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US09978868B2 Negative capacitance field effect transistor with charged dielectric material
The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device in accordance with some embodiments. The semiconductor device includes a substrate; a gate stack over the substrate. The gate stack includes a ferroelectric layer; a first dielectric material layer; and a first conductive layer. One of the first dielectric material layer and the ferroelectric layer is electrically charged to form a charged layer with fixed charge. The semiconductor device further includes source and drain features formed on the substrate and disposed on sides of the gate stack.
US09978859B2 Semiconductor device with non-uniform trench oxide layer
A semiconductor device includes a trench formed in an epitaxial layer and an oxide layer that lines the sidewalls of the trench. The thickness of the oxide layer is non-uniform, so that the thickness of the oxide layer toward the top of the trench is thinner than it is toward the bottom of the trench. The epitaxial layer can have a non-uniform dopant concentration, where the dopant concentration varies according to the thickness of the oxide layer.
US09978858B2 Methods of manufacturing gallium nitride devices
Gallium nitride material devices and methods associated with the same. In some embodiments, the devices may be transistors which include a conductive structure connected to a source electrode. The conductive structure may form a source field plate which can be formed over a dielectric material and can extend in the direction of the gate electrode of the transistor. The source field plate may reduce the electrical field (e.g., peak electrical field and/or integrated electrical field) in the region of the device between the gate electrode and the drain electrode which can lead to a number of advantages including reduced gate-drain feedback capacitance, reduced surface electron concentration, increased breakdown voltage, and improved device reliability. These advantages enable the gallium nitride material transistors to operate at high drain efficiencies and/or high output powers. The devices can be used in RF power applications, amongst others.
US09978852B2 Methods of fabricating complementary gallium nitride integrated circuits
An embodiment of a complementary GaN integrated circuit includes a GaN layer with a first bandgap. A second layer with a second bandgap is formed on the GaN layer, resulting in a 2DEG in a contact region between the GaN layer and the second layer. The second layer has a relatively thin portion and a relatively thick portion. A third layer is formed over the relatively thick portion of the second layer. The third layer has a third bandgap that is different from the second bandgap, resulting in a 2DHG in a contact region between the second layer and the third layer. A transistor of a first conductivity type includes the 2DHG, the relatively thick portion of the second layer, and the third layer, and a transistor of a second conductivity type includes the 2DEG and the relatively thin portion of the second layer.
US09978850B2 Contact for high-k metal gate device
An integrated circuit having an improved gate contact and a method of making the circuit are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes receiving a substrate. The substrate includes a gate stack disposed on the substrate and an interlayer dielectric disposed on the gate stack. The interlayer dielectric is first etched to expose a portion of the gate electrode, and then the exposed portion of the gate electrode is etched to form a cavity. The cavity is shaped such that a portion of the gate electrode overhangs the electrode. A conductive material is deposited within the cavity and in electrical contact with the gate electrode. In some such embodiments, the etching of the gate electrode forms a curvilinear surface of the gate electrode that defines the cavity.
US09978847B2 Method for producing a high-voltage transistor with reduced footprint, and corresponding integrated circuit
An integrated MOS transistor is formed in a substrate. The transistor includes a gate region buried in a trench of the substrate. The gate region is surrounded by a dielectric region covering internal walls of the trench. A source region and drain region are situated in the substrate on opposite sides of the trench. The dielectric region includes an upper dielectric zone situated at least partially between an upper part of the gate region and the source and drain regions. The dielectric region further includes a lower dielectric zone that is less thick than the upper dielectric zone and is situated between a lower part of the gate region and the substrate.
US09978845B2 Method of obtaining planar semipolar gallium nitride surfaces
Methods and structures for forming flat, continuous, planar, epitaxial layers of semipolar III-nitride materials on patterned sapphire substrates are described. Semipolar GaN may be grown from inclined c-plane facets on a patterned sapphire substrate, and coalesced to form a continuous layer of semipolar III-nitride semiconductor over the sapphire substrate. Planarization of the layer is followed by crystal regrowth using a nitrogen carrier gas to produce a flat, microfabrication-grade, process surface of semipolar III-nitride semiconductor across the substrate. Quality multiple quantum wells can be fabricated in the regrown semipolar material.
US09978841B2 Graphene-based laminate and method of preparing the same
Provided are a graphene-based laminate and a method of preparing the graphene-based laminate. The graphene-based laminate may include a substrate; a graphene layer formed on at least one surface of the substrate; and an inorganic layer formed on the graphene layer and including a fluorine-containing lithium compound.
US09978838B2 Substrate structure with embedded layer for post-processing silicon handle elimination
The present disclosure relates to a substrate structure with a buried dielectric layer for post-processing silicon handle elimination. The substrate structure includes a silicon handle layer, a first silicon oxide layer over the silicon handle layer, a buried dielectric layer over the first silicon oxide layer, where the buried dielectric layer is not formed from silicon oxide, a second silicon oxide layer over the buried dielectric layer, and a silicon epitaxy layer over the second silicon oxide layer. The buried dielectric layer provides extremely selective etch stop characteristics with respect to etching chemistries for silicon and silicon oxide.
US09978834B2 Method of forming ultra-thin nanowires
Provided is a method of forming a nanowire-based device. The method includes forming a first mask layer over a substrate; forming a first opening in the first mask layer; growing a first nanowire that protrudes through the first opening in the first mask layer, wherein the first nanowire has a first diameter; removing the first mask layer; oxidizing a sidewall of the first nanowire; etching the oxidized sidewall of the first nanowire; forming a second mask layer overlaying the substrate; removing the first nanowire thereby forming a second opening in the second mask layer; and growing a second nanowire that protrudes through the second opening in the second mask layer, wherein the second nanowire has a second diameter and the second diameter is different than the first diameter.
US09978827B2 Method of manufacturing organic EL display device and organic EL display device
Provided are an organic EL display device and a method of manufacturing the organic EL display device for preventing damage caused in a process of exposing terminals and for improving light extraction from the display. A glass substrate is removed from a panel that is formed by sequentially laminating a TFT substrate, a sealing film, a flexible substrate layer, and the glass substrate. A portion of the flexible substrate layer is removed that is formed on a position corresponding to a terminal part of the TFT substrate. A transparent thin film is formed on the flexible substrate layer, and a portion of the sealing film is removed by using the transparent thin film as a mask. The portion of the sealing film is formed on the position corresponding to the terminal part of the TFT substrate.
US09978826B2 Organic light emitting display device
An organic light emitting display device is discussed. The organic light emitting display device includes a driving thin film transistor including an active layer and a gate electrode; a storage capacitor including a first electrode and a second electrode; a first pattern electrode including the gate electrode and the first electrode; an anode disposed on the driving thin film transistor and the storage capacitor; a second pattern electrode connected with an anode contact part which connects an output electrode connected with the active layer and the anode; and a patterned semiconductor layer including the active layer having a semiconductive characteristic and a shield unit having a conductive characteristic.
US09978823B2 Organic light emitting display device and method for manufacturing the same
The organic light emitting display device includes a flexible substrate, a thin-film transistor on the flexible substrate, a first anode on the thin-film transistor, a second anode on the same plane with the first anode and spaced apart from the first anode so as to surround the first anode, an organic light emitting layer on the first anode and the second anode, and a cathode on the organic light emitting layer. The second anode includes an opening where the first anode is encompassed therein. The shape of the first anode and the second anode and arrangement thereof reduces a segment length of an anode in a bending direction of the organic light emitting display device, and, thus, occurrence of cracks in the anode can be minimized.
US09978821B2 Display device
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a display device including a first substrate, a display element layer, a second substrate opposite to the first substrate, a gray film disposed on the second substrate, and a light absorbing layer disposed on the second substrate is provided. The display element layer disposed on the first substrate includes at least one pixel structure including a light-emitting layer and having a light-emitting region. An orthogonal projection area of the gray film on the second substrate overlaps an orthogonal projection area of the opening of the light absorbing layer on the second substrate. An area of the pixel structure is P, an area of the light-emitting region is W. An area of the opening is AR. W
US09978815B2 Self-light emitting display unit and electronic device
A self-light emitting display unit capable of improving manufacturing yield is provided. Sizes of color pixel circuits corresponding to pixels for R, G, and B are respectively set unevenly within a pixel circuit according to a magnitude ratio of drive currents which allow color self-light emitting elements in the pixel to emit with a same light emission luminance. Thereby, the pattern densities of color pixel circuits respectively corresponding to the pixels for R, G, and B become even to each other, and the pattern defect rate as the whole pixel circuit is decreased.
US09978797B2 Semiconductor element, manufacturing method of semiconductor element, and electronic apparatus
The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor element, a manufacturing method of a semiconductor element, and an electronic apparatus, which enable suppression of crack occurrences and leaks.The present technology has a laminated structure including an insulating film having a CTE value between those of metal and Si and disposed under a metal wiring, and P—SiO (1 μm) having good coverage and disposed as a via inner insulating film in a TSV side wall portion. As the insulating film having a CTE that is in the middle between those of metal and Si, for example, SiOC is used with a thickness of 0.1 μm and 2 μm respectively in the via inner insulating film and a field top insulating film continuous to the via inner insulating film. The present disclosure can be applied to, for example, a solid-state imaging element used in an imaging device.
US09978796B2 Methods for forming dual-side illumination image sensor chips
A Dual-Side Illumination (DSI) image sensor chip includes a first image sensor chip configured to sense light from a first direction, and a second image sensor chip aligned to, and bonded to, the first image sensor chip. The second image sensor chip is configured to sense light from a second direction opposite the first direction.
US09978788B2 Photosensitive module and method for forming the same
A method for forming a photosensitive module is provided. The method includes providing a sensing device. The sensing device includes a conducting pad located on a substrate. A first opening penetrates the substrate and exposes the conducting pad. A redistribution layer is in the first opening to electrically connect to the conducting pad. A cover plate is located on the substrate and covers the conducting pad. The method also includes removing the cover plate of the sensing device. The method further includes bonding the sensing device to a circuit board after the removal of the cover plate. The redistribution layer in the first opening is exposed and faces the circuit board. In addition, the method includes mounting an optical component corresponding to the sensing device on the circuit board. A photosensitive module formed by the method is also provided.
US09978784B2 Grids in backside illumination image sensor chips and methods for forming the same
A device includes a semiconductor substrate, which has a front side and a backside. A photo-sensitive device is disposed on the front side of the semiconductor substrate. A first and a second grid line are parallel to each other, and are disposed on the backside of, and overlying, the semiconductor substrate. A stacked layer includes an adhesion layer, a metal layer over the adhesion layer, and a high-refractive index layer over the metal layer. The adhesion layer, the metal layer, and the high-refractive index layer are substantially conformal, and extend on top surfaces and sidewalls of the first and the second grid lines.
US09978781B2 Display device
A display device including: a substrate including a display area for displaying an image and a non-display area positioned at a periphery of the display area; a plurality of pixels positioned at the display area; a plurality of data lines connected with the plurality of pixels; and a crack detecting line positioned at the non-display area, wherein the crack detecting line includes: a plurality of unit connectors extending in a first direction, wherein the first direction is parallel to an extending direction of a side of the substrate nearest to the unit connectors; and a plurality of wiring portion units connected to each other through the plurality of unit connectors, wherein the number of wiring portion units is an even number.
US09978780B2 Thin film transistor array panel and a method for manufacturing the same
A thin film transistor array panel includes a substrate; a plurality of gate lines that are formed on the substrate; a plurality of data lines that intersect the gate lines; a plurality of thin film transistors that are connected to the gate lines and the data lines; a plurality of color filters that are formed on upper parts of the gate lines, the data lines, and the thin film transistors; a common electrode that is formed on the color filters and that includes a transparent conductor; a passivation layer that is formed on an upper part of the common electrode; and a plurality of pixel electrodes that are formed on an upper part of the passivation layer and that are connected to a drain electrode of each of the thin film transistors.
US09978776B2 Display device
A pixel portion and a driver circuit driving the pixel portion are formed over the same substrate. At least a part of the driver circuit is formed using an inverted staggered thin film transistor in which an oxide semiconductor layer is used and a channel protective layer is provided over the oxide semiconductor layer serving as a channel formation region which is overlapped with the gate electrode. The driver circuit as well as the pixel portion is provided over the same substrate to reduce manufacturing costs.
US09978771B2 Manufacturing method of semiconductor device including multi-layered source layer and channel extending therethrough
There are provided a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device. A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device includes forming a preliminary source stack structure including a first source layer, a first protective layer, a sacrificial layer, a second protective layer, and a second source layer, which are sequentially stacked in the recited order, forming channel layers extending through the second source layer and partially inside the first source layer, and growing a first region of an interlayer source layer from each channel layer, the first region of the interlayer source layer surrounding each channel layer in a region between the first and second protective layers.
US09978754B2 Semiconductor arrangement with capacitor
A semiconductor arrangement includes a logic region and a memory region. The memory region has an active region that includes a semiconductor device. The memory region also has a capacitor within one or more dielectric layers over the active region. The semiconductor arrangement includes a protective ring within at least one of the logic region or the memory region and that separates the logic region from the memory region. The capacitor has a first electrode, a second electrode and an insulating layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, where an electrode unit of the first electrode has a first portion and a second portion, and where the second portion is above the first portion and is wider than the first portion.
US09978753B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a lower electrode on a substrate, a capacitor dielectric layer on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode on the capacitor dielectric layer. The capacitor dielectric layer includes a base layer on the lower electrode and a dielectric particle layer in at least a portion of the base layer. The base layer includes a first dielectric material, and the dielectric particle layer extends at least partially continuously along a thickness direction of the capacitor dielectric layer and includes a second dielectric material different from the first dielectric material.
US09978748B2 Method of cutting fins to create diffusion breaks for finFETs
A method is provided for forming an integrated circuit with FinFETs. Initially, a fin is received with a dummy gate passing thereover. The dummy gate is removed to form a space over the fin. A temporary layer is subsequently placed in the space, and an element from the temporary layer is caused to pass into a portion of the fin to form a modified fin portion. After the temporary layer is removed, at least part of the modified fin portion is etched away to form a gap in the fin.
US09978743B1 Voltage balanced stacked clamp
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods for balancing voltages during voltage division. More specifically, circuit performance is enhanced (i) balancing out the voltage drops across two field effect transistors (FETs); (ii) powering inverters through a voltage divider containing two voltage input pins during normal operation of the circuit; and (iii) powering inverters through a FET during electrostatic discharge.
US09978741B2 High voltage ESD device for finfet technology
An ESD protection device includes a semiconductor substrate, first and second fins, first and second doped regions adjacent to each other and having different conductivity types. The first doped region includes a first portion of the substrate and a first region of the first fin. The second doped region includes a second portion of the substrate and a second region of the first fin. The device also includes a first gate structure on a portion of first and second regions of the first fin, a first highly doped region in the first region of the first fin and having a same conductivity type as the first doped region, and a dopant concentration higher than the first doped region, and a second highly doped region in the second fin and having a same conductivity type as the second doped region, and a dopant concentration higher than the second doped region.
US09978737B2 Semiconductor device, method for manufacturing the same, method for generating mask data, mask and computer readable recording medium
A semiconductor device has first wiring layers and a plurality of dummy wiring layers that are provided on the same level as the first wiring layers. The semiconductor device defines a row direction, and first virtual linear lines extending in a direction traversing the row direction. The row direction and the first virtual linear lines define an angle of 2-40 degrees, and the dummy wiring layers are disposed in a manner to be located on the first virtual linear lines. The semiconductor device also defines a column direction perpendicular to the row direction, and second virtual linear lines extending in a direction traversing the column direction. The column direction and the second virtual linear lines define an angle of 2-40 degrees, and the dummy wiring layers are disposed in a manner to be located on the second virtual linear lines.
