最新美国发明专利第2017-01-24期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US09552964B2	Method of fabricating an integrated circuit with a pattern density-outlier-treatment for optimized pattern density uniformity The present disclosure provides one embodiment of an IC method. First pattern densities (PDs) of a plurality of templates of an IC design layout are received. Then a high PD outlier template and a low PD outlier template from the plurality of templates are identified. The high PD outlier template is split into multiple subsets of template and each subset of template carries a portion of PD of the high PD outlier template. A PD uniformity (PDU) optimization is performed to the low PD outlier template and multiple individual exposure processes are applied by using respective subset of templates.
US09552962B2	Method of controlling an ion implanter in plasma immersion mode The present invention relates to a method of controlling an ion implanter having a plasma power supply AP and a substrate power supply, the substrate power supply comprising: an electricity generator; a first switch SW1 connected between the generator and the output terminal of the substrate power supply; and a second switch SW2 connected between the output terminal and a neutralization terminal; the method including an implantation stage A-D and a neutralization stage E-H. The method also includes a relaxation stage C-F overlapping the implantation stage and the neutralization stage, during which relaxation stage the plasma power supply is inactivated. Furthermore, the neutralization stage includes a preliminary step E-F for closing the second switch, this preliminary step being followed by a cancellation step F-G for activating the plasma power supply AP.
US09552958B2	Alignment marking for rock sample analysis A method for using a Focused Ion Beam and/or Scanning Electron Microscope (FIB/SEM) for etching one or more alignment markers on a rock sample, the one or more alignment markers being etched on the rock sample using the FIB/SEM. The one or more alignment markers may further be deposited with a platinum alloy or other suitable compositions for increasing alignment marker visibility.
US09552957B2	Particle beam system Particle beam system comprising a particle source; a first multi-aperture plate with a multiplicity of openings downstream of which particle beams are formed; a second multi-aperture plate with a multiplicity of openings which are penetrated by the particle beams; an aperture plate with an opening which is penetrated by all the particles which also penetrate the openings in the first and the second multi-aperture plate; a third multi-aperture plate with a multiplicity of openings which are penetrated by the particle beams, and with a multiplicity of field generators which respectively provide a dipole field or quadrupole field for a beam; and a controller for feeding electric potentials to the multi-aperture plates and the aperture plate so that the second openings in the second multi-aperture plate respectively act as a lens on the particle beams and feed adjustable excitations to the field generators.
US09552955B2	Electron source An electron source includes a plurality of electron emission cathodes and at least one control electrode. A gate current regulator is provided for regulation of current flowing through the at least one control electrode.
US09552953B2	Field emission cathode and field emission device The disclosure relates to a field emission cathode. The field emission cathode includes a microchannel plate, a cathode electrode and a number of cathode emitters. The microchannel plate is an insulative plate and includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The microchannel plate defines a number of holes extending through the microchannel plate from the first surface to the second surface. The cathode electrode is located on the first surface. The number of cathode emitters are filled in the number of holes and electrically connected with the cathode electrode.
US09552951B2	High voltage compact fusible disconnect switch device with magnetic arc deflection assembly A compact fusible disconnect switch device includes a magnetic arc deflection assembly including at least a pair of magnets disposed about a switch contact assembly. The magnetic arc deflection assembly facilitates reliable connection and disconnection of DC voltage circuitry well above 125 VDC with reduced arcing intensity and duration. Multiple pairs of magnets may apply magnetic fields in directions opposing one another to deflect electrical arcs in different directions at more than one location in the switch contact assembly to facilitate high voltage DC operation.
US09552947B2	Three phase vacuum interrupter switch for high voltage distribution systems A three-phase vacuum interrupter switch assembly for power distribution systems comprises an outer case having at least one window, a plurality of internal disconnect switch assemblies, and a plurality of vacuum interrupter bottle switch assemblies within the case. Each vacuum interrupter bottle switch is coupled in electrical series with a corresponding internal disconnect switch assembly. Because the open/closed state of a bottle switch is not directly observable owing to its sealed interior, a direct visible indication of the state of the three-phase vacuum interrupter switch assembly is provided by a visually detectable contact rod for each internal disconnect switch that is visible through the case window. To prevent potentially serious damage caused by arcing between the contacts of the internal disconnect switch, the internal disconnect switch is prevented from opening or closing when the bottle switches are closed. The case interior is preferably free of oil and/or SF6 gas.
US09552944B2	Switching device for direct current applications A switching device for direct current applications having a first switching chamber for a first current path and a second switching chamber for a second current path, each current path having a switching contact arrangement having a first and second contact, wherein both the contacts, switched-on, come into contact with each other and, switched-off, are kept out of contact with each other by the creation of an isolation gap; a current path having an extinguishing device to extinguish an arc created between the contacts; an arc driver arrangement, arranged in one of the two switching chambers, and which creates a magnetic field at least in the area of the switching contact arrangement for the relevant current path that drives the arc into the relevant extinguishing device.
US09552942B2	Gas circuit breaker A gas circuit breaker includes contact rings formed of an elastically deformable material, a movable contact that moves reciprocally along an axis line direction between a current supply position where the movable contact bridges the contact rings and a current cutoff position where the movable contact is separated from both the contact rings, holding tools formed in an annular shape and respectively attached to the contact rings, a covering member having electrically insulating property, slidably attached to a distal end portion of the holding tool in the axis line direction, and configured to be brought into contact with the contact ring, and a covering member having electrically insulating property, slidably attached to a distal end portion of the holding tool in the axis line direction, and configured to be brought into contact with the contact ring.
US09552937B2	Electro-mechanical energy harvesting switch An electro-mechanical energy harvesting switch configured to provide at least two different control signals comprises: a generator activating member (9) configured to move between a rest position and a maximum loaded position; at least one spring (11, 13) configured to force the generator activating member towards the rest position; and a unidirectionally rotating protrusion member (17) comprising at least one protrusion (21) configured to move through a protrusion's path during rotation of the protrusion member (17), through a first position of the protrusion (21), in which first position the protrusion (21) is engaged with the generator activating member (9) in the rest position, and through a second position, the protrusion (21) thereby carrying the generator activating member (9) from the rest position to the maximum loaded position against the force of the at least one spring (11, 13).
US09552935B2	Limit switch The invention relates to a limit switch comprising: a body (1) and a head (2), an actuation member (3), a shaft (30) that can be actuated in rotation about an axis of rotation (Y) by pivoting of the actuation member (3), a plunger (4), a cam mechanism for converting the rotational movement of the shaft (30) into a translational movement of the plunger (4) and vice versa, the cam mechanism comprising: a first cam (7) and a first cam follower (70), arranged to generate between them a first non-zero rotational torque over a first range of rotation of the shaft (30), a second cam (8) and a second cam follower (80), arranged to generate between them a second non-zero rotational torque over a second range of rotation of the shaft.
US09552934B2	Slot motor, slot motor cover, slot motor—arc plate assembly, and methods of operation A slot motor apparatus for a circuit breaker is disclosed. The slot motor has first and second legs connected by a thin web, and an extending portion extending rearward from the rear faces of the legs. Slot motor-arc plate assemblies having an arc plate assembly received at least partially overtop of the extending portion are also disclosed, as are assemblies having the arc plate assembly received very close to the rear faces of the slot motor legs. Circuit breakers, slot motor-arc plate assemblies, slot motor covers, and methods of operating the slot motor-arc plate assemblies are disclosed, as are other aspects.
US09552929B2	Polymer-nanocarbon composites, methods of making composites, and energy storage devices including the composite Embodiments of the present disclosure, in one aspect, relate to composites including a carbon nanomaterial having a redox-active material, such as a polymer containing redox groups, disposed on the carbon nanomaterial, methods of making the composite, methods of storing energy, and the like.
US09552914B2	Simultaneous magnetic balancing of two points This application relates to devices in which magnets are arranged so that an intensity of a magnetic field emitted by the magnets is substantially the same at a position of interest for at least two discrete positions of the magnets. The application describes how this can be achieved even when the discrete positions are different distances from the position of interest by identifying locations at which magnetic material can be added to balance the field intensity for both discrete locations. In some embodiments, this type of configuration can be helpful in accommodating movement of magnets between two common positions. When the magnetic field intensity for the position of interest is set near zero a magnetically sensitive component can be positioned at the point of interest with little or no effect from the magnetic field when the magnets are in any of the discrete positions.
US09552911B2	Hf—Co—B alloys as permanent magnet materials An alloy composition is composed essentially of Hf2-XZrXCo11BY, wherein 0
US09552910B2	Ferrite magnet with salt and manufacturing method of the same A ferrite magnet with salt includes 40 to 99.9 weight % of ferrite and 0.1 to 60 weight % of salt, wherein the salt has a melting point lower than a synthetic temperature of the ferrite, and the salt is melted to form a matrix between the ferrite particles, and a manufacturing thereof. The ferrite magnet with salt has advantages in terms of process conditions due to fast synthesis reaction at low temperatures compared to typical magnets, easily obtaining nano-sized particles having high crystallinity, preventing cohesion between particles and particle growth by molten salt, allowing sintering at temperatures lower than typical during the molding and sintering processes for producing a ferrite magnet with salt due to synthesized ferrite magnetic powder with salt thus preventing the deterioration of magnetic characteristics due to particle growth, and allowing alignment in the direction of magnetization easy axis to obtain higher magnetic characteristics.
US09552907B2	Condenser core A resin impregnated paper (RIP) condenser core configured for being positioned around an electrical conductor. The condenser core includes a winding tube forming a longitudinal through hole through the condenser core, configured for allowing an electrical conductor to be inserted there through; an electrically insulating RIP body wound onto and around the winding tube; and at least one electrically conducting foil coaxially encircling the winding tube and being surrounded by the RIP body insulating each of the at least one foil from any other of the at least one foil. The winding tube is of an electrically insulating material which has been chosen from a group consisting of materials having a volumetric thermal expansion coefficient within the range of 50% to 200% of the volumetric thermal expansion coefficient of the RIP body.
US09552906B1	Current lead for cryogenic apparatus In embodiments of the invention, a superconductor lead is configured to have less ohmic heating by its own current and less heat conduction from room temperature to cryogenic temperature, where a cryogenic apparatus is located. The superconducting lead with no ohmic resistance and low thermal conductivity disclosed herein maximizes current capacity by placing superconductors in parallel, each having equal current. Thus, the resistances are controlled to provide uniform current distribution through each superconductor of the high temperature superconducting (HTS) lead.
US09552905B2	Structural integrated wiring loom According to the invention there is provided a Structural integrated wiring loom comprising at least one conductor comprising at least one first conductive fiber ply, wherein said at least one first conductive fiber ply comprises at least two electrical connectors, a separator structure comprising at least one first non-conductive fiber ply, and at least one second non-conductive fiber ply, said separator structure encapsulating said at least one conductor, a screen structure which encapsulates said separator structure, said screen structure comprising at least one second conductive fiber ply and at least one third conductive fiber ply, wherein said device is encapsulated a binder matrix. The device may be used to replace structural panels on a vehicle vessel or craft, to transfer electrical power or RF signals, data transmission around a composite structure.
US09552903B2	Polymer compositions, polymer films, polymer gels, polymer foams, and electronic devices containing such films, gels and foams A polymer film, polymer gel, and polymer foam each contain an electrically conductive polymer and an ionic liquid and are each useful as a component of an electronic device.
US09552899B2	Ceramic bushing for an implantable medical device An electrical bushing for use in a housing of an implantable medical device is proposed. The electrical bushing includes at least one electrically insulating base body and at least one electrical conducting element. The conducting element establishes, through the base body, at least one electrically conductive connection between an internal space of the housing and an external space. The conducting element is hermetically sealed with respect to the base body, at least in part. The at least one conducting element includes at least one cermet. The cermet of the conducting element and the base body include one or more of the same ceramic compound.
US09552898B2	Systems and methods for obtaining and displaying an X-ray image Systems and methods for obtaining and displaying a collimated X-ray image are described. The methods can include providing an X-ray device having an X-ray source, a square or rectangular X-ray detector, and a collimator. The collimator can be sized and shaped to collimate an X-ray beam from the X-ray source that exposes a receptor region on the detector. The collimator can allow the X-ray image received by the X-ray detector to have any suitable shape that allows a relatively large view of the image to be displayed and rotated on the display device without changing the shape or size of the image as it rotated. In some instances, the collimator provides the image with superellipse shapes or cornerless shapes having four substantially straight edges with a 90 degree corner missing between at least two edges that run substantially perpendicular to each other. Other embodiments are described.
US09552895B2	Autorecovery after manufacturing/system integration Memory devices storing particular data, systems containing such memory devices and methods of testing such memory devices. The memory devices include an array of memory cells containing particular data, and control circuitry configured to control operations of the array of memory cells. The control circuitry is further configured to perform a test of the particular data in response to a command received from an external device and perform a repair of the particular data when results of the test indicate that repair of the particular data is needed
US09552894B2	Impedance calibration circuit, and semiconductor memory and memory system using the same An embodiment may include a first replica driver group configured for replicating an output driver of a physical area. A second replica driver group configured for replicating an output driver of a test electrode area for direct access of a memory, and an impedance calibration unit configured to independently perform an impedance matching operation of the first replica driver group and the second replica driver group.
US09552892B1	Sampling circuit with reduced metastability exposure A sampling circuit uses an input stage to sample an input signal and a secondary evaluation stage to maintain the output state of the input stage. Once the input stage transitions at a clock transition, the secondary evaluation stage uses regenerative feedback devices to hold the state to help ensure the sampling circuit only switches once during an evaluation.
US09552890B2	Antifuse with bypass diode and method thereof The embodiments described herein provide antifuse devices and methods that can be utilized in a wide variety of semiconductor devices. In one embodiment a semiconductor device is provided that includes an antifuse, a first diode coupled with the antifuse in a parallel combination, and a second diode coupled in series with the parallel combination. In such an embodiment the first diode effectively provides a bypass current path that can reduce the voltage across the antifuse when other antifuses are being programmed. As such, these embodiments can provide improved ability to tolerate programming voltages without damage or impairment of reliability.
US09552888B2	Methods, devices, and systems for data sensing Methods and devices for data sensing are disclosed. One such method includes performing a number of successive sense operations on a number of memory cells using a number of different sensing voltages, determining a quantity of the number memory cells that change states between consecutive sense operations of the number of successive sense operations, and determining, based at least partially on the determined quantity of the number of memory cells that change states between consecutive sense operations, whether to output hard data corresponding to one of the number of successive sense operations.
US09552884B2	Nonvolatile memory and erasing method thereof An erase method of a nonvolatile memory includes supplying an erase voltage to a substrate, supplying a selection word line voltage to word lines connected with a selected sub-block within a memory block of the nonvolatile memory, supplying a non-selection word line voltage to word lines connected with an unselected sub-block within the memory block during a first delay time from a point of time when the erase voltage is supplied, and thereafter floating the word lines connected with the unselected sub-block.
US09552876B2	Descending set verify for phase change memory Subject matter disclosed herein relates to a memory device, and more particularly to write performance of a phase change memory.
US09552875B2	Apparatuses and methods for sensing using an integration component The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods for sensing a resistance variable memory cell. A number of embodiments include circuitry to provide a programming signal to a memory cell in the array, the programming signal associated with programming the memory cell to a particular data state; and determine, via an integration component, if a data state of the memory cell changes to a different data state responsive to the programming signal being provided.
US09552874B2	Combined memory block and data processing system having the same A combined memory block includes a first memory unit configured to store data and an additional memory unit that forms a stacked structure with the memory unit, wherein the memory unit and the storage unit together form multi-level cells having variable resistance in storing data.
US09552872B2	Memory device Disclosed is a memory device. The memory device includes a bit-cell comprising a cross-coupled inverter and pass gate transistor connected to data storage node of the cross-coupled inverter, a read buffer transistor having a drain terminal connected to a bit line for read operation and a gate terminal connected to the pass gate transistor, a write operation transistor connected between the pass gate transistor and a bit line for write operation, and a drive transistor unit which is connected to a local line between the pass gate transistors and the write operation transistor and which provide a voltage to a gate terminal of the read buffer transistor based on a data value stored at the bit-cell.
US09552869B1	Random access memory with pseudo-differential sensing Embodiments herein describe DRAM that includes storage circuitry coupled between complementary bit lines which are in turn coupled to the same sense amplifier. The storage circuitry includes a transistor and a storage capacitor coupled in series. The gate of the transistor is coupled to a word line which selectively couples the storage capacitor to one of the complementary bit lines. Because the capacitor is coupled to both of the bit lines, when reading the data stored on the capacitor, the charge on the capacitor causes current to flow from one of the bit lines into the other bit line which causes a voltage difference between the complementary bit lines. Put differently, both ends of the capacitor are electrically coupled to bit lines thereby generating a larger voltage difference between the bit lines when reading data from the storage capacitors.
US09552868B2	Semiconductor memory device having various column repair modes A memory device including first to fourth cell blocks, each including a plurality of normal columns and one or more redundancy columns and a control unit suitable for repairing the normal columns using the redundancy columns in the first and the second cell blocks using first repair information and repairing the normal columns using the redundancy columns in the third and the fourth cell blocks using second repair information when the memory device is set as a first mode, and suitable for repairing the normal columns using the redundancy columns in the first and the third cell blocks using the first repair information and repairing the normal columns using the redundancy columns in the second and the fourth cell blocks using the second repair information when the memory device is set as a second mode.
US09552865B2	Method and apparatus for calibrating write timing in a memory system A system that calibrates timing relationships between signals involved in performing write operations is described. This system includes a memory controller which is coupled to a set of memory chips, wherein each memory chip includes a phase detector configured to calibrate a phase relationship between a data-strobe signal and a clock signal received at the memory chip from the memory controller during a write operation. Furthermore, the memory controller is configured to perform one or more write-read-validate operations to calibrate a clock-cycle relationship between the data-strobe signal and the clock signal, wherein the write-read-validate operations involve varying a delay on the data-strobe signal relative to the clock signal by a multiple of a clock period.
US09552863B1	Memory device with sampled resistance controlled write voltages A memory device is configured to identify a set of bit cells to be changed from a first state to a second state. In some examples, the memory device may apply a first voltage to the set of bit cells to change a least a first portion of the set of bit cells to the second state. In some cases, the memory device may also identify a second portion of the bit cells that remained in the first state following the application of the first voltage. In these cases, the memory device may apply a second voltage having a greater magnitude, duration, or both to the second portion of the set of bit cells in order to set the second portion of bit cells to the second state.
US09552861B2	Resistance change memory A first normal bit and source lines are connected to a first memory cell. Second normal bit and source lines are connected to a second memory cell. A first column switch connects one of the first and second normal bit lines to a first global bit line. A second column switch connects one of the first and second normal source lines to a first global source line. A first reference bit and source lines are connected to a third memory cell. A third column switch connects the first reference bit line to a second global bit line. A fourth column switch connects the first reference source line to the first global source line. A sense amplifier is connected to the first and second global bit lines, and reads data stored in one of the first and second memory cells.
US09552859B2	Electronic memory including ROM and RAM An electronic data-storage apparatus having ROM embedded in an STT-MRAM. The apparatus comprises at least two bit lines, a plurality of bit cells, each including, connected to a source line (SL), a series connection (in any order) of a selection element (e.g., transistor gated by word line WL), a resistive storage element (e.g., MTJ), and a permanent connection to one of the bit lines (e.g., BL0, BL1). The apparatus may also include a ROM sense amplifier which is configured to precharge two output nodes connected to respective ones of the bit lines, so that the jumper in a selected memory cell pulls one of the output nodes to a first reference potential (e.g., GND) and the ROM sense amplifier pulls the other of the output nodes to a second reference potential (e.g., Vdd).
US09552858B2	STT-MRAM cell structure incorporating piezoelectric stress material A magnetic memory cell including a piezoelectric material, and methods of operating the memory cell are provided. The memory cell includes a stack, and the piezoelectric material may be formed as a layer in the stack or adjacent the layers of the cell stack. The piezoelectric material may be used to induce a transient stress during programming of the memory cell to reduce the critical switching current of the memory cell.
US09552853B2	Methods for calibrating a read data path for a memory interface A method for calibrating a read data path for a DDR memory interface circuit from time to time in conjunction with functional operation of a memory circuit is described. The method uses the steps of issuing a sequence of read commands so that a delayed dqs signal toggles continuously. Next, delaying a core clock signal originating within the DDR memory interface circuit to produce a capture clock signal. The capture clock signal is delayed from the core clock by a capture clock delay value. Next, determining an optimum capture clock delay value. The output of the read data path is clocked by the core clock. The timing for the read data path with respect to data propagation is responsive to at least the capture clock.
US09552851B2	Current-mode sense amplifier A current sense amplifier comprises a reference current input terminal, a control line input terminal, a sense current input terminal, an output terminal, a first NAND gate, a transmission gate, and two cross coupled inverters each comprising a n-FET. The first NAND gate comprises an output terminal being coupled to the output terminal of the amplifier. The transmission gate comprises two transmission terminals and a gate terminal. The gate terminal is coupled to the control line terminal. Sources of the n-FETs are coupled to the sense current input terminal and the reference current input terminal, respectively. One of the transmission terminals is coupled to an input terminal of one of the inverters and the other transmission terminal is coupled to an input terminal of the other inverter. The input terminals of the first NAND gate are coupled to the control line terminal and one of the input terminals of the inverters, respectively.
US09552846B1	Variable speed data storage device testing system A data storage device can be tested while spinning at a variety of different speeds. Data may be written to a data sector with a transducing head while at least one disk of a data storage device spins about a spindle at a default speed. One or more tests can subsequently be executed on the disk by reading servo data stored on the disk while the disk spins at a test speed that is greater than the default speed.
US09552841B2	Magnetic tape servo format allowing for increased linear tape density and systems thereof In one general embodiment, a magnetic recording tape includes a plurality of servo tracks, each servo track comprising a series of magnetically defined bars, wherein an average stripe width of the bars is between about 1.0 micron and about 2.2 microns, where an average servo frame length of groups of the bars comprising a servo frame is between about 120 microns and about 180 microns. In another general embodiment, a system includes a head having at least one servo reader and an array of data transducers of a type selected from a group consisting of readers and writers; and a controller operative to selectively enable every other transducer of a particular type in the array in a first mode of operation, and operative to selectively enable every transducer of the particular type in the array in a second mode of operation.
US09552839B2	Optical recording medium and manufacturing method of the same Provided is an optical recording medium including: two discs, each of which includes a substrate and a plurality of recording layers; and an attachment layer which is provided between the two discs and includes ultraviolet curable resin, wherein thickness of each of the substrates in the two discs is equal to or greater than 0.3 mm and equal to or less than 0.545 mm, wherein transmittance of the two discs is equal to or less than 20%, and wherein inversion rates on both surface sides of the attachment layer are equal or substantially equal to each other, and are equal to or greater than 70%.
US09552838B2	Optical information recording medium having first and second pit row of identical reflectance In a case where (i) a reflectance calculated from a reflected light amount obtained from a longest pit (P1max) or a longest space (S1max) in a first pit row is defined as a first reflectance and (ii) a reflectance calculated from a reflected light amount obtained from a longest pit (P2max) or a longest space (S2max) in the second pit row is defined as a second reflectance, the first pit row is formed such that the first reflectance becomes substantially identical with the second reflectance.
US09552825B2	Noise cancellation for voice activation Devices, methods, and systems for noise cancellation for voice activation are described herein. For example, one or more embodiments include determining, with a computing device, whether a background noise received with the computing device is recognized, creating a stored noise cancellation filter based on the background noise when the background noise is not recognized, receiving a signal that includes the background noise and a voice command at the computing device, filtering out the background noise from the signal with the stored noise cancellation filter, and processing the voice command.
US09552814B2	Visual voice search A computer implemented method and system for initiating an action uses text converted from a user's speech. A user's speech is converted into text using an automatic speech recognition (ASR) system of a device. A first group of words is determined from the text meeting a first criteria. The text of the first group of words is displayed on a user interface of the device. A first action is initiated in response to the user's selection of a word in the first group. The results of the first action are presented using the user interface of the device.
US09552813B2	Self-adaptive intelligent voice device and method A self-adaptive intelligent voice device and method, wherein the device includes a voice recognizing module (101), a recognition result processing module (102), a voice broadcasting module (103), and a broadcast voice parameter generating module (104), and the broadcast voice parameter generating module (104) is configured to acquire extracted voice parameters from the voice recognizing module (101), and generate broadcast voice parameters according to the extracted voice parameters and a default policy, and input the broadcast voice parameters to the voice broadcasting module (103), the abovementioned technical solution enables the broadcast voice more closely matching a user's voice.
US09552808B1	Decoding parameters for Viterbi search Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for decoding parameters for Viterbi search are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes the actions of receiving lattice data that defines a plurality of lattices. The actions include for each defined lattice determining a particular path that traverses the lattice; determining a node cost of a path from the start node to the frame node; determining a beam size for each frame; determining a beam cost width for each frame; determining a maximum beam size from the beam sizes determined for frames; and determining a maximum beam cost width from the beam cost widths determine for the frames. The actions include selecting a particular beam size and a particular beam cost width. The actions include determining paths for additional lattices using the pruning parameters of the particular beam size and the particular beam cost width.
US09552807B2	Method, apparatus and system for regenerating voice intonation in automatically dubbed videos A system and method for automatically dubbing a video in a first language into a second language, comprising: an audio/video pre-processor configured to provide separate original audio and video files of the same media; a text analysis unit to receive a first text file of the video's subtitles in the first language and a second text file of the video's sub-titles in the second language, and re-divide them into text sentences; a text-to-speech unit to receive the text sentences in the first and second languages from the text analysis unit and produce therefrom first and second standard TTS spoken sentences; a prosody unit to receive the first and second spoken sentences, the separated audio file and timing parameters and produce therefrom dubbing recommendations; and a dubbing unit configured to receive the second spoken sentence and the recommendations and produce therefrom an automatically dubbed sentence in the second language.
US09552805B2	Systems and methods for performance and stability control for feedback adaptive noise cancellation A method for cancelling ambient audio sounds in the proximity of a transducer may include receiving an error microphone signal indicative of the output of the transducer and ambient audio sounds at the transducer. The method may also include generating an anti-noise signal for countering the effects of ambient audio sounds at an acoustic output of the transducer, wherein generating the anti-noise signal comprises applying a feedback filter having a response that generates a feedback anti-noise signal based on the error microphone signal and applying a variable gain element in series with the feedback filter. The method may further include monitoring whether an ambient audio event is occurring that could cause the feedback filter to generate an undesirable component in the anti-noise signal and controlling the gain of the variable gain element to reduce the undesirable component.
US09552800B1	Piano keyboard with key touch point detection The present invention provides touch sensor means for detecting the touch location along the length of an outfitted piano key as it is pressed, so as to then offset the notes of an associated piano keyboard accordingly during play. When such an outfitted key is pressed in combination with other piano keys, the touch location along the length of the outfitted key, and the separation intervals and timing of the key presses, are analyzed to determine the intended chord, such that before any notes are sounded, the notes of the pressed keys are configured for the sounding of that chord. This arrangement enables playing a wide range of notes using just a few keys, so as to provide a substantially reduced-size keyboard with full-sized keys sufficient for real-time playing. This arrangement also enables configuring the note offsets of those pressed keys to conform to a selected musical key, so as to simplify the layout of the keyboard by eliminating its black keys, while still supporting the playing of non-conforming notes. This arrangement further enables applying pitch variation to those note offsets in order to emulate the “string stretching,” “whammy bar,” and “fretless neck” playing techniques for guitars and basses. This arrangement even further enables playing advanced chords in a simplified manner. Finally, this arrangement enables providing a wide assortment of keyboards that can differ in the type, number, size, and functionality of their outfitted keys.
US09552799B2	Protective system A protective system includes a protective multi-layered body portion for protecting an instrument from debris, wind, temperature extremes, and visual observation. The body portion encapsulates the instrument fully assembled, so that a user has to remove the cover to utilize the instrument. The body portion minimizes contact with instrument. The body portion includes multiple layers. Each layer provides a unique, novel function for protection of the instrument. An inner layer engages the instrument. An intermediate layer contours to the shape of the instrument and provides insulation. An exterior layer forms the exterior protective surface and includes a pouch and a handle. Outside the body portion, a fastener regulates access to the inside. Inside the body portion, an instrument enhancing device, such as silica packs help protect the instrument. At least one wire carries a current along the body portion to provide heat for the instrument from an external source.
US09552798B2	Pianoforte instrument, in particular a piano, with a housing on bearing points A pianoforte instrument, in particular a piano, has a base. Several bearings serve to support the pianoforte instrument on a floor. A height adjuster is also provided, which permits a height adjustment of the slide element relative to the base and/or a console. A device that facilitates transport is preferably provided on each of the bearings. The device that facilitates transport has a slide element, which permits sliding on the floor.
US09552797B2	Map display device and map display method An object of the present invention is to provide a map display device and a map display method that facilitate comprehension of relevance between drawing objects in a plurality of map drawing pictures and improve user operability. The map display device according to the present invention includes: a controller that controls an overlapping state between the first and second drawing pictures in accordance with the input of user operation and outputting, to a display unit, a picture in which one of the first and second drawing objects masks the other in a portion in which the first and second drawing pictures overlap each other. The controller controls the overlapping state to prevent the priority drawing object in the first drawing picture from becoming invisible in the drawing picture display.
US09552796B2	Degradation compensating pixel circuit and organic light emitting diode display device including the same A degradation compensating pixel circuit includes: an organic light emitting diode (OLED); a driving circuit including a first capacitor and a first transistor, the first capacitor being configured to be charged in response to a data signal and a scan signal, the first transistor being configured to drive the OLED according to a first voltage between first and second terminals of the first capacitor, the first terminal of the first capacitor being configured to receive a supply voltage, the second terminal of the first capacitor being coupled to a gate terminal of the first transistor; and a degradation compensating circuit coupled to a source terminal of the first transistor and the gate terminal of the first transistor, the degradation compensating circuit being configured to change the first voltage according to a first current of the first transistor.
US09552785B2	Liquid crystal display device Provided is a liquid crystal display device in which both a vertical electric field and a horizontal electric field are used and flickering is hardly recognized. The liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel and a control unit. The control unit includes a horizontal electric field control unit and a vertical electric field control unit. The horizontal electric field control unit controls the potentials of pairs of drive electrodes included in the liquid crystal panel, and thereby controls a horizontal electric field that is generated between each pair of drive electrodes. The vertical electric field control unit controls the potentials of a common electrode and an opposite electrode included in the liquid crystal panel, and thereby controls a vertical electric field that is generated between the common electrode and the opposite electrode. The horizontal electric field control unit controls the intensity and the polarity of the horizontal electric field when the vertical electric field control unit is causing the vertical electric field to be generated. The vertical electric field control unit inverts the polarity of the vertical electric field when the horizontal electric field control unit is maintaining the polarity of the horizontal electric field.
US09552784B2	Liquid crystal display apparatus According to one embodiment, a lateral electric-field type of liquid crystal display device includes a display panel including a plurality of liquid crystal pixels arranged in a matrix, and a controller configured to perform intermittent driving to rewrite an image signal to the liquid crystal pixels, wherein a frame frequency falls within a range of 10 Hz to 20 Hz, and an absolute value of a flexo coefficient (e11, e33) of a liquid crystal applied to the liquid crystal pixels is 1.6 pC/m or less.
US09552783B2	Source driver and display device having the same A source driver includes: a gamma voltage generator configured to receive a plurality of gamma reference voltages, a first common pre-emphasis voltage, and a second common pre-emphasis voltage, and to generate a plurality of gamma voltages based on the gamma reference voltages, a plurality of first pre-emphasis pulses respectively corresponding to pixels that emit light of different colors based on the first common pre-emphasis voltage, and a plurality of second pre-emphasis pulses respectively corresponding to the pixels that emit the light of different colors based on the second common pre-emphasis voltage; and a voltage supply unit configured to output one of the first pre-emphasis pulses and the second pre-emphasis pulses to each of a plurality of data lines, and to output data voltages to the plurality of data lines based on the gamma voltages.
US09552782B2	Image display device, presentation box employing same, and method of driving image display device An image display device is capable of displaying an image, in which occurrence of color unevenness is suppressed. A method of driving the image display device is also disclosed. In an area above the dotted line, red light is transmitted in a first sub-frame period. In second and third sub-frame periods, light blocking data are respectively supplied as green data and blue data. Therefore, green light and blue light cannot be transmitted through the area. Hence, a red image with no color unevenness is displayed in the area. In contrast, in an area under the dotted line, the red light is transmitted in the first sub-frame period, and the green light is transmitted in the second sub-frame period. As a result, in a viewed image of the area, there is color unevenness where green is mixed to red.
US09552779B2	Electronic apparatus and display backlight control method An electronic apparatus and a display backlight control method are provided. The electronic apparatus includes a display, a processing unit, a read-only memory and a backlight controller. The read-only memory stores a basic input output system (BIOS) and a setting table. The setting table includes a plurality of backlight setting values corresponding to each of the displays. When the processing unit executes the BIOS, the processing unit identifies an identifier corresponding to the display connected to the electronic apparatus, so as to obtain the backlight setting values corresponding to the display according to the identifier and the setting table. Then the processing unit provides the backlight setting values to the backlight controller, and the backlight controller controls the backlight power of the display according to the backlight setting values.
US09552777B2	Phase control backlight This document describes techniques and apparatuses for implementing a phase control backlight. A phase control backlight is configured to concentrate light to each pupil of a viewer of a display to cause images to be displayed to each pupil of the viewer. The phase control backlight can include an illuminator and a light guide that includes a diffraction grating. The light guide is configured to receive light rays from the illuminator, and to diffract light rays out of the light guide via the diffraction grating. In accordance with various embodiments, the light guide can be controlled to alter a phase of the light rays as the light rays are guided within the light guide to cause the diffracted light rays to converge to a concentration point that corresponds to a position in space of each pupil of the viewer.
