最新美国发明专利
Document Document Title
US09954134B2 Optical biosensor and manufacturing method thereof
An optical biosensor, and a method of manufacturing the same, includes a first layer, a second layer stacked on the first layer, a first grating coupler within the first layer and the second layer, and a second grating coupler within the first layer. The first grating coupler is configured to couple a light pattern provided to a front side of the optical biosensor. The second grating coupler is configured to output the light pattern coupled by the first grating coupler to a photoelectric conversion element on a rear side of the optical biosensor.
US09954126B2 Three-dimensional photovoltaic devices including cavity-containing cores and methods of manufacture
Various stamping methods may reduce defects and increase throughput for manufacturing metamaterial devices. Metamaterial devices with an array of photovoltaic bristles, and/or vias, may enable each photovoltaic bristle to have a high probability of photon absorption. The high probability of photon absorption may lead to increased efficiency and more power generation from an array of photovoltaic bristles. Reduced defects in the metamaterial device may decrease manufacturing cost, increase reliability of the metamaterial device, and increase the probability of photon absorption for a metamaterial device. The increase in manufacturing throughput and reduced defects may reduce manufacturing costs to enable the embodiment metamaterial devices to reach grid parity.
US09954125B2 Light spot position detector with an array of nanorods
Various examples are provided for pillar array photo detectors. In one example, among others, a photo detection system includes an array of substantially aligned photo sensitive nanorods extending between first and second electrodes, and a plurality of resistance monitoring circuits coupled at different positions about the circumference of the electrodes. In another example, a photo detector includes first and second electrodes, and an array of substantially aligned photo sensitive nanorods extending between the substantially parallel electrodes. Light passing through an electrode excites electrons in the photo sensitive nanorods that are illuminated by the light. In another example, a method includes illuminating a portion of a photo detector including an array of substantially aligned photo sensitive nanorods with a light spot, obtaining resistance measurements at a plurality of locations around the array, and determining a position of the light spot on the photo detector based upon the resistance measurements.
US09954124B1 Thermo-compensated silicon photo-multiplier with on-chip temperature sensor
A silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) device is provided with a SiPM matrix and a temperature compensation circuit fabricated on a substrate. The temperature compensation circuit can include a temperature sensor, a bias adjustment circuit and a current source. The current source can provide a current to the temperature sensor and the temperature sensor can provide a temperature dependent signal to the bias adjustment circuit. The bias adjustment circuit can adjust a bias voltage provided to the SiPM matrix in response to the signal from the temperature sensor in order to maintain a predefined overvoltage value at the SiPM matrix.
US09954120B2 Semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof
In a semiconductor device including a split gate type MONOS memory, and a trench capacitor element having an upper electrode partially embedded in trenches formed in the main surface of a semiconductor substrate, merged therein, the flatness of the top surface of the upper electrode embedded in the trench is improved. The polysilicon film formed over the semiconductor substrate to form a control gate electrode forming a memory cell of the MONOS memory is embedded in the trenches formed in the main surface of the semiconductor substrate in a capacitor element formation region, thereby to form the upper electrode including the polysilicon film in the trenches.
US09954119B2 Zener diode having an adjustable breakdown voltage
The present disclosure relates to a Zener diode including a Zener diode junction formed in a semiconductor substrate along a plane parallel to the surface of the substrate, and positioned between a an anode region having a first conductivity type and a cathode region having a second conductivity type, the cathode region extending from the surface of the substrate. A first conducting region is configured to generate a first electric field perpendicular to the plane of the Zener diode junction upon application of a first voltage to the first conducting region, and a second conducting region is configured to generate a second electric field along the plane of the Zener diode junction upon application of a second voltage to the second conducting region.
US09954117B2 Semiconductor device and display device including the semiconductor device
A novel semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor is provided. In particular, a planar semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor is provided. A semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor and having large on-state current is provided. The semiconductor device includes an oxide insulating film, an oxide semiconductor film over the oxide insulating film, a source electrode and a drain electrode in contact with the oxide semiconductor film, a gate insulating film between the source electrode and the drain electrode, and a gate electrode overlapping the oxide semiconductor film with the gate insulating film. The oxide semiconductor film includes a first region overlapped with the gate electrode and a second region not overlapped with the gate electrode, the source electrode, and the drain electrode. The first region and the second region have different impurity element concentrations. The gate electrode, the source electrode, and the drain electrode contain the same metal element.
US09954116B2 Electrostatically enhanced fins field effect transistors
Non-planar semiconductor devices including semiconductor fins or stacked semiconductor nanowires that are electrostatically enhanced are provided. The electrostatic enhancement is achieved in the present application by epitaxially growing a semiconductor material protruding portion on exposed sidewalls of alternating semiconductor material portions of at least one hard mask capped semiconductor-containing fin structure that is formed on a substrate.
US09954114B2 Semiconductor device including oxide semiconductor layer
The electrical characteristics of a transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer are varied by influence of an insulating film in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer, that is, by an interface state between the oxide semiconductor layer and the insulating film. A first oxide semiconductor layer S1, a second oxide semiconductor layer S2, and a third oxide semiconductor layer S3 are sequentially stacked, so that the oxide semiconductor layer through which carriers flow is separated from the gate insulating film containing silicon. The thickness of the first oxide semiconductor layer S1 is preferably smaller than those of the second oxide semiconductor layer S2 and the third oxide semiconductor layer S3, and is less than or equal to 10 nm, preferably less than or equal to 5 nm.
US09954107B2 Strained FinFET source drain isolation
A semiconductor structure, such as a strained FinFETs, includes a strain relief buffer (SRB) layer isolated and separated from a source and a drain by a second spacer simultaneously formed with a first spacer upon the sidewalls of a gate structure. The second spacer limits the source and drain from contacting the SRB layer thereby limiting source drain junction leakage. Further, the second spacer limits source and drain punch through to the SRB layer underneath a channel. An etch partially removes a SRB layer portion 24 within a fin stack. The etch undercuts the source and drain forming a fin void without under cutting the channel. The second spacer is formed by depositing spacer material with the fin void.
US09954105B2 Method and structure for FinFET devices
A method includes providing a semiconductor substrate having first and second regions that are doped with first and second dopants respectively. The first and second dopants are of opposite types. The method further includes epitaxially growing a first semiconductor layer that is doped with a third dopant. The first and third dopants are of opposite types. The method further includes depositing a dielectric hard mask (HM) layer over the first semiconductor layer; patterning the dielectric HM layer to have an opening over the first region; extending the opening towards the semiconductor substrate; and epitaxially growing a second semiconductor layer in the opening. The second semiconductor layer is doped with a fourth dopant. The first and fourth dopants are of a same type. The method further includes removing the dielectric HM layer; and performing a first CMP process to planarize both the first and second semiconductor layers.
US09954104B2 Multiwidth finFET with channel cladding
An improved structure and methods of fabrication for finFET devices utilizing a cladding channel are disclosed. A staircase fin is formed where the fin comprises an upper portion of a first width and a lower portion of a second width, wherein the lower portion is wider than the upper portion. The narrower upper portion allows the cladding channel to be deposited and still have sufficient space for proper gate deposition, while the lower portion is wide to provide improved mechanical stability, which protects the fins during the subsequent processing steps.
US09954103B1 Bottom spacer formation for vertical transistor
A bilayer of silicon dioxide and silicon nitride is formed on exposed surfaces of at least one semiconductor fin having a bottom source/drain region located at the footprint, and on each side, of the at least one semiconductor fin. An upper surface of each horizontal portion of the silicon nitride layer is then carbonized, and thereafter non-carbonized vertical portions of the silicon nitride layer are removed. Next, the carbonized portions of the silicon nitride layer are removed, and thereafter the vertical portions of the silicon dioxide layer are removed from sidewalls of the at least one semiconductor fin utilizing each remaining portion of the silicon nitride layer as an etch mask A bottom spacer structure is provided on each bottom source/drain region in which each bottom spacer structure includes a remaining portion of the silicon dioxide layer and the remaining portion of the silicon nitride layer.
US09954100B2 Method and apparatus for high voltate transistors
A method includes forming a gate spacer along sidewalls of a gate structure, forming a source region and a drain region on opposite sides of the gate structure, wherein a sidewall of the source region is vertically aligned with a first sidewall of the gate spacer, depositing a dielectric layer over the substrate, depositing a conductive layer over the dielectric layer, patterning the dielectric layer and the conductive layer to form a field plate, wherein the dielectric layer comprises a horizontal portion extending from the second drain/source region to a second sidewall of the gate spacer and a vertical portion formed along the second sidewall of the gate spacer, forming a plurality of metal silicide layers by applying a salicide process to the conductive layer, the gate structure, the first drain/source region and the second drain/source region and forming contact plugs over the plurality of metal silicide layers.
US09954095B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing same
To provide a semiconductor device less affected by noise without making a manufacturing process more complicated and increasing a chip area. The device has a semiconductor substrate having first and second surfaces, a first-conductivity-type drain region on the second surface side in the semiconductor substrate, a first-conductivity-type drift region on the first surface side of a substrate region, a second-conductivity-type base region on the first surface side of the drift region, a first-conductivity-type source region on the first surface of the semiconductor substrate sandwiching a base region between the source and drift regions, a gate electrode opposite to and insulated from the base region, a wiring on the first main surface electrically coupled to the source region, and a first conductive film on the first main surface, opposite to and insulated from the wiring, and electrically coupled to the substrate region.
US09954092B2 Semiconductor device, power circuit, and computer
A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes a nitride semiconductor layer and an insulating layer including an oxide film or an oxynitride film that contacts with the nitride semiconductor layer. The oxide film or the oxynitride film includes at least one impurity selected from the group consisting of boron (B), gallium (Ga), aluminum (Al), and indium (In) and carbon (C). A first peak of a concentration distribution of the at least one impurity in the insulating layer is present in the oxide film or the oxynitride film. A second peak of a concentration distribution of carbon in the insulating layer is present in the oxide film or the oxynitride film. A distance between the first peak and the nitride semiconductor layer is equal to or less than 5 nm, and a distance between the second peak and the nitride semiconductor layer is equal to or less than 5 nm.
US09954091B2 Compound semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A compound semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a channel layer over the substrate; a carrier supply layer over the channel layer; a gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode above the channel layer and the carrier supply layer; and an insulating film that covers the carrier supply layer between the source electrode and the drain electrode. The insulating film includes: a first region that contains anion under the gate electrode; and a second region on the source electrode side or on the drain electrode side of the first region, an anion concentration in the second region being lower than an anion concentration in the first region.
US09954083B2 Semiconductor structures having increased channel strain using fin release in gate regions
A method of introducing strain in a channel region of a FinFET device includes forming a fin structure on a substrate, the fin structure having a lower portion comprising a sacrificial layer and an upper portion comprising a strained semiconductor layer; and removing a portion of the sacrificial layer corresponding to a channel region of the FinFET device so as to release the upper portion of the fin structure from the substrate in the channel region.
US09954082B1 Method of fabricating an embedded nonvolatile memory device
A method of fabricating an embedded nonvolatile memory device is disclosed. A semiconductor substrate having thereon a fin body protruding from an isolation layer is provided. A charge storage layer crossing the fin body is formed. An inter-layer dielectric layer is deposited on the semiconductor substrate. The inter-layer dielectric layer is polished to expose a top surface of the charge storage layer. The charge storage layer is then recess etched and cut into separate charge storage structures. A high-k dielectric layer is formed on the charge storage structures. A word line is formed on the high-k dielectric layer.
US09954080B2 3D integrated circuit device
A 3D integrated circuit device, including: a first transistor; a second transistor; and a third transistor, where the third transistor is overlaying the second transistor and the second transistor is overlaying the first transistor, where the first transistor controls the supply of a ground or a power signal to the third transistor, and where the first transistor, the second transistor and the third transistor are aligned to each other with less than 100 nm misalignment.
US09954079B2 LDMOS power semiconductor device and manufacturing method of the same
Methods form an electronic semiconductor device that includes a body having a first side and a second side opposite to one another and including a first structural region facing the second side, and a second structural region extending over the first structural region and facing the first side. A body region extends in the second structural region at the first side. A source region extends inside the body region and a lightly-doped drain region faces the first side of the body. A gate electrode is formed over the body region. A trench dielectric region extends through the second structural region in a first trench conductive region immediately adjacent to the trench dielectric region. A second trench conductive region is in electrical contact with the body region and source region. An electrical contact on the body is in electrical contact with the drain region through the first structural region.
US09954078B2 Method for manufacturing a semiconductor device having a super junction MOSFET
A method of manufacturing a super junction MOSFET, which includes a parallel pn layer including a plurality of pn junctions and in which an n-type drift region and a p-type partition region interposed between the pn junctions are alternately arranged and contact each other, a MOS gate structure on the surface of the parallel pn layer, and an n-type buffer layer in contact with an opposite main surface. The impurity concentration of the buffer layer is equal to or less than that of the n-type drift region. At least one of the p-type partition regions in the parallel pn layer is replaced with an n− region with a lower impurity concentration than the n-type drift region.
US09954070B2 Thin film transistor and manufacturing method thereof, display device
A thin film transistor, a manufacturing method thereof, and a display device are provided. The thin film transistor includes a gate electrode (21), an active layer (23), a source electrode (241) and a drain electrode (242). The source electrode (241) and the drain electrode (242) are formed of at least two materials, the forming materials of the source electrode (241) and the drain electrode (242) can create a cell reaction in a corresponding etching solution so as to be etched, and material of the active layer (23) is not corroded by the etching solution. With the thin film transistor and manufacturing method thereof according to embodiments of the invention, a problem that an active layer is liable to be corroded in an etching procedure of a source electrode and a drain electrode can be solved, and thus the thin film transistor device can be manufactured by using a back channel etch process. Consequently, the process number for manufacture of the thin film transistor is decreased, and the manufacturing cost is saved.
US09954068B2 Method of forming a transistor, method of patterning a substrate, and transistor
A method of forming a transistor having a gate electrode includes forming a sacrificial layer over a semiconductor substrate, forming a patterning layer over the sacrificial layer, patterning the patterning layer to form patterned structures, forming spacers adjacent to sidewalls of the patterned structures, removing the patterned structures, etching through the sacrificial layer using the spacers as an etching mask and etching into the semiconductor substrate, thereby forming trenches in the semiconductor substrate, and filling a conductive material in the trenches in the semiconductor substrate to form the gate electrode.
US09954067B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a gate structure on a substrate; a protection layer on the gate structure; a source/drain region adjacent to the gate structure; and an interconnect plug on the source/drain region. The gate structure includes a gate electrode including a top surface; and a sidewall spacer interfacing a sidewall of the gate electrode. The protection layer covers at least a first portion of the top surface and the sidewall spacer. The protection layer is interposed between the interconnect plug and the gate electrode.
US09954060B2 Method for manufacturing a nanowire structure
The present invention provides a method for aligning nanowires which can be used to fabricate devices comprising nanowires that has well-defined and controlled orientation independently on what substrate they are arranged on. The method comprises the steps of providing nanowires and applying an electrical field over the population of nanowires, whereby an electrical dipole moment of the nanowires makes them align along the electrical field. Preferably the nanowires are dispersed in a fluid during the steps of providing and aligning. When aligned, the nanowires can be fixated, preferably be deposition on a substrate. The electrical field can be utilized in the deposition. Pn-junctions or any net charge introduced in the nanowires may assist in the aligning and deposition process. The method is suitable for continuous processing, e.g. in a roll-to-roll process, on practically any substrate materials and not limited to substrates suitable for particle assisted growth.
US09954056B2 Semiconductor device with superjunction structure and transistor cells in a transition region along a transistor cell region
A semiconductor device includes a transistor cell region and a transition region. The transistor cell region includes a first portion of a super junction structure and a first contact structure electrically connecting a first load electrode with first source zones of transistor cells. The first source zones are formed on opposite sides of the first contact structure. The transition region directly adjoins to the transistor cell region and includes a second portion of the super junction structure and a second contact structure electrically connecting the first load electrode with a second source zone. The second source zone is formed only at a side of the second contact structure oriented to the transistor cell region.
US09954055B2 Vertical power MOSFET device
A semiconductor device includes a layer having first and second surfaces and a first type first region, a second type second region in the layer between the first region and first surface, a first type third region in the layer between the second region and first surface, first and second gate electrodes, wherein the second region is between the first and second gate electrodes, a first field plate electrode between the second surface and first gate electrode, a second field plate electrode between the second surface and second gate electrode, a first film, at least a portion between the first field plate electrode and first region, a second film at least a portion between the second field plate electrode and first region, and a second type fourth region in the first region between the first and second films. A portion of the first region is between second and fourth regions.
US09954052B2 Semiconductor device having buffer layer and method of forming the same
A semiconductor device is provided as follows. A substrate includes an NMOS region and a PMOS region. A first trench and a second trench are disposed in the NMOS region. A first buffer layer is disposed in the first trench and the second trench. A stressor is disposed in the first trench and the second trench and disposed on the first buffer layer. A first channel region is disposed between the first trench and the second trench and disposed in the substrate. A first gate electrode is disposed on the first channel area. A third trench is disposed in the PMOS region. A second buffer layer is disposed in the third trench. A second channel area is disposed in the third trench, disposed on the second buffer layer, and has a different semiconductor layer from the substrate. A second gate electrode is disposed on the second channel area.
US09954037B2 Display device, method of manufacturing the same, display method, and wearable device
The present disclosure discloses a display device, a method of manufacturing the same, a display method, and a wearable device. The display includes a first base substrate; a low-temperature polysilicon (LTPS) back plate formed on the first base substrate and provided with a switch control circuit; and a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) microlens array formed at a non-display region of the first base substrate, wherein the MEMS microlens array is configured to reflect light emitted by a light-emitting structure at the display region, and the switch control circuit is configured to control the MEMS microlens array to be turned on and off; and the light-emitting structure formed at the display region of the first base substrate.
US09954036B2 Display device
A display device includes plural unit areas each of which includes low definition pixels as sub-pixels larger than a specified standard and high definition pixels as sub-pixels smaller than the specified standard and which are regularly arranged. The low definition pixels include a blue pixel and a red pixel, and the high definition pixels include a white pixel and a green pixel.
US09954032B2 Method for producing a pillar-shaped phase change memory device
A method for producing a memory device and semiconductor device includes forming pillar-shaped phase change layers and lower electrodes in two or more rows and two or more columns on a semiconductor substrate. A reset gate insulating film is formed that surrounds the pillar-shaped phase change layers and the lower electrodes, and a reset gate is formed that surrounds the pillar-shaped phase change layers that function as memory devices arranged in two or more rows and two or more columns.
US09954027B2 Image pickup device and manufacturing method for image pickup device by stacking/bonding of crystalline silicon substrates
A semiconductor device having a stacked structure formed by stacking a thinned first silicon substrate and a second silicon substrate supporting the first silicon substrate, wherein the first silicon substrate includes a first surface with a crystal surface orientation of (100) or (110) and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the second silicon substrate includes a third surface and a fourth surface that is opposite to the third surface and from which a silicon surface with a crystal surface orientation (111) is exposed, and wherein the semiconductor device is formed by etching silicon with a predetermined thickness in a direction from the first surface toward the second surface to make the first silicon substrate to be thinned, after bonding the first silicon substrate and the second silicon substrate in a state where the second surface and the third surface facing the second surface are bonded with each other.
US09954024B2 Semiconductor device, solid-state image sensor and camera system
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, a solid-state image sensor and a camera system capable of reducing the influence of noise at a connection between chips without a special circuit for communication and reducing the cost as a result. The semiconductor device includes: a first chip; and a second chip, wherein the first chip and the second chip are bonded to have a stacked structure, the first chip has a high-voltage transistor circuit mounted thereon, the second chip has mounted thereon a low-voltage transistor circuit having lower breakdown voltage than the high-voltage transistor circuit, and wiring between the first chip and the second chip is connected through a via formed in the first chip.
US09954023B2 Solid-state imaging device and imaging apparatus
A solid-state imaging device includes a first substrate and a second substrate electrically connected to the first substrate. The first substrate includes a first semiconductor layer and one or more first wiring layers. The second substrate includes a second semiconductor layer and one or more second wiring layers. The first photoelectric conversion element overlaps any of the one or more first wiring layers at all positions on the first photoelectric conversion element in a planar view of the first substrate. The second photoelectric conversion element does not overlap any of the one or more first wiring layers at some positions on the second photoelectric conversion element in the planar view of the first substrate.
US09954020B1 High-dynamic-range color image sensors and associated methods
A high-dynamic-range color image sensor includes (a) a silicon substrate having a photosensitive pixel array with a plurality of first pixels and a plurality of second pixels, (b) a color filter layer disposed on the silicon substrate and including at least (i) a plurality of first color filters positioned above a first subset of each of the plurality of first pixels and the plurality of second pixels and configured to selectively transmit light of a first color and (ii) a plurality of second color filters positioned above a second subset of each of the plurality of first pixels and the plurality of second pixels and configured to selectively transmit light of a second color, and (c) a dynamic-range extending layer disposed on the color filter layer and including grey filters disposed above the second plurality of pixels to attenuate light propagating toward the second plurality of pixels.
US09954017B2 Radiation image-pickup device and radiation image-pickup display system
A radiation image-pickup device includes: a plurality of pixels configured to generate signal charge based on radiation; a first substrate including a transistor configured to read out the signal charge; a second substrate disposed to face the first substrate; a conversion layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate, the conversion layer being provided for each of the pixels, and being configured to convert the radiation to other wavelength or an electric signal; a partition provided between the first substrate and the second substrate, to partition the conversion layer for each of the pixels; and a radiation shielding layer provided to face the partition.
US09954011B2 Display device
Provided is a display device with high resolution, high display quality, or high aperture ratio. A pixel includes three subpixels and is electrically connected to two gate lines. One of the gate lines is electrically connected to a gate of a transistor included in each of the two subpixels, and the other gate line is electrically connected to a gate of a transistor included in the other subpixel. Display elements of the three subpixels are arranged in the same direction. Three pixel electrodes of the three subpixels are arranged in the same direction.
US09954009B2 Display device
A display device is disclosed. In one aspect, the display device includes a first wire disposed in the inactive area of the substrate, a first pad overlapping the first wire in the depth dimension of the display device, and a first connecting layer configured to electrically connect the first wire to the first pad. The display device also includes a second wire located on a different layer from the first wire, a second pad overlapping the second wire in the depth dimension of the display device, and a second connecting layer configured to electrically connect the second wire to the second pad.
US09954008B2 Liquid crystal cell panel including substrates having corner patterns
A liquid crystal cell panel includes a first substrate from which is formed a thin film transistor array substrate, the first substrate including a plurality of unit cells and test terminals which respectively correspond to the unit cells, and a second substrate which faces the first substrate and from which is formed a color filter substrate. The first substrate further includes a first cutting pattern at each of a plurality of corners thereof, and the second substrate includes a second cutting pattern at each of a plurality of corners thereof, the second cutting patterns corresponding one-to-one with the first cutting patterns. Corresponding first and second cutting patterns cross each other in a plan view, and the crossing first and second cutting patterns expose a test terminal adjacent to the crossing first and second cutting patterns to outside the liquid crystal cell panel.
US09953998B2 Semiconductor memory device and method for manufacturing same
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor memory device includes forming a first insulating layer on a conductive layer; forming a second insulating layer on the first insulating layer, the second insulating layer including a first layer and a second layer having nitrogen and hydrogen bonds with higher density than a density thereof in the first layer; forming a third insulating layer on the second insulating layer; forming a semiconductor layer extending through the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer in a direction toward the third insulating layer from the conductive layer; selectively removing the second insulating layer to form a space, the first insulating layer being exposed in the space; forming the fourth insulating layer between the conductive layer and the first insulating layer, the fourth insulating layer being formed by thermally oxidizing the conductive layer through the first insulating layer in the space.
US09953997B2 Three-dimensional semiconductor memory devices
Disclosed is a semiconductor memory device including stacks on a substrate, a vertical channel portion connected to the substrate through each of the stacks, and a separation pattern disposed between the stacks. Each of the stacks may include a plurality of gate electrodes stacked on the substrate and insulating patterns interposed between the gate electrodes. Each of the gate electrodes may include a first metal pattern, which is disposed between the insulating patterns to define a recess region recessed toward the vertical channel portion, and a second metal pattern disposed in the recess region. The first and second metal patterns may contain the same metallic material and may have mean grain sizes different from each other.
US09953987B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device, including: a semiconductor substrate having a first well region; an insulating layer formed on a first portion of the semiconductor substrate, and contacted with the first well region; a semiconductor layer formed on the insulating layer; an element isolation region reaching to an inside of the first well region, in a cross-sectional view; a first gate electrode layer formed on a first portion of the semiconductor layer via a first gate insulating film; a second gate electrode layer formed on both a second portion of the semiconductor layer via a second gate insulating film and a first portion of the element isolation region; an interlayer insulating film covering the first gate electrode layer, the second gate electrode layer and a second portion of the element isolation region; a first plug conductor layer formed in the interlayer insulating film.
US09953985B2 Method of manufacturing integrated circuit device
A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit device includes forming multilayered stack structures that extend parallel to and separated from one another on a substrate, followed by forming a buried conductive layer including a plurality of conductive line patterns that extend parallel to an extending direction of the multilayered stack structures and alternate with the multilayered stack structures; removing portions of the buried conductive layer to thereby separate the plurality of conductive line patterns of the buried conductive layer from one another as a plurality of contact plugs and, at the same time, form a plurality of insulating fence spaces that alternate with the plurality of contact plugs in the extending direction of the multilayered stack structures; and forming a plurality of insulating fences that fill the plurality of insulating fence spaces and include a plurality of insulating line patterns extending parallel to one another.
US09953982B1 Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A method for fabricating semiconductor device includes the steps of: forming a shallow trench isolation (STI) in a substrate; removing part of the STI to form a first trench; forming a cap layer in the first trench; forming a mask layer on the cap layer and the substrate; and removing part of the mask layer, part of the cap layer, and part of the STI to form a second trench.
US09953978B2 Replacement gate structures for transistor devices
A transistor device includes a gate structure positioned above a semiconductor substrate, and spaced-apart sidewall spacers positioned above the substrate and adjacent sidewalls of the gate structure. An internal sidewall surface of each of the spaced-apart sidewall spacers includes an upper sidewall surface portion and a lower sidewall surface portion positioned between the upper sidewall surface portion and a surface of the substrate, wherein a first lateral width between first upper ends of the upper sidewall surface portions is greater than a second lateral width between second upper ends of the lower sidewall surface portions.
US09953977B1 FinFET semiconductor device
Fabricating a semiconductor structure, including: forming a fin structure on a substrate by: forming a first fin layer on the substrate; forming a first insulator layer on the first fin layer; forming a second fin layer on the first insulator layer; forming a second insulator layer on the second fin layer; forming a third fin layer on the second insulator layer; and forming a gate structure on a plurality of opposing sides and a top surface of the fin structure.
US09953976B2 Effective device formation for advanced technology nodes with aggressive fin-pitch scaling
After forming a gate stack straddling a portion of each semiconductor fin of a plurality of semiconductor fins located over a substrate, a gate liner is formed on sidewalls of a lower portion of the gate stack that contacts the plurality of semiconductor fins and a gate spacer having a width greater than a width of the gate liner is formed on sidewalls of an upper portion of the gate stack that is located above the plurality of semiconductor fins. The width of the gate spacer thus is not limited by the fin pitch, and can be optimized to improve the device performance.
US09953973B1 Diode connected vertical transistor
An electrical device including a vertical transistor device connected to a vertical diode. The vertical diode connected transistor device including a vertically orientated channel. The vertical diode connected transistor device also includes a first diode source/drain region provided by an electrically conductive surface region of a substrate at a first end of the diode vertically orientated channel, and a second diode source/drain region present at a second end of the vertically orientated channel. The vertical diode also includes a diode gate structure in electrical contact with the first diode source/drain region.
US09953970B2 Semiconductor device having ESD protection structure
The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device with an ESD protection structure. The semiconductor device includes a high-voltage power device 101, the ESD protection structure is a NMOS transistor 102, a drain of the NMOS transistor is shared by a source of the power device as a common-drain-source structure 107, substrate leading-out regions of the power device 101 and the NMOS transistor are coupled to the source 106 of the NMOS transistor as a ground leading-out. In the present disclosure, the drain of the NMOS transistor is shared by the source of the power device, so the increased area of the device with the ESD protection structure incorporated is small. In addition, the holding voltage at the source of the high-voltage power device is relatively low, which helps to protect the gate oxide and improve the source reliability.
US09953969B2 Semiconductor power device having shielded gate structure and ESD clamp diode manufactured with less mask process
A semiconductor power device having shielded gate structure in an active area and having ESD clamp diode with two poly-silicon layer process is disclosed, wherein: the shielded gate structure comprises a first poly-silicon layer to serve as a shielded electrode and a second poly-silicon layer to serve as a gate electrode, and the ESD clamp diode formed between two protruding electrodes is also formed by the first poly-silicon layer. A mask specially used to define the ESD clamp diode portion is saved.
US09953965B2 Semiconductor package
A semiconductor package may include a DRAM chip mounted on a substrate; an interposer stacked over the DRAM chip and including redistribution structures; a nonvolatile memory chip stacked over the interposer; a memory controller chip mounted on the substrate, and including a control circuit for controlling the nonvolatile memory chip and first pads and second pads electrically coupled to the control circuit; first conductive coupling members configured to electrically couple bonding pads of the nonvolatile memory chip to the redistribution structures; second conductive coupling members configured to electrically couple the redistribution structures to the first pads; and third conductive coupling members configured to electrically couple the second pads to the substrate.
US09953960B2 Manufacturing process of wafer level chip package structure having block structure
A multi-chip package structure includes a first chip, at least one blocking structure, a plurality of first conductive bumps, a second chip, a plurality of second conductive bumps and an underfill. The first chip has a chip connecting zone, a plurality of first inner pads in the chip connecting zone and a plurality of first outer pads outside of the chip connecting zone. The blocking structure is disposed between the first inner pads and the first outer pads and surrounds the first inner pads. The first conductive bumps are disposed on the first outer pads. The second chip is flipped on the chip connecting zone and has a plurality of second pads. The second conductive bumps are disposed between the first inner pads and the second pads. The underfill is disposed between the first chip and the second chip so as to cover the second conductive bumps.
US09953956B2 Package substrate and package structure using the same
A package substrate is provided. The package substrate includes a base layer having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, a plurality of through holes penetrating the base layer, a first metal layer disposed on the first surface, and a second metal layer disposed on the second surface. The first metal layer includes a closed-loop trench. A part of the second metal layer is electrically connected to the first metal layer via the through holes. The through holes are positioned at an inner part the closed-loop trench.
US09953954B2 Wafer-level chip-scale package with redistribution layer
A Wafer-level chip scale package (WLCSP) includes a semiconductor structure and a first bonding pad formed over a portion of the semiconductor structure. The WLCSP further includes a passivation layer formed over the semiconductor structure and the first bonding pad, exposing portions of the first bonding pad. The WLCSP further includes a conductive redistribution layer formed over the passivation layer and the portions of the first bonding pad exposed by the passivation layer. The WLCSP further includes a planarization layer formed over the passivation layer and the conductive redistribution layer, exposing a portion of the conductive redistribution layer. The WLCSP further includes an under-bump-metallurgy (UBM) layer formed over the planarization layer and a conductive bump formed over the UBM layer.
US09953953B2 Method for assembling a microelectronic chip element on a wire element, and installation enabling assembly to be performed
Method for assembling includes: providing a system to transfer wire element from wire element supply device to wire element storage device; stretching wire element between supply and storage devices by tensioning; providing an individualized reservoir and separated chip elements, each including a connection terminal including a top with free access facing in which chip element is not present; transporting the chip element from reservoir to an assembly area between supply and storage devices in which wire element is tightly stretched in assembly area; fixing electrically conducting wire element to chip element connection terminal in assembly area; and adding electrically insulating material on chip element after latter has been fixed to wire element forming a cover, the addition of material being performed on surface of chip element including connection terminal fixed to wire element to cover at least the connection terminal and portion of wire element at fixing point of latter.
US09953947B2 Anisotropic conductive film and connection structure
An anisotropic conductive film whereby electrically conductive particles can be sufficiently captured at each connection terminal while suppressing the occurrence of shorts and conduction reliability can be improved even in cases where connecting finely pitched connection terminals. The anisotropic conductive film has a structure in which electrically conductive particle units in which electrically conductive particles are arranged in a row, or electrically conductive particle units in which electrically conductive particles are arranged in a row and independent electrically conductive particles are disposed in a lattice form in an electrically insulating adhesive layer. The shortest distance La between electrically conductive particles selected from adjacent electrically conductive particle units and the independent electrically conductive particles is not less than 0.5 times the particle diameter of the electrically conductive particles.
US09953944B2 Power module
A power module is disclosed, including a power module substrate in which a circuit layer is arranged on one surface of an insulating layer; and a semiconductor element that is bonded onto the circuit layer, in which a copper layer composed of copper or a copper alloy is provided on a surface of the circuit layer to be bonded to the semiconductor element, a solder layer formed by using a solder material between the circuit layer and the semiconductor element is provided, an alloy layer containing Sn as a main component, 0.5% by mass or more and 10% by mass or less of Ni, and 30% by mass or more and 40% by mass or less of Cu at an interface of the solder layer with the circuit layer is formed, and the coverage of the alloy layer at the interface is 85% or more.
US09953940B2 Corrosion resistant aluminum bond pad structure
A method of manufacturing a bond pad structure may include depositing an aluminum-copper (Al—Cu) layer over a dielectric layer; and depositing an aluminum-chromium (Al—Cr) layer directly over the Al—Cu layer.
US09953936B2 Semiconductor structure and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor structure includes a transceiver configured to communicate with a device, a molding surrounding the transceiver, a via extending through the molding, an insulating layer disposed over the molding, the via and the transceiver, and a redistribution layer (RDL) disposed over the insulating layer and comprising an antenna and a dielectric layer surrounding the antenna, wherein a portion of the antenna is extended through the insulating layer and the molding to electrically connect with the transceiver.