US09978734B2 Light-emitting arrangement and method of producing a light-emitting arrangement
A light-emitting arrangement includes a radiation-emitting semiconductor chip that, during operation, emits primary radiation at least from a main emission surface, a first conversion element that absorbs part of the primary radiation and emits secondary radiation, and a deflection element that causes a direction change for part of the primary radiation, wherein the first conversion element is arranged in a lateral direction next to the radiation-emitting semiconductor chip, the deflection element guides part of the primary radiation onto the first conversion element, and the light-emitting arrangement, in operation, emits mixed light including the primary radiation and the secondary radiation.
US09978725B2 LED lamp using ultra-small LED electrode assembly
Provided is an LED lamp using a nano-scale LED electrode assembly. The LED lamp using the nano-scale LED electrode assembly may solve limitations in which, when a nano-scale LED device according to the related art stands up and is three-dimensionally coupled to an electrode, it is difficult to allow the nano-scale LED device to stand up, and when the nano-scale LED devices are coupled to one-to-one correspond to electrodes different from each other, product quality is deteriorated. Thus, the nano-scale LED device having a nano unit may be connected to the two electrodes different from each other without causing defects, and light extraction efficiency may be improved due to the directivity of the nano-scale LED devices connected to the electrodes. Furthermore, deterioration in function of the LED lamp due to the defects of a portion of the nano-scale LEDs provided in the LED lamp may be minimized, and the LED lamp may have a flexible structure and shape by using the nano-scale LED electrode assembly of which a portion is deformable according to the used purpose or position of the LED lamp.
US09978723B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor substrate, a second semiconductor substrate, a bonding electrode, and a dummy electrode. The first semiconductor substrate has a first surface and a first wiring, and contains a first semiconductor material. The second semiconductor substrate has a second surface and a second wiring, and contains a second semiconductor material, and the first surface and the second surface face each other. The bonding electrode is arranged between the first surface and the second surface, and is electrically connected to the first wiring and the second wiring. The dummy electrode is arranged between the first surface and the second surface, and is electrically insulated from at least one of the first wiring and the second wiring. The bonding electrode has a bonding bump and a first bonding pad. The dummy electrode has a dummy bump and a first dummy pad.
US09978722B2 Integrated circuit package assembly with wire end above a topmost component
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe integrated circuit (IC) package assemblies having one or more wires that extend beyond a topmost component in the IC package assembly, computing devices incorporating the IC package assemblies, methods for formation of the IC package assemblies, and associated configurations. An IC package assembly may include a substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, an IC die having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, where the first side of the IC die faces the first side of the substrate, a wire electrically coupled with the IC die, where an end of the wire extends beyond a topmost component in the IC package assembly, and an overmold coupled with the topmost component. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US09978718B2 Light-emitting device and backlight module using the same
A light-emitting device is provided. The light-emitting device includes a substrate having a long edge and a short edge, at least one electrode pad assembly, and at least one light-emitting element. The at least one electrode pad assembly is disposed on the substrate and includes a first electrode pad and a second electrode pad. The at least one light-emitting element has a plurality of electrodes electrically connected to the first electrode pad and the second electrode pad of the at least one electrode pad assembly. The first electrode pad and the second electrode pad are arranged along a direction parallel to the short side.
US09978715B2 Semiconductor package structure and semiconductor process
The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor package structure and semiconductor process. The semiconductor package includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a die, a plurality of interconnection elements and an encapsulation material. Each of the interconnection elements connects the first substrate and the second substrate. The encapsulation material encapsulates the interconnection elements. The encapsulation material defines a plurality of accommodation spaces to accommodate the interconnection elements, and the profile of each accommodation space is defined by the individual interconnection element, whereby the warpage behavior of the first substrate is in compliance with that of the second substrate during reflow.
US09978712B2 Multi-channel MCM with test circuitry for inter-die bond wire checking
A multichip module (MCM) device include a first die including functional circuitry bonded by a plurality of inter-die bond wires (bond wires) to a second die having functional circuitry. A first channel (Channel A) and second channel (Channel B) each have separate top and bottom signal paths (signal paths) including one of the bond wires. A failure of any of the signal paths does not affect functionality of the device. The first die includes input pins including a first input pin (P1), a second input pin (P2), and coupling circuitry including cross-channel test circuitry positioned between the input pins and the functional circuitry. The coupling circuitry provides for Channel A and Channel B a first configuration for normal mode operation and a second configuration for test mode operation for single bond wire testing for checking continuity of any of the bond wires.
US09978709B2 Solder bump stretching method for forming a solder bump joint in a device
A method of producing a solder bump joint includes heating a solder bump comprising tin above a melting temperature of the solder bump, wherein the solder bumps comprises eutectic Sn—Bi compound, and the eutectic Sn—Bi compound is free of Ag. The method further includes stretching the solder bump to increase a height of the solder bump, wherein stretching the solder bump forms lamellar structures having a contact angle of less than 90°. The method further includes cooling down the solder bump.
US09978703B2 Method and a system for producing a semi-conductor module
In a method for producing a semi-conductor module (10) comprising at least two semi-conductor chips (12, 14) and an interposer (20) which has electrically conductive structures (28) connecting the semi-conductor chips (12, 14) to one another, the interposer (20) is printed directly onto a first (12) of the semi-conductor chips. When the interposer (20) is printed on, the electrically conductive structures (28) are produced by means of electrically conductive ink (68). The second semi-conductor chip (14) is mounted on the interposer (20) such that the two semi-conductor chips (12, 14) are arranged one above the other and that the interposer (20) forms an intermediate layer between the two semi-conductor chips (12, 14).
US09978702B2 Resurfaceable contact pad for silicon or organic redistribution interposer for semiconductor probing
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for a resurfaceable contact pad that uses an epoxy to encapsulate contact pads so that the epoxy and encapsulated contact pads are coplanar on a silicon redistribution interposer. These redistribution interposers electrically connect a wafer semi-conductor to a probe card where it is necessary to convert the course pad arrangement of one with a fine pad arrangement of the other through the use of an interposer board. The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method creates resurfaceable contact pads which may be resurfaced one or multiple times with an abrasive sanding operation to recreate a coplanar surface should any contact pad surfaces become damaged, allowing for a more cost-effective repair.
US09978701B2 Semiconductor device
A highly reliable semiconductor device capable of heavy current conduction and high temperature operation has a module structure in which a semiconductor chip and a circuit pattern are electrically connected via a wire. A front surface metal film is formed on a front surface electrode of the chip, and the wire is bonded to the front surface metal film by wire bonding. The chip has a front surface electrode on the front surface of an Si substrate or an SiC substrate, and has a rear surface substrate on the rear surface thereof. The front surface metal film is a Ni film or a Ni alloy film of having a thickness ranging from 3 μm to 7 μm. The wire is an Al wire having an increased recrystallizing temperature and improved strength due to controlling the crystal grain sizes before wire bonding to a range of 1 μm to 20 μm.
US09978698B1 Interconnect structure for electrical connecting a pair of microwave transmission lines formed on a pair of spaced structure members
A structure having pair of structure members separated by a gap and an interconnect structure member disposed in the gap. The interconnect structure member includes: a fill-structure having opposing sides in direct contact with the opposing sides of the first structure member and the second structure member; and, an interconnecting microwave transmission line disposed on the fill-structure electrically interconnecting the microwave transmission line of the first structure member to the second member structure. An electrically conductive member is disposed over a signal line of, and electrically connected to the ground conductor the interconnecting microwave transmission.
US09978697B2 Microelectronics package with inductive element and magnetically enhanced mold compound component
The present disclosure relates to a microelectronics package with an inductive element and a magnetically enhanced mold compound component, and a process for making the same. The disclosed microelectronics package includes a module substrate, a thinned flip-chip die with an upper surface that includes a first surface portion and a second surface portion surrounding the first surface portion, the magnetically enhanced mold compound component, and a mold compound component. The thinned flip-chip die is attached to the module substrate and includes a device layer with an inductive element embedded therein. Herein, the inductive element is underlying the first surface portion and not underlying the second surface portion. The magnetically enhanced mold compound component is formed over the first surface portion. The mold compound component is formed over the second surface portion, not over the first surface portion, and surrounding the magnetically enhanced mold compound component.
US09978695B1 Semiconductor device including leadframe with a combination of leads and lands and method
A semiconductor device includes a die pad, a plurality of first lands each having a first land first top recessed portion disposed on a first land first end distal to the die pad, and a plurality of second lands each having a second land first bottom recessed portion disposed on a second land first end distal to the die pad. A semiconductor die is electrically connected to the first and second lands. A package body, which defines a bottom surface and a side surface, at least partially encapsulating the first and second lands and the semiconductor die such that at least portions of the first and second lands are exposed in and substantially flush with the bottom surface of the package body.
US09978694B2 Semiconductor package and method of fabricating the same
Disclosed are a semiconductor package and a method of fabricating the same. The semiconductor package includes a first substrate, and a first semiconductor chip positioned above the first substrate. A second semiconductor chip is positioned above a top surface of the first semiconductor chip. An adhesive layer is between the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip. A second substrate is disposed on the second semiconductor chip. The second substrate substantially covers a top surface of the second semiconductor chip. A mold layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate.
US09978690B2 Semiconductor apparatus and manufacturing method for same
A semiconductor device includes: a substrate on which a first contact portion is formed; a lower shield plate provided above the substrate to avoid the first contact portion and including a magnetic substance; a semiconductor chip provided above the lower shield plate and including a second contact portion electrically connected to the first contact portion, and a connection member that electrically connects the first contact portion and the second contact portion; and an upper shield plate provided above the semiconductor chip to avoid the second contact portion and the connection member and including a magnetic substance. An end of at least one of the lower shield plate and the upper shield plate is bent toward the other one of the lower shield plate and the upper shield plate so have a side wall portion whose tip is connected to the other one of the lower shield plate and the upper shield plate.
US09978689B2 Ion sensitive field effect transistors with protection diodes and methods of their fabrication
An embodiment of an Ion Sensitive Field Effect Transistor (ISFET) structure includes a substrate, source and drain regions formed within the substrate and spatially separated by a channel region, a gate dielectric and a gate formed over the channel region, multiple conductive structures overlying the surface of the substrate, and one or more protection diode circuits coupled between one or more of the multiple conductive structures and the substrate. The multiple conductive structures include a floating gate structure and a sense plate structure. The floating gate structure is formed over the gate dielectric and includes the gate. The sense plate structure is electrically coupled to the floating gate structure and is configured to sense a concentration of a target ion or molecule in a fluid adjacent to a portion of the sense plate structure.
US09978687B1 Semiconductor substrate
A semiconductor substrate includes a first exposure shot region, a second exposure shot region aligned with the first exposure shot region in a first direction, first overlay marks, second overlay marks, and a scribe lane. The first overlay marks are disposed in a first peripheral part of the first exposure shot region. The second overlay marks are disposed in a second peripheral part of the second exposure shot region. The scribe lane is disposed between a first center part of the first exposure shot region and a second center part of the second exposure shot region. A center point of the first overlay mark disposed within the scribe lane and a center point of the second overlay mark which is closest to the first overlay mark are arranged in a second direction different from the first direction for increasing the distance between the first and the second overlay marks.
US09978684B2 Semiconductor devices
The inventive concepts relate to a semiconductor device including a field effect transistor and a method for manufacturing the same. The semiconductor device includes a substrate including first and second source/drain regions formed thereon, a gate electrode intersecting the substrate between the first and second source/drain regions, and an active contact electrically connecting the first and second source/drain regions to each other. The active contact is spaced apart from the gate electrode. The active contact includes first sub-contacts provided on the first and second source/drain regions so as to be connected to the first and second source/drain regions, respectively, a second sub-contact provided on the first sub-contacts to electrically connect the first sub-contacts to each other, and a barrier layer provided between the second sub-contact and each of the first sub-contacts.
US09978677B2 Contact via structure and fabricating method thereof
In some embodiments, a contact via and a fabricating method thereof are provided. The method can comprise: providing a substrate; forming a buffer layer in the substrate; forming a dielectric layer covering the substrate and the buffer layer; forming a through hole in the dielectric layer, wherein a bottom of the through hole exposes a surface of the buffer layer; performing a roughening treatment to the exposed surface of the buffer layer to increase a roughness of the exposed surface of the buffer layer; forming a barrier layer in the through hole, and reducing a thickness of a portion of the barrier layer at the bottom of the through hole; and filling a conductive material into the through hole to form a contact via.
US09978674B2 Chip-on-film semiconductor packages and display apparatus including the same
Provided are a chip-on-film (COF) semiconductor package capable of improving connection characteristics and a display apparatus including the package. The COF semiconductor package includes a film substrate, a conductive interconnection located on at least one surface of the film substrate and an output pin connected to the conductive interconnection and located at one edge on a first surface of the film substrate, a semiconductor chip connected to the conductive interconnection and mounted on the first surface of the film substrate, a solder resist layer on the first surface of the film substrate to cover at least a portion of the conductive interconnection, and at least one barrier dam on the solder resist layer between the semiconductor chip and the output pin.
US09978671B2 Power semiconductor device
A power semiconductor device is provided. The power semiconductor device includes a leadframe, which includes a first chip carrier part and at least one second chip carrier part, which are fitted at a distance from one another and are in each case electrically conductive, at least one first power semiconductor component applied on the first chip carrier part, at least one second power semiconductor component applied on the second chip carrier part, external contacts in the form of external leads, and a capacitor. The capacitor is mounted on two adjacent external leads.
US09978669B2 Packaged semiconductor device having a lead frame and inner and outer leads and method for forming
A method of making a packaged integrated circuit device includes forming a lead frame with leads that have an inner portion and an outer portion, the inner portion of the lead is between a periphery of a die pad and extends to one end of openings around the die pad. The outer portion of the leads are separated along their length almost up to an opposite end of the openings. Leads in a first subset of the leads alternate with leads in a second subset of the leads. The inner portion of the first subset of the leads is bent. The die pad, the inner portion of the leads, and only a first portion of the openings adjacent the inner portion of the leads are encapsulated. A second portion of the openings and the output portions of the leads form a dam bar for the encapsulating material.
US09978667B2 Semiconductor package with lead frame and recessed solder terminals
A semiconductor device (100) comprising a leadframe (120) having an assembly pad (121) in a first horizontal plane (180), the pad's first surface (121a) with a semiconductor chip (110) attached; further a plurality of leads (122) in a parallel second horizontal plane (190) offset from the first plane in the direction of the attached chip, the leads having a third surface (122a) with bonding wires, and an opposite fourth surface (122b); a package (140) encapsulating leadframe, chip, and wires, the package having a fifth surface (140a) parallel to the first and second planes; a plurality of recess holes (150) in the package, each hole stretching from the fifth surface to the fourth surface of respective leads; and solder (160) filling the recess holes, the solder attached to the fourth lead surface and extending to the fifth package surface.
US09978666B2 Method for fabrication semiconductor device with through-substrate via
A method for is used for forming a semiconductor device. The method includes forming an ILD layer on a substrate and a buffer layer on the ILD layer, wherein at least one contact is formed in the ILD layer; forming an opening through the buffer layer, the ILD layer, and the substrate; forming a liner structure layer over the substrate, wherein an exposed surface of the opening is covered by the liner structure layer; depositing a conductive material over the substrate to fill the opening; performing a polishing process, to polish over the substrate and stop at the buffer layer, wherein the liner structure layer and the conductive material remaining in the opening form a conductive via; performing an etching back process, to remove the buffer layer and expose the ILD layer, wherein a top portion of the conductive via is also exposed and higher than the ILD layer.
US09978660B2 Package with embedded heat dissipation features
An integrated circuit package and a method of fabrication of the same are introduced. An opening is formed in a substrate. An embedded heat dissipation feature (eHDF) is placed in the opening in the substrate and is attached to the substrate using a high thermal conductivity adhesive. One or more bonded chips are attached to the substrate using a flip-chip method. The eHDF is thermally attached to one or more hot spots of the bonded chips. In some embodiments, the eHDF may comprise multiple physically disconnected portions. In other embodiments, the eHDF may have a perforated structure.