US09552776B2	Luminance compensation apparatus for organic light emitting diode panel Disclosed is a luminance compensation apparatus of an organic light emitting diode panel including a reference pixel element unit that is installed at an outer peripheral portion of a display area on an organic light emitting diode panel and operate corresponding to a pixel element aligned in the display area, and a driving chip that is provided in an area including the reference pixel element unit of the outer peripheral portion of the display area, compares a luminance value of light incident from the reference pixel element unit with a reference luminance value to calculate a luminance deviation value based on a comparison result, controls driving of pixel elements aligned in the display area according to the luminance deviation value, and allows light, luminance deviation of which has been compensated, to be irradiated.
US09552772B2	Display apparatus, method of driving a display, and electronic device In a display apparatus including a switching transistor, a correction voltage for eliminating an effect of a variation in a characteristic of a driving transistor is stored in a storage capacitor. The switching transistor is disposed between one current terminal of the driving transistor and a light emitting element. The switching transistor turns off during the non-light emission period thereby to electrically disconnect the light emitting element from the one current terminal of the driving transistor thereby preventing a leakage current from flowing through the light emitting element during the period in which the correction unit operates, and thus preventing the correction voltage from having an error due to the leakage current.
US09552769B2	Display with a reduced refresh rate In one embodiment, a display system includes a display panel having a plurality of display elements, a scan driver to control a leaky switch to select a storage capacitor of a display element of the plurality of display elements to receive a data signal, and a data driver to provide the data signal to the storage capacitor when the leaky switch is in an on state at each of an on voltage to illuminate the display element and an off voltage and to hold the on voltage at an input of the leaky switch when the leaky switch is in an off state.
US09552767B2	Light-emitting device A light-emitting device in which variation in luminance among pixels is suppressed. The light-emitting device includes a pixel; a first circuit configured to generate a signal containing information on a value of current extracted from the pixel; and a second circuit configured to correct an image signal in accordance with the signal. The pixel includes a light-emitting element; a transistor for controlling supply of the current to the light-emitting element in accordance with the image signal; a first switch configured to control connection between a gate and a drain of the transistor or between the gate of the transistor and a wiring; and a second switch configured to control extraction of the current from the pixel.
US09552764B2	Display device, pixel circuit, electronic apparatus, and method of driving display device A display device includes a display portion, a hold capacitor, a write transistor writing a drive voltage corresponding to a video signal to the hold capacitor, a drive transistor driving the display portion in accordance with the drive voltage written to the hold capacitor, and a pulse width adjusting portion adjusting a width of a pulse signal causing a drive pulse used to drive at least one of the write transistor and the drive transistor so as to correspond to an environmental change.
US09552763B2	Data conversion unit and method of converting data A data conversion unit includes a gamma conversion unit configured to generate a first gamma data by gamma-converting a first data supplied from an outside thereof, a representative luminance value calculation unit configured to calculate a representative luminance value of an entire panel, based on the first gamma data, a subtraction unit configured to subtract the calculated representative luminance value from gamma conversion values of respective pixels included in the first gamma data, a compensation unit configured to generate a second gamma data by converting the gamma conversion values of the respective pixels, based on the subtracted values corresponding to the respective pixels, and an inverse gamma conversion unit configured to generate a second data by inverse-gamma-converting the second gamma data.
US09552762B2	Self-luminous display device, control method of self-luminous display device, and computer program There is provided a self-luminous display device including a deterioration amount acquisition section configured to acquire a cumulative deterioration amount for each of a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix shape on a screen, each of the pixels including a light emitting element which emits light by itself in accordance with a current amount, a deterioration amount calculation section configured to calculate a deterioration amount when an image is displayed based on a supplied video signal in each of the pixels by using a deterioration characteristic determined in accordance with a luminance of the video signal, and a cumulative information update section configured to reflect the cumulative deterioration amount acquired by the deterioration amount acquisition section in the deterioration amount calculated by the deterioration amount calculation section, and to update the reflected cumulative deterioration amount as a new cumulative deterioration amount.
US09552757B2	Image device with improved chrominance quality The invention provides an image device with improved chrominance quality. The image device includes a plurality of RGBW pixels, a plurality of RGBY pixels, and a plurality of RBGB pixels. Each RGBW pixel includes a red sub-pixel, a green sub-pixel, a blue sub-pixel and a white sub-pixel. Each RGBY pixel includes a red sub-pixel, a green sub-pixel, a blue sub-pixel and a yellow sub-pixel. Each RBGB pixel includes a red sub-pixel, a green sub-pixel, and two blue sub-pixels. The RGBW pixels, RGBY pixels, and RBGB pixels are mixed in the image device. The image device of the present invention can solve the problem of dark yellow in the conventional RGBW display while achieving a white balance status. As a result the chrominance quality is improved.
US09552753B1	Apparatus and method for inspection of display device pixels using photon collection Aspects of the present disclosure directs to inspection of pixels of a display device using photon collection. In certain embodiments, the display device includes a display panel defining multiple pixels in a pixel matrix. A controller divides the pixel matrix into multiple areas, with each area including at least one pixel, and assigns a threshold value for each area. The controller then controls the pixels in one area to emit light displaying a color. A transparent photon collection panel attached to the display panel receives the light displayed by the area, and generates an analog signal in response to the light. An analog to digital (A/D) converter converts the analog signal to a photon current value. The controller receives the photon current values corresponding to each area, and compares the photon current value with the threshold value for each area to determine a flag value for the area.
US09552752B1	Limited view dynamic message sign for traffic information A dynamic message sign includes a front housing defining a viewing window and an interior. A LED assembly is in the interior for displaying a message within a cone of vision. A louver assembly limits the cone of vision. The dynamic message sign may also include a back frame for supporting the front housing and a bracket for setting the front assembly at an angle with respect to the back frame. The LED assembly can include a plurality of LED pixels arranged in rows and columns. The louver assembly can include a plurality of louver racks, each louver rack extending adjacent to a column of LED pixels.
US09552750B2	Overhead sign hanging system An overhead sign display system is provided for facilitating the hanging of overhead retail signs, banners and the like upon a line stretched across opposing horizontal supports suspended from the ceiling or affixed to an upright support from the floor or other fixture in a safe, efficient and sturdy manner and to provide an efficient way of maintaining tension on the line. The system includes a free floating reel constructed of a rod around which is coiled a line held in place by a spacer, washers and nuts and which is then inserted into a first end of a horizontal support housing such that the line can be stretched taut across and fastened to the opposing support or fixture then tightened by turning the reel in an opposite direction and securing the reel in place inside the housing. Opposing bolts are threaded through the horizontal support or an optional locking sleeve to engage the reel assembly so as to affix the reel assembly in place and maintain tautness of the line.
US09552747B1	Helmet impact simulator and method A head impact test apparatus is configured to enable viewing a head model including a brain component that may be at least partially surrounded by a fluid component and within a skull component. A head model may be a cross-sectional model of a person's head and have a translucent cover extending over the cross-sectional plane to enable viewing and image capture of the components of the head model. A camera may be configured to take a plurality of images during an impact test. These images may be analyzed to determine the acceleration and deformation of the brain component. An impact element is configured to impact the head model and the head model may have any type of helmet thereon. A helmet component may comprise a helmet cover. The test may be used to determine the effectiveness of helmets and helmet covers in reducing brain trauma.
US09552746B2	Defibrillating simulator The present disclosure relates to a defibrillating simulator comprising an apparatus for adapting a defibrillator for training. The apparatus for adapting a defibrillator for training comprises a pair of electrode covers to be mounted on electrodes of the defibrillator for receiving an electrical discharge generated by the defibrillator. The apparatus further comprises an impedance connected to the pair of electrode covers, the impedance absorbing some of the received electrical discharge and generates an electrically reduced electrical discharge. The apparatus comprises an analyzer for analyzing the electrically reduced electrical discharge and providing analysis data representative of the electrical discharge. The defibrillating simulator further comprises a scenario unit providing a training scenario comprising physiological data. The defibrillating simulator further comprises a processing unit for correlating the analysis data with the training scenario to generate training results.
US09552744B2	Visual teaching tool and method for determining the result of digit multiplication based-on diagram rotation and transition path A device for determining the result of digit multiplication based-on diagram-configured carrier rotation and transition path is proposed. Firstly, one of three types of visual teaching tools including first type of visual teaching tool, second type of visual teaching tool and third type of visual teaching tool is selected, then, the first type of or the second type of diagram-configured carrier is rotated to determine an initial node, and thereby transferring multiplicand from digit 1 to digits 3, 7, or 9, or transferring multiplicand from digit 2 to digits 4, 6, or 8. Finally, proceeding number (PN) of the first transition paths, the second transition paths or the third transition paths reaching to an object node is determined to obtain a multiplier and product value of the multiplicand and the multiplier.
US09552742B2	Data diagnostic evaluation device A teaching aid to aid in evaluating data may include a frame member and an eye guide movably connected to the frame member to guide the user of the teaching aid in evaluating the data. The frame member may include a top frame wall, a pair of opposing a side frame walls to connect to the top frame wall and a bottom frame wall to connect to the pair of opposing side frame walls, and the frame member may include a divider wall to define a cavity for the data to be evaluated.
US09552741B2	Systems and methods for quantifying a sound into dynamic pitch-based graphs A system and method that quantifies a sound into dynamic pitch-based graphs that correlate to the pitch frequencies of the sound. The system records a sound, such as musical notes. A pitch detection algorithm identifies and quantifies the pitch frequencies of the notes. The algorithm analyzes the pitch frequencies, and graphically displays the pitch frequency and notes in real time as fluctuating circles, rectangular bars, and lines that represent variances in pitch. The algorithm comprises a modified Type 2 Normalized Square Difference Function that transforms the musical notes into the pitch frequencies. The Type 2 Normalized Square Difference Function analyzes the peaks of the pitch frequency to arrive at a precise pitch frequency, such as 440 Hertz. A Lagrangian interpolation enables comparative analysis and teaching of the pitches and notes. The algorithm also performs transformations and heuristic comparisons to generate the real time graphical representation of the pitch frequency.
US09552739B2	Computer-based tutoring method and system Disclosed are a computer-based tutoring method and system in which an animated tutor, an animated avatar, and at least one animated group member selected by a user are displayed on a screen. A tutorial is presented by the animated tutor. During the tutorial, an interactive question is presented. An answer is received from the user. If the answer is correct, the tutorial continues. If the answer is incorrect, a second tutorial is presented. The second tutorial is based on the incorrect answer received from the user. Dialog between the animated tutor, the animated avatar, and the animated group members may be held. Dialog among animated group members may be held.
US09552731B2	Mobile communication apparatus, mobile communication method and program A mobile communication apparatus includes an abnormality detecting unit that detects whether or not there is an abnormality on a route; and a communication unit. When second abnormality detection information which differs from first abnormality detection information that indicates the detected abnormality has been received, it is determined that whether or not the abnormalities indicated by both information items coincide with each other. If it is determined that both abnormalities coincide with each other, then whether or not it is necessary to transmit the first abnormality detection information is determined based on a positional relationship between a position of the own apparatus and an occurrence point of the abnormality at the time when the abnormality indicated by the second abnormality detection information was detected.
US09552725B2	Method and system for modeling and processing vehicular traffic data and information and applying thereof A method and system for modeling and processing vehicular traffic data and information, comprising: (a) transforming a spatial representation of a road network into a network of spatially interdependent and interrelated oriented road sections, for forming an oriented road section network; (b) acquiring a variety of the vehicular traffic data and information associated with the oriented road section network, from a variety of sources; (c) prioritizing, filtering, and controlling, the vehicular traffic data and information acquired from each of the variety of sources; (d) calculating a mean normalized travel time (NTT) value for each oriented road section of said oriented road section network using the prioritized, filtered, and controlled, vehicular traffic data and information associated with each source, for forming a partial current vehicular traffic situation picture associated with each source; (e) fusing the partial current traffic situation picture associated with each source, for generating a single complete current vehicular traffic situation picture associated with entire oriented road section network; (f) predicting a future complete vehicular traffic situation picture associated with the entire oriented road section network; and (g) using the current vehicular traffic situation picture and the future vehicular traffic situation picture for providing a variety of vehicular traffic related service applications to end users.
US09552722B2	Modular communicator for use in life critical network A modular patient communicator provides for communications with a patient implantable medical device (PIMD) and connectivity with a central authority (CA) via an unsecured network. Medical firmware and a radio facilitate wireless interrogation of the PIMD and acquisition of PIMD data. A universal communications port facilitates mechanical and signal connectivity with one or a multiplicity of disparate detachable modules, some of which provide the communicator with an external communications facility and have disparate communication protocols. The communicator is devoid of an external communications facility other than the radio and universal communications port. Life critical network software is executed in cooperation with an attached module to cause the communicator to transmit a request to a network access facility for a connection to the unsecured network, authenticate the communicator to the CA, and facilitate secured communication between the communicator and CA upon successful communicator authentication.
US09552717B1	System and method for alerting a user upon departing a vehicle A system for alerting a user of a device departing a vehicle includes a software application configured to be executed on a memory of the device. The software application performs an initial query phase to periodically query the status of a data connection between the device and the vehicle. Upon confirmation that a data connection has been established, the software application engages an armed state and periodically queries for a failure of the data connection between the device and the vehicle. Upon detecting a failure of the data connection the software application engages an alert state operative to alert a user upon failure of said data connection between the device and the vehicle.
US09552716B1	Sinkhole detector The sinkhole detector detects the formation of sinkholes in the immediate vicinity of the sinkhole detector and generates an alarm when a sinkhole is detected. The sinkhole detector is partially buried in the ground such that if a sinkhole forms underneath the sinkhole detector a weight is released into the void created by the sinkhole. The release of the weight initiates an alarm signal that a sinkhole has appeared. The sinkhole detector comprises a weight, a cable, a housing, and a control circuit.
US09552707B1	Wearable device that indicates the passage of time as a tactile sensation moving across the surface of a person's skin A wearable time-telling device that indicates the passage of time as a tactile sensation moving across the surface of the wearer's skin is disclosed. The wearable device does not require a person's vision in order to perceive the current clock time, and the device can even be discreetly used by a person who is blind or visually impaired.
US09552703B2	Vacuum crane arcade game An arcade target game uses an extendable extraction device to enter a tube of cards in a horizontal direction. The prizes are protected by the tube's outer wall that limits successful attempts to those tries that avoid the wall. A vacuum source allows the extraction device to capture the prize if the extraction device successfully enters the tube. The extraction device's effective radius can be adjusted by extending projections that reduce the tolerance between the disk and the tube's outer wall.
US09552701B2	No-skill, multi-hand blackjack A no skill, automatic play blackjack game and apparatus enables fully automated play of a blackjack machine with no skill required and the player enabled to wager one or more of three player hands against the dealer hand and/or on a dealer hand against one or more of three player hands. All play is automatic with ability to exercise choices in any hit, stand, double down or split decisions.
US09552699B2	Electronic dice games and sic bo variant A method and apparatus provide a side bet game play method for dice games and particularly Sic Bo. Multiple outcomes may be wagered on for occurrence of Trips. Excess numbers of dice beyond what are needed for a dice game outcome are reduced to the necessary number for use in the dice game by visual identification selection or exclusion by input or automatic processor selection/exclusion.
US09552698B2	Systems, devices, and methods for enhancing gaming experiences Embodiments of the present invention set forth systems, apparatuses and methods for enhancing gaming experiences using a game wheel. Accordingly, a gaming device can be configured to operate a gaming wheel having a plurality of sections. Each of the sections of the wheel includes a symbol mark and is associated with a section classification. Random selections of game wheel sections are made where selected sections associated with a first classification provide an award associated with the corresponding symbol mark and places a termination indicator in the selected section. Selected sections associated with a second classification clear one or more of the existing termination indicators, if any. Selections continue until a section associated with a termination indicator is selected.
US09552694B2	System and method of providing wagering opportunities based on gameplay The invention addressing these and other drawbacks relates to systems and methods of selecting and placing real-world wagers responsive to one or more wager triggers, obtaining outcomes of the real-world wagers, facilitating user interactions with various interactive media, and revealing the outcomes of the real-world wagers through the interactive media to give an appearance that the outcomes of the real-world wagers resulted from the user interactions even though the outcomes resulted from the real-world wagers and were determined before the user interactions. The system may provide a wager opportunity based on the occurrence of certain events with interactive media. Upon the occurrence of an event, for example, the user may be provided with an opportunity to place a wager.
US09552693B1	Use of mobile device as a direct input/output device for a player tracking system for gaming machines A mobile device is used as an input/output device for a player tracking system for gaming machines, such as slot machines. Each gaming machine has a unique identifier and each player has a unique identifier that is associated with an account of the player. Player credentials are electronically communicated via the mobile device directly to the player tracking system, and each player credential is associated with a player's unique identifier that is maintained by the player tracking system. The mobile device is also used to electronically communicate directly to the player tracking system a gaming machine that the player wishes to play. Prior to initiation of game play on a gaming machine, the player tracking system associates the unique identifier of a player with the unique identifier of a gaming machine that the player wishes to play. A play session is initiated at the gaming machine and game play at the gaming machine is associated with the account of the player, and activity from the play session is captured by the player tracking system. Information is displayed on a display screen of the mobile device during the play session, including data regarding the player that is maintained in the player tracking system.
US09552692B2	Duty free gaming rewards A gaming machine including an interface unit configured to accept game play data from a player, and a controller coupled to the interface unit. The controller includes a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores player tracking data and wherein the processor is configured to receive, via the interface unit, game play data for the player playing a primary game, initiate a play of a secondary game if a triggering event occurs, enable a player to select at least one of a plurality of different loyalty awards associated with the secondary game, determine an outcome of the secondary game, and issue a loyalty award based on the determined outcome of the secondary game.
US09552690B2	System and method for determining the volatility of a game based on one or more external data feeds Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system and method for determining the volatility of a game based on one or more external data feeds. Generally, the system is configured to communicate with and collect data from one or more external data feeds, use the collected data to determine volatility data representing the volatility of a game, and provide one or more plays of the game having the volatility represented by the volatility data. In various embodiments, the system includes a volatility determination system including a data accumulator, an external feed data analyzer, and a metric data analyzer; and a gaming system. The volatility determination system collects the data from the external data feeds and uses the collected data to determine the volatility data representing the volatility of the game, and the gaming system provides a play of the game having the volatility represented by the determined volatility data.
US09552689B2	Systems and methods for disseminating information in a gaming environment Certain embodiments provide systems and methods for awarding jackpots and disseminating information regarding jackpot awards in a gaming environment. Certain embodiments provide a method for announcing jackpot awards including detecting a jackpot awarded at a gaming terminal in the gaming system, determining satisfaction of an announcement criterion by the jackpot, and transmitting, upon satisfaction of the announcement criterion, a jackpot announcement to a group of one or more players satisfying an eligibility criterion. The jackpot announcement may include, for example, an opportunity to win an additional jackpot and/or an award of an additional jackpot. In certain embodiments, the announcement criterion identifies a jackpot sufficient to trigger a jackpot announcement and opportunity for an additional jackpot award. In certain embodiments, the eligibility criterion identifies one or more groups of one or more players who qualify for an opportunity for an additional jackpot.
US09552686B2	Video and mechanical spinning bonus wheel A gaming machine includes a combination inner video display and rotatable object. The inner video display and the rotatable object may be correlated together to form a reconfigurable object. Both the inner video display and the rotatable object can have segments wherein each segment may have an indicia associated with the segment, wherein the indicia can be a prize, a bonus multiplier, a progressive jackpot, a negative value, a bonus spin character, a loss of spin character, a blank space or a null character. The player will be rewarded with the corresponding prize(s) based upon the outcome of the combination inner video display and rotatable object.
US09552684B2	Methods and systems configured to detect and guarantee identity for the purpose of data protection and access control A security system is provided that integrates physical and logical security controls for the protection of secured resources. The resources may include physical locations and/or computing resources such as databases containing personal information. In some embodiments, information is stored in separate, codependent databases such that by isolating the components of the databases from each other, a successful attack on one component is not sufficient to enable the access of content of the other components. In some embodiments, biometric information is automatically obtained as users approach an access location, and is ready for expedited verification of identity upon request by the user.
US09552683B2	Controlling access to a resource A system is provided for controling access to a resource, the access being restricted by an access mechanism. The system comprises an access control subsystem for i) subjecting the user to one or more security measures based on use of a security input system, and ii) signaling the access mechanism to grant the user access to the resource based on the user passing the one or more security measures. The system further comprises a task interlace for accessing task data, the task data being indicative of a scheduled task of the user. The access control subsystem is further arranged for determining the one or more security measures based on the scheduled task to establish different levels of security depending on the task. Advantageously, a better adjusting of the level of security is obtained in that it is dynamically adjusted to the scheduled task of the user.
US09552680B2	Tire rotation warning A vehicle includes a tire rotation reminder system. The system includes a controller that generates a tire rotation reminder based on a predicted driving time for attaining a predetermined difference in tread wear between front tires and rear tires. The predicted driving time is based on a rate of change of a difference between a front tire circumference and a rear tire circumference. The tire rotation reminder is output when the predicted driving time is less than a predetermined time. The tire rotation reminder system may interface with at display to output additional information related to tire rotation. The tire rotation reminder may be communicated using a visual indicator, an audible indicator, and a tactile indicator.
US09552679B2	System and method for vehicle damper monitoring A vehicle damper monitoring system of the present disclosure may include at least one height sensor and at least one controller configured to receive signals from the at least one height sensor and generate a notification if the signals indicate that one or more suspension dampers of a vehicle need to be serviced.
US09552675B2	Display application and perspective views of virtual space A display management resource associated with a mobile device controls display of images on a respective display screen of the mobile device. The display management resource receives location information indicating a location of the mobile device in a geographical region. Additionally, the display management resource receives input from a user operating the mobile device. The input can be any suitable information such as a command to play back images on the display screen of the mobile device. The display management resource maps the input to content such as virtual images such as images associated with an historical event that occurred in the past. Using the virtual images, the display management resource initiates display of a rendition of the virtual images from different perspectives depending on an orientation and location of the mobile device and corresponding display screen.
US09552672B2	Dynamic graphical user interfaces for medical workstations cross-reference to related applications Dynamic systems and methods for depicting context among different views of an imaging visualization application used by a medical workstation are provided.
US09552665B2	Hidden surface removal in graphics processing systems In a graphics processing pipeline 1, a primitive depth sorting stage 9 is arranged prior to the rasterization stage 3 and rendering stage 6. The primitive depth sorting stage 9 operates to sort successive sub-sets of primitives in a stream of primitives 2 received by the graphics processing pipeline 1 based on their depth values. The so-sorted primitives are then output from the primitive depth sorting stage 9 in their sorted depth order to the rasterizer 3. This makes the depth test stages 4, 13 of the graphics processing pipeline 1 more efficient in their hidden surface removal operations, because the primitives entering the rasterizer 3 will be in depth order.
US09552663B2	Method and system for volume rendering of medical images Methods and systems for generating images including one or more anatomical objects imaged in a volume data set are provided. Volume data from a 3D or 4D ultrasound imaging system is obtained, wherein the volume data represents structures inside a body of a subject. Then, data values of selected positions in the volume data along a viewing direction are mapped to a color and opacity. Predetermined tissue similarity values for the selected positions in the volume data are obtained, wherein the tissue similarity value is associated with a selected tissue or structure. For example, the tissue or structure may be blood vessels, bone, or organs such as a liver. The opacity and lighting for each particular position is then modified based on the obtained predetermined tissue similarity value and, finally, one or more images including the selected positions representing the selected tissue or structure are generated.
US09552662B2	Method and apparatus for removing false intersection in ray tracing A method of removing an intersection test error in ray tracing includes obtaining an intersection by performing an intersection test on a ray and a primitive; determining location information of the intersection indicating whether the intersection is located inside or outside an object; determining an intersection error based on comparing the location information of the intersection to path information of the ray.
US09552661B2	Distinguishing superimposed links to a node by spreading connection points of links to node according to coordinates of bend point or opposite end point of links A method, system and computer program product for distinguishing superimposed links to a node in a drawing area. Links connected to a side of a node involved in an editing interaction are identified. The order of the identified links to be connected to the side of the node is determined by sorting the identified links based on the coordinates of the links' bend point and/or opposite end point. The connection points of these identified links are repositioned based on this determined order. By only repositioning the connection points to the node involved in the editing interaction instead of rerouting all of the links in the diagram area, the processing time is improved. Furthermore, by repositioning the connection points that were superimposed so that they are spaced apart based on the coordinates of the links' bend point and/or opposite end point, it is easier to distinguish between the different links.
US09552660B2	Imaging system and methods displaying a fused multidimensional reconstructed image In some embodiments, an imaging system displays a multidimensional visualization of a surgical site. In some embodiments, the imaging system receives a selection corresponding to a portion of the displayed multidimensional visualization of the surgical site. At the selected portion of the multidimensional visualization, the imaging system displays a portion of a multidimensional reconstructed image which corresponds to the selected multidimensional visualization such that the displayed portion of the multidimensional reconstructed image is fused with the displayed multidimensional visualization.
US09552659B2	X-ray CT device, and image reconfiguration method Difference of resolution depending on imaging position in one reconstructed image generated in the FFS method is reduced to improve measurement accuracy. The X-ray CT device interpolates missing data of the projection data obtained by the FFS method with view direction interpolation processing using real data of the projection data lining up along the angular direction of the rotational movement, and channel direction interpolation processing using real data of the projection data lining up along the channel direction, and generates a reconstructed image, in which contribution ratios of the projection data having been subjected to the view direction interpolation processing and the projection data having been subjected to the channel direction interpolation processing differ according to position of pixel in the reconstructed image.
US09552658B2	Methods and systems for video compressive sensing for dynamic imaging A compressive sensing system for dynamic video acquisition. The system includes a video signal interface including a compressive imager configured to acquire compressive sensed video frame data from an object, a video processing unit including a processor and memory. The video processing unit is configured to receive the compressive sensed video frame data from the video signal interface. The memory comprises computer readable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to generate a motion estimate from the compressive sensed video frame data and generate dynamical video frame data from the motion estimate and the compressive sensed video frame data. The dynamical video frame data may be output.
US09552648B1	Object tracking with integrated motion-based object detection (MogS) and enhanced kalman-type filtering Described is a system for object tracking with integrated motion-based object detection and enhanced Kalman-type filtering. The system detects a location of a moving object in an image frame using an object detection MogS module, thereby generating an object detection. For each image frame in a sequence of image frames, the system predicts the location of the moving object in the next image frame using a Kalman filter prediction module to generate a predicted object location. The predicted object location is refined using a Kalman filter updating module, and the Kalman filter updating module is controlled by a controller module that monitors a similarity between the predicted object location and the moving object's location in a previous image frame. Finally, a set of detected moving object locations in the sequence of image frames is output.
US09552640B2	Method of recognizing stairs in three dimensional data image A method of recognizing stairs in a 3D data image includes an image acquirer that acquires a 3D data image of a space in which stairs are located. An image processor calculates a riser height between two consecutive treads of the stairs in the 3D data image, identifies points located between the two consecutive treads according to the calculated riser height, and detects a riser located between the two consecutive treads through the points located between the two consecutive treads. Then, the image processor calculates a tread depth between two consecutive risers of the stairs in the 3D data image, identifies points located between the two consecutive risers according to the calculated tread depth, and detects a tread located between the two consecutive risers through the points located between the two consecutive risers.
US09552639B2	Plane-based self-calibration for structure from motion Robust techniques for self-calibration of a moving camera observing a planar scene. Plane-based self-calibration techniques may take as input the homographies between images estimated from point correspondences and provide an estimate of the focal lengths of all the cameras. A plane-based self-calibration technique may be based on the enumeration of the inherently bounded space of the focal lengths. Each sample of the search space defines a plane in the 3D space and in turn produces a tentative Euclidean reconstruction of all the cameras that is then scored. The sample with the best score is chosen and the final focal lengths and camera motions are computed. Variations on this technique handle both constant focal length cases and varying focal length cases.
US09552638B2	System and method for managing water A device includes an image data receiving component, a vegetation index generation component, a spatial structure variance generation component, a classification component and a water budget component. The image data receiving component receives multiband image data of a geographic region. The vegetation index generation component generates a vegetation index based on the received multiband image data. The spatial structure variance generation component generates a spatial structure variance image band based on the received multiband image data. The classification component generates a land cover classification based on the received multiband image data, the vegetation index and the spatial structure variance image band. The water budget component generates a water budget of a portion of the geographic region based on the land cover classification.
US09552635B2	Visual task feedback for workstations in materials handling facilities Visual task feedback for workstations in a materials handling facility may be implemented. Image data of a workstation surface may be obtained from image sensors. The image data may be evaluated with regard to the performance of an item-handling task at the workstation. The evaluation of the image data may identify items located on the workstation surface, determine a current state of the item-handling task, or recognize an agent gesture at the workstation. Based, at least in part on the evaluation, one or more visual task cues may be selected to project onto the workstation surface. The projection of the selected visual task cues onto the workstation surface may then be directed.
US09552631B2	Image processing using a bilateral grid Methods and systems are provided for processing digital images. An integrated grid, comprising one or more integrated values, may be generated based on processing of an image, with the generating comprising cumulatively integrating at least one value, of a cell in a bilateral grid generated based on the processed image, over the bilateral grid. A modified bilateral grid may then be generated, with generating comprising computing a sum of said at least one value over a portion of said bilateral grid, by using integrated values of said integrated grid corresponding to said portion of said bilateral grid. An output image may be generated based on the modified bilateral grid.
US09552630B2	Motion deblurring Motion de-blurring systems and methods are described herein. One motion de-blurring system includes an image sensing element, one or more motion sensors in an imaging device, a lens element that undergoes motion during a capture of an image by the sensing element, and a de-blurring element to de-blur the image captured by the sensing element via de-convolving a Point Spread Function (PSF).
US09552629B2	Medical thermal image processing for subcutaneous detection of veins, bones and the like Medical thermal image processing for vein or other subsurface element detection and related methods is provided. A method for thermal image processing to enhance thermal scene information includes taking an output of an infrared camera and coupling the output to a spatial high pass filter. An output of the spatial high pass filter is then applied to a scene-based noise suppression module.
US09552627B2	Electronic device and method in an electronic device for processing image data The invention relates to an electronic device for performing imaging, including a camera for creating image data (ID) from an imaging target (IT), the imaging target (IT) including at least one primary image object (I1) and at least one secondary image object (I2), an image-processing chain arranged in connection with the camera, for processing the image data created from the imaging target, and a focussing unit for focussing the camera on at least the primary image object. In addition, a blurring unit is arranged in the image-processing chain, to blur at least some of the said secondary image objects in the image data, and arranged to use the information produced by the focussing unit.
US09552626B1	Digital image blemish removal Techniques are disclosed for removing blemishes from a digital image by detecting pixels containing the blemishes and replacing or blending those pixels with other pixels in the image that have a relatively low probability of containing a blemish. A standard pixel mask includes a user-selected region of the image; an extended mask extends beyond the user-selected region; and a minimal output pixel mask corresponds to the user-selected region. The minimal mask increases the transparency of some regions in the standard mask while maintaining the opacity of the standard mask in the blemish areas. Colors in the extended mask are weighted and clustered, and pixels in the minimal mask are assigned varying shades of transparency as a function of the color frequency. A blemish removal algorithm is applied using the minimal mask, with semi-transparent regions receiving a blend of source and patch pixel colors according to the level of transparency.
US09552625B2	Method for image enhancement, image processing apparatus and computer readable medium using the same A method, image processing apparatus, and computer readable medium for image enhancement are provided. In the method, a low-resolution image is received and upscaled to generate an upscaled image having first pixels. Edge detection is performed on the upscaled image to obtain edge information of the first pixels. Each piece of the edge information includes an edge direction and an edge intensity, and each of the edge directions includes a horizontal and vertical component having a constant summation. A non-edge region of the upscaled image is enhanced to generate a high-resolution detail image; based on unsharp masking sharpening methods, an edge region of the low-passed upscaled image is enhanced according to the horizontal and vertical components of the edge directions to generate a high-resolution edge image. Image fusion is performed on the high-resolution edge image and the high-resolution detail image according to the edge intensities to generate a super-resolution image.
US09552624B2	Method and device for creating an improved color image with a sensor with a color filter The invention relates to an image processing device for processing image data from a digital camera comprising an image sensor with a regular pixel arrangement and an associated color filter with a predetermined color pattern. Said image processing device is designed to carry out all image processing operations with respect to a pixel of interest using image data from a single predetermined environment comprising several pixels.
US09552623B1	Variable frame rate interpolation A method of determining an output frame rate includes receiving an input sequence of frames of image data at an input frame rate, performing motion vector calculations on the frames of image data to produce motion vectors and motion statistics, determining a motion level in the frames using the motion statistics, and interpolating frames of image data at the output frame rate, wherein the output frame rate is based upon the motion level.
US09552622B2	Method and system for automatically cropping images An image cropping technique includes detecting, at a computer system including one or more processors, faces within an image and evaluating, at the computer system, the faces to determine if any of the faces correspond to people within a user's online social network. The technique additionally includes defining, at the computer system, a first crop region including a subset of the faces when at least one face within the subset of the faces corresponds to a first person in the user's online social network and cropping, at the computer system, the image based on the first crop region.
US09552621B2	Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, and computer readable medium An image processing apparatus includes a reception unit, an acquisition unit, an enlarging/reducing unit, and a detector. The reception unit receives two image data to be compared. The acquisition unit acquires character sizes of characters contained in the two image data received by the reception unit. The enlarging/reducing unit enlarges or reduces the image data received by the reception unit such that the character sizes of the characters contained in the two image data acquired by the acquisition unit coincide with each other. The detector detects a difference between the two image data which have been enlarged or reduced by the enlarging/reducing unit such that the character sizes of the characters contained in the two image data coincide with each other.