US09953935B2 Packaging for high speed chip to chip communication
Disclosed are chip packaging structures for high speed chip to chip and chip to carrier communications and methods of making such structures. The chip packaging structures do not require an interposer containing through silicon vias and/or provide structures having reduced warping.
US09953934B2 Warpage controlled package and method for same
A warp controlled package includes a substrate that assumes a warped configuration according to the application of heat. At least one device is coupled along the substrate. A plurality of electrical contacts extend between at least the device and the substrate. One or more counter moment elements are coupled with the substrate. The one or more counter moment elements include a passive configuration and a counter moment configuration. In the counter moment configuration the one or more counter moment elements are configured to apply a counter moment to the substrate to counteract the warped configuration. In the passive configuration the one or more counter moment elements are configured to apply a neutral counter moment less than the counter moment of the counter moment configuration.
US09953932B2 Electronic circuit package
Disclosed herein is an electronic circuit package includes: a substrate having a power supply pattern; an electronic component mounted on a surface of the substrate; a mold resin covering the surface of the substrate so as to embed therein the electronic component; a laminated structure of a magnetic film and a metal film, the laminated structure covering at least an upper surface of the molding resin. The metal film is connected to the power supply pattern, and a resistance value at an interface between the magnetic film and the metal film is equal to or larger than 106Ω.
US09953929B2 Systems and methods for electromagnetic interference shielding
Discussed generally herein are methods and devices including or providing an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. A device can include a substrate including electrical connection circuitry therein, grounding circuitry on, or at least partially in the substrate, the grounding circuitry at least partially exposed from a surface of the substrate, a die electrically connected to the connection circuitry and the grounding circuitry, the die on the substrate, and a conductive foil or conductive film surrounding the die, the conductive foil or conductive film electrically connected to the grounding circuitry.
US09953928B2 Semiconductor devices including empty spaces
Semiconductor devices including empty spaces and methods of forming the semiconductor devices are provided. The semiconductor devices may include first and second line structures extending in a direction on a substrate, an insulating isolation pattern between the first and second line structures and a conductive structure between the first and second line structures and next to the insulating isolation pattern along the direction. The semiconductor devices may also include an empty space including a first portion between the first line structure and the conductive structure and a second portion between the first line structure and the insulating isolation pattern. The first portion of the empty space may have a height different from a height of the second portion of the empty space.
US09953927B1 Liner replacements for interconnect openings
Structures for a liner replacement in an interconnect structure and methods for forming a liner replacement in an interconnect structure. A metallization level is formed that includes a conductive feature. A dielectric layer is formed on the metallization level. The dielectric layer includes an opening that extends vertically through the dielectric layer to the conductive feature. An adhesion layer is formed on area of the conductive feature exposed at a base of the opening. The adhesion layer has a thickness equal to a monolayer or a fraction of a monolayer. Another layer (e.g., barrier layer) of a different composition (e.g., TiN) may be deposited on the adhesion layer before the opening is filled with metal deposited by chemical vapor deposition.
US09953923B2 Metallization stack and semiconductor device and electronic device including the same
A metallization stack, comprising: at least an interlayer dielectric layer comprising a dielectric material and a negative capacitance material, wherein: at least a pair of first conductive interconnecting components formed in the interlayer dielectric layer, which are at least partially opposite to each other, comprise both the dielectric material and the negative capacitance material sandwiched between their opposite parts; and/or at least a second conductive interconnecting component formed in an upper interlayer dielectric layer and at least a third conductive interconnecting component formed in a lower interlayer dielectric layer, which are at least partially opposite to each other, comprise both the dielectric material and the negative capacitance material sandwiched between their opposite parts.
US09953916B2 Critical dimension shrink through selective metal growth on metal hardmask sidewalls
A method for fabricating a self-aligned via structure includes forming a tri-layer mask on an ILD layer over a lower metal wiring layer, the tri-layer mask includes first and second insulating layers and a metal layer in between the insulating layers; defining a trench pattern through the first insulating layer and metal layer, the trench pattern having a first width; defining a first via pattern in a lithographic mask over the trench pattern, the first via pattern having a second width that is larger than the first width; growing a metal capping layer on an exposed sidewall of the trench pattern to decrease the first width to a third width that defines a second via pattern; transferring the trench pattern into the ILD layer to form a trench; and transferring the second via pattern through the ILD layer and into the metal wiring layer to form a via.
US09953914B2 Substrate-less stackable package with wire-bond interconnect
A method for making a microelectronic unit includes forming a plurality of wire bonds on a first surface in the form of a conductive bonding surface of a structure comprising a patternable metallic element. The wire bonds are formed having bases joined to the first surface and end surfaces remote from the first surface. The wire bonds have edge surfaces extending between the bases and the end surfaces. The method also includes forming a dielectric encapsulation layer over a portion of the first surface of the conductive layer and over portions of the wire bonds such that unencapsulated portions of the wire bonds are defined by end surfaces or portions of the edge surfaces that are unconvered by the encapsulation layer. The metallic element is patterned to form first conductive elements beneath the wire bonds and insulated from one another by portions of the encapsulation layer.
US09953912B2 Work pieces and methods of laser drilling through holes in substrates using an exit sacrificial cover layer
Work pieces and methods of forming through holes in substrates are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of forming a through hole in a substrate by drilling includes affixing an exit sacrificial cover layer to a laser beam exit surface of the substrate, positioning a laser beam in a predetermined location relative to the substrate and corresponding to a desired location for the through hole, and forming the through hole by repeatedly pulsing the laser beam into an entrance surface of the substrate and through a bulk of the substrate. The method further includes forming a hole in the exit sacrificial cover layer by repeatedly pulsing the laser beam into the through hole formed in the substrate such that the laser beam passes through the laser beam exit surface of the substrate and into the exit sacrificial cover layer.
US09953909B2 Ball grid array (BGA) with anchoring pins
Embodiments herein may relate to an electronic device that includes a board. The electronic device may include a device physically coupled with the board by an anchoring pin. The electronic device may further include a plurality of ball grid array (BGA) solder joints coupled with the device. For example, the BGA solder joints may electrically and/or communicatively couple one or more pins of the device with the board. The BGA solder joints may have a shape that is different than the anchoring pin. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US09953908B2 Method for forming solder bumps using sacrificial layer
A barrier layer is formed over electrically conductive contact pads on a substrate such as a wafer. A photoresist layer is applied over the barrier layer, and openings in the photoresist layer are filled with solder to form solder bumps. The barrier layer may be removed from within the openings prior to filling the openings with solder. The process is applicable to fine pitch architectures and chip size packaging substrates. The photoresist layer and portions of the barrier layer outside of the openings are removed following solder fill.
US09953907B2 PoP device
A method of forming a PoP device comprises placing an adhesive layer on a carrier substrate, coupling a plurality of chip packages to the adhesive layer on the carrier substrate, placing a bonding layer on the chip packages, and coupling a plurality of chips to the bonding layer on the chip packages. The method further comprises injecting a molding compound to encapsulate the chip packages and the chips on the carrier substrate, grinding the molding compound to expose a plurality of connecting elements of the chips and a plurality of second connecting elements of the chip packages, forming a redistribution layer (RDL) on the molding compound and the exposed connecting elements and second connecting elements, forming a ball grid array (BGA) on the RDL, and de-bonding the carrier substrate.
US09953895B2 Heat pipe and method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing a heat pipe, including the steps of: forming in a substrate a cylindrical opening provided with a plurality of ring-shaped recessed radially extending around a central axis of the opening; arranging in the recesses separate ring-shaped strips made of a material catalyzing the growth of carbon nanotubes; and growing carbon nanotubes in the opening from said ring-shaped strips.
US09953894B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device including: a semiconductor element, a substrate having a first surface on which the semiconductor element is provided, and a second surface located opposite the first surface, a metal species provided on the second surface, and a plated metal portion provided at least in part on the second surface on the metal species. The semiconductor device further includes a first region where the plated metal portion is provided and a second region where the plated metal portion is not provided are alternately arranged at a peripheral portion of the second surface.
US09953893B2 Power electronic assembly
A method of producing a power electronic assembly and a power electronic assembly including a power electronic module incorporating multiple of semiconductor power electronic switch components, the power electronic module including a base plate with a bottom surface, the power electronic assembly includes further a cooling arrangement for cooling the power electronic module, the cooling arrangement including a cooling surface adapted to be attached against the bottom surface of the base plate of the power electronic module, wherein the power electronic assembly includes further a thermal interface material arranged between the bottom surface of the base plate of the power electronic module and the cooling surface of the cooling arrangement to transfer heat from the power electronic module to the cooling arrangement, the thermal interface material includes a metal foil and a solid lubricant coating.
US09953890B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes an insulating substrate on which semiconductor elements are mounted and a surrounding case in which the insulating substrate is housed. Two terminal conductors, both ends of each of which are fixed in sidewalls of the surrounding case, are provided between the sidewalls, and connection terminals protruding toward the insulating substrate side are provided on the respective terminal conductors. The connection terminals and a conductive foil on the insulating substrate are soldered together. Insulating blocks for keeping the distance between the adjacent terminal conductors at a fixed distance or greater are provided in the vicinity of the central portion of the terminal conductor. The insulating blocks suppress the terminal conductor being deformed by being thermally expanded when soldering. Because of this, it is possible to stabilize solderability, and it is possible to prevent an occurrence of defective connection.
US09953881B2 Method of forming a FinFET device
The present disclosure provides a method, which includes forming a first fin structure and a second fin structure over a substrate, which has a first trench positioned between the first and second fin structures. The method also includes forming a first dielectric layer within the first trench, recessing the first dielectric layer to expose a portion of the first fin structure, forming a first capping layer over the exposed portion of the first fin structure and the recessed first dielectric layer in the first trench, forming a second dielectric layer over the first capping layer in the first trench while the first capping layer covers the exposed portion of the first fin feature and removing the first capping layer from the first fin structure.
US09953878B2 Method of forming a semiconductor device
A method of forming a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming a recess in a substrate and forming a first dielectric layer in the recess. A portion of the first dielectric layer is removed. A second dielectric layer is formed over the first dielectric layer. A gate structure is formed over the second dielectric layer.
US09953877B2 Backside processed semiconductor device
A method of forming a semiconductor device includes: providing a first substrate, forming at least one transistor on a first surface of the first substrate; forming a first dielectric cap layer covering the first surface of the first substrate; forming a first interconnect structure on the first dielectric cap layer; providing a carrier substrate; bonding the carrier substrate to the first substrate through the first dielectric cap layer; and from a second surface of the first substrate opposite to the first surface, thinning the first substrate to a second depth.
US09953873B2 Methods of modulating the morphology of epitaxial semiconductor material
Chip structures and fabrication methods for forming such chip structures. A first device structure has a structural feature comprised of a first dielectric material and a second device structure has a structural feature comprised of a second dielectric material. A semiconductor layer has a first section adjacent to the structural feature of the first device structure and a second section adjacent to the structural feature of the second device structure. The first section of the semiconductor layer has a popped relationship relative to the structural feature comprised of the first dielectric material. The second section of the semiconductor layer includes a portion that has a pinned relationship relative to a portion of the structural feature comprised of the second dielectric material.
US09953868B2 Mechanisms of forming damascene interconnect structures
A method of forming a conductive structure includes forming a first opening and a second opening in a dielectric layer on a substrate, wherein the first opening is narrower than the second opening. The method further includes depositing a diffusion barrier layer to line the first opening and the second opening. The method further includes forming a metal layer over the diffusion barrier layer to fill at least portions of the first opening and the second opening, wherein a maximum thickness of the metal layer in the first opening is greater than a maximum thickness of the metal layer in the second opening.
US09953863B1 Methods of forming an interconnect structure
A method of forming an interconnect structure is provided. The method includes forming a first dielectric layer, and forming an opening in the first dielectric layer. The method also includes applying a gas to the first dielectric layer adjacent to the opening, where after applying the gas to the first dielectric layer adjacent to the opening, a bottom surface of the opening has been planarized. The method also includes etching the first dielectric layer through the opening to expose a first contact underlying the first dielectric layer, and forming a conductive line in the opening.
US09953861B2 Semiconductor device having a shallow trench isolation structure and methods of forming the same
A method includes a patterned hard mask layer formed over a substrate. The substrate is etched using the patterned hard mask layer to form a trench therein but leaving at least one elongated portion of the substrate inside the trench. A first isolation layer is formed over the patterned hard mask layer. The first isolation layer fills the trench and covers the at least one elongated portion of the substrate. A portion of the first isolation layer is removed to expose the at least one elongated portion of the substrate. The at least one elongated portion of the substrate is thereafter removed to form a first opening. A second isolation layer is formed over the first opening, the patterned hard mask layer, and the first isolation layer, the second isolation layer sealing the first opening to form an air gap.
US09953857B2 Semiconductor device with buried local interconnects
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods for fabricating a semiconductor device with buried local interconnects. One method may include providing a semiconductor substrate with fins etched into the semiconductor substrate; forming a first set of spacers along the sides of the fins; depositing a tungsten film over the top surface of the substrate; etching the tungsten film to form a buried local interconnect; forming a set of gates and a second set of spacers; forming a source and drain region adjacent to the fins; depositing a first insulating material over the top surface of the substrate; and creating contact between the set of gates and the source and drain region using an upper buried local interconnect.
US09953854B2 Method of adsorbing target object on mounting table and plasma processing apparatus
A method of adsorbing a target object on a mounting table is provided. The mounting table is provided within a processing vessel that partitions a depressurizable space in a processing apparatus which processes a processing target object within the space. Further, the processing apparatus serves as a plasma processing apparatus. The method includes mounting the target object on an electrostatic chuck of the mounting table; and applying three AC voltages having different phases to three electrodes of the electrostatic chuck, respectively.
US09953853B2 Substrate transport apparatus
A substrate transport apparatus for detecting with high accuracy rubbing between a substrate held in a substrate holding tool, and a support which transports a substrate. The substrate transport apparatus includes: a stage for placing thereon the substrate holding tool; a substrate transport mechanism including the support for the substrate, and a back-and-forth movement mechanism for moving the support, the mechanism configured to transfer a substrate to/from the substrate holding tool; a lifting mechanism for moving the support up and down with respect to the substrate holding tool; a sound amplifying section for amplifying a contact sound generated by contact between a substrate held in the substrate holding tool and the support; and a detection section for detecting rubbing between a substrate and the support based on a detection signal from a vibration sensor which detects a solid-borne sound, propagating through the substrate holding tool, and outputs the detection signal.
US09953852B2 Liquid processing aparatus
A liquid processing apparatus of the present disclosure performs a liquid processing by supplying a processing liquid to a substrate that is rotating. A substrate holding unit configured to be rotatable around a vertical axis is provided with a holding surface to attract and hold a bottom surface of the substrate horizontally. A guide unit is formed integrally with the substrate holding unit, disposed around the substrate held in the substrate holding unit, and provided at a position equal to or lower than a height of a top surface of a periphery of the substrate. The guide unit includes a guide surface configured to guide the processing liquid. A rotary cup rotates integrally with the substrate holding unit, and guides the processing liquid towards the cup between the rotary cup and the guide unit.
US09953849B2 Platen for reducing particle contamination on a substrate and a method thereof
Techniques for reducing particle contamination on a substrate are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized with a platen having different regions, where the pressure levels in the regions may be substantially equal. For example, the platen may comprise a platen body comprising first and second recesses, the first recess defining a fluid region for holding fluid for maintaining a temperature of the substrate at a desired temperature, the second recess defining a first cavity for holding a ground circuit; a first via defined in the platen body, the first via having first and second openings, the first opening proximate to the fluid region and the second opening proximate to the first cavity, wherein pressure level of the fluid region may be maintained at a level that is substantially equal to pressure level of the first cavity.
US09953844B2 Manufacturing method of semiconductor package
When a plating layer is formed on through holes in semiconductor packages, first and second stacked bodies are stacked with first and second cavities formed in the first and second stacked bodies facing the inner side and are bonded together by applying adhesive to peripheral regions so that the cavities of the first and second stacked bodies form sealed spaces, and the through holes are formed such that part of the first and second stacked bodies including the bonding surface remains. Then, the through holes are plated to form the plating layer, the peripheral regions are removed as cutting allowances, i.e., removal regions, and the first and second stacked bodies are divided into a plurality of pieces along dicing lines to form semiconductor packages.
US09953843B2 Chamber for patterning non-volatile metals
Apparatuses suitable for etching substrates at various pressure regimes are described herein. Apparatuses include a process chamber including a movable pedestal capable of being positioned at a raised position or a lowered position, showerhead, and optional plasma generator. Apparatuses may be suitable for etching non-volatile metals using a treatment while the movable pedestal is in the lowered position and a high pressure exposure to organic vapor while the movable pedestal is in the raised position.
US09953838B2 Substrate treatment apparatus and substrate treatment method
In accordance with an embodiment, a substrate treatment apparatus includes a housing, a magnetic field generating portion and a microwave supply portion. The housing is configured to contain a substrate comprising a conductive layer and an insulating film in contact with the conductive layer. The magnetic field generating portion is configured to generate a magnetic field which penetrates the substrate. The microwave supply portion is configured to generate a microwave to heat the substrate, to apply the microwave to the substrate provided in the magnetic field in such a manner that the microwave is absorbed by unpaired electrons at an interface between the conductive layer and the insulating film or in the insulating film.
US09953830B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device, substrate processing apparatus and recording medium
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming an oxide film containing a metal element on a substrate by performing a cycle a predetermined number of times, the cycle including non-simultaneously performing: supplying a precursor containing a metal element and a halogen group to the substrate; and supplying an oxidant to the substrate. In the act of supplying the oxidant, a catalyst is supplied to the substrate together with the oxidant. In the act of supplying the precursor, the catalyst is not supplied to the substrate.
US09953827B2 Method of forming semiconductor device having dielectric layer and related system
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device including an interlayer insulating layer and interconnections is provided. An interlayer insulating layer is formed on a substrate. An opening is formed in the interlayer insulating layer. A degassing process is performed by irradiating the interlayer insulating layer having the opening with microwaves. A K-value recovery process is performed by irradiating the interlayer insulating layer having the opening with UV light. A conductive layer is formed in the opening. The degassing process and the K-value recovery process are performed as an in-situ process.
US09953824B2 Lamp comprising a conductor embedded in the quartz glass envelope of the lamp
A lamp comprising an envelope (1) of quartz glass surrounding the light source of the lamp is described, wherein an electric conductor (8), for example, an electrode rod, is at least partly embedded in the quartz glass material of the envelope (1). At the conductor (8) is provided with protrusions (15) forming a brush-like structure at this surface. The protrusions (15) preferably have an average length of between 10 μm and 35 μm.
US09953821B2 Lateral introduction of ions into RF ion guides
An ion guide system includes an ion guide with pole rods, a device for laterally introducing an ion species, and a mass spectrometer for analyzing product ions of reactions between different ion species. The device is configured and positioned such that an RF field with at least two-fold rotational symmetry with respect to the axis is generated. The device includes shortened pole rods and/or further electrodes. The pole rods and the further electrodes have at least two-fold rotational symmetry. The symmetry of the RF field allows ions to travel straight ahead through the ion guide with no hindrance. Such arrangements are particularly suitable for bringing together largely loss-free positive and negative ion species for reacting them. The reactions may be used to fragment multiply charged biopolymer ions by electron transfer or to remove excess charges of multiply charged biopolymer ions.
US09953819B2 Impactor spray atmospheric pressure ion source with target paddle
An ion source is provided comprising one or more nebulizers and one or more targets, wherein the one or more nebulizers are arranged and adapted to emit, in use, a stream predominantly of droplets which are caused to impact upon the one or more targets and to ionise the droplets to form a plurality of ions. The ion source further comprises one or more electrodes arranged adjacent to and/or attached to the one or more targets wherein the one or more electrodes comprise one or more apertures, notches or cut-outs wherein at least some of the plurality of ions pass, in use, through the one or more apertures, notches or cut-outs.
US09953817B2 Ion transfer tube with sheath gas flow
An ion transfer tube assembly, a mass spectrometry system, and a method for providing an ion stream to an ion detection device are described that include using an ion transfer tube that provides a coaxial sheath gas flow. In an implementation, an ion transfer tube assembly includes an ion transfer tube for delivering the ion stream, where a sheath gas flows through the ion transfer tube, and where the ion transfer tube receives the ion stream from a first conduit coupled to an ion source; a pump fluidly coupled to the ion transfer tube, where the pump causes the sheath gas to flow through the ion transfer tube, where the ion stream is separated from the ion transfer tube walls by the coaxial sheath gas flow, and where the ion stream is received by a second conduit coupled to the ion detection device.
US09953812B2 Integrated process kit for a substrate processing chamber
Embodiments of process kits and process chambers incorporating same are provided herein. In some embodiments, a process kit includes: a one-piece process kit shield having a cylindrical body having an upper portion and a lower portion; an adapter section extending radially outward and having a resting surface to support the one-piece process kit shield on walls of a chamber and a sealing surface on which a chamber lid rests to seal off an inner volume of the chamber when the one-piece process kit shield is placed in the chamber; a heat transfer channel extending through the adapter section; and a protruding section extending radially inward from the lower portion; a resting bracket having an upper portion coupled to the adapter section and a lower portion extending radially inward; a cover ring disposed beneath the protruding section; and a deposition ring disposed beneath the cover ring.
US09953808B2 Arc evaporation source
Provided is an arc evaporation source for melting and evaporating a cathode material by arc discharge for film formation on a surface of a substrate, and including a cathode formed in a substantially disc shape and a magnetic field generating apparatus, disposed at a back side of the cathode. The magnetic field generating apparatus generates a magnetic field which forms magnetic lines that form an acute angle with respect to a substrate direction at an outer circumferential surface of the cathode, magnetic lines that are substantially perpendicular to the discharge surface at an outermost circumference part of the discharge surface of the cathode, and magnetic lines that form an acute angle with respect to a center direction of the cathode at a region towards the outer circumferential surface of the discharge surface of the cathode, by at least one permanent magnet disposed at the back side of the cathode.
US09953787B2 Dual substrate electrostatic MEMS switch with multiple hinges and method of manufacture
Systems and methods for forming an electrostatic MEMS switch include forming a movable cantilevered beam on a first substrate, forming the electrical contacts on a second substrate, and coupling the two substrates using a hermetic seal. Electrical access to the electrostatic MEMS switch may be made by forming vias through the thickness of the second substrate. The cantilevered beam may be formed by etching the perimeter shape in the device layer of an SOI substrate. An additional void may be formed in the movable beam such that it bends about an additional hinge line as a result of the additional void. This may give the beam and switch advantageous kinematic characteristics.
US09953786B2 Self-holding magnet with a particularly low electric trigger voltage
A self-holding magnet has a spring (accumulator spring) and a first armature. The self-holding magnet is capable of holding the first magnet armature against the spring force in a lift position which is determined by a stop. The stop determines a remaining air gap of a working air gap. The magnetic circuit of the self-holding magnet has a magnetic shunt with particularly low reluctance of the same order of magnitude as a series reluctance of the remaining working air gap(s). The working air gap(s) and the shunt are magnetically connected in parallel with the flow generated by a permanent magnet but in series with the flow generated by the trigger coil. The self-holding magnet additionally has at least one positive feedback device such as a compressible resilient stop or a shunt.
US09953777B2 Switching device
A switching device has a housing-mounted contact and a movable contact. The movable contact is provided for making contact with the housing-mounted contact. The switching device has a switch lock with a latch and a latch support, wherein the latch support has a latching location for latching the latch to the latch support, wherein the switching device furthermore has a hand switching lever. A connecting rod is mounted movably on the latch support, the connecting rod bearing against a projection of the hand switching lever when the hand switching lever is arranged in the position in which the contacts are in contact. An actuation of the hand switching lever—for separating the movable contact from the housing-mounted contact—moves the connecting rod and thereby releases the latching of the latching support to the latch.
US09953776B2 Keyswitch
A keyswitch includes a base plate, a cap having a longitudinal axis, a returning device, a support mechanism, and a lifting mechanism including first and second support plates. The first support plate has first and second edges parallel to the longitudinal axis for respectively abutting against the base plate and the cap. The second support plate has third and fourth edges parallel to the longitudinal axis for respectively abutting against the base plate and the cap. The base plate is disposed through openings of the first and second support plates to make the first and second support plates movably connected to the base plate. The returning device drives the cap to a non-pressed position with rotation of the first and second support plates. The support mechanism has first and second support members pivoted to each other to be movably connected to the cap and the base plate.
US09953775B2 Electronic device including key button
An electronic device, according to one embodiment of the present invention, can comprise: a housing which has an opening part penetrating through the inside and the outside of the electronic device and forms the outside of the electronic device; a key button inserted into the opening part so as to be movable; a sealing member which is disposed such that the sealing member slidably contacts the outer surface of the key button, and prevents communication between the inside and the outside of the electronic device through the inner surface of the opening part and the outer surface of the key button; and a push switch accommodated in the housing and pressed by an inward movement of the key button. Various other embodiments are possible.
US09953773B2 Method of controlling an appliance door position switch for sabbath mode operation
An appliance includes a position switch retention device for use with an appliance including a body defining a generally cylindrical profile extending through a first portion thereof along an axis and having a first radius. The body further defines a pin-receiving channel open on at least a first end thereof and positioned within the generally cylindrical profile. The device further includes a first tab extending from a side of the body. The tab defines a ramp and an edge with the ramp extending away from the first end of the body to the edge. A cap extends outwardly from a second end of the body opposite the first end. The cap is spaced apart from the edge of the tab at a first distance and has a second radius greater than the first radius.
US09953771B2 Heat dissipation from ACB toes
A heat dissipation apparatus, system and method for an air circuit breaker (ACB) switchgear has at least one pair of primary contact toes constructed and arranged to connect to a terminal of the circuit breaker. A bus bar joint is connected to the primary contact toes. The heat dissipation apparatus comprises an evaporator clamped to the primary contact toes. A condenser is located at a higher elevation than the evaporator and at least two electrically isolating pipes fluidly connect the evaporator with the condenser. A dielectric fluid in the evaporator can be heated to a vapor state, with one of the pipes transferring the vapor to the condenser and the second pipe returning the condensed dielectric fluid back to the evaporator for cooling the at least one pair of primary contact toes.
US09953764B2 Adhesively bonded cylindrical magnets comprising annular coils, and method of manufacture thereof
In a solenoid magnet assembly, and a method for manufacture thereof, the magnet assembly includes a number of concentrically aligned coils, each including a winding impregnated with a resin. Each coil is mechanically restrained so as to hold the coils in fixed relative positions relative to each other when forming the magnet assembly. The mechanical restraint can be formed by annular support sections bonded to the respective coils, lugs bonded to the respective coils, or by lugs that are at least partially embedded in a crust formed on a radially outer surface of the respective windings.
US09953763B2 Wireless power transmission system and wireless power transmission method
A wireless power transfer system includes a plurality of power sources and at least one power receiver, in which power transfer from the power sources to the power receiver is performed in wireless by using magnetic field resonance or electric field resonance. In the system, one of the plurality of power sources is designated as a master power source and the other one or more power sources are designated as slave power sources. In addition, the master power source controls the plurality of power sources and the at least one power receiver to perform the power transfer. This allows the system to perform the power transfer in an optimum state.
US09953760B2 Transformer arrangement for mitigating transient voltage oscillations
A transformer arrangement and transformer for mitigating transient voltage oscillations. The transformer included a transformer core enclosing at least one core leg. A winding is wound around one of the at least one core leg. The winding extends from a first winding terminal to a second winding terminal and includes a first winding section along a first conductor extending from the first winding terminal to a first intermediate end point, and a second winding section along a second conductor extending from a second intermediate end point to the second winding terminal. The transformer arrangement further includes an external passive electric component connected between the first intermediate end point and either the second intermediate end point or the second winding terminal arranged to decrease an effective difference between capacitive and inductive voltage distributions between the intermediate end points such that transient voltage oscillations in the winding are mitigated.
US09953757B2 Laminated coil component and manufacturing method for the same
In a laminated coil component include coil conductors are respectively included on magnetic layers and a carbon paste is included on a magnetic layer. The coil conductors include a partial coil conductor and a partial coil conductor respectively corresponding to an outer side portion circle and an inner side portion circle defining two circles. A width of the carbon paste at least partially overlaps an interval between the outer side portion circle and the inner side portion circle defining the two circles, and extends circularly along the two circles. The carbon paste is shifted to the interval between the outer side portion circle and the inner side portion circle defining the two circles at the time of pressure-bonding the magnetic layers. The carbon paste vanishes when being calcined to define an air gap.
US09953756B2 Radio frequency transformer winding coil structure
An RF transformer is provided. The RF transformer includes a ferrite core and a winding coil structure formed around the ferrite core. The winding coil structure is in electrical contact with a center portion of the ferrite core. The winding coil structure is essentially electrically and physically spaced from external portions of the ferrite core.
US09953755B2 Controllable magnetorheological fluid temperature control device
Method for controlling heat transfer between two objects. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a first current through a first electromagnet disposed about a container holding magnetorheological fluid to generate a first magnetic field such that particles in the magnetorheological fluid align with the first magnetic field to conductively couple a first conductive element to a second conductive element; and providing a second current through a second electromagnet disposed perpendicular to the first electromagnet to generate a second magnetic field perpendicular to the first magnetic field such that the particles in the magnetorheological fluid align with the second magnetic field to conductively uncouple the first conductive member from the second conductive member.
US09953752B2 Production method for grain-oriented electrical steel sheet and primary recrystallized steel sheet for production of grain-oriented electrical steel sheet
A method for producing grain-oriented electrical steel sheets includes subjecting a steel slab to hot rolling to obtain a hot rolled sheet, the steel slab having a composition consisting of, by mass % or mass ppm, C: 0.08% or less, Si: 2.0% to 4.5% and Mn: 0.5% or less, S, Se, and O: less than 50 ppm each, sol.Al: less than 100 ppm, N: 80 ppm or less, and the balance being Fe and incidental impurities, and satisfying the relation of sol.Al (ppm)−N (ppm)×(26.98/14.00)≤30 ppm; then subjecting the hot rolled sheet to annealing and rolling to obtain a cold rolled sheet; then subjecting the cold rolled sheet to nitriding treatment, under specific condition, before, during or after primary recrystallization annealing; then applying an annealing separator on the cold rolled sheet; and subjecting the cold rolled sheet to secondary recrystallization annealing.
US09953750B2 Nd based sintered magnet
A sintered Nd base magnet segment has a coercive force high at the periphery and lower toward the inside. A method for preparing the magnet includes the steps of: (a) providing a sintered Nd base magnet block having surfaces and a magnetization direction, (b) coating the surfaces of the magnet block excluding the surface perpendicular to the magnetization direction with a Dy or Tb oxide powder, a Dy or Tb fluoride powder, or a Dy or Tb-containing alloy powder, (c) treating the coated block at a high temperature for causing Dy or Tb to diffuse into the block, and (d) cutting the block in a plane perpendicular to the magnetization direction into a magnet segment having a coercive force distribution on the cut section that the coercive force is high at the periphery and lower toward the inside and a constant coercive force distribution in the magnetization direction.
US09953749B2 Resistor element and resistor element assembly
A resistor element includes a base substrate having first and second surfaces opposing each other; a resistor layer disposed on the first surface of the base substrate; first and second terminals disposed on opposing end portions of the base substrate, respectively, and electrically connected to opposing sides of the resistor layer, respectively; a third terminal disposed between the first terminal and the second terminal on the second surface of the base substrate and spaced apart from the first terminal and the second terminal; and electrostatic discharge (ESD)-preventing members connecting the first terminal and the third terminal to each other and connecting the second terminal and the third terminal to each other.
US09953743B2 Printed circuit board
A printed circuit board has a printed wiring board and a semiconductor package mounted on the printed wiring board. The printed wiring board and the semiconductor package are connected with a plurality of solder balls. An underfill material covering the plurality of solder balls is filled between the printed wiring board and the semiconductor package. The underfill material has a relative dielectric constant of 8.6 or more and 54.4 or less. Thus, crosstalk noise generated in wiring in the out-of-plane direction is reduced without increasing the mounting area.
US09953737B2 Electrical wire with a central aluminum wire surrounded by at least one copper wire
An electrical wire comprises a central Aluminum wire, wherein the central Aluminum wire is surrounded by at least one Copper wire and the aluminum wire and the copper wire are uncoated such that the Copper wire is in direct contact with the central Aluminum wire. 3-23% by volume of the electrical wire is made of Aluminum and the rest is made of Copper. At least one of the central wire and the surrounding wire has a purity of at least 95% to provide a high degree of contact between Aluminum and Copper.
US09953736B2 Aluminum electric wire for an automobile and a method for producing the same
An aluminum electric wire includes an annealing conductor that is made up of elemental wires made of an aluminum alloy containing 0.90-1.20 mass % Fe, 0.10-0.25 mass % Mg, 0.01-0.05 mass % Ti, 0.0005-0.0025 mass % B, and the balance being Al and has a tensile strength of 110 MPa or more, a breaking elongation of 15% or more, and an electric conductivity of 58% IACS or more, and an insulating material covering the conductor. The wire is produced by casting an aluminum alloy prepared by rapidly solidifying a molten aluminum alloy having the above composition, producing the wires by subjecting the alloy to plasticity processing, producing the conductor by bunching the wires, subjecting the wires or the conductor to annealing at 250° C. or higher, and then covering the conductor with the insulator.
US09953733B2 Radioisotope concentrator
A system using a radioisotope concentrator device comprising a body having at least one injection port and at least one valve being configurable between a first open configuration for allowing fluid communication between the at least one injection port and the concentrator column and a second open configuration to prevent fluid communication between the at least one injection port and the concentrator column in use, the system further comprising an injection device comprising an eluent for eluting through the concentrator column via the at least one injection port when the at least one valve of the radioisotope concentrator device is in a selected open configuration in use.