US09978659B2 Printed circuit module having a semiconductor device with a protective layer in place of a low-resistivity handle layer
A printed circuit module having a protective layer in place of a low-resistivity handle layer and methods for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The printed circuit module includes a printed circuit substrate with a thinned die attached to the printed circuit substrate. The thinned die includes at least one device layer over the printed circuit substrate and at least one deep well within the at least one device layer. A protective layer is disposed over the at least one deep well, wherein the protective layer has a thermal conductivity greater than 2 watts per meter Kelvin (W/mK) and an electrical resistivity of greater than 106 Ohm-cm.
US09978658B2 Semiconductor packages and methods of packaging semiconductor devices
Semiconductor packages and methods for forming a semiconductor package are disclosed. The method includes providing a wafer having first and second major surfaces. The wafer is prepared with a plurality of dies and a plurality of external electrical contacts disposed on the first major surface of the wafer. The method includes processing the wafer. Processing the wafer includes separating the wafer into a plurality of individual dies. An individual die includes first and second major surfaces and first and second sidewalls, and the external electrical contacts are formed on the first major surface of the die. An encapsulant material is formed. The encapsulant material covers at least a portion of the first and second sidewalls of the die.
US09978655B2 Semiconductor device and method of adaptive patterning for panelized packaging with dynamic via clipping
A semiconductor device and method of adaptive patterning for panelized packaging with dynamic via clipping is described. A panel comprising an encapsulating material disposed around a plurality of semiconductor die can be formed. An actual position for each of the plurality of semiconductor die within the panel can be measured. A conductive redistribution layer (RDL) comprising first capture pads aligned with the actual positions of each of the plurality of semiconductor die can be formed. A plurality of second capture pads at least partially disposed over the first capture pads and aligned with a package outline for each of the plurality of semiconductor packages can be formed. A nominal footprint of a plurality of conductive vias can be adjusted to account for a misalignment between each semiconductor die and its corresponding package outline.
US09978654B2 Semiconductor device and method of forming dual-sided interconnect structures in Fo-WLCSP
A semiconductor device has a substrate including first and second conductive layers formed over first and second opposing surfaces of the substrate. A plurality of wire studs or stud bumps is formed over the substrate. A semiconductor die is mounted to the substrate between the wire studs. A first encapsulant is deposited around the semiconductor die. A first interconnect structure is formed over the semiconductor die and first encapsulant. A second encapsulant is deposited over the substrate, semiconductor die, and first interconnect structure. The second encapsulant can be formed over a portion of the semiconductor die and side surface of the substrate. A portion of the second encapsulant is removed to expose the substrate and first interconnect structure. A second interconnect structure is formed over the second encapsulant and first interconnect structure and electrically coupled to the wire studs. A discrete semiconductor device can be formed on the interconnect structure.
US09978653B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: processing a substrate by operating a processing apparatus included in a substrate processing apparatus, based on a first process setting; acquiring apparatus data of the processing apparatus when processing the substrate; generating first evaluation data of the processing apparatus based on an evaluation factor corresponding to the first process setting and the apparatus data; determining one or more recipe items executable in the processing apparatus based on the first evaluation data; and notifying the one or more recipe items.
US09978652B2 Method of semiconductor fabrication with height control through active region profile
A method includes forming trenches on a semiconductor substrate, thereby defining regions for forming semiconductor devices; extracting a profile of the regions; determining an etch recipe based on at least the profile of the regions; filling in the trenches with a dielectric material; and performing an etching process to the dielectric material using the etch recipe.
US09978649B2 Solid source doping for source and drain extension doping
A method is provided for solid source doping for source and drain extensions. According to one embodiment, the method includes providing a substrate containing fins of first and second film stacks, sacrificial gates across and on the fins of the first and second film stacks, where the first and second film stacks include alternating first and second films, and where the first films extend through sidewall spacers on the sacrificial gates, selectively forming a first mask layer on the sidewall spacers and on the first films of the first film stack, depositing a first dopant layer on the substrate, heat-treating the substrate to diffuse dopants from the first dopant layer into the first films of the second film stack to form doped first films in the second film stack, and removing the first mask layer from the substrate. The processing steps may be repeated for the second film stack.
US09978643B2 Method of separating chips from a wafer
The invention relates to a method for producing chips (13) by dividing a wafer along dividing lines (11, 12) defining dimensions of the chip, wherein a focus (18) of a preferably pulsed laser radiation (16) is moved along the dividing lines on a first and at least a second path (25, 26) within the wafer body, wherein the laser radiation is applied to the wafer from a rear side (17) of the wafer, and the power density for producing the defects (28) on the first path (25) is lower than the power density for producing the defects (29) on the second path (26), and/or the number of defects on the first path is smaller than the number of defects on the second path.
US09978642B2 III-V nitride semiconductor device having reduced contact resistance
Characteristics of a semiconductor device are improved. A semiconductor device includes a voltage clamp layer, a channel base layer, a channel layer, and a barrier layer on a substrate. A trench extends to a certain depth of the channel layer through the barrier layer. A gate electrode is disposed on a gate insulating film within the trench. A source electrode and a drain electrode are provided on the two respective sides of the gate electrode. A coupling within a through-hole that extends to the voltage clamp layer electrically couples the voltage clamp layer to the source electrode. An impurity region containing an impurity having an acceptor level deeper than that of a p-type impurity is provided under the through-hole. The voltage clamp layer decreases variations in characteristics such as threshold voltage and on resistance. The contact resistance is reduced through hopping conduction due to the impurity in the impurity region.
US09978641B2 Semiconductor structure and fabrication method thereof
A method for forming a semiconductor structure includes providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a plurality of fins on the semiconductor substrate; forming a plurality of gate structures on the plurality of fins and sidewall spacers on side surfaces of the gate structures; forming a first dielectric layer on the semiconductor substrate; recessing the gate structures to form a plurality of trenches on top surfaces of the gate structures; forming a mask material layer filling the trenches and on the first dielectric layer; forming a protective layer on the top surfaces of the remaining gate structures and a mask layer on a portion of the first dielectric layer between adjacent gate structures by etching the mask material layer; forming contact through-holes in the first dielectric layer between adjacent gates structure at both sides of the mask layer; and forming a metal contact via in each of the contact through-holes.
US09978640B2 Method of fabricating a semiconductor device with reduced leak paths
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes fabricating a transistor, surrounding a gate of the transistor with a spacer, and applying an oxidation operation to a conductive item, e.g., a residue from the fabrication of the gate of the transistor, that extends through the spacer. As such, the occurrence of leak paths in the semiconductor device is reduced.
US09978638B2 Metal trench de-noise structure and method for forming the same
A metal trench de-noise structure includes a trench disposed in a substrate, an insulating layer deposited on the sidewall of the trench, an Inter-Layer Dielectric layer covering the substrate and the insulating layer, and a metal layer penetrating the Inter-Layer Dielectric layer to fill up the trench. The metal layer may be grounded or floating.
US09978637B2 Mechanism for forming patterned metal pad connected to multiple through silicon vias (TSVs)
Various embodiments of mechanisms for forming through a three-dimensional integrated circuit (3DIC) structure are provided. The 3DIC structure includes an interposer bonded to a die and a substrate. The interposer has a conductive structure with through silicon vias (TSVs) connected to a patterned metal pad and a conductive structure on opposite ends of the TSVs. The pattern metal pad is embedded with dielectric structures to reduce dishing effect and has regions over TSVs that are free of the dielectric structures. The conductive structure has 2 or more TSVs. By using a patterned metal pad and 2 or more TSVs, the reliability and yield of the conductive structure and the 3DIC structure are improved.
US09978633B2 Sensor array with anti-diffusion region(s) to extend shelf life
The inventive concepts disclosed herein are generally directed to a sensor array device that has a prolonged shelf life but requires only a minimal amount of sample volume in order to test two or more analytes concurrently. In order to ensure the sensor array has a sufficient shelf life, anti-diffusion regions are positioned among the reaction wells in order to slow the processes of diffusion. The use of anti-diffusion regions, as described herein, can be used to optimize the number of sensors that can be fit into a sensor array designed for reduced sample liquid volumes (e.g., less than 100 μL) as well as extending the test strip's shelf life.
US09978625B2 Semiconductor method and associated apparatus
A semiconductor method is disclosed. The semiconductor method is performed upon semiconductor wafers, wherein each of the semiconductor wafers includes a first exposure field and a second exposure field, and each of the first exposure field and the second exposure field includes a first alignment mark and a second alignment mark. The method includes: determining a first alignment pattern for a first wafer by selecting one of the alignment marks of the first exposure field, and selecting one of the alignment marks of the second exposure field; performing the aligning operation upon the first semiconductor wafer by using the first alignment pattern; determining a second alignment pattern for a second wafer by selecting one of the alignment marks of the first exposure field, and selecting one of the alignment marks of the second exposure field, wherein the first alignment pattern is different from the second alignment pattern.
US09978622B2 Moisture and/or electrically conductive remains detection for wafers after rinse / dry process
A method, device, and apparatus is provided for detecting moisture and/or electrically conductive remains on a wafer after the wafer is removed from a drying chamber of a processing tool that includes wet clean processing. Embodiments include fixing a wafer to an endeffector between a processing chamber and a FOUP, moving the wafer from the processing chamber toward the FOUP, detecting moisture and/or electrically conductive remains on the wafer, and delivering the wafer to the FOUP, if no moisture and/or electrically conductive remains are detected, or delivering the wafer to a buffer station, if moisture and/or electrically conductive remains are detected.
US09978621B1 Selective etch rate monitor
Embodiments include a real time etch rate sensor and methods of for using a real time etch rate sensor. In an embodiment, the real time etch rate sensor includes a resonant system and a conductive housing. The resonant system may include a resonating body, a first electrode formed over a first surface of the resonating body, a second electrode formed over a second surface of the resonating body, and a sacrificial layer formed over the first electrode. In an embodiment, at least a portion of the first electrode is not covered by the sacrificial layer. In an embodiment, the conductive housing may secure the resonant system. Additionally, the conductive housing contacts the first electrode, and at least a portion of an interior edge of the conductive housing may be spaced away from the sacrificial layer.
US09978619B2 Substrate processing apparatus, substrate processing method and storage medium
A substrate processing apparatus includes a carrier block, an end block for returning a substrate picked up from the carrier block to the carrier block, and a middle block. The middle block includes a plurality of first processing modules stacked one above another, each being configured to process the picked-up substrate and directed to the end block or the substrate returning from the end block to the carrier block; a first transfer mechanism for vertically moving to transfer the substrate that is transferred from one of the carrier and end blocks to the middle block, to a respective one of the first processing modules, and delivering the substrate to the other of the carrier and end blocks; and a second transfer mechanism for transferring the substrate from the other of the carrier and end blocks to the one thereof, without passing through the plurality of first processing modules.
US09978616B2 Pressing apparatus, substrate bonding apparatus and stacked substrate
Moving the substrates quickly, as well as applying a large pressure to the substrates are required. A pressing apparatus for pressing a plurality of substrates stacked on one another, includes: a first stage that supports the plurality of substrates; a second stage that can sandwich the plurality of substrates between the first stage and the second stage; a driving section that moves the first stage towards the second stage so as to sandwich the plurality of substrates; and a pressing section that, when the driving section has made the first stage reach a predetermined position, applies a pressing force to the first stage to press the plurality of substrates between the first stage and the second stage, where the driving section and the pressing section are arranged next to each other so that at least part of the driving section and the pressing section overlaps in the moving direction.
US09978610B2 Pulsing RF power in etch process to enhance tungsten gapfill performance
Methods and apparatuses for filling features with metal materials such as tungsten-containing materials in a substantially void-free manner are provided. In certain embodiments, the method involves depositing an initial layer of a metal such as a tungsten-containing material followed by removing a portion of the initial layer to form a remaining layer, which is differentially passivated along the depth of the high-aspect ratio feature. The portion may be removed by exposing the tungsten-containing material to a plasma generated from a fluorine-containing nitrogen-containing gas and pulsing and/or ramping the plasma during the exposure.
US09978596B2 Self-aligned multiple spacer patterning schemes for advanced nanometer technology
The present disclosure provides forming nanostructures with precision dimension control and minimum lithographic related errors for features with dimension under 14 nanometers and beyond. A self-aligned multiple spacer patterning (SAMSP) process is provided herein and the process utilizes minimum lithographic exposure process, but rather multiple deposition/etching process to incrementally reduce feature sizes formed in the mask along the manufacturing process, until a desired extreme small dimension nanostructures are formed in a mask layer.
US09978591B2 Formulations comprising ammoniacal hydroxozinc compounds
The invention relates to ammoniacal formulations comprising a) at least one hydroxozinc compound and b) at least one compound of an element of the 3rd primary group, to the use thereof, to a method using said formulations to produce layers comprising ZnO and to electronic components produced using same.
US09978590B1 Method of manufacturing epitaxiable heat-dissipating substrate
A method of manufacturing an epitaxiable heat-dissipating substrate comprises the steps of (A) forming a roughened surface on a substrate made of a polycrystalline or amorphous material with a high thermal conductivity coefficient; (B) forming a flat layer on the roughened surface; and (C) forming a buffer layer on the flat layer. The flat layer reduces the surface roughness of the substrate, and then the buffer layer functions as a base for epitaxial growth, thereby being directly applicable to production of semiconductor devices which are flat and capable of isotropic epitaxial growth.
US09978586B2 Method of material deposition
A method and apparatus for material deposition onto a sample to form a protective layer composed of at least two materials that have been formulated and arranged according to the material properties of the sample.
US09978582B2 Methods for improving wafer planarity and bonded wafer assemblies made from the methods
A method to improve the planarity of a semiconductor wafer and an assembly made from the method. In a preferred embodiment of the method, a compressive PECVD oxide layer such as SiO2 having a predetermined thickness or pattern is deposited on the second surface of a semiconductor wafer having an undesirable warp or bow. The thickness or pattern of the deposited oxide layer is determined by the measured warp or bow of the semiconductor wafer. The compressive oxide layer induces an offsetting compressive force on the second surface of the semiconductor wafer to reduce the warp and bow across the major surface of the semiconductor wafer.
US09978581B2 Lighting device and lighting device manufacturing method
A lighting device 1 has phosphors, a porous material (5), and emitters 4. The emitters are interposed between the phosphors and surfaces (2a) to be irradiated with light of the lighting device. The porous material has heat conductivity and is impregnated with the phosphors.
US09978580B2 Lamps and light sources including RFID tags, and methods of assembling and operating the same
A lamp is provided. The lamp includes a transparent envelope for emitting light, and an RFID tag coupled to a portion of the transparent envelope.
US09978575B2 Grouping amplitudes of TOF extractions to detect convolution due to resolution saturation
Sample molecules are ionized producing a beam of ions using an ion source. A plurality of ion extractions are performed on the beam of ions using a TOF mass spectrometer. Electrical detections from each extraction are measured using an ADC, producing a mass sub-spectrum for each extraction. An ion m/z from the plurality of mass sub-spectra is selected. For each mass sub-spectrum, the amplitude and m/z of an ion within a m/z tolerance of the ion m/z is assigned to the corresponding amplitude band of a plurality of predetermined amplitude bands, producing a plurality of amplitude and m/z values for the each amplitude band. For each amplitude band of the plurality of predetermined amplitude bands, the plurality of amplitude and m/z values are combined into a peak, resulting in a plurality of peaks corresponding to the plurality of predetermined amplitude bands.
US09978572B2 Mass spectrometer with reduced potential drop
A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising providing a first device and a second device disposed downstream of the first device. The method further comprises introducing a potential difference between the exit of the first device and the entrance of the second device and reducing the total potential drop across the first and second devices by applying a reverse axial electric field to the first device and/or the second device. Ions are driven through the first device and/or the second device against the reverse axial electric field.
