to avoid the shortcomings of current Message Passing Interface (MPI) communication between computing modules, and provide quality of service (QoS) for such applications. QoS properties of the processing can be controlled. A “partitioning” quality of service is provided and the computer can be logically segregated into several “logical partitions” so that a computer can have several publisher nodes, serving several groups of compute nodes, and running different applications independently. |
| US09482760B2 |
Receiver for simultaneous reception of signals from multiple GNSS satellite systems
A method, receiver, and mobile terminal for simultaneously receiving and processing signals of multiple satellites from a plurality of navigational satellite system constellations are described. In the method, satellite signals from a plurality of navigational satellite systems are translated into an intermediate frequency and converted from analog to digital together, but then are separated out according to each navigational satellite system in the digital domain. |
| US09482746B2 |
Six degree-of-freedom laser tracker that cooperates with a remote sensor
A method of measuring with a coordinate measurement device and a target sensor a sense characteristic and a surface set associated with the sense characteristic, the method including the steps of: providing the target sensor having a body, a first retroreflector, a sensor, and a sensor processor, providing the coordinate measurement device, sending the first beam of light from the coordinate measurement device to the first retroreflector; receiving the second beam of light from the first retroreflector; measuring the orientational set and the translational set, the translational set based at least in part on the second beam of light; determining the surface set; sensing the sense characteristic; and saving the surface set and the sense characteristic. |
| US09482745B2 |
Driver assistance device for a vehicle and method for operating a radar device
The invention relates to a driver assistance device (2) for a vehicle (1), which driver assistance device has a radar appliance (3, 4) for determining measured variable (α1, α2, R1, R2) referenced to an object (10) that is external to the vehicle, wherein the radar appliance (3, 4) comprises: at least a first and a second reception antenna (14, 15), each for receiving signals (SE1, SE2); a first down-converter (17), which is coupled to the first reception antenna (14) via a first reception path (16), and a second down-converter (23), which is coupled to the second reception antenna (15) via a second reception path (21), for down-converting the received signals (SE1, SE2) into respective baseband signals (SB1, SB2); a control device (5) for determining the measured variable (α1, α2, R1, R2) using the baseband signals (SB1, SB2); and test means (32) for producing a local check signal (SP) and for coupling the check signal (SP) into the first reception path (16) and into the second reception path (21), as a result of which the control device (5) receives the check signal (SP) that has been down-converted by the first down-converter (17) as a first test signal (ST1) and the check signal (SP) that has been down-converted by the second down-converter (23) as a second test signal (ST2). The control device (5) uses the test signals (ST1, ST2) to determine a frequency-dependent correction variable (δ(F)) for correcting the measured variable (α, α2, R1, R2). The invention also relates to an appropriate method. |
| US09482744B1 |
Staggered pulse repetition frequency doppler processing
A method of operating a pulse-Doppler radar system includes the steps of generating a plurality waveforms, with each waveform comprising a plurality of pulses generated with a staggered pulse repetition frequency (PRF) from pulse to pulse. Received reflected return signals from the generated plurality of waveforms are filtered by a plurality of Doppler filters that span an entire required Doppler visibility range. |
| US09482743B2 |
Enhancing geo-location precision in wireless systems
A system may be configured to compute an estimated location of a user device based on an estimation coefficient and a measured distance between the user device and a base station. The estimation coefficient may be based on: an actual distance between a reference device and the base station, and a measured distance between the reference device and the base station. The system may store or output the information regarding the estimated location of the device. |
| US09482742B1 |
Positioning reference signal (PRS) generation for multiple transmit antenna systems
Disclosed embodiments pertain to a method of generating a Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) sequence for a system comprising a plurality of physical transmitting antenna elements serving a single cell. In some embodiments, the method may comprise: assigning a distinct Physical Antenna Port (PAP) identifier (ID) to a subset of the plurality of physical transmitting antenna elements; and generating PRS sequences for the subset of the plurality of physical transmitting antenna elements, wherein each PRS sequence corresponds to a physical transmitting antenna element in the subset of the plurality of physical transmitting antenna elements, and each PRS sequence has a corresponding frequency shift based, at least in part, on the PAP ID (h) of the corresponding physical transmitting antenna element. |
| US09482736B1 |
Cascaded adaptive beamforming system
A system and device phase-aligns and sums signals from a very large array of sensors, such as microphones or ultrasonic transducers, without prior knowledge of time delays of signals reaching each sensor, so as to accommodate effects of reverberant fields or acoustic or ultrasonic media containing multiple reflectors or scatterers and/or having heterogeneous, unknown acoustic properties. |
| US09482734B2 |
Methods and apparatus for triggering cooperative positioning or learning in a wireless network
One or more bits are used in peer discovery signals to signal a device's ability and/or willingness to participate in a cooperative manner with regard to one or more mobile device location determination related operations. In some embodiments, the one or more bits are located at predetermined locations within a header portion of a peer discovery signal. Different bits, in some embodiments, are associated with different specific cooperative location determination related operations. The peer discovery signal is transmitted, e.g., broadcast, periodically or on some predetermined basis by a mobile wireless communications device. In this manner, a device listening to the peer discovery signals can determine other devices' willingness to perform particular location discovery related operations with very little signaling overhead. |