US09953730B2 Strip for a nuclear fuel assembly spacer grid
The strip is of the type comprising a wall portion for delimiting a cell with interlaced strips, a spring formed in the strip and provided on the wall portion for biasing a fuel rod extending through the cell away from the wall portion, the spring comprising a cantilevered tab formed in the strip and a contact portion formed at least partially in the tab and protruding from the tab for contacting a fuel rod received in the cell.
US09953729B2 Radiation generating apparatus and radiation generating method
A radiation generating apparatus comprises a fuel storage unit 20 for storing a mixed liquid 61, a pressure application unit 10 for applying a pressure to the mixed liquid 61, a jet formation unit 30 for forming a jet 61a of the mixed liquid 61, a reaction unit 44 for forming the jet 61a of the mixed liquid 61 therein, a pressure adjustment unit 41 for setting a pressure in the reaction unit 44 lower than an internal pressure of the jet formation unit 30, and a light source unit 45 for irradiating a particle group 63a with laser light L1.
US09953728B2 Redundant column or row in resistive random access memory
Examples include a resistive random access memory (RRAM) array to support a redundant column. Some examples include an RRAM cell at a cross point of a column line and a row line of the RRAM array. A first column line may be coupled to a first input of a first current-steering multiplexer and the first current-steering multiplexer may have an output coupled to a first current sense amplifier and a select input coupled to a first column select signal. A second column line may be coupled to a second input of the first current-steering multiplexer and coupled to a first input of a second current-steering multiplexer. The second current-steering multiplexer may have an output coupled to a second current sense amplifier and a select input coupled to a second column select signal. A third column line may be coupled to a second input of the second current-steering multiplexer.
US09953726B1 Fast quasi-parity checker for correlated electron switch (CES) memory array
An apparatus is provided for testing storage elements that include a variable impedance element switchable between a first impedance state and a second impedance state. The apparatus includes an interconnect circuit for coupling storage elements in a selected arrangement. The apparatus includes an impedance sensing circuit operable to measure at least a resistive component of an impedance of the coupled storage elements and a test controller operable to configure the interconnect circuit and initiate measurement of the combined impedance of the coupled storage elements by the impedance sensing circuit. The impedance sensing circuit compares the measured impedance with at least a resistive component of an expected impedance. The storage elements and apparatus may form part of an integrated circuit. A storage element may include a correlated electron switch, for example.
US09953722B2 Methods of system optimization by over-sampling read
A method of controller optimization utilizing over-sampling read (OSR) in a memory device includes performing a first internal read at a predetermined threshold level and transferring the first internal read measurement to the controller, performing a second internal read in a range that is between the predetermined threshold level plus a first predetermined value and the predetermined threshold level minus a second predetermined value, and determining whether a cell level falls in the range and transferring the second internal read measurement to the controller.
US09953719B2 Flash memory cell and associated decoders
The present invention relates to a flash memory cell with only four terminals and decoder circuitry for operating an array of such flash memory cells. The invention allows for fewer terminals for each flash memory cell compared to the prior art, which results in a simplification of the decoder circuitry and overall die space required per flash memory cells. The invention also provides for the use of high voltages on one or more of the four terminals to allow for read, erase, and programming operations despite the lower number of terminals compared to prior art flash memory cells.
US09953714B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a first circuit configured to generate a first voltage based on a first current, a second circuit that includes a first transistor of a first conductivity type having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a first gate, the second circuit configured to generate a second voltage based on a voltage difference between the first terminal and the second terminal, and a third circuit configured to compare the first voltage and the second voltage, and generate a third voltage for adjusting a substrate bias of the first transistor, based on the comparison result.
US09953713B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
When selectively erasing one sub-block, a control circuit applies, in a first sub-block, a first voltage to bit lines and a source line, and applies a second voltage smaller than the first voltage to the word lines. Then, the control circuit applies a third voltage lower than the first voltage by a certain value to a drain-side select gate line and a source-side select gate line, thereby performing the erase operation in the first sub-block. The control circuit applies, in a second sub-block existing in an identical memory block to the selected sub-block, a fourth voltage substantially identical to the first voltage to the drain side select gate line and the source side select gate line, thereby not performing the erase operation in the second sub-block.
US09953711B2 Methods of operating memory under erase conditions
Methods of operating a memory include applying a first voltage level to a first semiconductor material of a first conductivity type forming a channel region for a memory cell of a string of series-connected memory cells, wherein the first semiconductor material is electrically connected to a second semiconductor material of the first conductivity type through a first conductive material of a second conductivity type different than the first conductivity type, and wherein the second semiconductor material forms a channel region for a different memory cell of the string of series-connected memory cells; and applying a second voltage level, less than the first voltage level, to a control gate of the memory cell and applying a third voltage level, less than the second voltage level, to a control gate of the different memory cell while applying the first voltage level to the first semiconductor material.
US09953709B2 Semiconductor memory device and memory system
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a cell transistor coupled to a word line, a sense amplifier configured to output data based on a state of the cell transistor in response to a first signal asserted; and a controller configured to apply a voltage of a magnitude continuously rising to the word line, and periodically assert the first signal after a lapse of any selected one of a first time and a second time from the start of rise of the magnitude of the voltage. The first time is different from the second time.
US09953706B2 Method and apparatus for faster determination of cell state of a resistive memory cell using a parallel resistor
A device for determining an actual cell state of a resistive memory cell having a plurality M of programmable cell states comprising a sensing circuit, a settling circuit, a prebiasing circuit, and a resistor coupled in parallel to the resistive memory cell, wherein the resistor is configured to reduce an effective resistance seen by the prebiasing circuit. The sensing circuit is configured to sense a sensing voltage of the resistive memory cell and output a resultant value in response to the sensing voltage which is indicative for the actual cell state. The settling circuit is configured to settle the sensing voltage to a certain target voltage representing one of the M programmable cell states. The prebiasing circuit is configured to prebiase a bitline capacitance of the resistive memory cell such the sensing voltage is close to the certain target voltage.
US09953703B2 Programming method of non volatile memory device
Provided is a programming method of a nonvolatile memory device including a plurality of memory cells. The programming method of the nonvolatile memory device includes: programming a first set of memory cells of the plurality of memory cells to a target state based on a primary program voltage such that a threshold voltage distribution of the first set of memory cells is formed; grouping the first set of memory cells into a plurality of cell groups at least one cell group having a different threshold voltage distribution width from others, based on program speeds of the first set of memory cells; and reprogramming remaining cell groups other than a first cell group that is programmed to the target state among the plurality of cell groups, to the target state based on a plurality of secondary program voltages determined based on threshold voltage distribution widths of the plurality of cell groups.
US09953702B2 Semiconductor memory devices, memory systems including the same and methods of operating the same
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array, a control logic circuit, an internal processing circuit, and an error correction circuit. The control logic circuit generates an internal processing mode signal in response to a command from a memory controller. The internal processing circuit selectively performs the internal processing operation on a first set of data read from the memory cell array to output a processing result data, in response to the internal processing mode signal. The error correction circuit performs an error correction code (ECC) encoding on the processing result data to generate a second parity data and stores the processing result data and the second parity data in the memory cell array. The error correction circuit generates the second parity data by selecting the same ECC of a plurality of ECCs as a first ECC.
US09953699B2 Static random access memory (SRAM) assist circuit
The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to a static random access memory assist circuit and methods of implementation and manufacture. The structure includes at least one static random access memory (SRAM) cell and a read assist circuit structured to apply a negative voltage to the at least one SRAM cell upon asserting of a wordline of the at least one SRAM cell.
US09953697B2 Volatile memory device employing a resistive memory element
A volatile resistive memory device includes a resistive memory element including a barrier material portion and a charge-modulated resistive memory material portion. The barrier material portion includes a material selected from germanium and a silicon-germanium alloy, and the charge-modulated resistive memory material portion includes a non-filamentary, electrically conductive metal oxide. The resistive memory device may be a volatile eDRAM device. In operation, reading a resistance state of the resistive memory element does not disturb the resistance state of the charge-modulated resistive memory material portion.
US09953686B2 Memory system and data transmission method
A memory system of a high-speed operation can be realized by reducing an influence of reflection signals etc. caused by branching and impedance mismatching in various wirings between a memory controller and a memory module, and an influence due to transmission delays of data, command/address, and clocks in the memory module. To this end, a memory system comprises a memory controller and a memory module mounted with DRAMs. A buffer is mounted on the memory module. The buffer and the memory controller are connected to each other via data wiring, command/address wiring, and clock wiring. The DRAMs and the buffer on the memory module are connected to each other via internal data wiring, internal command/address wiring, and internal cock wiring. The data wiring, the command/address wiring, and the clock wiring may be connected to buffers of other memory modules in cascade. Between the DRAMs and the buffer on the memory module, high-speed data transmission is implemented using data phase signals synchronous with clocks.
US09953681B2 System and method for representing long video sequences
Systems and procedures for transforming video into a condensed visual representation. An example procedure may include receiving video comprised of a plurality of frames. For each frame, the example procedure may create a first representation, reduced in one dimension, wherein a visual property of each pixel of the first representation is assigned by aggregating a visual property of the pixels of the frame having the same position in the unreduced dimension. The example procedure may further form a condensed visual representation including the first representations aligned along the reduced dimension according to an order of the frames in the video.
US09953679B1 Systems and methods for generating a time lapse video
Images may be extracted from a video. The images may be grouped into image groups. Numbers and types of classified visuals within the images may be detected. Individual types of classified visuals may correspond to individual classification weights. Image classification weights for the images may be determined based on the numbers and the types of classified visuals and the individual classification weights. Interest weights for the images may be determined based on the image classification weights and the sizes of the image groups to which the individual images belong. An interest curve may be generated based on the interest weights. A retime curve may be generated based on the interest curve. Time lapse images to be included in the time lapse video may be determined based on the images and the retime curve. The time lapse video may be generated based on the time lapse images.
US09953676B2 Mounting a smartphone to robotic accessor of automated data storage library
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an accessor configured to transport data storage cartridges in a library environment, and a bracket configured to receive a wireless image capture device therein where the bracket is positioned to orient the wireless image capture device to capture images while the accessor is transporting data storage cartridges. In another embodiment, a method for mounting a wireless capture device to an accessor to capture images of an operation in a data storage library includes mounting a bracket to the accessor, where the accessor is configured to transport data storage cartridges in a library environment, where the bracket is configured to receive a wireless image capture device therein. The bracket is mounted in a position to orient the wireless image capture device to capture images while the accessor is transporting data storage cartridges.
US09953675B2 Enhanced write pole and return pole for improved areal density
A system, according to one embodiment, includes: a main pole; and a trailing shield. A first distance D1 is defined in a track direction between the trailing shield and a pole tip region of the main pole; and a second distance D2 is defined in the track direction between the trailing shield and a second region of the main pole located behind the pole tip region, where D2 is greater than D1. Other systems, and methods are described in additional embodiments.
US09953657B1 Systems and methods for detecting and removing traceable identifying audio content from media content
Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting and removing traceable identifying audio content from electronic media content. One method includes: receiving, over a network, media content to be broadcast or distributed, the media content including audio data; determining whether the audio data of the media content includes traceable identifying audio content defined by an audio identifier; generating new audio data based on the audio data of the media content when an audio identifier is determined to be include in the audio data; removing audio data from the media content when the audio identifier is determined to be include in the audio data; adding the new audio data to the media content when the audio data is removed from the media content; and broadcasting or distributing the media content having the new audio data to one or more user devices.
US09953653B2 Configurable speech recognition system using multiple recognizers
Techniques for combining the results of multiple recognizers in a distributed speech recognition architecture. Speech data input to a client device is encoded and processed both locally and remotely by different recognizers configured to be proficient at different speech recognition tasks. The client/server architecture is configurable to enable network providers to specify a policy directed to a trade-off between reducing recognition latency perceived by a user and usage of network resources. The results of the local and remote speech recognition engines are combined based, at least in part, on logic stored by one or more components of the client/server architecture.
US09953652B1 Selective generalization of search queries
Features are disclosed for processing user queries into a form that can produce relevant results. Spoken user queries can be transcribed into textual queries. Textual queries can be processed using a statistical model to identify entities within the queries. Running searches using the entities rather than the original search query can produce relevant results even when no result would have been obtained by running the original search query. In some embodiments, attributes may be identified and used during the search to narrow the results and potentially produce results that are more relevant.
US09953646B2 Method and system for dynamic speech recognition and tracking of prewritten script
A computer-implemented method for dynamically presenting a prewritten text in a graphical user interface is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a text artifact, storing the text artifact in a memory device of a computer, retrieving the text artifact, displaying the text artifact on the display screen of the computer, receiving a vocal input, generating a text file representing the words spoken in the vocal input, comparing a predetermined number of the hypothesis words to a predetermined number of the artifact words, determining a match location in the text artifact where a specific number of the predetermined number of hypothesis words match a specific number of the predetermined number of artifact words, and altering the display on the display screen to display the match location on the display screen of the computer.
US09953639B2 Voice recognition system and construction method thereof
Disclosed are a voice recognition system and a construction method for the voice recognition system. By way of layering the system, a general semantic recognition operation for the system is separated from a specific semantic recognition operation for an application program; and by way of classifying the application programs and abstracting out a common performance function, the system can find the application program matching the voice content semantics very efficiently and a third-party program is easily added into the existing voice recognition system. The present invention maps the performance function to a regular expression with semantic variables, so that the system can recognize more semantic expression manners with optimization of the semantic recognition. Therefore, the system can show more humanized characteristics.
US09953636B2 Automatic language model update
A method for generating a speech recognition model includes accessing a baseline speech recognition model, obtaining information related to recent language usage from search queries, and modifying the speech recognition model to revise probabilities of a portion of a sound occurrence based on the information. The portion of a sound may include a word. Also, a method for generating a speech recognition model, includes receiving at a search engine from a remote device an audio recording and a transcript that substantially represents at least a portion of the audio recording, synchronizing the transcript with the audio recording, extracting one or more letters from the transcript and extracting the associated pronunciation of the one or more letters from the audio recording, and generating a dictionary entry in a pronunciation dictionary.
US09953634B1 Passive training for automatic speech recognition
Provided are methods and systems for passive training for automatic speech recognition. An example method includes utilizing a first, speaker-independent model to detect a spoken keyword or a key phrase in spoken utterances. While utilizing the first model, a second model is passively trained to detect the spoken keyword or the key phrase in the spoken utterances using at least partially the spoken utterances. The second, speaker dependent model may utilize deep neural network (DNN) or convolutional neural network (CNN) techniques. In response to completion of the training, a switch is made from utilizing the first model to utilizing the second model to detect the spoken keyword or the key phrase in spoken utterances. While utilizing the second model, parameters associated therewith are updated using the spoken utterances in response to detecting the keyword or the key phrase in the spoken utterances. User authentication functionality may be provided.
US09953628B1 Microphone device
A microphone device including a first sound receiving module and a second sound receiving module is provided. The first sound receiving module includes a first output terminal and receives a sound signal to output a first electronic signal through the first output terminal. The second sound receiving module, which disposed adjacent to the first sound receiving module to receive the sound signal, includes a second output terminal and outputs a second electronic signal through the second output terminal accordingly. The first output terminal of the first sound receiving module is coupled to the second output terminal of the second sound receiving module, and the phase of the first electronic signal and the phase of the second electronic signal are inverse to each other.
US09953619B2 Display recording information and generation method thereof
A display recording information and generation method thereof are disclosed. The display recording information is used to record the corresponding relationship between the display information received by a driving IC of a display and pixels of the display. The display recording information is formed by one byte (8 bits). Its first bit through six bit record a counting result that a number counter or a column counter performs a six-bit counting on a number of pixels or a number of columns of pixels starting from 0; its seventh bit uses 0 or 1 to record that the counting result belongs to the number of pixels or a number of columns of pixels; its eighth bit uses 1 to record that a most significant bit of the display information including red, green, or blue is 1, otherwise uses 0 to record.
US09953613B2 High speed display interface
Methods and devices employing circuitry for dynamically adjusting bandwidth control of a display interface are provided. The display interface or image content is dynamically adjusted to support both high-speed image data (e.g., 120 Hz image data) and lower-speed content (e.g., 60 Hz content). For example, in some embodiments, additional pixel pipelines and/or processing lanes may be activated during the rendering of high-speed image data, but not during the rendering of low-speed image data. Additionally or alternatively, high-speed image data, but not low-speed data, may be compressed to render high-speed content over an interface that supports only low-speed content.
US09953607B2 Array substrate and method for driving the same, and liquid crystal display panel
It is provided an array substrate and a method for driving the array substrate, and a liquid crystal display panel. The array substrate includes: a plurality of sub-pixels formed on a substrate in a matrix form; a plurality of data lines each configured to provide a signal to one column of sub-pixels of the plurality of sub-pixels; and a plurality of gate lines each configured to provide a gate line signal to one row of sub-pixels of the plurality of sub-pixels, wherein each of the plurality of sub-pixels includes at least two sub-pixel electrodes, and each of the at least two sub-pixel electrodes receives a data signal from the same one of the plurality of data lines via a corresponding switching element.
US09953606B2 GOA circuits and liquid crystal devices
A GOA circuit and a liquid crystal device (LCD) are disclosed. The GOA circuit includes a plurality of GOA units and a control module. Each of the cascaded GOA units is configured for charging corresponding horizontal scanning lines within a display area when being driven by a first level clock, a second level clock, a first control clock, and a second control clock. After the horizontal scanning lines are fully charged by the GOA circuit, the control module is configured for resetting the gate driving signals to be at the first level, i.e., the invalid level, via the turn-on pulse signals and the negative-voltage constant-voltage source.
US09953605B2 Active matrix substrate and display panel
Provided is an active matrix substrate that includes a gate line group, a source line group, a pixel electrode arranged in a display area, and a gate line driving circuit (11) formed in the display area. The gate line driving circuit (11) includes an accumulation line that accumulates a voltage for controlling the voltage level of the gate line; an output unit (U1) that controls the voltage level of the gate line according to the voltage of the accumulation line; an accumulated voltage supply unit (U2) that varies the voltage of the accumulation line according to a signal input from another gate line; and accumulated voltage adjustment units (U3) that change the voltage of the accumulation line to a predetermined level according to the control signal. The output unit (U1), the accumulated voltage supply unit (U2), and, the accumulated voltage adjustment units (U3) are arrayed along the gate line, and the output unit (U1) is arranged at a position interposed between the accumulated voltage adjustment units (U3).
US09953604B2 Display device and driving method performing display scan operation and detection scan operation
Disclosed herein is a display device, including: a display surface; a display functional layer adapted to control the display of a screen viewed from outside the display surface; a drive control section operable to perform display scanning and driving adapted to scan and drive, in the one direction, the plurality of drive electrodes, and also operable to perform, a plurality of times and for M display screens, detection scanning and driving adapted to continuously scan and drive all or part of the plurality of drive electrodes within the period of time; and a plurality of sensor lines arranged in a direction other than the one direction to be separate from each other, which produce an electrical change if an object to be detected comes in contact with or proximity to the display surface while the drive control section performs the detection scanning and driving.
US09953597B2 Method for driving display panel by outputting data signals according to delay signal, driving unit of display panel and display device having the same
A driving unit of display panel includes a data driving part, a timing controlling part and a gate driving part. The data driving part is configured to receive reference image data and includes a first data driving circuit part having a first channel outputting a first reference data signal based on the reference image data and a k-th channel outputting a k-th reference data signal based on the reference image data. The timing controlling part is configured to detect a time difference between the first reference data signal and the k-th reference data signal. The gate driving part is configured to output a gate signal to each of gate lines. By delaying data signals based on the gate signal delay caused by long line load and RC delay, the present invention may improve display quality of a display device.
US09953596B2 Display panel and manufacturing method thereof, display device
A display panel, a manufacturing method thereof and a display device are provided. A dustproof construction is provided at a peripheral region of the display panel, and the dustproof construction is located on the outer side of the display region on the display panel, and on the inner side of an outer edge of a sealant applying region. The dustproof construction includes a first electrode, a second electrode and an insulating layer interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; wherein, slits are arranged in the second electrode. With the display panel and manufacturing method thereof and the display device, impurity ions from outside or in the sealant can be prevented from entering the display region, so that the peripheral badness of the display is improved.
US09953591B1 Managing two dimensional structured noise when driving a display with multiple display pipes
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for driving a split display with multiple display pipelines. Frames for driving a display are logically divided into portions, a first display pipeline drives a first portion of the display, and a second display pipeline drives a second portion of the display. Each display pipeline generates dither noise for each frame in its entirety but only utilizes dither noise for the portion of the frame which is being driven to its respective portion of the display. This approach prevents visual artifacts from appearing at the dividing line between the first and second portions of the display.
US09953585B2 Display device and display correction method
A display device includes a display which is configured to display an image; a backlight which is turned on in the rear face of the display; a storage unit which is configured to store luminance characteristics at the center of the display; an optical sensor which is configured to measure luminance in the periphery of the display; and a signal processing unit which is configured to correct the measured value measured with the optical sensor in the periphery of the display based on luminance characteristics stored in the storage unit, thus controlling the luminance of the display based on the corrected measured value.
US09953583B2 Organic light emitting diode display device including pixel driving circuit
An apparatus comprising a circuit configured to control anode voltages of one or more adjacent pixel rows, which are adjacent to an Nth pixel row, to achieve minimal voltage differences between said Nth pixel row and said adjacent pixel rows to suppress luminance drops in an OLED display by minimizing leakage currents being introduced from adjacent pixel rows.
US09953581B2 Pulse width modulation (PWM) driving scheme and bezel reduction
This application sets forth a circuit configuration for a light emitting diode (LED) or organic light emitting diode (OLED) display. The circuit configuration allows for the pulse-width modulation (PWM) of each emission signal sent to each line of the display. The PWM of each emission signal is accomplished using a gate-in-panel (GIP) controller of the display. The GIP controller uses an arrangement of shift register outputs and a programmable clock input to control an output of an inverter that provides the emission signal. The programmable clock input can be programmed according to a desired timing or duty cycle for the emission signal. In this way, by limiting the duty cycle of the emission signal, dimming and other display features can be exhibited by the LED or OLED display.
US09953574B2 Sub-pixel compensation
Sub-pixel compensation is described. In at least some implementations, a computing device includes a plurality of sub-pixels within a pixel which may generate an alternating display to approximate the display of a single sub-pixel. In other implementations, a voltage is applied to sub-pixels of a color such that a voltage across a first sub-pixel is proportional to a voltage across one or more additional sub-pixels. In other implementations, a change in a voltage drop across a sub-pixel is detected, and the change is compensated for by altering a voltage of a second sub-pixel within the pixel.
US09953572B2 Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus
An electro-optical device includes a scanning line, a data line intersecting with each other, a pixel circuit which is provided corresponding to the intersection thereof, and a wire. The pixel circuit includes a light emitting element, one transistor which controls a current flowing to the light emitting element, and the other transistor of which conduction state is controlled according to a scanning signal which is supplied to the scanning line between a gate node of the one transistor and the data line. The wire is provided between the data line and the one transistor.
US09953568B2 Organic light emitting diode display device and driving method thereof
An organic light emitting diode display device is disclosed which includes: a scan switch controlled by a scan pulse on a gate line and connected between a data line and a first node; a driving switch which includes a gate electrode connected to the first node, a source electrode connected to a second node, and a drain electrode connected to a first driving voltage line; a sensing switch controlled by a sensing control signal and connected between the second node and a third node on a sensing line; and an organic light emitting diode connected between the second node and a second driving voltage line.
US09953565B2 Organic light emitting diode display and method for driving the same
An organic light emitting diode display and a method for driving the same are disclosed. The organic light emitting diode display includes a display panel including a plurality of pixels, a display panel driver configured to drive signal lines of the display panel, and a timing controller configured to divide one frame into a plurality of subframes, divide data of an input image at each bit, map the data of the input image to the plurality of subframes, control an operation of the display panel driver, and adjust data addressing speeds of the plurality of subframes for adjusting the emission times of the upper and lower display lines of the display panel differently.
US09953564B2 Image display control apparatus, image display system, image display control method and program
[Object] To provide a technology that can mitigate accurately the ghosting problem.[Solving Means] An image display control apparatus according to the present technology includes a control unit. The control unit switches a first mode for reducing a brightness of an image without inverting the brightness of the image fixedly displayed on a specific area of a screen to a second mode for inverting the brightness of the image and reducing the brightness of the image inverted, and controls a display such that the image is displayed on the area of the screen depending on the mode switched.
US09953563B2 Display device and drive current detection method for same
A data line drive circuit provides a voltage according to a detection voltage and to a reference voltage, between the gate and source of a drive transistor in a pixel circuit, and detects a drive current having passed through the drive transistor and outputted external to the pixel circuit. A threshold voltage correction memory stores, for each pixel circuit, data representing a threshold voltage of the drive transistor. A display control circuit controls the reference voltage based on the data stored in the threshold voltage correction memory. By this, even if the threshold voltage of the drive transistor is changed, the drive current can be detected with a high accuracy. The threshold voltage correction memory may store, for each pixel circuit, data representing a difference between the threshold voltage of the drive transistor and the reference voltage.
US09953557B2 Display device
According to an aspect, a display device includes a plurality of pixels arranged along a row direction and a column direction. One pixel includes a set of sub-pixels including two sub-pixels that correspond to two colors complementary to each other and are arranged adjacent to each other along one of the row direction and the column direction, and two or more combinations of sub-pixels for outputting white light by combining adjacent sub-pixels are present for one sub-pixel.
US09953554B2 Method for obtaining compensation value of gray scale of a pixel
Disclosed is a method for obtaining a compensation value of gray scale of a pixel. The method comprises steps of: acquiring a display area of a display panel; dividing the display area equally into a plurality of first sub-areas according to a first preset rule, each of the first sub-areas comprising at least two pixels; obtaining pre-stored multinomial coefficients of each of the first sub-areas, and according to a second preset rule, establishing a multinomial corresponding to each of the first sub-areas; and obtaining a value range of an independent variable of the multinomial, and according to a corresponding multinomial, obtaining a compensation value of gray scale of each of the first sub-areas.
US09953553B2 Background plateau manipulation for display device power conservation
Described herein are systems and methods that that reduce power consumption for an electronics device that includes a display. The power conservation systems and methods alter background video information not needed for interactive use when a user returns to a display after some period of inactivity. Power conservation also preserves video information for one or more graphical user interface items. Preserving a graphics item maintains a person's ability to detect the graphical user interface item, and return to it at a later time, even though the background video information has been altered to conserver power.
US09953549B2 Closure seal
A closure seal or tamper evident pressure sensitive label of a sandwich construction for use at the opening seam of packaging to be sealed to indicate whether the package has been opened or otherwise tampered with. The label includes a facer material, a liner material and a pressure sensitive adhesive therebetween. The facer material has cut out a lower label section joined to an upper pull tab section with adjacent tab wings. The upper pull tab section has a liner material portion cut out to adhere to a back or under side of the upper tab section upon pulling the label off the liner material for use. The lower label section and wings has exposed adhesive upon the label being pulled off the liner material for use. Once the label is placed on the packaging, the lower label section and the upper pull tab with adjacent tab wings are aligned to straddle the opening seam of the packaging. The tab maybe pulled away from the label and torn away from the wings while remaining intact with the lower label section to evidence the package has been opened or otherwise tampered with. The label is manufactured by a flexo-graphic web method.
US09953548B2 Removable tension-pneumothorax-simulator cartridge for use with a patient simulating mannequin
Removable tension-pneumothorax-simulator cartridge for use with a patient simulating mannequin, comprising a rigid body having a hollow cavity therein, the body having two openings in fluid communication with the cavity, the cavity being shaped and dimensioned so as to be capable of receiving therein through the first opening a 14-gauge 3.25 inch needle; the first opening having an associated first-opening closure releasably secured to the body and airtightly sealing the first-opening and including a first material pierceable by the needle when treating a simulation of a tension pneumothorax in the patient simulating mannequin, the first material being self-sealing such that when the needle is withdrawn the first material self-seals, the body being constructed of a second material not pierceable by the needle; the second opening being structured and dimensioned to releasably engage cooperable structure on the mannequin such that when the cartridge is inserted into the mannequin, the cooperable structure on the mannequin engages and airtightly seals the second opening and provides a channel in fluid communication with the cavity of the body for allowing for the entry of a pressured gas into the cavity for use in the simulation of the tension pneumothorax.
US09953544B2 Shifter force detection
A shifter simulator for driver training includes a shaft with a handle affixed to a first end of the shaft and a distal second end of the shaft being interfaced to a shifter mechanism. A first force sensing device is interfaced to the shaft, outputting a value representative of an amount of force applied to the handle in a forward/rearward direction and a second force sensing device is interfaced to the shaft outputting a value representative of an amount of force applied to the handle in a lateral direction.
US09953543B2 Secured computer based assessment
Systems and methods for secured computer based assessment are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises capturing of proctoring data at a candidate assessment device from a candidate at predefined time intervals during an examination. The proctoring data includes biometric data, still image, and surround sound associated with the at least one candidate. The proctoring data captured at the candidate assessment device is then transmitted to a central assessment server connected to the candidate assessment device. At the central assessment server, the proctoring data is compared with registration data, of the candidate, stored in the central assessment server. Based on the comparison, malpractice by the candidate during the examination is determined when the proctoring data deviates from the registration data.
US09953541B2 Methods and apparatus for obtaining aircraft landing guidance
A method for receiving data onboard an aircraft is provided. The method obtains a plurality of aircraft transponder messages associated with a particular landing zone; extracts, from each of the plurality of aircraft transponder messages, aircraft position data associated with landing at least one lead aircraft at the particular landing zone; and determines a landing path for use by the aircraft to land at the particular landing zone, based on the extracted aircraft position data.
US09953539B1 Method and system for providing demand-responsive dispatching of a fleet of transportation vehicles, and a mobility-activity processing module for providing a mobility trace database
A method for providing a demand-responsive transportation system includes receiving mobility trace data of collaborative individuals. Clusters of individuals are generated and mobility-activity models for the clusters are defined. Non-collaborative individuals are assigned to the clusters using a combinatorial optimization problem. An Origin-Destination (OD) demand is determined from the clusters. Non-collaborative individuals are re-allocated to different ones of the clusters using an approximation function that learns from an observed OD and the mobility trace data. The mobility-activity models are trained based on the re-allocation of the non-collaborative individuals to different ones of the clusters. An OD database (OD-DB) is maintained to be queried with a geographic location and time so as to receive information from the OD-DB about the current OD demand for the geographic location and time. Control actions are issued to vehicles in a fleet of the transportation system based thereon.
US09953537B2 Vehicle control system and method thereof
The present invention relates to a vehicle control system and a method thereof. A vehicle control system, according to the present invention, may include: a camera that is configured to photograph a front image; a tire detecting unit that is configured to detect the tire of a nearby vehicle from the image and to measure the direction of the tire; and a controller that is configured to estimate the path of the nearby vehicle based on the direction of the tire, to determine a risk of collision between a driver's vehicle and the nearby vehicle based on the path of the nearby vehicle, and to give a warning or control the driver's vehicle when there is a risk of collision.
US09953536B1 Accident prone location notification system and method
A method includes maintaining vehicle accident occurrence information, wherein the vehicle accident occurrence information includes accident location information, accident occurrence date information, and accident occurrence time information and identifying, based at least in part on the accident location information, one or more accident-prone locations. When a vehicle enters an area comprising one of the accident-prone locations, a notification is made that the vehicle has entered the area comprising one of the accident-prone locations. In addition, in response to a query, a visual representation of one of the accident-prone locations is displayed, along with accident occurrence date information and accident occurrence time information associated with the accident-prone location.
US09953535B1 Annotated virtual track to inform autonomous vehicle control
Recent location and control information received from “lead” vehicles that traveled over a segment of land, sea, or air is captured to inform, via aggregated data, subsequent “trailing” vehicles that travel over that same segment of land, sea, or air. The aggregated data may provide the trailing vehicles with annotated road information that identifies obstacles. In some embodiments, at least some sensor control data may be provided to the subsequent vehicles to assist those vehicles in identifying the obstacles and/or performing other tasks. Besides, obstacles, the location and control information may enable determining areas traveled by vehicles that are not included in conventional maps, as well as vehicle actions associated with particular locations, such as places where vehicles park or make other maneuvers.
US09953531B2 Determining a parking position based on visual and non-visual factors
A computer-implemented method includes: receiving, by a computing device, images of adjacent vehicles parked directly adjacent to an open parking space; determining, by the computing device, visual factors and non-visual factors of the adjacent vehicles based on the images; determining, by the computing device, risk scores for each of the adjacent vehicles based on the visual factor and the non-visual factors; determining, by the computing device, a parking position within the open parking space based on the risk scores; and outputting, by the computing device, information regarding the parking position.
US09953529B2 Direct vehicle to vehicle communications
A method of communicating a notification includes identifying an issue associated with a target vehicle. A location of the target vehicle is determined, and a notification signal is broadcast from a host vehicle. The notification signal includes the location of the target vehicle and the identified issue associated with the target vehicle. The broadcast notification signal is received by the target vehicle, which determines that the received notification signal is intended for the target vehicle, by comparing a current location of the target vehicle to the location of the target vehicle included in the notification signal. When the target vehicle determines that the broadcast notification signal received from the host vehicle is intended for the target vehicle, the target vehicle may issue an alert signal to alert an occupant of the target vehicle of the issue associated with the target vehicle.
US09953528B2 Vehicle, system and method for forwarding events
A vehicle includes a communication unit for the communication with an event management server, a navigation system for the output of at least one route, and a planning system. The planning system is configured to: a) retrieve a list, for a plurality of devices, particularly traffic light systems and/or signal groups of traffic light systems, the list including one identification respectively of the respective device and at least one position indication respectively of the respective device, b) compare the list with the route, in order to select at least one device from the list, c) for the subscription of events with respect to the selected device, send at least one subscription message to the event management server, the subscription message including the identifications of the selected devices.
US09953519B2 System and method for rapid configuration of a universal controlling device
A universal controlling device is provided with one or more buttons which, when activated in a set up mode, serves to initiate a rapid configuration of the universal controlling device to adapt the universal controlling device to communicate with an intended target appliance.