US09978569B2 Adjustable process spacing, centering, and improved gas conductance
Embodiments of the invention generally provide a process kit for use in a physical deposition chamber (PVD) chamber. In one embodiment, the process kit provides adjustable process spacing, centering between the cover ring and the shield, and controlled gas flow between the cover ring and the shield contributing to uniform gas distribution, which promotes greater process uniformity and repeatability along with longer chamber component service life.
US09978563B2 Plasma treatment method to meet line edge roughness and other integration objectives
Provided is a method of patterning a layer on a substrate using an integration scheme, the method comprising: disposing a substrate having a structure pattern layer, a neutral layer, and an underlying layer, the structure pattern layer comprising a first material and a second material; performing a first treatment process using a first process gas mixture to form a first pattern, the first process gas comprising a mixture of CxHyFz and argon; performing a second treatment process using a second process gas mixture to form a second pattern, the second process gas comprising a mixture of low oxygen-containing gas and argon; concurrently controlling selected two or more operating variables of the integration scheme in order to achieve target integration objectives.
US09978560B2 System and method for performing nano beam diffraction analysis
A system for performing nano beam diffraction (NBD) analysis, includes a focused ion beam (FIB) device for preparing a transmission electron microscopy (TEM) sample, a broad beam ion mill for milling the TEM sample to remove a surface portion of the TEM sample, and a strain analyzer for performing NBD analysis on the milled TEM sample to acquire diffraction data.
US09978558B2 Scanning-electron-microscope image processing device and scanning method
The image processing device has: a scanning direction decision unit which divides an captured image into a plurality of scanning regions and deciding a scanning direction of each scanning region based on a pattern edge captured in each scanning region in the captured image, a scanning order decision unit which performs a raster scan per pixel constituting each scanning region such that the scanning direction of each of the decided scanning region is directed to a horizontal direction of the raster scan, and a scanning image acquisition unit which acquires a scanning image by capturing each scanning region by the scanning-electron-microscope based on the decided scanning order.
US09978554B1 Dual cathode ion source
An ion source having dual indirectly heated cathodes is disclosed. Each of the cathodes may be independently biased relative to its respective filament so as to vary the profile of the beam current that is extracted from the ion source. In certain embodiments, the ion source is used in conjunction with an ion implanter. The ion implanter comprises a beam profiler to measure the current of the ribbon ion beam as a function of beam position. A controller uses this information to independently control the bias voltages of the two indirectly heated cathodes so as to vary the uniformity of the ribbon ion beam. In certain embodiments, the current passing through each filament may also be independently controlled by the controller.
US09978549B1 Variable venturi flow switch
A flow switch including: a fluid inlet for receiving fluid in-line relative to a flow switch body; a poppet valve disposed in the fluid inlet and having a variable location relative to the flow switch body; an actuator pin affixed to the poppet valve; a helical spring disposed about the actuator pin, where the poppet valve is spring-loaded via the spring; and where the spring-loaded poppet valve is configured to move away from the fluid inlet with increasing volumetric fluid flow and towards the fluid inlet with decreasing volumetric fluid flow.
US09978545B2 Switch unit and game machine
A switch unit has a display part configured to display an image, and an operation part provided on the display part in a stacked manner. The operation part includes a plurality of press buttons each having a pressable top surface formed to be transparent, a transparent base having a plurality of openings which are formed so as to be spaced from each other in positions corresponding to a display region of the display part, while avoiding a peripheral edge of the display region, a transparent substrate provided below the base and mounted with an electronic component, and a top plate having openings in positions corresponding to the press buttons and provided on the base, with the press buttons mounted thereon, so as to cover the base.
US09978542B2 Circuit breaker lockout devices and methods
Circuit breaker lockout devices are disclosed that effectively lock one or more circuit breakers in a circuit breaker panel in a safe or open circuit position. Embodiments of the circuit breaker lockout devices are robust, utilize few loose parts, and are easily installed. The devices are also short in profile, thereby allowing them to be installed in a circuit breaker panel having minimal clearance between the circuit breakers and a closed panel door cover.
US09978539B1 Extractor of a bushing conductor from a bushing insulator for a dead tank circuit breaker
An extractor for at least partially extracting a bushing central conductor from a bushing insulator. The extractor comprises a supporting member, a movable member and lifting means. The supporting member is configured to be rigidly secured to the bushing insulator. The movable member is configured to be rigidly secured to the bushing central conductor. The lifting means are configured to move the movable member along the supporting member.
US09978538B2 Power supply switch, power feeding circuit and electric connection box
In a power supply switch which switches plural paths for supply of power from a power source to connected states or disconnected states by fixed contacts provided on the plural paths and a movable contact, the fixed contacts includes a power-source-side fixed contact which connects to the power source, an electricity-storage-element-side fixed contact which connects to an electricity storage element, and an another path side fixed contact which connects to power supply destinations via a another path which are provided so as to be separate from and independent of each other. When the power supply switch is switched to disconnected states, the electricity storage path and the another path are disconnected from each other and a current flow from the electricity storage element to the another path is thereby shut off.
US09978536B2 Method of manufacturing electronic component and electronic-component manufacturing apparatus
Electroconductive paste is applied onto an electronic component body to form an external electrode by supplying the electroconductive paste to a first groove on an outer circumferential surface of a roller to extend along a circumference of the roller, disposing the electronic component body such that a second main surface of the electronic component body and an outer circumferential surface of the roller are opposed to each other while a first edge portion defined by the second main surface and a first end surface of the electronic component body is in the first groove when viewed in plan, and pressing the electronic component body against the outer circumferential surface of the roller so that the first edge portion is located in the first groove in a depth direction of the first groove.
US09978534B2 Electrode structure having rolled graphene film
An electrode structure includes a rolled graphene film which is wound about a central axis, and a nanomaterial dispersed on a surface of the rolled graphene film.
US09978531B2 Solid electrolytic capacitor and method for manufacturing same
A solid electrolytic capacitor that includes a positive external electrode electrically connected to a core part of a valve-acting metal base included in a capacitor element, a first conductive layer in direct contact with the core part of the valve-acting metal base and covering one end surface of the valve-acting metal base and at least a part of an exterior located around the end surface.
US09978527B2 Solid Electrolytic capacitor and manufacturing method thereof
A solid electrolytic capacitor includes: an anode foil on which an oxide film is formed; a cathode foil; and a separator between the anode and cathode foils, wherein a solid electrolyte in a fine particle form made of a conductive high molecular weight compound and a water-soluble high-molecular weight compound in a liquid form are introduced into a gap between the anode and cathode foils in a state where the water-soluble high-molecular weight compound in a liquid form surrounds the solid electrolyte, and a ratio of an area that the solid electrolyte occupies in the gap is set to a value which falls within a range of 1 vol % to 30 vol %, and a ratio of an area that the water-soluble high-molecular weight compound in a liquid form occupies in the gap is set to a value which falls within a range of 10 vol % to 99 vol %.
US09978526B2 Method for producing electrolytic capacitor
A method for producing an electrolytic capacitor according to the present disclosure is characterized by including a first step of preparing a capacitor element that includes an anode body on which a dielectric layer is formed; a second step of impregnating the capacitor element with a first treatment solution containing a first solvent and a conductive polymer; a third step of impregnating, after the second step, the capacitor element with a second treatment solution containing a second solvent; and a fourth step of impregnating, after the third step, the capacitor element with an electrolyte solution containing a third solvent, both the second solvent and the third solvent being a protic solvent.
US09978514B2 Multilayer ceramic electronic component and board for mounting the same
There is provided a multilayer ceramic electronic component including, a ceramic body including a plurality of dielectric layers stacked in a thickness direction, satisfying T/W>1.0 when a width and a thickness thereof are defined as W and T, respectively, and having a groove portion inwardly recessed in a length direction in at least one main surface thereof, a plurality of first and second internal electrodes disposed in the ceramic body to face each other, having the dielectric layers interposed therebetween, and alternately exposed through both end surfaces of the ceramic body, and first and second external electrodes formed to extend from the both end surfaces of the ceramic body to the at least one main surface having the groove portion formed therein.
US09978510B2 Planar transmitter
A planar transmitter having a vertical extent and a horizontal extent, having a layer structure with a plurality of electrical circuits, wherein a first electrical circuit and a second electrical circuit are electrically conductively disconnected from one another. The transmitter also has at least one magnetic core which at least partially surrounds the layer structure and acts at least on the first electrical circuit and on the second electrical circuit, wherein the first electrical circuit and the second electrical circuit lie substantially in one plane and form one layer of the layer structure. Provision is further made for at least the first electrical circuit or the second electrical circuit to be subdivided into a plurality of electrical circuits which are electrically conductively disconnected from one another.
US09978509B2 Coil component and method of manufacturing the same
A coil component and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The coil component may include a body part containing a magnetic material, a coil part disposed in the body part, and an electrode part disposed on the body part. The coil part includes a support member, a coil disposed on a surface of the support member and having a terminal exposed to at least one outer surface of the body part, and a conductive via connected to the terminal of the coil and penetrating through at least one end portion of the support member to thereby be exposed to the at least one outer surface of the body part.
US09978508B2 High current swing-type inductor and methods of fabrication
A surface mount swing-type inductor component is configured to establish a non-uniform gap when assembled. The non-uniform gap produces swing-type inductor functionality in a compact package for higher current applications while being manufacturable at relatively low cost.
US09978507B2 Coil device
A coil device comprising a winding coil including Cu and having a winding part and an extension line part which is pulled out from said winding part, a pair of electrodes made of a conductive material having a base part provided with a mounting base face at one of the face, and a connecting wire part having a connecting wire face connected with the extension line part and said connecting wire part projects out towards an opposite side of said mounting base face with respect to the base part, a magnetic part including a magnetic material and said magnetic part uncovering said mounting base and covering at least said winding part and said connecting wire face, wherein Sn amount per unit area of said connecting wire face is less than Sn amount per unit area of said mounting base.
US09978505B2 Printed circuit board with integrated coil, and magnetic device
A printed circuit board with integrated coil includes: a plurality of layers; and coil patterns which are formed of a conductor and which are provided in at least one outer surface layer and another layer of the plurality of layers. A heat-dissipation pattern formed of a conductor is provided on at least the one outer surface layer so as to correspond to the coil pattern provided in the another layer. The coil pattern provided in the one outer surface layer and the heat-dissipation pattern provided in the one outer surface layer are separated from each other. A thermal inter-layer connector formed of a conductor is provided to connect the coil pattern provided in the another layer and the heat-dissipation pattern provided in the one outer surface layer which correspond to each other.
US09978498B2 Resin-molded core and reactor using the same
A resin-mold core includes right and left leg portions, and a yoke portion interconnecting those. The resin-mold core includes a magnetic core, and a mold component having the magnetic core embedded therein by molding. Openings where the magnetic core in the mold component is exposed are formed in multiple faces of the mold component that are upper, lower, front, rear, and right and left faces. A part of the yoke portion of the resin-mold core corresponding to a location where terminals are drawn to the exterior of the core from coils attached to the outer circumferences of the leg portions of the core has no opening formed in the multiple faces of the mold component. Positioning members to coaxially align the leg portions of the opposing resin-mold core are formed in abutting faces of the leg portions of the resin-mold core.
US09978496B1 Stacked magnetic assembly
A magnetic device for an electronic circuit includes a printed circuit board. A first and second magnetic component assembly can be electrically connected to the printed circuit. The second magnetic component assembly can be stacked on the first magnetic component assembly. The first magnetic component assembly can be positioned between the second magnetic component assembly and the printed circuit board. Each magnetic component assembly can include a bobbin, a winding disposed on the bobbin, and a core extending through the bobbin. A second bobbin on the second magnetic component can be positioned on either a first core or a first bobbin of the first magnetic component assembly. The stacked magnetic component configuration can help reduce the board space required to electrically connect both the first and second magnetic component assemblies to the printed circuit board, which can help increase the power density of the magnetic device.
US09978494B2 Electromagnetic induction coil
A primary electromagnetic induction coil, which supplies power to a primary resonance coil in a pair of a primary and a secondary resonance coils that conduct non-contact power supply by magnetic field resonance, includes a coil main body and a wedge that mounts an end portion of the coil main body to separate the end portion from other portions. Impedance matching can be achieved by adjusting a position of the wedge and a number of turns of the coil main body.
US09978493B2 Parallel dipole line trap with variable gap and tunable trap potential
Techniques for tuning magnetic potential using a variable gap in a parallel dipole line (PDL) trap are provided. In one aspect, a PDL trap is provided. The PDL trap includes: a pair of dipole line magnets separated from one another by a variable gap g; and a diamagnetic object levitating above the dipole line magnets. The dipole line magnets can be separated from one another by at least one spacer, or a variable gap fixture can be used in which the dipole line magnets are affixed to separate mounts for varying the gap g between the dipole line magnets. A bigger trap or track can be built with multiple segments of PDL trap. A method of operating a PDL trap is also provided.
US09978483B2 Surge-resistant wire-wound resistor and method for manufacturing same
The present invention relates to a surge-resistant wire-wound resistor and a manufacturing method thereof, wherein soldering points, at which a cap at each end of the wire-wound resistor is soldered, are electroplated with an electroplated metal layer to significantly improve the reliability of soldering points. The surge-resistant wire-wound resistor comprises a ceramic rod; one or more than one wound metal wire; a first cap and a second cap; a first lead wire and a second lead wire, wherein the first cap and the second cap are respectively electroplated to have a first cap electroplated layer and a second cap electroplated layer.
US09978480B2 Separator tape for twisted pair in LAN cable
A cable includes a jacket surrounding first and second insulated conductors and a first dielectric tape, wherein the first insulated conductor is twisted with the second insulated conductor with the first dielectric tape residing therebetween to form a first twisted pair. The cable's jacket may also surround additional twisted pairs, which are similarly formed. In alternative or supplemental embodiments of the invention, the first dielectric tape has a hollow core possessing a gas or material with a lower dielectric constant and/or at least a first side of said first dielectric tape facing to said first insulated conductor includes a plurality of ridges and valleys.
US09978472B2 Transparent conductor and optical display including the same
A transparent conductor and an optical display including the same are disclosed. The transparent conductor includes a base layer, and a transparent conductive layer formed on the base layer and including metal nanowires. The transparent conductor has a total diffuse reflection (DR) of greater than or equal to about 80% and less than 330% at a wavelength of about 380 nm to about 780 nm and a reflective b* value from about −2 to about 1 at a wavelength of about 380 nm to about 780 nm.
US09978471B2 Flying spot forming apparatus and design method
A flying spot forming apparatus includes a radiation source and a shielding body. A side wall of the shielding body is provided with at least two pairs of helical grooves. Each helical groove is provided with a predetermined slope. A first incident groove is adjacent to a second incident groove. A head end of the first incident groove is higher than a head end of the second incident groove. A tail end of the first incident groove is higher than a tail end of the second incident groove. The tail end of the first incident groove is not higher than the head end of the second incident groove. A first axial cross section of the shielding body intersects with the tail end of the first incident groove. A second axial cross section intersects with the head end of the second incident groove.
US09978470B2 Immobilization of organic radioactive and non-radioactive liquid waste in a composite matrix
A method for immobilizing liquid radioactive waste is provided, the method having the steps of mixing waste with polymer to form a non-liquid waste; contacting the non-liquid waste with a solidifying agent to create a mixture, heating the mixture to cause the polymer, waste, and filler to irreversibly bind in a solid phase, and compressing the solid phase into a monolith. The invention also provides a method for immobilizing liquid radioactive waste containing tritium, the method having the steps of mixing liquid waste with polymer to convert the liquid waste to a non-liquid waste, contacting the non-liquid waste with a solidifying agent to create a mixture, heating the mixture to form homogeneous, chemically stable solid phase, and compressing the chemically stable solid phase into a final waste form, wherein the polymer comprises approximately a 9:1 weight ratio mixture of styrene block co-polymers and cross linked co-polymers of acrylamides.