US09552620B2	Depth offset compression Zmin and Zmax are determined for depth offset compression. Then a check determines whether Zmin is equal to Zmax. If so, only one of Zmin and Zmax is used for depth offset compression and no index mask may be used. The bits that are saved thereby may be used for other purposes, including improving precision.
US09552618B2	Method for domain shading, and devices operating the same A method for domain shading may include analyzing graphics state data, and generating all first primitives through a single-pass domain shading or generating only second primitives which are visible among the first primitives through a two-pass domain shading based on a result of the analysis.
US09552616B2	Using OPC UA to automatically generate process graphics A method and device for generating a set of graphical objects to be displayed by using OPC UA (Unified Architecture) specification. The method includes indicating, by using OPC UA nodes, graphical objects to be displayed, the graphical objects representing physical components of a monitored process. Further, the method includes indicating, by using OPC UA references, how an indicated graphical object should be interconnected to another indicated graphical object when displayed. Next, the respective OPC UA node is associated with a corresponding predetermined graphical object, the set of graphical objects is generated from the associations and the individual graphical objects of the set is interconnected in accordance with the indicated interconnections. Finally, the generated set of graphical objects is displayed.
US09552612B2	Tax data management and reporting system A system and method to manage, report and collect property tax information and data in real time, which may provide a means to transmit and communicate information from a plurality of tax information sources to a plurality of tax information targets.
US09552611B2	Systems and methods for modifying resources to manage loss events Methods and systems for modifying resources equipped to manage loss events and processing associated therewith based on an analysis of real-time data. An insurance provider can maintain historical data that indicates resources usage data for managing previously-occurring loss events. The insurance provider can receive real-time first-party and third-party loss event data from a variety of sources, the loss event data being associated with a recent or forecasted loss event. The insurance provider can compare the received loss event data to the historical data to determine that resources configured to manage insurance claim processing resulting from the loss event may need to be modified. In embodiments, the resources may be hardware or software resources, a workforce, physical goods or supplies, or other resources. The insurance provider can facilitate the appropriate resource modification by interfacing with various components and entities.
US09552610B1	Online collection portal system and method A computer-implemented method for initiating online collections that includes determining a current status of an account held by an account holder, determining a real-time financial profile of the account holder using information on the banking institution computer systems and third party information providers and displaying a customized status message based on the account holder's financial profile. The method provides remediation options to the account holder.
US09552608B2	Managing duplication of content items across multiple content item lists A method of reducing duplications of content items across multiple content item lists presented to a user is disclosed. A first set of content items is received. It is detected that the first set of content items was communicated for presentation to a user in a first list. A second set of content items is received. It is determined that the second set of content items includes a duplicate content item, the duplicate content item being a content item that was included in the first set of content items. Based on a satisfaction of an omission criterion, an indication is provided that the content item is to be omitted from the second set of content items before the second set of content items is communicated for presentation to the user in a second list.
US09552605B2	Systems and methods for generating location-based group recommendations Methods and systems for generating location-aware group recommendations are discussed. For example, a method can include operations for receiving a group recommendation request, accessing user profile data associated with members of the group, and generating a group recommendation. The group recommendation request can be received at a network-based system and include identification of a first and second user as well as information identifying a current location associated with the first and second users. Accessing the user profile information can include accessing user profile information for both the first and second users. The group recommendation can be generated based on the current location data and a combination of at least a portion of the user profile data from the first and second users.
US09552602B2	Product identification system and method A product information communication system comprising a product, a product identification device retained relative to the product, product identifying information retained in electronic memory regarding the product, and a communication network permitting electronic access to the product details including the retained product identifying information. Identifying information can be accessed by wireless communication and rendered available by a central server with electronic access to product identifying information. Product details can include product characteristics, functions, construction, maintenance, performance, usage, warranty information, and instructions. Electronic tracking, analysis, and recommendation regarding product usage by sensors can be selectively induced.
US09552593B2	System and method for cross-selling A scan and link system prompts salespersons or cashiers to recommend a certain product to a customer which is associated with, or complimentary to, a product that the customer wants to buy. The scan and link system and method improves customer attention and commercial profitability. Each time a product is scanned by a salesperson, scan and link software loaded on the cash register checks a database of associated or complimentary products and displays information on the cash register display via one or more advice pop-ups. The salesperson or cashier can suggest that the customer purchase the associated or complimentary products. The database of associated or complimentary products can be generated by the store owner, and/or by experts working in the specific industry of the user. Administration tools allow the user to change the position of the advice pop-up on the display, to hide it, or adjust its display frequency.
US09552579B2	Near field communication activation and authorization A method of activation and authorization of a near field communication (NFC) enabled device comprising: receiving login information from an NFC enabled device; sending packet data via a network in response to receiving the login information from the NFC enabled device; and receiving corresponding data from the NFC enabled device in response to the sending of the packet data, the sending of the packet data and the receiving of the corresponding code facilitates the activation and authorization of the NFC enabled device, and the subsequent activation of the NFC device via a NFC link without further authorization of the NFC enabled device, is described herein.
US09552577B2	Method and apparatus for the transfer of a money amount by using a two dimension image code The present disclosure concerns a method for transferring a money amount by using a two-dimension image code. It provides that the registration of the transfer parties affected by a managing entity generates a two-dimension image code containing registration and security data. Moreover, the request of the recipient party to the paying party of the money amount occurs by a two-dimension image code generated on the display of a mobile phone of the recipient party; the payment order of the paying party to the managing entity to pay said money amount involves the capture of the two-dimension image code from the display of the recipient party and sending to the managing party an encrypted SMS message including the data, the reception of the encrypted the SMS message by a central server of the managing party, which forwards or not the request of authorization of payment of the money amount.
US09552575B2	Check cashing with a mobile phone A card actuated automated banking machine (152, 198, 200) includes a plurality of transaction function devices. The transaction function devices include a card reader (170), a printer (174), a bill dispenser (176), a display (182), a check imaging device (186), and at least one processor (190). The machine is operative, responsive to receiving a check and certification data, to dispense cash in exchange for the check. The person presenting the check to the machine need not provide user identifying inputs through input devices of the machine in order to receive cash for the check. Furthermore, prior to accepting the check as a payment, the person can communicate with at least one computer (204) through at least one consumer interface device (208) to verify that the check is payable for the check amount.
US09552573B2	Interoperable financial transactions via mobile devices A method and system provide interoperable electronic financial services using mobile communications devices and without the need for traditional banking systems like plastic cards, POS machines, branches and ATMs. A consumer can deposit and/or withdraw money from his account using his mobile device and with the help of a local agent without ever stepping inside a branch of a bank where the consumer has an account. The system uses the consumers ID and his mobile number to generate a PAN for the consumer, which is then used to route the transactions. The system uses indicators in the transaction to identify transaction purpose and thus enable appropriate interchange, clearing and settlement between participating entities. The system provides real-time feedback on the transactions and reduces costs by enabling an agent to service consumers of multiple banks and payment service providers.
US09552569B1	Removable and reusable device for object tracking Techniques for providing a removable and reusable tracking device feature in an inventory management system may be described. For example, an inventory transfer request may be received for transferring inventory within a facility. A first indication may be received that indicates one or more reusable tracking devices are associated with the inventory included in the inventory transfer request. Information about the inventory transfer request may be mapped to the association of the one or more reusable tracking devices and the inventory. In an embodiment, a location of the inventory may be determined based on location information provided by the associated one or more reusable tracking devices. The mapping between the inventory transfer information to the one or more reusable tracking devices and the inventory may be removed based at least in part on the location information indicating that the inventory is located at a particular location within the facility.
US09552566B1	Method and system for selling products over a communications network A system and method for selling services, experiences, and/or products over the Internet is presented. Customers may subscribe to a boutique product purchase feature that allows them to purchase limited offer products without proceeding through a check-out procedure. The method may include the steps of: (1) presenting the user with purchase options, (2) selecting a purchase option (3) presenting an order summary, (4) confirming the order, (5) charging an account, and (6) returning the user to a shopping page. Alternatively, the method may perform steps (1) though (5) without leaving the shopping page.
US09552564B1	Autonomous delivery transportation network Aspects of an autonomous delivery transportation network for the delivery of items are described. The network includes a central management system that directs the operation of a network of vehicles for delivering items. In one embodiment, the system receives a request for transportation including a pickup location, a delivery location, and item attribute data. The system analyzes the existing service routes of vehicles in the network to identify a vehicle compatible with the request. The system also estimates a delay to the existing service route of the vehicle with reference to the pickup and delivery locations and, when determining that the delay is acceptable, assigns the vehicle to service the request. When determining that the delay is unacceptable, the system may dispatch a new vehicle to join the network. The system may also communicate various aspects of service, such as estimated pickup and/or drop off times, to client devices.
US09552561B2	Incorporating user insights into predicting, diagnosing and remediating problems that threaten on-time delivery of software and systems Incorporating user insights in predicting, diagnosing and remediating problems that threaten on-time delivery of a project may comprise gathering information. The information may be conveyed to one or more users. A user may be allowed to input a new value associated with the project, the new value assessed based on the information and representing an expert assessment of the information. The user may be allowed to also indicate a period of time the user considers the information to be applicable. The new value and the period of time may be incorporated into data used in a prediction algorithm that predicts probability distribution of completion time of the project as the project is progressing.
US09552560B1	Facilitating communication between event attendees based on event starting time Methods and apparatus related to identifying an event task of a user, identifying one or more other attendees of the event, determining user arrival information for the user, and determining a notification to provide to at least one of the other attendees based on the user arrival information. The event task includes a starting time for an event and an event location, and the user arrival information is based on location information of the user and information associated with the event task. In some implementations, the user and/or the at least one of the other attendees may provide authorization for a notification to determined and/or sent. The notification may include information regarding the likelihood of the user arriving at the event before and/or after the starting time of the event.
US09552549B1	Ranking approach to train deep neural nets for multilabel image annotation Systems and techniques are provided for a ranking approach to train deep neural nets for multilabel image annotation. Label scores may be received for labels determined by a neural network for training examples. Each label may be a positive label or a negative label for the training example. An error of the neural network may be determined based on a comparison, for each of the training examples, of the label scores for positive labels and negative labels for the training example and a semantic distance between each positive label and each negative label for the training example. Updated weights may be determined for the neural network based on a gradient of the determined error of the neural network. The updated weights may be applied to the neural network to train the neural network.
US09552548B1	Using classified text and deep learning algorithms to identify risk and provide early warning Deep learning is used to identify specific, potential risks to an enterprise (of which litigation is the prime example) while such risks are still internal electronic communications. The system involves mining and using existing classifications of data (e.g., from a litigation database) to train one or more deep learning algorithms, and then examining the internal electronic communications with the trained algorithm, to generate a scored output that will enable enterprise personnel to be alerted to risks and take action in time to prevent the risks from resulting in harm to the enterprise or others.
US09552542B2	Encoding information in multiple patterned layers An article of manufacture includes a substrate, a first patterned layer deposited on the substrate in a first region, and a second patterned layer deposited on the substrate in a second region. The first patterned layer encodes first information in first symbols that are detectable by an optical sensor. The second patterned layer encodes second information in second symbols that are detectable by a non-optical sensor. The second information is distinct from the first information and the second region at least partially overlaps the first region.
US09552540B2	Persistent nodes for RFID An RFID transponder in one embodiment comprises a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, processing logic coupled to the RF transceiver, a switch coupled to the processing logic, a tunneling device coupled to the switch and a differential sensing circuit having a first input coupled to the tunneling device and a second input coupled to a predetermined reference voltage. In one embodiment, the tunneling device can discharge to a voltage below the predetermined reference voltage.
US09552538B2	Image forming apparatus that displays a remaining amount of recording material, and control method for displaying a remaining amount of recording material in an image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus for performing image formation using a recording material includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a remaining amount of the recording material, a prediction unit configured to predict a remaining amount of the recording material based on data used for the image formation, a setting unit configured to set the predicated remaining amount of the recording material as a remaining amount of the recording material to be displayed, and a control unit configured to perform control so that when the predicted remaining amount of the recording material reaches a remaining amount of the recording material to be acquired next by the acquisition unit, the remaining amount of the recording material to be displayed is maintained at the remaining amount of the recording material to be acquired next by the acquisition unit until the acquisition unit acquires the next remaining amount of the recording material.
US09552537B2	Color conversion method and profile generation method A tincture adjustment value used to adjust a monochrome signal to a tincture desired by a user is set, and a tincture conversion table and chromaticity line table are generated based on that tincture adjustment value and the profile of an image output apparatus. Using the generated tables, a lightness signal L* corresponding to an input monochrome signal is converted into a distance signal l on a chromaticity line, and the distance signal l is converted into a chromaticity signal (a, b). The lightness signal L* and chromaticity signal (a, b) are converted into a color signal of the image output apparatus.
US09552527B1	Apparatus, method, and computer-readable storage medium for determining a rotation angle of text An apparatus, method, and computer-readable storage medium for determining a rotation angle of text. The method includes computing, for each object of a plurality of objects included in text within an image, a distance to a closest neighboring object, computing an average distance of the distances to the closest neighboring objects, determining a ratio between the average distance and an average font stroke width, the average font stroke width being an average of a font stroke width of each of the plurality of objects, and determining a rotation angle of the text by comparing the ratio to a threshold value.
US09552525B2	Noise reduction in biometric images A system can include a processing device and a biometric sensing device operatively connected to the processing device. The processing device can be configured to remove noise from a biometric image captured by the biometric sensing device using at least two different calibration images. One calibration image characterizes noise of the biometric sensing device at a first signal level while another calibration image characterizes the noise of the biometric sensing device at a second signal level.
US09552524B2	System and method for detecting seat belt violations from front view vehicle images A system and method for detecting a seat belt violation in a vehicle. The method may include receiving an image including a region of interest where a seat belt is visible if the seat belt is buckled. One or more first features may be extracted from the image. The one or more first features may be compared to one or more second features extracted from a plurality of sample images. It may be determined whether the seat belt is buckled in the image based upon the comparison.
US09552523B2	Apparatus and method for generating virtual lane, and system for controlling lane keeping of vehicle with the apparatus Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for generating a virtual lane, which correct or estimate an undetected lane depending on detection of a lane at each side and a system for controlling lane keeping of a vehicle with the apparatus. The apparatus for generating a virtual lane according to the present invention includes: a lane detection judging unit configured to judge whether both lanes of a front road are normally detected based on a front image; a lane correction unit configured to generate a virtual lane by correcting one lane based on the other lane when it is judged that the one lane of both lanes is not normally detected; and a lane estimation unit configured to generate the virtual lane by estimating both lanes based on previously detected lane information when it is judged that either lane is not normally detected.
US09552522B2	Counting and monitoring method using face detection Video is often used to count and identify people entering and exiting an area, such as a store. This information may be used to determine the number and amount of time people are in the area, and other statistics and characteristics. These variables may be skewed by the associates employed or working in the area, instead of patrons or others. The present disclosure is directed to method for eliminating associates from video by facial analysis and the application of analytics.
US09552517B2	Tracking eye recovery A method and system for tracking eye recovery. The method includes: receiving eye data from an eyewear, wherein the eye data includes images acquired by an image capturing device in the eyewear; analyzing the eye data to determine an eye recovery status, wherein the analyzing is carried out by comparing the eye data to an initial set of eye conditions; and providing a notification of the eye recovery status.
US09552508B2	Fingerprint sensor module, portable electronic device including same, and method for manufacturing same The present invention relates to a fingerprint sensor module having excellent sensing sensitivity, to a portable electronic device including same, and to a method for manufacturing same. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a fingerprint sensor module is provided which includes: a sensing unit formed on a substrate using a conductive body; a fingerprint sensor having a sensor circuit unit electrically connected to the sensing unit; a bracket accommodating the sensing unit and receiving the fingerprint sensor; and a post-processing layer positioned on a contact surface formed on the bracket so as to face the upper surface of the sensing unit. The sum of the thickness of a supporting layer between the upper surface of the sensing unit and the contact surface, and the thickness of the post-processing layer is 0.04 mm to 0.06 mm.
US09552505B2	Barcode reader and barcode reading system having an age verification capability A barcode reader and a barcode reading system having an age verification capability are disclosed. The barcode reader may capture a barcode pattern on an identification (ID) card of an individual presented within a field of view of the barcode reader, extract date of birth information from the barcode, and verify an age of the individual. The barcode reader may provide an approve signal if it is verified that the age of the individual is greater than a high threshold or a deny signal if it is verified that the age is less than a low threshold. The low threshold is distinct from the high threshold. The age may be verified by a host computer. The barcode reader may extract a product ID and send the product ID to the host computer. The host computer may then prompt age verification operation if the product is an age-restricted product.
US09552503B2	Distributed positioning and collaborative behavior determination A system and its associated methodology for distributed positioning and collaborative behavioral determination among a group of objects, interactive tags associated with each of a plurality of objects provide to each object relative positional data and state information regarding the other nearby objects. Using this information, each object develops a spatial awareness of its environment, including the position and action of nearby objects so as to, when necessary, modify its behavior to more effectively achieve an objective.
US09552499B2	Circuit arrangement and method for safeguarding a circuit arrangement with respect to repeated light attacks In various embodiments, a circuit arrangement is provided. The circuit arrangement may include a detection circuit, which is designed to detect light attacks on the circuit arrangement; a processing circuit, which is designed to initiate a current flow through a line for each light attack detected by the detection circuit; and a control circuit, which is designed to enable functioning of a component of the circuit arrangement depending on the conducting state of the line.
US09552497B2	System and method for preventing data loss using virtual machine wrapped applications A method in one example implementation includes selecting at least one criterion for controlling data transmission from within a virtual machine. At least one application is included within the virtual machine, which includes a policy module. The selected criterion corresponds to at least one policy associated with the policy module. The method also includes evaluating the selected criterion of the policy to permit an attempt to transmit the data from within the virtual machine. In more specific embodiments, the policy may include a plurality of criteria with a first selected criterion permitting transmission of the data to a first application and a second selected criterion prohibiting transmission of the data to a second application. In another specific embodiment, the method may include updating the policy module through an administration module to modify the selected criterion.
US09552492B2	Secure application access system A proxy server creates an index of keywords, receives an encrypted record, decrypts the received encrypted record as decrypted data and, when a keyword in the index is encountered in the decrypted data, associates in the index an encrypted record location identifier with the encountered keyword. The proxy server receives a search query and uses the keyword index to retrieve encrypted records from the server. The encrypted records are decrypted and sent as search results in response to the search query.
US09552483B2	Method for managing privacy of digital images A captured digital image is stored in memory together with metadata derived from a location signal only if the location metadata is determined not to be within one or more predefined exclusion zones. A GPS receiver module can be implemented to obtain the location signal.
US09552482B2	Method for determining debug authorization for motherboard control module and associated motherboard control module By comparing a chip unique password, certification for activating a debug function can be established on the chip unique password. Thus, even when the chip unique password is lost due to negligence, not only certification for activating debugging on other motherboards of the same model number can remain unaffected, but also risks caused by replacing a chip or by a private key leakage from a system manufacturer are eliminated.
US09552480B2	Managing software deployment The method includes identifying an instance of software installed. The method further includes determining a fingerprint corresponding to the instance of software installed. The method further includes determining a security risk associated with the instance of software installed. The method further includes identifying a software management policy for the instance of software based upon the fingerprint, security risk, and designated purpose of the computing device. In one embodiment, the method further includes in response to identifying the software management policy, enforcing, by one or more computer processors, the software management policy on the instance of software installed on the computing device.
US09552479B2	Malware detection and computer monitoring methods A method is disclosed, where some embodiments of the method include installing at least one benign malware indicator on one or more computing devices, monitoring the one or more computing devices for the presence of the at least one benign malware indicator, and responsive to determining the benign malware indicator is no longer present, sending a notification indicating the benign malware indicator is no longer detected as present on the one or more computing devices. Other embodiments include performing an antivirus scan or identifying unauthorized software programs. An apparatus and one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-readable instructions capable of performing similar actions, the latter in conjunction with a computer executing instructions stored on the media, are also disclosed.
US09552474B2	Method and computer system for dynamically providing multi-dimensional based password/challenge authentication Providing multi-dimensional password/challenge authentication for a computer device includes, in response to a login request, sending a login webpage, the webpage at least comprising a set of randomly generated icons with graphical attributes for sequentially selecting; and, determining whether each icon choice entered by a user complies with at least a dimensional option preset for each digit of a preset password according to at least a dimensional option of the digit.
US09552472B2	Associating distinct security modes with distinct wireless authenticators In some aspects, a first device detects information encoded in a wireless authenticator device based on a wireless interaction between the first device and the wireless authenticator device. The first device detects the information while securing resources on the first device according to a first security mode. Based on the detected information, the first device selects a second security mode associated with the wireless authenticator device. The first device then applies the selected second security mode. The selected second security mode is one of multiple distinct security modes. Each of the multiple distinct security modes is associated with a respective one of multiple wireless authenticator devices and defines accessibility attributes of the resources on the first device.
US09552464B2	Method and apparatus for providing content protection in a computer system A computer system includes a server device which provides one or more content packages each comprising a plurality of asset files. A client device stores the content packages, and generates a virtual environment based on the asset files to be displayed on a display unit. A tracker is arranged to record an asset list directly or indirectly representing a sequence of the asset files according to progress through the virtual environment at the client device, and to distinguish between legitimate and non-legitimate behavior of the client device according to the recorded asset list.
US09552457B2	Reprogramming effector protein interactions to correct epigenetic defects in cancer Methods of “reprogramming” epigenetic mark readers or erasers to recognize epigenetic marks other than their cognate (or natural) marks are provided. Reprogramming the reader or eraser can offset the effects of aberrant writer activity (for example, loss of function or overactivity) that can contribute to certain diseases states, such as cancer. The use of the reprogramming compounds identified by these methods in the treatment of such disease states is also provided. Exemplary mark readers that can be targeted by these methods include BPTF and CBX2.
US09552450B2	Determining a user-specified location in a graphical user interface of an electronic design automation tool Methods and apparatuses are described for creating, editing, and viewing a floorplan of a circuit design. Specifically, some embodiments enable a user to perform a graphical operation at an inference point in a circuit design layout, wherein the location of the inference point is determined based on existing graphical objects in the circuit design layout. Some embodiments substantially instantaneously update a congestion indicator in _a circuit design layout in response to modifying the circuit design layout. Some embodiments substantially instantaneously update pin locations of a block or partition in response to changing the size or shape of the block or partition. Some embodiments enable a user to view a circuit design layout based on the logical hierarchy, and also based on at least one additional attribute type such as voltage, power, or clock domain.
US09552448B2	Method and apparatus for electronic system model generation A method of transmitting data is disclosed. At least one system block of a system-on-chip (SoC) is modeled at an untimed functional level in first and second untimed functional models. First and second transaction level (TL) models of the at least one system block system block are modeled at a transaction level (TL) using the first and second untimed functional models, respectively. First and second cycle accurate (CA) models are modeled at a cycle accurate (CA) level using the first and second TL models, respectively. Data is transmitted from the first untimed functional model to the first CA model, from the first CA model to the second CA model via a CA bus, and from the second CA model to the second untimed functional model.
US09552446B2	Mapping circuits A method, apparatus and program product are provided for mapping electrical circuits. A user provides an electronic record of one or more rooms with outlets to be mapped and installs a module in each outlet to be mapped. Using an interactive program, the user prepares a diagram of a circuit box. The user triggers a probe to propagate a signal detectable by said modules over a circuit and to provide circuit information. The user retrieves the circuit information from the modules. Then, the interactive program associates the circuit information from each module with a corresponding outlet on said electronic record of one or more rooms.
US09552440B1	Online information system with continuous scrolling and advertisements A web page may be rendered for display on a client device. The rendered web page may include a non-scrollable portion and a scrollable portion. The non-scrollable portion may contain a first advertisement in a particular position specified by an advertisement placeholder. The first advertisement and the scrollable portion may be based on a first document. A first scroll position of the scrollable portion may be determined to have a first characteristic. The web page may be re-rendered for display on the client device. The re-rendered web page may include the non-scrollable portion containing a second advertisement in the particular position, and the scrollable portion. The second advertisement may be different from the first advertisement. The second advertisement and the scrollable portion may be based on a second document.
US09552439B1	Online information system with continuous scrolling and advertisements A web page may be rendered for display on a client device. The rendered web page may include a first document and a first advertisement that is based on the first document. It may be determined that a first scroll position of the rendered web page has a first characteristic. Possibly responsive to determining that the first scroll position of the rendered web page has the first characteristic, a second document may be requested and received from a content server device, and, based on the second document, a second advertisement may be requested and received from an advertisement server device. The web page may be re-rendered for display on the client device. The re-rendered web page may include content from the first document, content from the second document, the first advertisement, and the second advertisement.
US09552437B1	Content position recommendations A user data-driven method and system for generating position recommendations for content links on a web page is disclosed. The method and system collect user activity data associated with a set of content links positioned in one or more content position boxes of the multiple content position boxes of a web page during an activity window. An engagement measurement associated with a particular content link of the set of content links during the activity window is determined. A performance delta for a particular content link based on the calculated engagement measurement associated with the particular content link is determined. Multiple predicted user engagement measurements associated with moving the particular content link to a plurality of updated positions is determined. The method and system generate content position recommendations associated with the particular content link based on a comparison of the multiple predicted user engagement measurements.
US09552436B2	Serving expandable content items In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented on a computer system. A quantity of slots associated with one or more publications can be received from/identified by a publisher. Slot properties for each of the slots in the received quantity of slots can be determined including determining the permitted expansion directions for the slots based on the slot properties. Content items can be selected for publishing from one or more expandable content items based, at least in part, on the possible expansion directions of the slots.
US09552432B1	Lightweight appliance for content retrieval In some embodiments, a request to retrieve a photograph is received. The request is interpreted and associated metadata for the requested photograph is retrieved. A determination is then made as to whether to retrieve the content of the photograph from either a multi-image container file or from a photo cache. The content of the photograph is then retrieved from the determined source. Finally, the content of the photograph and associated metadata are displayed on a display.
US09552413B2	Information-processing apparatus, method, system, computer-readable medium and method for automatically recording or recommending content A program vector can represent attributes of a program to be generated. EPG data can be received, and metadata necessary for generation of a program vector PP can be extracted from the EPG data. A morphological analysis can be carried out on contents and title included in the metadata to disassemble the contents and the title into words. Items included in the metadata can be subjected to a vector creation process to generate the program vector PP. An effect vector can be extracted on the basis of a genre of a program associated with the metadata. The extracted effect vector can be associated with the generated program vector PP and the processing can be ended. This can be applied to a distribution server for distributing contents.
US09552407B1	Log-based synchronization with conditional append A device may participate in a shared data state in which editing operations performed locally are distributed and synchronized with other devices participating in the shared data state. Data may be maintained in log-structured storage files on each device. Changes made locally may be represented by change descriptors conditionally appended to the end of a log. The size of the log may be monotonically increasing. Monotonically increasing identifiers may be used to implicitly or explicitly identify change descriptors. Upon conflict resolution, conditionally appended change descriptors may be committed. Non-committed change descriptors may be conditionally reappended to the end of the log for further conflict resolution.
US09552402B2	System and method for exporting data to web-based applications A system and method is provided for exporting data from a client-server, collaborative application to a relational database and/or web based application. The method is implemented on a computing infrastructure and includes extracting unstructured rich text information hosted in a client-server, collaborative application. The method further includes converting the unstructured rich text information to XML files using a series of XML APIs. The method further includes transforming the XML files (data) to XHTML using reusable stylesheets unique to each type of unstructured rich text information, and utilizing the xHMTL in a web based application.
US09552401B2	ETL tool interface for remote mainframes Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method for remote job submission. A computer receives a first job of a job stream. If the first job accesses a mainframe operating system, then the computer retrieves at least a return code threshold for the first job from a data store. If an option to build job control language is selected for the first job, then the computer generates job control language for the first job. The computer submits the first job to a job reader on the mainframe operating system using a file transfer protocol. The computer parses a retrieved output file to determine a return code for the first job.
US09552397B2	Mechanism for computing and using contextualized social media scores A social media network is monitored for postings of a control group. The control group is a group of one or more individuals that posts on a particular topic. The postings of the control group may cover all the postings of each member of the control group for a period of time. A first relative social media score is calculated for the postings of the control group on the social media network. A social media score is calculated for a social media posting of a user or entity on the social media network. The relative social media score for the control group is compared to the social media score for the user or entity to see if there is a significant difference. If there is a significant difference, an agent in a contact center to is identified respond to the social media posting of the user or entity.
US09552395B2	Methods, systems, and media for presenting recommended media content items In accordance with some implementations of the disclosed subject matter, mechanisms for presenting recommended media content items are provided. In some implementations, a method for providing media guidance is provided, the method comprising: receiving a query from a user; determining search terms from the received query; determining location information corresponding to the user and popularity information associated with a plurality of media content items and a plurality of content sources; selecting a media content item from the plurality of media content items based at least in part on the popularity information associated with each of the plurality of media content items and the search terms from the received query, wherein the selected media content item is available from the plurality of content sources; selecting at least one content source from the plurality of content sources based at least in part on the location information associated with the user and the popularity information associated with each of the plurality of content sources; and causing a recommendation interface to be presented to the user, wherein the recommendation interface includes the selected media content item that is provided from the at least one selected content source.
US09552390B2	System and method for out of order multiple query execution within stored procedure Embodiments are provided herein for efficient out-of-order (OOO) multiple query execution within a stored procedure in a database processing system. An embodiment method includes compiling a procedure comprising a plurality of statements. During the compiling, any dependencies between the statements are detected and maintained in a dependency table. The method further includes executing the procedure. During the execution, the method includes upon detecting a change in a dependency between the statements, updating the dependency in the dependency table. The statements are scheduled for OOO execution according to the dependency table with the updated dependencies.
US09552381B2	Limiting the rendering of instances of recursive elements in view output Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for limiting the rendering of instances of recursive elements in view output. A schema provides a definition of elements, wherein at least one of the elements comprises a recursive element of a recursive data type, wherein the recursive data type allows for instances of the recursive element to include instances of that same recursive data type at different levels in a hierarchy. A condition is received for terminating recursion for the recursive element. A view is generated for the schema including information on the condition for terminating the recursion, wherein the processing of the view causes a parser to chunk instances of the recursive element in schema data in response to the condition indicating to terminate recursion at the level of the instance of the recursive element being processed.
US09552378B2	Method and apparatus for saving search query as metadata with an image A computer implemented method and apparatus for saving a search query as metadata with an image, comprising receiving image search results from an image search string query, receiving one or more image files from the image search results as one or more selected image files for storage, generating metadata based on the image search string query, associating the metadata with the one or more selected image files, and storing the one or more selected image files with the metadata.
US09552375B2	Geocoding of images based on search queries Systems and methods for determining a geocode for an image based on user-provided search queries and corresponding user selections are provided. One example method includes determining a selection value for each of a plurality of search strings associated with an image based at least in part on user selection data. The method includes generating a textual document for the image based at least in part on the selection values. The textual document includes one or more of the plurality of search strings. The method includes identifying a plurality of geographic entities by analyzing the textual document using a textual processor. The method includes selecting one of the plurality of geographic entities as a primary geographic entity and associating, by the one or more computing devices, a geocode associated with the primary geographic entity with the image.
US09552374B2	Imaging workflow using facial and non-facial features A method for determining an impact score for a digital image includes providing the digital image wherein the digital image includes faces; using a processor to determine an image feature for the faces; using the processor to compute an object impact score for the faces, wherein the object impact score is based at least upon one of the determined image features; weighting the object impact score for the faces based on one of the determined image features for a face; using the processor to compute an impact score for the digital image by combining the weighted object impact scores for the faces in the image; and storing the computed impact score in a processor accessible memory.
US09552371B2	Electronic apparatus, information determining server, information determining method, program, and information determining system A method is provided for determining a category of a location. The method comprises determining, at a first time, information identifying a first device location of a first device associated with a user; and storing the first device location information and information identifying the first time in a location history. The method further comprises determining, at a second time, information identifying a second device location of the first device; and storing, in the location history, the second device location information and information identifying the second time. The method still further comprises determining, based on the location history, a category of a location.
US09552363B2	File management with placeholders Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to file system placeholders. In aspects, placeholders may be used by a client to represent remote file system objects. The placeholders may include metadata and may also include none, some, or all of the content of the represented remote file system objects. In conjunction with local file system metadata, the placeholders allow a file system namespace to be navigated and may also allow other operations to be performed on the file system objects even when the client is offline with respect to the remote file system. After connectivity is re-established with the remote file system, the placeholders may be used in synchronizing changes.
US09552357B1	Mobile device search optimizer A system is provided for a mobile device search optimizer. The system includes a storage device, a processor, and an optimizer engine. The optimizer engine, when executed by the processor, stores user input for a mobile device to the storage device. The optimizer engine also identifies a pattern of multiple user inputs entered to select a presentation view of an application on the mobile device during multiple occasions. Additionally, the optimizer engine configures the application to offer a user input option to display the presentation view in response to a selection of the user input option.
US09552352B2	Enrichment of named entities in documents via contextual attribute ranking Technologies pertaining to retrieval of contextually relevant attribute values for an automatically identified named entity in a document are described herein. Named entity recognition technologies are employed to identify named entities in the text of a document. Context corresponding to an identified named entity is analyzed to probabilistically assign a class to the named entity. Attributes that are most relevant to the class are determined, and attribute values for such attributes are retrieved. The attribute values are presented in correlation with the named entity in the document responsive to user-selection of the named entity in the document.