US09953518B2 Systems and methods for predicting and increasing the threat level at ATM centers prior to alarm event detection
Systems and methods for predicting and increasing the threat level at ATM centers prior to alarm event detection are provided. Some methods can include receiving a first signal from an ATM machine indicative of whether the ATM machine dispenses cash, receiving a second signal from a people counter indicative of persons entering or exiting a region in which the ATM machine is located, and responsive to the first signal or the second signal, determining whether to increase a threat level associated with the ATM machine irrespective of detecting an alarm event associated with the ATM machine.
US09953514B2 Visitor feedback to visitor interaction with a doorbell at a smart-home
This patent specification relates to apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for providing home security/smart home objectives. More particularly, this patent specification relates to a plurality of devices, including intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected devices, that communicate with each other and/or with a central server or a cloud-computing system to provide any of a variety of useful home security/smart home objectives.
US09953512B2 Systems and methods for operating remote presence security
A computer-implemented method for remote presence security is described. In one embodiment, an event is detected in relation to a premises. Upon detecting the event, a location of an occupant of the premises is determined in relation to the premises. Upon determining the occupant is a predetermined distance away from the premises, a first type of notification is sent. The first type of notification includes a display of real-time video being captured at the premises.
US09953509B2 Personal object location manager
A method, computer program product, and system for object location managing. The method including generating a first list including one or more personal objects based on a personal schedule of a user, generating a second list including one or more personal objects physically located within a predefined range of a checkpoint, comparing the first list to the second list to determine which personal objects are on both lists and which personal objects are missing, if any, from the second list, and notifying the user with the results of the comparison between the first list and the second list by activating an alarm.
US09953499B2 Alarm notifying system
A sound amplification apparatus includes one or more microphones that convert collected sound into an audio signal and transmit the audio signal by radio and a sound receiving apparatus that receives the audio signal transmitted from the microphone and amplifies and outputs the sound based on the audio signal. The sound receiving apparatus is configured to perform sound output control in an emergency mode upon receiving an emergency signal transmitted in response to operation of an emergency switch of the microphone. With this configuration, it is possible to perform appropriate sound control in a dangerous situation such as intrusion of a suspicious person.
US09953476B2 Capacitive vehicle entry control
An illustrative example method of operating a capacitive vehicle entry control device includes: determining a plurality of capacitance values of the vehicle entry control device during a measurement period; determining an average capacitance of the plurality of capacitance values; determining whether the determined average capacitance exceeds an average threshold; determining a range of the plurality of capacitance values; determining whether the determined range exceeds a range threshold; and initiating a vehicle entry process when the determined average capacitance exceeds the average threshold or when the determined range exceeds the range threshold.
US09953471B2 Connected vehicle system with infotainment interface for mobile devices
An OBD module comprising a controller; a data bus interface configured to draw power from and electronically communicate with a vehicle OBD-II data port; and a digital interface connector is disclosed. A radio/infotainment interface configured to communicate with the OBD module is disclosed.
US09953469B2 Systems and methods for recommending repair facilities to a user based on repair validation/coaching data
Systems and methods for recommending repair facilities to a user based on repair validation/coaching data are disclosed. In one implementation, a repair facility recommendation system receives repair information from a user regarding damage to an automobile, the repair information received via a graphical user interface rendered on a webpage. The repair facility recommendation system identifies a repair facility verified to repair the damage to the automobile based on the repair information and verification information from a verification module, the verification information comprising evaluation information based on evaluation of technicians performing repairs of automobiles at repair facilities. The repair facility recommendation system then provides information regarding the identified repair facility to the user via the graphical user interface.
US09953467B2 Secure vehicular data management with enhanced privacy
The present disclosure is directed to secure vehicular data management with enhanced privacy. A vehicle may comprise at least a vehicular control architecture (VCA) for controlling operation of the vehicle and a device. The VCA may record operational data identifying at least one vehicle operator and vehicular operational data recorded during operation of the vehicle by the at least one vehicle operator. The device may include at least a communication module and a trusted execution environment (TEE) including a privacy enforcement module (PEM). The PEM may receive the operational data from the VCA via the communication module, may generate filtered data by filtering the operational data based on privacy settings and may cause the filtered data to be transmitted via the communication module. The filtered data may be transmitted to at least one data consumer. The privacy settings may be configured in the PEM by the at least one operator.
US09953466B2 Monitoring objects in motion along a static route using sensory detection devices
A system for monitoring a plurality of objects in motion (OIMs) along a static route using a plurality of sensory detection devices, the static route having a plurality of route portions, each route portion having an entering boundary and an exiting boundary, at least one OIM being a designated OIM and having a tag indicating the location of the designated OIM along the route, the system comprising a plurality of sensory detection devices corresponding to the plurality of route portions for monitoring activity in each of the plurality of route portions and for providing monitor output representing activity within each of the plurality of route portions, a plurality of data stores corresponding to each of the plurality of route portions for receiving and storing the monitor output for each of the plurality of route portions, and a plurality of location detectors communicative with the tag of the designated OIM for identifying the location of the designated OIM, each location detector providing output when the designated OIM is located within a route portion.
US09953460B2 Garment simulation using thread and data level parallelism
Techniques for three-dimensional garment simulation using parallel computing are presented herein. An access module can be configured to access a three-dimensional garment model of a garment. The garment model can include garment points that represent a surface of the garment. A processor, having a plurality of cores, can be configured by a garment simulation module to calculate one or more exerted forces on a subset of garment points. Additionally, the garment simulation module can generate cross pairs and apportion the generated cross pairs among the plurality of cores. Moreover, the garment simulation module can determine, using the plurality of vector execution units in parallel based on an organized data layout, whether boundaries of the first subgroup of cross pairs are overlapping based on the one or more exerted forces. Subsequently, the garment simulation module can calculate one or more simulated forces acting on the garment points based on the determination.
US09953459B2 Computer vision database platform for a three-dimensional mapping system
A system is provided including a database that ingests data from disparate image sources, with a variety of image metadata types and qualities, and manages images geospatially through the creation and continued refinement of camera solutions for each data object included. These camera solutions are calculated and refined by the database as additional data enters the system that could affect the solutions, through a combination of the application of image metadata towards image processing methods and the use of optical-only computer vision techniques. The database continually generates data quality metrics and relevant imagery and geometry analytics, which drive future collection tasking, system analytics, and human quality control requirements.
US09953454B1 Systems and methods for displaying representative images
A system, method, and computer program product for displaying representative images is disclosed. The method comprises displaying two or more representative images within one or more groups of a user interface. Next, an alphabetic progression relationship is configured between the one or more groups, according to a group character for each group. For each of the two or more representative images, a second relationship is configured between the respective representative image and an associated group of the one or more groups. Additionally, a notification is received indicating a new orientation for at least one of the one or more groups. Lastly, in response to the new orientation, an in-place rotation animation is generated for the two or more representative images, affected by the new orientation, based on the alphabetic progression relationship and the second relationship. Additional systems, methods, and computer program products are also presented.
US09953453B2 System for converting biologic particle density data into dynamic images
A system for converting biologic particle density data into a motion image of at least one clinical condition such as sepsis, wherein the system comprises a processor programmed to detect a plurality of perturbations of the biologic particle densities associated with the clinical condition, detect or determine features of the perturbations, and detect or determine patterns of the perturbations. The processor can also be programmed to generate an image of the clinical condition comprised of time image components comprising a two dimensional user-facing map, wherein time extends along an axis away from the user facing map such that the map may be scrolled forward or backward over time to view different two dimensional images of the clinical condition.
US09953444B2 Tile based graphics processor and a method of performing graphics processing in a tile based graphics processor
A graphics processing apparatus and method of performing graphics processing are provided. The graphics processing apparatus comprises a sequence of processing stages capable of performing graphics processing to generate a frame of display data. The graphics processing is performed on a tile-by-tile basis. The graphics processing apparatus is capable of determining if a current tile subject to the graphics processing is empty. At least one processing stage of the sequence of processing stages is omitted for graphics processing of the current tile in dependence on whether the current tile is empty.
US09953442B2 Image construction with multiple clustering realizations
A method includes overlaying a grid on a set of dynamic PET, SPECT, CT or MR data, so as to define a set of voxels defining a plurality of cluster seeds; extracting a respective time activity curve (TAC) for dynamic PET or SPECT data or time varying signals in the case of dynamic CT or MR data, for each voxel based on the data; selecting a subset of the cluster seeds defined by the grid as initial cluster centroids of a set of clusters; assigning each TAC to a respective cluster in the set of clusters; computing a respective average TAC of each cluster; generating a parametric image based on the respective average TACs for the clusters; repeating the overlaying, determining, selecting, assigning, computing, and generating; and averaging the generated parametric images.
US09953440B2 Method for tomographic reconstruction
The present approaches relate to frequency-split iterative reconstruction approaches. In some embodiment, such approaches provide for the combination of the low frequency components of an analytical reconstruction (e.g., a filtered back projection) and the high frequency components of an iterative reconstruction. In certain embodiments, frequency-split iterative reconstruction is used for generating region of interest images.
US09953434B2 Display device, display control method, and display system
A display device includes: an input unit which has image data inputted from an image supply device; a detection unit which detects a position of an indicator and generates indicator information including information about the detected position; a setting unit which sets a mode for processing of the indicator information to a first mode or a second mode; a drawing unit which draws a second image generated on the basis of the indicator information and superimpose the second image on a first image generated on the basis of the inputted image data; a selection unit which outputs the indicator information to the drawing unit if the first mode is set and which outputs the indicator information to the image supply device if the second mode is set; and a drawing control unit which erases the second image if a switching from the first mode to the second mode is carried out.
US09953433B2 Distance image acquisition apparatus and distance image acquisition method
A distance image acquisition apparatus includes a projection unit which projects a first pattern of structured light in a plurality of wavelength bandwidths, an imaging unit which is provided in parallel with and apart from the projection unit by a baseline length, performs imaging with sensitivities to a plurality of wavelength bandwidths, and generates a plurality of captured images corresponding to a plurality of wavelength bandwidths, a determination unit which determines whether or not a second pattern of structured light projected from another distance image acquisition apparatus is included in the captured images, and a pattern extraction unit which extracts the first pattern from a captured image determined as the second pattern being not included by the determination unit, and a distance image acquisition unit which acquires a distance image indicating a distance of a subject within a distance measurement region based on the first pattern.
US09953432B2 Systems and methods of detecting motion
Motion is detected within a defined proximity of a vehicle or fixed location equipped with a recording system by correlating frame-to-frame changes in the video streams of two or more cameras with converging views.
US09953427B2 Method and system for processing an image
A method of processing an image is disclosed. The method comprises decomposing the image into a plurality of channels, each being characterized by a different depth-of-field, and accessing a computer readable medium storing an in-focus dictionary defined over a plurality of dictionary atoms, and an out-of-focus dictionary defined over a plurality of sets of dictionary atoms, each set corresponding to a different out-of-focus condition. The method also comprises computing one or more sparse representations of the decomposed image over the dictionaries.
US09953424B2 Method and system for determining whether a spherical element impacts with a component of a playing field, or arranged on or proximate thereto
A method and system for determining whether a spherical element impacts with a component of a playing field, or arranged on or proximate thereto. The method includes acquiring images of a surveillance area of a field that covers at least part of said component, such as a delimiting perimeter line of a game area or a target, performing an approximate detection of an impact of a spherical element relative to that component or proximate thereto, with an object detection and recognition system that can discern when the detected object is indeed a spherical element, automatically selecting one of the images acquired for the same point in time and that includes the area where said impact has occurred, and analysing the selected image to check if the spherical element has impacted or not with the component.
US09953419B2 Method for analyzing microstructure of porous body, and program and microstructure analyzer for the same
A method for analyzing a microstructure of a porous body is, for example, a method using porous-body data in which positional information providing a position of a voxel of a porous body obtained by three-dimensional scanning is associated with voxel type information including information that allows determination as to whether the voxel is a spatial voxel representing a space or an object voxel representing an object. This method includes (a) a step of defining an imaginary surface that is in contact with at least one object voxel present on a surface of the porous body, and identifying, as opening-related voxels, spatial voxels that are in contact with the imaginary surface and spatial voxels that continuously lie in a linear direction from the imaginary surface; and (b) a step of analyzing a microstructure of the porous body on a basis of the opening-related voxels.
US09953417B2 Biomarker method
A spatial distribution of cells or sub-cellular structures of a subject is quantified by receiving image data that includes a plurality of biomarkers and processing the image data to obtain a set of coordinates. Each coordinate denotes the location of a cell or sub-cellular structure represented by a biomarker or combination of biomarkers. The set of coordinates is processed into a two-dimensional symmetric matrix. Each element of the matrix indicates the frequency of a cell or sub-cellular structure represented by a first biomarker or combination of biomarkers being observed within an interaction distance of a cell or sub-cellular structure represented by a second biomarker or combination of biomarkers. A classifier assigns the subject to a group or category based on the matrix. A toxicity and/or efficacy of one or more interventions is assessed based on a comparison of the spatial distribution to one or more predetermined reference or control distributions.
US09953414B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus for reconstructing a tomographic image from a plurality of projection images acquires noise data for a plurality of projection images, respectively, acquires noise reconstruction data by executing reconstruction processing based on the acquired noise data, and reconstructs the tomographic image by executing the reconstruction processing based on the projection images and the noise reconstruction data.
US09953413B2 Identification and analysis of lesions in medical imaging
A method for automated classification of curve patterns associated with dynamic image data of a lesion in a subject in order to determine characteristics of the lesion. The method comprising the steps of loading the image data into an electronic memory means, producing a plot of signal intensity profile, converting the signal intensity profile into a contrast enhancement profile, detecting a reference enhancement profile having a highly positive slope over an initial enhancement period followed by a decreasing profile portion, deriving signature curve types based on the reference enhancement profile, classifying an enhancement curve for each pixel in a selected ROI into one of the derived signature curve types using all available time points and displaying a grid-plot of the classified enhancement curves for all pixels in the selected ROI, wherein the overall display of curves and heterogeneity provides visual indication of the characteristics of the lesion.
US09953410B2 Method and apparatus for locating a unit in an assembly
The present embodiments disclose a method and apparatus for locating a unit in an assembly. According to the embodiments, a unit in an assembly is located. An identification of the target unit in the assembly is obtained. An image of at least a part of the assembly is acquired. The image includes a visual code associated with the part. The visual code is decoded to obtain an identification of at least one unit in the part. It is determined if the target unit is included in the part responsive to identification of a match of the target unit with the identification of the at least one unit. There is further disclosed a corresponding apparatus, assembly, and fault diagnosis device.
US09953406B2 Automated system and method for clarity measurements and clarity grading
A computer-based system and method for taking clarity measurements of a gem, and a computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions, are provided and include receiving a pixilated image of a gem and identifying pixels representing an inclusion. The method and medium further include determining characteristics of the inclusion as a function of the pixels representing the inclusion, and providing a clarity grade based upon the determined characteristics. Also provided is a method for mapping a gem, and a computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions, which include receiving a pixilated image of a gem having facet edges, and identifying pixels representing the facet edges. The method and medium further include generating a diagram of the gem, such that the diagram is a function of the pixels representing the facet edges, and superimposing the diagram onto the pixilated image.
US09953390B2 Signal processors and methods for estimating transformations between signals with least squares
Signal processing devices and methods estimate transforms between signals using a least squares technique. From a seed set of transform candidates, a direct least squares method applies a seed transform candidate to a reference signal and then measures correlation between the transformed reference signal and a suspect signal. For each candidate, update coordinates of reference signal features are identified in the suspect signal and provided as input to a least squares method to compute an update to the transform candidate. The method iterates so long as the update of the transform provides a better correlation. At the end of the process, the method identifies a transform or set of top transforms based on a further analysis of correlation, as well as other results.
US09953387B2 Methods and systems for establishing identity confidence database
The invention provides various systems and methods for establishing an identity confidence scoring system. The method includes gathering identity information about the customers from physical locations and from remote locations. The method updates the identity profiles with the gathered identity information, and based on the gathered identity information, generates an identity confidence score associated with each identity profile.
US09953385B2 System and method for measuring healthcare quality
In a method for measuring healthcare quality, a plurality of computers operating in parallel receive from a patient dataset representative of patients within a healthcare organization, the patient dataset being distributed across the plurality of computer as subsets of patient datasets. The plurality of computers receive at least one healthcare quality measure definition comprising a numerator and a denominator. The plurality of computers identify, in the subsets of patient datasets, patient data that corresponds to the measure definition. The plurality of computers attribute the identified patient data to at least one provider based on an attribution rule. The plurality of computers calculate at least one healthcare quality measure for the at least one provider, according to the healthcare quality measure definition, based on the attributed patient encounters. The plurality of computers store the at least one calculated healthcare quality measure in a measure dataset.
US09953381B1 System and method for sharing investment information via a social network
A system and method allows users to share watchlists with other users of a group such as that established on a social network server, and receives and displays other related information.
US09953379B2 Annotation-based voting for E-readers and social networking enabled browsers
Techniques for annotation-based voting for online content are provided. In one aspect, a method for voting for online content is provided which includes associating content selected by a voter from a first content set with a user profile of the voter; identifying the selected content in a second content set upon the second content set being accessed by one or more users socially connected to the voter; and visually accenting the selected content in the second content set. The method may include retrieving profile information for the voter; and associating the profile information for the voter with the selected content in the second content set. The method may further include displaying the profile information for the voter along with the selected content in the second content set.
US09953371B2 System and method for providing and activating commoditized insurance
A system and method for providing commoditized insurance products to at least one consumer is disclosed. The system includes a commoditized insurance product including an activation code and an insurance company that underwrites the commoditized insurance product and provides the commoditized insurance product to a retail outlet. Based on consumer purchase of the commoditized product at the retail outlet and initiation of an activation process, the insurance company receives an activation code associated with the commoditized insurance product and provides verification queries to the consumer, and based on positive responses to the queries activates the policy providing the selected insurance coverage for the consumer.
US09953367B2 Systems and methods for providing balance and event notifications
The disclosed embodiments include methods and systems for providing account and event status notifications. The disclosed embodiments include, for example, a device including a memory storing software instructions and one or more processors configured to execute the software instructions to perform operations. In one aspect, the operations may include obtaining information identifying an event and a deadline specified by a user. The obtained information may link the event and deadline to corresponding user-specified temporal intervals. The operations may also include determining whether a current date falls within a time period prior to the deadline, the time period being established by the first temporal interval. When the current date falls within the time period, the operations may generate first notification information that, when presented via a client device in accordance with a user-specified indicator type, notified the user that the current sate falls within the first time period.
US09953366B1 Auto-categorized mileage tracking
A method, system, and computer readable medium for tracking mileage. The method includes obtaining global positions of a mobile device and timestamps corresponding to the global positions, and detecting, based on the global positions and the timestamps, a completed trip having global positions and timestamps. The global positions include an origin and a destination. The method further includes categorizing, from location categories, the origin into an origin location category, categorizing, from location categories, the destination into a destination location category, and categorizing, based on the origin location category and the destination location category, the completed trip into a completed trip category from trip categories. The method further includes calculating mileage based on the global positions of the completed trip, and storing, for the completed trip, the mileage and the completed trip category.
US09953364B2 Information processing system, information processing system control method, information processing device, information processing device control method, program, and information storage medium
A first display control unit displays, on a display unit, a first screen relating to a list of selection candidates serving as candidates to be selected by a user. The first display control unit displays the first screen on which a plurality of the same or similar selection candidates are aggregated into one representative selection candidate. A display object setting unit sets, as a display object to be displayed on a second screen that is displayed when the user selects the representative selection candidate, any one of the plurality of selection candidates that are aggregated into the representative selection candidate based on information on at least two selection candidates among the plurality of selection candidates. A second display control unit displays, on the display unit, when the user selects the representative selection candidate, the second screen relating to the selection candidate set as the display object.
US09953363B2 Multi-user food and drink ordering system
An interactive food and/or drink ordering system is provided comprising a computer controlled projector apparatus and a horizontal surface, wherein images from the computer controlled projector apparatus are projected onto some or all of the surface, the images including a menu of food and/or drink selection options, the selection options being selectable by a first user operating an interface device operable to provide input to the computer and also by a second user operating an interface device operable to provide input to the computer, wherein the menu of food and/or drink selection options is projected into a zone on the surface that is shared by the first and second users.
US09953352B2 Third party merchant-funded rewards accrual and redemption network
Systems and methods for administering merchant funded third-party administered rewards programs are provided. The system receives information about a transaction made using a payment device and determines whether the payment device is enrolled in the rewards program. If the payment device is enrolled in the rewards program, the system determines if the transaction qualifies for a reward. If the transaction qualifies for the reward, the system determines a rewards value for the transaction. Thereafter, the system determines a prepaid payment token associated with the payment device and instructs an issuer of the prepaid payment token to load the rewards value onto the prepaid payment token.
US09953351B1 Managing resource requests that exceed reserved resource capacity
A computer system that provides clients access to pooled resources in order to provide computing or data storage services may receive service requests (which explicitly or implicitly include requests for pooled resources), may service at least some of those requests, and may determine pricing for the serviced requests. The pricing for each request may be dependent on whether it was serviced using a portion of a resource pool that was reserved for the use of the client on whose behalf it was received or using burst capacity (e.g., unreserved or otherwise idle capacity within the resource pool). Pricing for the use of reserved capacity may be fixed, regardless of the amount of reserved capacity used. Pricing for burst capacity may depend on actual use, and may be demand-based (e.g., using a spot-market-based dynamic pricing model). Clients with reserved capacity may optionally request access to burst capacity.
US09953348B2 System and method for client-side advertisement retrieval
Techniques are described for retrieving advertisements for insertion into a document. Embodiments receive a document comprising a request to retrieve a plurality of advertisement creatives. In response to transmitting the request specified within the received document to the advertisement management system, a single software object defining all of the plurality of advertisement creatives is received. Embodiments insert each of the plurality of advertisement creatives into the document, prior to rendering the document, and then render the document together with the advertisement creatives.
US09953345B1 Mobile interstitial ads
Systems and methods for pre-loading and displaying intervening content, such as advertisements, on a mobile device during latency periods, such as when an advertiser landing page is requested by that device, are provided herein. Intervening content may be pre-loaded on to the device and associated with one or more particular advertisements such that selecting/interacting with the associated advertisement triggers intervening content display during known or detected periods of latency. In some cases, a latency threshold or thresholds may determine one or more types of content to present, and/or a content presentation sequence.
US09953343B2 Deal-surfacing button
Auto-detecting an action on a merchant service and rendering an offer button to display an offer redeemable based on the action. A user accesses a merchant service and an indication of the action is communicated to an offer system that maintains an account for the user. The offer system determines whether the user has an offer applicable to a purchase with the merchant. The user device presents an offer button rendered to indicate that the first offer is available for redemption by the user. The user initiates an action on the merchant service and the user device communicates an indication of the action to the offer system. The offer system determines if the user has a second offer applicable to a purchase with the merchant based on the action taken by the user and the offer button is rendered to indicate that the second offer is available for redemption.
US09953342B1 Implicitly associating metadata using user behavior
Social media networking applications, web sites, and services creates implicit relationships between users based on their interest or participation in real-world and optionally virtual or online activities in addition to explicitly defined peer relationships. User profiles, activity entities, and expressions may be associated with metadata to assist in searching and navigation. Metadata is implicitly associated with user profiles, activity entities, expressions, or other data entities based on user behavior using metadata collector. A metadata collector is a poll, survey, list, questionnaire, census, test, game, or other type of presentation adapted to solicit user interaction. A metadata collector is associated with metadata elements. When users interact with a metadata collector, their user profiles and the data entities included in their interactions become associated with the metadata elements of the metadata collector. These metadata element associations may then be used for any purpose.
US09953338B1 Structured content views of web page content
A method is provided. The method includes receiving a request for one or more ads, the request including a first identifier for a first content source, wherein a first set of content is available from the first content source, responsive to the request, determining whether a second set of content is available from a second content source, wherein the second set of content is a structured content version of the first set of content, converting the first identifier for the first content source to a second identifier for the second content source if the second set of content is available from the second content source, receiving the second set of content from the second content source using the second identifier, and selecting the one or more ads using at least some content from the second set of content from the second content source.
US09953331B2 Extensibility for sales predictor (SPE)
Disclosed are methods and systems for implementing extensibility in sales prediction engines. An extensibility framework may be used to modify the metadata schema of the data used by the sales prediction engine to account for extended attributes and entities. The sales prediction engine is also modified to recognize the extended attributes and entities so that a user will be able to create new rules and train new models based on the extended attributes and entities.
US09953327B2 Real time service advertisement for billing and revenue settlement in a federated model
Techniques are described for fulfilling a request for services in a federated peering environment. Embodiments receive an advertisement of offered services from each of a plurality of service providers. Such an advertisement may specify a list of offered services and pricing information for the services. A request for one or more services is received from a client at a first service provider. Embodiments determine a second service provider from the plurality of service providers to peer with to dynamically create a federation of peers for fulfilling the service request, based on the received advertisements of offered services and the requested services. Embodiments then peer with at least the determined second service provider to dynamically create a peered federation and fulfill the service request through the created federation of peers.
US09953325B2 Method, system and device for E-commerce payment intelligent access control
A method, system and device for authenticating a user of a smartcard in an authentication process providing a secure environment including a smartcard and the device connected to a host computer for user identification.
US09953324B2 Multi-point authentication for payment transactions
Authentication includes determining that a cardholder payment account is associated with a mobile device. Authentication includes receiving an indication of physical possession of a payment card. Authentication includes receiving a purchase request for an authorization of an exchange of funds from the cardholder account to the merchant. Authentication includes receiving a randomized transaction identifier to the request for the authorization of the exchange. Authentication includes transmitting to the mobile device, information associated with the request. Authentication includes transmitting to the mobile device, a request for confirmation of the authorization from the cardholder from the account of the cardholder to the merchant. Authentication includes receiving an indication, facilitated by the cardholder, that the exchange is authorized. Authentication includes authorizing the exchange of from the payment account of the cardholder to the merchant.
US09953322B2 Mobile payment method, system and device using home shopping
The present embodiment relates to a mobile payment method, system and device using home shopping, wherein OTP (One Time Password) information is verified through a telephone conversation with an agent, ARS or a webpage, depending on the method for purchasing the specific merchandise chosen by the user in the process of executing a mobile payment using home shopping, and electronic payment is executed more rapidly and securely thereby. The present embodiment also relates to a mobile payment method, system and device adapted for transmission using an applicable payment device, without need for direct user input of OTP (One Time Password) information based on payment-means information chosen by the user in the process of executing a mobile payment using a terminal, and adapted to allow the execution of more secure payments through verification in accordance with the selected payment means.
US09953321B2 Card fraud detection utilizing real-time identification of merchant test sites
A system and method for detecting a test event involving a financial transaction device at a merchant having a merchant profile is disclosed. The method includes receiving data associated with a transaction involving a financial transaction device; calculating a score using at least the transaction data; comparing the score to a threshold value; and attaching a merchant probe flag to the merchant profile if the score exceeds the threshold value. The merchant probe flag indicates a likelihood that a test event has occurred at the merchant based on the score. If a test event has occurred, then financial transaction devices involved in the test event can have their profiles updated to reflect that they have been probed. If a financial transaction device that has been probed is used in a subsequent transaction, then a specialized fraud scoring model can be used to provide an improved fraud risk score.
US09953318B1 Automatic transaction-based verification of account ownership
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that verifies user access to financial accounts. During operation, the system obtains a first set of financial data representing one or more financial transactions of a first financial account. Next, the system matches the one or more financial transactions to a second set of financial data representing issuance of the one or more financial transactions from a second financial account. The system then uses the matched financial transactions to automatically generate a first verification of ownership of the first financial account by a user without requiring input associated with the one or more financial transactions from the user.
US09953317B2 Method and system for secure key rotation
This invention discloses a novel system for securing and using payment token data in a system for processing electronic payment transactions that does not require down-time for rekeying encryption keys when the keys are rotated.
US09953314B2 System, method, and computer-readable storage medium for payment of online purchases via a portable computing device
A system, method, and computer-readable storage medium for enabling an individual to use a purchase-proxy mechanism to conduct a financial transaction from a computing device with an online merchant, whereby the individual is enabled to use stored personal data, such as financial account information and fulfillment information, without having to store the personal data with the online merchant. The system, method, and computer-readable storage medium furthermore enable an individual to change a payment and/or fulfillment option at the time of purchase with minimal inconvenience.
US09953311B2 Systems and methods for incorporating QR codes
Systems and methods for facilitating payment transactions using quick-response (QR) codes are provided. A first machine readable code encoding first data generated by an access device is scanned by a communication device. The communication device generates a cryptogram based on the first data encoded within the first machine readable code. The communication device then obtains financial credentials data from a payment application being executed on the communication device. A second machine readable code encoding second data comprising the financial credentials data and the cryptogram is then generated. The second machine readable code is displayed on a display of the communication device, wherein the second machine readable code is scanned by the access device.
US09953310B2 Systems and method for providing multiple virtual secure elements in a single physical secure element of a mobile device
Methods and systems are disclosed for providing a plurality of virtual secure elements (virtual SEs) to mobile devices with secure elements (SEs). A method generates and forwards a certificate authority security domain (CASD) key for a plurality of virtual SEs to an SE supplier that created the CASD. The method receives a card serial number (CSN) and a card production life cycle (CPLC) key from the SE supplier and forwards these to a mobile device maker. An updated CSN and CPLC data is received from the device maker with an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) and an issuer security domain key (ISD key) is added to the CSN and CPLC data by a master secure element issuer trusted service manager (master SEI TSM). An application is provisioned to the device that retrieves the CSN, CPLC data, and the IMEI, which are used for to verify and activate the virtual SE.
US09953307B2 Method of payment assessment to clinical study volunteers
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with generating payments to volunteers in clinical trials are described. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving volunteer data that specifies a clinical event that has been completed by a given volunteer. The example method also includes determining a payment associated with the clinical event. A financial record is generated that records the determined payment. The financial record is transmitted using a web based browser to a financial system to populate at least one field in a financial database table that is used to generate payments to the volunteer.
US09953304B2 Situational and global context aware calendar, communications, and relationship management
A situational and global context aware calendar, communications, and/or relationship management method and system is disclosed. The system is configured to receive from at least one environmental data gathering device, data about at least one target participant at a gathering of a plurality of participants, analyze such data to determine at least one observed behavior of said target participant, compare said at least one observed behavior against a dataset of at least one behavior; determine when said at least one behavior exceeds a threshold similarity to at least behavior in said dataset; and communicate, to at least one notification device, said at least one observed behavior.
US09953303B2 Time tracking device and method
A system and method to manage employee time at a set of job sites. A time management system comprises a server in communications with a database in which a set of job site data is stored. An employee device application is installed on a set of employee devices. The set of employee devices are in communication with the server through the employee device application. The set of employee devices collect a set of time punch data and a set of photos from the set of employees at check-in events and check-out events. The set of time punch data and the set of photos are sent to the server and stored in the database with the set of job site data. A supervisor management application is installed on a set of supervisor devices to monitor the set of job site data, validate photos and activate employee devices.
US09953280B2 Industry-specific workflows in a manufacturing execution system with premier integration
A Manufacturing Execution System (MES) is provided that leverages industry-specific workflows to process business requests. The MES system can maintain 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. Some features of the MES system are enabled or disabled based on data type compatibility with devices in communication with the MES system.
US09953276B2 Method and system that measures and reports computational-resource usage in a data center
The present disclosure describes methods and systems that monitor the utilization of computational resources. In one implementation, a system periodically measures the utilization of computational resources, determines an amount of computational-resource wastage, identifies the source of the wastage, and generates recommendations that reduce or eliminate the wastage. In some implementations, recommendations are generated based on a cost of the computational-resource wastage. The cost of computational-resource wastage can be determined from factors that include the cost of providing a computational resource, an amount of available computational resources, and the amount of actual computational-resource usage. Methods of presenting and modeling computational-resource usage and methods that associate an economic cost with resource wastage are presented.
US09953272B2 Machine learning system for assessing heart valves and surrounding cardiovascular tracts
A machine learning system for evaluating at least one characteristic of a heart valve, an inflow tract, an outflow tract or a combination thereof may include a training mode and a production mode. The training mode may be configured to train a computer and construct a transformation function to predict an unknown anatomical characteristic and/or an unknown physiological characteristic of a heart valve, inflow tract and/or outflow tract, using a known anatomical characteristic and/or a known physiological characteristic the heart valve, inflow tract and/or outflow tract. The production mode may be configured to use the transformation function to predict the unknown anatomical characteristic and/or the unknown physiological characteristic of the heart valve, inflow tract and/or outflow tract, based on the known anatomical characteristic and/or the known physiological characteristic of the heart valve, inflow tract and/or outflow tract.
US09953271B2 Generation of weights in machine learning
Technologies are generally described for systems, devices and methods relating to determining weights in a machine learning environment. In some examples, a training distribution of training data may be identified, information about a test distribution of test data, and a coordinate of the training data and the test data may be identified. Differences between the test distribution and the training distribution may be determined, for the coordinate. A weight importance parameter may be identified, for the coordinate. A processor may calculate weights based on the differences, and based on the weight importance parameter. The weights may be adapted to cause the training distribution to conform to the test distribution at a degree of conformance. The degree of conformance may be based on the weight importance parameter.
US09953267B2 Control method and non-transitory computer readable recording medium
A control method of the present disclosure is a control method of an information processing apparatus which includes a storage unit that stores predetermined resource information related to a resource required for a living activity of a user, the method including: an acquiring step of acquiring device information; an estimating step of estimating a living activity of the user; a competition extracting step of extracting a living activity group including living activities for which the resources are likely to compete among the living activities, based on the resource information; a resource judging step of judging whether a required resource has been secured for each of the living activities, based on the device information and the resource information; and an inhibition extracting step of extracting, as an inhibited living activity, a living activity for which it has been judged that the required resource has not been secured.