US09978469B1 Radiation area monitor device and method
A radiation area monitor device/method, utilizing: a radiation sensor having a directional radiation sensing capability; a rotation mechanism operable for selectively rotating the radiation sensor such that the directional radiation sensing capability selectively sweeps an area of interest; and a processor operable for analyzing and storing a radiation fingerprint acquired by the radiation sensor as the directional radiation sensing capability selectively sweeps the area of interest. Optionally, the radiation sensor includes a gamma and/or neutron radiation sensor. The device/method selectively operates in: a first supervised mode during which a baseline radiation fingerprint is acquired by the radiation sensor; and a second unsupervised mode during which a subsequent radiation fingerprint is acquired by the radiation sensor, wherein the subsequent radiation fingerprint is compared to the baseline radiation fingerprint and, if a predetermined difference threshold is exceeded, an alert is issued.
US09978467B2 Excavation and weld repair methodology for pressurized water reactor piping and vessel nozzles
The invention is an innovative design/repair methodology for PWR piping nozzles and vessel nozzles that are attached to the piping/vessel base material with a full penetration weld joint geometry. The development of a robust repair methodology for nozzles of this configuration is necessary due to plant aging, potential material degradation in the original materials of construction, potential increased nondestructive examination requirements, and PWSCC phenomena in the susceptible original materials of construction. The purpose/objective of the repair methodology is to provide a means of partially replacing the existing pressure boundary susceptible materials with PWSCC-resistant materials to facilitate the long-term repair life of the plant. The invention may be applied to a plurality of nozzle, piping, and vessel sizes with a full penetration weld joint.
US09978465B2 System for regulating a liquid in a circuit
This invention relates to a system for regulating a liquid in a circuit, with the system comprising: a plug valve comprising at least one inlet and one outlet, the plug comprising an internal passage through which is intended to pass the liquid flowing from the inlet to the outlet of the valve when the valve is open at least partially, an expansion reservoir in communication with the liquid flowing in the circuit and intended to contain liquid and a compensating gas, characterized in that the plug comprises at least partially an expansion channel which has at least one lateral opening located on a lateral face of the plug and which is conformed to provide a permanent communication between said lateral opening and the expansion reservoir, the valve being conformed in such a way that: at least when the valve is closed: the lateral opening is in direct communication with the liquid coming from the inlet or from the outlet of the valve, when the valve is open at least partially, the lateral opening cooperates with an inner wall integral with a body of the valve in such a way as to form a conduit in communication on the one hand with the expansion reservoir and on the other hand with the internal passage. The invention also relates to a circuit integrating this system as well as a use of this system.
US09978462B2 Partial soft bit read
A data storage device includes a non-volatile memory and a controller coupled to the non-volatile memory. The controller includes an error correction coding (ECC) decoder. The non-volatile memory is configured to sense hard bit data and soft bit data corresponding to multiple ECC codewords from a word line of the non-volatile memory and to sense soft bit data for the multiple ECC codewords. The soft bit data includes sub codes for each of the multiple ECC codewords. The non-volatile memory is configured to send less than all of the sensed soft bit sub codes to the ECC decoder.
US09978461B2 Leveraging chip variability
Embodiments are described that leverage variability of a chip. Different areas of a chip vary in terms of reliability under a same operating condition. The variability may be captured by measuring errors over different areas of the chip. A physical factor that affects or controls the likelihood of an error on the chip can be varied. For example, the voltage supplied to a chip may be provided at different levels. At each level of the physical factor, the chip is tested for errors within the regions. Some indication of the error statistics for the regions is stored and then used to adjust power used by the chip, to adjust reliability behavior of the chip, to allow applications to control how the chip is used, to compute a signature uniquely identifying the chip, etc.
US09978460B2 Memory module including on-die termination circuit and control method thereof
A memory module includes a first memory device including a first one-die termination circuit for impedance matching of a signal path and a second memory device sharing the signal path with the first memory device and including a second on-die termination circuit for impedance matching of the signal path, wherein the signal path corresponds to a command or address signal path provided from a host, and the first and second on-die termination circuits are individually controlled according to control of the host.
US09978458B2 Memory device, memory system, and read/verify operation method of the memory device
A data read operation method of a memory device includes applying a read voltage having a first preparation level and a first target level to a word line of a selected cell in the memory device to read a program state of the selected cell, applying a first read pass voltage having a second preparation level and a second target level to at least one word line of first non-selected cells not adjacent to the selected cell and in the same string as the selected cell, and applying a second read pass voltage having a third target level to a word line of at least one second non-selected cell adjacent to the selected cell.
US09978454B2 Nonvolatile memory with block word line
A nonvolatile memory includes a plurality of memory blocks and an address decoder. The address decoder is configured to activate a block word line corresponding to the memory blocks in common when one memory block is selected among the memory blocks, supply voltages to word lines of the selected memory block among the memory blocks, and float word lines of an unselected memory block among the memory blocks.
US09978452B2 Method for writing in an EEPROM memory and corresponding device
A method can be used for writing in a memory location of the electrically-erasable and programmable memory type. The memory location includes a first memory cell with a first transistor having a first gate dielectric underlying a first floating gate and a second memory cell with a second transistor having a second gate dielectric underlying a second floating gate that is connected to the first floating gate. In a first writing phase, an identical tunnel effect is implemented through the first gate dielectric and the second gate dielectric. In a second writing phase, a voltage across the first gate dielectric but not the second gate dielectric is increased.
US09978450B2 Memory cells, memory cell arrays, methods of using and methods of making
A semiconductor memory cell and arrays of memory cells are provided In at least one embodiment, a memory cell includes a substrate having a top surface, the substrate having a first conductivity type selected from a p-type conductivity type and an n-type conductivity type; a first region having a second conductivity type selected from the p-type and n-type conductivity types, the second conductivity type being different from the first conductivity type, the first region being formed in the substrate and exposed at the top surface; a second region having the second conductivity type, the second region being formed in the substrate, spaced apart from the first region and exposed at the top surface; a buried layer in the substrate below the first and second regions, spaced apart from the first and second regions and having the second conductivity type; a body region formed between the first and second regions and the buried layer, the body region having the first conductivity type; a gate positioned between the first and second regions and above the top surface; and a nonvolatile memory configured to store data upon transfer from the body region.
US09978442B2 Lower power high speed decoding based dynamic tracking for memories
A memory is disclosed. The memory includes a memory array having a plurality of memory cells. The memory also includes an address decoder configured to assert a wordline to enable the memory cells. Additionally, the memory includes a tracking circuit configured to vary a duration of asserting the wordline as a function of which one of the memory cells is accessed. A method is also disclosed. The method includes asserting a wordline to enable the memory cells and varying a duration of asserting the wordline as a function of which one of a plurality of memory cells is accessed.
US09978440B2 Method of detecting most frequently accessed address of semiconductor memory based on probability information
A method of managing a semiconductor memory is provided which includes sampling a row address from an access stream on a memory cell array according to a sampling period; determining whether the sampled row address is an address corresponding to a target row which is most frequently accessed, based on probability information; and executing a refresh operation on rows adjacent to the target row.
US09978438B2 Device having multiple switching buffers for data paths controlled based on IO configuration modes
A device includes a first data terminal, a second data terminal, a first switching buffer coupled between a data node and the first data terminal and a second switching buffer coupled between the data node and the second data terminal. The first switching buffer and the second switching buffer are arranged such that a distance between the first switching buffer and the second data terminal is shorter than a distance between the second switching buffer and the second data terminal and that a distance between the first switching buffer and the first data terminal is shorter than a distance between the second switching buffer and the first data terminal.
US09978437B2 Apparatuses and methods for dynamic voltage and frequency switching for dynamic random access memory
According to one embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first power supply having a first fixed voltage, a second power supply having a second fixed voltage, a plurality of circuits coupled to the first power supply via a first switch and the second power supply via a second switch, and a power control circuit configured to selectively enable one of the first switch and the second switch responsive to power demand information.
US09978434B2 Method for writing in a magnetic device having a plurality of magnetic logical unit cells using a single programming current
Method for programming a magnetic device including a plurality of magnetic logical unit MLU cells using a single programming current, each MLU cell includes a storage magnetic layer having a storage magnetization that is pinned at a low threshold temperature and freely orientable at a high threshold temperature. A programming line is physically separated from each of the plurality of MLU cells and configured for passing a programming current pulse for programming any one of the plurality of MLU cells. The method includes: passing the programming current in the field line for heating the magnetic tunnel junction of each of the plurality of MLU cells at the high threshold temperature such as to unpin the second magnetization; wherein the programming current is further adapted for generating a programming magnetic field adapted for switching the storage magnetization of each of the plurality of MLU cells in a programmed direction.
US09978430B2 Memory devices providing a refresh request and memory controllers responsive to a refresh request
A memory system includes at least one memory device and a memory controller. The at least one memory device includes a refresh request circuit that generates refresh request signals at timings based on data retention times of memory cells, such as based on individual data retention times of a memory cell row. The memory controller schedules operation commands for the at least one memory device in response to the received refresh request signals.
US09978427B2 Data recorder
A device capable of continuing to record data even when a volume of data in a storage medium reaches a capacity limit in the middle of recording the data in the storage medium. A CPU of a data recorder divides data, which are to be recorded in one recording session, into a plurality of small files, and sequentially records the small files into memory. When a volume of data in the memory reaches a capacity limit of the memory, the earliest small file among the small files that are recorded in the memory and that make up the recording session is deleted, and the small files are continually recorded in an available space created by deletion. After completion of recording, all the small files making up the recording session are coupled and recorded in the memory.
US09978422B2 Playback regulation method and apparatus
A play regulation method and apparatus is presented, which relates to the field of play control of multimedia files, so as to adjust play progress more precisely and reduce misoperations. A technical solution provided in the present disclosure includes: receiving a step and play hybrid regulation operation entered by a user, where the step and play hybrid regulation operation includes both an adjustment instruction for a step speed and a regulation instruction for play progress; and regulating the step speed and the play progress according to the step and play hybrid regulation operation. The present disclosure is applied to a terminal having a media player and a touchscreen.
US09978421B1 Optical disk device and large-scale optical disk device
The optical disk device performs recording/reproducing of data by a predetermined recording block on the track of an optical disk. The device has a recording unit, an optical-head, and a failure detection unit. The recording unit generates a recording signal by modulating the data. The optical-head records data on the track by optical beam emission to the track according to the recording signal, and detects light reflected off the track and then generates a detection signal based on the reflected light. The failure detection unit detects an abnormal condition based on the detection signal changed from a normal condition. If the sum of duration of an abnormal condition in the recording block is equal to or greater than a first time-length, the failure detection unit determines that the recording block has a flaw.
US09978420B2 Method of performing read/write process on recording medium, parameter adjustment method, storage device, computer system, and storage medium employing the methods
Methods, apparatuses and systems for detecting defective sectors on a recording medium, the method including calculating a servo gain for each servo sector of a track of a recording medium of a storage device; determining whether the servo gain of each servo sector exceeds a threshold value; and upon determining that the servo gain of a servo sector exceeds the threshold value, determining data sectors included in the servo sector to be defective sectors.
US09978418B2 System and method for automated hardware compatibility testing
Systems and methods for automating testing of multiple SATA hard drives with multiple motherboards are described herein. In certain embodiments any number of SATA drives may be switchably connected to any number of motherboards, and any number of tests may be performed on combinations of the SATA drives and motherboards without or with only minimal manual intervention between tests. In one embodiment, the system may include an automated selector having a controller adapted to receive a testing instruction and transmit the received testing instruction and a mainboard in communication with the controller. The mainboard may include a logic device to receive the testing instruction from the controller and/or a switch for pairing and unpairing motherboards with SATA storage devices.
US09978413B2 Multilayer exchange spring recording media
A multilayer exchange spring recording media consists of a magnetically hard magnetic storage layer strongly exchange coupled to a softer nucleation host. The strong exchange coupling can be through a coupling layer or direct. The hard magnetic storage layer has a strong perpendicular anisotropy. The nucleation host consists of one or more ferromagnetic coupled layers. For a multilayer nucleation host the anisotropy increases from layer to layer. The anisotropy in the softest layer of the nucleation host can be two times smaller than that of the hard magnetic storage layer. The lateral exchange between the grains is small. The nucleation host decreases the coercive field significantly while keeping the energy barrier of the hard layer almost unchanged. The coercive field of the total structure depends on one over number of layers in the nucleation host. The invention proposes a recording media that overcomes the writeability problem of perpendicular recording media.
US09978410B2 Heat assisted magnetic recording write apparatus having an inverse tapered waveguide
A heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) write apparatus has a media-facing surface (MFS) and includes a pole, coil(s) and a waveguide. The waveguide is optically coupled with a laser and directs energy toward the MFS. The waveguide includes an entrance, a bottom and a mode converter having a core, an inner cladding, high index layer(s) and an outer cladding. The core has sides that diverge in width. The core has a first index of refraction. The outer cladding has a second index of refraction less than the first index of refraction. The inner cladding has a third index of refraction not greater than the second index of refraction. The inner cladding is between the high index layer(s) and the core. The high index layer(s) are between the inner and outer cladding. The high index layer(s) have a high index of refraction greater than the second index of refraction.
US09978404B2 Magnetic recording head and disk device with the same
According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording head includes an air bearing surface, a magnetic pole having a distal end portion, a write shield opposed to the distal end portion of the magnetic pole across a write gap, and a high-frequency oscillator between the magnetic pole and the write shield in the write gap. The high-frequency oscillator includes a spin injection layer, an intermediate layer and an oscillation layer which are stacked in a head travel direction. A film thickness of the spin injection layer in the head travel direction at a height position away from the air bearing surface is greater than a film thickness of the spin injection layer in the head travel direction on the air bearing surface.
US09978397B2 Wearer voice activity detection
Embodiments include a wearable device, such as a head-worn device. The wearable device includes a first microphone to receive a first sound signal from a wearer of the wearable device; a second microphone to receive a second sound signal from the wearer of the wearable device; and a processor to process the first sound signals and the second sound signals to determine that the first and second sound signals originate from the wearer of the wearable device.
US09978393B1 System and method for automatically removing noise defects from sound recordings
Embodiment apparatus and associated methods relate to automatically improving the quality of a segmented audio stream containing a desired signal, based on filtering an audio segment with an audio filter configured to remove a predetermined noise, and adapting the audio filter degree of noise removal determined as a function of a characteristic of the desired signal in the audio segment. In an illustrative example, the desired signal may be human voice. The predetermined noise may be, for example, wireless ring, hum, or tick resulting from a wireless microphone. In various implementations, the desired signal characteristic may be voice activity detected in the audio segment, and the audio filter degree of noise removal may be adapted as a function of the voice activity. Various examples may advantageously provide faster and more accurate vocal dialog editing in sound production procedures such as ADR (known as Alternative Dialog Replacement, or, Additional Dialog Recording).
US09978390B2 Dynamic player selection for audio signal processing
A set of signal measures is received, wherein each signal measure in the set of signal measures corresponds to a respective audio signal received by a device in a media playback system which is processed based on a first set of audio processing algorithms. A plurality of signal measures is identified in the set of signal measures. Audio signals corresponding to the identified plurality of signal measures are processed by one or more devices in the media playback system to improve a signal measure of each of the audio signals. The audio signals are processed based on a second set of audio processing algorithms. The processed audio signals are then combined into a combined audio signal.