US09552351B2	Information processing system and information processing method for character input prediction An information processing system for input prediction that displays written character string candidates of words or phrases corresponding to an input character string in a terminal device. The terminal device acquires internal candidates by performing a search based on the input character string and transmits a candidate transmission request signal including identification information of a terminal dictionary stored in the terminal device and the input character string to a server. The server performs a search through the terminal dictionary corresponding to the identification information in the received signal and through a server dictionary dedicated to the server. From dictionary data extracted from the server dictionary, the server returns dictionary data of external candidates different from dictionary data extracted from the terminal dictionary as external candidates to the terminal device. The terminal device generates a final candidate list by arranging the internal and external candidates according to a predetermined priority.
US09552350B2	Virtual assistant conversations for ambiguous user input and goals Ambiguous input of a user received during an interactive session with a virtual agent may be processed. The virtual agent may be presented via a computing device to facilitate the interactive session with the user. The user may provide the ambiguous input, which is processed to determine a response to the input. The virtual agent may provide the response to the user. The virtual agent may also carry out a goal-based dialogue where a goal to be accomplished is identified. The virtual agent may prompt the user for information related to the goal.
US09552348B2	System and method for operating a computer application with spreadsheet functionality The present invention provides a method for operating a computer application with spreadsheet functionality. The method comprising receiving one or more inputs in one or more cells by the spreadsheet application, parsing the received inputs for the one or more cells of the spreadsheet, constructing a dependency graph for the one or more parsed input cells, evaluating at least one of the one or more parsed input cells based on one or more criteria in the dependency graph, reconstructing the dependency graph until all of the one or more input cells are evaluated, and returning an output to the spreadsheet application.
US09552347B1	Data grid cell styling systems and methods Generally discussed herein are systems and methods for data grid cell styling. A method can include defining a data structure for a data grid, inserting a data column from a column in the data grid into the data structure, defining a style column in the data structure corresponding to the inserted data column, and associating the data structure to a control for the data grid such that the data structure is bound to the control when the control is rendered, without modifying the control.
US09552345B2	Gestural annotations Gestural annotation is described, for example where sensors such as touch screens and/or cameras monitor document annotation events made by a user of a document reading and/or writing application. In various examples the document annotation events comprise gestures recognized from the sensor data by a gesture recognition component. For example, the gestures may be in-air gestures or touch screen gestures. In examples, a compressed record of the sensor data is computed using at least the recognized gestures, document state and timestamps. In some examples the compressed record of the sensor data is used to facilitate consumption of the annotation events in relation to the document by a second user. In some examples the sensor data comprises touch sensor data representing electronic ink; and in some examples the sensor data comprises audio data capturing speech of a user.
US09552344B2	Producing visualizations of elements in works of literature A visualization of literary elements of a work of literature, such as a novel or short story, is generated from meta-data records representing a digital work of literature including literary elements (humor, drama, adventure, etc.), characters, and plot devices related to a position within the work of literature where each appears. A significance level is determined for each of the elements, characters and plot devices at each position within the work of literature, and these are plotted into a sequential graph having position (e.g. timeline) axis and a significance level axis. The sequential graph is then output for printing or display. Human-generated and machine-generated meta-data may be ingested equally well by the method. Colors, line thickness, and a broken line patterns may be employed for greater visual meaning. And, the sequential graph may be annotated according to segments (e.g. chapters, sections) and dominant genre within each segment.
US09552343B2	System and method for convergent document collaboration A computing device includes a processor that carries out actions comprising: storing a causal tree structure corresponding to a document, where the causal tree structure includes a sequence of editing instructions and each editing instruction is assigned an identifier unique to such editing instruction. The method further includes receiving a user editing instruction for the document, where the user editing instruction is assigned an identifier unique to the user editing instruction. The method includes storing the user editing instruction and the identifier assigned to the user editing instruction as an additional node to the causal tree structure. The method further includes broadcasting, to a plurality of client devices, the user editing instruction and the identifier assigned to the user editing instruction.
US09552338B2	Mechanisms to compose, execute, save, and retrieve hyperlink pipelines in web browsers A method for composing and executing a plurality of hyperlink pipelines within a web browser, wherein the method comprises moving a first source hyperlink that corresponds to a first resource to a destination hyperlink that corresponds to a second resource, merging the first source hyperlink with the destination hyperlink to create a first hyperlink pipeline, moving a second source hyperlink that corresponds to a third resource to the first hyperlink pipeline, merging the second source hyperlink with the first hyperlink pipeline to create a second hyperlink pipeline, and executing the second hyperlink pipeline such that the second resource is invoked before the first resource and the third resource, and the first resource is invoked before the third resource.
US09552334B1	Geotemporal web and mobile service system and methods A system and a method are presented for providing a data schema for managing people's important relationships to other people and businesses, past-present-future plans and events, places, activities, memorable life moments and any information about anything that exists or occurred in the earth's time-space reality, as well as a set of Internet services and transactions that allow people to make plans for the future, discover what to do and where to go for their present and future, discover content and commercial offerings for places in which they are or may be interested, and let them organize, share, recall and relive their history in useful and powerful ways.
US09552325B2	Camera control interface extension bus System, methods and apparatus are described that offer improved performance of a serial bus used for Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) and/or camera control interface (CCI) operations. CCI extension (CCIe) devices are described. CCIe devices may be configured as a bus master or as a slave. In one method, a CCIe transmitter may generate a transition number from a set of bits, convert the transition number into a sequence of symbols, and transmit the sequence of symbols in the signaling state of a two-wire serial bus. Timing information may be encoded in the transitions between symbols of consecutive pairs of symbols in the sequence of symbols. For example, each transition may cause a change in the signaling state of at least one wire of the two-wire serial bus. A CCIe receiver may derive a receive clock from the transitions in order to receive and decode the sequence of symbols.
US09552322B2	Hybrid repeater for supporting backward compatibility Hybrid repeaters are described that are capable of transmitting data in accordance with different versions of a serial data protocol are described. The appropriate circuitry to be used to transmit incoming serial data is determined by monitoring sideband communication (e.g., a link training handshake) between the transmitter and the receiver.
US09552319B2	System interconnect dynamic scaling handshake using spare bit-lane A communications technique using spare bit-lanes to communicate changes in interface physical link layer bandwidth and/or active width provides for dynamic adjustment of power consumption of interface links without requiring a separate control path for exchanging the change information. One or more spare bit-lanes are used to communicate an indication of the operating frequency/active width change to the physical link layer of the remote side of the interface and an acknowledgement is sent back to provide complete handshaking of the operating characteristic change. The method can determine whether or not a spare bit-lane is available and prevent making the change if a spare bit-lane is not available until the interface is repaired and a spare bit-lane can then be used for communicating operating changes in operating frequency/active width.
US09552313B2	Delivering real time interrupts with an advanced programmable interrupt controller Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for delivering real time interrupts with an APIC are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a local advanced programmable interrupt controller including a storage location to store a non-maskable interrupt vector.
US09552312B2	Executing virtual functions using memory-based data in a PCI express SR-IOV and MR-IOV environment A method, including receiving, by an extended virtual function shell positioned on a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) configuration space, a virtual function call comprising a request to perform a specific computation, and identifying a physical function associated with the called virtual function, the physical function one of multiple physical functions positioned on the PCIe configuration space. One or more first data values are then retrieved from a virtual function instance stored in the memory, one or more first data values, the virtual function instance associated with the called virtual function, and one or more second data values are retrieved from the identified physical function. The specific computation is then performed using the first data values and the second data values, thereby calculating a result.
US09552309B2	Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing precise timing in virtual data network or storage network test environment Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing precise timing in a virtual data network or storage network test environment are provided. One method includes providing at least one peripheral device or peripheral device emulator including a timing source. The method further includes connecting the at least one peripheral or peripheral device emulator to a peripheral interface of a computing platform hosting a hypervisor on which at least one test or application under test virtual machine executes. The method further includes making the timing source available to the at least one virtual machine. The method further includes executing a test and using the timing source to provide precise timing for the test.
US09552308B2	Early wake-warn for clock gating control A request associated with a particular cache record is generated to be sent to a system component associated with a cache bank over an interconnect. A wake-warn signal is sent over a dedicated wake-warn channel to indicate to the system component that the request is to arrive. Wake-warn signals cause a disabled clock to be ungated to an enabled state. The request is then sent to the system component.
US09552300B2	Cache system using solid state drive A cache system for a storage device includes a solid state drive (SSD), a random access memory (RAM), and a cache control device. The cache control device is configured to: retrieve data from the storage device in response to a request to read data from the storage device, store at least some of the data in one or both of (i) the SSD and (ii) the RAM, when storing the at least some of the data to the RAM, write to the RAM non-sequentially with respect to a memory space of the RAM, and when storing the at least some of the data in the SSD, write to the SSD sequentially with respect to a memory space of the SSD. The cache control device comprises an SSD interface device configured to allocate memory for storing data in the SSD sequentially with respect to the memory space of the SSD.
US09552297B2	Method and apparatus for efficient cache read ahead A method for providing improved sequential read performance in a storage controller is provided. In response to the storage controller receiving a host read request from a host computer, the method includes identifying, by the storage controller, a largest burst length of a plurality of burst lengths in a memory of the storage controller, and determining a maximum number of consecutive times between bursts having a value less than a predetermined value. A burst includes a consecutive group of sequential host read requests from the same host computer. The method also includes multiplying the largest burst length of the plurality of burst lengths by the maximum number of consecutive times between bursts having a value less than the predetermined value to obtain an effective burst length and reading into a storage controller cache memory at least the effective burst length of data from storage devices coupled to the storage controller.
US09552294B2	Dynamically configuring regions of a main memory in a write-back mode or a write-through mode The described embodiments include a main memory and a cache memory (or “cache”) with a cache controller that includes a mode-setting mechanism. In some embodiments, the mode-setting mechanism is configured to dynamically determine an access pattern for the main memory. Based on the determined access pattern, the mode-setting mechanism configures at least one region of the main memory in a write-back mode and configures other regions of the main memory in a write-through mode. In these embodiments, when performing a write operation in the cache memory, the cache controller determines whether a region in the main memory where the cache block is from is configured in the write-back mode or the write-through mode and then performs a corresponding write operation in the cache memory.
US09552292B2	Apparatus and method for allocating virtual memory addresses to continuous physical addresses A storage management apparatus configured to allocate physical addresses in a physical storage area, to virtual addresses in a virtual storage area for storing data is provided. The storage management apparatus includes a processor that executes a process to define, in the physical area, a continuous area having a plurality of continuous physical addresses, and define, based on a virtual address to which a physical address in the continuous area has initially been allocated, an allocation range of virtual addresses for allocating the defined continuous area; and allocate a physical address in the defined continuous area to a virtual address in the defined relation range.
US09552291B2	Memory management method A method for managing main memory including DRAM and NVRAM in a computer depending on the operation state of the computer is provided. The method includes: (a) upon start of the computer, loading a program and the like into the DRAM, and loading predetermined read-only data and the like into the NVRAM; (b) in a state transition from a normal operation to a suspend state, moving data in the DRAM to the NVRAM; (c) in a state transition from the suspend state to the normal operation, reading data from the NVRAM for program execution; (d) in the case where a data write to the NVRAM occurs, stopping the data write, and moving data in a data area of the NVRAM subjected to the data write, to the DRAM; and (e) performing the data write to the DRAM to which the data has been moved.
US09552290B2	Partial R-block recycling An apparatus includes a non-volatile memory and a controller. The non-volatile memory includes a plurality of R-blocks. The controller is coupled to the non-volatile memory. The controller is configured to (i) write data using the R-blocks as a unit of allocation and (ii) perform recycling operations selectively on either an entire one of the R-blocks or a portion less than all of one of the R-blocks.
US09552287B2	Data management method, memory controller and embedded memory storage apparatus using the same A data management method, a memory controller and an embedded memory storage apparatus are provided. The embedded memory storage apparatus has a plurality of physical blocks and each of the physical blocks has fast physical pages and slow physical pages. The method includes detecting a status of a state indication unit. The method further includes automatically reading data stored in the embedded memory storage apparatus, using the fast and slow physical pages of the embedded memory storage apparatus to re-store the data and marking status of the state indication unit as a second status when the status of the state indication unit is a first status. Accordingly, the storage space of the embedded memory storage apparatus can be efficiently used.
US09552283B2	Spreadsheet data transfer objects Various systems and methods are disclosed for automatically generating a spreadsheet template to store information usable to generate one or more data transfer objects for input to a system under test. One such method involves identifying one or more properties of a data transfer object to be input to a software system under test. Identifying the properties of the data transfer object involves inspecting one or more structural requirements of a module within the software system under test that consumes that data transfer object. The method then automatically generates a spreadsheet template corresponding to the data transfer object, such that the spreadsheet template includes a respective column for each of the properties of the data transfer object. The spreadsheet template is configured to store information representing one or more versions of the data transfer object.
US09552281B2	Utilizing a test automation tool in a test automation environment Systems and methods are disclosed for integrating JAVA objects, such as handlers, into a scripting language to be used as part of a test automation environment including a test automation tool. The environment can access and execute one or more script files coded using diverse scripting languages designed to exercise and test DNS servers, registries, and/or other network entities. The test automation tool can invoke a set of generalized handlers that may comprise compiled JAVA objects configured to perform specific testing functions. The test automation tool may load a script for a test case and a scripting language, establish a controller, and interface the script to the intermediate JAVA handlers to abstract individual script files for use in a more universal fashion, avoiding incompatibilities that can arise between various script languages.
US09552280B2	Visual analysis and debugging of complex event flows Methods, systems, and computer-readable media to generate a user interface (UI) to analyze a complex event processing (CEP) query are disclosed. A particular method includes receiving data representing an event flow associated with execution of a CEP query. The CEP query includes a plurality of operators. A UI including a graph is generated. The graph includes a plurality of nodes. Each node of the graph corresponds to an operator of the CEP query, and each edge of the graph corresponds to a stream between operators of the CEP query. The method includes receiving an input identifying a particular node of the graph, where the particular node corresponds to a particular operator of the CEP query. In response to the input, an operator-specific output associated with at least one event processed by the particular operator is displayed.
US09552279B2	Data bus network interface module and method therefor A data bus network interface module for enabling reception and transmission of application messages to/from at least one host processing module of an integrated digital signal processing device via a data bus network is described. The data bus network interface module being arranged to receive at least one data bus message from at least one remote network node via the data bus network, read an identifier field of the received at least one data bus message, and make data content of the received at least one data bus message available to at least one debug module if the identifier field comprises an identifier value defined for debug use.
US09552278B1	Configurable code fingerprint A method, computer program product, and system performing a method that include a processor defining a code fingerprint by obtaining parameters describing at least one of an event type or an event. The code fingerprint includes a first sequence. The processor loads the code fingerprint into a register accessible to the processor. Concurrent with executing a program, the processor obtains the code fingerprint from the register and identifies the code fingerprint in the program by comparing a second sequence in the program to the first sequence. Based on identifying the code fingerprint in the program, the processor alerts a runtime environment where the program is executing.
US09552276B1	Query-based software dependency analysis Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for generated aggregated dependencies between software elements in a code base. One of the methods includes receiving a query that defines a dependency between the software elements in a project. Searching a database to identify matching source software elements having the one or more source attributes and target software elements having the one or more target attributes of the query. Identifying pairs of matching source software elements and matching target software elements having the specified relationship, and generating, for each pair of matching source software elements and matching target software elements having the specified relationship, a new dependency in a raw dependency graph, the new dependency being a dependency from a source software element of the pair to the target software element of the pair.
US09552273B2	Health reporting from non-volatile block storage device to processing device Methods and devices are provided for adapting an I/O pattern, with respect to a processing device using a non-volatile block storage device based on feedback from the non-volatile block storage device. The feedback may include information indicating a status of the non-volatile block storage device. In response to receiving the feedback, a storage subsystem, included in an operating system executing on processing device, may change a behavior with respect to the non-volatile block storage device in order to avoid, or reduce, a negative impact to the non-volatile block storage device or to enhance an aspect of the non-volatile block storage device. The feedback may include performance information and/or operating environmental information of the non-volatile block storage device. When the non-volatile block storage device is not capable of providing the feedback, the processing device may request information about the non-volatile block storage device from a database service.
US09552267B2	SATA receiver equalization margin determination/setting method and apparatus Apparatuses, methods and storage medium associated with automatic SATA receiver equalization margin determination and setting, are disclosed. In embodiments, an apparatus may comprise a BIOS configured to determine, during POST, whether a device is attached to one of the SATA ports, and on determination that a device is attached to one of the SATA ports, further determine whether a receiver equalization margin has been set for the device. Additionally, the BIOS may be configured to perform a DTLE training to dynamically determine and set the receiver equalization margin for the device, on determination that a receiver equalization margin has not been set for the device. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US09552266B2	Systems and methods for data generation The invention provides, in one aspect, a digital data processor-based test data generator, that includes a digital data processing system with one or more digital data processors that are coupled for communications. A scenario creator executes on the digital data processing system and accepts, for each of one or more entities (“domains”), a plurality of parameters, including a hierarchical relationship between that entity and one or more other entities, a priority-of-test-data-creation relationship between that entity and one or more entities, and one or more attributes of that entity. The scenario creator generates a parameter set that defines a test data set specifying the aforesaid entities, relationships and attributes. The test generator further includes an engine that enumerates values for the entities and their attributes in an order determined by the aforesaid relationships.
US09552265B2	Information processing apparatus and storage system There is provided an information processing apparatus including a control unit. The control unit adds type information indicating a first type in a first operation request in which operation target storage devices are specified by unique identifiers, respectively, used in a first storage apparatus and outputs the first operation request to the first storage apparatus through the network. When the control unit transmits the first operation request to a second storage apparatus and receives an error response indicating a type error from the second storage apparatus after transparent failover is executed, the control unit adds type information indicating the second type in a second operation request in which operation target storage devices are specified by unique identifiers, respectively, used in the second storage apparatus and outputs the second operation request to the second storage apparatus through the network.
US09552264B1	Server-side failover between dedicated VNIC servers Virtual Network Interface Connection (VNIC) is a client-server protocol that virtualizes access to a single physical Ethernet network adapter. “Dedicated VNIC” describes a configuration where a VNIC server is connected to a single VNIC client via a command/response queue (CRQ), allowing minimal overhead when communicating between the client and the Ethernet network adapter. A VNIC server failover mechanism includes multiple VNIC servers on a prioritized list. The top VNIC server on the prioritized list is selected to serve a VNIC client when a CRQ is opened by the client. When the selected VNIC server stops working, the VNIC server failover mechanism selects the next VNIC client in the prioritized list as the active VNIC server, and establishes a connection to the VNIC client's CRQ. In this manner, recovery of a failure in a VNIC server is done in a way that does not require any changes to the VNIC client.
US09552262B2	Method, system and program product for deploying and allocating an autonomic sensor network ecosystem The present invention provides a method, system and program product for deploying, allocating and providing backup for an autonomic sensor network ecosystem. Under the present invention, the autonomic sensor network ecosystem includes: (1) a set (e.g., one or more) of sensor networks for storing data components; (2) a set of sensor collector information gateways in communication with the sensor networks; and (3) a set of enterprise gateways and storage hubs (hereinafter enterprise gateways). Each sensor network includes a set of sensor peers and at least one super peer. The super peer manages the sensor network and communicates with the set of sensor collector information gateways. The autonomic sensor network ecosystem of the present invention is deployed and allocated in such a manner that backup and resiliency is provided.
US09552261B2	Recovering data from microslices in a dispersed storage network A method begins by a processing module of a dispersed storage network (DSN) identifying a data segment to be retrieved from storage units of the DSN, where the data segment is encoded into a set of encoded data slices that is divided into block sets of encoded data slices, and where each storage unit stores a block set of encoded data slices. The method continues with the processing module generating a set of read requests in accordance with retrieval information which assures that at least a decode threshold number of encoded data slices of the set are retrievable, where each request includes identity of a block set a number of encoded data slices that are to be read from a storage unit. The method continues with the processing module sending the set of read requests to the storage units and decoding received encoded data slices to recover the data segment.
US09552260B2	Using an object retain block in a virtual machine A method for using a retain block in application code executing on a virtual machine includes identifying an instruction in application code, the instruction pertaining to an object, determining the instruction is part of a retain block, prior to executing the instruction, determining whether the instruction is to cause the object to be modified, and when the instruction is to cause the object to be modified, storing data indicating a first state of the object in a retain block store and causing the first state of the object to be modified using a second state. Also, the method includes in response to an error occurring during an execution of the instruction, returning the object from the second state to the first state using the stored data.
US09552251B2	Neighboring word line program disturb countermeasure for charge-trapping memory Techniques for reading data from memory cells arranged along a common charge trapping layer. One example is in a 3D stacked non-volatile memory device. Memory cells on a word line layer WLLn can be disturbed by programming of memory cells on an adjacent word line layer WLLn+1, resulting in uncorrectable errors. The memory cells on WLLn are read in a data recovery read operation which applies an elevated pass voltage to WLLn+1. The elevated pass voltage decreases and narrows the threshold voltages on WLLn, which facilitates reading. The data recovery read operation compensates for the lower threshold voltages of the cells by lowering the control gate voltage, raising the source voltage or adjusting a sensing period, demarcation level or pre-charge level in sensing circuitry. The elevated pass voltage can be stepped up in repeated read attempts until there are no uncorrectable errors or a limit is reached.
US09552250B2	Detecting X86 CPU register corruption from kernel crash dumps Discovering a hardware failure in a processor is disclosed. When an operating system or application fails, a function containing the instruction that failed along with the register set of the CPU at the failure is recorded. The function is analyzed into its basic blocks. The failing instruction, the failing basic block, the definitions that reach the failing instruction, and the CPU register set at the failure provide information to determine whether the failure was caused by hardware or software. If, after a complete search of the definitions reaching the failing instruction, the search discovers a first definition defining the failing instruction and a second definition defining the first definition such that the second definition reaches the failing instruction and the first definition assigns a register value that does not match a register value in the failing instruction, then a hardware failure is the cause of the crash.
US09552248B2	Cloud alert to replica Systems, methods, and computer readable storage mediums for generating an alert on a failure of a storage subsystem to phone home to the cloud in a replication environment. A dataset is replicated from a first storage subsystem to a second storage subsystem. The first and second storage subsystems also phone home log data to the cloud on a periodic basis. In response to detecting a failure of the first storage subsystem to phone home, the cloud generates and sends an alert to the second storage subsystem. In response to receiving this alert, the second storage subsystem starts disaster recovery operations for the dataset.
US09552247B2	Method for detection of soft media errors for hard drive Some embodiments are directed to a method, corresponding system, and corresponding apparatus for detecting unexpectedly high latency, due to excessive retries of a given storage device of a set of storage devices. Some embodiments may comprise a processor and associated memory. Some embodiments may monitor one or more completion time characteristics of one or more accesses between the given storage device and one or more host machines. Some embodiments may then compare the one or more completion time characteristics with a given threshold. As a result of the comparison, some embodiments may report, by the one or more host machines, at least one error associated with the given storage device. The error may be unreported by the set of storage devices.
US09552240B2	Exposure of remotely invokable method through a webpage to an application outside web browser Web browsing environments are commonly used to facilitate user interaction with data over the Internet. A web browser is a tool used to view and interact with a webpage. A webpage may interface with a web service to provide remote functionality that the webpage does not locally provide. An effective method for specifying and consuming remote functionality that an application invokes outside of the web browser is disclosed herein. A webpage exposes remote functionality (e.g., web service) that a web browser and/or browser extensions may discover through browsing the webpage. A browser extension associated with an application determines whether the application is compatible with the remote functionality. Once a compatible application is determined, it may be executed so as to connect to and invoke the remote functionality outside of the web browser. The application may provide a more robust experience with the remote functionality compared to the web browsing environment.
US09552239B2	Using sub-processes across business processes in different composites A system and method for facilitating reuse of a portion of process logic by different processes. An example method includes providing a subprocess that is adapted to perform the process logic in a file accessible to a composite system, wherein the subprocess is adapted to be called by a first parent process via a subprocess extension to a business process language employed to encode the first parent process; using a call activity defined as part of the subprocess extension, and included in a scope of the first parent process to facilitate access to functionality of the subprocess by the parent process; and employing a business process engine to facilitate instantiating the subprocess, resulting in an instantiated subprocess in response thereto; and using a second parent process to share use of the instantiated subprocess with the first parent process.
US09552235B2	Using pagerank algorithm-based lock analysis to identify key processes for improving computing system efficiency A system is described for identifying key lock contention issues in computing devices. A computing device is executed and lock contention information relating to operations during execution of the computing device is recorded. The data is parsed and analyzed to determine blocking relationships between operations due to lock contention. Algorithms are implemented to analyze dependencies between operations based on the data and to identify key areas of optimization for performance improvement. Algorithms can be based on the Hyperlink-Induced Topic Search algorithm or the PageRank algorithm.
US09552232B2	System and process to recommend cloud service cloud configuration based on service similarity A method provides a recommendation for a cloud configuration for deploying a service. In response to receiving a service request, a database is searched for a cloud configuration. The search is performed by acquiring a resource usage pattern for the service. The resource usage pattern is mapped to a multidimensional space, which is searched for a previously deployed cloud configuration having a similar resource usage pattern. In response to finding a previously deployed cloud configuration, the activity management is determined for the previously deployed cloud configuration. A recommendation is made based on the activity management.
US09552231B2	Client classification-based dynamic allocation of computing infrastructure resources Methods and apparatus for classification-based dynamic allocation of computing resources are described. A method comprises determining usage data sources corresponding to one or more clients of a computing infrastructure, and assigning values to client classification categories associated with a particular client based on metrics obtained from the particular client's usage data sources. The method includes generating a recommendation mapping between values of the client classification categories, and one or more resources of the infrastructure, based at least in part on resource classification information. The method further includes allocating at least a portion of the one or more resources to the particular client based at least in part on the recommendation mapping.
US09552230B2	Apparatus and method for allocating a task based on measured and estimated core usage A task allocating apparatus capable of improving task processing performance is provided. The task allocating apparatus measures a core usage of a plurality of tasks that are run in multiple cores, according to predetermined periods, estimates a core usage of each task for a following period based on the measured core usages, and allocates one or more tasks to the multiple cores based on the estimated core usage.
US09552228B2	Instruction set extension concealment in data centers Technologies are generally described for systems, devices and methods effective to execute a first computing task by a processor of a data center. In some examples, the first computing task may be executed using an instruction set extension. Execution of the first computing task using the instruction set extension may require a first number of clock cycles. In other examples, execution of the first computing task without using the instruction set extension may require a second number of clock cycles. In some examples, a savings value may be determined. The savings value may represent a difference between the first number of clock cycles and the second number of clock cycles. An amount of processing time may be allocated on the processor to a second computing task. The amount of processing time may be based on the savings value. The second computing task may be different from the first computing task.
US09552225B2	Data processing system with data transmit capability A data processing system with data transmit capability comprising an operating system for supporting processes, such that the process are associated with one or more resources and the operating system being arranged to police the accessing by processes of resources so as to inhibit a process from accessing resources with which it is not associated. Part of this system is an interface for interfacing between each process and the operating system and a memory for storing state information for at least one process. The interface may be arranged to analyze instructions from the processes to the operating system, and upon detecting an instruction to re-initialize a process cause state information corresponding to that pre-existing state information to be stored in the memory as state information for the re-initialized process and to be associated with the resource.
US09552224B2	Apparatus and method of data capture A method of capturing the state of a target program that is running within the environment of an operating system is provided. The method includes identifying threads associated with the target program, suspending threads associated with the target program, preserving data characterizing the threads, and preserving data accessible by the threads when in operation. A method of changing the state of a target program that is running within the environment of an operating system is also provided. This method includes identifying threads associated with the target program, suspending threads associated with the target program, replacing data characterizing the threads with previously preserved data, and replacing data accessible by the threads when in operation with previously preserved data. In either case, the threads are then resumed to allow the target program to continue operation.
US09552222B2	Experience-based dynamic sequencing of process options For experience-based dynamic sequencing of a set of process options, a first process option is executed at a first stage in a first sequence for a first set of members. The sequence includes several stages of executing a subset of the process options. An experience value is determined corresponding to executing the first process option. The experience value is normalized to calculate a normalized experience value corresponding to the first process option. Using the normalized experience value in a later stage from the plurality of stages, an evaluation is made whether a first trigger threshold is satisfied in a first activation function of a second process choice. When the first trigger threshold of the first activation function being satisfied, the second process choice is included in the first sequence at the later stage.
US09552221B1	Monitoring application execution using probe and profiling modules to collect timing and dependency information A system and method for analyzing application execution of multi-threaded applications is disclosed. An exemplary system includes a portable inter-thread communication mechanism; a profiling module; and an external interpretation application. A communication mechanism may be used to implement communication among a plurality of application threads. Responsive to an indication that an application should be monitored, a profiling module may profile at least one of a plurality of application threads to monitor and measure the thread's communications. Profiling information may be logged and the log may be provided to the external interpretation application. The external interpretation application may then parse the log and produce a graphic representation of execution metrics based on the information parsed from the log. The graphic representation may allow an end-user to acquire information and determine several statistics regarding the application's execution.
US09552217B2	Using active/active asynchronous replicated storage for live migration Examples perform live migration of VMs from a source host to a destination host. The disclosure changes the storage environment, directly or through a vendor provider, to active/active synchronous and, during migration, migrates only data which is not already stored at the destination host. The source and destination VMs have concurrent access to storage disks during migration. After migration, the destination VM executes, with exclusive access to the storage disks, and the system is returned to the previous storage environment (e.g., active/active asynchronous).
US09552210B2	Volatile memory device and methods of operating and testing volatile memory device A method is provided for operating a volatile memory device. The method includes performing a first initialization operation for the volatile memory device based on a boot code received from an external memory controller, storing the boot code in an internal register, reading the boot code stored in the internal register based on a first signal received from the external memory controller when the first initialization operation is not normally performed, and performing a second initialization operation for the volatile memory device based on the boot code read from the internal register.
US09552208B2	System, method, and computer program product for remapping registers based on a change in execution mode A system, method, and computer program product are provided for remapping registers based on a change in execution mode. A sequence of instructions is received for execution by a processor and a change in an execution mode from a first execution mode to a second execution mode within the sequence of instructions is identified, where a first register mapping is associated with the first execution mode and a second register mapping is associated with the second execution mode. Data stored in a set of registers within a processor is reorganized based on the first register mapping and the second register mapping in response to the change in the execution mode.
US09552206B2	Integrated circuit with control node circuitry and processing circuitry Traditionally, providing parallel processing within a multi-core system has been very difficult. Here, however, a system is provided where serial source code is automatically converted into parallel source code, and a processing cluster is reconfigured “on the fly” to accommodate the parallelized code based on an allocation of memory and compute resources. Thus, the processing cluster and its corresponding system programming tool provide a system that can perform parallel processing from a serial program that is transparent to a user. Generally, a control node connected to the address and data leads of a host processor uses messages to control the processing of data in a processing cluster. The cluster includes nodes of parallel processors, shared function memory, a global load/store, and hardware accelerators all connected to the control node by message busses. A crossbar data interconnect routes data to the cluster circuits separate from the message busses.
US09552205B2	Vector indexed memory access plus arithmetic and/or logical operation processors, methods, systems, and instructions A processor including a decode unit to receive a vector indexed load plus arithmetic and/or logical (A/L) operation plus store instruction. The instruction is to indicate a source packed memory indices operand that is to have a plurality of packed memory indices. The instruction is also to indicate a source packed data operand that is to have a plurality of packed data elements. The processor also includes an execution unit coupled with the decode unit. The execution unit, in response to the instruction, is to load a plurality of data elements from memory locations corresponding to the plurality of packed memory indices, perform A/L operations on the plurality of packed data elements of the source packed data operand and the loaded plurality of data elements, and store a plurality of result data elements in the memory locations corresponding to the plurality of packed memory indices.
US09552202B2	Automated and heuristically managed solution to quantify CPU and path length cost of instructions added, changed or removed by a service team Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system, and computer program product for qualifying changes to an instruction set in source code. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for quantifying changes to an instruction set in source code can be provided. The method can include receiving text in a code editor as an edit to source code of a computer program querying a data store of code change costs with at least a portion of the edit. The method additionally can include retrieving in response to the query a code change cost associated with the edit. Finally, the method can include displaying in the code editor the retrieved code change cost.
US09552201B2	System and method for incremental software installation Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for performing incremental software installations. The system identifies a set of files associated with one or more software programs. Each file can be a component of a software program, or any file accessed by the software program or system when the software program is executed. The system receives a list of files associated with a software version that is not installed on the system. The system determines the differences between the set of files and the list of files, and receives a missing file from the list of files based on the differences. Finally, the system builds the software version on the system using the set of files and the missing file. In building the software version, the system does not assume a linear progression of updates and is able to reuse existing files to create nonlinear variations of software.
US09552200B1	System and method for providing supplemental functionalities to a computer program via an ontology instance Supplemental functionalities may be provided for an executable program via an ontology instance. In some embodiments, a computer program (e.g., an executable program or other computer program) associated with an ontology may be caused to be run. The ontology may include information indicating attributes for a set of applications. An instance of the ontology may be obtained, which may correspond to an application of the set of applications. Based on the ontology instance, supplemental information may be generated for the computer program. The supplemental information may be related to one or more functionalities of the application to be added to the executable program. The supplemental information may be provided as input to the computer program. The supplemental information, at least in part, may cause the one or more functionalities of the application to be made available via the executable program.
US09552199B2	Method and apparatus of prompting an update of an application A method and apparatus of updating an application are disclosed. The method includes calculating an error probability of a designated application when running under one or more designated conditions in an event that the application includes updateable content, the one or more designated conditions including an attribute and/or a runtime environment of the application; and pushing an update prompt of the application to a terminal device that satisfies the one or more designated conditions in response to the error probability satisfying a preset condition. The embodiments of the present disclosure reduce the number and the frequency of pushing other unnecessary update prompts, reduce the consumption of resources of a server system, reduce the number and the frequency of responses of a terminal device with respect to the update prompts, and also decrease the consumption of system resources of the terminal devices.