US09953266B2 Management of building energy systems through quantification of reliability
Energy usage can be monitored within at least one building having a plurality of energy consuming components. A database can be generated that contains values for a set of data points corresponding to data received from the plurality of energy consuming components. A change in a configuration can be detected for the plurality of energy consuming components based upon a change in values received from plurality of energy consuming components relative to the database. Based upon the change, an additional data point can be added to the set of data points in the database. Based upon the values for the set of data points, a probability can be determined that a rule for the additional data point is valid. A message can then be generated that includes the determined probability.
US09953262B2 Application recommending method and apparatus
An application recommending method includes acquiring a first behavior eigenvalue according to behavior data of a first user. It is determined that at least one second user from a user relationship chain of the first user according to the first behavior eigenvalue. The second user is on the user relationship chain of the first user. A degree of similarity between a second behavior eigenvalue and the first behavior eigenvalue is greater than a preset threshold, and the second behavior eigenvalue is a behavior eigenvalue of the second user. A to-be-recommended application for the first user on the basis of behavior data of the at least one second user is determined.
US09953248B2 Method and apparatus for image analysis
An electronic device comprising: a memory; a communication circuit; and at least one processor operatively coupled to the memory and the communication circuit, configured to: obtain a first image; extract a feature associated with an object depicted in the first image; and control the communication circuit to transmit an indication of the feature to a server; and receive analysis information associated with the object from the server through the communication circuit.
US09953237B2 Gloss determination device and gloss determination method
A gloss determination device includes: an image acquiring unit that acquires a parallelly polarized image obtained by photographing an object illuminated by first polarized light through a polarizing filter which passes a polarized component polarized in a same direction as a polarization direction of the first polarized light, and a perpendicularly polarized image obtained by photographing the object illuminated by second polarized light through a polarizing filter which passes a polarized component polarized in a perpendicular direction to the polarization direction of the second polarized light; a differential image producing unit that produces a differential image indicating differences in brightness between the parallelly polarized image and the perpendicularly polarized image; and a gloss determining unit that determines a gloss condition of the object based on the differential image.
US09953234B2 Compressor conduit layout system
A compressor conduit layout system is disclosed which includes a handheld device operating in conjunction with a computer based application to obtain data of a conduit system and display a model of the system. The handheld device can include a range finder, a designator used to designate a point of interest so that the range finder can determine a distance between the point of interest and the handheld device, as well as a sensor(s) useful to determine an orientation of the handheld device. The computer based application can include a pallet-and-canvas type application which displays a computer model of the conduit system. The compressor conduit layout system can use or can alternatively include an indoor positioning system useful to determine the position of the handheld device.
US09953233B2 Multi-stage liveness determination
A method of determining whether a biometric object is part of a live individual is described. In one such method, image information is acquired from the biometric object by using a sensor, such as an ultrasonic sensor. The image information may be analyzed in at least two analysis stages. One of the analysis stages may be a temporal analysis stage that analyzes changes in the image information obtained during a time period throughout which the biometric object was continuously available to the sensor. For example, a dead/alive stage may analyze differences between image information taken at two different times in order to identify changes from one time to the next. Other stages may focus on aspects of a particular image information set, rather than seeking to assess changes over time. These other stages seek to determine whether an image information set exhibits characteristics similar to those of a live biometric object.
US09953228B2 Information presenting apparatus, information presenting method, and computer program product
According to an embodiment, an information presenting apparatus to be mounted in a vehicle includes hardware circuitry. The hardware circuitry is configured to acquire driving information including a speed and a steering angle of the vehicle. The hardware circuitry is configured to calculate, based on the driving information, an own vehicle region indicating a region in which the vehicle moves. The hardware circuitry is configured to acquire target object position information indicating a position of a target object present in surroundings of the vehicle. The hardware circuitry is configured to generate a pair of target object information and presentation information when the position of the target object is included in the own vehicle region. The target object information identifies the target object present at the position of the target object. The presentation information indicates information that encourages the target object to perform a certain action.
US09953225B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus includes an object detection unit configured to detect an object from an image, a tracking unit configured to track the detected object, a trajectory management unit configured to manage a trajectory of the object being tracked, and a specific object detection unit configured to detect a specific object from the image. In a case where the specific object determination unit detects the object being tracked by the object tracking unit to be the specific object, the trajectory management unit manages a trajectory of the object being tracked at a time point before the time point the object being tracked is detected to be the specific object as the trajectory of the specific object.
US09953221B2 Multimedia presentation method and apparatus
The present disclosure is related to a photo album based music selection method, apparatus and device, and a storage medium. When a certain photo album is viewed on a device, the corresponding music can be automatically selected and played based on a character relationship determined according to the method between the viewer and a person being viewed in a picture of the photo album, which decreases the complexity of operations of the user, and thereby improves the user experience.
US09953218B2 Automatic camera adjustment for text documents
For automatically adjusting camera settings responsive to photographic subject matter, an apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes an image sensor, a processor, an image module that receives sensor input of photographic subject matter, a subject matter module that identifies a nature of the photographic subject matter, and a configuration module that alters a camera setting, in response to determining the nature of the photographic subject matter. In some embodiments, the apparatus also includes an image center module that identifies a central region of the sensor input, wherein the subject matter module performs, on the central region of the sensor input, one or more analyzes selected from the group consisting of: optical character recognition, facial recognition, color distribution analysis, and light level analysis.
US09953210B1 Apparatus, systems and methods for improved facial detection and recognition in vehicle inspection security systems
Devices, systems, and methods provide for improved facial detection and facial recognition in vehicle interior inspections. In various embodiments, one or more high-resolution cameras having one or more lens and filter attachments operate in conjunction with one or more auxiliary illumination devices and a related computer system. According to various embodiments, an auxiliary illumination device can be synchronized to one or more cameras, and configured to supply auxiliary illumination to facilitate capture of accurate and usable images. The filter(s) and advanced image processing solutions assist with facial detection and identifying individuals inside a vehicle, removing light glare and undesired reflections from a window surface, and capturing an image through a tinted window, among other things. Further, embodiments can compare a captured image to an authenticated image from a database, in order to confirm the identity of a vehicle occupant.
US09953203B2 Slope wave generation circuit and digital-to-analog conversion circuit thereof, fingerprint identification system
The present disclosure, related to the technical field of fingerprint identification, discloses a ramp wave generation circuit, a digital-to-analog conversion circuit, and a fingerprint identification system. The ramp wave generation circuit comprises: an integrating circuit, configured to output a ramp wave signal; a signal regulation circuit, comprising a feedback control loop and a transconductance amplifier connected in series, wherein the feedback control loop monitors the ramp wave signal output by the integrating circuit, and outputs a regulation control signal to the transconductance amplifier, the transconductance amplifier corrects, according to the regulation control signal, a ramp wave signal output by the integrating circuit within a next period; and a voltage generation circuit, configured to respectively output a reference voltage signal to the integrating circuit and the signal regulation circuit.
US09953201B2 Biometric recognition apparatus with deflection electrode
A biometric recognition apparatus with deflection electrode includes a substrate, a multi-function electrode layer including a plurality of sensing electrodes, a plurality of deflection electrodes and at least one suppressing electrode. Each of the sensing electrodes is at least partially surrounded by a corresponding deflection electrode and each of the deflection electrodes is at least partially surrounded by the suppressing electrode. The biometric recognition apparatus further includes a switching circuit layer having a plurality of selection switches and conductive wires, at least a part of the selection switches and the conductive wires are electrically connected to the sensing electrodes. By above arrangement of the sensing electrodes, the deflection electrodes and the suppressing electrode, the sensing sensibility and signal to noise ratio can be enhanced, thus increasing the sensing distance between sensing electrode and user finger.
US09953199B2 Decoding a main image using an auxiliary image
Example implementations relate to using an auxiliary image to identify an image analysis mechanism associated with a main image. For example, a computing device may include a processor and an image capture device. The processor may capture with the image capture device a representation of a combined image. The combined image may include a main image and an auxiliary image. The processor may also identify the auxiliary image in the representation of the combined image and decode the identified auxiliary image via an auxiliary image decoding mechanism to determine image analysis mechanism identification information associated with the main image. The processor may further determine, based on the image analysis mechanism identification information, a main image analysis mechanism useable to determine an identifier associated with the main image. The auxiliary image decoding mechanism is different than the main image analysis mechanism.
US09953193B2 Operating systems for an RFID tag
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a wireless computing device, comprising an antenna; an analog block for receiving and transmitting an RF signal through the antenna, wherein the energy from the received RF signal provides power to the wireless computing device; and a data processing and controller block for data management, wherein the data processing and controller block comprises: (i) a first program memory adapted to store a first set of instructions comprising a system call adapted to perform at least one function, and (ii) a second program memory adapted to store a second set of instructions comprising an instruction to call the system call, wherein the data processing and controller block is adapted to execute the first set of instructions and the second set of instructions,wherein the antenna, analog block, and data processing and controller block are mounted on a single substrate.
US09953190B2 System including a portable storage device equipped with a user proximity detector and method of preventing the loss thereof
A portable storage system. The portable storage system comprises a portable storage device having a flash memory element and a loss-prevention unit. The portable storage system further comprises Master and Slave proximity elements. One of the proximity elements is physically connected with the portable storage device, while the other is physically connected with the loss-prevention unit. The Master proximity element is configured to wirelessly determine the presence of the Slave proximity element within a predefined range.
US09953187B2 System and method of contextual adjustment of video fidelity to protect privacy
A method and apparatus are provided that include a security camera of a security system within a residence capturing a sequence of images of a secured area of the residence, a programmed processor of the security system determining that an authorized person is present within the residence, a programmed processor detecting a detected person within the sequence of images, and a programmed processor blurring or reducing a picture quality of an area immediately around the detected person based upon a presence of the authorized person.
US09953186B2 Prefix search in encrypted text
A method enables prefix search of cloud stored encrypted files that are encrypted using an order preserving encryption (OPE) algorithm. The encrypted text prefix search method generates a minimum possible plaintext string and a maximum possible plaintext string of the same character length including the search term as the prefix. The minimum and maximum possible plaintext strings are encrypted using the same order preserving encryption algorithm for the encrypted text. The method determines from the minimum ciphertext and the maximum ciphertext a set of common leading digits. The set of common leading digits is used as an OPE encrypted prefix search term and provided to a cloud storage service to search in the cloud stored encrypted files for encrypted text matching the OPE encrypted prefix search term.
US09953181B2 Secure access to healthcare information
A system and method for providing or exchanging healthcare information (e.g., medical information) to authorized users in a secure manner. The method is implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable storage medium having programming instructions operable to: assign identification information to a plurality of users and a plurality of items; associate the identification information of a user of the plurality of users with one or more items of the plurality of items; set-up security policies including predetermined locations, within predetermined stages within a sequence and during predetermined times; and provide the user access to the one or more items when there is a matching between the identification information of the user and the one or more items, and all of the security policies associated with the user and the one or more of the plurality of items are met.
US09953177B2 Monitoring digital images
Digital images are monitored by enabling access to a digital image, receiving a notification associated with the digital image from a first user, and regulating access of the first user to the digital image based on the notification received from the first user.
US09953172B2 Secure database backup and recovery
As disclosed herein a computer system for secure database backup and recovery in a secure database network has N distributed data nodes. The computer system includes program instructions that include instructions to receive a database backup file, fragment the file using a fragment engine, and associate each fragment with one node, where the fragment is not stored on the associated node. The program instructions further include instructions to encrypt each fragment using a first encryption key, and store, randomly, encrypted fragments on the distributed data nodes. The program instructions further include instructions to retrieve the encrypted fragments, decrypt the encrypted fragments using the first encryption key, re-encrypt the decrypted fragments using a different encryption key, and store, randomly, the re-encrypted fragments on the distributed data nodes. A computer program product and method corresponding to the above computer system are also disclosed herein.
US09953171B2 System and method for tokenization of data for privacy
The present invention describes a system and method for tokenization of data. The system includes a receiver configured to receive a request for tokenization. The request for tokenization comprises an input data to be tokenized. The system also includes a parser configured to determine one or more datatype from the input data. The system further includes a trained artificial neural network to generate a token for the input data based on a tokenization technique corresponding to the datatype of the input data.
US09953169B2 Modify execution of application under test so user is power user
Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to modifying execution of an application under test to act as if a user is a power user. The application under test is hosted in a real-time modifier. A security crawl is performed on the application under test logged in as the user. The user is treated as a power user.
US09953168B1 Secure boot of virtualized computing instances
In an approach, a secure boot process includes two phases. In the first phase an on premises device generates a data encryption key (DEK) with which to encrypt an operating system image and a key encryption key (KEK) with which to wrap the DEK. The on-premises device then utilizes a key management service to wrap the KEK with an account root key and writes the wrapped DEK and wrapped KEK onto a label of the encrypted operating system image. The encrypted operating system image is then uploaded to a virtual data center and merged with an intermediary guest manager image. When the encrypted machine image is used to generate a virtual machine instance, the intermediary guest manager utilizes the key management service to unwrap the KEK. The unwrapped KEK is then used to unwrap the wrapped DEK which is then used to launch the encrypted guest operating system.
US09953167B2 Trusted platforms using minimal hardware resources
Systems and methods facilitating a framework that provides a core trusted computing base (TCB) of an electronic device with various security capabilities. The framework can include a low-resource device and at least one distributed resource. The low-resource device can be configured to generate sealing keys, migration keys, and attestation keys that are based on a device secret associated with the low-resource device and one or more software modules. The low-resource device can further be configured to use the migration keys and the sealing keys to both verify a software update and migrate secrets from a previous version of the software to a newer version of the software. Additionally, the low-resource device can be configured to generate an attestation statement using the attestation keys and perform attestation using the attestation statement and the at least one distributed resource.
US09953166B2 Method for securely booting target processor in target system using a secure root of trust to verify a returned message authentication code recreated by the target processor
A method for securely booting a target processor in a target system from a secure root of trust includes computing a message authentication code from boot code to be provided to the target processor, including an obfuscated algorithm for recreating the message authentication code in the target processor, serving the boot code to the target processor, executing the boot code to recreate the message authentication code in the target processor, serving the message authentication code back to the root of trust, comparing the returned message authentication code with the message authentication code generated in the root of trust, continuing execution of the boot code data if the returned message authentication code matches the message authentication code, and applying at least one penalty to the target system if the returned message authentication code does not match the message authentication code generated in the root of trust.
US09953162B2 Rapid malware inspection of mobile applications
Disclosed are various embodiments for inspecting malware with little or no user interruption. A first computing device may compare a source code of an application to a fingerprint stored locally on the first computing device. The first computing device may transmit the source code to a second computing device to determine whether the source code resides in a database comprising approved applications. If the source code does not reside in the database, a thorough scan of the source code may be conducted.
US09953159B2 Software self-checking systems and methods
Software self-checking mechanisms are described for improving software tamper resistance and/or reliability. Redundant tests are performed to detect modifications to a program while it is running. Modifications are recorded or reported. Embodiments of the software self-checking mechanisms can be implemented such that they are relatively stealthy and robust, and so that it they are compatible with copy-specific static watermarking and other tamper-resistance techniques.
US09953156B2 In-band peripheral authentication
This document describes techniques (300, 400) and apparatuses (100, 500, 600, 700) for in-band peripheral authentication. These techniques (300, 400) and apparatuses (100, 500, 600, 700) may communicate via a non-media channel allowing host device (102) to authenticate peripheral (106), enable an enhanced operational mode of the host device (102), and/or provide content configured for the peripheral (106) without the use of out-of-band signaling.
US09953155B2 System and method for coordinating asset entitlements
There is presented a system and method for coordinating asset entitlements, the system comprising a server including a processor and a memory and accessible by multiple domains over a network, and an asset entitlement database searchable by the server, wherein an entry of the asset entitlement database links a domain transcendent user identification (ID) of a user and at least one asset entitlement acquired by the user from any of the domains. In one embodiment, the server is configured to receive an asset entitlement inquiry from one of the domains, search the asset entitlement database for asset entitlements acquired by the user from any of the domains, generate a search result identifying the asset entitlements acquired by the user from the domains, and send data corresponding to the search result to the domain from which the asset entitlement inquiry was received.
US09953151B2 System and method identifying a user to an associated device
The present system and method enables the automatic detection and identification of authorized users within proximity of a computing apparatus and, after verifying, using biometric detection and analysis, that the user is authorized to access the target, providing the user with such access. The system comprises a computer appliance target requiring authentication of a user in order to access the target, including software stored on and executing from the target, a biometric input device, and a transceiver enabling short-range wireless communication with other wireless capable devices; a database accessible to the target; and a beacon device associated with the user, including at least a transceiver and a locally stored encrypted identity token associating the device with the identity of the user; wherein the transceiver on the target periodically scans for the beacon device within the short-range, and upon detection, establishes communication with the beacon device and requests the identity token, the beacon device receives the request and sends the identity token back to the target which decrypts and validates the token by comparing token data with stored token data in the database and upon successful decryption and validation of the identity token, the software initializes a biometric test input to positively identify the user in possession of the beacon, wherein the software of the target attempts to match the biometric input with second biometric input of the user stored in the database and upon a successful match, unlocks the target and allows the user to operate the target.
US09953149B2 Facial recognition authentication system including path parameters
Systems and methods for enrolling and authenticating a user in an authentication system via a user's camera of camera equipped mobile device include capturing and storing enrollment biometric information from at least one first image of the user taken via the camera of the mobile device, capturing authentication biometric information from at least one second image of the user, capturing, during imaging of the at least one second image, path parameters via at least one movement detecting sensor indicating an authentication movement of the mobile device, comparing the authentication biometric information to the stored enrollment biometric information, and comparing the authentication movement of the mobile device to an expected movement of the mobile device to determine whether the authentication movement sufficiently corresponds to the expected movement.
US09953142B2 Digital rights management and behavioral traits
Digital rights management and behavioral trait techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a method is described of specifying and controlling access to content to be created. Data is received, by one or more computing devices. The data describes characteristics of the content to be created along with a digital rights management policy specifying traits of a behavior to be met by a user in order to access one or more portions of the content. The content is created, based at least in part on the received characteristics, as specified by a user interacting with the one or more computing devices. The digital rights management policy is embedded as part of the created content by the one or more computing devices as a digital rights management module to control access to the one or more portions of the content based on whether the traits are met by a user that requests the access.
US09953140B2 Systems, methods, and apparatuses for securely dispensing one or more prescribed substances to a securely identified intended user
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for securely dispensing one or more prescribed substances at a given time and/or date are disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, a pill dispensing device may include a generally tamper-proof portable housing. A replaceable cartridge may be configured to be removably disposed within the portable housing. The replaceable cartridge also may be generally tamper-proof. The portable housing and/or the replaceable cartridge may be operable to dispense a predefined amount of a prescribed substance at a given time and/or date.
US09953135B2 Bioinformatics systems, apparatuses, and methods executed on an integrated circuit processing platform
A system, method and apparatus for executing a sequence analysis pipeline on genetic sequence data includes a structured ASIC formed of a set of hardwired digital logic circuits that are interconnected by physical electrical interconnects. One of the physical electrical interconnects forms an input to the structured ASIC connected with an electronic data source for receiving reads of genomic data. The hardwired digital logic circuits are arranged as a set of processing engines, each processing engine being formed of a subset of the hardwired digital logic circuits to perform one or more steps in the sequence analysis pipeline on the reads of genomic data. Each subset of the hardwired digital logic circuits is formed in a wired configuration to perform the one or more steps in the sequence analysis pipeline.
US09953128B2 Identification apparatus, control apparatus, identification method, program, and identification system
Disclosed is an identification apparatus including an acquisition unit configured to acquire power generation information from a power generation unit; and an identification unit configured to identify a behavior characteristic in accordance with the power generation information.
US09953125B2 Design/technology co-optimization platform for high-mobility channels CMOS technology
Embodiments of the present invention may provide the capability to design SRAM cells may be designed that is compatible with the requirements of InGaAs integration by selective epitaxy in SiO2 cavities without sacrificing density and area scaling. In an embodiment of the present invention, a computer-implemented method for designing a hybrid integrated circuit may comprise receiving data representing a layout of a static random-access memory cell array, identifying areas between active channel regions that do not overlap with transistor gates of static random-access memory cells of the static random-access memory cell array, selecting from among the identified areas at least one area, expanding the selected areas to determine whether the expanded area intersects with a p-doped active Si semiconductor or p-channel semiconductor area, and marking as Si seed locations the identified expanded areas that do not intersect on both sides with a channel active transistor region.
US09953124B2 Generating a layout for an integrated circuit
In an approach for generating a file, a computer generates a modified layout for an integrated circuit. The computer receives a draft layout for an integrated circuit. The computer identifies a resonator, wherein the resonator comprises a capacitor connected to ground and an inductor connected to a clock grid. The computer creates alternative resonator wiring of the received draft layout associated with the identified resonator. The computer generates a modified draft layout based on the created alternative resonator wiring for the integrated circuit.
US09953120B2 Relative timing characterization
Technology for relative timing characterization enabling use of clocked electronic design automation (EDA) tool flows is disclosed. In an example, a method can include a EDA tool identifying a relative timing constraint (RTC) of a cell in a circuit model between a point of divergence (pod) event and two point of convergence (poc) events, wherein the two poc events include a first poc event (poc0) and a second poc event (poc1). The EDA tool can generate a maximum target delay for a first poc event path between the pod event and the first poc event. The EDA tool can generate a minimum target delay for a second poc event path between the pod event and the second poc event. The EDA tool can then optimize the circuit model using the maximum target delay and the minimum target delay.
US09953117B2 Planning economic energy dispatch in electrical grid under uncertainty
A method for solving a two-stage non-linear stochastic formulation for the economic dispatch problem under renewable-generation uncertainty. Certain generation decisions are made only in the first stage and fixed for the subsequent (second) stage, where the actual renewable generation is realized. The uncertainty in renewable output is captured by a finite number of scenarios. Any resulting supply-demand mis-match must then be alleviated using high marginal-cost power sources that can be tapped in short time frames. The solution implements two outer approximation algorithms to solve this nonconvex optimization problem to optimality including the application of a decomposition approach derived from the Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers (ADMM) algorithm.
US09953114B2 Designing a drillstring
Designing a drillstring in for use in a wellbore, such as a deviated or horizontal wellbore, particularly with application to extended reach wellbores. Method comprises determining the downhole weight-on-bit transmitted by a drillstring by determining a baseline tension profile and baseline torque profile in a drill string rotating off-bottom, and then using such profiles in conjunction with a selected surface weight-on-bit slack-off value to calculate a drillstring tension profile and rotating torque profile with the bit on bottom and having weight applied thereto. The method includes buckling limit checks and rig operational limit checks to determine if sufficient torque and DWOB can be transmitted through the drillstring, and to determine whether the drill string remains operable even though portions thereof may be in a buckled condition.
US09953111B2 Semantic understanding of 3D data
Systems and techniques for processing three-dimensional (3D) data are presented. Captured three-dimensional (3D) data associated with a 3D model of an architectural environment is received and at least a portion of the captured 3D data associated with a flat surface is identified. Furthermore, missing data associated with the portion of the captured 3D data is identified and additional 3D data for the missing data is generated based on other data associated with the portion of the captured 3D data.
US09953105B1 System and method for creating subdomains or directories for a domain name
Domain name mappings are created using a system and method. A registration of a first domain name by a user associated with a user account is detected and a Domain Name System (DNS) server is accessed to identify a second domain name selected from a plurality of domain names associated with the user account. Without input from the user, a subdomain for the second domain name is created by modifying a DNS record of the second domain name or a directory at the second domain name is created. The subdomain or the directory correspond to a top-level domain (TLD) of the first domain name. A redirect from the subdomain or the directory of the second domain name is created to the first domain name or from the first domain name to the at least one of the subdomain and the directory of the second domain name.
US09953096B2 System to store user selection and provide easy retrieval and traversal
A computer implemented method and system for organizing file location bookmarks of navigations within corresponding applications. A plurality of navigation histories relating to an application are captured, in response to a user navigating a file system using an application and selecting resource locations within corresponding directories of the file system for saving. The selected locations of the navigation history are displayed on a user interface (UI) of the computer. The selected locations of the navigation history are updated and displayed, responsive to the selections of the user.
US09953093B1 Mapping system for a browser history stack and a browser page state
A system and method for mapping changes between a browser history stack and a browser page state using one or more tokens. The system comprises an updater module, a parsing module, a mapping module and an execution module. The updater module receives a navigation request from the user and updates a browser history stack based at least in part on the navigation request The parsing module receives a token associated with an entry at the top of the browser history stack and parsing the token into one or more dynamic segments. The mapping module receives the one or more dynamic segments and generates a map based at least in part on the one or more dynamic segments. The execution module receives the map and executing code based at least in part on the map.
US09953091B1 Method and system for facilitating social networking based on events
Disclosed is a computer implemented method of facilitating social networking. The method may include presenting a plurality of events and dates to a user based on at least one personal characteristic of the user. Further, the method may include receiving, a plurality of date-interest indicators and event-interest indicators representing one of approval, disapproval and possibility. Furthermore, the method may include determining a plurality of compatibility levels between the user and the plurality of dates. Additionally, the method may include generating a prioritized plurality of dates and events based on the plurality of date-interest indicators and event-interest indicators. Further, the method may include receiving, a selection of one or more of an event and a date. Additionally, the method may include presenting one or more of the prioritized plurality of dates and the prioritized plurality of events based on the selection of one or more of the event and the date.
US09953090B2 Flow-directed collaborative communication
Resolving a query received from a first node in a network includes accepting, by a second node in the network, ownership of the query from the first node, receiving, at the second node, an identification of a third node in the network, wherein the identification is received from a user of the second node and the user of the second node believes that a user of the third node has information necessary to resolve at least part of the query, and transferring, by the second node, ownership of the at least part of the query to the third node, wherein the accepting, the receiving, and the transferring dynamically generates a data structure that traces a propagation of the query, and the data structure is accessible to an origin of the query.
US09953089B2 Coefficients attribution for different objects based on natural language processing
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving free-form text from users of an online social network, wherein the free-form text of each input corresponds to an object associated with the online social network; determining a plurality of affinity declarations from the free-form text that are associated with the object; determining, for each affinity declaration, an affinity coefficient between a respective user and the object; and upon determining that the affinity coefficient for a threshold number of users exceeds a threshold value, creating a page associated with the object for display on the online social network.
US09953087B2 Identifying and recommending experts using shared posts and interactions
A topic feed is generated for publication or distribution to a set of followers or recipients who have elected to receive the topic feed from the user or based on the subject matter content of a topic input in the topic feed. The topic feed is distributed and includes the topic input. Experts in subject matter can be identified based on the user's topic input and/or text in the topic feed that the followers interact with.
US09953084B2 Application store tastemaker recommendations
An application store tastemaker recommendation service determines experts within a user's social network(s), receives recommendations from the experts, filters and/or ranks mobile application query results based at least in part on the recommendations. Additionally, the service may further determine the experts based on data compiled about previous actions, reviews, comments, etc., of the experts. Further, the service may provide recommendations to the user to aid in selecting mobile applications for purchase, and may provide an avenue for completing such purchases.
US09953080B1 Social media data mining for early detection of newsworthy civil unrest events
Described is system for early detection of civil unrest events. A set of textual social media data having corresponding user identifications is received as input. The textual social media data is filtered with a keyword filter, resulting in a first set of data comprising keywords of interest. The first set of data is then filtered with a future date filter, resulting in a second set of data comprising future dates. The second set of data is filtered based on relevance to a civil unrest event with a text classifier module, resulting in a third set of data that is classified based on relevance to the civil unrest event. The third set of data is then filtered based on a location of interest, resulting in a fourth set of data having user identifications in the location of interest. A location is assigned to the civil unrest event, and a forecast of the civil unrest event is output.
US09953078B2 Dialogue control device, dialogue control method and non-transitory computer-readable information recording medium
An emotion estimator of a dialogue control device estimates a dialogue partner's emotion based on the dialogue partner's facial expression or voice prosody. A dialogue controller controls the dialogue with the dialogue partner using a topic selected based on whether the emotion estimated by the emotion estimator is good or bad. Specifically, the dialogue controller controls the dialogue with the dialogue partner based on a topic map created by a topic mapper and including a topic that the dialogue partner likes.
US09953074B2 Safe synchronization of parallel data operator trees
An operator tree is formed for a data processing plan, the operator tree containing a plurality of interconnected nodes and including a grouping of two or more duplicative portions, each of the two or more duplicative portions having identical nodes and structure such that when the operator tree is executed, operators executed in a first duplicative portion using a first thread perform same functions use different data than operators in a second duplicative portion using a second thread. One or more operators in the first portion and one or more operators in the second portion to be synchronized with each other are identified. A synchronization point is created for the identified operators in the first thread and one or more subsequent threads, wherein the synchronization point receives information from each of the identified operators to build an artifact to deliver to one or more operators that depend on the artifact.
US09953073B2 System and method for editing dynamically aggregated data
Disclosed are systems and methods for editing aggregated data based on edit requests that are received. An electronic edit file is automatically updated to include a newly-received edit. The edit file includes anchor points that each point to one of a plurality of aggregate data objects. The anchor points are used to determine one of the objects to which the edit file corresponds. The edit file is then applied to update data in this object including making the new edit.
US09953062B2 Systems and methods for providing for display hierarchical views of content organization nodes associated with captured content and for determining organizational identifiers for captured content
Systems and methods for providing for display hierarchical views of content organization nodes associated with captured content and for determining organizational identifiers for captured content are disclosed. A method includes providing a hierarchical taxonomy including a plurality of nodes. The method further includes receiving a plurality of captured content items. The method further includes associating a plurality of content organization nodes from the plurality of nodes with the plurality of captured content items. Each of the plurality of captured content items is associated with at least one of the plurality of content organization nodes. The method further includes providing for display a hierarchical view including the plurality of content organization nodes. The hierarchical view includes, for each of the plurality of content organization nodes, a graphical representation that the content organization node is associated with at least one of the plurality of captured content items.
US09953060B2 Personalized activity data gathering based on multi-variable user input and multi-dimensional schema
A personalized activity data retrieval system and method provides users a platform to search activity data based on multi-variable user input. The present invention provides a search method where the system searches a database to gather activity information based on user interests and user attributes. A customization of search results are applied multi-dimensionally to customize the search result based on user interest and user attributes. As such, the search results are personalized to meet the user's search objective. Searches conducted with the same topic can be returned with different results for different users having varying attributes. Search results are more progressive such that they are more usable and the granularity of the customization increases.
US09953059B2 Generation of archiver queries for continuous queries over archived relations
A method may include receiving a continuous query identified by an archived relation associated with an application. The method may also include generating a physical query plan. Additionally, the method may include constructing a structured query language (SQL) equivalent expression corresponding to an attribute utilized by the operator and/or constructing an output SQL expression for the identified operator based at least in part on the SQL equivalent expression. Additionally, the method may include constructing the archiver query for the identified operator based at least in part on the output SQL expression. Further, the method may include executing the archiver query to obtain a result set of data records related to the application and/or generating a snapshot output of one or more data values related to the application based at least in part on the result set of data records.
US09953058B1 Systems and methods for searching large data sets
An improved search engine reorganizes an input database containing a set of values into a searchable tree structure having nodes of information with pointers to child nodes. The searchable tee structure is then converted into a searchable array structure that uses mathematical operations to rapidly traverse through elements of the array using mathematical formula to reach different memory locations instead of requiring pointer lookups.
US09953056B2 Multi-query optimizer for complex event processing
Jumbo query plans are generated by applying at least one sharing technique and combining at least two of the pattern queries. Costs of the jumbo query plans may then be estimated and used to search for an optimal query plan. The optimal query plan may then be executed on an input data stream to generate an output data stream.
US09953053B2 Reliability improvement of distributed transaction processing optimizations based on connection status
A method, computer program product, and system for resolving a potential in-doubt condition of a distributed transaction, is provided. A processor receives a request to commit a transaction for a distributed transaction protocol that includes an applied process, the transaction includes a transfer of a commit decision from a coordinating node to a participating node. The processor checks the service status of the connection to the participating node, and finding the service status of the connection out of service or unavailable, the processor instructs the coordinating node to back-out (rollback) the transaction. Additionally, locality meta-data is used as an indication of reliability of the connection to the participating node, and in response to determining the participating node locality to be a remote network connection, the processor instructs the coordinating node to abort the applied process and send a standard distributed transaction protocol message over unreliable connections.
US09953050B2 Garbage collection of versions driving the garbage collection of multi-version concurrency control timestamps
Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for performing garbage collection on a multi-version concurrency control information in the database management system. An embodiment operates by determining, using multi-version concurrency control (MVCC) information, when a row manipulated by a write transaction is visible to a plurality of readers accessing a table that includes the row. The MVCC information for the row includes at least a creation timestamp, a destruction timestamp and a row state. Once the row is visible to the plurality of readers, garbage collecting at least the creation timestamp or the destruction timestamp in the MVCC information. After the creation timestamp or destruction timestamp have been garbage collected, the plurality of readers use the row state to determine accessibility of the row in the table.
US09953049B1 Producing a ranking for pages using distances in a web-link graph
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that produces a ranking for web pages. During operation, the system receives a set of pages to be ranked, wherein the set of pages are interconnected with links. The system also receives a set of seed pages which include outgoing links to the set of pages. The system then assigns lengths to the links based on properties of the links and properties of the pages attached to the links. The system next computes shortest distances from the set of seed pages to each page in the set of pages based on the lengths of the links between the pages. Next, the system determines a ranking score for each page in the set of pages based on the computed shortest distances. The system then produces a ranking for the set of pages based on the ranking scores for the set of pages.
US09953048B2 Determination of prominent phrases in multi-channel interactions by multi-feature evaluations
A method for determining prominent keyphrases in interactions, comprising, receiving keyphrases of numerous interactions received via a plurality of channels that comprise apparatuses for conveying the interactions according to the media thereof, quantitatively evaluating each keyphrase by a plurality of different metrics thereby yielding a corresponding plurality of values, and linearly combining the plurality of the values with a corresponding plurality of coefficients associated with a channel via which an interaction having said keyphrase is received, thereby providing a score of said keyphrase, and based on a condition related to the scores of the keyphrases, selecting at least one keyphrase as an at least one prominent keyphrase, wherein the method is at least partially performed by an at least one computerized apparatus configured for interfacing with the apparatuses of the plurality of the channels.