US09978388B2 Systems and methods for restoration of speech components
A method for restoring distorted speech components of an audio signal distorted by a noise reduction or a noise cancellation includes determining distorted frequency regions and undistorted frequency regions in the audio signal. The distorted frequency regions include regions of the audio signal in which a speech distortion is present. Iterations are performed using a model to refine predictions of the audio signal at distorted frequency regions. The model is configured to modify the audio signal and may include deep neural network trained using spectral envelopes of clean or undamaged audio signals. Before each iteration, the audio signal at the undistorted frequency regions is restored to values of the audio signal prior to the first iteration; while the audio signal at distorted frequency regions is refined starting from zero at the first iteration. Iterations are ended when discrepancies of audio signal at undistorted frequency regions meet pre-defined criteria.
US09978387B1 Reference signal generation for acoustic echo cancellation
An audio device may have an output speaker that produces audio within the environment of a user and one or more input microphones that capture speech and other sounds from the user environment. The audio device may use acoustic echo cancellation (AEC) to suppress echoed components of the speaker output that may be present in audio captured by the input microphones. The AEC may be implemented using an adaptive filter that estimates echoing based on an output reference signal. The output reference signal may be generated by a reference microphone placed near the speaker of the audio device.
US09978383B2 Method for processing speech/audio signal and apparatus
Method and apparatus are provided for reconstructing a noise component of a speech/audio signal. A bitstream, is received and decoded to obtain a speech/audio signal. A first speech/audio signal is determined according to the speech/audio signal. A symbol of each sample value in the first speech/audio signal and an amplitude value of each sample value in the first speech/audio signal is determined. An adaptive normalization length and an adjusted amplitude value of each sample value are determined according to the adaptive normalization length and the amplitude value of each sample value. A second speech/audio signal is determined according to the symbol of each sample value and the adjusted amplitude value of each sample value.
US09978379B2 Multi-channel encoding and/or decoding using non-negative tensor factorization
A method comprising: receiving input signals for multiple channels; and parameterizing the received input signals into parameters defining multiple different object spectra and defining a distribution of the multiple different object spectra in the multiple channels.
US09978376B2 Apparatus and method realizing a fading of an MDCT spectrum to white noise prior to FDNS application
An apparatus for decoding an encoded audio signal to obtain a reconstructed audio signal includes a receiving interface for receiving one or more frames comprising information on a plurality of audio signal samples of an audio signal spectrum of the encoded audio signal, and a processor for generating the reconstructed audio signal. The processor is configured to generate the reconstructed audio signal by fading a modified spectrum to a target spectrum, if a current frame is not received by the receiving interface or if the current frame is received by the receiving interface but is corrupted, wherein the modified spectrum includes a plurality of modified signal samples, wherein, for each of the modified signal samples of the modified spectrum, an absolute value of the modified signal sample is equal to an absolute value of one of the audio signal samples of the audio signal spectrum.
US09978375B2 Method for transmitting phonetic data
A method for transmitting and receiving a communication is provided. The method of receiving a communication includes detecting a selection of a phonetic function which requests or causes inclusion of at least one phonetic data file in the communication, and receiving, in the communication, the one or more phonetic data file.
US09978374B2 Neural networks for speaker verification
This document generally describes systems, methods, devices, and other techniques related to speaker verification, including (i) training a neural network for a speaker verification model, (ii) enrolling users at a client device, and (iii) verifying identities of users based on characteristics of the users' voices. Some implementations include a computer-implemented method. The method can include receiving, at a computing device, data that characterizes an utterance of a user of the computing device. A speaker representation can be generated, at the computing device, for the utterance using a neural network on the computing device. The neural network can be trained based on a plurality of training samples that each: (i) include data that characterizes a first utterance and data that characterizes one or more second utterances, and (ii) are labeled as a matching speakers sample or a non-matching speakers sample.
US09978373B2 Method of accessing a dial-up service
A method of accessing a dial-up service is disclosed. An example method of providing access to a service includes receiving a first speech signal from a user to form a first utterance; recognizing the first utterance using speaker independent speaker recognition; requesting the user to enter a personal identification number; and when the personal identification number is valid, receiving a second speech signal to form a second utterance and providing access to the service.
US09978369B2 Method and apparatus for voice control of a mobile device
A method and apparatus for voice control of a mobile device are provided. The method establishes a connection between the mobile device and a voice-control module. Responsive to establishing the connection, the mobile device enters into an intermediate mode; and the voice-control module monitors for verbal input comprising a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands. The voice-control module sends instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received; and the mobile device acts on the received instructions. An apparatus/voice control module (VCM) for voice control of a mobile device, wherein the VCM includes a connection module configured for establishing a connection between the VCM and the mobile device; a monitoring module configured for monitoring for a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands; and a communications module configured for sending instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received.
US09978367B2 Determining dialog states for language models
Systems, methods, devices, and other techniques are described herein for determining dialog states that correspond to voice inputs and for biasing a language model based on the determined dialog states. In some implementations, a method includes receiving, at a computing system, audio data that indicates a voice input and determining a particular dialog state, from among a plurality of dialog states, which corresponds to the voice input. A set of n-grams can be identified that are associated with the particular dialog state that corresponds to the voice input. In response to identifying the set of n-grams that are associated with the particular dialog state that corresponds to the voice input, a language model can be biased by adjusting probability scores that the language model indicates for n-grams in the set of n-grams. The voice input can be transcribed using the adjusted language model.
US09978362B2 Facet recommendations from sentiment-bearing content
A “Facet Recommender” creates conversational recommendations for facets of particular conversational topics, and optionally for things associated with those facets, from consumer reviews or other social media content. The Facet Recommender applies a machine-learned facet model and optional sentiment-model, to identify facets associated with spans or segments of the content and to determine neutral, positive, or negative consumer sentiment associated with those facets and, optionally, things associated with those facets. These facets are selected by the facet model from a list or set of manually defined or machine-learned facets for particular conversational topic types. The Facet Recommender then generates new conversational utterances (i.e., short neutral, positive or negative suggestions) about particular facets based on the sentiments associated with those facets. In various implementations, utterances are fit to one or more predefined conversational frameworks. Further, responses or suggestions provided as utterances may be personalized to individual users.
US09978358B2 Sound generator device and sound generation method
A sound generator device includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire biological information on a subject user, an estimation unit configured to estimate, based on the biological information, a mind and body state relating to sleep of the subject user. The sound generator also includes a sound generator configured to output a sound signal based on a plurality of control patterns stored in advance and a sound generator control unit configured to select, based on the estimated mind and body state, at least one control pattern among the plurality of control patterns. The sound generator outputs the sound signal based on the at least one control pattern.
US09978357B2 Headphones with active noise cancellation adverse effect reduction
Methods and apparatuses for headphones are disclosed. In one example, a noise cancelling signal is generated with an active noise cancelling system, and the noise cancelling signal is output at a headphones speaker. An undesirable user effect resulting from the noise cancelling signal output at the headphones speaker is mitigated with a noise cancelling adverse effect counteraction signal output simultaneously with the noise cancelling signal.
US09978355B2 System and method for acoustic management
A system and method for acoustic management that includes improving the sound quality of two or more audio processing modules in an acoustic environment may receive first control parameters from a first audio processing module. Receiving second control parameters from a second audio processing module. An audio processing interaction may be derived between with the first audio processing module and the second audio processing module determined from the first control parameters and the second control parameters. The first control parameters and the second control parameters may be modified responsive to the derived audio processing interaction. The modified first control parameters may be sent to the first audio processing module and the modified second control parameters may be sent to the second audio processing module where the first audio processing module and the second audio processing module may perform any one or more of processing audio captured from an acoustic environment and processing audio to be reproduced in the acoustic environment.
US09978354B2 Acoustic panel with vertical stiffeners
A panel for attenuating noise includes a core having a first baffle, a second baffle, a first septum, a second septum and a stiffener. The core forms first and second cavities vertically between a first skin and a second skin, wherein the first and the second cavities are each fluidly coupled with perforations in the first skin. The first cavity is formed laterally between the first baffle and the second baffle and has a first cross-sectional geometry. The first septum is laterally between the first baffle and the second baffle and divides the first cavity into fluidly coupled sub-cavities. The second cavity is formed laterally between the second baffle and the stiffener and has a second cross-sectional geometry that is at least approximately identical to the first cross-sectional geometry. The second septum is laterally between the second baffle and the stiffener and divides the second cavity into fluidly coupled sub-cavities.
US09978353B2 Transportation vehicle part and panel member therefor
A transportation vehicle part that includes: a patch member constructed of a plate-like metal patch panel, and a vibration attenuating resin layer provided along a surface of the patch panel; and a metal base plate closely adhered with the vibration attenuating resin layer of the patch member and affixed with the patch member; according to this configuration, the transportation vehicle part which has a superior vibration characteristic without greatly increasing the thickness and the weight of the transportation vehicle part is provided.
US09978352B2 Acoustic insulator and wiring harness with acoustic insulator
An acoustic insulator for a wiring harness has a non-woven fabric laminate in which non-woven fabrics are laminated. The non-woven fabrics include a skin material non-woven fabric and a base material non-woven fabric having a larger basis weight than the skin material non-woven fabric. At least the base material non-woven fabric includes a first base material non-woven fabric (31) and a second base material non-woven fabric (32). An acoustic insulator (1) is formed by arranging the skin material non-woven fabric (2) between the first and second base material non-woven fabrics (31, 32), and the acoustic insulator (1) is integrated with a wiring harness (7) to form a wiring harness with acoustic insulator (6).
US09978351B1 Modular apparatus for self-supported wielding of musical instruments
A modular apparatus having at least two connecting members substantially at right angles from each other for self-supported wielding of musical instruments. The modular apparatus is worn over at least one shoulder and around the back of the user's neck while it is detachably connected to a musical instrument, such as a violin. The musical instrument is detachably connected to the modular apparatus via a support attachment, support, strap and fastening mechanism. The plurality of members allows even distribution of pressure and tension throughout the upper body caused by supporting and playing the musical instrument.
US09978344B2 Application/window aware image caching system
A method for caching images in a virtual environment uses hash tables to store information about an application or window and to store updated images. Suitable areas of applications or windows are fixed relative to the window for many cases, and also include a relatively small number of possible display statuses. Hash tables are used on an agent side and a client side to track previous image updates. When an updated image is determined to be already stored in a cache, the agent side can transmit a hash identifying the image to the client side, and the client side can update the display with the cached image.
US09978341B2 Visual data processing method and visual data processing system which can perform a process operation according to a gazing point
A visual data processing method applied to a visual data processing system. The visual data processing method comprises: (a) detecting a gazing point position of a user on a display; and (b) performing at least one process operation to visual data according to at least one distance between at least one display location for the visual data on the display and the gazing point position.
US09978337B2 Wireless device supporting Wi-Fi direct service
A wireless device supporting Wi-Fi Direct service includes: a display; a communication unit; and a controller configured to cause: transmitting resolution information including a plurality of resolutions that are supported by the wireless device to a second wireless device; receiving an entire image including a first image and a second image from the second wireless device if a resolution of the first image is not one of the plurality of resolutions; displaying the first image by removing the second image from the received entire image when the entire image is received; and receiving the first image from the second wireless device without the second image if the resolution of the first image is included in the resolution information, the second image being an image that is added to the first image such that a resolution of the received entire image corresponds to one of the plurality of resolutions.
US09978336B2 Display controller and semiconductor integrated circuit devices including the same
A display controller includes a first register set by an open operating system, a second register set by a secure operating system, a first data input circuit configured to read normal data according to set information in the first register, a second data input circuit configured to read secure data according to set information in the second register, and a data processor configured to blend and output the normal data with the secure data to display the secure data over the normal data.
US09978334B2 Driving method of a liquid crystal display panel and liquid crystal display device
A present disclosure provides a driving method for a liquid crystal display panel having steps of: the control chip simultaneously outputs a first selecting signal on a first voltage level, a second selecting signal on the first voltage level and a third selecting signal on the first voltage level to control the first transistors, the second transistors and the third transistors connecting between the buffers and each pixel column to be turned on; the buffers output a pre-charge signal to charge the sub-pixel units in each pixel column to the pre-charge voltage. Further, the present disclosure also provides a liquid crystal display device. The driving method for a liquid crystal display panel is effectively reduces the power consumption of the liquid crystal display device.
US09978325B2 Control unit for a segment liquid crystal display and a method thereof
A unit (10; 11; 12; 13) used to control a segment liquid crystal display (15; 16). The segment liquid crystal display (15; 16) includes at least a backplane electrode (20) and at least a front plane electrode (25) both associated with a same segment of the segment liquid crystal display (15; 16). The unit (10; 11; 12; 13) includes a controller (30; 40; 50) in order to generate a pulse-width-modulated control signal (35) that has two voltage levels and a variable duty cycle. The unit (10; 1; 12; 13) further includes an integrator (60; 61) to integrate the pulse-width-modulated control signal (35) and to provide an integrated control signal (90) which has more than two discrete voltage levels corresponding to different variable duty cycle values. An output of the unit (10; 11; 2; 13) supplies the integrated control signal (90) to the at least a backplane electrode (20) or to the at least a front plane electrode (25) so that visibility of the same segment in the segment liquid crystal display (15; 16) can be controlled. By having a pulse-width-modulated control signal (35) with only two voltage levels and different duty cycle values generated by the controller (30; 40; 50), and by having the integrator (60; 61) integrating said pulse-width-modulated control signal (35), more than two different discrete voltage levels are generated to control the at least a backplane electrode (20) or at least a front plane electrode (25) without the need to use an application specific segment liquid crystal interface in the unit (10; 11; 12; 13), thereby abating the cost of implementation of the unit (10; 11; 12; 13).
US09978322B2 Display apparatus
A display apparatus includes gate lines extending in a first direction data lines extending in a second direction crossing the first direction, and pixels connected to the gate lines and the data lines. The pixels displaying first, second, third, and fourth colors are repeatedly arranged in the second direction. A k-th gate line connected to at least one of first pixels displaying the first color among the pixels arranged in an i-th row is electrically connected to a (k+j)th gate line connected to at least one of second pixels displaying the first color among pixels arranged in one row of (i+1)th, (i+2)th, and (i+3)th rows.
US09978321B2 Display device and method of driving the same
According to one embodiment, a display device includes signal lines, scanning lines, a first pixel, a second pixel and a third pixel. The first pixel including a first subpixel which displays a first color, a second subpixel which displays white, and a third subpixel which displays a second color. The second pixel including a fourth subpixel which displays a third color, a fifth subpixel which displays white, and a sixth subpixel which displays the first color. The third pixel including a seventh subpixel which displays the second color, an eighth subpixel which displays white, and a ninth subpixel which displays the third color.
US09978311B2 Pixel circuit and display apparatus including the pixel circuit
A pixel circuit and a display apparatus. The pixel circuit includes a first transistor configured to output a driving current corresponding to a data voltage to an output node, an OLED connected to the output node and configured to emit light according to the driving current output from the first transistor, a storage capacitor coupled to the first transistor and configured to store the data voltage, a second transistor configured to receive a reference voltage from the first transistor during a first time section, configured to diode-connect the first transistor, and configured to compensate for a threshold voltage of the first transistor, and a third transistor configured to diode-connect the first transistor during a second time section, configured to receive the data voltage through the first transistor for which the threshold voltage of the first transistor is compensated, and configured to transfer the data voltage to the storage capacitor.
US09978310B2 Pixel circuits for amoled displays
A system for controlling a display in which each pixel circuit comprises a light-emitting device, a drive transistor, a storage capacitor, a reference voltage source, and a programming voltage source. The storage capacitor stores a voltage equal to the difference between the reference voltage and the programming voltage, and a controller supplies a programming voltage that is a calibrated voltage for a known target current, reads the actual current passing through the drive transistor to a monitor line, turns off the light emitting device while modifying the calibrated voltage to make the current supplied through the drive transistor substantially the same as the target current, modifies the calibrated voltage to make the current supplied through the drive transistor substantially the same as the target current, and determines a current corresponding to the modified calibrated voltage based on predetermined current-voltage characteristics of the drive transistor.