US09552198B2	Drift management of images Techniques are described for managing drift within a standardized environment. According to one embodiment, an end state definition is stored that identifies a standard set of source components for a plurality of targets. A drift manager determines that at least one target of the plurality of targets has drifted from the standard set of source components identified by the end state definition. After determining that the at least one target of the plurality of targets has drifted from the standard set of source components identified by the end state definition, the drift manager reconciles the at least one target with the end state definition.
US09552197B2	Computer-readable recording medium storing information processing program, information processing apparatus, and information processing method A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium stores therein a program for causing an information processing apparatus to execute a process including analyzing a source program with respect to the information processing apparatus that starts hardware prefetching upon detecting an access to a consecutive area on a main storage device and stops the hardware prefetching upon detecting an end of the access to the consecutive area, specifying an array structure in a loop process as a hardware prefetching target, and generating, from the source program, a machine language program in which the array structure is changed so that a second access occurring next to a first access to the array structure refers to an area being consecutive from the area being referred to by the first access.
US09552195B2	Enlarging control regions to optimize script code compilation Disclosed here are methods, systems, paradigms and structures for incrementally compiling scripts at runtime to generate executable code. The incremental compilation generates executable code corresponding to basic blocks of a script in various phases and at various scopes. In a first phase, an executable code for a basic block of the script is generated for a set of types of variables of the basic block. The generated executable block is stored and executed for subsequent requests. In a second phase, a set of executable blocks whose profiling information, such as frequency of (a) execution, (b) transition between two executable blocks, or (c) execution of a particular path, satisfies an optimization criterion is identified. The identified set of executable blocks are combined to generate an executable control region, which is more optimal than the executable blocks generated in the first phase. The executable control region is executed for subsequent requests.
US09552193B2	Automated compiler specialization for global optimization Techniques are provided herein for the offline static analysis of a stable code base in order to build a compiler and tools specialized to that code base. This allows global code base knowledge to be applied earlier in the compilation process giving better opportunities for optimization. The offline static analysis produces specialized compiler components that are then used to rebuild the compiler. This results, over time, in a compiler specialized to the code base with improved optimization after every compiler release cycle.
US09552190B1	Fused floating point datapath with correct rounding In accordance with some embodiments, a floating point number datapath circuitry, e.g., within an integrated circuit programmable logic device is provided. The datapath circuitry may be used for computing a rounded absolute value of a mantissa of a floating point number. The floating point datapath circuitry may have only a single adder stage for computing a rounded absolute value of a mantissa of the floating point number based on one or more bits of an unrounded mantissa of the floating point number. The unrounded and rounded mantissas may include a sign bit, a sticky bit, a round bit, and/or a least significant bit, and/or other bits. The unrounded mantissa may be in a format that includes negative numbers (e.g., 2's complement) and the rounded mantissa may be in a format that may include a portion of the floating point number represented as a positive number, (e.g., signed magnitude).
US09552188B1	Method and device for displaying supplemental information while rendering a playlist A media player device and method for receiving and playing a playlist is provided. The device has a transceiver to wirelessly send and receive communication, a memory, a control system connected to the memory and the transceiver, and at least one speaker to play the plurality of songs. The control system and method receive a command to log into an account before receiving a playlist, receive and display the playlist identifying a plurality of songs in a menu with context sensitive icons representing different functions, receive and display information associated with an artist from a currently playing song of the plurality of songs in the playlist, receive and display information on a related song that is from a genre similar to that of one of the currently playing song, and receive and display advertising. The method provides for the speaker to play the plurality of songs.
US09552186B2	Data processing method and electronic device A data processing method and an electronic device are disclosed. The method comprises: causing at least one display content displayed by the at least one input/output display unit respectively to be independent from each other, so that processing on one current input/output display unit only affects the display content of the current input/output display unit, but does not affect other input/output display unit(s); obtaining a user operation on the at least one display area; synchronizing a system message between the at least one input/output display unit in response to the user operation, so that consistent system service is obtained from the at least one input/output display unit, wherein the at least one display content are identical or not identical.
US09552185B2	Information processing apparatus which stores a setting state to be acquired by a client apparatus When causing a printing apparatus to execute printing via a server apparatus, a print job is transmitted to the server apparatus. When acquiring a print setting set in the server apparatus or the printing apparatus, a setting job concerning the print setting is transmitted to the server apparatus. In accordance with transmission of the print job or the setting job, the status of printing by the printing apparatus based on the print job or the print setting corresponding to the setting job is acquired from the server apparatus as the status of the printing apparatus. The print environment of the server apparatus is determined based on the acquired status.
US09552182B2	Printing using multiple print processing resources A method of managing an electronic document (ED). The method includes: receiving, by a print manager, the ED and an output location; sending, by the print manager, a first portion of the ED to a plurality of print processing resources (PPRs); receiving, by the print manager, a first raster image file associated with the first portion from a first winning PPR of the plurality of PPRs; sending, by the print manager, an interrupt message to a losing PPR of the plurality of PPRs; and sending, by the print manager, the first raster image file to the output location.
US09552181B1	Method and apparatus for authorizing a print device to perform a service A document printing system may include a print engine, a controller coupled to the print engine and a communication port in electrical communication with the controller. The communication port can read a portable memory device, which stores an electronic secure file for authorizing the print engine. The portable memory device may store data such as the device identification code, the vendor identification code, the creation date for the electronic secure file. The electronic secure file may also store the device identification code, the vendor identification code, the creation date for the file itself, as well as a balance amount. The system may authorize a print engine by comparing the data in the electronic secure file and data stored on the portable memory device. If the comparison of data finds a mismatch, the system may determine that the print engine is not authorized; or that the service is authorized if otherwise.
US09552180B2	Information processing device, method and non-transitory computer-readable medium for selecting communication interface on basis of number of times communication interface request rejected An information processing device includes multiple communication interfaces, a holding unit, a counting unit, and a processing unit. The holding unit holds requests for the multiple communication interfaces in order for each of the communication interfaces, respectively. The counting unit counts a number of times that a turn to process the requests was not given for each of the communication interfaces. The processing unit selects one of the communication interfaces on the basis of the number of times, and processes the request being held for the selected communication interface.
US09552178B2	Printing system and image forming apparatus A printing system includes a distribution apparatus, print servers, and an image forming apparatus. Upon each reception of print data, the distribution apparatus distributes the print data to one print server, the print server creates a print job from the print data and transmits the print job to the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus executes the print job. Each print server includes an identifier addition unit adding identifier of the print server to a created print job, the image forming apparatus includes an exception event determination unit, upon reception of a print job from one print server, determining whether exception event has occurred in the print server based on identifier added to the print job, and the distribution apparatus includes an exclusion unit, when exception event has occurred in one print server, excluding the print server from candidates for distribution destination of a subsequent print job.
US09552175B2	System and method for providing a command buffer in a memory system A system for interfacing with a co-processor or input/output device is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the system is configured to receive a command from a host memory controller of a host system and store the command in a command buffer entry. The system determines that the command is complete using a buffer check logic and provides the command to a command buffer. The command buffer comprises a first field that specifies an entry point of the command within the command buffer entry.
US09552172B2	Storage processing apparatus, computer-readable recording medium storing program for controlling storage, and storage system A storage processing apparatus controls a second volume of a second virtual storage device storing a duplicate of a first volume of a first virtual storage device, the storage processing apparatus including a memory that stores a first identifier of the first volume received from the first virtual storage device; and a controller that establishes the first identifier stored in the memory as a second identifier of the second volume, and reports the first identifier established by the establishing in accordance with a notification request of the second identifier.
US09552171B2	Read scrub with adaptive counter management A number of complimentary techniques for the read scrub process using adaptive counter management are presented. In one set of techniques, in addition to maintaining a cumulative read counter for a block, a boundary word line counter can also be maintained to track the number of reads to most recently written word line or word lines of a partially written block. Another set of techniques used read count threshold values that vary with the number of program/erase cycles that a block has undergone. Further techniques involve setting the read count threshold for a closed (fully written) block based upon the number reads it experienced prior to being closed. These techniques can also be applied at a sub-block, zone level.
US09552169B2	Apparatus and method for efficient memory renaming prediction using virtual registers A method and apparatus are described for efficient memory renaming prediction using virtual registers. For example, one embodiment of an apparatus comprises: a memory execution unit (MEU) to perform store and load operations to store data to memory and load data from memory, respectively; a plurality of memory rename (MRN) registers assigned to store and load operations, each MRN register to store data associated with a store operation so that the data is available for a subsequent load operation; and at least one MRN predictor comprising a data structure to allocate virtual memory rename (VMRN) registers to each of the MRN registers, the MRN predictor to query the data structure in response to a load and/or store operation using a value identifying the MRN register assigned to the load and/or store operation, respectively, to determine a current VMRN register associated with the load and/or store operation.
US09552168B2	Virtual machine backup from storage snapshot Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for virtual machine (VM) backup from a storage snapshot. An embodiment operates by receiving selective backup parameters including a VM to backup and then creating a VM snapshot associated with the VM. Next, an offset table associated with a virtual disk of the VM stored on a storage is retrieved. The embodiment further includes generating a storage snapshot and deleting the VM snapshot and then promoting the storage snapshot to a new logical unit number. The promoted storage snapshot is then mounted to the backups server. The virtual disk data is backed up to a backup storage using the offset table from the storage snapshot. The storage snapshot is dismounted from the backup server and deleted from the storage.
US09552167B2	Raid array transformation in a pooled storage system A method according to one embodiment includes receiving an I/O request for data, and determining whether the I/O request refers to migrated or unmigrated data. Unmigrated data is data residing on a first portion of a drive array, the first portion being arranged in according to a first array configuration having at least a first parameter. Migrated data is data that has been migrated from the first portion to a second portion of the drive array, the second portion having a second array configuration having at least a second parameter. The method also includes using parameters corresponding to the first array configuration in response to determining that the requested data is unmigrated data. However, in response to determining that the requested data is migrated data, parameters corresponding to the second array configuration are used.
US09552164B2	Apparatus, method and system for determining reference voltages for a memory Techniques and mechanisms for a memory device to concurrently receive and process signals each based on a different respective reference voltage level. In an embodiment, an input/output (I/O) interface of a memory device includes receiver circuits each to process a respective signal received via a corresponding signal line of a bus. In response to one or more configuration commands, a first receiver circuit is configured to process a first signal based on a first reference voltage level and a second receiver circuit is configured to process a second signal based on a second reference voltage level. In another embodiment, a memory controller sends the one or more configuration commands to such a memory device based on an evaluation of voltage swing characteristics each corresponding to a different respective signal line of a bus.
US09552162B2	Splitting-based approach to control data and storage growth in a computer system In one general aspect, a method can include receiving initial content including a total number of data units for storage, identifying a number of data chunks, identifying a size for each of the data chunks, the size for each data chunk indicative of a number of data units for inclusion in the respective data chunk. The method can further include splitting the initial content into the number of data chunks, each data chunk including a portion of the total number of data units included in the initial content, the portion of the total number of data units based on the size of the data chunk, storing each of the data chunks in memory, and compressing the data chunks included in the memory.
US09552159B2	Configuration information backup in memory systems According to one configuration, a memory system includes a configuration manager and multiple memory devices. The configuration manager includes status detection logic, retrieval logic, and configuration management logic. The status detection logic receives notification of a failed attempt by a first memory device to be initialized with custom configuration settings stored in the first memory device. In response to the notification, the retrieval logic retrieves a backup copy of configuration settings information from a second memory device in the memory system. The configuration management logic utilizes the backup copy of the configuration settings information retrieved from the second memory device to initialize the first memory device.
US09552149B2	Controlled interaction with heterogeneous data A two-dimensional canvas contains objects of various types. The two-dimensional canvas is fixed in one dimension, but extensible in a second dimension. The canvas is displayed in miniaturized form at the same time at least a portion of the canvas is displayed in another view, such as an edit view. Selection or modification of an object in the miniaturized version of the canvas will also result in a modification or selection of the corresponding object in the other view.
US09552143B2	Systems and methods of interaction with water usage information Exemplary systems and methods for interaction with water usage information are provided. In various embodiments, a method comprises receiving water usage data from a meter device, receiving an identifier from a user associated with the meter device, providing an interactive interface to the user, the interactive interface conveying at least some water usage information based on the water usage data, receiving a first characterization of a first water activity from the user, generating a visualization based on the water usage information and the first characterization of the first water activity, and displaying the visualization.
US09552131B2	Method and apparatus for displaying a window for a user interface Methods and apparatuses to display windows. In more than one embodiments of the invention, a window is closed automatically (e.g., after a timer expires, or when a condition or criterion is met, or a system input is received) without user input. In some examples, the window is translucent so that the portion of another window, when present, is visible under the window. In some examples, the image of the window is faded out before the window is closed and destroyed. In some examples, the window does not close in response to any input from a user input device. In some examples, the window is repositioned (or hidden) automatically when another translucent window is displayed. The degree of translucency, the speed for fading out, the discrete levels of translucency for fading out, the time to expire, and/or other parameters for controlling the display of the window may be set by the user or adjusted by the system (or application software programs) automatically according to system conditions or other criteria.
US09552129B2	Interactive visual representation of points of interest data Search results may be rendered on a map utilizing one or more points of interest. An individual point of interest may include a casing layer and a core layer. Casing layers and/or core layers may be configured to change in size and color at different levels of detail associated with zoom operations. Zoom operations may further include de-clustering overlapping points of interest to eliminate overlap. A hover input associated with a cluster may render a numerical value associated with a corresponding number of points of interest that appear in the cluster. Various embodiments provide a visual language that enables a continuous representation, at different levels of detail, that range from a single discrete point to multiple points that are near each other or clustered together to unify the look-and-feel of represented elements and provide interactive consistency across various map properties and platforms.
US09552120B2	Touch screen panel and method for fabricating the same A touch screen panel includes a sensing electrode area, a pad area, and a peripheral wiring area. The sensing electrode area includes first sensing electrodes and second sensing electrodes on a touch substrate and spaced from each other. The peripheral wiring area connects the sensing electrode area to the pad area. Each of the first sensing electrodes includes a first sensing metal layer on the touch substrate, a sensing insulation layer on the first sensing metal layer, and a second sensing metal layer on the sensing insulation layer and having a mesh structure. The second sensing metal layer is thicker than the first sensing metal layer.
US09552117B2	Capacitive touch panel with increased scan frequency using dynamic phase compensation A system includes a first group of transmit electrodes configured to be driven from a first side of a capacitive touch panel and a second group of transmit electrodes configured to be driven from a second side of the panel. The system also includes receive electrodes and a controller operatively coupled with the transmit electrodes and the receive electrodes. The controller is operable to dynamically configure the transmit electrodes and the receive electrodes to compensate for phase delays introduced by driving the transmit electrodes from different sides of the panel. A method includes driving a first group of transmit electrodes from a first side of a capacitive touch panel, driving a second group of transmit electrodes from a second side of the panel, and dynamically configuring the transmit electrodes and receive electrodes to compensate for phase delays introduced by driving the transmit electrodes from different sides of the panel.
US09552108B2	Inputting fingertip sleeve An inputting fingertip sleeve includes a sleeve and an inputting end. The sleeve includes at least one opening configured to receive a finger. The inputting end is fixed on the sleeve. The inputting end includes a supporter and a conductive layer. The conductive layer is located on a surface of the supporter. The conductive layer includes a number of carbon nanotubes and a polymer matrix. The carbon nanotubes are located in the polymer matrix.
US09552106B2	Bezel-less acoustic touch apparatus An acoustic touch apparatus is provided that includes a substrate capable of propagating surface acoustic waves, such as Rayleigh-type or Love-type waves. The substrate has a front surface, a back surface, and a curved connecting surface formed between the front surface and the back surface. The apparatus also includes at least one acoustic wave transducer and at least one reflective array, the acoustic wave transducer and the reflective array behind the back surface of the substrate. The acoustic wave transducer is capable of transmitting or receiving surface acoustic waves to or from the reflective array. The reflective array is capable of acoustically coupling the surface acoustic waves to propagate from the back surface and across the front surface via the curved connecting surface. Various types of acoustic touch apparatus with edge sensitive touch functions can be provided, according to specific embodiments.
US09552102B2	Background noise measurement and frequency selection in touch panel sensor systems A touch panel sensor system that can dynamically measure noise and automatically switch to a frequency with minimal noise is described. The touch panel sensor system includes a sensor configured to detect a change in capacitance associated with a touch upon a touch panel. The system also includes a drive module configured to generate a drive signal having a first waveform characteristic (e.g., signal having a periodic waveform characteristic) during a first phase (e.g., sensor phase) and a second drive signal having a second waveform characteristic (e.g., constant voltage signal) during a second phase (e.g., noise detection phase). The first and second drive signals are configured to drive the sensor. The system also includes a measuring module coupled to the sensor that is configured to measure noise having the first waveform characteristic (e.g., periodic waveform characteristic) during the second phase.
US09552097B2	Techniques for discerning between intended and unintended gestures on wearable touch-sensitive fabric Techniques are described to discern between intentional and unintentional gestures. A device receives a first input from one or more sensors that are coupled to a flexible material to detect input from the user provided by manipulation of the flexible material. In addition, the device receives a second input from one or more environmental sensors that are coupled to the user to detect environmental conditions associated with the user. The device correlates the first input and the second input to determine whether the first input is an intentional input by the user.
US09552091B2	Display driving circuit, array substrate and touch display apparatus There is provided a display driving circuit, including: a touch signal terminal, a first clock terminal, a second clock terminal, a power supply terminal, a drive signal enabling terminal, a drive electrode signal terminal, a common electrode signal terminal, and a plurality of sub-circuits connected in cascades, each of the sub-circuits including: a logic unit, a driving unit and a transmission unit, wherein the logic unit is connected to the touch signal terminal, the first clock terminal, the second clock terminal, the power supply terminal, the drive signal enabling terminal, and the driving unit, the driving unit is connected to the transmission unit, and the transmission unit is connected to the drive electrode signal terminal and the common electrode signal terminal. The present application realizes co-electrode time-division multiplexing of the in-cell capacitive touch screen in the narrow-fame display apparatus.
US09552090B2	Touch panel and display with the same A touch panel includes a substrate; a sensing electrode provided on the substrate to sense a position. A wire is electrically connected to the sensing electrode and a ground wire is provided adjacent to the wire. The ground wire includes a first dummy part which extends in one direction.
US09552089B2	Capacitive sensing using a matrix electrode pattern An electrode matrix that is used for capacitive sensing may be integrated into a display panel of an input device. In one embodiment, source drivers may be mounted on the display panel which drive the display signals and capacitive sensing signals into the display panel. In one embodiment, the capacitive sensing signals may be routed on traces or lines that are interleaved on the same layer as the source lines used for setting a voltage on the pixels in the display panel during display updating. Using the interleaved traces, the source drivers may drive the capacitive sensing signals in parallel to a plurality of the electrodes in the matrix in a predefined pattern that spans one or more sensing cycles.
US09552087B2	Multi-layer body In a multi-layer body with a carrier and at least one conduction layer first areas and second areas are galvanically isolated from each other by third areas. In the third area sections are omitted from conductor traces and replaced by replacement pieces. The multi-layer body thereby has an optically homogeneous effect (e.g. is uniformly transparent or uniformly reflective).
US09552086B2	Image processing device and image processing system An image processing device may include a display control module, an input module and a communication module. The display control module may be configured to cause a display unit to display a character string input screen. The input module may be configured to input a character string to the input item corresponding to the character string input screen displayed on the display unit. The communication module may be configured to communicate with an information processing terminal. The communication module may send item identification information to the information processing terminal and receive character string information from the information processing terminal. The display control module may display a character string based on the character string information in the character string input screen that corresponds to the input item identified by the item identification information, in a case where the communication module receives the item identification information and the character string information.
US09552084B2	Control of an electronic device equipped with coordinate input device for inputting with an electronic pen A manner of reducing the power consumption is utilized in a tablet terminal equipped with a digitizer for inputting with an electronic pen. When another tablet terminal or a smartphone approaches the tablet terminal, each digitizer detects input. When the digitizer detects the input, it is determined whether the input is electronic pen input from the electronic pen or proximity input caused by the proximity of the other tablet terminal or the smartphone. In the case of electronic pen input, coordinate information is transferred to a system, while in the case of proximity input, the system takes an action such as shifting a tablet terminal to a sleep state.
US09552078B2	Safety navigation device and an executing method thereof A safety navigation device and an executing method thereof in the present disclosure are based on an integrated circuit module and a server for safety certification. According to an algorithm or instantaneous time, the integrated circuit module which is electrically connected to electronic equipment creates an IP address, controlling the electronic equipment to enable the IP address via a virtual keypad. Then, the dominating server in which a certification mechanism is installed will check validity of the IP address and issues corresponding information.
US09552077B2	Cushioned user interface or control device A user interface or control includes a cushion-type support member and a user input member that is interconnected with and carried by the support member. The support member defines an upwardly facing recess, and the input member may be a user interface or control device that is contained within the upwardly facing recess. The support member may be formed to surround the recess about the user interface or control device. The support member may include an air vent that vents air exhausted from the user interface or control device. The user interface or control device may be a laptop computer having a body including a keyboard contained within the recess, and a screen carried by the body. The user interface or control device may alternatively be an electronic input member having an upwardly facing screen, a convertible input member movably mounted to a mounting member, or a game controller.
US09552075B2	Cursor mode switching Methods and systems for processing input from an image-capture device for gesture-recognition. The method further includes computationally interpreting user gestures in accordance with a first mode of operation; analyzing the path of movement of an object to determine an intent of a user to change modes of operation; and, upon determining an intent of the user to change modes of operation, subsequently interpreting user gestures in accordance with the second mode of operation.
US09552073B2	Electronic device There is provided an electronic device including a plurality of sensing devices and a host. The sensing devices are connected in parallel or series. A part of the sensing devices and the host may remain in a power saving mode or a standby mode in operation so as to reduce the power consumption.
US09552072B2	Image projection device In an image projection device in which a projected image can be controlled or operated by gesture, the responsiveness (operability) and/or the usability are improved. The image projection device includes a sensor element to detect a gesture and a control section to generated an operation signal to control (for example, to scroll images or to feed image frames) a projected image projected according to a gesture detected by the sensor element, wherein the control section generates the operation signal when the sensor element detects a gesture in a first direction parallel to the projection surface of the projected image, and when the sensor element detects a gesture in a second direction perpendicular to the projection surface, the control section suspends generation of the operation signal.
US09552071B2	Information processing apparatus, information processing method and computer program There is provided an information processing apparatus according to the present invention including a detection unit for detecting a moving direction and a moving amount of a finger on an operation panel, and a moving control unit for changing the moving amount of an object on a display unit for a finger's unit moving amount depending on the moving direction of the finger which moves the object displayed on the display unit. According to the present invention, the moving amount of the object within a display region changes based on the moving direction of the finger to be operated on the operation panel. In this manner, the object moving amount is corrected depending on the finger moving direction, thereby eliminating the factors for reducing the operability during the object moving operation and improving the operability.
US09552067B2	Gesture interpretation in navigable zoom mode An electronic device can be enhanced to enable its user to navigate about and view, on the device's display, different portions of a page or document while the device remains in a zoomed-in mode that magnifies the portion of the document that the device is currently displaying. Upon entering the zoomed-in mode, the device can magnify a portion of the document on the display. While in this mode, the device can react to user-produced gestures in a manner that is different to the manner in which the device would react to the same gestures otherwise. Responsive to user-produced gestures while in the zoomed-in mode, the device can navigate to other portions of the document while remaining in the zoomed-in mode, so that those other portions are also presented magnified. The device's user is not forced to first zoom-out from one document portion in order to zoom-in on another document portion.
US09552061B2	Eye gaze tracking using binocular fixation constraints The subject disclosure is generally directed towards eye gaze detection based upon both eyes being fixated on the same gaze location. In one aspect, an image including a subject's left and right eyes is captured, from which left and right glint and pupil center information are extracted. The left and right glint data and the left and right pupil data are used with left and right bias correction matrices to jointly determine a gaze location.
US09552057B2	Electronic apparatus and method for controlling the same An electronic apparatus and a control method thereof are provided, which displays first voice guide information indicating voice commands available to control the electronic apparatus, and if a command to control an external device connected to the electronic apparatus is received, changes the first voice guide information and displays second voice guide information to indicating voice commands available to control the external device.
US09552053B2	Methods for power management in a computer system with multiple processing resources and multiple power supplies A system and method are provided for strategic power supply sequencing in a computer system. The system and method includes a plurality of processing resources that process data and a plurality of power supplies that provide power for the processing resources. A power management engine adjusts the power supplies in response to processing resource changes to optimize power consumption. The power management engine brings online power supplies to meet the demand created by bringing online additional processing resources and brings offline power supplies to meet the decreased demand caused by a decrease in the number of processing resources. Also, the power management engine rotates which power supplies operate to take advantage of more efficient power supplies and to extend the lives of the power supplies. The power management engine also adjusts the power supplies in advance based upon predicted demand levels for the computer system.
US09552048B2	Electronic system in which USB device can inform occurrence of event to host device without receiving status request from host device A pull-up resistor of an electronic device pulls up a potential of a USB signal line that is for connection with a host, thereby allowing the host to detect a communication speed. In response to a status request from the host in a normal power mode, a transmission-reception section transmits a status response indicating a switchable status when the electronic device is switchable to a power saving mode. A control section performs switching to the power saving mode after the host suspends transmission of the status request upon receipt of the status response, and performs switching to the normal power mode in response to a specific event within the electronic device in the power saving mode. A switch disables the pull-up to inform the host about disconnection, and enables the pull-up to inform the host that the connection is re-established, thereby causing transmission of the status request to be resumed.
US09552042B2	Electronic device and method of detecting touches on a touch-sensitive display A method includes determining a first output voltage of a battery of an electronic device. Based on the first output voltage, a first configuration file is identified. Touches on the touch-sensitive display are detected utilizing at least one parameter from the first configuration file.
US09552040B2	Low power idle signaling for gigabit media independent interfaces operating in legacy modes A method and apparatus for enabling low power idle (LPI) signaling for Ethernet transceivers operating in legacy modes are disclosed that allow a high speed transceiver to retain energy efficient Ethernet (EEE) functionality even when the transceiver is operating in a slower speed mode. In some embodiments, an Ethernet device may enter an LPI mode upon receiving a regular LPI signal when its media independent interface (MII) is operating at a first transmission rate, and may enter the LPI mode upon receiving a modified LPI signal when the MII is operating at a first speed operating at a second transmission rate that is slower than the first transmission rate.
US09552038B2	Monitoring and managing processor activity in power save mode of portable electronic device An electronic device and a method operative therein monitor automatic wakeup events that occur during a power save mode. Wakeup events are monitored for respective applications executable within the electronic device. Applications with processing activity during the power save mode are then listed, on the basis of at least the monitored wakeup events. An indication of which apps are consuming battery power during the power save mode can then be obtained.
US09552033B2	Latency-based power mode units for controlling power modes of processor cores, and related methods and systems Latency-based power mode units for controlling power modes of processor cores, and related methods and systems are disclosed. In one aspect, the power mode units are configured to reduce power provided to the processor core when the processor core has one or more threads in pending status and no threads in active status. An operand of an instruction being processed by a thread may be data in memory located outside processor core. If the processor core does not require as much power to operate while a thread waits for a request from outside the processor core, the power consumed by the processor core can be reduced during these waiting periods. Power can be conserved in the processor core even when threads are being processed if the only threads being processed are in pending status, and can reduce the overall power consumption in the processor core and its corresponding CPU.
US09552032B2	Branch prediction power reduction In one embodiment, a microprocessor is provided. The microprocessor includes instruction memory and a branch prediction unit. The branch prediction unit is configured to use information from the instruction memory to selectively power up the branch prediction unit from a powered-down state when fetched instruction data includes a branch instruction and maintain the branch prediction unit in the powered-down state when the fetched instruction data does not include a branch instruction in order to reduce power consumption of the microprocessor during instruction fetch operations.
US09552031B2	Power shelf for computer servers At least one embodiment of this disclosure includes a power shelf for serving a power zone within an IT equipment rack. The power shelf includes: a DC bus configured to provide DC power to rack-mounted equipment within the power zone; multiple pairs of backup battery units (BBUs) and power supply units (PSUs), wherein the multiple pairs include at least a redundant pair, such that voltage and power is supplied through the DC bus sufficient to power the rack-mounted equipment even when one of the multiple pairs is inoperative; and a power circuit, in each PSU of each of the multiple pairs, configured to rectify an AC phase from an external multi-phase AC power source, wherein the power circuit is configured to draw power from one of the BBUs paired to the PSU when the PSU fails to provide power sufficient to power the rack-mounted equipment.
US09552030B2	Power control device configured to protect internal circuits and display device including the same A power controller includes an inductor coupled to an input terminal to which an input voltage is input, a first switch coupled between the inductor and a first power source voltage output terminal, a second switch coupled between the inductor and a ground, a switch controller controlling a voltage output to the first power source voltage output terminal by controlling duties of the first and second switches according to a feedback voltage input to a feedback terminal corresponding to a voltage output to the first power source voltage output terminal, and a diode coupled between the first power source voltage output terminal and the feedback terminal, and preventing a voltage of the first power source voltage output terminal from increasing higher than a breakdown voltage of the first and second switches.
US09552029B2	Micro grid power distribution unit The techniques described herein include for forming a power grid array with multiple power generators coupled to a power distribution unit. The power distribution unit is adapted to monitor operational data from each of the power generators to perform load balancing among the generators and to optimize the performance of the power grid array. A microgrid network is also provided within the power grid array to enable communication among the power distribution unit and the multiple generators in the array. This communication facilitates monitoring of the power grid as well as receiving and storing the operational data from each of the generators in the grid. The microgrid network can then be used to communicate the operational data over one or more connected networks allowing users to remotely access the power grid and to monitor and control the operational characteristics of the generators.
US09552028B2	Portable electronic device and voltage converting circuit thereof A portable electronic device includes a battery, a central processing unit (CPU), and voltage converting circuit. The battery includes an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) and a signal terminal connected to the EPROM. The CPU includes a read/write control terminal. The voltage converting circuit includes a first power terminal connected to a first power supply, a second power terminal connected to a second power supply, a first port connected to the read/write control terminal through a 1-wire bus, and a second port connected to the signal terminal.
US09552026B2	Mobile terminal A heat-dissipating mobile terminal includes a main body, a heat dissipating member positioned in the main body, and a back cover detachably connected to the main body. The main body includes a heat-producing element and the heat dissipating member includes a heat radiator arranged above the heat-producing element. The back cover defines a perforated portion above the heat dissipating member. The heat radiator is integrated with the main body. The heat radiator is exposed to external cooler air by the perforated portion in the back cover. The mobile terminal of the present disclosure effectively improves heat radiating efficiency and reduces cost.
US09552024B2	Fixing bracket for computer accessory and computer case thereof A fixing bracket for a computer accessory and a computer case thereof are discloses. The fixing bracket is for the installation of the computer accessory. The interior of the computer case is used for the assembly of the fixing bracket. The fixing bracket includes a carrier, a clamping part, and a limiting part. The carrier plate has a surface for stacking the computer accessory, and a first side edge and a second side edge opposite to one another. The clamping part is disposed on the first side edge. The limiting part is disposed on the second side edge. The computer accessory is stacked on the carrier plate. The clamping part clamps one end portion of the computer accessory and the limiting part tightly presses against the other end portion of the computer accessory such that the computer accessory is attached against to the carrier plate.
US09552021B2	Electronic device According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes a first housing, a second housing, a hinge configured to connect the first housing and the second housing and including a pipe, and a cable. The cable includes a first portion outside the pipe and a second portion inside the pipe, thicker than the first portion and in contact with an inner surface of the pipe.
US09552020B2	Electronic apparatus According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a first unit and circuitry. The first unit includes first and second sensors and a wireless device. The first sensor detects approach of an object. The second sensor detects whether the first unit is open or closed. The circuitry reduces transmission power of the wireless device when the first sensor detects approach of the object, and not to reduce transmission power when the second sensor detects a change from an open state to a closed state and the first sensor detects approach of the object.
US09552018B2	Electronic apparatus According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a main body deformable in a flat state and a bent state, and a spring structure which is provided on the main body and keeps the main body in the flat state or the bent state. The main body includes an elastic member, and first and second rigid members. The spring structure includes a plate spring which extends in a direction of crossing the elastic member, and is supported by the first and the second rigid members on both ends of the plate spring.
US09552016B2	Mobile terminal There is disclosed a mobile terminal including a front case, a first rear case shaped to cover a first area of a rear surface of the front case, a second rear case shaped to cover the second area of the rear surface of the front case, a tightening groove formed in the portion where the first rear case and the second rear case are coupled with each other and comprising inclined surfaces a first tightening rib projected from a front surface of the first rear case and comprising an inclined surface corresponding to one inclined surface of the tightening groove, a second tightening rib projected from the front surface of the second rear case and comprising an inclined surface corresponding to the other inclined surface of the tightening groove, wherein the first tightening rib and the second tightening rib are inserted in the tightening groove.
US09552015B2	Device, method, and graphical user interface for navigating through an electronic document An electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface stores a document having primary content, supplementary content, and user-generated content. The device displays a representation of the document in a segmented user interface on the display. Primary content of the document is displayed in a first segment of the segmented user interface and supplementary content of the document is concurrently displayed in a second segment of the segmented user interface distinct from the first segment. The device receives a request to view user-generated content of the document. In response to the request, the device maintains display of the previously displayed primary content, ceases to display at least a portion of the previously displayed supplementary content, and displays user-generated content of the document in a third segment of the segmented user interface distinct from the first segment and the second segment.