US09953046B2 Data display device, data display method, and program product
Displaying pieces of data includes displaying a tree structure on a display device, identifying, in response to a first node being selected from among nodes constituting the displayed tree structure, all nodes connected to the first node in a high-order direction and a low-order direction as a first node group, and identifying, in response to a second node being selected, the second node not being included in the first node group, all nodes connected to the second node in the high-order direction and the low-order direction as a second node group. The second node moves toward the first node according to an operation. A node not to be displayed is determined according to a rule and movement of the second node group. A display device is instructed to display the first node group and the second node group close to each other omitting display of the determined node.
US09953044B2 Radix sort acceleration using custom ASIC
An information processing system, computer readable storage medium, and method for accelerated radix sort processing of data elements in an array in memory. The information processing system stores an array of data elements in a buffer memory in an application specific integrated circuit radix sort accelerator. The array has a head end and a tail end. The system radix sort processing, with a head processor, data elements starting at the head end of the array and progressively advancing radix sort processing data elements toward the tail end of the array. The system radix sort processing, with a tail processor, data elements starting at the tail end of the array and progressively advancing radix sort processing data elements toward the head end of the array, the tail processor radix sort processing data elements in the array contemporaneously with the head processor radix sort processing data elements in the array.
US09953039B2 Method and system for providing a compact graphical user interface for flexible filtering of data
There is presented a method and system for providing a compact graphical user interface for flexible filtering of data. The method comprises showing a search interface on a display device for filtering a content set by a plurality of domains, including a first domain, displaying, within the search interface, a first graphical representation of a parameter set of the first domain in response to a selecting of the first domain, receiving a first parameter subset from the first graphical representation, filtering a content set using the first parameter subset to obtain a search result, and displaying the search result on a display device. The search interface includes a temporally visible menu for selecting parameter sets of the domains and a compact single line query box to display graphical representations of parameter sets or to provide a conventional text entry box.
US09953038B2 Cloud-based hierarchical system preservation
The efficient backing up of a hierarchical system in cloud blob storage. The hierarchical structure of the system as it existed at a prior instance in time is reconstructed. A change journal that represents changes in the file system that prior instant in time is then used to formulate an updated file system hierarchy as it exists at a second instant in time. An updated injected representation of the file system, and updated file system reversal information is then formulated and provided to cloud blob storage. The injected representation of the file system is a one-to-one function of the content of the file system, in that the reversal information can be used to recover the content of the file system. Injected representations of various nodes in the system hierarchy may also be remotely stored.
US09953035B1 Systems and methods for efficiently backing up data in thin-provisioned environments
An exemplary method for efficiently backing up data in thin-provisioned environments may include: 1) identifying a volume to be backed up, 2) identifying a thin-provisioned storage system that contains storage space allocated to the volume, 3) obtaining information from the thin-provisioned storage system that identifies portions of the volume for which storage space has been allocated on the thin-provisioned storage system, and then 4) creating a backup of the volume by invoking read operations only for those portions of the volume for which storage space has been allocated on the thin-provisioned storage system. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US09953032B2 System and method for characterization of multimedia content signals using cores of a natural liquid architecture system
A method and system for characterization of multimedia content inputs using cores of a natural liquid architecture are provided. The method comprises receiving at least one multimedia content signal; generating at least a signature respective of the multimedia content signal; matching the generated at least a signature respective of the multimedia content signal to at least a signature from a Signature Database (SDB); identifying a cluster respective of the generated at least a signature; and identifying in a Concept Database (CDB) a concept respective of the cluster.
US09953030B2 Automated translation of screen images for software documentation
An aspect includes receiving a description of a display screen generated by a software program executed in a first mode to interact with a user in first language. The description is in a serialized format that includes screen capture parameters and an offset location in a first dictionary corresponding to a screen element in the display screen. The first dictionary includes screen elements utilized by the software program when executing in the first mode to generate the display screen. A target language is identified, and a second dictionary of screen elements utilized by a deserialization program in the target language is accessed. The screen element is located at the offset location in the second dictionary. The description of the display screen is combined with the second dictionary, and the display screen is recreated in the target language based on the combining.
US09953027B2 System and method for automatic, unsupervised paraphrase generation using a novel framework that learns syntactic construct while retaining semantic meaning
A system includes a question answering system executed by a computer, a processor, and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory is encoded with instructions that when executed cause the processor to provide training for training the question answering system. The training system is configured to receive a plurality of bidirectional disjunctive logical forms which include two directional disjunctions of differences between a first logical form of a first sentence and second logical form of a second sentence, realize the plurality of bidirectional disjunctive logical forms to generate a first plurality of paraphrases of the first and second sentence, score each of the first plurality of paraphrases based on textual similarity between the first plurality of paraphrases and the first and second sentences, and prune the first plurality of paraphrases to generate a second plurality of paraphrases based on the scores of each of the first plurality of paraphrases.
US09953025B2 Query processing using a dimension table implemented as decompression dictionaries
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system may execute database queries and may comprise a computer system including at least one processor. The system may select a column of a first table as a candidate column for creating a dictionary, create tokens for a foreign key in a second table that corresponds to a primary key in the first table, generate the dictionary for the selected column using the created tokens as indexes in the dictionary and modify a query accessing the column of the first table to retrieve column values based on the dictionary. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method and computer program product executing database queries in substantially the same manner described above.
US09953024B2 Method and device for expanding data of bilingual corpus, and storage medium
Disclosed are a method and a device for expanding data of a bilingual corpus. The method for expanding data of a bilingual corpus includes: searching, in a source language-pivot language corpus, for at least one first pivot language phrase semantically matching a first source language phrase; searching, in the source language-pivot language corpus, for at least one second source language phrase semantically matching each of the first pivot language phrases to form a source language phrase set by the second source language phrases; searching, in a pivot language-target language corpus, for at least one first target language phrase semantically matching each of the first pivot language phrases to form a target language phrase set by the first target language phrases; combining the second source language phrases in the source language phrase set with the first target language phrases in the target language phrase set, so as to form at least one phrase pair in which a source language phrase and a target language phrase semantically match; and storing the formed at least one phrase pair in which the source language phrase and the target language phrase semantically match into a source language-target language corpus. Data in a bilingual corpus is expanded, so that the problem of data sparseness in the bilingual corpus is solved.
US09953022B2 Natural language metric condition alerts
Enterprise data sources can be monitored to detect metric conditions via rules, and alerts can be generated. The alerts can be presented as natural language descriptions of metric conditions. From an alert, the reader can navigate to a story page that presents additional detail and allows further navigation within the data. Additional detail presented can include a drill down synopsis, strategies for overcoming a negative condition, links to discussions within the organization about the condition, options for sharing or collaborating about the condition, or the like.
US09953018B2 Transfer of content between documents of different storage types
Transfer of content between documents of different storage types is provided. Different versions of an endpoint (e.g., a productivity application) such as a mobile version and a desktop version, for example, may be enabled to process the same document and synchronize changes to the document content, even though the different versions or endpoints may use distinct formats for the same document.
US09953017B2 Displaying at least one categorized message
Displaying categorized messages includes categorizing at least one message into at least one category among a plurality of categories, displaying a number of messages in a dedicated portion of a display, the number of messages displayed being based on a current size of the dedicated portion of the display, wherein a specific message is selected for display based on a priority measure corresponding to the at least one category into which that specific message is categorized, and in response to a resizing of the dedicated portion of the display, selecting again a new number of messages to display in the dedicated portion based on a new size of the dedicated portion, and displaying the new number of messages, wherein a specific message is selected for display based on a priority measure corresponding to the at least one category into which that specific message is categorized.
US09953016B2 Composition and declaration of sprited images in a web page style sheet
A method, computer program product, and system for composition and declaration of tiled images in a style sheet. Embodiments commence upon identifying a collection of one or more computer-readable instances of individual style sheets, and identifying a corresponding collection of computer-readable objects comprising input images, wherein an individual style sheet includes references to the input images. The collection of one or more computer-readable instances of individual style sheets are used to determine a set of referenced images, which set of images are assembled into a tiled image. References to the images found in the set of images are modified or replaced such that the statements in the style sheets reference the tiled image rather than individual input images. One or more modified style sheets are output to be used in lieu of the unmodified style sheets.
US09953012B2 Method and system for web page markup including notes, sketches, and stamps
A method for marking web content. The method includes rendering first content on a web browser of a client device, and capturing a snapshot of the first content as rendered according to settings of the web browser. The method also includes receiving markup in association with the snapshot, and generating marked up content comprising the snapshot and the markup. The method also includes storing the marked up content for later access.
US09953006B2 Lock-free processing of stateless protocols over RDMA
Methods, systems, and computer storage mediums including a computer program product for managing data in a computing network are provided. One method includes registering a plurality of buffers with a work queue in a server and assigning ownership to each of the plurality of buffers to a different working thread in a plurality of working threads. The method further includes continuously polling, by a polling thread, the work queue to determine when work requests are received by the work queue, upon receipt of each work request, determining which buffer among the plurality of buffers each work request is associated, and performing each work request on each respective associated buffer by a working thread among the plurality of working threads that owns each respective associated buffer. One system includes a processor for performing the above method and one computer storage medium includes computer code for performing the above method.
US09953005B2 Devices with asymmetric SAS generation support
Methods and structure for devices that implement multiple versions of the Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface (SAS) protocol. One exemplary embodiment comprises a SAS device that includes at least one physical link (PHY) that supports a specified generation of SAS protocols, and at least one PHY that supports a different generation of SAS protocols and that does not support the specified generation of SAS protocols. The SAs device also includes an Input/Output (I/O) processor able to select a PHY to service a SAS connection, based on the generation of SAS protocols supported by the PHY.
US09953004B2 Data processing system with main and balcony boards
A data processing system with a main board and balcony boards. The data processing system includes a mainboard, at least one processor module, and at least one memory module. The system has at least one balcony board carrying at least one of the processor modules and at least one of the memory modules. The processor module has a first pin area for connecting to the balcony board and a second pin area for connecting to the mainboard, such that the balcony board is attached to the mainboard in a fixed position. The balcony board has an opening through which the processor module is plugged in a socket attached to the mainboard. The mainboard has an opening through which the processor module is plugged in a socket attached to the balcony board. A mainboard and a balcony board for a data processing system is also provided.
US09953002B2 Apparatus and method for locally optimizing source synchronous data strobes
An apparatus is provided that compensates for misalignment on a synchronous data bus. The apparatus includes a replica radial distribution element, a bit lag control element, and a synchronous lag receiver. The replica radial distribution element is configured to receive a lag pulse signal, and is configured to generate a replicated strobe signal, where the replica radial distribution network comprises replicated propagation path lengths, loads, and buffering of a radial distribution network for a strobe. The bit lag control element is configured to measure the time between assertion of the lag pulse signal and assertion of the replicated strobe signal when an update signal is asserted, and is configured to generate a first value on a lag bus that indicates the time. The bit lag control element has delay lock control that is configured to select one of a plurality of successively delayed versions of the lag pulse signal that coincides with the assertion the replicated strobe signal, and is configured to generate a second value on a lag select bus that indicates the propagation time, where the delay lock control selects the one of a plurality of successively delayed versions of the lag pulse signal by incrementing and decrementing bus states of select inputs on a mux, and where the plurality of successively delayed versions comprises inputs to the mux. The synchronous lag receiver is coupled to the bit lag control element, and is configured to receive a first one of a plurality of radially distributed strobes and a data bit, and is configured to delay registering of the data bit by the time.
US09952998B2 Thunderbolt sharing console and switching method thereof
A Thunderbolt sharing console includes a high speed switch electrically coupled to at least one Thunderbolt host, a MCU coupled to the high speed switch, and a Thunderbolt interface chip coupled to the high speed switch, wherein the MCU can be used to control the high speed switch for determining which one of the at least one Thunderbolt host is coupled to the Thunderbolt interface chip.
US09952995B2 Redundant packet forwarding system
A master device has a slave port and a redundant slave port for communicating with slaves according to a network protocol, e.g. EtherCAT, via data packets including a circulating bit. The slaves are arranged in a sequence starting at the slave port, and are connected via a communication medium. A respective slave in the sequence detects whether the connection to its processing receiver is lost, and, if so, internally transfers any data packets from its forwarding arrangement to its processing arrangement, while setting the circulating bit. The master device has a switcher unit coupled to the redundant slave port and a last slave in the sequence. The switcher unit transfers data packets from the switcher receiver to the switcher transmitter, and detects whether a circulating bit is set. If so, the unit switches off said transferring and switches on a connection between the redundant slave port and the switcher for transferring replicated packets to the sequence. Advantageously, the system enables hot plug-in and also distributed clock synchronization, and reduces the processing requirements of the master device.
US09952994B2 Integrated multimedia terminal system and control method thereof
An integrated multimedia system and a control method are provided, in which, when a USB port is reset during a misrecognition and malfunction of a USB connected to a port of an integrated multimedia terminal integrally provided with an SD slot, an SD slot is prevented from being reset to improve the stability and quality of an AVN system. The system includes an integrated multimedia terminal including a USB port for electrical connection of a USB and an SD slot for electrical connection of an SD card. An audio video navigation (AVN) controller detects the SD card and the USB, obtains data of the SD card and the USB and is connected to the integrated multimedia terminal. A hub electrically connects the SD slot and the USB port to the AVN controller and an auxiliary controller operates the USB port in response to a control signal transmitted via the hub.
US09952990B2 Implementing pseudo non-masking interrupts behavior using a priority interrupt controller
A method is provided for handling interrupts in a processor, the interrupts including regular interrupts having a range of priorities and a pseudo non-maskable interrupt (PNMI) that is of a higher priority than any of the regular interrupts. The method includes obtaining an interrupt vector corresponding to a received interrupt, and if the received interrupt is a PNMI, executing a PNMI interrupt handler. If the received interrupt is a regular interrupt, the method further comprises reading a mask flag that indicates whether regular interrupts are enabled in an interrupt controller and further: if the mask flag indicates that regular interrupts are enabled, enabling interrupts in the processor so that a PNMI can be received while handling the regular interrupt, executing, a regular interrupt handler, and disabling interrupts in the processor; and if the mask flag indicates that regular interrupts are disabled, saving the interrupt vector for subsequent handling.
US09952989B2 Aggregation of interrupts using event queues
Embodiments of input/output hub unit are disclosed for aggregating interrupts received from multiple endpoint devices. The input/output hub may include an interface unit and one or more communication units. Each communication unit may be configured to receive messages from a corresponding endpoint device. The interface unit may be configured to update a first pointer within a first data structure responsive to a request from a given one of the communication units. The interface unit may be further configured to stored data in a second data structure responsive to updating the first pointer, reading a second pointer and the first pointer, and sending an interrupt responsive to a determination that the first and second pointers are equal.
US09952983B2 Programmable intelligent search memory enabled secure flash memory
Systems comprising a processor, a memory controller, and a flash memory. The flash memory comprises a programmable intelligent search memory (PRISM).
US09952981B2 Read cache management in multi-level cell (MLC) non-volatile memory
A method includes reading memory pages from a non-volatile memory that holds at least first memory pages having a first bit significance and second memory pages having a second bit significance, different from the first bit significance. At least some of the read memory pages are cached in a cache memory. One or more of the cached memory pages are selected for eviction from the cache memory, in accordance with a selection criterion that gives eviction preference to the memory pages of the second bit significance over the memory pages of the first bit significance. The selected memory pages are evicted from the cache memory.
US09952980B2 Deferring registration for DMA operations
Systems and methods for deferring registration for Direct Memory Access (DMA) operations. An example method may comprise: receiving a memory region registration request identifying a memory region for a direct memory access (DMA) operation; generating a local key for the memory region; receiving a DMA work request referencing the local key; and responsive to determining that an amount of pinned memory is below a threshold, registering the memory region for DMA transfer.
US09952978B2 Method for improving mixed random performance in low queue depth workloads
Systems, methods and or devices are used to enable improving mixed random performance in low queue depth workloads in a storage device (e.g., comprising a plurality of non-volatile memory units, such as one or more flash memory devices). In one aspect, the method includes (1) maintaining a write cache corresponding to write commands from a host, (2) determining a workload in accordance with commands from the host, (3) in accordance with a determination that the workload is a non-qualifying workload, scheduling a regular flush of the write cache, and (4) in accordance with a determination that the workload is a qualifying workload, scheduling an optimized flush of the write cache.
US09952975B2 Memory network to route memory traffic and I/O traffic
According to an example, memory traffic including memory access commands is routed between compute nodes and memory nodes in a memory network. Other traffic is also routed in the memory network. The other traffic may include input/output traffic between the compute nodes and peripherals connected to the memory network.
US09952973B2 Reducing write-backs to memory by controlling the age of cache lines in lower level cache
A method and apparatus for reducing write-backs to memory is disclosed herein. The method includes determining whether a read/write request entering a lower level cache is a cache line containing modified data, and responsive to determining that the read/write request is not a cache line containing modified data, manipulating age information of the cache line to reduce a number of write-backs to memory.
US09952970B2 Cache allocation for disk array
A method for allocating cache for a disk array includes monitoring an I/O distribution of the disk array in a predetermined time period, determining a garbage collection state of the disk array, the garbage collection state allows the disk array to perform a garbage collection and prevents the disk array to perform the garbage collection, and determining an allocation of the cache based on the I/O distribution and the garbage collection state.
US09952966B2 Control apparatus and control method therefor
When a controller receives a new command from a main controller during overwrite-deletion processing for a specific storage apparatus, the received command is stored at least until completion of the overwrite-deletion processing when the received command is a command to the specific storage apparatus. Alternatively, progression of overwrite-deletion process is stored and priority processing of the received command is executed. On the other hand, when the received command is not a command to the specific storage apparatus, processing for the command is executed.
US09952964B2 Predictive approach to environment provisioning
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, systems, and computer program products for building an environment. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to allocate resources and build an environment such that the environment is built when a user is prepared to test one or more portions of code in the environment. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to reduce the “lag time” developers experience between waiting for the code to be built and for resources to be provisioned, and can also provide a less costly alternative to maintaining and operating dedicated environments.
US09952962B2 Increasing accuracy of traceability links and structured data
According to an embodiment of the present invention, an artifact is received, and unstructured content of the artifact is parsed and analyzed to identify data for one or more of missing structured content of the artifact and inaccurate structured content of the artifact. The identified data is then added to the artifact. Embodiments of the present invention can be used, for example, to provide data for missing and inaccurate structured content in artifacts of Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) frameworks, and improve accuracy of structured information that used to run queries and create reports.
US09952958B2 Using patterns and anti-patterns to improve system performance
Performance of a computer system is measured based, at least in part, on a performance metric. In response to determining that the computer system is experiencing a performance issue based on measuring the performance, the performance metric is matched with an anti-pattern to identify a performance issue, wherein the anti-pattern defines an incorrect solution to a defined problem occurring in the computer system. Also, a pattern repository is queried to identify a pattern that defines a correct solution to the defined problem based, at least in part, on the match between the performance metric and the anti-pattern. In response to identifying the pattern, implementing the pattern in the computer system to improve the performance.
US09952957B2 Dynamic parameter for multiple types of inputs based on different input profiles for electronic input/output (I/O) devices
A method for dynamically modifying a characteristic for an electronic device. The method includes activating by a processor a first profile having a first characteristic setting and a first state for an input/output (IO) device. Once the first profile is activated, receiving an input by a sensor and communicating the input to the processor. The method then includes activating by the processor a second profile having a second characteristic setting and a second state for the IO device. The second profile modifies a component of the IO device to include a second characteristic setting and a second state.
US09952956B2 Calculating the clock frequency of a processor
Apparatuses, methods, systems, and computer program products are disclosed for calculating a clock rate of a processor. A baseline data module receives a first set of performance data associated with a processor. The performance data is generated using a hardware element that captures performance data for the processor. The hardware element is external to the processor. An update data module receives a second set of performance data associated with the processor a predefined time interval after the first set of performance data is received. The second set of performance data corresponds to the first set of performance data. A rate module calculates a clock rate for the processor based on the first set of performance data and the second set of performance data.
US09952955B2 Method of phase calibration for double data rate memory interface and related system
A method of phase calibration for a system to control a double data rate memory device includes setting a scanning frequency at an initial value to determining if a built-in self-test passes, decreasing the scanning frequency by a frequency decrement and then performing the BIST again until the BIST passes, performing a phase calibration procedure to obtain a phase window with respect to the scanning frequency and obtain a target phase obtained based on the phase window to determine if the scanning frequency is lower than a maximum value, and increasing the scanning frequency by a frequency increment and then performing the phase calibration procedure again, until the scanning frequency being determined not lower than the maximum value.
US09952953B2 Non-monotonic eventual convergence for desired state configuration
Technologies are provided for non-monotonic eventual convergence for desired state configuration. One class of problem in DSC is that, in some situations, DSC cannot move forward toward a desired state without first moving further from the desired state. For example, an executable file providing a service that needs to be replaced with a newer version, but that is currently executing (i.e., in the desired state of “operating”), cannot be replaced with the newer version without first being stopped. But stopping the service moves in the wrong direction relative to the desired state, which is to have the service operating. This moving away from the desired state so as to be able to move closer to the desired state is a problem for conventional DSC systems that results in failures. The solution to this problem is herein referred to as “non-monotonic eventual convergence” or “NMEC”. Such NMEC enables a DSC system to configure a target system for a desired state by moving further away from that state if such is needed to eventually reach the desired state.
US09952949B2 High availability cache in server cluster
For a high availability cache, a cache module obtains permission to manage the cache in response to a failover event in a server cluster by communicating a cache coherency token. An update module rebuilds a cache directory from data stored in the cache and accesses the cache without reloading the data stored in the cache.
US09952948B2 Fault-tolerance pattern and switching protocol for multiple hot and cold standby redundancies
A method for fault tolerant controller readiness. Executing functions by a first controller operating in a primary status mode. Operating in a hot standby status mode by a second controller and mirroring the first controller by executing functions to operate as a redundant controller. Operating in a cold standby status mode by at least one backup controller under normal operating conditions. The second controller is reconfigured while operating under normal operating conditions from the hot standby status mode to the primary standby status mode if a failure occurs in the first controller. Reconfiguring the at least one backup controller operating under normal operating conditions from cold standby status mode to hot standby status mode to operate as a redundant controller in response to the reconfiguring the second controller from the hot standby status mode to the primary status mode.
US09952947B2 Method and system for processing fault of lock server in distributed system
A method for processing a fault of a lock server in a distributed system is disclosed, where the distributed system includes m lock servers, which locally store same lock server takeover relationship information. Lock servers in the distributed system that are not faulty receive a notification message, which carries information about a fault of a first lock server; after receiving the notification message, a second lock server determines that it is a takeover lock server of the first lock server according to the lock server takeover relationship information, and the takeover lock server enters a silent state; after receiving the notification message, a third lock server in the distributed system determines that it is not the takeover lock server of the first lock server according to the lock server takeover relationship information. After receiving a locking request, the third lock server allocates lock permission information according to the locking request.
US09952946B2 Managing service availability in a mega virtual machine
According to some embodiments, a virtual machine manager is operable to manage a virtual machine (VM) that spans a plurality of hardware appliances. The virtual machine manager receives a request to provide a service to a device, selects an application instance to provide the service to the device, and forwards the request for the service to the selected application instance. The selected application instance is running in an instance of the virtual machine associated with a first hardware appliance. The virtual machine manager determines session data associated with the service and provides the session data associated with the service to a second hardware appliance of the VM in order to enable the VM to provide high availability of the service to the device.
US09952943B2 Salvaging hardware transactions
A transactional memory system salvages a partially executed hardware transaction. A processor of the transactional memory system saves state information in a first code region of a first hardware transaction. The processor executes an about-to-fail handler, the about-to-fail handler using the saved state information to determine whether the first hardware transaction is to be salvaged or to be aborted. The processor executing the about-to-fail handler, based on the transaction being to be salvaged, uses the saved state information to determine what portion of the first hardware transaction to salvage.
US09952939B1 System and method for lower page data recovery in a solid state drive
In some embodiments of the present invention, a data storage system includes a controller and a non-volatile memory array having a plurality of memory pages. The controller performs a method that efficiently resolves the lower page corruption problem. In one embodiment, the method selects programmed lower page(s) for which paired upper page(s) have not been programmed, reads data from those selected lower page(s), corrects the read data, and reprograms the read data into those lower page(s). Since the number of lower pages in this condition is typically low (e.g., several pages in a block with hundreds or thousands of pages), this is a much more efficient method than reprogramming the entire block. In another embodiment, a similar reprogramming method is applied as a data recovery scheme in situations in which only lower pages are programmed (e.g., SLC memory, MLC memory in SLC mode, etc.).
US09952937B2 Method and system for reducing journaling log activity in databases
Methods, devices and systems enable restoring a database system more efficiently. A server computing device may be configured to receive a database transaction request that includes information identifying a database operation, determine a priority value for the database operation, and add the database operation to a journaling log based on the determined priority value. After detecting a failure event, the server computing device may perform the database operations identified in the journaling log to restore the database system.
US09952935B2 Excluding content items from a backup operation
Approaches presented herein enable automatically detecting and preventing backup of content from a client system to a remote backup system based on specified criteria. Specifically, content on a client system is analyzed to determine one or more of content items to be backed up from the client system to a remote backup system. A set of content items from among the content items that match one or more specified criteria is detected. The specified criteria may include classes of content (e.g., document, text message, e-mail message, photograph, etc.) and contact names associated with the classes of content (e.g., creator, recipient, sender, owner, etc.). Responsive to detecting the set of content items that match the one or more specified criteria, the set of content items is prevented from being backed up to the remote backup system.
US09952933B1 Fingerprint change during data operations
Various systems, methods, and processes for caching and referencing multiple fingerprints while data operations are ongoing are disclosed. A first fingerprint is generated based on a first fingerprinting process. The first fingerprint is stored in association with a second fingerprint, which is based on a second fingerprinting process. The first fingerprint and the second fingerprint are associated with the same data segment. Data operations such as a backup operation, a restore operation, or a replication operation can be performed while the conversion of the data segment from the second fingerprint to the first fingerprint is ongoing.
US09952929B2 Regaining redundancy in distributed raid arrays using unallocated capacity
A method and system are provided for spare capacity usage for critical redundancy in storage arrays. The method may include monitoring a Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) array to determine whether one or more redundancy units are at a critical level. A redundancy unit may be in a critical level when an additional drive failure will result in loss of data from the redundancy unit. The method may further include identifying available regions in the RAID array which are not allocated to user data in response to determining that a particular redundancy unit is critical. The method may further include determining an available region for the particular redundancy unit, where the available region is in a drive of the RAID array that does not contain data of the particular redundancy unit. The method may further include storing a critical stripe in the available region.
US09952927B2 Data protection for cold storage system
A data storage apparatus comprising a plurality of data storage devices configured to store data blocks, and one or more protection devices configured to store protection blocks, wherein the data devices and the protection devices are associated by a plurality of stripes, wherein each stripe comprises a memory block on each data device or protection device, and wherein each protection block in a protection device comprises a value for reconstructing storage blocks in the same stripe, and a controller configured to select a data device, store data blocks sequentially to the memory blocks in the selected data devices, store protection blocks in the protection devices for each updated stripe, read data blocks from a selected data device, and reconstruct damaged storage devices. It operates a cold storage system with less power consumption, low component wear, and flexible in capacity expansion.
US09952924B2 Memory device, server device, and memory control method
A memory device has a plurality of memory units, an error correction processor, and a memory controller. The memory units include semiconductor memories, and read and write in parallel. The error correction processor converts input content data into recording data which includes the content data and an error correction code. The error correction processor decodes the content data by performing conversion including error correction of recording data read out of the memory units. The memory controller writes recording data divided into a number of data into an area of areas extending over the memory units. The memory controller reads the divided recording data from the area. The memory controller determines that writing into the area has been completed normally if the number of the semiconductor memories of which abnormality has been detected is less than or equal to a number of abnormalities correctable by the error correction processor.
US09952923B2 Synchronizing replicas with media errors in distributed storage systems
Systems and techniques are described for transferring data. A described technique includes receiving a request to transmit a data block from a first data storage device to a second data storage device. An attempt to read the data block from the first data storage device is made. A media error resulting from the attempt to read the data block from the first data storage device is detected. In response to detecting the media error, a new data block is generated and includes mismatched checksum data that causes a checksum mismatched error when the new data block is accessed. The new data block is transmitted for storage at the second data storage device in place of the data block.
US09952922B2 Fault detection apparatus and method
Apparatus suitable for detecting a fault in a processor comprises a monitor which receives input and output signals from the processor and generates a hash index key which is used to access entries in a hash table. The entries may include actions such as setting a timer so that the response of an output to a change of state of an input may be confirmed as valid within a specified time interval.
US09952920B2 Information processing device, information processing method, and program
An information processing device according to an embodiment includes a buffer, a memory, and a controller. The buffer is capable of storing target data for transfer. The memory is capable of storing a fact that predetermined abnormality detection data is written in the buffer and storing an abnormality detection result of the buffer, the abnormality detection result being written by an external controller which controls a first control target. The controller controls a second control target which is different than the first control target; writes, in the buffer, the abnormality detection data to be transferred to the external controller; makes the memory to hold the fact; and, when the abnormality detection result indicates detection of abnormality, prohibits writing of data in at least such memory areas, from among memory areas in the buffer, in which abnormality is detected.
US09952917B2 Identifying defunct nodes in data processing systems
A computer system may generate a lineage graph for a data processing system. The lineage graph may contain one or more nodes, and it may identify the flow of data through the data processing system. The computer system may determine that a first node in the lineage graph defunct. The computer system may then generate a report for the data processing system and provide the report to a user. The report may include an explanation of why the first node is defunct. The computer system may insert an indication that the first node is defunct into metadata for the first node. The indication may also include the explanation of why the first node is defunct.
US09952916B2 Event processing system paging
A pageable query can be generated based on an event-processing query. The pageable query is a form of the event-processing query that supports swapping the event-processing query into and out of memory. For instance, page-in and page-out triggers can be inserted. After detection of a page-in trigger, the event-processing query can be loaded into the memory, and after detection of a page-out trigger, the event-processing query can be unloaded from memory.
US09952914B2 Integrated parameter control with persistence indication
Aspects of the present invention disclose a method for customizing a parameter value in a software program. The method includes one or more processors receiving one integrated input requesting a change to the original value of a parameter in a software program to a new value of the parameter and defining a persistence level of the new value of the parameter. The method further includes one or more processors changing the original value of the parameter to the new value of the parameter based on the one integrated input and setting the persistence level of the new value based on the one integrated input.
US09952913B2 Centralized peripheral access protection
Implementations are disclosed for a centralized peripheral access controller (PAC) that is configured to protect one or more peripheral components in a system. In some implementations, the PAC stores data that can be set or cleared by software. The data corresponds to an output signal of the PAC that is routed to a corresponding peripheral component. When the data indicates that the peripheral is “unlocked” the PAC will allow write transfers to registers in the peripheral component. When the data indicates that the peripheral component is “locked” the PAC will refuse write transfers to registers in the peripheral component and terminate with an error.
US09952910B2 Managing a virtual computer resource
Managing a virtual computer resource on at least one virtual machine. The managing of the virtual computer resource on the at least one virtual machine is by controlling execution of the virtual computer resource on the at least one virtual machine by a virtual machine instance, such as a firmware facility, of a trusted part of a computer system. The virtual machine instance is unique in the computer system.
US09952903B2 Background task resource control
Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems are provided for controlling resource access for background tasks. For example, a background task created by an application may utilize a resource (e.g., CPU cycles, bandwidth usage, etc.) by consuming resource allotment units from an application resource pool. Once the application resource pool is exhausted, the background task is generally restricted from utilizing the resource. However, the background task may also utilize global resource allotment units from a global resource pool shared by a plurality of applications to access the resource. Once the global resource pool is exhausted, unless the background task is a guaranteed background task which can consume resources regardless of resource allotment states of resource pools, the background task may be restricted from utilizing the resource until global resource allotment units within the global resource pool and/or resource allotment units within the application resource pool are replenished.
US09952901B2 Power efficient hybrid scoreboard method
Described herein are technologies related to enforcing thread dependency using a hybrid scoreboard. An encoded video information that includes a plurality of threads is received, a first set and a second set of threads from the plurality of thread is determined, the first and second sets of threads are assigned to a hardware and a software, respectively, and dependency threads in the first and second sets of threads is enforced.
US09952899B2 Automatically generating execution sequences for workflows
The present disclosure relates to automatically generating execution sequences from workflow definitions. One example method includes receiving a workflow definition including a plurality of operations, each of the plurality of operations including input attributes each associated with an input value and output attributes each associated with an output value; determining an execution sequence for the workflow defining relationships between the plurality of operations, the determining based at least in part on the one or more input attributes and associated input values, and the output attributes and associated output values for each operation, and at least in part on one or more semantic rules defining dependencies of each of the plurality of operations; and generating a directed acyclic graph representing the execution sequence including nodes each representing an operation from the plurality of operations, and vertices each representing a relationship between the plurality of operations defined by the execution sequence.
US09952898B2 Dynamic construction and management of task pipelines
A system and method are disclosed for managing the execution of tasks. Each task in a first set of tasks included in a pipeline is queued for parallel execution. The execution of the tasks is monitored by a dispatching engine. When a particular task that specifies a next set of tasks in the pipeline to be executed has completed, the dispatching engine determines whether the next set of tasks can be executed before the remaining tasks in the first set of tasks have completed. When the next set of tasks can be executed before the remaining tasks have completed, the next set of tasks is queued for parallel execution. When the next set of tasks cannot be executed before the remaining tasks have completed, the next set of tasks is queued for parallel execution only after the remaining tasks have completed.