US09978309B2 Pixel circuit and driving method thereof
To prevent image retention, the pixel circuit includes: a light emitting element; a driving transistor which supplies an electric current according to an applied voltage to the light emitting element; a capacitor part which holds the voltage containing a threshold voltage and a data voltage of the driving transistor; and a switch part which has the voltage containing the threshold voltage and the data voltage held to the capacitor part and applies the voltage to the driving transistor. Further, the switch part has a function which applies a constant voltage to the driving transistor before having the voltage containing the threshold voltage and the data voltage held to the capacitor part.
US09978307B2 Organic light emitting display and driving method thereof
An organic light emitting display includes: a first pixel; and a second pixel adjacent to the first pixel, the second pixel being configured to emit light at a different time from the first pixel, wherein the first pixel and the second pixel share a storage capacitor configured to store a voltage of a data signal.
US09978304B2 Organic light emitting diode (OLED) touch display device
An OLED touch display device includes an OLED display and a laminated package component covering the OLED display and including a quarter-wave plate, a liquid crystal polarizer, a first touch sensor layer and a second touch sensor layer. The first touch sensor layer and the second touch sensor layer are configured to cooperatively detect touch events.
US09978302B2 Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes: a liquid crystal panel comprising a plurality of pixel areas, each having a plurality of pixels; and a signal controller configured to receive an original image signal and to generate a target image signal corresponding to the original image signal by using a kickback voltage at each gray level in the original image signal, wherein the signal controller comprises a dithering unit configured to generate a corrected image signal based on dithering patterns corresponding to the target image signal.
US09978299B2 Transparent display
The present invention discloses a transparent display, comprising a first display, comprising a plurality of first display regions and a plurality of transparent regions alternately arranged along a first direction; a second display, comprising a plurality of second display regions and a plurality of second transparent regions which are alternately located along the first direction, and the second display is laminated with the first display and located at one side of the first display in an image display direction, and the vertical projections of the second display regions on the first display completely coincide with the first transparent regions, and the vertical projections of the second transparent regions on the first display completely coincide with the first transparent regions; a camera shooting module; a signal process module.
US09978298B2 Display panel and driving method thereof
A display panel including a plurality of digital code display units is provided. The digital code display units respectively display digital codes. Each of the digital code display units includes a plurality of display segments. The display segments are at least grouped into a first group and a second group. A signal waveform of at least one of a plurality of common voltage signals that drive the first group is the same as a signal waveform of at least one of a plurality of common voltage signals that drive the second group. Furthermore, a driving method of the display panel is also provided.
US09978292B2 Self-erectable displays and methods of making such self-erectable displays
Self-erectable displays and methods of making such self-erectable displays are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a first panel, a second panel, and a third panel. In this example, in an erected position, the first panel, the second panel, and the third panel form a triangular cross-section. The example apparatus also includes a stop that extends between a base of one of the first panel, the second panel, or the third panel and a vertex of the others of the first panel and the second panel, the first panel and the third panel, or the second panel and the third panel. The example stop prevents movement of the vertex toward the base.
US09978288B2 Communication and skills training using interactive virtual humans
A system for providing interaction between a virtual human and a user, the system comprising: a tangible interface providing a physical interface between the user and the virtual human, an imaging system directed towards the physical interface to provide images of the user interacting with the tangible interface; a tracking system tracking at least one position or the user; a microphone capturing speech from the user; a simulation system receiving inputs from the tangible interface, the imaging system, the tracking system and the microphone, the simulation system generating output signals corresponding to the virtual human; and a display presenting the output signals to the user.
US09978287B2 Systems and methods for improving tennis stroke recognition
Certain embodiments relate to systems and methods for improving tennis stroke recognition that includes: outputting on an output device a video or animation of an opponent player executing a tennis stroke, a layout of the near court, and one or more tennis stroke indicators corresponding to different tennis strokes; detecting a first user gesture or voice utterance adjacent to the output device to select one of the tennis stroke indicators a user believes is executed by the opponent player; detecting a second user gesture adjacent to the output device identifying a location in the layout of the near court the user expects the ball to hit; and updating the output device to display an actual type of tennis stroke executed by the opponent player and an actual location in the layout of the near court the ball hits as a result of the actual tennis stroke executed by the opponent.
US09978286B2 Method for avoidance of one or more obstacles by an aircraft, and related computer program product, electronic system and aircraft
A system and method for the avoidance of one or more obstacles by an aircraft, and a related computer program product, electronic system and aircraft are disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes a) generating an alert by a warning system on detection of an obstacle and b) if no manual avoidance maneuver is detected for a time period longer than a first determined time and if the alert is maintained during this first time period, automatically activating an automatic avoidance guide mode to determine an obstacle-avoidance guidance rule. The method further including c) if an autopilot device of the aircraft is coupled to the automatic avoidance guide mode, transmitting to the autopilot device the avoidance guidance rule determined in step b) for automatic performing of a maneuver to avoid the obstacle.
US09978285B2 Autonomous and non-autonomous dynamic model based navigation system for unmanned vehicles
A navigation system including a vehicle dynamic model (VDM) that serves as the main process model within a navigation filter is described. When used in an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the navigation system may work in communication with inertial measurement units (IMUs) and environment dependent sensors such as GNSS receivers. Particularly, the navigation system is beneficial in the case of GNSS signal reception outages, where conventional IMU coasting drifts quickly. Yet, the navigation system may also be employed in other scenarios, for example during GNSS presence for improved positioning, velocity and attitude determination, or in combination with GNSS when no IMU is available by design or due to a failure. In the navigation system, a solution to VDM equations provides an estimate of position, velocity, and attitude, which can be updated within a navigation filter based on available observations, such as IMU data or GNSS measurements.
US09978284B2 Method and apparatus for generating vehicle maneuver plans
An approach is provided for generating maneuver plans for one or more vehicles. A maneuvering platform processes location information, context information, or a combination thereof associated with a vehicle to determine at least one cell of a wireless communication network associated with a current location of the vehicle. The maneuvering platform further assigns the vehicle to a cluster associated with the at least one cell based on an establishment of a communication link between an access node associated with the vehicle and the at least one cell, an association between the current location of the vehicle, the access node associated with the vehicle, or a combination thereof and a geographic coverage range of the at least one cell or a combination thereof.
US09978280B2 Driver assistance apparatus and vehicle including the same
A driver assistance apparatus in a vehicle, and including a sensor configured to detect obstacles around the vehicle; a plurality of indicator output units disposed at different positions on the vehicle; and a processor configured to detect an obstacle around the vehicle and a positional relationship between the vehicle and the obstacle, selectively control the indicator output units to display an indicator outside the vehicle at a position and with a display characteristic, based on the detected positional relationship, detect the positional relationship between the vehicle and the obstacle changing, and selectively control the indicator output units to change at least one of the position and the display characteristic of the indicator based on the changing positional relationship.
US09978276B2 Vehicle exterior environment recognition device
A vehicle exterior environment recognition device includes a traveling path predicting module that predicts a traveling path on which a vehicle travels, based on a current traveling condition of the vehicle, a traveling path restricting module that restricts the predicted traveling path in the width direction of the vehicle, according to at least one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of a traveling speed of the vehicle, an indicating state of a blinker, an angular speed of the vehicle, and a steering angle, and a control input identifying module that identifies a traffic indicator that exists ahead of the vehicle based on the restricted traveling path and that is to be used as the control input.
US09978274B2 Negative image for sign placement detection
Systems, methods, and apparatuses are described for a negative image or false positive profile for sign locations. Image data or another type of optical data is collected along a path by a collection device such as a camera. The data is analyzed to identify one or more false positive locations along the path at which signs for other paths may be detected. The false positive locations may be described in the negative image or false positive profile. Additional or subsequent optical data may be analyzed based on the negative image or false positive profile may be analyzed to identify at least one confirmed sign position.
US09978272B2 Vehicle to vehicle chatting and communication system
A vehicle communication system includes a plurality of user accounts, each user account corresponding to a user. A server is programmed to receive communication invitations from inviting vehicles, and is programmed to transmit the communication invitations to invitee vehicles to facilitate inter-vehicle communication.
US09978271B2 Intermittent asynchronous IR beam-break fog detector
An automated roadway marker system that illuminates and provides warning and lane demarcation under poor visibility conditions utilizing IR beam-break transceivers where no deployment considerations need to be made for the first in a sequence, because each marker operationally establishes its linkage condition in an intermittently activated asynchronous pseudo-network. The devices are designed for extremely low power consumption, so that solar energy can be utilized as a power source. The markers can additionally be linked through radio frequency signals, and to provide a warning to mobile and stationary radio frequency receivers. Additionally, the markers can be illuminated via transmissions from mobile and stationary transmitters.
US09978270B2 Self-configuring traffic signal controller
Embodiments describe new mechanisms for signalized intersection control. Embodiments expand inputs beyond traditional traffic control methods to include awareness of agency policies for signalized control, industry standardized calculations for traffic control parameters, geometric awareness of the roadway and/or intersection, and/or input of vehicle trajectory data relative to this intersection geometry. In certain embodiments, these new inputs facilitate a real-time, future-state trajectory modeling of the phase timing and sequencing options for signalized intersection control. Phase selection and timing can be improved or otherwise optimized based upon modeling the signal's future state impact on arriving vehicle trajectories. This improvement or optimization can be performed to reduce or minimize the cost basis of a user definable objective function.
US09978268B2 Driving support system, driving support method, and in-vehicle unit
Traffic information is provided to an in-vehicle unit of a vehicle located in a shadow portion of a large-sized vehicle and to an in-vehicle unit of a vehicle at a location separated from an intersection 193. A UHF beacon unit 112 is installed at the intersection 193, thereby distributing the traffic information using a UHF beacon signal having a diffraction characteristic. The UHF beacon unit 112 transmits, to a plurality of concentric zones, UHF beacon signals with different traffic information set therein for the different zones, by time division. At this time, the UHF beacon unit 112 transmits the UHF beacon signals with the different traffic information set therein, with different transmission output powers.
US09978265B2 Modular garage door opener
A modular garage door opener system includes an accessory device including a first electronic processor, a first memory, and a load, and includes a garage door opener including an accessory port, a second memory, and a second electronic processor. The accessory port is configured to be removably coupled to the accessory device. The second electronic processor receives new status data from the accessory device indicating a change in a status of the accessory device to a new status, sends the new status data to a remote server to update an accessory data set, receives new settings data from the remote server indicating a requested change in a setting of the accessory device, and sends the new settings data to the accessory device to update the setting of the accessory device. The first electronic processor controls the load of the accessory device based on the new settings data.
US09978260B2 Method and apparatus for controlling a home device remotely in a home network system
Provided is a remote control method and apparatus in a home network system including multiple home devices. The remote control method includes receiving operation state information from the respective multiple home devices, receiving a control command for operation control of at least one of the multiple home devices from a user device, determining a control target home device based on the control command, sending the control command to the determined control target home device, receiving processing result information corresponding to execution of the control command from the control target home device, and transmitting the processing result information to the user device.
US09978254B2 Wireless speaker devices for wireless audio/video recording and communication devices
A wireless speaker device configured for use with a wireless A/V recording and communication device, such as a doorbell. The wireless speaker device, which includes a speaker, may connect to the user's local area network (LAN), such as a Wi-Fi network. The LAN is connected to a wide area network (WAN), such as the Internet and/or a public switched telephone network (PSTN). When the wireless A/V recording and communication device detects a visitor, it sends a signal, via the LAN, to at least one device in the WAN, such as a server and/or a service. In response, the at least one device in the WAN sends a signal, via the LAN, to the wireless speaker device. The signal to the wireless speaker device includes a command for the wireless speaker device to emit a tone through its speaker. The wireless speaker device then emits a tone through its speaker to alert the user that a visitor is at the wireless A/V recording and communication device.
US09978251B2 Wireless location-based system and method for detecting hazardous and non-hazardous conditions
A wireless location-based gas detection system and method includes a gas detector for wirelessly detecting location information associated with a hazardous gas event. The gas detector includes one or more remote gas sensors that monitor for the occurrence of a gas event and wirelessly communicates information with respect to the location of the event in association with time information to a server or location manager. A wireless communication device in association with one or more location anchor points periodically and under event conditions, transmits the location information and the gas concentration level. A location engine calculates an estimated location of the gas detector based on information received from the wireless communication device and provides the location data to the location manager. The location manager records the gas concentration level, the estimated location, and the time information and stores this information within a database. A graphical user interface is provided for visualizing the current and historical information.
US09978233B2 Restricted area automated security system and method
A security system includes a plurality of laser scanners to establish light shields in an area to be monitored, with each of the light shields including at least one detection zone, and a controller to detect unauthorized entry to the area to be monitored based on a position and timing of breaks in the detection zones of the light shields.
US09978232B2 Anti-theft security system for electrical appliances
A power strip for use in an anti-theft security system and an anti-theft security system for electrical appliances includes a socket-outlet for receiving a power plug that is electrically connected to a power cord for an electrical appliance. The power strip comprises an electronic circuit configured to measure a first electrical characteristic of the power cord and/or the electrical appliance when the power plug is inserted into the socket-outlet and to measure a second electrical characteristic of the power cord and/or the electrical appliance while the power plug is inserted. A change between the first measurement result and the second measurement results in triggering an alarm.
US09978231B2 Tamper-respondent assembly with protective wrap(s) over tamper-respondent sensor(s)
Tamper-respondent assemblies and methods of fabrication are provided which include an inner enclosure, a tamper-respondent sensor(s), a protective wrap(s) and an outer enclosure. The inner enclosure is sized to receive one or more electronic components to be protected, and the tamper-respondent sensor(s) wraps around the inner enclosure. The protective wrap(s) overlies and wraps around the tamper-respondent sensor(s) and inner enclosure, and together the inner enclosure, tamper-respondent sensor(s), and protective wrap(s) form a tamper-respondent subassembly. The outer enclosure receives and surrounds, at least in part, the tamper-respondent subassembly, with the tamper-respondent sensor(s) and protective wrap(s) disposed between the inner enclosure and the outer enclosure. When operative, the inner enclosure, tamper-respondent sensor(s), protective wrap(s) and outer enclosure are coupled together and facilitate conduction of heat from the electronic component(s) out to the outer enclosure.
US09978230B2 Break-in alarm assembly
A break-in alarm assembly for emitting an audible alarm when a window is opened includes a rod unit that may be positioned to extend between a lower pane of a window and a frame of the window. An alarm unit is coupled to the rod unit. The alarm unit emits an audible alarm when the lower pane is opened.
US09978229B2 Tamper detection device and a method for installing the device
There is provided a tamper detection device comprising a laminate; a contact lead attached to the laminate; and a detection module connected to the contact lead. It is advantageous that the laminate is configured to conform to an application surface, and to move the contact lead. A method of installing the device is also disclosed.
US09978228B2 Systems and methods for home automation integration with a doorbell
Various doorbell monitoring devices and methods are presented herein. Such arrangements may be configured to be integrated with a previously-installed doorbell and a previously-installed chime unit. A first power source may be configured to power the doorbell monitor device separate from the previously-installed doorbell and the previously-installed chime unit. A plurality of electrical connectors may be present and may be configured to be attached with preexisting terminals of the previously-installed chime unit. An actuation sensor may be present and configured to detect an actuation of the previously-installed doorbell via the two or more electrical connectors. A communication module may also be present and configured to transmit a wireless signal indicative of the ring to a receiver device.
US09978227B2 Keyless entry device for haptic communications
A keyless entry device is provided. The keyless entry device includes a transceiver, a haptic actuator coupled to a drive circuit, and a processor coupled to the transceiver and the drive circuit. The transceiver communicates with a vehicle over a communication channel. The processor determines proximity information between the keyless entry device and the vehicle, selects a control signal based on the proximity information, and outputs the control signal to the drive circuit to cause the haptic actuator to periodically or continuously generate a haptic effect to a user.