US09552011B2	System for modifying throttle control for UTV's and related vehicles A throttle control modification assembly includes an attachment assembly configured to removably attach the modification assembly to an existing throttle pedal of a vehicle. A foot plank is coupled to the attachment assembly, the foot plank being configured to extend from the throttle pedal of the vehicle toward the floor of the vehicle.
US09552009B2	Reference voltage generator having diode-connected depletion MOS transistors with same temperature coefficient A reference voltage generator has a first N type depletion MOS transistor configured to cause a constant current to flow, and a second N type depletion MOS transistor diode-connected to the first N type depletion MOS transistor and configured to generate a reference voltage based on the constant current. The first and second N type depletion MOS transistors have the same temperature coefficient of a threshold voltage. The first N type depletion MOS transistor has a buried channel into which arsenic impurities are diffused. The second N type depletion MOS transistor has a buried channel into which phosphorous impurities are diffused.
US09552004B1	Linear voltage regulator A voltage regulator includes an error amplifier, a voltage buffer, a transistor, a frequency compensation circuit, a capacitor, and a resistive network. The error amplifier receives a reference signal and a feedback signal, and generates an intermediate control signal. The voltage buffer receives the intermediate control signal and generates a control signal. The transistor has a gate that receives the control signal, a first terminal that receives a supply voltage signal, and a second terminal that generates a regulated output signal. The frequency compensation circuit is connected to the second terminal of the transistor. The capacitor is connected to the error amplifier and the frequency compensation circuit. The resistive network receives the regulated output signal and generates the feedback signal.
US09551997B2	Electromagnetic fluid valve Electromagnetic fluid valve regulating the throughflow of a pressure medium which flows through a housing part having at least two inlet openings which lie opposite one another and at least one outlet opening for the pressure medium. It being possible for a channel which is situated between the inlet openings and the outlet opening to be closed to a greater or lesser extent by an axially movable slide for regulating the throughflow of the pressure medium, a pin protruding into the channel centrically with respect to the center axis of the fluid valve, the pin being provided, for flow guidance, with an outer contour which is of at least approximately conical, pyramidal or hyperbolic design, with the result that the pressure medium which is to flow from the inlet openings strikes the outer contour of the pin and diverted in the direction of the at least one outlet opening.
US09551996B2	Aerosol extraction apparatus An ultrasonic aerosol generation apparatus preferably includes an aerosol generation case, a case cover, at least one outlet pipe, an air feed manifold, at least one, transducer, transducer power supply, and microprocessor based controller. The aerosol generation case preferably includes a fluid reservoir and a transducer chamber. The case cover is attached to a top of the aerosol generation case. Each outlet pipe preferably includes an outer base tube, an inner tube and an exhaust tube. The at least one outlet pipe is attached to the case cover over the at least one transducer. The air feed manifold includes an inlet tube, a supply tube and at least one exhaust pipe tube. The supply tube communicates with the transducer chamber and the at least one exhaust pipe communicates with the at least one outlet pipe. The microprocessor based controller is used to monitor, power, and/or control, the above mentioned components.
US09551994B2	System and method for vehicle attitude control A dual stage vehicle attitude control system includes a first attitude control module having at least two momentum wheels arranged to provide zero momentum vehicle attitude control, each momentum wheel comprises a limited travel two axis gimbal that pivots the momentum wheel along two of the three axes of the vehicle, a second attitude control module having reaction wheels arranged in a pyramid configuration to provide vehicle attitude control along at least one control axis that is common with a control axis of the at least two momentum wheels, and a controller connected to the first attitude control module and the second attitude control module, the controller being configured to coordinate actuation of the first attitude control module and the second attitude control module to rotate the vehicle in at least one of three axes of a vehicle.
US09551993B2	Apparatus and method for grouping vehicles for cooperative driving An apparatus includes a logistics manager that includes a processor. The logistics manager is communicably coupled to at least one of a first wireless communication module onboard a first vehicle and a second wireless communication module onboard a second vehicle. The logistics manager is configured to: receive, via the first wireless communication module, first data regarding the first vehicle, where the first data is provided by a first sensor module onboard the first vehicle; receive, via the second wireless communication module, second data regarding the second vehicle, where the second data is provided by a second sensor module onboard the second vehicle; and provide navigational commands to at least one of the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on a cost and benefit analysis in response to at least one the first data and the second data.
US09551989B2	Method and apparatus for extending the operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle A method of extending the operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed. The method comprises detecting that an energy storage device on board the UAV is depleted below a threshold level, landing the UAV at a base station, and initiating operation of the base station to cause a replacement mechanism thereof to remove the energy storage device on board the UAV from the UAV and to replace this with another energy storage device.
US09551984B2	System and method for programming stacked programmable devices in a sequence A system, method and control unit for determining an order of a plurality of stacked electronic devices randomly ordered in a stack, for taking inventory of the devices, and for programming the devices according to the determined order. Each of the electronic devices is assigned a unique serial number, and the electronic devices are configured to report their serial numbers to the control unit in sequence, either upward or downward, in the stack. The control unit is configured to determine an order of the plurality of electronic devices in the stack based on the sequence in which the identifiers are received, to compare the sequence numbers to a known list to determine if any devices are missing, and to program the devices according to the determined order.
US09551983B2	Activity set management in a Manufacturing Execution System A Manufacturing Execution System (MES) is provided for execution of workflows in response to specified business objectives. The MES system can maintain a library of activity sets representing industry-specific workflows that can be selected and executed in order to satisfy business-driven goals. The activity sets can comprise both business-level and control-level operations, and can be configured using an intuitive graphical interface that mitigates the need for low-level programming by the end user. In response to receipt of a request from a business-level system such as an ERP system, the MES system can match the request to an activity set, and subsequently execute the workflow defined by the activity set to facilitate satisfying the request.
US09551980B2	Solar timer using GPS technology In a GPS-equipped device such as a smart phone or a tablet computer with a compatible operating system, a useful dynamic display of directional and timing information is provided based on GPS data obtained through conventional means processed according to computational modules or applications stored on the device. These displays include a solar timer, a compass dial and other date, time and location-based information. Underlying the displayable information is a database of information that is processed with input from an accurate compass employing a calculated reference line based on two time-separated GPS readings and a direction parameter.
US09551978B2	Electronic watch clasp systems and methods Embodiments of a digital clasp for a watch can include a watch having an analog watch face, a first watch band portion, a second watch band portion and an analog watch face. The digital clasp can include a clasp housing that includes a latch assembly configured for attachment to the first band portion and the second band portion, a digital display, and a circuit board associated with a controller.
US09551975B2	Polycarbonate-based security documents and/or documents of value with a hologram in the card body The invention relates to polycarbonate-based or copolycarbonate-based security documents and/or documents of value which contain at least one hologram integrated in the card body, and to a method for producing such security documents and/or documents of value.
US09551967B2	Sheet discriminator and image forming apparatus incorporating the sheet discriminator A sheet discriminator, which can be included in an image forming apparatus, includes an optical information detector, a sheet distinguisher, and a sheet thickness detector. The optical information detector includes a light emitter to emit light to a recording medium and a light receiver to receive the light and detects information of the recording medium. The sheet distinguisher distinguishes a type of the recording medium based on the information detected by the optical information detector. The sheet thickness detector includes a displacement gauge to sandwich the recording medium with an opposing member disposed facing the displacement gauge and to move from an initial position thereof and a displacement detector to detect an amount of displacement of the displacement gauge. The sheet thickness detector detects a thickness of the recording medium based on detection results obtained by the displacement detector.
US09551966B2	Image forming apparatus Temperature of a printing medium 110 is sufficiently decreased by stopping the printing medium 110 in a discharge path, conveying the printing medium at a low speed, switching a conveyance path, or the like. If the temperature of the printing medium 110 can be sufficiently decreased, the thermochromism phenomenon is suppressed. As a result, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of achieving highly accurate color matching and color stability.
US09551965B2	Electric equipment To provide an electric equipment which has a function in which parameter is set, and enables a user to appropriately adjust the parameters regardless of an ability level of user. A plurality of reception screens having different degrees of detail for received instructions for adjusting parameters are displayed depending on the ability level of user to adjust the appropriate parameters, such as maintenance ability, or presence or absence of the specialized knowledge for the apparatus, or the like, thus the user adjusts the parameter using the reception screen suitable for the user.
US09551962B2	Hybrid heater with dual function heating capability A fuser heater member for an electrophotographic imaging device, including a heater member. According to an example embodiment, the heater member includes positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material disposed along a width of a fuser nip of the fuser assembly; first and second electrodes disposed along disposed surfaces of the PTC material; an intermediate layer disposed over the second electrode; and at least one resistive trace disposed along the intermediate layer along the width of the fuser nip. The heater member includes a plurality of wire segments coupled to the first and second electrodes and the resistive elements for use in generating heat from at least one of the PTC material and the at least one resistive trace during a fusing operation.
US09551956B2	Image forming apparatus that utilizes toner roller bias voltages for image density adjustments An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor, an irradiator, a developing device including a developing roller, a development bias applying device, a toner supplying roller and a supply bias applying device, and a controller. The controller changes supply bias offset by reference to at least one of five parameters including photoconductor travel distance, operation temperature of the developing device, operation humidity of the developing device, continuous operating time of the developing device, and color information of image to be produced. After changing the supply bias offset, the controller forms plural toner patterns for image density adjustment on the photoconductor by changing the development bias, and sets the development bias to a certain bias based on the image densities of the plural toner patterns so that the image produced by the developing device has a targeted image density.
US09551955B2	Optical scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus The image forming apparatus includes the optical scanning apparatus configured to scan a surface of an image bearing member provided in an image forming apparatus body with a laser beam. The optical scanning apparatus is inserted through an insertion opening formed in a frame member of the image forming apparatus body and supported by a support member mounted to the frame member. A housing of the optical scanning apparatus has an opening that allows passage of the laser beam, and includes a transparent dustproof member that covers the opening. On the surface side of the housing on which the dustproof member is provided, a plurality of projecting portions projecting with respect to the dustproof member are provided.
US09551952B1	Image forming apparatus and method for controlling charging thereof An image forming apparatus includes a charging member configured to charge a photoreceptor, a power supply configured to provide charging power to the charging member, a measurement unit configured to measure a current provided to the charging member, and a controller configured to search for a current saturation point of the charging member using the current value measured by the measurement unit in a state in which fixed direct current (DC) power and varied alternating current (AC) power are supplied to the charging member, and control the power supply to perform a charging operation with only DC power corresponding to the searched current saturation point.
US09551947B2	Toner A magnetic toner is provided that exhibits an excellent dot reproducibility and developing performance after being allowed to stand in a high temperature and high humidity environment and an excellent low-temperature fixability. The magnetic toner has an inorganic fine powder and a magnetic toner particle containing a binder resin, a magnetic body, and a release agent, wherein in a stress relaxation measurement using a rotating plate rheometer, the magnetic toner exhibits a yield value A at 25° C. of at least 3×106 (sec), and the magnetic toner that has been heated to 80° C. and then cooled to 25° C. exhibits a yield value B at 25° C. of not more than 1×105 (sec).
US09551942B2	Controller for optical device, exposure method and apparatus, and method for manufacturing device An exposure method for exposing a mask pattern, which includes plural types of patterns, with a high throughput and optimal illumination conditions for each type of pattern. The method includes guiding light from a first spatial light modulator illuminated with pulse lights of illumination light to a second spatial light modulator and exposing a wafer with light from the second spatial light modulator, accompanied by: controlling a conversion state of the second spatial light modulator including a plurality of second mirror elements; and controlling a conversion state of the first spatial light modulator including a plurality of first mirror elements to control intensity distribution of the illumination light on a predetermined plane between the first spatial light modulator and the second spatial light modulator.
US09551941B2	Illumination system for an EUV lithography device and facet mirror therefor The invention relates to an illumination system for an EUV lithography device, comprising: a first facet mirror having facet elements that reflect EUV radiation, and a second facet mirror having facet elements for reflecting the EUV radiation reflected by the first facet mirror onto an illumination field. At least one of the facet elements of the first facet mirror or of the second facet mirror is designed as a diffractive optical element for diffracting the EUV radiation. In particular, at least one of the facet elements of the second facet mirror is designed as a diffractive optical element for illuminating only a part of the illumination field. The invention also relates to an EUV lithography device comprising such an illumination system, and to a facet mirror comprising at least one diffractive facet element.
US09551938B2	Light source optimizing method, exposure method, device manufacturing method, program, exposure apparatus, lithography system, light source evaluation method, and light source modulation method Disclosed is a light source optimizing method wherein: a light source shape obtained as the result of SMO is set as a target, the SMO being an optimizing calculation method for optimizing a mask pattern and illumination light source, a spatial light modulator is controlled such that a deviation from the target is within an acceptable range, and the shape of the illumination light source is set; the image of the pattern obtained as the results of the SMO is formed on a wafer, using illumination light emitted from the illumination light source having the set light source shape, an OPE is evaluated as image-forming performance using the detection results obtained by detecting the image of the pattern thus formed; and the light source shape is optimized.
US09551931B2	Method of forming pattern, actinic-ray- or radiation-sensitive resin composition, actinic-ray- or radiation-sensitive film, process for manufacturing electronic device and electronic device A method of forming a pattern includes (a) forming a film of an actinic-ray- or radiation-sensitive resin composition, (b) exposing the film to light, and (c) developing the exposed film with a developer comprising an organic solvent to thereby form a negative pattern. The actinic-ray- or radiation-sensitive resin composition includes (A) a resin whose solubility in the developer comprising an organic solvent is lowered when acted on by an acid, which resin contains a repeating unit with any of lactone structures of general formula (1) below, and (B) a compound that when exposed to actinic rays or radiation, generates an acid.
US09551930B2	Photoresist composition and associated method of forming an electronic device A photoresist composition includes a first polymer in which at least half of the repeat units are photoacid-generating repeat units, and a second polymer that exhibits a change in solubility in an alkali developer under the action of acid. In the first polymer, each of the photoacid-generating repeat units comprises photoacid-generating functionality and base-solubility-enhancing functionality.
US09551928B2	Actinic-ray- or radiation-sensitive resin composition and method of forming pattern therewith According to one embodiment, An actinic-ray- or radiation-sensitive resin composition comprises a basic compound (C) having n basic groups and m groups that when exposed to actinic rays or radiation, generate an acid, provided that n and m satisfy the relationships n≧1, m≧2 and n
US09551924B2	Structure and method for fixing phase effects on EUV mask This invention relates to a structure for fixing phase effects on EUV mask which contains a repeating pattern with an assist feature, or a pattern with two different sized features in close proximity. The EUV mask with the repeating pattern is capable of printing a group of trenches on a photoresist layer. The invention also relates to a method of fabricating an EUV mask for fixing phase effects. The EUV mask contains an absorber layer over the multilayer reflector, and the absorber layer is patterned to form a mask pattern which contains absorptive regions and reflective regions. The absorber is in the absorptive regions, and a phase shifter is deposited at least in the whole reflective regions of the mask pattern to a thickness capable of correcting phase effects. The phase shifter has an index of refraction value is about equal to or less than that of the absorber. The thickness of the phase shifter is determined by simulation.
US09551921B2	Method for displaying an image A display apparatus is disclosed that includes a screen and a frame system positioned to support the screen. The frame system includes a plurality of frame members, a hinge that couples the frame members together, and a lock that blocks relative movement of the frame members.
US09551918B2	Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer-readable storage medium An image processing apparatus includes an analyzing unit, a changing unit, and a control unit. The analyzing unit analyzes a projection image projected by a projection unit. The changing unit changes, depending on an analysis result obtained by the analyzing unit for the projection image, dimensions of the projection image projected by the projection unit so as to obtain a resized projection image. The control unit performs control for correcting a distortion of the projection image projected by the projection unit, in accordance with an analysis result obtained by the analyzing unit for the resized projection image.
US09551914B2	Illuminator with refractive optical element An illumination system having a refractive optical element that compensates for dependence in irradiance of images of objects captured by a photosensor is provided. The refractive optical element may structure the light such that similar objects in the same spherical surface in the field of view of the camera have the same irradiance on the camera photosensor. The illumination system may have an image sensor, a light source, and a refractive optical element. The image sensor has a photosensor that captures images of objects in a field of view. The irradiance of images of objects having a given exitance that are captured by the photosensor may depend on angular displacement from an optical axis of the image sensor. The refractive optical structures light from the light source to illuminate the field of view to compensate for the dependence of irradiance on angular displacement from the optical axis.
US09551913B2	Transparent display apparatus and method for controlling the same There are provided a transparent display apparatus and a method for controlling the same. The transparent display apparatus includes a transparent display unit that includes an emissive area and a transmissive area and is configured to display a video, an optical sensor configured to measure the amount of light, and a light shielding unit that is disposed on one surface of the transparent display unit and is configured to adjust transmittance on the basis of the amount of light.
US09551909B2	Liquid crystal panel and electronic apparatus including pixel electrode connection portion A liquid crystal panel includes: first and second substrates arranged to be opposite each other at a predetermined gap; a liquid crystal layer filled between the first and second substrates; alignment films; a counter electrode pattern formed on the first substrate; and a pixel electrode pattern formed on the first substrate so as to have a plurality of electrode branches, the pixel electrode pattern having a partial connection branch formed around a contact so as to transversely connect a plurality of electrode branches extending from the contact from among the plurality of electrode branches.
US09551902B2	Liquid crystal display with an alignment control layer containing polymerized mesogen and a manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display Provided is a liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate and a second substrate configured to face each other, a liquid crystal layer positioned between the first and second substrates, a first alignment film positioned between the liquid crystal layer and the first substrate, and a second alignment film positioned between the liquid crystal layer and the second substrate. Here, at least one of the first alignment film and the second alignment film includes a double layer of an alignment base film that is aligned so as to have a pretilt angle and an alignment control film that has polymerized mesogen.
US09551898B2	Backlight module A backlight module includes a back plate, light sources, protrusive pieces and a reflective sheet. The light sources are disposed on the back plate. The protrusive pieces protrude from the back plate. Each of the protrusive pieces is located between at least two adjacent light sources. The reflective sheet is disposed on the back plate and has through holes. Each of the light sources passes through a corresponding through hole. The reflective sheet further has cutting line groups. Each of the cutting line groups includes two cutting lines intersected at an intersection point. Each of the intersection points is substantially aligned with a corresponding protrusive piece. Portions of the reflective sheet adjacent to the cutting line groups are warped upwards from the back plate, and respectively resist the protrusive pieces.
US09551896B2	Liquid crystal device and electronic apparatus including a plurality of microlenses separated by a liquid crystal layer A liquid crystal device includes a first substrate that is arranged on a light input side; a second substrate that is arranged on a light output side; a liquid crystal layer that is arranged between the first and second substrates; a first microlens that is provided on the first substrate such that an optical axis is tilted to a normal line direction of the first substrate; and a second microlens that is provided on the second substrate such that an optical axis is tilted to a normal line direction of the second substrate, in which a focal point of the first microlens is located on a curved surface of the second microlens, or on the light output side rather than the curved surface.
US09551895B2	Liquid crystal display and method of manufacturing the same A liquid crystal display is provided. The liquid crystal display includes: a substrate; a thin film transistor; a pixel electrode; a roof layer; a plurality of microcavities; and a partition wall. The thin film transistor is disposed on the substrate. The pixel electrode is disposed on the thin film transistor. The roof layer faces the pixel electrode. The microcavities are between the pixel electrode and the roof layer, the microcavities include a liquid crystal material. The partition wall is between the microcavities, and the partition wall is perpendicular to the roof layer.
US09551893B2	Curved display apparatus and multi display apparatus having the same A curved display apparatus and a multi display system having the same are provided. The curved display apparatus includes a display panel, and a fixation member which fixes the display panel so that the display panel is curved with multiple curvatures.
US09551891B2	Display module and display device According to an aspect, a display module includes a display panel that displays an image on a display surface; an optical member; and a housing that supports the display panel and the optical member. The housing includes a first housing, a second housing, and a third housing that is arranged on a side of the second housing opposite to the first housing side. An end of the first housing on a display surface side of the display panel protrudes toward the center of the display surface to face an outer edge of the display surface. An end of the second housing on a side opposite to the display surface side of the display panel protrudes toward the center of the display surface to face an outer edge of a surface opposite to the display surface. The optical member is provided between the second housing and the third housing.
US09551887B2	Optical modulator An optical modulator has a ridge optical waveguide and a modulation electrode. The modulation electrode is composed of a signal electrode to which a modulation signal is supplied, a first ground electrode, and a second ground electrode, the signal electrode has a wide portion having a width wider than the width of the uppermost portion of the ridge optical waveguide, the first ground electrode has a central portion ground electrode component provided on a first surface so as to extend along a first direction, and the second ground electrode has a central portion ground electrode component provided on a second surface so as to extend along the first direction. The central portion ground electrode components respectively have a first and a second through-holes, and these through-holes overlap the wide portion of the signal electrode as seen in a planar view.
US09551885B2	Prosthetic lenses and methods of making the same A method of obtaining an impression of an eye, the method comprises preparing an impression material, contacting the impression material with an eye of a subject, obtaining an impression of the eye on the impression material, creating an indication of the orientation of the impression with respect to the eye, and removing the impression material from the eye. The impression can be used in a method of manufacturing a lens for an eye that comprises receiving one or more data files comprising a back lens surface calculation and a front lens surface calculation, forming a back lens surface from a lens blank based on the back lens surface calculation, forming a front lens surface from the lens blank based on the front lens surface calculation, and forming one or more asymmetric features in the back lens surface based on the back lens surface calculation.
US09551877B2	Grating and display device A grating and a display device. The grating (200) comprises periodical cycle arrangements. The first period of the grating is taken as the minimum cycle period and includes two rows of grating structures having same grating pitch and same grating slit width. In the first period, the second row of grating structures are shift to the right or left the distance “c” compared with the first row of grating structures, and the calculation method of “c” is: c=b, in which “b” refers to the width of a sub-pixel in a display panel. The first row of grating structures of the ith period are shift to the right or left the distance “d” compared with the first row of grating structures of the first period, and the calculation method of “d” is: d=2(i−1)b, in which i is an integer and i≧2. The grating and the display device can effectively reduce the Moire phenomenon.
US09551875B2	Headup display device Provided is a headup display device which is not liable to generate abnormal sound. The headup display device comprises: a liquid crystal display for emitting display light; a concave mirror for reflecting the display light; and a motor device for rotating the concave mirror. The motor device includes: a motor having a motor shaft projecting from a motor body; a worm connected to the motor shaft and having a spiral groove formed on the outer peripheral surface; and a worm wheel provided with teeth engaging with the spiral groove and transmitting a driving force from the motor to the concave mirror. A hole is formed inside the worm extending in the axial direction of the worm from the end face of the worm near the motor body. A compression coil spring is arranged in the hole for biasing the worm in the direction opposite the motor body and biasing the motor shaft toward the motor body.
US09551872B1	Spatially multiplexed lens for head mounted display An optical combiner includes an off-axis spatially multiplexed lens optically coupled to receive image light and direct the image light in an eye-ward direction. The off-axis spatially multiplexed lens includes a first sub-lens multiplexed with a second sub-lens. The first sub-lens and the sub-lens are configured to direct the image light to designated eyeward-regions.
US09551868B2	Scanning-type projection device A scanning-type projection device is provided with an emitted-light-intensity control unit for controlling the light intensity of a laser light emitted by a laser light source unit, a polarization direction control unit for controlling the polarization direction of the laser light, a scanning unit for scanning the laser light and generating a display image, and a divergence unit on which the laser light scanned by the scanning unit is incident. The emitted-light-intensity control unit has a polarization control element for controlling the polarization state of the laser light, and a polarizing plate on which the laser light emitted from the polarization control element is incident, and the polarization direction control unit adjusts the polarization direction of display light incident on a projection surface by controlling the polarization direction of the laser light emitted by the emitted-light-intensity control unit.
US09551866B1	Optical scanning system and scanning lens In an optical scanning system, each of plural light beams is reflected at a point on a deflector in a sub-scanning cross section, a point of reflection on the deflector of the principal ray of each beam in the case that the principal ray is incident normally to a scanning surface in a main scanning cross section is designated as a fiducial point, distance from the fiducial point to the scanning surface is designated as L, distance from the center of curvature of the exit surface of one of the second scanning lenses for a light beam i to the scanning surface is designated as BFi, refractive powers of the first scanning lens and one of the second scanning lenses are designated as φ1si and φ2si, and then the following expressions are satisfied. 0.15≦BFi/L≦0.2 (1) 0.4≦φ1si/φ2si≦1 (2)
US09551862B2	Scanning microscope There is provided a scanning microscope so configured that when the position of the exit pupil of an imaging optical system and a position conjugate to the exit pupil change, the position of the rotation center of a scanned light flux is moved and follows the changed exit pupil position. A scanning microscope includes a light source, an objective lens, and a scan unit. The scan unit includes first to fourth deflectors, and the deflection angle of illumination light deflected off each of the first to fourth deflectors is so controlled that the pivotal point of the illumination light deflected off each of the first and second deflectors and the pivotal point of the illumination light deflected off each of the third and fourth deflectors substantially coincide with the exit pupil of the objective lens or a position conjugate to the exit pupil.
US09551861B2	Display device A display device includes a display panel, and an optical assembly on the display panel. The display panel includes a display area configured to display an image, and a peripheral area adjacent to the display area. The optical assembly overlaps the display area and the peripheral area. The optical assembly includes a supporting member overlapping the peripheral area, an optical member, a covering member covering the display panel, and a transparent member between the display panel, the optical member and the covering member. The optical member includes a first face contacting the display area, a second face opposite to the first face and tilted with respect to the first face, a third face contacting the supporting member, and a fourth face opposite to the third face.
US09551859B2	Close-up optical scanning for a portable device Embodiments provide an apparatus for allowing close-focus of a camera on a portable electronic device while sliding the device on a surface. A macro lens is selectively placed by a user adjacent to a lens of the camera. Support points maintain the macro lens at a predetermined distance from the surface while the device is slid on the surface.
US09551858B2	Imaging lens, and electronic apparatus including the same An imaging lens includes first to sixth lens elements arranged from an object side to an image side in the given order. Through designs of surfaces of the lens elements and relevant lens parameters, a short system length of the imaging lens may be achieved while maintaining good optical performance.
US09551854B2	Methods and apparatus for controlling sensors to capture images in a synchronized manner Methods and apparatus relating to capturing images of a scene area in a synchronized manner using a plurality of optical chains are described. In various embodiments image sensors corresponding to the plurality of optical chains of a camera are operated in rolling shutter mode to read out rows of pixel values corresponding to a current scan position when the image sensors have a row of pixel values corresponding to the current scan position. In some embodiments a scene area of interest is captured by initiating a scan and thus image capture of the scene area by one or more optical chains which are operated in a coordinated manner. In some embodiments a controller controls the plurality of image sensors to perform a read out of pixel values in a synchronized manner, e.g., with rows of pixel values being read out sequentially in accordance with operation of a rolling shutter implementation.
US09551853B2	Headware mountable optical device A removable optical loupe that is mountable to headwear is provided. The inventive loupe is configured to clip on to the brim of a hat, or the bill of a cap or visor. Embodiments of the inventive loupe have a pivoting joint for positioning the lens of the optical loupe into and out of the line of sight when not in use. The lens of the inventive optical loupe is used for magnifying objects for inspection.
US09551852B2	Method and device for sheathing a light guide A method for sheathing a light guide with a flexible layer of sheathing. The method includes providing a light guide and a sheathing strip. The sheathing strip is made of a flexible material. The method also includes joining the light guide and the sheathing strip using a forming aid to form a light guide-sheathing composite. The forming aid places the sheathing strip about the light guide, leaving two excess ends of the sheathing strip extending from the light guide. The method further includes feeding the light guide-sheathing composite to a connection unit and connecting the two excess ends to produce a mounting tab for the light guide-sheathing composite.
US09551849B2	Interposer structure having optical fiber connection and related fiber optic connector for the same Disclosed are interposer structures having an optical fiber connection and a related fiber optic ferrule that can form a portion of an optical assembly. The interposer structure is useful for transmitting optical signals to/from an integrated circuit that may be attached to the interposer. Specifically, the interposer structure and the related ferrule of the optical connector provide a passively aligned structure having a matched thermal response to maintain a suitable optical connection between the devices over a range of temperatures.
US09551840B2	Provision of an optical rotating joint installation An optical rotating joint installation; comprising: a drive shaft for a rotating interface, the drive shaft comprising a hollow central bore; and an optical rotating joint located in the hollow central bore. The proportion of the cross-sectional area of the material retained in the annular section of the drive shaft is preferably greater than or equal to 50%, more preferably 60%, yet more preferably 75%. The diameter of the hollow central bore is preferably less than or equal to 20 mm, more preferably 16 mm. The optical rotating joint installation may be provided as a retro-fit to replace an existing solid drive shaft that does not have an optical rotating joint, for example by hollowing out the existing solid drive shaft or by replacing the existing solid drive shaft with a drive shaft with a hollow central bore.
US09551839B2	Optical component including nanoparticle heat sink An optical fiber assembly includes at least one optical component configured to deliver light from a first end to a second end opposite the first end. The at least one optical component includes at least one localized heat-sensitive area that emits increased temperatures with respect to remaining areas of the at least one optical fiber in response to light traveling through the localized heat-sensitive area. The optical fiber assembly further includes a nanoparticle heat sink that contacts the optical component and that completely surrounds the localized heat-sensitive area such that the nanoparticle heat sink dissipates heat from the at least one optical component.
US09551836B2	Optical switch fabric for data center interconnections An optical switch fabric includes horizontal optical waveguides including a first set and a second set, the first set is configured to receive a first plurality of wavelengths from the one or more external switches and the second set is configured to send a second plurality of wavelengths to the one or more external switches; wavelength-selective drop optical switches associated with the first set, wherein the wavelength-selective drop optical switches are each configured to drop a selected wavelength from a horizontal optical waveguide of the first set to an associated vertical optical waveguide of vertical optical waveguides; and controllable optical switches associated with the vertical optical waveguides, wherein the controllable optical switches are each configured to direct a selected wavelength from a vertical optical waveguide to a horizontal optical waveguide of the second set.
US09551833B1	Ultra compact free-space multiplexer/demultiplexer An apparatus for multiplexing and demultiplexing comprises: a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, where the second surface is opposite to the first surface; a first fiber array unit disposed on the first surface of the substrate and a second fiber array unit disposed on the second surface of the substrate, where a plurality of fibers in a fiber array unit are arranged in an array on a chip; a first microlens array disposed on the first surface of the substrate and a second microlens array disposed on the second surface of the substrate; a plurality of thin film filters disposed on the first and second surface of the substrate, where each thin film filter transmits light having a different wavelength band; a fiber collimator disposed on the first surface of the substrate; a turning prism disposed at an edge of the substrate for turning light from the first surface to the second surface of the substrate or also turning light from the second surface to the first surface of the substrate.
US09551832B1	Optical source with a grating-enhanced resonator An optical source is described. This optical source includes a semiconductor optical amplifier, with a semiconductor other than silicon, which provides an optical gain medium. In addition, a photonic chip, optically coupled to the semiconductor optical amplifier, includes: a first optical waveguide that conveys at least a portion of the optical signal, and a second optical waveguide that conveys at least another portion of the optical signal. Moreover, the photonic chip includes a distributed-Bragg-reflector (DBR) ring resonator that is optically coupled to the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide, and that reflects a tunable wavelength in the optical signal. Furthermore, a monitor on the photonic chip measures at least the other portion of the optical signal, and control logic on the photonic chip thermally tunes the tunable wavelength of the DBR ring resonator based on the measurement of at least the other portion of the optical signal.
US09551828B2	Optical fiber The present invention relates to an optical fiber containing a glass fiber and a resinous coating layer that covers a periphery of the glass fiber, in which the resinous coating layer contains an ethanol of 10 mg or less or a methanol of 2 mg or less per gram of the resinous coating layer.
US09551827B2	Hollow light duct bend The disclosure generally relates to efficient hollow light duct bends (200) that are capable of retaining a higher on-axis transmission for partially collimated light propagating within a light duct (220, 230). In particular, the described hollow light duct bends (200) include input and output plates (214, 216) that have low reflectivity for near nonnal incident light, and high reflectivity for near grazing incident light.
US09551824B2	Light guide plate, method for producing light guide plate, surface light source device, and liquid crystal display device A light guide plate has a light exit surface, a back surface opposed to the light exit surface, and a light entrance surface consisting of at least part of a side surface. The light guide plate also has a body portion, and a light exit-side layer formed from an ionizing radiation curable resin. The light exit-side layer includes an optical element portion which defines the light exit surface. The optical element portion includes unit shaped elements arranged in one direction intersecting a light guide direction, each unit shaped element extending linearly in a direction intersecting the one direction.
US09551821B2	Light-emitting device A light-emitting device comprises: a substrate that holds one end of connection terminals and on which is mounted an electronic component; a light-emitting element that is mounted on one face of the substrate; a support member on which the substrate is mounted; and a cover section that positionally locates and holds the substrate, by mounting on the support member in a condition abutting one face of the substrate. The cover section has a cover section body that covers one face of the substrate; on the cover section body, a light guide is provided, through which passes the light that is emitted from the light emitting element, in a condition in which movement thereof is restricted along directions on either side of the substrate.
US09551812B2	Adhesive composition, adhesive layer, optical member, and adhesive sheet An adhesive composition, an adhesive layer, an optical member, and an adhesive sheet, the adhesive composition including 100 parts by weight of a (meth)acrylic copolymer, the (meth)acrylic copolymer having a weight average molecular weight of about 100,000 to about 2,000,000 g/mol; about 0.05 to about 5 parts by weight of a carbodiimide crosslinker; and about 0.01 to about 0.3 parts by weight of an organic group-containing compound, the organic group-containing compound including at least one selected from the group of titanium, zirconium, and hafnium.