US09952891B2 Anomalous usage of resources by a process in a software defined data center
The present disclosure is related to systems and methods for analysis of anomalous usage of a resource. An example system can include a plurality of virtual computing instances (VCIs) deployed in a software defined data center and a respective monitoring agent associated with each of the plurality of VCIs. The monitoring agent can be configured to collect information regarding resources used by a plurality of processes running on an associated VCI, maintain a sliding window of top resource users among the plurality of processes, analyze the top resource users among the plurality of processes for anomalous usage of the resources, and take an action in response to the anomalous usage.
US09952887B2 Device simulation in a secure mode supported by hardware architectures
A secure mode of a computer system is used to provide simulated devices. In operation, if an instruction executing in a non-secure mode accesses a simulated device, then a resulting exception is forwarded to a secure monitor executing in the secure mode. Based on the address accessed by the instruction, the secure monitor identifies the device and simulates the instruction. The secure monitor executes independently of other applications included in the computer system, and does not rely on any hardware virtualization capabilities of the computer system.
US09952886B2 Elastic offload of prebuilt traffic management system component virtual machines
Embodiments are directed towards employing a traffic management system (TMS) that is enabled to deploy component virtual machines (CVM) to the cloud to perform tasks of the TMS. In some embodiments, a TMS may be employed with one or more CVMs. In at least one embodiment, the TMS may maintain an image of each CVM. Each CVM may be configured to perform one or more tasks, to operate in specific cloud infrastructures, or the like. The TMS may deploy one or more CVMs locally and/or to one or more public and/or private clouds. In some embodiments, deployment of the CVMs may be based on a type of task to be performed, anticipated resource utilization, customer policies, or the like. The deployment of the CVMs may be dynamically updated based on monitored usage patterns, task completions, customer policies, or the like.
US09952881B2 Virtual assistant system to enable actionable messaging
A virtual assistant system includes a mobile device to receive an input command corresponding to a function to be performed at one or more external services, to translate the input command into a semantic atom representing the command, and to transmit the semantic atom, and an assistant server configured to receive the transmitted semantic atom, the assistant server including a plurality of plugins, each plugin corresponding to a respective one of the external services and configured to generate a proprietary language command corresponding to the received semantic atom for each external service in which the function is to be performed.
US09952877B2 Booting a physical device using custom-created frozen partially-booted virtual machines
In one embodiment, a physical device (e.g., packet switching device, computer, server) is booted using custom-created frozen partially-booted virtual machines, avoiding the time required for an end-to-end boot process. In one embodiment while the system is operating under a current version, a partially-booted virtual image of a new operating version for each of multiple processing elements of the device is produced according to static configuration information specific to the device, with each of these partially-booted virtual machines frozen. The device is rebooted to a fully operational device by unfreezing these partially-booted virtual machines, thus removing this portion of a boot process from the real-time booting of the device. The generation of the frozen partially-booted virtual machines is advantageously performed by the device itself based on current static configuration information and the availability of the specific hardware configuration of the device.
US09952873B2 Method, apparatus and instructions for parallel data conversions
Method, apparatus, and program means for performing a conversion. In one embodiment, a disclosed apparatus includes a destination storage location corresponding to a first architectural register. A functional unit operates responsive to a control signal, to convert a first packed first format value selected from a set of packed first format values into a plurality of second format values. Each of the first format values has a plurality of sub elements having a first number of bits The second format values have a greater number of bits. The functional unit stores the plurality of second format values into an architectural register.
US09952872B2 Arithmetic processing device and processing method of arithmetic processing device
An arithmetic processing device includes an instruction decode unit, an instruction execution unit and an instruction hold unit, wherein the instruction hold unit includes; a first holder including a plurality of first entries each configured to hold a decoded instruction; a second holder including a smaller number of second entries than the number of the first entries; a first selector configured to select an instruction to be registered in the second holder from instructions held in the first entries and store identification information that identifies the selected instruction into any of the second entries; and a second selector configured to sequentially select an executable instruction from instructions registered in the second holder, input the selected executable instruction to the instruction execution unit, and detect a dependency between the instruction inputted to the instruction execution unit and the instructions registered in the second holder.
US09952866B2 Methods and apparatus for storage and translation of an entropy encoded instruction sequence to executable form
A method of compressing a sequence of program instructions begins by examining a program instruction stream to identify a sequence of two or more instructions that meet a parameter. The identified sequence of two or more instructions is replaced by a selected type of layout instruction which is then compressed. A method of decompressing accesses an X-index and a Y-index together as a compressed value. The compressed value is decompressed to a selected type of layout instruction which is decoded and replaced with a sequence of two or more instructions. An apparatus for decompressing includes a storage subsystem configured for storing compressed instructions, wherein a compressed instruction comprises an X-index and a Y-index. A decompressor is configured for translating an X-index and Y-index accessed from the storage subsystem to a selected type of layout instruction which is decoded and replaced with a sequence of two or more instructions.
US09952862B2 Instruction to load data up to a dynamically determined memory boundary
A Load to Block Boundary instruction is provided that loads a variable number of bytes of data into a register while ensuring that a specified memory boundary is not crossed. The boundary is dynamically determined based on a specified type of boundary and one or more characteristics of the processor executing the instruction, such as cache line size or page size used by the processor.
US09952861B2 Operation of a multi-slice processor with selective producer instruction types
Operation of a multi-slice processor including execution slices and load/store slices, where the load/store slices are coupled to the execution slices via a results bus and the results bus includes segments assigned to carry results of a different instruction type, includes: receiving a producer instruction that includes an identifier of an instruction type and an identifier of the producer instruction, including storing the identifier of the instruction type and the identifier of the producer instruction in an entry of a register; receiving a source instruction dependent upon the result of the producer instruction including storing, in an issue queue, the source instruction, the identifier of the instruction type of the producer instruction, and an identifier of the producer instruction; and snooping the identifier of the producer instruction only from the segment of the results bus assigned to carry results of the instruction type of the producer instruction.
US09952860B2 Dynamic memory management for a virtual supercomputer
Present invention embodiments enable the handling of various index-memory architectures for a virtual supercomputer that would allow for a heterogeneous storage of variable length index words with non-sequential addressing, and also dynamic changes to the index-memory architecture. A computer-implemented system, method, and apparatus allow for different types of node index memory (NIM) architectures for the virtual supercomputer. The first type allows for homogenous NIM segments, and implementing sequential node-number addressing. A second type of architecture allows for heterogeneous IW configurations (variable length and field structure), but sill uses sequential node-number addressing. A third type allows for non-sequential node-number addressing, but still uses homogeneous IW configurations. To implement this, a new virtual hardware element is required, an Index-Word Address Table. The fourth type of architecture is a fully variable random-access architecture, whereby index-words are not sequential, nor are they identically configured. This also requires the Index-Word Address Table.
US09952854B2 Methods to update portals
The present disclosure discloses methods to update portals (100) comprising a first portlet (105) and plural second portlets (110). The method comprises the reception by the first portlet (105) of a first update instruction (160) and the transmission by the first portlet (105) of a second update instruction (165) to each of the plural second portlets (110), the sent second update instruction (165) being the same for each second portlet (110). Then, the method comprises the reception by each of the plural second portlets (110) of the second update instruction (165), and, for each second portlet (110), the processing of the second update instruction (165) according to a predetermined update configuration (135.3, 135.4, 135.5) of the respective second portlet (110), to accept or reject an update of this second portlet (110), according to the second update instruction (165), depending on the predetermined update configuration (135.3, 135.4, 135.5).
US09952851B2 Intelligent mobile application update
In an approach for managing updates of a mobile software application, a computer receives information regarding a mobile computing device and a mobile software application on the mobile computing device, wherein the information regarding the mobile computing device comprises at least one or more of a location of the mobile computing device, a network connection type, a security bit associated with the mobile computing device, and a checksum associated with the at least one mobile software application. The computer determines whether the mobile software application matches a stored mobile software application on a computing device. Responsive to determining that the mobile software application does not match the stored mobile software application on the computing device, the computer determines an update policy for scheduling an update to the mobile software application on the mobile computing device.
US09952850B2 Automated firmware update with rollback in a data storage system
Systems and methods for automated firmware update with rollback are described herein. The systems include a plurality of storage zones, each storage zone including a plurality of storage nodes, each storage node including a plurality of storage media. The method includes monitoring storage system activity and parameters and maintaining a data storage system usage and parameter database containing system activity information. When a firmware update is available, data storage system activity is evaluated. Storage nodes needing the firmware update are identified. The firmware update is run on available storage nodes identified as needing the firmware update. The impact of the firmware update is evaluated and a rollback of the firmware update is initiated on all firmware updated storage nodes when parameter variations are significant and/or result in degraded performance.
US09952844B1 Executing optimized local entry points and function call sites
Embodiments relate to optimizing an indirect call function. More specifically, an indirect call function configuration comprises a first application module having a target function of the indirect function call, a second application module with a symbolic reference to the target function of the indirect function call, and a third application module to originate an indirect function call. A compiler is provided to identify potential target functions and indicate the potential target functions in the program code. Additionally, the compiler determines and indicates in the program code that the function pointer value resulting from a non-call reference of a function symbol is solely used to perform indirect calls in the same module. A linker can read the indication the compiler made in the program code and optimize the indirect call function.
US09952842B2 Compiler for eliminating target variables to be processed by the pre-processing core
A computer system for compiling a source program into an object program includes a graphics processor having a pre-processing core and a post-processing core, and a processor configured to execute a compiler to convert the source program into an intermediate program including a target variable to be processed by the pre-processing core, generate a modified-intermediate program from the intermediate program by eliminating the target variable among variables included in the intermediate program and convert the modified-intermediate program into the object program including the target variable to be processed by the post-processing core.
US09952841B2 Programming system and language for application development
In one embodiment, an improved programming system and language for application development is provided that combines elements of the C and Objective-C languages without the constraints imposed by a requirement to maintain compatibility with the C language. The language provides the functionality of the C language compatibility in certain areas to improve the inherent safety of software written in the language. The new language includes default safety considerations such as bounds and overflow checking.
US09952836B2 Web server system, application development support system, multilingual support method in web server system, multi-device support method in web server system, and application development support method
A system that generates source code of a Web application program. A typical embodiment includes a dictionary table for each language environment that uses identification information on the input/output item as a key to retain, as dictionary data, information made up of initial values of parameters of a parts object, and a dictionary processing unit that acquires the dictionary data corresponding to the identification information on the input/output item from the dictionary table of a specified language environment, and a response processing unit that uses the identification information on the input/output item corresponding to the parts object contained in a processing result as the key to acquire the information on the parameters of the parts object from the dictionary table of the specified language environment and to allow the screen to display a label control and/or an input/output control.
US09952835B2 Generation of hybrid enterprise mobile applications in cloud environment
Generate hybrid enterprise mobile applications in cloud environment, according to one embodiment. A web application is selected in a web integrated development environment (IDE) executing in a browser. The web application may depend on various components and the dependent build components may reside on different repositories. Dependency analysis engine determines the dependent build components corresponding to the web application. The component retrieval engine retrieves the dependent build components from corresponding repositories to memory or cache of the browser where the web IDE is executing. Component build engine builds the dependent build components to a build result. Packaging engine packages the build result to a single package as an application asset package. The application asset package is received in a platform dependent build service. The application asset package is built as a hybrid mobile application in the platform dependent build service. The hybrid mobile application is published in an application store.
US09952833B2 Automated modification integration and conflict resolution for software development
Proposed changes to a source code generated by client computing devices are integrated with a master version of the code resident on a server computing system remote from the client devices. The client devices connect to the server system over a network and transmit proposed changes to the server system, where resident integration/conflict resolution software automatically integrates the proposed changes into the master version. Any unresolved conflicts remaining after the automatic integration are identified and the server system automatically sends an email notifying the one or more client devices that there are unresolved conflicts. The email includes a link that enables a client device to launch a window on a monitor, and the client device user employs the window to transmit commands directly to and receive further communications directly from the integration/conflict resolution software in an interactive operation to attempt to manually resolve the conflicts.
US09952829B2 Binary fused multiply-add floating-point calculations
A binary fused multiply-add floating-point unit configured to operate on an addend, a multiplier, and a multiplicand. The unit is configured to receive as the addend an unrounded result of a prior operation executed in the unit via an early result feedback path; to perform an alignment shift of the unrounded addend on an unrounded exponent and an unrounded mantissa; as well as perform a rounding correction for the addend in parallel to the actual alignment shift, responsive to a rounding-up signal.
US09952827B2 Dynamic adjustment of equalization settings of audio components via a sound device profile
Methods, computing devices, and systems that apply equalization settings for particular audio devices based on a content audio profile. A computing device may detect at least one audio device connected to the computing device and request a device sound profile of the at least one audio device from a database remote from the computing device. Computing device may receive the device sound profile of the at least one audio device from the remote database. The computing device may receive content comprising an audio component and a video component and a content audio profile associated with the audio component. The computing device can determine whether to adjust equalizer settings for sound reproduction of the audio component based on the audio profile and the device sound profile of the at least one audio device.
US09952824B2 System and method of providing for the control of a music player to a device driver
A system and method of providing for the control of a music player to a device driver. One embodiment of the system comprises an electronic music player that is connected to a plurality of music renderers via device drivers via a music renderer controller. The music renderer controller comprises a device integration application program interface for providing a standard interface for communicating with each of the device drivers. Each of the device drivers manage a selected music renderer. The device drivers can display a graphical interface for displaying notifications, customized controls, links to websites, or any other type of information desired by the manufacturer of the device driver. The device drivers can also customize the interfaces of the music render to rename textual elements that are displayed by the device driver. Furthermore, the device drivers can command the music player to suspend and resume playback of music items during selected periods.
US09952822B2 Display device and POS terminal device
The display device includes a display unit including a screen configured to display information; a support column having a tubular shape and being configured to support the display unit at a top end portion of the support column; and a support base configured to support the support column and including a tubular portion that is insertable into and removable from a bottom end portion of the support column. The display device is configured such that the support column is reinserted into the tubular portion of the support base, to thereby enable the screen of the display unit to be faced at a plurality of angles having a tubular axis of the tubular portion as a center.
US09952818B2 Image reading apparatus and method for reading an image
An image reading apparatus connected with an information processing apparatus is provided. The image reading apparatus includes a specific parameter setting unit to set a parameter to be used in an image reading operation; an instruction receiving unit to receive input of an instruction to start reading of an image; a notification transmitting unit to transmit a read-start notification to the information processing apparatus; a parameter receiving unit to receive a parameter transmitted from the information processing apparatus in response to receipt of the read-start notification; and an image reading unit to read the image base on, at least with regard to the parameter set in the image reading apparatus, the parameter set by the specific parameter setting unit in place of the parameter transmitted from the information processing apparatus when the parameter transmitted from the information processing apparatus is received by the parameter receiving unit.
US09952817B2 Printing system, mobile terminal, and control method
A mobile terminal receives a packet transmitted by a printing apparatus, and specifies the distance between the mobile terminal and the printing apparatus based on the received packet. The mobile terminal transmits a print instruction for print data if it is determined that the specified distance satisfies a predetermined condition.
US09952815B2 Image generation-output control apparatus, image processing system, image processing method, and storage medium
An image generation-output control apparatus provided in an image forming apparatus communicable with a server that controls a plurality of processes in an image processing system includes a first image processing unit, a second image processing unit, a job receiver to update an initial command information received from the server to a specific command information, a part of the initial command information updated to the specific command information processable at the second image processing unit and not processable at the first image processing unit, and a job controller to cause the first image processing unit to generate first image drawing information based on output target image information received from the server and the initial command information that is not updated, and further cause the second image processing unit to generate second image drawing information based on the specific command information and the output target image information received from the server.
US09952812B2 Method and system for controlling digital printing of secret file
A method and system for controlling digital printing of a secret file is provided in this invention. The method comprises: obtaining a source file to be printed; importing the source file into a secret file library; generating a printing job for the source file and adding the printing job into a job list; writing printing control information of the source file into a standard file; after the printing is started, extracting page dot matrix data of the source file from the secret file library, and processing the page dot matrix data according to the printing control information; and transmitting the processed page dot matrix data to a numerical control device. Control management may be effectively realized throughout the printing process of the secret file, and the source file and the standard file cannot be copied without some professional skills in the printing process.
US09952811B1 System for providing an alternative control interface to specialty devices
The invention provides an alternative applications programming interface (API) for a software application to interface with and to control the operation of a variety of one or more specialty devices, including specialty printing devices. The alternative API provides a superset of control functionality relative to an API that would typically be provided by a specialty device driver. In some embodiments, this alternative API is provided via a specialty device module (SDM) or a specialty printing module (SPM) that is remotely accessible to a software application via a computer network. The SDM or SPM can provide for interface and control of specialty devices that would otherwise be un-accessible to a software application via a specialty device driver, and can provide such locally or remotely accessible functionality to the software application, without necessarily requiring employment of a specialty device driver.
US09952809B2 Self destroying LUN
A data handling system having a physical storage device and a storage controller responsible for provisioning, managing, and servicing logical unit numbers (LUNs) with self-destruction properties on the physical storage device is disclosed. For a given LUN, the storage controller creates a profile including self-destruction properties, such as a LUN destruction date, and associates the profile with the LUN. The profiles may be independent of file format and content of any associated data and the LUN destruction date may be a function of the last access date of the associated data. The storage controller monitors the LUN destruction date associated with each LUN and determines the last access date of any associated data. The storage controller marks a LUN having a past-due LUN destruction date, notifies a user of an approaching LUN destruction date, and destroys any past-due LUNs.
US09952805B2 Storage system and data write method using a logical volume to either store data successfully onto a first memory or send a failure response to a server computer if the storage attempt fails
A processor receives a command from a server computer to designate a plurality of addresses related to a plurality of logical storage areas, and write a plurality of write data to the logical storage areas. The processor receives the write data and writes it to storage areas different from storage areas in which a plurality of holding data are stored in a first memory. When the processor determines that the write data are written to the first memory, the processor transmits a success response to a host computer. When the write data satisfy a predetermined condition, the processor writes the write data in the first memory to a plurality of first device storage areas. When it is determined that at least a part of the data is not written to the first memory, the processor transmits a failure response to the host computer.
US09952801B2 Accelerated address indirection table lookup for wear-leveled non-volatile memory
Embodiments are generally directed to accelerated address indirection table lookup for wear-leveled non-volatile memory. A embodiment of a memory device includes nonvolatile memory; a memory controller; and address indirection logic to provide address indirection for the nonvolatile memory, of the address indirection logic to maintain an address indirection table (AIT) in the nonvolatile memory, the AIT including a plurality of levels, and copy at least a portion of the AIT to a second memory, the second memory having less latency than the first memory.
US09952800B2 Method and system for reconfigurable parallel lookups using multiple shared memories
Embodiments of the present invention relate to multiple parallel lookups using a pool of shared memories by proper configuration of interconnection networks. The number of shared memories reserved for each lookup is reconfigurable based on the memory capacity needed by that lookup. The shared memories are grouped into homogeneous tiles. Each lookup is allocated a set of tiles based on the memory capacity needed by that lookup. The tiles allocated for each lookup do not overlap with other lookups such that all lookups can be performed in parallel without collision. Each lookup is reconfigurable to be either hash-based or direct-access. The interconnection networks are programmed based on how the tiles are allocated for each lookup.
US09952799B2 Method and system for reconfigurable parallel lookups using multiple shared memories
Embodiments of the present invention relate to multiple parallel lookups using a pool of shared memories by proper configuration of interconnection networks. The number of shared memories reserved for each lookup is reconfigurable based on the memory capacity needed by that lookup. The shared memories are grouped into homogeneous tiles. Each lookup is allocated a set of tiles based on the memory capacity needed by that lookup. The tiles allocated for each lookup do not overlap with other lookups such that all lookups can be performed in parallel without collision. Each lookup is reconfigurable to be either hash-based or direct-access. The interconnection networks are programmed based on how the tiles are allocated for each lookup.
US09952797B2 Systems, methods and devices for addressing data blocks in mass storage filing systems
Presented herein are mass data storage networks, file system protocols, non-transitory machine readable devices, and methods for storing data blocks in mass data storage systems. Methods for storing data blocks in a file system are disclosed which include: receiving by storage controller of the data storage system a request to write a data file to a system storage module; determining whether the data file includes a sub-K data chunk that is less than approximately four kilobytes; identifying a packed block that stores a plurality of sub-K data chunks and has sufficient storage space available to store the sub-K data chunk; and placing, by the storage controller in the packed block, the sub-K data chunk and a corresponding data length and a respective offset identifying a location of the sub-K data chunk in the packed block.
US09952793B2 Memory system for processing data efficiently by searching segments of data and operating method thereof
A memory system may include: a memory device including a plurality of pages having a plurality of memory cells coupled to a plurality of word lines and suitable for storing read data and write data requested from a host, a plurality of memory blocks each including the pages, a plurality of planes each including the memory blocks, and a plurality of memory chips each including the planes; and a controller suitable for searching map data of the read data corresponding to a read command received from the host on a basis of a plurality of segments, triggering memory chips corresponding to the map data searched through the searches of the respective segments, reading data stored in the triggered memory chips, and transferring the read data to the host.
US09952780B2 Method for retrieving data from a tape drive
An input to read two or more data records stored to a tape medium on a tape drive is received. A starting point is determined. The starting point is a closest data record, of the two or more data records, to a current position of a tape head of the tape drive. A read order of the two or more data records is determined. The read order is determined using an algorithm and the determined starting point. The determined read order is sent to a host device. A first data record is determined. A first locate operation within the tape drive is performed. The first data record, of the two or more data records stored on the tape medium, based on the determined read order is read. The first data record, of the two or more data records stored on the tape medium, is sent to the host device.
US09952778B2 Data processing method and apparatus
A data processing technology is provided, and is applied to a partition management device. The partition management device stores a partition view, the partition view records a correspondence between an ID of a current partition and an address of a storage disk, and a total quantity of current partitions may be less than a total quantity of final partitions. By using the technology, data forwarding may be performed on key-value data by using a current partition, thereby reducing complexity of a partition view.
US09952777B2 Data shuffling in a non-uniform memory access device
A method of orchestrated shuffling of data in a non-uniform memory access device that includes a plurality of processing nodes that are connected by interconnects. The method includes running an application on a plurality of threads executing on the plurality of processing nodes. Data to be shuffled is identified from source threads running on source processing nodes among the processing nodes to target threads executing on target processing nodes among the processing nodes. The method further includes generating a plan for orchestrating the shuffling of the data among the all of the memory devices associated with the threads and for simultaneously transmitting data over different interconnects to a plurality of different target processing nodes from a plurality of different source processing nodes. The data is shuffled among all of the memory devices based on the plan.
US09952776B1 Automatic non-disruptive congestion control of a fabric in a data storage system
Storage node blades in a data storage system utilize queue pairs associated with point-to-point links to perform RDMA transactions with memory components associated with other storage node blades. Higher quality of service queue pairs are used for system message transactions and lower quality of service queue pairs are used for remote direct memory access data. Postings to a relatively higher priority queue pair are reduced when a corresponding relatively lower priority queue pair between the same pair of storage nodes via the same switch is starved of bandwidth. Postings to the relatively higher priority queue pair are increased when bandwidth starvation is remediated.
US09952775B2 Unusable column mapping in flash memory devices
A memory device for generating a mapping between one or more unusable columns and one or more backup columns within a memory. The memory includes a plurality of memory cells for storing data. The memory also includes a plurality of columns including a first subset of the plurality of memory cells. Each of the plurality of columns belongs to one of a plurality of data chunks. The memory further includes one or more backup columns including a second subset of the plurality of memory cells. The memory device also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the memory and configured to perform operations including identifying unusable columns, detecting a condition associated with each data chunk, and generating a mapping between the backup columns and the unusable columns based on the condition such that each of the backup columns is mapped to a different unusable column.
US09952773B2 Determining a cause for low disk space with respect to a logical disk
A method and system for determining a cause for low disk space with respect to a logical disk is provided. The method includes identifying software activities associated with a computing system linked to a file system comprised by a disk storage device. Representations for the software activities are identified with respect to the file system and associated objects are defined. The objects impact available free space on a logical disk of the disk storage device and each software activity is linked with an associated object. An amount of disk space of the logical disk occupied by each object is determined. An impact of each object is analyzed with respect to an amount of available free disk space and a specific cause(s) for the file system exceeding the available free space is determined.
US09952770B2 Responding to recall operations based on file migration time
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, systems, and computer program products for responding to recall operations based on a file migration time. In one embodiment, it is determined whether the number of recall requests (R) is equal to the number of storage drives in an idle state, and if the number of recall requests (R) is equal to the number of storage drives in an idle state, the storage drive(s) that are in the idle state are assigned as having the shortest time to complete a requested recall operation. The time to complete the requested recall operation (M) of the identified idle state storage drive(s) is set to zero.
US09952769B2 Data storage system with data storage devices operative to manage storage device functions specific to a particular data storage device
Operations of a variety of components of a storage system stack are redefined to make the system more efficient when the underlying media has a “multi-log” type interface such as the case with NAND flash SSD memory or shingled magnetic recording media. The responsibilities of components of the storage system stack are modified such that each responsibility is performed at the most efficient component (level of abstraction) of the storage stack.
US09952768B2 Multiple mode data structures for representation of multiple system components in a storage management system
In one aspect, a multiple mode data structure can be utilized by a storage management system to provide a host representation role in one mode, and represent both a host and a host port in another mode. In one embodiment, in a first mode, the data structure has an undefined host port name attribute and a defined host name attribute to represent a host identified by the defined host name attribute. In the first mode, the data structure is restricted from representing a host port in the storage management system when the host port name attribute is undefined. In a second, unrestricted mode, the multiple mode data structure can represent both a host as well as a host port when a host port name attribute is defined. In one embodiment, the multiple mode data structure can also represent a host cluster. Other aspects are described.
US09952764B2 Apparatus and method for touchscreen keyboard suggestion word generation and display
A method and apparatus, such as an electronic device (104), for displaying suggestion words in response to a touch input to a presence-sensitive display (106). The presence-sensitive display (106) displays a touchscreen keyboard (110) having a plurality of key areas (112) each associated with a character (114). The method and apparatus may determine (308) the character (114) of the touchscreen keyboard based on a touch location of the touch input on a key area (112) of the touchscreen keyboard (110), and may display (310) a plurality of suggestion words that include the determined character over at least a portion of the touchscreen keyboard during the touch input. When the touch input has ended, the method and apparatus may stop displaying the plurality of suggestion words. The method and apparatus may also display a plurality of suggestion words in a text view area separate from the touchscreen keyboard.
US09952763B1 Alternative gesture mapping for a graphical keyboard
A computing device is described that outputs a graphical keyboard comprising a plurality of keys. Responsive to receiving an indication of a gesture that traverses a first group of keys of the plurality of keys, the computing device determines a second group of keys of the plurality of keys. At least one key of the second group of keys is different from at least one key of the first group of keys. The computing device outputs, for display, a virtual path traversing a respective location of each respective key of the second group of keys.
US09952761B1 System and method for processing touch actions
A system and method for processing touch actions are provided. A plurality of sequentially performed touch actions including a first touch action and a second touch action are determined on a touch interface of an electronic device. An initiation location and a completion location of each of the first and second touch actions are determined on the touch interface. A command is selected based on the determined completion location of the first touch action, the second touch action, and the determined initiation location of the second touch action. The selected command is executed on the electronic device.
US09952759B2 Touch screen device, method, and graphical user interface for customizing display of content category icons
A computer-implemented method for use in conjunction with a computing device with a touch screen display comprises: detecting one or more finger contacts with the touch screen display, applying one or more heuristics to the one or more finger contacts to determine a command for the device, and processing the command. The one or more heuristics comprise: a heuristic for determining that the one or more finger contacts correspond to a one-dimensional vertical screen scrolling command, a heuristic for determining that the one or more finger contacts correspond to a two-dimensional screen translation command, and a heuristic for determining that the one or more finger contacts correspond to a command to transition from displaying a respective item in a set of items to displaying a next item in the set of items.
US09952754B2 Information processing device, information processing method, and program
There is provided an information processing device including an imaging section configured to image an object, a display section configured to display at least an icon for controlling the imaging section, an operation section configured to acquire a first operation and a second operation on the icon, and a controller configured to, when the operation section has acquired the first operation, set a timer in accordance with an operation amount of the first operation and change a display of the icon on the display section in accordance with a progress of the timer, and to, when the operation section has acquired the second operation or when the timer has expired, cause the imaging section to image the object.
US09952748B1 Contextual recommendations based on interaction within collections of content
The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a method that includes storing one or more first content items and a second content item that belong to a collection at a content hosting system. The method further includes receiving one or more interactions with the first content items from one or more first user accounts. The method further includes selecting, by a processing device, the second content item and providing a recommendation to a second user account to view the second content item based on the second content item belonging to the same collection as the first content items and on the interactions with the first content items.
US09952743B2 Max mode
A smartpad is provided that has various display modes.
US09952742B2 Providing trending information to users
A system may provide, via a user interface, information identifying two or more of trending search-related information, trending video-related information, trending image-related information, or trending news-related information. The two or more of the trending search-related information, the trending video-related information, the trending image-related information, or the trending news-related information are visually presented as graphical items. Each graphical item, of the graphical items, is visually identified as corresponding to the trending search-related information, the trending video-related information, the trending image-related information, or the trending news-related information. The user interface presents multiple graphical items simultaneously. The system may further receive information identifying a topic, and provide, based on receiving the information identifying the topic, a subsequent group of graphical items, on the user interface. The subsequent group of graphical items relates to the topic.
US09952740B1 Color conversion panel, display device including the same, and method of manufacturing color conversion panel
A color conversion panel includes a substrate, a color conversion layer, a transmission layer, and a blue light cutting filter. The color conversion layer is disposed on the substrate. The color conversion layer includes a quantum dot. The transmission layer is disposed on the substrate. The blue light cutting filter is disposed between the substrate and the color conversion layer. An interface between the color conversion layer and the blue light cutting filter includes irregularities.
US09952734B2 Touch panel and touch device including the same
A touch panel includes a substrate, a sensing electrode on the substrate, wires to electrically connect the sensing electrode, a first ground electrode between the sensing electrode and the wire, and an overlap area where the first ground electrode overlaps with the sensing electrode. A touch panel of another embodiment includes a substrate on which an active area and an unactive area are defined, a sensing electrode on the active area, a wire disposed on the unactive area to electrically connect the sensing electrode, and a first ground electrode provided on the active area between the sensing electrode and the wire.
US09952733B2 Touch screen panel having a plurality of openings in a plurality of sensing cells
A touch screen panel includes a transparent substrate, a first sensing line and a second sensing line. The first sensing line includes first sensing cells arranged along a first direction and first connection patterns coupling the first sensing cells. The second sensing line includes second sensing cells arranged in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and second connection patterns coupling the second sensing cells. At least one of the first and the second sensing cells includes openings and conductive patterns located in the openings.
US09952729B2 Display device
A touch screen panel includes a plurality of pixels on a substrate, a sealing thin film on the substrate, and a plurality of sensing electrodes on the sealing thin film, each of the sensing electrodes having a mesh structure, the mesh structures of the sensing electrodes and the pixels overlapping different portions of the substrate.
US09952728B2 Device and method for measuring capacitance difference
A driving signal is outputted to each of the first and second capacitors in a measurement period so that voltage changes occur at the first and second capacitors. First and second modulating voltage signals are provided for the first and the second capacitors in the measurement period. An output signal in a first state or a second state according to a voltage difference between the first and second capacitors is generated. One of the voltage values of the first and second modulating voltage is automatically adjusted according to the output signal. A characteristic value for indicating a capacitance difference between the first capacitor and the second capacitor, which correlates to a length of time from a start point of the measurement period to a specified point that a condition change of the output signal occurs or a slope of the first or second modulating voltage signal, is generated.
US09952725B2 Liquid crystal display device and electronic device having sensor circuit comprising a transistor and a capacitor
A novel liquid crystal display device (LCD) including a touch sensor. The LCD includes a first substrate and a second substrate, which face each other, and a liquid crystal layer. The first substrate is provided with a pixel electrode. The second substrate is provided with a first electrode, a second electrode, and an insulating layer. The pixel electrode overlaps with the first electrode with the liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. The second electrode overlaps with the first electrode with the insulating layer interposed therebetween. The LCD generates a signal corresponding to a potential of the second electrode. This structure enables a thin and lightweight LCD.
US09952724B2 Display device and operation method thereof
A flexible display device with high viewability is provided. The display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a first element layer, and a second element layer. The first element layer is positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate. The second element layer is positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first element layer and the second element layer overlap with each other in a region. The first substrate and the second substrate have flexibility. The first element layer includes a display element and a first circuit. The display element is electrically connected to the first circuit. The second element layer includes a sensor element. The sensor element has a function of sensing distortion.
US09952720B2 Capacitive touch screen interference detection and operation
A processing system for a capacitive touch screen comprises sensor circuitry and control logic. The sensor circuitry is configured to communicatively couple with sensor electrodes of the capacitive touch screen. The control logic is configured to operate the capacitive touch screen in a first mode comprising interference sensing at a first level and input object sensing. The control logic is also configured to operate the capacitive touch screen in a second mode instead of the first mode in response to: interference measured in the first mode meeting an interference condition; and a determination that input is in a sensing region of the capacitive touch screen. Operating in the first mode, interference sensing is performed during a non-display update time. Operating in the second mode, interference sensing with the capacitive touch screen is either not performed or is performed at a second level, lower in fidelity than the first level.
US09952719B2 Waveguide-based touch system employing interference effects
A touch system that employs interference effects is disclosed. The touch system includes first and second waveguides that have first and second optical paths that define an optical path difference. The first and second waveguides are configured so that a touch event deforms at least one of the waveguides in a manner that causes the optical path difference to change. The change in the optical path difference is detected by combining the light traveling in the two waveguides to form interfered light. The interfered light is processed to determine the occurrence of a touch event. The time-evolution of the deformation at the touch-event location can also be determined by measuring the interfered light over the duration of the touch event.
US09952714B2 Touch panel device
A touch panel device including: a first substrate having a plurality of first patterns which are electrically separated from each other; a second substrate having a plurality of second patterns which are arranged opposite to the first patterns and electrically separated from each other; and a controller that is in a pause state until one of the first patterns contacts one of the second patterns, and begins detection of an input position when one of the first patterns contacts one of the second patterns.
US09952707B2 Password input device
A password input device includes: at least two mutually separate touch display screens; a controller configured to control the touch display screen to randomly display characters; and a processor configured to determine the characters currently displayed on corresponding touch display screens subjected to a touch operation after detecting the touch operation, determine a character string inputted by a user according to a sequence of the touch operation, and take the character string as a password inputted by the user. The password input device can adopt a flexible overall arrangement mode of the character string for the password and improve the security of password input. A password input method is further disclosed.
US09952704B2 Annular user interface
Technologies are generally described for a user interface system configured to detect a user's action. In various examples, an electronic device operable by a user may include an annular sensor and a processor. The annular sensor may be configured to detect a touch input. The processor may be operatively coupled to the annular sensor, and configured to determine an action by the user that corresponds to the touch input.
US09952700B2 Display device
A display device includes: a plurality of pixel electrodes each of which is provided in each of a plurality of sub-pixels arranged in a display region; a driving electrode provided so as to overlap the plurality of pixel electrodes when seen in a plan view; a plurality of detecting electrodes provided so as to overlap the driving electrode when seen in a plan view; and a dummy electrode provided apart from the detecting electrodes. The detecting electrodes and the dummy electrode include a metal layer or an alloy layer. A ratio of total sum of areas of portions of the plurality sub-pixels which overlap any of the detecting electrodes and the dummy electrode when seen in a plan view to total sum of areas of the plurality of sub-pixels is 1 to 22%.
US09952699B2 Touch electrode structure, touch panel and display device
A touch electrode structure, a touch panel and a display device are provided. The touch electrode structure includes at least one first touch electrode (101) and a plurality of second touch electrodes (102), the at least one first touch electrode is of annular shape; the plurality of second touch electrodes (102) are insulated from the at least one first touch electrode (101), the plurality of second touch electrodes (102) are arranged along a circumferential direction of the annular first touch electrode (101) and extend along a radial direction of the annular first touch electrode (101), so as to overlap the at least one first touch electrode (101). The touch electrode structure may be used in a non-rectangular touch panel, which can solve a problem that an edge of the touch panel or the touch electrode at the corner is not completely or evenly covered.
US09952698B2 Dynamic adjustment of touch resolutions on an AMOLED display
Dynamically adjusting a touch resolution of a display having pixel circuits each including an OLED driven by a driving transistor according to programming information representing a desired brightness for each OLED. A first touch resolution of the display is defined to create first touch zones relative to the display as images are being displayed thereon. A first touch in one of the first touch zones is detected by measuring a voltage across an anode and a cathode of each of a first set of OLEDs in the first touch zone. The first touch resolution is dynamically changed to a different second touch resolution to create second touch zones as further images are being displayed. A second touch in one of the second touch zones is detected by measuring a voltage across an anode and a cathode of each of a second set of OLEDs in the second touch zone.
US09952697B2 Touch module and manufacturing method thereof
A touch module and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The touch module includes a substrate, at least one first touch electrode, and at least one second touch electrode. The first touch electrode is embedded into the substrate. The second touch electrode is embedded into the substrate. A height of the first touch electrode relative to a first surface of the substrate is different from a height of the second touch electrode relative to the first surface of the substrate, such that the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode are insulated from each other.
US09952694B2 Display device integrated with touch screen
Disclosed is a display device integrated with touch screen. The display device has a reduced bezel and an enhanced aesthetic design. Left and right bezels of a panel are reduced, thus increasing an aesthetic design. A driving circuit that generates the touch driving signal is built into the panel, thus decreasing the size of the touch IC and the manufacturing cost.
US09952692B2 Sensor device and method of fabricating the same
A sensor device and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The sensor device includes a substrate, a plurality of first electrodes, a plurality of second electrodes, a plurality of sensor units, and a contact layer. The first electrodes and the second electrodes are located on at least one of surfaces of the substrate. The first electrodes are arranged along a first direction and extended along a second direction, and the second electrodes are arranged along the second direction and extended along the first direction. A plurality of intersection regions are formed by a projection of the first electrodes and the second electrodes onto the substrate. The sensor units are electrically connected to each of the first electrodes and each of the second electrodes respectively. The contact layer is located on at least the first electrodes or the second electrodes.
US09952691B2 Touch panel and image display device having the same
A touch panel may include: a sensing electrode part including a plurality of first sensing electrodes and a plurality of second sensing electrodes insulated from the first sensing electrodes and crossing the first sensing electrodes; an opening part in the sensing electrode part; and a dummy pattern adjacent to the sensing electrode part.
US09952690B2 Tablet device, and operation receiving method
A tablet device 100 according to an embodiment specifies a target area on a touch panel in which an operation is performed and determines the content of the touch operation performed in the target area. For example, the tablet device specifies the target area on the basis of the eye gaze position detected by a eye gaze detecting unit. Then, the tablet device creates a menu image that includes an option associated with the content of the touch operation, displays the created menu image in the default area, and receives the touch operation.
US09952688B2 Generating an input command
An arrangement for generating an input command having two essentially ring-shaped input elements which are spatially separate from each other, for securing to respectively a hand is provided. A processing unit for generating an input command in accordance with predefined interacting input patterns is provided. A method for generating an input command is also disclosed, wherein when an instance of touching occurs a respective input pattern is determined in at least two spatially separated input elements. An associated input command is generated from the respective input patterns as a function of input patterns which interact in a predetermined way.
US09952687B2 Apparatus for implementing touch control and fingerprint identification and terminal device comprising such apparatus
An apparatus for implementing touch control and fingerprint identification includes: a fingerprint identification sensor, a fingerprint identification circuit, a combination switch and a touch control circuit. The fingerprint identification sensor comprises a plurality of sub-sensors. The fingerprint identification sensor transmits a signal generated by detection of the plurality of sub-sensors to the fingerprint identification circuit when the combination switch is open circuited, and combines the signal generated by detection of the plurality of sub-sensors into a touch signal through the combination switch so as to transmit the touch signal to the touch control circuit when the combination switch is closed.
US09952685B2 Input device with means for altering the operating mode of the input device
An input device for a computing device includes a first input sensor for receiving a first type of instructions associated with a first operating mode of the input device, the first type of instructions including moving the first input sensor with respect to a reference surface. The input device includes a second input sensor for receiving a second type of instructions associated with a second operating mode of the input device, the second type of instructions including moving an indicator with respect to an active surface of the input device provided with said second input sensor. The input device includes a control sensor adapted to detect the position of at least a portion of the hand of a user with respect to the input device. The control sensor is coupled to a controller adapted to allow the input device to operate in either the first or the second operating mode.
US09952684B2 Input apparatus, pointing apparatus, method for displaying pointer, and recordable medium
An input apparatus is provided. The input apparatus includes a communicator configured to receive a signal from a pointing apparatus, and a controller configured to control to display the pointer on a first position of the display when a start signal is received from the pointing apparatus, and when sensed position information of the pointing apparatus is received from the pointing apparatus, the controller controls to display the pointer on a second position of the display, which corresponds to the received position information of the pointing apparatus.
US09952680B2 Positional based movements and accessibility of features associated with a vehicle
Methods and systems are presented for accepting inputs into a vehicle or other conveyance to control functions of the conveyance. A vehicle control system can receive gestures and other inputs. The vehicle control system can also obtain information about the user of the vehicle control system and information about the environment in which the conveyance is operating. Based on the input and the other information, the vehicle control system can modify or improve the performance or execution of user interface and functions of the conveyance. The changes make the user interfaces and/or functions user-friendly and intuitive.
US09952672B2 Arrangement, method and computer program for controlling a computer apparatus based on eye-tracking
A computer apparatus is associated with a graphical display presenting at least one GUI-component adapted to be manipulated based on user-generated commands. An event engine is adapted to receive an eye-tracking data signal that describes a user's point of regard on the display. Based on the signal, the event engine produces a set of non-cursor controlling event output signals, which influence the at least one GUI-component. Each non-cursor controlling event output signal describes a particular aspect of the user's ocular activity in respect of the display. Initially, the event engine receives a control signal request from each of the at least one GUI-component. The control signal request defines a sub-set of the set of non-cursor controlling event output signals which is required by the particular GUI-component. The event engine delivers non-cursor controlling event output signals to the at least one GUI-component in accordance with each respective control signal request.
US09952670B2 Operation panel and image forming apparatus including the same
An operation panel that is incorporated in an apparatus generating vibration during operation, and displays an operation screen of the apparatus to receive operation from a user includes: a touch panel that includes a display area of the operation screen, and detects contact between an external object and the display area; a vibration generation unit that applies vibration to the display area; a vibration storage unit that stores a spectrum of vibration generated by operation of the apparatus as a spectrum of background vibration; and a response control unit that checks whether the apparatus is in a standby state or an operating state, and causes the vibration generation unit to apply vibration indicating a first spectrum to the display area when the apparatus is in the standby state, and vibration indicating a second spectrum to the display area when the apparatus is in the operating state.
US09952669B2 Dynamic rendering of etching input
Systems and methods that dynamically render etching inputs are provided, and include a touch surface having a sensor and configured to detect user input, and a non-transitory memory, wherein the non-transitory memory includes instructions for capturing an etching input that is applied to an image or video file, determining a haptic effect that corresponds to the etching input, the haptic effect depending on a type of etching input, and transmitting a modified image or modified video file that includes the etching input and the haptic effect.
US09952668B2 Method and apparatus for processing virtual world
In an apparatus and method for processing a virtual world, haptic information regarding a virtual object in the virtual world, the haptic information corresponding to sensed information, is extracted and transmitted to a haptic feedback device. Accordingly, interaction between a real world and the virtual world is achieved. The processing speed of the haptic information with respect to the virtual object may be increased by varying data structures according to types of the virtual object.
US09952667B2 Apparatus and method for calibration of gaze detection
There is provided an information processing apparatus including an operation detecting unit configured to detect an operation of an operator to an object that is displayed in a display screen image for performing a predetermined input, a sight line detecting unit configured to detect a movement of a sight line of the operator on the display screen image, and a correction coefficient acquiring unit configured to acquire a correction coefficient for correcting an error of a case where the operator performs sight line input, on the basis of the movement of the sight line detected during the operation of the operator to the object.
US09952664B2 Eye imaging in head worn computing
Aspects of the present invention relate to methods and systems for imaging, recognizing, and tracking of a user's eye that is wearing a HWC. Aspects further relate to the processing of images reflected from the user's eye and controlling displayed content in accordance therewith. Aspects further relate to determining health conditions of the user based on eye imaging technologies.
US09952663B2 Method for gesture-based operation control
A method may track a motion of a body part in a series of images captured by an imager that is associated with an electronic device, and detect in such motion a gesture of the body part that matches a pre-defined gesture. Upon such detection of the gesture, a function that is associated with the gesture is activated but only upon a contact or other input, such as a push of a button by a user. The combination of the ‘push to enable’ and the ‘gesture to activate the function’ may provide comfortable operation of the gesture activation of a function. A system and method of altering a zoom of an image displayed on an electronic device by detecting in a series of images a change in distance between the device and a viewer of the image, and zooming the image to correspond to such change in position. The captured images and detected change in distance may be interpreted by a processor as a zoom gesture that may trigger a zoom of the displayed image. A system and method of activating a scroll function for content that is displayed on an electronic screen, including capturing a series of images of a body part, such as a head, of a viewer of the content, and detecting a rotation, a change in orientation, or a change in a position of such head. A method may interpret the detected change as a gesture, and activate a scroll function to scroll the displayed content in a direction opposite the direction of the gesture or with other parameters defined by the detected gesture.
US09952661B2 Method for providing screen magnification and electronic device thereof
A method and an apparatus for providing screen magnification in an electronic device are provided. The method includes displaying a screen, detecting a screen magnification event, determining a target area on the screen based on the screen magnification event, and magnifying the target area on the screen.
US09952660B2 User interaction with wearable devices
Particular embodiments described herein provide for an electronic device that can be configured to determine that an unobtrusive gesture has been received on a first electronic device and send a signal to a second electronic device in response to the unobtrusive gesture. The first electronic device can also be configured to receive a signal from the second electronic device, determine an unobtrusive output in response to the signal, and generate an unobtrusive notification in response to the received signal. In an example, the first electronic device is a part of jewelry worn by a user.
US09952650B2 Hardware apparatus and method for multiple processors dynamic asymmetric and symmetric mode switching
A processing system with multiple processors is switchable between two modes of operation dynamically: symmetrical multi-processing (SMP) and asymmetrical multi-processing (ASMP). The system uses certain criteria to determine when to switch to improve the power consumption or performance. A controller enables control and fast-switching between the two modes. Upon receipt of a switching command to switch between SMP and ASMP, a series or sequence of actions are performed to control voltage supplies and CPU/memory clocks to the multiple processors and cache memory.
US09952648B2 Digital filtering device, digital filtering method, and storage media storing program
A digital filtering device is provided that makes it possible to reduce the size and power consumption of circuitry for filtering using FFT and IFFT. The digital filtering device includes a first filtering unit for receiving first data in a first sequence, performing a first filtering process including a fast Fourier transformation process and an inverse fast Fourier transformation process on the first data, and outputting second data in the first sequence.
US09952642B2 Content dependent display variable refresh rate
Systems and methods for operating a display by dynamically determining a refresh rate for the display. In certain implementations, a processor determines a number of pixels having medium grayscale levels from a histogram for the image. If the number does not exceed a threshold, the processor sets a refresh rate for the display to a first refresh rate. In certain implementations, if the number exceeds a threshold, the processor may set the refresh rate for the display to a second refresh rate. Moreover, the first refresh rate may be lower than the second threshold. In some implementations, the image may be analyzed by subdividing the image into blocks and determining a refresh rate based on grayscale levels or distributions in the blocks. Based on the analysis of the blocks, a corresponding refresh rate may be selected.
US09952639B2 System and method for providing cooling support of cards in an information handling system
An information handling system includes a fan controller, and a controller. The fan controller controls a speed of a cooling fan. The controller detects a presence of a card within the information handling system, determines whether the card matches a first thermal control method of a plurality of thermal control methods, utilizes the first thermal control method to cool the card in response to the card matching the first thermal control method, otherwise determines whether the card matches a next in order thermal control method of the thermal control methods.
US09952634B2 Interfacing with multiple components connected to a printed circuit board
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for interfacing with multiple components connected to a printed circuit board. An apparatus includes a plurality of hardware components that each include a first interface. An apparatus includes a printed circuit board that includes a plurality of interfaces that communicatively couple each of the hardware components to the printed circuit board via the first interface. The printed circuit board includes a second interface that communicatively couples the printed circuit board to an information handling device and manages communications between the information handling device and each of the hardware components coupled to the printed circuit board.
US09952630B2 Power system including a coupling mechanism
In one general aspect, an apparatus can include a base component including a keyed mount receptacle, and a power component including a keyed mount configured to be inserted into the keyed mount receptacle. The power component can be configured to be lockably coupled to the base component when the power component is rotated with respect to the base component.
US09952623B2 Electronic apparatus
There is provided an electronic apparatus, including a first housing, a second housing which has a display section and a support member supporting the display section, and a housing connection section which rotatably connects the second housing with respect to the first housing. The support member includes a first support section connected to the housing connection section, a second support section which fixedly supports the display section, and a support connection section, positioned between the first support section and the second support section, which has a flexibility to rotatably connect the second support section with respect to the first support section.
US09952618B2 Handlebar grips and handlebar assemblies including the same
A handlebar grip including an inward portion defining an inward portion outer diameter, an outward portion defining an outward portion outer diameter, and a recessed portion, located between the inward portion and the outward portion, and defining a recessed portion outer diameter that is less than the inward portion outer diameter and the outward portion outer diameter.
US09952616B2 Differential circuit including a current mirror
A differential circuit includes a first constant current circuit, a second constant current circuit having the same constant current value as the first constant current circuit, a current mirror including a first transistor having a current sink terminal connected to the first constant current circuit, a current drain terminal to which a first input voltage is applied, and a gate short-circuited to the current sink terminal, and a second transistor having a gate connected to the current sink terminal of the first transistor and a current drain terminal to which a second input voltage is applied, and a current output terminal connected to a connection node between a part in which a current based on an output current of the current mirror flows and the second constant current circuit.
US09952614B2 Monitoring system for proactive service of devices
Arrangements described herein relate to accessing a cloud based service. Responsive to a user of a first communication device initiating access to the cloud based service via the first communication device, a prompt for a valid password to be entered to access the cloud based service can be received by the first communication device. Responsive to the valid password required to access the cloud based service not being stored on the first communication device, the first communication device can automatically retrieve the valid password from a second communication device via a peer-to-peer ad hoc communication link between the first communication device and the second communication device. The valid password can be automatically provided, by the first communication device, to a login service for the cloud based service to obtain access by the first communication device to the cloud based service.
US09952605B2 Pilot operated fluid regulators having a reset apparatus and related methods
Fluid regulator systems having reset apparatus and methods are described herein. A fluid regulator system includes a fluid regulator including a loading chamber and a supply chamber. The supply chamber is in fluid communication with a supply fluid. The system includes a first fluid control device having a loading inlet and a loading outlet. The loading inlet receives a loading fluid from a loading fluid source and the loading outlet is in fluid communication with the loading chamber. The first fluid control device controls fluid flow between the loading fluid source and the loading chamber. A second fluid control device includes a vent inlet and a vent outlet. The vent inlet is in fluid communication with the loading outlet and the loading chamber and the vent outlet is in fluid communication with a vent. The second fluid control device to control fluid flow between the loading chamber and the vent.
US09952603B2 System and method for enhancing the production level of wells
A control system for optimizing the flow of fluid from a plurality of pipelines in communication with a resource field includes a sensor array detecting characteristics of the resource field, the plurality of pipelines, and the flow of fluid through the plurality of pipelines. A first manifold assembly and a second manifold assembly each selectively receives the flow of fluid from any of the plurality of pipelines. A controller is provided to be in communication with the sensor array, the first manifold assembly and the second manifold assembly. The controller selectively diverts the flow of the fluid from a first group of the plurality of pipelines to one of the first and the second manifold assemblies, and diverts a second group of the plurality of pipelines to another of the first and the second manifold assemblies, in dependence upon the characteristics being communicated to the controller.
US09952602B2 Liquid material application device
A liquid material application device can alleviate programming work for drawing a line. The device includes a discharge head (50) for discharging a liquid material, a worktable (25) on which a workpiece is placed, a robot (20) for moving the discharge head and the worktable relative to each other in XYZ directions, and a control unit including an arithmetic device and a storage device for storing an application program, the liquid material application device applying the liquid material to be drawn in the form of a line on the workpiece while the workpiece and the discharge head are moved relative to each other, the control unit includes a first control unit (30) for moving the workpiece and the discharge head relative to each other in accordance with the application program, and a second control unit (40) for controlling a discharge amount of the discharge head.
US09952600B2 Systems for a shared vehicle
The present invention relates to a system for automatically adjusting a vehicle feature of a vehicle, where the system includes a first sensor, an onboard computer, a camera, a mirror, a controller; an actuator; and an algorithm. The algorithm instructs the onboard computer in steps for adjusting one or more vehicle features. The first sensor and the controller are in electronic communication with the onboard computer and the controller is in electronic communication with one or more actuators that connect to and adjust the various vehicle features. The onboard computer includes or accesses a database that correlates users, features, and vehicle feature settings. Such vehicle features include seat position and camera viewing angle.
US09952589B1 Inventory system with swiveling vertically mobile drive units
Disclosed inventory systems, methods, and devices can be used to retrieve and transport resources from one location to another. Specifically, a vertically mobile drive unit including a vertical element retention mechanism can be controlled by a management component to retrieve a resource, transport the resource from one floor to a different floor in an inventory system, and deposit the resource at a destination. The vertically mobile drive unit can transit vertically along a vertically disposed element in an inventory system, such as a structural pole or column; and can rotate around the structural pole or column in order to set down on an upper level after ascending, or to clear the upper level prior to descending.
US09952585B2 Computer controlled work tool apparatus and method
A polishing machine is described in which a surface treatment tool is moved across the surface of a workpiece in accordance with a predefined tool-path, in order to carry out the desired treatment process. The tool-path is non-periodic and preferably pseudo-random. Various techniques are described for generating data representing the tool-path to be followed. A technique is also described for determining optimum control parameters used to control the polishing machine for a given tool-path. The surface treatment may be a shaping technique in which material is removed from the surface, or a technique for adding material to the surface of the workpiece, or a technique for modifying the surface or a region under the surface of the workpiece.
US09952584B2 Modifying a digital ophthalmic lens map to accommodate characteristics of a lens surfacing machine
A system that can analyze and modify a point map file corresponding to a digital lens design is described. The digital lens design is optimized to meet a patient's ophthalmic prescription. However, a digital surfacing machine may not be physically capable of producing on a lens blank a lens curvature required by the prescription and defined by the point map file. The system takes into account limitations of physical characteristics of the digital surfacing machine, such as the diameter and speed of movement of the cutting tool, and modifies the point map file so that the digital surfacing machine can produce the lens curvature on the lens blank.
US09952582B2 Method of controlling feed axes in machine tool, and machine tool performing machining by using the method of controlling feed axes
Maximum values of actual machining allowances of a workpiece in respective cutting flutes are averaged by control amounts of respective cutting flutes calculated by an arithmetic unit. The arithmetic unit converts the calculated control amounts into an amount in each axis direction and subtracts the value from a feed axis command value in an NC program stored in a storage unit. Then, a numeral value control unit performs machining by controlling respective feed axes based on the subtracted feed axis command value.
US09952580B2 Method and an apparatus for machining a part for an assembly
A method and apparatus for machining a part for an assembly. First sensor data is acquired for a surface of a first part from a first sensor system. Second sensor data is acquired for a set of existing holes in a second part from a second sensor system. A surface model of the surface of the first part is generated using the first sensor data. First offset data is computed based on a nominal model of a third part that is nominally positioned relative to the surface model within a three-dimensional virtual environment. Second offset data is computed for the set of existing holes using the second sensor data. Overall offset data is generated using the first and second offset data, wherein the overall offset data is used to drill a set of holes in the third part for use in fastening the third part to the second part.
US09952579B2 Control device
A control system CPU card includes a control CPU chip having a first core and a second core, and a main memory for storing information. A standby system CPU card includes a standby CPU chip having a first core and a second core, and a main memory for storing information. An I/F performs communication to allow the CPU cards to share the information. In the control system CPU card, when the first core is normal, the first core performs control calculation and outputs a calculation result. When the first core is abnormal, the second core is switched to a control core, to perform control calculation and continue output of a calculation result. When the cores are both abnormal, system switching is performed from the control system CPU card to the standby system CPU card.
US09952577B2 Graph theory and network analytics and diagnostics for process optimization in manufacturing
A system, method, and computer-readable medium are disclosed for analysis and characterization of manufacturing information such as process trees or genealogies using graph theory. More specifically, using graph theory to analyze manufacturing information of a manufacturing operation allows for deep analysis of relationships between batches or units in a process tree and their closeness or distance, to identify clusters associated with specific quality characteristics or problems, to identify common antecedents of specifically labeled batches (e.g., problem batches), and/or to detect overall desirable or undesirable characteristics of the process tree (e.g., centrality, etc.).
US09952576B2 Methods and apparatus to learn and share remote commands
Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to learn and share remote commands are disclosed. An example method to configure a playback device to be controlled by a remote control includes receiving by the playback device a first code for a first command from the remote control. The example method includes identifying by the playback device a second code for a second command based on the received first code. The example method includes receiving by the playback device the second code from the remote control. The example method includes executing the second command by the playback device.
US09952575B2 Energy management systems and methods
This disclosure relates generally to energy management and more particularly to energy management systems and methods. In one embodiment, a method of communicating data within an energy management system is disclosed. The method includes performing energy management analytics on data collected from a plurality of devices in the energy management system. The method further includes transmitting a plurality of dynamically configurable data frames. Each dynamically configurable data frame comprising at least a portion of data collected from the plurality of devices and a result of the energy management analytics and being encrypted in a format that avoids transmission of a plurality of repetitive data parameters. The method includes decrypting the plurality of dynamically configurable data frames received to perform advanced analytics on the data and the result.
US09952573B2 Systems and methods for a graphical user interface of a controller for an energy-consuming system having spatially related discrete display elements
Devices and methods are provided for generating and/or displaying a graphical user interface used to control an energy-consuming system, such as a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system. Such an electronic device may include, for example, a processor that generates the graphical user interface and an electronic display that displays the graphical user interface. The graphical user interface may include a menu formed from discrete display elements that, owing to the way in which the discrete display elements are shifted into and out of view on the screen, appear to be spatially related to one another.
US09952570B2 Electric power management
The disclosure is related to a method for controlling an electric power consumption amount of a consumer by a server coupled to a smart grid for managing electric power distribution. The method may include receiving signals having information on electric power consumption amounts from a meter of a consumer through a communication network, determining an electric power consumption pattern of the consumer based on the information on electric power consumption amounts, calculating electric power supply amounts for a predetermined time period based on the determined electric power consumption pattern of the consumer, and transmitting a control signal to the meter of the consumer through a communication network for controlling an electric power consumption amount of the consumer based on the calculated electric power supply amounts.
US09952568B2 Interface device for an energy harvesting system
Described embodiments relate generally to energy harvesting systems and interface devices for such systems. In particular, such energy harvesting systems may be configured to harvest kinetic energy from the environment, such as wind, hydro, wave or geothermal energy or to harvest electromagnetic energy like solar radiation. Embodiments also relate to systems and methods to facilitate remote monitoring and/or control of a system comprising an interface device.
US09952567B2 Method for setting up a functionality for a control unit
A method is provided for populating a function for a control unit with data, in which method measurements are performed on a system at different measuring points on a test stand, and a global data-based model is set up based on the obtained measured values, and virtual measurements which simulate real measurements on the test stand are carried out on the global data-based model, and uncertainties for virtual measured values of the virtual measurements are determined from the global data-based model, the uncertainties of the virtual measured values being taken into account when populating the function for the control unit with data.
US09952564B2 Circuit arrangement and method for controlling the operation of a plurality of components requiring a supply in a circuit arrangement
According to various embodiments, a circuit arrangement is described that has a plurality of components requiring a supply. Each component requiring a supply is set up to output a signal that indicates a subsequent power requirement of the component requiring a supply. The circuit arrangement further has a control device that is set up to take the signals as a basis for ascertaining a value that represents a subsequent power requirement of the plurality of components requiring a supply, to ascertain whether the value satisfies a prescribed criterion, and to control the operation of the components requiring a supply on the basis of whether the value satisfies the prescribed criterion.
US09952563B2 Smart watch
A smart watch is provided. The smart watch includes: a dial having two ends; a first watchband; a second watchband, the first watchband and the second watchband being connected to the two ends of the dial, respectively; an RF (Radio Frequency) transceiver circuit built in the dial; a feeder arranged on a surface of the first watchband or arranged inside the first watchband; and a conductive connecting member connected to an end of the first watchband and having a non-closed structure, wherein the conductive connecting member is operable as an antenna to connect with the RF transceiver circuit via the feeder and as a first watchband connector to connect the first watchband and the second watchband.
US09952562B2 Timing signal generating device, electronic apparatus, moving object, method of generating timing signals, and method of controlling satellite signal receiver
A timing signal generating device includes a GPS receiver and a processing unit. The GPS receiver functions as a positioning calculation unit, and receives satellite signals transmitted from GPS satellites and performs positioning calculation based on trajectory information and time information contained in the received satellite signals. Further, the processing unit functions as a position information generation unit, and generates position information of a receiving point based on a mode value or a median value in results of the positioning calculation at a plurality of times by the GPS receiver.
US09952561B2 Radio timepiece, method for acquiring leap second correction information and recording medium
A radio timepiece, including: a satellite radio wave receiver; a ground wave receiver; a memory; and a controller, wherein the controller performs area determination operation of determining whether a current position is located within a geographical range where the ground wave receiver is capable of acquiring notice information regarding implementation/non-implementation of the leap second adjustment, when the controller determines that the current position is located within the geographical range, the controller controls the ground wave receiver to acquire the notice information, the controller determines, with the notice information, whether the leap second adjustment is scheduled to be implemented at an implementation candidate timing of the leap second adjustment, and when the controller determines that the leap second adjustment is scheduled to be implemented, the controller changes the leap second correction information at or after the implementation candidate timing.
US09952560B2 Switch device and timepiece
A switch device including a case which is provided with a through hole and has a built-in module, a cylindrical member which is attached to the through hole of the case and whose inner end portion protrudes inside the case and is held in the module and outer end portion protrudes outside the case, and an operation member including a shaft section which is arranged inside the cylindrical member in a manner to be slidable in an axial direction of the cylindrical member so as to operate the module and a head section which is provided on an outer end portion of the shaft section and covers and slidably holds the outer end portion of the cylindrical member.
US09952558B2 Compressible seal for rotatable and translatable input mechanisms
An electronic device has a housing and a rotatable and translatable input mechanism. The housing has an aperture and the rotatable and translatable input mechanism has a shaft positioned at least partially within the aperture and a manipulation structure coupled to the shaft. The manipulation structure may be manipulated to rotationally and translationally move the shaft to provide rotational and translational input to the electronic device. A compressible seal is positioned in a gap between the housing and the rotatable and translatable input mechanism. The compressible seal may resist and/or prevent passage of contaminants into the aperture and/or obscure one or more internal components. The compressible seal may be configured to collapse or bend when the rotatable and translatable member translates.
US09952557B2 System for producing ultra-thin color phase hologram with metasurfaces
A device for producing a subwavelength hologram. The device comprises a metasurface layer attached to a substrate. The metasurface layer includes an array of plasmonic antennas that simultaneously encode both wavelength and phase information of light directed through the array to produce a hologram. The wavelength is determined by the size of the antennas, and the phase is determined by the orientation of the antennas.
US09952556B2 Method for single-write holographic imaging
A method for single-write holographic imaging involves determining a layout of a plurality of holographic images on a substrate, the plurality of holographic images including at least a first holographic image having a first parameter set and a second holographic image having a second parameter set, inputting the parameter sets into a database and controlling an imaging apparatus to image the first and second holographic images on the substrate in a single session to create an integrated holographic pattern.
US09952555B2 Cartridge configured to be removably attachable to an image forming apparatus
Disclosed is a cartridge attachable/detachable to/from an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus. A bearing member for pivotally supports a rotation member has an engaged portion that is arranged at a part on one end side of the cartridge in a direction of a rotational axis of the rotation member and engaged with an engaging portion provided in the apparatus body. An engagement state between the engaged portion and the engaging portion is maintained until at least a coupling of the rotation member is coupled to a driving shaft provided in the apparatus body in a process of attaching the cartridge to the apparatus body. A movement of the bearing member to at least the other end side in the direction of the rotational axis with respect to the apparatus body is restricted when the engaged portion and the engaging portion are put into the engagement state.
US09952553B2 Developing cartridge provided with receiving member capable of efficiently transmitting drive force to developer carrier
A developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developer carrier; and a receiving member. The casing includes a support portion. The receiving member receives a drive force from an external drive source to transmit the drive force to the developer carrier. The receiving member has a cylindrical configuration. The support portion rotatably supports the receiving member. The receiving member includes: a receiving portion; a transmission portion; and a fitting portion. The receiving portion has an outer edge in a radial direction of the receiving member. The transmission portion defines an outer circumferential edge of the receiving member. The fitting portion is positioned inward of the transmission portion in the radial direction and fitted with the support portion. The outer edge of the receiving portion is positioned inward of the transmission portion in the radial direction and outward of the fitting portion in the radial direction.
US09952551B2 Image forming apparatus for performing scraping process to scrape photosensitive member
An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a charger, a developing device, a transfer device, a scraper, and a controller. The controller performs an image formation process to form the developer image on the photosensitive member by using the developing device. The controller acquires, as a first value, at least one of a value of the charging current flowing in the charger and a value of the transferring current flowing in the transfer device. The controller calculates an accumulation current value by using result of an integral of a second value over time. The second value is an absolute value of the first value. The controller performs a scraping process in which the scraper scrapes the photosensitive member when the accumulation current value reaches a threshold value.
US09952548B2 Image forming apparatus and image forming method having decolorizing function in the image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus comprises an image forming section; a fixing device; an input section; a storage section which stores a target temperature of the fixing device in a case of carrying out the fixing processing and a target temperature of the fixing device in a case of carrying out the erasing processing; and a control section which controls to read out lower one of the target temperature of the fixation and the target temperature of the erasure from the storage section to set the lower one to the target temperature of the fixing device in a case in which the processing information of the fixing processing and the erasing processing is input by the input section and the processing is continuously carried out, and drive the fixing device via the driving section at a driving speed corresponding to each of the fixing processing and the erasing processing.
US09952544B2 Image forming apparatus and control device therefor
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion for forming an image, a human presence sensor for detecting presence of a human body adjacent the apparatus, and a controller capable of executing an adjustment process operation for the image forming portion when a first predetermined number of prints are produced. When the human presence sensor detects a human body in the neighborhood of the apparatus, the execution of the adjustment process operation is deferred to reduce the waiting time necessitated by the adjustment operation, but if a second predetermined number of prints are produced, the image forming operation of the image forming portion is interrupted, and the deferred adjustment process is executed.
US09952543B2 Image-forming apparatus with interrupt printing function
Provided is an image-forming apparatus that prevents a drop in processing speed even when a preceding job is interrupted by a simple job (interrupt job). The image-forming apparatus includes a printer unit that prints on paper, a first transporting path that passes by the printer unit, a second transporting path that path branches off from the first transporting path and moves paper that has been turned over from front to back further upstream than the printer unit, a storage unit that stores a condition table indicates conditions for which a preceding job can be interrupted by an interrupt job, and a system-control unit that references the condition table, and when the preceding job can be interrupted, sets a printing order so that printing of the interrupt job is inserted into the printing order of the preceding job.
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