US09551810B2	Loop de-coupling capsule for hosting ultra-sensitive experiments in a logging sonde A capsule comprising two non-directly contacting halves enables otherwise coupling loads between experiment and gauging to be re-routed through the outer-most portable body (e.g. a logging sonde housing) having substantial inertia, thus serving to attenuate the parasitic loads. For co-located leveled experiment and gauging, a pair of concentric bearings (shaft in shaft) is utilized. Independent bearing sets and shock/vibration isolation support each capsule half within the outer sonde housing. A first half of the capsule supports the experiment, which the second half supports the gauging apparatus.
US09551802B2	Defocusing beamformer method and system for a towed sonar array A method and towed sonic array system for defocusing the beampattern of the towed sonic array. The method includes determining an amplitude adjustment and a phase adjustment for each of the sonic projectors; and driving each of the sonic projectors with a drive signal modified by the amplitude adjustment and the phase adjustment for that sonic projector. The amplitude adjustment and phase adjustment for each of the sonic projectors are, at least in part, based upon the distance from that sonic projector to a virtual source. The location of the virtual source may be selected so as to achieve different beampatterns, including wide-sector beams and, in at least one case, a near-omni-directional beampattern. The drive signal may include multiple frequency components, in which case the method may be used to find a set of beamformer coefficients for each of the frequency components and an inverse transform may be used to realize a defocused driving signal.
US09551798B2	Seismic vibrator to produce a continuous signal A seismic vibrator receives a pilot signal having a predetermined waveform. The pilot signal causes vibrational actuation of at least one moveable element of the seismic vibrator. A continuous seismic signal having content in a first frequency bandwidth of multiple frequencies is generated by the seismic vibrator.
US09551793B2	Ordering structure of scintillator and fabrication method An ordering structure scintillator of scintillator and fabrication method is disclosed. The ordering structure scintillator of scintillator comprises: a tubular template, which consists of a plurality of thin film oxidized metal tubes; a plurality of scintillators, filled in the thin film oxidized metal tubes; and a package layer, formed on the surface of the tubular template for protecting the tubular template. In addition, through the fabrication method, the ordering structure scintillator of scintillator can be made by anodic treatment and die casting technology with low cost and rapid production; moreover, the film oxidized metal tubes of the tubular template can be further manufactured to nano tubes by adjusting electrolyte composition, electrolysis voltage, and processing time of anodic treatment, and the aperture size, the thickness and the vessel density of the nano tube can be controlled and ranged from 10 nm to 500 nm, 0.1 μm to 1000 μm, and 108 to 1012 tube/cm2, respectively.
US09551791B2	Surround sensing system A system for detecting the profile of an object. The system having a radiation source for generating a radiation pattern. The system also having a detector which has a plurality of pixels and a processor for processing data from the detector when radiation from the radiation source is reflected by an object and detected by the detector. The system also has a synchronization device for interfacing between the detector and the radiation source. The radiation source is designed for operating in pulsed mode and the synchronization device can synchronize the pulses of the radiation source with the sampling of the detector.
US09551789B2	System and method for quality-enhanced high-rate optoacoustic imaging of an object The disclosure relates to systems and methods for optoacoustic imaging of an object comprising, in some embodiments, an image acquisition unit for acquiring a first sequence of tomographic optoacoustic images, the image acquisition unit comprising an illumination device and a detection device configured for repeatedly collecting acoustic waves emerging from the object and for generating the first sequence of tomographic optoacoustic images.In some embodiments, a processing unit is provided for generating a second sequence of one or more tomographic optoacoustic images from the first sequence of tomographic optoacoustic images based on an analysis of one or more tomographic optoacoustic images of the first sequence of tomographic optoacoustic images and/or at least one property of the object while acquiring the first sequence of tomographic optoacoustic images and/or at least one property of the acquisition unit while acquiring the first sequence of tomographic optoacoustic images.
US09551788B2	Fleet pan to provide measurement and location of a stored transport item while maximizing space in an interior cavity of a trailer A trailer of a semi-trailer truck includes a cargo container having affixed at a height of approximately forty-six inches from a base of the cargo container a hole that is approximately two and one half inches in diameter. A fleet pan enclosure in a form of a housing encompassing a communications circuitry, a global positioning device and an ultrasound sensor projects into an interior cavity of the cargo container through the hole. The global positioning device provides an accurate reporting of a location of the semi-trailer truck to a central server. An antenna of a communication circuitry is fully encompassed within the housing. The location at which the housing is affixed provides for an effective measuring and reliable locating of a stored transport item inside the interior cavity of the cargo container through the hole.
US09551785B1	Method and apparatus for the detection of objects using electromagnetic wave attenuation patterns A method for detecting an object, comprising the steps of defining expected characteristics of scattered electromagnetic radiation to be received at a receiver; attenuating at least a portion of electromagnetic radiation received at the receiver by a presence of an object within a path of electromagnetic information; and detecting the attenuation to indicate a presence of the object. The object may be a low radar profile object, such as a stealth aircraft. The electromagnetic radiation is preferably microwave, but may also be radio frequency or infrared. By using triangulation and other geometric techniques, distance and position of the object may be computed.
US09551783B2	Display with backside ultrasonic sensor array A display device has a visual display capable of providing an image and an ultrasonic sensor array attached to a backside component of the visual display. The ultrasonic sensor array may be an ultrasonic area array sensor. For example, the backside component may be a backlight, an optical waveguide, or a display TFT.
US09551779B2	Controlling movements of pointing devices according to movements of objects A method and apparatus for controlling pointing devices such as cameras according to the movements of an objects, such as balls or selected players of interest by attaching to the object, an RFID which, when triggered, transmits the identification of the object and detecting the transmitted identification at of different locations to define the instantaneous space location of the object. The detected identifications are inputted into an RTLP (Real-Time Location Processor) to produce tracking signals which cause the pointing device to track the movements of the object in a real-time manner. Another signal, is also derived from the RTLP defining another instantaneous condition of the object, and is also fed to the pointing device to control another parameter, such as the magnification or the displayed field-of-view, of the pointing device in a real-time manner.
US09551770B1	Functional magnetic resonance imaging by spatially modulating steady-state signal in steady-state free precession A modified steady-state free-precession (SSFP) method for functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is disclosed for acquiring a complex-valued image of object. A modulating field gradient is applied to impart spatial modulation of the steady-state signal phase and magnitude across the complex-valued image of the object along the direction of the modulating field gradient. SSFP pulse sequence parameters and modulating field gradient parameters can be selected to optimize functional image contrast between, e.g., oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin, derived from steady-state signal magnitude or phase of complex-valued images.
US09551766B2	Magnetoresistive detection system and method for detection of magnetic image of bank notes A system and method for obtaining a fill image of a bank note being processed. At least one magnetoresistive detector is employed to obtain line-scan sensings of a bank note as the note passes. A central processing unit obtains the sensing as magnetic pattern data which is subsequently stored in a database for processing.
US09551765B2	Method for operating a hall sensor arrangement and hall sensor arrangement According to a method for operating a Hall sensor assembly, at least two values (I1, I2) of an input signal (I) of a Hall sensor (11) of the Hall sensor assembly (10) having different magnitudes are set and the associated values (V1, V2) of an output signal (V) of the Hall sensor (11) are determined. Furthermore, a residual offset value (k, VOFF) of the output signal (V) is determined according to the values (V1, V2) of the output signal (V) that were determined at the at least two values (I1, I2) of the input signal (I).
US09551764B2	Magnetic field measuring device A magnetic field measuring device having a first semiconductor body having a surface formed in a first x-y plane, the first semiconductor body having on the surface two magnetic field sensors which are spaced apart and arranged along a first connecting line, and wherein the magnetic field sensors respectively measure a z-component of a magnetic field, and the x-direction and the y-direction and the z-direction are each formed orthogonally to each other. A first magnet is provided with a planar main extension surface formed in a second x-y plane and with a symmetry surface formed in an x-z plane, wherein the direction of magnetization extends substantially or exactly parallel to the main extension surface and substantially or exactly parallel to the plane of symmetry. The first semiconductor body and the first magnet are rigidly fixed to each other.
US09551762B1	Circuits and methods for removing a gain offset in a magnetic field sensor A magnetic field sensor and a method include a modulator coupled in a feedback arrangement and operable to modulate a calibration feedback signal with a modulator clock signal having a selected frequency and a selected relative phase operable to remove a gain error in the magnetic field sensor and in the method.
US09551760B2	Reverse energy flow in solar and other power generation systems for theft detection, panel identification and diagnostic purposes System and method for applying a reverse energy flow for measuring one or more electrical characteristics of a DC power source, such as a solar panel. Applying reverse current and voltage to a DC power source and measuring selected resultant current and voltage enables monitoring of electrical characteristics of the source, and when done periodically, enables monitoring of the performance of the source over time, including whether performance has become affected by a hardware failure or damage, or whether the source has become disconnected due to a faulty or failed connector or theft.
US09551759B2	Devices for testing a battery and methods for testing a battery In various embodiments, a device for testing a battery may be provided. The device for testing a battery may include: a determination circuit configured to determine at least one of a differential enthalpy of the battery and a differential entropy of the battery; and an evaluation circuit configured to evaluate a health state of the battery based on the determined at least one of the differential enthalpy and the differential entropy.
US09551758B2	Remote sensing of remaining battery capacity using on-battery circuitry A method of remote sensing a charge includes charging or discharging a capacitor of an RC circuit to a predetermined threshold voltage using a power source. A response signal is provided from a communications module to a handheld computing device comprising a reader system once the capacitor reaches the predetermined threshold voltage. An amount of time taken for the handheld computing device to receive the response signal is determined using a processor. The processor determines charge information using the amount of time.
US09551756B2	Method for determining a maximum voltage value of a load signal by sampling A method for determining, by sampling at a given frequency, a maximum voltage value of a load signal of at least one motor vehicle battery cell, the load signal to be sampled being rectified and sinusoidal and having a frequency that is higher than the sampling frequency, the method including: determining a sampling frequency, a measurement time at the sampling frequency, and a related inaccuracy, measuring a load voltage with the predetermined sampling frequency and with the predetermined measurement time, and determining a maximum load voltage.
US09551755B2	Relay weld diagnostic device In relay weld diagnostic device, a threshold value determination unit (104) determines a threshold value on the basis of a resistance value that is set for each of a P-pole-side resistor (24) and an N-pole-side resistor (23) provided to charging equipment. A peak value measuring unit (110) measures the peak value of a voltage supplied to a voltage line by an alternating-current signal output circuit (112). A comparison diagnosis unit (111) assesses the state of a relay (14) on the P-pole side and a relay (15) on the N-pole side by comparing the peak value and the threshold value, and makes a diagnosis as to whether the relays (14), (15) are welded on the basis of the assessed state of the relays (14), (15) and the state in which the relays (14), (15) are controlled.
US09551753B2	Electric storage system determining operation of current breaker The state of a plurality of electric storage blocks connected in serial is determined. Each of the electric storage blocks includes a plurality of electric storage elements connected in parallel. Each of the electric storage elements includes a current breaker configured to break a current path in the electric storage element. When a first voltage characteristic is shifted from a second voltage characteristic, it is determined that the current breaker is operated. The first voltage characteristic is acquired from a voltage sensor acquiring an open circuit voltage of each electric storage block and indicates a change in the open circuit voltage with respect to a capacity of the electric storage block. The second voltage characteristic is calculated from a capacity retention rate and a variation of the capacity and indicates a change in the open circuit voltage with respect to the capacity of the electric storage block.
US09551752B2	Dual ground breaker testing system A system for testing substation circuit breakers while the circuit breakers are grounded on both sides using a ground clamp probe electrically connected to one side of the circuit breaker contacts, where the ground clamp probe provides a means of interfacing standard test equipment to the circuit breaker without removing either safety ground, and analyzing the circuit breaker and outputting the results to a technician on a display.
US09551748B2	Double data rate addressable tap interface with shadow protocol circuitry A process and apparatus provide a JTAG TAP controller (302) to access a JTAG TAP domain (106) of a device using a reduced pin count, high speed DDR interface (202). The access is accomplished by combining the separate TDI and TMS signals from the TAP controller into a single signal and communicating the TDI and TMS signals of the single signal on the rising and falling edges of the TCK driving the DDR interface. The TAP domain may be coupled to the TAP controller in a point to point fashion or in an addressable bus fashion. The access to the TAP domain may be used for JTAG based device testing, debugging, programming, or other type of JTAG based operation.
US09551745B2	Semiconductor device assessment apparatus A semiconductor device assessment apparatus that electrically assesses a semiconductor device formed on a semiconductor substrate includes a holding unit having a surface to hold the semiconductor substrate thereon, and a detection unit to detect irregularity on the surface of the holding unit. The holding unit on the surface includes a plurality of grooves formed such that when the semiconductor substrate is held on the surface, the grooves overlap a periphery of the semiconductor substrate and also have a portion located outer than the periphery of the semiconductor substrate.
US09551744B2	Detecting early failures in printed wiring boards A method includes characterizing the effects of an electric field on a first set of printed wiring boards (PWBs) by testing the first set of PWBs to generate test data, using the test data to determine a dielectric life curve of the first set of PWBs, and based on the dielectric life curve, defining a screening time and a screening voltage to screen for premature failures in a second set of PWBs due to electric fields.
US09551739B2	Coaxial connector A coaxial connector including a connector main body is formed of an upper housing and a lower housing. An outer conductor includes a circular cylinder portion surrounding the periphery of a hole of the connector main body and configured to be inserted into an outer conductor of a mating coaxial connector. A main body portion is provided on the connector main body, and a fixation portion that is extended from the main body portion so as to sandwich the connector main body along with the main body portion. A fixed terminal is anchored to the connector main body. A movable terminal includes a fixation portion anchored to the connector main body, and a plate spring that extends from the fixation portion toward the fixed terminal and overlaps with the fixation portion at tip ends of the plate spring.
US09551738B2	Robust capacitive measurement system A capacitive sensing circuit is disclosed, wherein the mixer is directly connected to the sense electrode. The AC transimpedance amplifier in front of the mixer in prior art is removed and replaced by a differential DC transimpedance amplifier respectively integrator.The mixer DC offset voltage or current together with the large amplification factor required after the mixer now would result in an inacceptable DC offset at the output of the signal chain. In order to eliminate the effect of the mixer offset, the amplifying stages after the mixer are AC coupled to the mixer output and one of the signals entering the mixer is phase modulated or amplitude modulated with a known low frequency signal. An additional mixer after the AC coupled amplifying stages is driven with the same low frequency modulating signal, resulting in the wanted DC output signal responsive to the capacitance to be measured.
US09551737B2	Grain bin capacitive moisture sensor system and method A data collector associated with a grain bin is in communication with a plurality of capacitive moisture cables hanging within the grain bin. Each capacitive moisture cable includes a plurality of sensor nodes positioned along the moisture cable. Each sensor node includes a sensor node microprocessor and a sensor node memory coupled to a temperature sensor, a reference capacitive sensor and a capacitive moisture sensor. A main controller is in communication with the data collector. The main controller memory is configured in a data structure comprising grain type data, temperature data, raw reference capacitance data, raw moisture capacitance data, node identification data, physical node positional data, and a calculated moisture content for each sensor node. A method of determining moisture contents of grain in a grain bin related to such a system is also included.
US09551735B2	Sensor device with series circuit of MOS switch and capacitor In a related art sensor device, an output voltage of the sensor device is fixed not to a power supply voltage or a ground potential but to an intermediate potential upon disconnection of a power supply line or a ground line. A sensor device 1 is composed of: a detection element 8 whose voltage Vsen changes depending on a detected physical quantity; an output circuit configured by MOS switches 4 to 6, 7, 9, 10 and 12 to 17, capacitors 2, 11 and 18, an operational amplifier 19, a reference voltage source 20, and output NMOS transistor 21; a series circuit of the MOS switch 4 and the capacitor 2, the series circuit being arranged in a negative feedback part of the output circuit; and a diode 3 that connects a well electrode of the MOS switch 4 and a power supply terminal Vcc.
US09551734B2	Method and apparatus for current-output peak detection A method and apparatus for a current-output peak detector. A current-output peak detector circuit is disclosed and works in two phases. The peak detector circuit includes switches to switch the peak detector circuit from the first phase to the second phase upon detection of the peak voltage of an input voltage signal. The peak detector generates a current output with a high degree of accuracy in the second phase.
US09551733B2	Method and apparatus for detecting a current in a rotating system A method of detecting an electric current through a main bearing of a rotating system comprising: a hub; a plurality of blades connected to the hub; at least one electrical motor arranged at the hub; a main shaft attached to the hub and enclosing cabling for providing electrical power to the at least one electrical motor; a bearing housing attached to a metallic structure acting as electrical earth; and a main bearing having an inner ring attached to the main shaft and an outer ring attached to the bearing housing, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first measurement device for determining a measure indicative of an electric current in the main shaft at a first location on a side of the main bearing facing the hub; providing a second measurement device for determining a measure indicative of an electric current in the main shaft at a second location on a side of the main bearing facing away from the hub; determining a measure indicative of a difference between a first current flowing through the main shaft at the first location and a second current flowing through the main shaft at the second location, the difference being indicative of the electric current through the main bearing.
US09551726B2	Device and method for an interferometric measuring of an object A device for the interferometric measuring of an object, including a source to generate a source beam, a beam splitting device to split the source beam into a measuring beam and a reference beam, an optic interference device and a first detector, which cooperate such that the measuring beam reflected by the object at least partially is at least partially interfered as the receiver beam and the reference beam on a detector area of the first detector. The beam splitting device splits the source beam into a measuring beam, a first partial reference beam, and at least one second partial reference beam. There is at least one second detector embodied such that the first receiver beam is interfered with the first partial reference beam on a detection area of the first detector and the second partial receiver beam with a second partial reference beam on a detection area of the second detector, each with the formation of an optic interference. An assessment unit assesses the measuring signals of the detectors according to the principle of the reception diversity.
US09551725B2	Cleanliness monitoring system and cartridges thereof A system for monitoring cleanliness of a material handling system is disclosed. The system includes a measuring device, a first signal device, a second signal device, and a measuring host. The measuring device installed in the cartridges conduct the cleanliness measurements and obtains the measured result. The first signal device installed in the cartridges transforms the measured results to wireless signals. The second signal device installed in a predetermined location outside of the cartridges receives the wireless signal. The measuring host transforms the received wireless signals back to the measured results. The cartridges of the material handling system are also disclosed. The disclosed cleanliness monitoring system and the cartridge can reduce the cost.
US09551722B2	Amyloid binding agents There are provided compounds and methods for the detection of amyloids and treatment of diseases related to amyloids including Alzheimer's disease and other related amyloid-based neurodegenerative diseases.
US09551721B2	Identification of small molecules recognized by antibodies in subjects with neurodegenerative diseases The present invention provides for the identification of individuals having neurodegenerative diseases (ND). Peptoids recognized by Parkinson's Disease- and Alzheimer's Disease-specific antibodies are identified, allowing one to diagnose or predict ND in subjects.
US09551715B1	Device and methods for detecting cerebrospinal fluid leakage A device for rapid detection of cerebrospinal fluid in a sample fluid, the device uses a sample pad with sensors for detecting the presence of one or more analytes in the sample fluid and an analyzer operatively connected to the sample pad, for quantitative analysis of one or more analytes. A display unit operably connected to the analyzer, for displaying an output of the analysis may also be a part of the device, wherein the display unit may be able to indicate presence or absence of cerebrospinal fluid leakage using an indicator.
US09551713B2	Use of a panel of urinary cytokines to predict response to BCG therapy for bladder cancer Methods for predicting cancer recurrence following a BCG immunotherapy are provided. In some aspects, cytokine levels from a patient are measured before and after a BCG therapy and the changes in cytokine levels are used to determine the risk of cancer lapse. Methods for selecting a patient for a further anti-cancer therapy are also provided.
US09551710B2	Signaling molecule involved in ultraviolet damage to skin The present invention includes a method of detecting ultraviolet radiation (UVR)-induced skin damage in a mammal. The present invention also includes a method of identifying a mammal at risk of developing UVR-induced skin damage, photoaging, or photocarcinogenesis. The present invention further includes a method of inhibiting UVR-induced skin damage in a mammal at risk of developing UVR-induced skin damage. The present invention also includes a method of reducing the level of Syk kinase in the skin of a mammal. The present invention further includes methods of treating or diagnosing a disease associated with a change of Syk kinase expression in the skin in a mammal.
US09551709B2	Universal nucleic acid aptamers for commonly binding to various types of microorganisms and method of producing the same Provided are a single-stranded nucleic acid aptamer simultaneously and specifically binding to various types of microorganisms, and a method of manufacturing the nucleic acid aptamer. For example, provided are a probe that is capable of simultaneously detecting or diagnosing a variety of microorganisms, and a method of manufacturing an aptamer having characteristics of such a probe.
US09551707B2	Gold ion beam drilled nanopores modified with thiolated DNA origamis A nanopore structure includes an aperture extending from a first surface to a second surface of a substrate, the aperture having a wall comprising gold ions embedded in the substrate, the wall defining a first diameter; a first deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) layer including a thiolated DNA strand covalently bonded to the embedded gold ions within the wall of the aperture; and a second DNA layer hydrogen bonded to the first DNA layer, the second DNA layer defines a substantially cylindrical nanopore that defines a second diameter within the wall of the aperture, the second DNA layer including a single-stranded DNA strand; wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter.
US09551705B2	Compositions and methods for capture of cellular targets of bioactive agents The present invention provides compositions and methods for capture and identification of the cellular targets of a bioactive agent. In particular, provided herein are bioactive agents tethered to capture ligand, cellular targets (optionally tagged with a reporter), capture proteins (optionally present as capture fusions), surfaces (e.g., displaying, capture ligands, capture proteins, or capture fusions), and methods of capturing and identifying the cellular targets of a bioactive agent therewith.
US09551693B2	Photoacoustic wave measurement device, method, program, and recording medium A photoacoustic wave measurement device includes: (a) a pulsed-light outputter that outputs a pulsed light; (b) an arrangement member disposed between a pulsed-light output end of the pulsed-light outputter and a measurement object, the arrangement member being adapted to allow the pulsed light to pass therethrough; and (c) a photoacoustic wave detector that receives a photoacoustic wave generated by the measurement object by the pulsed light and that converts the photoacoustic wave into an electric signal, the photoacoustic wave measurement device being adapted to receive the electric signal from a photoacoustic wave sensor in which the photoacoustic wave detector is farther from the measurement object than the pulsed-light output end. The photoacoustic wave measurement device further includes: an electric signal recording section that receives and records the electric signal from the photoacoustic wave sensor; a noise timing estimation section that estimates timing of occurrence of noise in the electric signal, from a thickness of the arrangement member; and a noise removal section that removes the electric signal at the timing estimated, from contents recorded by the electric signal recording section.
US09551692B2	Method for estimating detonation performance of materials A method for estimating the detonation performance of a material is executed by first preparing a small sample of the material to be tested. That sample is lased with a laser beam having sufficient energy to induce a plasma from a portion of the sample and to produce a shock wave, without detonation of the sample. The velocity of the shock wave is then measured at different times. And a characteristic shock velocity determined for the material based on the relationship between shock velocity and time. The characteristic shock velocity represents the velocity of the shock wave at the point in time when the shock front expands freely without additional energy input from the plasma or subsequent chemical reactions. The characteristic shock velocity can be used to determine whether a material is non-energetic or energetic; if it is energetic, the estimated detonation performance can be determined.
US09551686B1	Apparatus and method of non-invasive analysis and identification of physical materials in real time A method and apparatus for non-invasive, real time analysis of physical and chemical properties of a medium employs electromagnetic waves induced by an excitation transducer within longitudinally magnetized strips of ferromagnetic film serving as a waveguide. A physical medium juxtaposed to the wave guide induces a charge center encountered by the pulsed electromagnetic waves. The characteristics of changes induced by the physical medium within the pulsed electromagnetic wave, such as permittivity and permeability effects, boundary oscillations and phase changes are read by detection transducers and transmitted to software for analysis of the characteristics of the physical medium.
US09551685B2	Microbially-based sensors for environmental monitoring The present invention relates to the field of surface water monitoring. More specifically, the present invention provides low-cost, real-time bio-electrochemical sensors for surface water monitoring based on the metabolism of one or more electrogenic microbes.
US09551680B2	Chemically reactive enzyme immobilization An analyte sensor for the continuous or semi-continuous monitoring of physiological parameters and a method for making the analyte sensor are disclosed. The analyte sensor includes a crosslinked, hydrophilic copolymer sensing layer in contact with a surface of an electrode, where the sensing layer includes methacrylate-derived backbone chains having covalent bonds to an analyte sensing component. The method includes combining the precursor components of the sensing layer, depositing the combined mixture on a surface of an electrode, and curing the deposited mixture.
US09551670B2	Surface inspection apparatus and method thereof A defect inspection apparatus including: a first illumination optical system which is configured to illuminate the inspection area on a sample surface from a normal line direction or a direction near thereof with respect to said sample surface; a second illumination optical system which is configured to illuminate said inspection area from a slant direction with respect to said sample surface; a detection optical system having a plurality of first detectors which are located, in front of, on the sides of, and behind said inspection area, respectively, with respect to the illumination direction of said second illumination optical system, and where the regular reflected light component, from said sample surface, by illumination light of said second illumination optical system, is not converged; and a signal processing system which is configured to inspect a defect, upon basis of signals obtained from said plurality of first detectors.
US09551668B2	Microplasma for downhole compositional analysis An apparatus and method for elemental analysis of a formation fluid from a subsurface tool having a housing, a sampling probe for collecting a sample of the formation fluid external to the housing, and a microplasma device within the housing and in fluid communication with the sampling probe. The microplasma device includes an upstream gas system, a sampling valve in fluid communication with the sampling probe and the upstream gas system, an expansion chamber for volatizing the formation fluid sample obtained from the sampling valve, and a microplasma chamber in fluid communication with the expansion chamber for ionizing the volatilized fluid sample.
US09551667B2	Method for amplification-free nucleic acid detection on optofluidic chips An optofluidic platform is constructed so as to comprise a planar, liquid-core integrated optical waveguides for specific detection of nucleic acids. Most preferably, the optical waveguides comprises antiresonant reflecting optical waveguide (ARROWs). A liquid solution can be prepared and introduced into the optofluidic platform for optical excitation. The resulting optical signal can be collected at the edges of the optofluidic platform and can be analyzed to determine the existence of a single and/or a specific nucleic acid.
US09551664B2	Laser scanning microscope system There is provided a laser scanning microscope system including a mode-locked laser unit configured to radiate a laser beam with a predetermined frequency, an intermittent light-emitting unit configured to intermittently emit the laser beam radiated from the mode-locked laser unit in a predetermined intermittent light-emission period, a detector configured to convert a fluorescent substance into an electric signal, the fluorescent substance receiving the intermittently emitted laser beam and then being excited from an object, and an A/D conversion unit configured to sample the electric signal in a sampling period synchronized with the intermittent light-emission period.
US09551663B2	Methods and systems for extending dynamic range in assays for the detection of molecules or particles Described herein are systems and methods for extending the dynamic range of assay methods and systems used for determining the concentration of analyte molecules or particles in a fluid sample. In some embodiments, a method comprises spatially segregating a plurality of analyte molecules in a fluid sample into a plurality of locations. At least a portion of the locations may be addressed to determine the percentage of said locations containing at least one analyte molecule. Based at least in part on the percentage, a measure of the concentration of analyte molecules in the fluid sample may be determined using an analog, intensity-based detection/analysis method/system and/or a digital detection/analysis method/system. In some cases, the assay may comprise the use of a plurality of capture objects.
US09551662B2	Surface plasmon-field enhanced fluorescence measurement device and fluorescence detection method using the same A surface plasmon-field enhanced fluorescence measurement device may be provided to accurately detect a specific substance even in the case in which a well member is used and achieving a simpler structure and a lower manufacturing cost, and a fluorescence detection method using the surface plasmon-field enhanced fluorescence measurement device.
US09551661B2	Assay chip An assay chip includes fluidic-channel member composed of a light-transmissive lower member and an upper member, forming a fluidic-channel therebetween, and a cover member fitted with the fluidic-channel member from the upper-member-side thereof. An inlet for injecting a sample solution into the fluidic-channel and a suction opening for sucking, from the downstream side, the injected sample solution, both communicating with the fluidic-channel, are formed on the upper surface of the upper member. A pot for carrying out predetermined pre-processing on the sample solution, a pot for first-reaction processing to bind a photoresponsive labeling substance to an analyte in the sample solution, an inlet insertion-hole for inserting the inlet, and a suction-opening insertion-hole for inserting the suction opening are linearly arranged on the upper surface of the cover member.
US09551660B2	Method for detecting reactants using fluorescent signal intensity FRET-labeled compounds are provided for use in analytical reactions. In certain embodiments, FRET-labeled nucleotide analogs are used in place of naturally occurring nucleoside triphosphates or other analogs in analytical reactions comprising nucleic acids, for example, template-directed nucleic acid synthesis, DNA sequencing, RNA sequencing, single-base identification, hybridization, binding assays, and other analytical reactions.
US09551659B2	Optical apparatus and method for fluorescence measurement of analytes comprising backscattering detection An optical apparatus comprises an ultraviolet light source (100) configured to transmit the ultraviolet light to a sample (102), one or more wavelength dependent beam splitters (104) and at least two separate detectors (106, 108). Each beam splitter (104) receives, from the sample (102), a band of excitating ultraviolet light and at least one band of fluorescence associated with an interaction between the excitating ultraviolet light and the sample (102) in the optical path through the sample (102), directs the band of excitating ultraviolet light passed through the sample (102) towards a first detector (106), and directs the at least one band of the fluorescence towards at least one separate detector (108). The first detector (106) and the at least one separate detector (108) are simultaneously configured to form electrical signals carrying information on powers of the bands of the ultraviolet light and the fluorescence, respectively. The signal processing unit (110) configured to measure the at least one property of the sample (102) on the basis of a signal from the first detector (106) and each signal from the at least one separate detector (108).
US09551657B2	Sample analyzer and sample analyzing method Disclosed is a sample analyzer which comprises: a sample preparing section configured to prepare a measurement sample by mixing a sample and a nucleic acid staining reagent; an optical detector configured to irradiate light on cells contained in the measurement sample, receive fluorescent light given off by the irradiated cells, and output fluorescent light signals; a signal processing section which obtains fluorescent light intensity and fluorescence pulse area of the cells from the fluorescent light signals output by the optical detector; and an information processing section configured to detect white blood cells contained in the measurement sample based on the fluorescence pulse area, and detect bacteria contained in the measurement sample based on the fluorescent light intensity.
US09551653B2	Methods for monitoring semiconductor fabrication processes using polarized light The inventive concept provides apparatuses and methods for monitoring semiconductor fabrication processes in real time using polarized light. In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a light source configured to generate light, a beam splitter configured to reflect the light toward the wafer being processed, an objective polarizer configured to polarize the light reflected toward the wafer and to allow light reflected by the wafer to pass therethrough, a blaze grating configured to separate light reflected by the wafer according to wavelength, an array detector configured to detect the separated light and an analyzer to analyze the three-dimensional profile of the structure/pattern being formed in the wafer.
US09551652B2	Chlorine dioxide gas concentration measuring apparatus A measuring apparatus is capable of measuring chlorine dioxide gas concentration by correcting for changes in light emission of an LED due to heating and passage of time, and applying the correction to the optical absorption rate of chlorine dioxide gas at a photodetector. The measuring apparatus includes a main body with a measuring passage surrounded by a pair of transparent bodies, into which specimen gas or fresh air is fed and then discharged, and a comparing passage arranged in the vicinity of the measuring passage, into which no specimen gas is fed, first and second LEDs for emitting ultraviolet light which both have identical properties and are mounted at one end of the measuring passage and at one end of the comparing passage, respectively, and first and second photodetectors for receiving light respectively from the first and second LEDs and detecting a light emission amount thereof.
US09551650B2	Integrated optofluidic system using microspheres An integrated optofluidic system for trapping and transporting particles for analysis is provided comprising a planar substrate; a microfluidic channel; and a waveguide integrated with the channel. A microsphere particle in the integrated optofluidic system can act as a cavity, allowing light to circulate many thousands of times around the circumference of the microsphere. Optical trapping and transport is used for nanoscale positioning to excite the microsphere resonances. Sensitive measurements on molecules can be accomplished by monitoring changes in whispering gallery modes (WGMs) that propagate around the circumference of the microsphere. By using a broadband or supercontinuum light source, a microsphere can be trapped and many WGM resonances can be excited through the visible and near-infrared wavelengths simultaneously. After the resonances are measured using the waveguide transmission, the microsphere can be freed by decreasing the optical power and the process repeated with a different microsphere.
US09551644B2	Methods and apparatus for real-time detection and clearing of a clog A flow cytometer apparatus and methods for detecting and clearing a clog therein are disclosed. An example method for detecting a clog may include (i) detecting, via a fault detection system of a flow cytometer, a first plurality of events associated with a first aliquot from a first sample well, (ii) determining a count of the first plurality of events associated with the first aliquot, (iii) determining whether the count of the first plurality of events is below a minimum count tolerance and (iv) (a) if the count of the first plurality of events is below the minimum count tolerance, then determining that the flow cytometer has a clog, (b) if the count of the first plurality of events is equal to or above the minimum count tolerance, then detecting a second plurality of events associated with a second aliquot from a second sample well.
US09551643B2	Flow cytometric systems for sterile separation of magnetically labeled sample components Systems for sterile separation of magnetically labeled sample components and methods for using the same are provided. Embodiments of the systems include a magnetic separation device and a pliant sample container, where a portion of the pliant sample container is operatively coupled under pressure to the magnetic separation device. Also provided are methods of using the systems, as well as pliant sample containers configured for use with the subject systems and methods.
US09551641B2	Drilling measuring device, exchangeable needle cartridge, exchangeable docking device, and exchangeable tool Disclosed herein is an exchangeable needle cartridge for a drilling measuring device with a guiding device for a drilling needle. The guiding device includes a telescopic tube with a plurality of telescopic tube sections which extends between a working end, at which a retainer for retaining the drilling needle in a rotationally fixed manner is arranged, and a docking end, at which a docking device for coupling the telescopic tube to a driving device of the drilling measuring device is arranged. Also disclosed is a docking device comprising a coupling device for transmitting torque from the driving device of the drilling resistance measuring device to the telescopic tube, a transmission device for converting the rotational motion of the driving device of the drilling measuring device into a linear motion of the telescopic tube, and furthermore structure for detachably fastening the exchangeable needle cartridge to the drilling measuring device.
US09551639B2	Device and method for measuring true triaxial creep of geotechnical engineering test block Device and method for measuring true triaxial creep of a geotechnical engineering test block, including a supporting structure; the device includes four confining pressure-plates and upper-and-lower compression-plates forming an enclosed cavity for the test block; confining pressure-plates include two long confining pressure-plates and two short-confining pressure-plates, upper-and-lower compression-plates are rectangular top and bottom steel-plates, two L-shaped long confining pressure-plates bent towards the outer side lapped on two adjacent side faces of the bottom steel-plate, two L-shaped short-confining pressure-plates bent towards the outer side lapped on remaining two-side faces of the bottom steel-plate, and bottom ends of the short-confining pressure-plates are placed on the bottom steel-plate; top ends of long confining pressure-plates lapped on the top steel-plate, and top steel-plate leans against inner side faces of two short-confining pressure-plates; vertically pressure sensors corresponds to four confining pressure-plates and upper-and-lower compression-plates in the supporting structure, and grating shortrulers on pressure sensors.
US09551631B2	System and method for adapting to a variable fuel delivery cutout delay in a fuel system of an internal combustion engine A system and method for is provided to determine a fuel flow cutout delay between transmitting a signal to stop a fuel flow to a fuel accumulator of a fuel system and the actual stop of fuel flow to the fuel accumulator. The fuel flow cutout delay is used to determine when pressure data from a sensor associated with the fuel accumulator is unaffected by fuel flow to the fuel accumulator.
US09551630B2	Device for fixing reactor modules to a test bench The invention relates to a suspension device of at least one reactor module to a test bench comprising at least one suspension arm, at least one upstream fixing assembly adapted to be fixed to a ceiling or wall of the test bench, at least one downstream fixing assembly adapted to be fixed to a reactor module, said suspension arm extending between two attachment ends adapted to be respectively fixed to the upstream fixing assembly and to the downstream fixing assembly, characterized in that said arm has a flexible median area whereof at least one cross-section dimension is less than the same cross-section dimension at the level of the attachment ends, the downstream casing comprising a fall-protection device.
US09551623B2	Apparatus for measuring and determining the force, the torque and the power on a crank, in particular the pedal crank of a bicycle The invention relates to an apparatus for measuring and determining the force, the torque and the power on a crank, in particular the pedal crank of a bicycle, comprising an evaluation device, in particular a bicycle computer, and at least one pedal, wherein the force and angular speed variables are converted into electrical signals and supplied to the evaluation device, the pedal comprises a pedal body, a deformation element, a pedal shaft and an angle transmitter, and wherein the force variable is determined by measuring the deformation of the deformation element using strain gauges, preferably by measuring the individual normal strains of the strain gauges, and wherein four pairs of strain gauges assigned to each other are arranged at different angles, preferably +/−45, with respect to the pedal shaft.
US09551622B2	Rotor for torque sensor Disclosed is a rotor for a torque sensor configured to improve a mechanical coupling force with respect to a jig in a process of adjusting a torque center, thus enabling a fine adjustment, the rotor including a rotor body having a sleeve coupled to a rotating shaft and a yoke protruding from an outer circumference of the sleeve, a ring-shaped magnet coupled to an outer circumference of the yoke, and an anti-slip structure formed on the rotor body and partially coming into contact with a jig during a rotating process for adjusting a torque center, thus inhibiting slipping between the rotor body and the jig when a rotating force is transmitted, so that slipping between the jig and the rotor body is inhibited to enable precise transmission of the rotating force whereby accuracy is improved during fine adjustment of the torque center.
US09551621B2	Pressure sensor having cantilever and displacement measurement unit A pressure sensor includes a sensor body which has a first surface and a cavity with an opening in the first surface, a cantilever which has a base end portion supported on the first surface and a distal end portion provided to form a gap from a peripheral edge of the opening inside the opening, is flexurally deformed according to a pressure difference between an inside and an outside of the cavity, and is formed of a semiconductor material, and a displacement measurement unit which measures a displacement of the cantilever vibrating according to the pressure difference at a frequency larger than a lower limit frequency fLOW (Hz) defined by Expression (1), where a width (μm) of the gap is represented by G, a volume (ml) of the cavity is represented by V, and a proportional constant is represented by k. fLOW=k·(G2/V) (1)
US09551619B1	Terahertz laser A pulsed emitter of electromagnetic radiation having a frequency range of 0.1 to 10 THz is described. The pulsed emitter includes an electromagnetic radiation gain medium and a pulse inducing element. The electromagnetic radiation gain medium is for generating electromagnetic radiation having the frequency range of 0.1 to 10 THz. The pulse inducing element is configured to induce an electromagnetic radiation pulse in the gain medium.
US09551614B2	Devices, methods, and systems for cavity-enhanced spectroscopy Devices, methods, and systems for cavity-enhanced spectroscopy are described herein. One system includes an optical frequency comb (OFC) coupled to a laser source, and a cavity coupled to the OFC comprising a number of mirrors, wherein at least one of the number of mirrors is coupled to a piezo-transducer configured to alter a position of the at least one of the number of mirrors.
US09551608B2	Wearable device and method for controlling the same A wearable device and a method for controlling the same are disclosed herein. The wearable device, comprising a bio-signal sensor unit configured to sense a bio-signal; a storage unit configured to store data; and a processor configured to control the bio-signal sensor unit and the storage unit, wherein the processor is further configured to: generate first reference data including a weight of a first reference object and a first bio-signal being generated by holding the first reference object when the first bio-signal is detected, generate measurement data including a second bio-signal being generated by holding a measurement object, when the second bio-signal is detected, and obtain a weight of the measurement object by comparing the measurement data with the first reference data.
US09551607B2	Radar level measurement Disclosed is a method of measuring the level of a liquid in a vessel, such as a chemical reactor, by radar. The method particularly pertains to situations wherein a supercritical fluid is present above the liquid. More particularly, the method serves to cope with the typical vigorous circumstances of a chemical reaction, such as urea synthesis. The invention foresees the use of a tube extending into the liquid, so as to guide the radar waves to the surface level of the liquid.
US09551605B2	Fuel-level measuring apparatus A fuel-level measuring apparatus measures the level of fuel in a vehicle fuel tank. The apparatus can ensure a sufficient capacity of the fuel tank and sense the fuel level even when the fuel tank has a thin or complicated shape. A fuel-level measuring apparatus that senses the level of fuel in a vehicle fuel tank disposed below a floor panel of a vehicle includes a tank band that secures the fuel tank to a body of the vehicle, and a strain gauge attached to the tank band. The fuel level can be obtained from strain in the tank band detected by the strain gauge.
US09551603B2	Ultrasonic flow meter device An ultrasonic flow meter device comprises a fluid passage forming section including a measurement fluid passage, and an opening facing a bottom surface of the measurement fluid passage; a pair of ultrasonic transducers which transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave via the opening; a partition plate which partitions the measurement fluid passage; and an identification section provided on an end surface of the partition plate and used to identify an obverse surface and a reverse surface of the partition plate.
US09551600B2	System and method for creating a flow cytometer network A system for creating a flow cytometer network includes: a flow cytometer with an interrogation zone and a fixed gain detection system that collects sample data from the interrogation zone; a flow cytometer data center that stores and manages sample-related data from the flow cytometer; and a network communication module that communicates sample-related data between the flow cytometer and the data center. The system may include a second flow cytometer and a second network communication module, where the first and second flow cytometers are calibrated to have substantially identical fixed gain settings. A method for creating a flow cytometer network includes: calibrating first and second flow cytometers with a calibration solution; collecting sample data with a fixed gain detection system; uploading data to a flow cytometer data center; retrieving data from the data center; and performing data analysis on the retrieved data.
US09551596B2	High-temperature-resistant metal-packaged fiber bragg grating sensor and manufacturing method therefor A manufacturing method for a high-temperature-resistant metal-packaged fiber Bragg grating sensor includes using a regenerated fiber Bragg grating obtained via high-temperature annealing as a sensitive element so that the grating will not be erased when used at high temperature. The method also includes using a magnetron sputtering method which makes an optical fiber and metal combine better to form on the surface of the optical fiber an adhesive layer and a conductive layer, thereby causing little damage to optical fiber because of the absence of the processes of coarsening, sensitization, etc. of electroless plating and the fact that the method is performed in an anhydrous environment. After magnetron sputtering, the method includes using an electroplating method to thicken and deposit a protective layer, and embedding the optical fiber in a flexible-structure metallic substrate through the electroplating method to achieve the all-metal package.
US09551594B1	Sensor deployment mechanism at a monitored location A universal sensor interface enables selective coupling of one or more sensor module units to a wireless node. Each sensor module unit can contain a suite of sensors selected for a particular sensor application at a monitored location. Reconfiguration of the wireless sensor network can occur seamlessly through the plug-and-play connectivity between the sensor module units and the wireless node.
US09551589B2	Natural navigational guidance Natural navigational guidance provides enhanced guidance instructions that take advantage of unique geographic features along a navigated route to specify maneuver points. Guidance points are clearly visible, unambiguous, and locally unique features in the geography of the maneuver area that can be used to aid the user in discovering the place where the maneuver point is. Within a guidance point selection area, a specific guidance point type has a more strict area within which it can be used. A natural guidance point selection area for an upcoming maneuver to be navigated is determined, and a unique geographic feature within the determined natural guidance point selection area is selected as a natural guidance point for navigation of the upcoming maneuver. A turn-type natural guidance point for an upcoming maneuver to be navigated is generated when the user device is within the natural guidance point selection area.
US09551588B2	Methods and systems to determine consumer locations based on navigational voice cues Methods and systems to determine consumer locations based on navigational voice cues are disclosed. An example method includes identifying, with a processor, a route point designated by a navigational voice cue output by a navigation system providing directions to an operator of a vehicle. The example method also includes determining, with the processor, at least one of a location or an anticipated location of an occupant of the vehicle based on the route point.
US09551584B2	Apparatus and method for switching navigation mode between vehicle navigation mode and personal navigation mode in navigation device Provided is an apparatus and method for switching a navigation mode between a vehicle navigation mode and a personal navigation mode in a navigation device supporting vehicle navigation and personal navigation. Switching between the vehicle navigation mode and the personal navigation mode is performed according to whether the navigation device is mounted in a navigation device holder, whether a GPS speed provided by a GPS receiver is higher than a predetermined speed, and whether a step is detected using an output of an accelerometer. Since mode switching between the vehicle navigation mode and the personal navigation mode is automatically performed, a user does not need to manually perform mode switching.
US09551583B1	Hybrid road network and grid based spatial-temporal indexing under missing road links Embodiments of the present invention provide efficient and dynamic systems and methods for building a hybrid road network and grid based spatial temporal index to handle big trajectory data. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to satisfy the issue of low indexing and compression rate of big trajectory data, and to improve the efficiency of index queries, while also providing a mechanism to account for missing road links in a map.
US09551580B2	Method and apparatus for mixed static and dynamic routing Techniques for mixed static and dynamic routing include determining a subset of less than all of a plurality of stopover points of an initial route of ordered stopover points. In the subset, all stopover points are marked as dynamic to indicate that their order is allowed to change. It is also determined whether there are at least two stopover points for which order may be changed. If there are at least two stopover points for which order may be changed, then a computed route is determined in which an order in the computed route of the stopover points of the subset minimizes a metric for the entire route compared to any other allowed order of the stopover points of the subset.
US09551576B2	MEMS inertial sensor and method of inertial sensing The invention comprises an inertial sensor comprising a frame, a proof mass, a first resonant element, the first resonant element being fixed to the frame and electrostatically coupled to the proof mass, and a second resonant element, the second resonant element being fixed to the frame, adjacent to the first resonant element such that there is substantially no electrostatic coupling between the second resonant element and the proof mass. A coupling is provided between the first resonant element and the second resonant element. A drive means is coupled to the first and second resonant elements for vibrating the first and second resonant elements and a sensor assembly is provided for detecting the amplitude of vibration of at least one of the resonant elements.
US09551574B2	Plumber's level A spirit type level that may be used to plumb any vertical pole or post, may be used to horizontally set an object and may also be used to quickly and easily set a pipe at a selected slope of between 0 and 3 percent. The spirit type level of the invention includes a plurality of differently oriented spirit vials that are secured within the level body in a manner such that, if any one of the spirit vials become broken, or otherwise damaged, it can be easily replaced and the level need not be discarded. The spirit type level of the invention can be quickly and easily removably attached to the object to be leveled thereby freeing the hands of the user to position the object.
US09551572B2	Sensor device, analyzing device, and recording medium for detecting the position at which an object touches another object Provided is a sensor device including a sensor configured to output a vibration datum by detecting a change in a state of a vibration in a first object when a second object touches the first object, a holding section configured to hold, at a portion of the first object which is different from a portion where the second object touches, the sensor in a state where the vibration in the first object is transmitted, and a communication section configured to transmit the single vibration datum detected by the sensor to an analyzing device which identifies a touch position where the second object touches the first object by analyzing the vibration datum.
US09551571B2	Method and device for measuring a decentration and tilt of faces of an optical element A method and device for measuring a decentration and tilt of faces of an optical element is provided. At least all optically used and frame-relevant partial surfaces of a surface of the optical element and reference faces of the optical element are registered over the whole area thereof and referenced to one another in a common coordinate system, wherein in each case a surface form deviation of the partial surfaces and reference faces is established relative to an associated intended surface, wherein a location of the partial surfaces and reference faces is established in each case in the common coordinate system from the respective surface form deviation. At least one tilt and at least one decentration are established from the location as a function of a form of the respective partial surface and reference face in the coordinate system.
US09551560B2	Extensometer remote arm actuation The disclosure relates to an extensometer wherein the actuation of the contact arms is performed by a separate rotating bar so as to avoid or minimize placing active mechanics onto the arms. The rotating bar includes a spool about which a metal belt is wound. Rotating the bar, and hence the spool, in the desired direction pulls the metal belt which pulls a spring-loaded wedge with internal camming slots which urges the contact arms apart.
US09551559B2	Compact 3D contact measuring device The 3D contact measuring device senses work pieces in machine tools for adjusting the zero point of a numerically controlled machine tool or for positioning tasks. The device comprises a preferably elongated housing, a sensing arm projecting from the housing and bearing a sensing tip. The sensing arm being movable in the direction of a measuring axis and pivotable in all directions about the measuring axis. A sensing lever is connected to the sensing arm and forms the first universal joint, and a measuring device for detecting a parameter, which characterizes the displacement and/or the pivoting of the sensing arm. A further control surface forms a second universal joint. An elongated toothed rack of a gear transmission is aligned along the measuring axis and is movably supported and is coupled to the sensing lever via the second universal joint.
US09551557B1	Polymer ammunition having a two-piece primer insert The present invention provides ammunition having a two piece primer insert with a flange, a polymeric middle body extending from the primer insert to a cylindrical middle body coupling region, a polymeric projectile end having a projectile aperture mated to the polymeric middle body, a primer inserted into the primer aperture, a propellant at least partially filling the propellant chamber, and a projectile frictionally fitted in the bullet-end aperture.
US09551554B2	Cryogenically generated compressed gas core projectiles and related methods thereof Exemplary projectiles and methods associated therewith including embodiments formed with an internal cavity adapted to receive and retain a cryogenic material into said cavity and then generate a first internal gas upon thermal equalization with said projectile as well as a first internal gas pressure within said cavity. Exemplary embodiments include a structure adapted for maintaining structural integrity after generation of the first internal gas pressure and a second internal gas pressure that is created upon the firing of the projectile. In some embodiments, the second internal gas pressure is more than twice the first internal gas pressure. Some embodiments are adapted with a portion of the projectile formed for displacing away or laterally from an axis formed through a longitudinal center of the projectile upon an impact from striking an object after firing based in part on internal gas pressure and an impact at cavity wall section rupture zones.
US09551550B2	Rail mountable device A rail mountable device may be provided that is configured to be secured firmly to a rail, such as a rail on a firearm, and released easily from the rail. In one example, the rail mountable device may include a rail clamp that includes first and second rail-engaging surfaces of corresponding first and second ramp members and a cross member that, in response to rotation of a screw, move toward or away from the longitudinal faces of the rail of the firearm to secure or release the rail mountable device to or from the rail. Additional embodiments and related methods are provided.
US09551549B1	Multi-position stock assembly for stabilizing a stock during adjustment along a buffer tube An adjustable stock assembly for a firearm includes a buffer tube extending rearwardly from a receiver, and provided with a series of recesses formed in a bottom portion thereof. A stock has a front end mounted for longitudinal axial sliding movement along the buffer tube, and a rear end provided with a butt plate. A lever arrangement is mounted on the stock for slidable movement therewith along the buffer tube to selectively engage and disengage with any one of the recesses formed in the buffer tube. The lever arrangement is positioned between the buffer tube and the stock, and is configured to prevent any movement of the stock relative to the buffer tube other than the longitudinal axial sliding movement of the stock along the buffer tube.
US09551540B2	Heat exchanger A lower space of a first header collecting pipe of a heat exchanger is, by partitions, divided into three communication chambers and a single mixing chamber. The mixing chamber communicates with the communication chamber through a through-hole of a lower horizontal partition, communicates with the communication chamber through a through-hole of a vertical partition, and communicates with the communication chamber through a through-hole of an upper horizontal partition. Gas-liquid refrigerant flows into the mixing chamber, and is mixed in the mixing chamber. Then, the refrigerant is distributed to the communication chambers. Thus, the wetness of refrigerant flowing into a flat tube is uniformized among the flat tubes, and performance of the heat exchanger can be fully achieved.
US09551535B2	Apparatus and method for cooling selected portions of swimming pool water An apparatus and method for cooling water in a swimming pool includes a heat exchanger coupled to a withdrawal conduit and a skimmer conduit of the pool filtering system. The heat exchanger is buried in the ground at a depth at which the ground temperature is substantially constant year-round thereby providing a passive heat sink for the heat exchanger. Water from the swimming pool is passed to a three-way valve for directing pool water either directly back to the swimming pool or through the heat exchanger for cooling pool water by heat transfer to the ground heat sink before being returned to the pool. Pool water from the skimmer conduit is selectively directed through the heat exchange while flow of pool water from the withdrawal conduit is prevented. A temperature sensor may control operation of the three-way valve and selective operation of the skimmer and withdrawal conduits.
US09551531B2	Device for transferring a metallurgical material The invention relates to a device having a bottom, side walls and a ceiling, which together define a channel, as well as transportation means, extending in an axial direction of said channel from an entry port of the channel to an exit port of said channel, for transferring a metallurgical material from said entry port to said exit port.
US09551529B2	Air delivery apparatus with interchangeable nozzle inserts An apparatus that uses an optimized body design incorporating one or more interchangeable nozzle inserts with a wide array of discharge orifice sizes, configurations and spacings to efficiently and effectively deliver a pressurized, high velocity, laminar flow air stream to dry, cool, or clean objects that are either stationary or moving transversely through the optimized air stream developed by the apparatus, all while minimizing the operational downtime required to implement the interchangeable nozzle insert modifications to the apparatus.
US09551527B2	Methods and apparatus for low heat spray drying Methods and apparatus provide for spray drying a liquid product into a dried powder without applying heat, including: forming a slurry including a liquid solvent, a carrier, and an active ingredient; applying an electrostatic charge to the slurry; atomizing the charged slurry to produce a plurality of electrostatically charged, wet particles; suspending the electrostatically charged, wet particles for a sufficient time to permit repulsive forces induced by the electrostatic charge on at least some wet particles to cause at least some of such particles to divide into wet sub-particles; and continuing the suspending step, without the presence of any heated drying fluids, for a sufficient time to drive off a sufficient amount of the liquid solvent within most of the wet particles to leave a plurality of dried particles (the powder), each dried particle containing the active ingredient encapsulated within the carrier.
US09551525B2	Electrified cooler system A shocking cooler includes an ice chest cooler which has a lid and lower portion. A first conductor is located within the bottom portion and extrudes from one of the side interior surfaces of the ice chest cooler. A second conductor is located near a lower lip region, and is separated a distance from the first conductor. The first conductor and second conductor are joined to a power supply at alternate connections (either positive (+) or negative (−)) by connection cable(s). The power supply is connected to a switch, which allows the shocking ice chest cooler to be turned on or off. Water is introduced to the ice chest cooler, and is in contact with the first conductor. When a burglar attempts to reach into the ice chest cooler, his hand is immersed into the water, thereby completing the circuit and issuing an electrical shock.
US09551523B2	Method for controlling the defrost of an evaporator in a refrigeration appliance A method for controlling evaporator defrost in a refrigeration appliance having a cooling circuit with a variable cooling capacity compressor is disclosed. The method includes assessing the cooling capacity of the cooling circuit and calculating the defrost time on the basis of such cooling capacity. Defrost time is preferably assessed on the basis of the inverter frequency driving the compressor and/or the percentage of insertion of the compressor.
US09551520B2	Hazardous location heat transfer unit A two chamber heat transfer unit configured such that hazardous air can circulate through one of the chambers of the heat transfer unit and any potential ignition source components are contained in another pressurized chamber of the heat transfer unit.
US09551516B2	Compressor-heat exchanger unit for a heating-cooling module for a motor vehicle The invention relates to a compressor-heat exchanger unit for a heating-cooling module for a motor vehicle, in which at least one fluid serving as a coolant flows, comprising a compressor device for compressing the first fluid, at least one heat exchanger device that has at least one first circuit for the first fluid to flow through and a second circuit for a second fluid to flow through, this heat exchanger unit being arranged in the fluid stream after the compressor device, characterized in that the first fluid is guided at least partially in flow channels of the first circuit that at least partially enclose the compressor device.
US09551513B2	Frequency-matched cryocooler scaling for low-cost, minimal disturbance space cooling Components within a cryocooler are scaled and/or configured for operation at a CMG operating frequency (e.g., 100 Hz) rather than at 30 to 70 Hz, matching the exported disturbances of control moment gyroscopes on the same platform and reducing line-of-sight jitter for electro-optic infrared focal plane array sensors. The smaller piston working volume and other reduced component sizes allow the cryocooler to be smaller and lighter than designs operating at lower frequencies. Combined with an advanced regenerator suitable for the higher frequency operation, the cryocooler has improved cooling efficiency over such lower frequency designs.
US09551511B2	Ejector having nozzles and diffusers imparting tangential velocities on fluid flow An ejector (38) has ports (40, 42, 44) for receiving a motive flow and a suction flow and discharging a combined flow. The ejector has a motive flow inlet, a suction flow inlet (42), and an outlet (44). A suction flow flowpath extends from the suction flow inlet. A motive flow flowpath extends from the motive flow inlet to join the suction flow flowpath and form a combined flowpath exiting the outlet. The ejector comprises a plurality of motive flow nozzles (100, 302, 402, 602, 702, 802) along the motive flow flowpath. The motive flow nozzles are oriented to impart a tangential velocity component to the motive flow. A plurality of diffusers (130, 304, 404, 604, 704, 804) are along the combined flowpath and are oriented to recover the tangential velocity from the combined flow.
US09551510B2	Slider clip and photovoltaic structure mounting system Described herein is a mounting system and slider clips that support simplified installation of photovoltaic structures. The mounting system comprises a support structure which can be mounted to support columns via an optional tilt table. The support structure comprises a plurality of parallel spaced beams and a plurality of parallel spaced rails that are mounted approximately perpendicular to the beams. Disclosed embodiments describe a collapsible support structure in which the rails are pivotally mounted to the beams. Rails are preassembled with prefabricated slider clips for holding edge portions of the photovoltaic structures. Rails can also be integrally formed with slider clips. Described herein are also methods of installing one or more photovoltaic structures using the mounting system and methods for manufacturing slider clips and a photovoltaic structure mounting system.
US09551508B2	Ground mounted solar power assembly A ground mounted solar power assembly having at least one solar panel having a support beam connected to the back of the solar panel. A plurality of legs have a bracket at one end that receive the support beam. Finally, an eccentric handle is connected to the bracket to permit selective rotation of the support beam within the bracket.
US09551504B2	HVAC system remote monitoring and diagnosis An apparatus for monitoring a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes an indoor unit monitor module electrically connected to a current sensor and first and second refrigerant temperature sensors. The current sensor generates a first current signal based on aggregate current consumed by components of an indoor unit of the HVAC system. The refrigerant temperature sensors generate first and second refrigerant temperature signals, respectively, based on measured temperatures of refrigerant circulating within the HVAC system. The indoor unit monitor module receives, from a secondary monitoring module, a second current signal based on aggregate current consumed by components of an outdoor unit of the HVAC system. The indoor unit monitor module transmits data to a remote server to assess whether a failure has occurred or is likely to occur in the components of the HVAC system. The data is based on the current signals and the refrigerant temperature signals.
US09551503B2	Comfort control system, user-end subsystem thereof, and system-end device thereof A comfort control system includes a user-end subsystem and a system-end subsystem. The user-end subsystem includes an environmental control device, a sensor and a communication apparatus. The environmental control device adjusts an environmental factor value of a predetermined area. The sensor senses an activity value of a user. The communication apparatus sends the activity value and an identifier corresponding to the user. The system-end subsystem includes a communication element, a comfort database and a computing apparatus. The communication element receives the identifier and the activity value. The comfort database includes a basic data table having a physiological value and a preference data table having a control parameter. The computing apparatus looks up the basic data table for the physiological value and looks up the preference data table for a corresponding control parameter. The computing apparatus controls the environmental control device to adjust the environmental factor value.
US09551500B2	Device for generating an air wall A device for generating an air wall comprises a primary blower slit for generating a flat primary air stream in a passage opening mutually separating two spaces with different temperatures. Two adjacent air streams with the same direction and speed are added to the primary air stream. The primary air stream has a temperature between those of the secondary air streams. The absolute humidity of the air of the primary air stream is at least equal to that of the cold secondary air stream and lower than that of the warm secondary air stream. The air speed of the primary air stream amounts to at least 15 m/s. The width of the primary blower slit lies in the range of 15-40 mm. The length of the primary blower slit in the direction of the air stream lies roughly in the range of 5-40 cm, preferably 10-30 cm. No mixing occurs hereby occurs between the primary air stream Sp and the second secondary air stream Ss2 on the side of the warm space, whereby condensation (misting and vaporization) and/or sublimation (icing) is prevented.
US09551499B1	Hinge assembly for supporting a fan on a roof A buttressed hinge assembly or a flexible hinge assembly adjusts to fit a vent on a wall or a roof in order to hold a fan thereon, which fan is especially suitable for a restaurant roof or wall. The hinge assembly attaches to a roof or wall vent to hold the fan in a proper position, yet permits the fan to be easily moved for cleaning of vent and the fan.
US09551496B2	Displacement-induction neutral wall air terminal unit An induction-displacement neutral wall air terminal unit includes a housing defining a supply airflow path, a connected return airflow path, and a heating airflow path separated from the supply and return airflow paths by at least one interior wall. The unit also includes a plurality of induction-type nozzles located within the supply airflow path, that are deliver a ventilation air flow stream into the supply air flow path. The nozzles induce a return air flow stream through the return air flow path that mixes with the ventilation air flow stream to form a supply air flow stream delivered to a supply air outlet. A heating element is disposed within the heating airflow path to heat air within the heating air flow path. A plurality of fans may be placed within the heating airflow path to increase the overall heating capacity of the unit.
US09551494B2	Mounting bracket with thermal maze to reduce heat transfer rate The present invention provides an oven appliance with a bracket for attaching a component such as a fan motor to the oven appliance. One or more features are provided for minimizing the transfer of heat from the oven appliance, through the bracket, to the component. In certain embodiments, a bracket having a plurality of bracket attachment elements, a plurality of motor attachment elements, and a plurality of slots is configured to define a nonlinear path for the transfer of heat from the oven appliance to the fan motor.
US09551493B2	Oven An over having an improved exhaust structure capable of discharging a fluid of the inside of a cooking chamber at a constant rate, the oven including a cooking chamber cooking food, a machine chamber disposed at an upper side of the cooking chamber and accommodating an electronic component, a cooling fan unit disposed at an inside of the machine chamber to cool the machine chamber, and a flow passage guide communicating with an inside the cooking chamber and an inside of the cooling fan unit such that a fluid of the inside of the cooking chamber is introduced to the inside of the cooling fan unit, wherein the cooling fan unit includes a cooling fan configured to suck a fluid of the inside the machine chamber and blow the fluid to the outside environment.
US09551489B2	Turbine engine combustion chamber An annular combustion chamber for a turbine engine, the chamber including an inner wall and an outer wall forming surfaces of revolution, the walls being connected together by a chamber end wall fitted with a fuel injection mechanism, each of the inner and outer walls including primary holes and dilution holes situated downstream from the primary holes in a gas flow direction, the primary and dilution holes being regularly distributed around the circumference of the inner and outer walls. The outer wall has a greater number of dilution holes than the inner wall.
US09551487B2	Heat recovery using radiant heat Systems, methods, and apparatuses may involve a burner configured to burn gas to produce burned gas and output radiant heat. A gas valve controlled by the system can regulate the flow of gas to the burner. A heat exchanger associated with a thermal cycle can be used to heat a working fluid of the thermal cycle. The heat exchanger positioned out of a convective heat flow from the burner. A heat valve between the burner and the heat exchanger can be selectively adjustable to adjust heat transfer to the heat exchanger.
US09551486B2	Automated torch An automated torch for generating and sustaining a flame is provided that includes a head, the head including a burning chamber, the burning chamber being open to the atmosphere and weather elements to expose the flame to the atmosphere and weather elements, a pole, a valve, a programmable computer module, the module configured to convert a low voltage to a high voltage, the module further configured to actuate a valve, the module still further configured to control the rotation of the valve to vary the amount of fuel introduced into the burning chamber to modify the aesthetics of the flame, a sleeve nut, the sleeve nut configured to be adjustable to control the amount of air introduced in the burning chamber to modify the aesthetics of the flame, at least one fuel supply tube, a diffuser assembly and an igniter. The igniter positioned within the burning chamber and the igniter including an anode and a cathode. The anode and the cathode are positioned such that the anode is proximate the cathode to create a sufficient gap such that when the high voltage is applied to said igniter a spark is induced across the gap. The anode and the cathode of the igniter are configured to detect the presence of a flame within the burning chamber. The igniter is configured to be electrically connected to the programmable computer module, the programmable computer module programmed to interpret a signal from the igniter to determine whether the high voltage should be induced across the gap to create the spark or a flame is present in the burning chamber.
US09551482B2	Light fixture assembly with pivoting reflector assembly and lens assembly A light fixture assembly includes a housing having an interior surface, a ballast mounted on the interior surface of the housing, a first reflector releasably coupled to the interior surface of the housing, the ballast being substantially enclosed between the housing and the first reflector when the first reflector is in a first, closed position and being exposed when the first reflector is in a second, open position spaced from at least a portion of the interior surface, a lens releasably coupled to the housing, the first reflector being substantially enclosed between the lens and the housing when the lens is in a first, closed position and substantially exposed when the lens is in a second, open position. This construction provides relatively easy and quick access to the ballast for replacement and from below the fixture if it is mounted in or on the ceiling.
US09551479B2	Method for producing an illuminant A method for producing an illuminant is specified, in which a positioning device (3) holds an optoelectronic semiconductor component (1) inside a tolerance range (4) on the upper side of a connection carrier (2) during the mechanical fixation and electrical connecting of the optoelectronic semiconductor component (1) to the connection carrier (2).
US09551473B2	Lighting device A lighting device for a motor vehicle includes a light source for sending out a light beam. The lighting device also includes a lightguide of elongated shape made of a plastic, primarily transparent material for guiding the light beam, while a portion of a mantle of the lightguide forms an exit surface for emergence of rays of light of the light beam, wherein another portion of the mantle of the lightguide opposite the exit surface is at least partly provided with a diffuse means formed by a nontransparent coating or foil pressed against the mantle of the lightguide, or joined to a diffuse means of the plastic primarily nontransparent material in the process of injection molding of the plastic.
US09551468B2	Inverse visible spectrum light and broad spectrum light source for enhanced vision A visible light spectrum and light source apparatus are described that provide over 90% of their total radiant power within the 385 nm-530 nm and the 570 nm-820 nm spectral ranges, collectively. The objective of the light spectrum and apparatus is to improve the visibility and shape of a wider range of objects than is practical using conventional LED white light sources at similar radiant power conditions. The new light source can provide good Scotopic or Mesopic at low power levels compared to most other light sources for illumination. One illustrative embodiment of this new spectrum and light source provides a full visible light spectrum with at least 6% of the highest peak radiant power of all wavelengths between 405 nm-730 nm, and another illustrative embodiment provides a similar full spectrum between 440 nm and 730 nm. In both embodiments, the average radiant power in the 475-510 nm cyan spectral region is at least 2-times the average radiant power in the 530-570 nm spectral region.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10