US09978223B2 Financial device and method of controlling financial device
A financial device includes: an insertion part to which a medium is inserted; a random number generation unit configured to generate an signal including information on a copying prevention number for preventing copying of a medium according to an on signal; a detection unit installed near the insertion part and configured to generate a detection signal by detecting the existence of the medium; a determination unit configured to determine whether the medium is completely inserted or is being removed based on the detection signal; a controller configured to generate the on signal to make the random number generation unit operate, wherein the controller generates an off signal to make the random number generation unit not operate when it is determined that the medium is completely inserted and generates the on signal to make the random number generation unit operate again when it is determined that the medium is being removed; and a card reader unit installed at one position of a movement path of the inserted medium and configured to recognize information included in the medium.
US09978219B2 Method for providing a cribbage casino game
A method for providing a casino cribbage game includes receiving a bet from a player, dealing a plurality of player cards from at least one deck of cards to the player, dealing one or more crib cards from the at least one deck to a crib hand, receiving at least one discard from the player cards to define a player hand from the player cards remaining, moving the at least one discard to the crib hand, exposing a starter card from the at least one deck of cards, totaling a value of the player hand in conjunction with the starter card, totaling a value of the crib hand in conjunction with the starter card, and determining a payout by comparing at least one of the value of the player hand and the value of the crib hand to a pay table.
US09978214B2 Gaming system and method for providing awards
A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines is provided. The gaming system includes a plurality of progressive awards arranged in a hierarchy. Upon the occurrence of a triggering event or qualifying condition, a bonus game is started. A player can win a next higher progressive award by accumulating award values. If the player's total award value is greater than or equal to a trigger value for a progressive award, the player wins the progressive award. Unless a termination condition occurs, the bonus game continues. The total award value is set to the progressive award value. Alternatively, the progressive award value is added to the player's total award value. The trigger value for a progressive award can be the startup value for that progressive award.
US09978212B2 Peel-away security covering for a ticket
A solution for concealing confidential information that is printed at the point of sale in a game of chance utilizing a more common type printer designed for printing on a standard grade and biodegradable direct thermal paper. This system can print and cut each individual ticket in variable lengths. The unique and innovative concept of this new system allows a second and separate biodegradable substrate to be collated in a continuous stream over top of the printed ribbon before it is cut away and delivered into the presenter. The second substrate contains a strip of a specially formulated adhesive and is adhered to the top surface of the printed ribbon as the two substrates join together while passing through mechanical nip rollers. The confidential printed information is now covered and the combined substrates are cut and delivered as one ticket unit. The ticket information is revealed by easily peeling away the adhered top layer.
US09978211B1 Event-based currency
An approach to facilitating event-based currency is provided. A first virtual currency usable by users of a game space to purchase in-space benefits may be managed. An event in the game space that is conducted during an event time period may be managed such that, during the event time period, an event virtual currency may be distributed to one or more of the users as a reward for certain operations and/or achievements performed in the game space during the event time period. Exchanges of in-space benefits associated with the event virtual currency may be effectuated for one or more of the users. In some implementations, the event virtual currency may not available to the users after the event time period, while the first virtual currency may be available to the users during and after the event time period.
US09978210B2 Gaming system, gaming device and method for offering a guaranteed win
A method in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is provided, the method comprising the steps of generating a first outcome of a game of chance, determining a target outcome, receiving a first wager, generating a second outcome based on the first outcome, and repeating the step of generating the second outcome until the second outcome matches the target outcome, before receiving any second wager.
US09978209B2 Methods, systems and apparatus for administering wagering games
Methods of administering wagering games may involve accepting an ante wager and a blind wager from a player. Cards may be dealt to the player and a dealer hand. A play wager or an election to fold may be accepted from the player. A value of the play wager may depend on when the play wager is accepted relative to when the player discards and draws cards. The play wager may be accepted at a first value before the player discards any cards. The play wager may be accepted at a second, lower or equal value, after the player discards any cards. The dealer hand may discard and draw cards. The ante and blind wagers may be resolved by comparing the dealer and player hands. The blind wager may be resolved by comparing the dealer and player hands and comparing the player hand to a set of predetermined, blind-winning hands.
US09978200B2 Method and device for conducting a card game
Game wagers are received without designating the hand used to resolve the game wager. At least two hands are dealt. A portion of the playing cards among those dealt to the hands are exposed. The exposed playing cards may come entirely from one hand or may come from multiple hands. After exposing a portion of the cards, a designation wager is received along with a designation of one of the hands for resolution of the designation wager and game wager. Hands are completed according to the rules of baccarat or a baccarat variation. After the hands are completed, a determination is made whether the designated hand is a winning hand and wagers are resolved. Optionally, designation wagers are paid and game wagers are returned when the designated hand is a winning hand.
US09978199B2 Methods and systems for processing transactions
Methods and systems are provided for processing a transaction between a first party and a second party. Information defining terms of the transaction and identifying a presentation instrument are received at a host system. Preference information associated with the presentation instrument is retrieved with the host system. The preference information specifies terms for an allocation of transaction amounts among multiple transaction types. An amount for the transaction is allocated among the transaction types in accordance with terms of the transaction and the terms for the allocation.
US09978195B2 Wireless access control system including remote access wireless device generated magnetic field based unlocking and related methods
A wireless access control system may include a remote access wireless device that includes a magnetic field generator and a remote controller coupled to remote access wireless device wireless communications circuitry and the magnetic field generator. The system may also include a lock assembly for a door and that includes a magnetic sensor and a lock controller coupled to a lock, lock wireless communications circuitry, and the magnetic sensor. The remote controller may communicate a magnetic field characteristic with the lock wireless communications circuitry, and cooperate with the magnetic field generator to generate a magnetic field based upon the magnetic field characteristic. The lock controller may cooperate with the magnetic sensor to sense the magnetic field, compare the sensed magnetic field to the magnetic field characteristic, and enable lock unlocking when the sensed magnetic field has a sensed magnetic field characteristic that matches the magnetic field characteristic.
US09978192B1 Method and apparatus for streamlining guest entry into a building
A method of providing an electronically generated key includes the steps of generating an account for a resident; allowing the resident to access a software application; receiving a request from the resident for an electronic pass; and generating the electronic pass. The method further includes the steps of electronically detecting the electronic pass at a reader; determining whether the electronic pass is valid; and activating a relay if the electronic pass is valid. A device for receiving the request and for activating the relay is also provided.
US09978191B2 Driver risk assessment system and method having calibrating automatic event scoring
A Driver Risk Assessment System and Method Having Calibrating Automatic Event Scoring is disclosed. The system and method provide robust and reliable event scoring and reporting, while also optimizing data transmission bandwidth. The system includes onboard vehicular driving event detectors that record data related to detected driving events and selectively store or transfer data related to said detected driving events. If elected, the onboard vehicular system will score a detected driving event, compare the local score to historical values previously stored within the onboard system, and upload selective data or data types to a remote server or user if the system concludes that a serious driving event has occurred. Importantly, the onboard event scoring system, if enabled, will continuously evolve and improve in its reliability by being periodically re-calibrated with the ongoing reliability results of manual human review of automated predictive event reports. The system may further respond to independent user requests by transferring select data to said user at a variety of locations and formats.
US09978190B2 Nut, in particular wheel or axle nut, washer, control device for wheel or axle nuts in vehicles and vehicle provided therewith
A wheel nut or axle nut for vehicles, having a body, having a central threaded hole, having a peripheral wall, having an abutment face at a lower side, wherein the nut also has a plurality of wrench faces on the peripheral wall of the nut body for tightening or releasing the nut by a tool which cooperates with the wrench faces. In the body at least one recess is provided in which a sensor element is arranged, wherein the sensor element is connected to a wireless interface which is configured to transmit a sensor signal of the sensor element wirelessly to an external reception unit.
US09978187B2 Electronic control device and electronic control system
An electronic control device (ECU) reserves a transmission of a requested diagnosis data that is requested by a management center when an external device is connected to a dedicated connector, and when IGSW is turned ON. In such scheme, a delay of an off-board diagnosis process in the ECU is prevented when a diagnosis tool connected to the dedicated connector performs an off-board diagnosis. Further, after turning OFF of IGSW, the ECU, which is no longer due for a request from the external device connected to the dedicated connector, transmits the requested diagnosis data to the center, enabling the center to perform a remote diagnosis service. Therefore, the remote diagnosis service is performable when a commercially-available external device is connected to the dedicated connector by a user of a vehicle.
US09978185B1 Systems and methods for activation of postage indicia at point of sale
Systems and methods which provide for activation of postage indicia at a point of sale are shown. In operation according to embodiments, unassigned (e.g., not yet activated or not yet representing postage value) tokens (e.g., IBI barcodes) suitable for later use as postage indicia are distributed to various point of sale locations, such as retail locations, consumer kiosks, vending machines, etc. and made available for purchase by users. Upon purchase, at a point of sale, such unassigned tokens are preferably activated as valid or “live” postage indicia. Thereafter, the postage indicia may be used to post mail items.
US09978181B2 System for virtual reality display
Systems and method for selectively applying blinders to remove high peripheral optical flow from three-dimensional imagery. When users experience visual cues corresponding to motion in virtual reality without corresponding non-visual clues (such as cues from the vestibular system), motion sickness can result. Peripheral optic flow is a particularly strong visual cue associated with motion. However, unconditionally removing peripheral imagery significantly reduces user immersion. Embodiments of the invention can selectively apply peripheral blinders to remove high peripheral optic flow and add non-visual motion cues (such as directional audio) corresponding to the virtual motion to reduce or eliminate the disconnect that can cause motion sickness.
US09978177B2 Reconstructing a 3D modeled object
The invention notably relates to a computer-implemented method for reconstructing a 3D modeled object that represents a real object, from a 3D mesh and measured data representative of the real object, the method comprising providing a set of deformation modes; determining a composition of the deformation modes which optimizes a program that rewards fit between the 3D mesh as deformed by the composition and the measured data, and that further rewards sparsity of the deformation modes involved in the determined composition; and applying the composition to the 3D mesh. The method improves reconstructing a 3D modeled object that represents a real object.
US09978173B2 Generating views of three-dimensional models illustrating defects
Systems and methods are disclosed for generating viewpoints and/or digital images of defects in a three-dimensional model. In particular, in one or more embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods generate exterior viewpoints by clustering intersection points between a bounding sphere and rays originating from exterior vertices corresponding to one or more defects. In addition, in one or more embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods generate interior viewpoints by clustering intersection points between one or more medial spheres and rays originating from vertices corresponding to interior vertices corresponding to one or more defects. Furthermore, the disclosed systems and methods can apply colors to vertices corresponding to defects in the three-dimensional model such that adjacent vertices in the three-dimensional model have different colors and are more readily discernable.
US09978172B2 Method for recording individual three-dimensional optical images to form a global image of a tooth situation
The invention relates to a method for recording individual three-dimensional optical images (1) to form a global image (50) of a tooth situation comprising an upper jaw (2) and a lower jaw (3). A first 3D model (6) of a first subsection of the upper jaw and a second 3D model (8) of a second subsection of the lower jaw are produced from the individual images. Subsequently, a geometric positional relationship between the first 3D model (6) and the second 3D model (8) is determined, said positional relationship being determined by using a lateral image (20, 21, 22) and/or using a contact pattern (31, 32). Said lateral image (20, 21, 22) comprises an image area which comprises at least part of the first subsection of the upper jaw (2) and at least part of the second subsection of the lower jaw (3). Said contact pattern comprises several contact areas (31, 32) between the upper jaw and the lower jaw. Said contact pattern (30, 31, 32) is measured by means of an occlusion paper (29).
US09978170B2 Geometrically and semanitcally aware proxy for content placement
An approach is provided for providing perspective-based content placement. A content placement platform processes and/or facilitates a processing of one or more models of one or more objects associated with a geographical area to cause, at least in part, a decomposition of the one or more models into one or more simplified surfaces. The content placement platform further causes, at least in part, a selection of one or more portions of the one or more simplified surfaces as one or more content placement layers based, at least in part, on one or more viewpoints, with the one or more content placement layers supporting a perspective-based rendering of one or more content items associated with the one or more objects.
US09978168B1 Aviation display depiction of weather threats
A method for indicating a weather threat to an aircraft is provided. The method includes inferring a weather threat to an aircraft and causing an image to be displayed on an aviation display in response to a determination by aircraft processing electronics that the inferred weather threat to the aircraft is greater than a measured weather threat to the aircraft.
US09978167B2 Image cropping according to points of interest
In one embodiment, a computing device determines one or more points of interest in an image. The computing device selects a viewport position including a pre-determined number of the points of interest. The computing device crops the image based at least in part on the viewport position.
US09978165B2 Dynamic presentation of waveform tracings in a central monitor perspective
Methods, computer systems, and computer storage media are provided for automatically populating a central monitor perspective with waveform tracings having a predetermined aspect ratio. A selection of a unit location is received, and monitoring devices connected to patients at the unit location are detected. Waveform tracings associated with the active monitoring devices are presented in a predetermined aspect ratio in the central monitor perspective. As new monitoring devices are connected to patients, or as monitoring devices are disconnected from patients, the central monitor perspective is automatically refreshed to reflect currently active waveform tracings having the predetermined aspect ratio.
US09978163B2 Exposure management system
An exposure management system according to an embodiment includes a processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to calculate a deviation index related to a difference between a target exposure index indicating an index of an exposure value that is set as a target of an X-ray image taking process and an image-taking-period exposure index indicating an index of an exposure value observed during the X-ray image taking process. The processing circuitry is configured to control so as to cause a display device to display history information from a predetermined time period indicating at least one selected from between image-taking-period exposure indices and deviation indices.
US09978160B2 Method and apparatus for reconstructing image using low rank fourier interpolation scheme
A method and apparatus for reconstructing an image using a low rank Fourier interpolation scheme are provided. The method may reconstruct information of a k-space domain based on the information of the k-space domain using an imaging apparatus, for example, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus, a computed tomography (CT) apparatus, and a diffraction tomography apparatus. The method may generate a block Hankel matrix based on the information of the k-space domain, and may complete the block Hankel matrix using a low rank matrix completion algorithm, to reconstruct corresponding information of the k-space domain.
US09978156B2 High-throughput image and video compression
A system implements multiple coding formats for coding pixels within a picture. The formats may be selected based on one or more of the input picture and encoding variables. The coding formats may have varying chroma sampling densities. Filtering may be applied to convert among the various formats or to convert a sampled input to a specific chroma sampling density. The format associated with various groups within a coded bitstream may be changed to adapt to evolution of the one or more variables or inputs.
US09978153B2 Image color balancing for test receptacle
An image of a test receptacle is received, which includes a color of a reaction between a test substance and at least one reagent in the test receptacle, an alignment code having test receptacle identification information, and at least one color calibration block. An array of pixels of RGB values for each pixel in the image is collected. A captured color of the color calibration block is evaluated. An offset is determined for the captured color in the one color calibration block if the evaluation of at the color calibration block in the image determines that the captured color deviates from a baseline color. The offset is applied to each pixel in the image to correct the captured image. A colorimetric analysis is performed on the reaction between the test substance and the at least one reagent.
US09978152B2 Method and system for wafer alignment
A method for a system to generate a recipe for performing wafer alignment, includes: generating first and second alignment data sets, the first alignment data set including image information regarding a first site on a wafer and coordinates of characteristic points at the first site, and the second alignment data set including image information regarding a second site different than the first site on the wafer and coordinates of characteristic points at the second site; and saving the generated first and second alignment data sets as a recipe for wafer alignment; wherein the generating of the first alignment data set includes: selecting, as the first site, a site including a characteristic pattern on the wafer; determining first and second characteristic points at the selected site; and recording coordinates of the determined first and second characteristic points.
US09978148B2 Motion sensor apparatus having a plurality of light sources
A motion sensor device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes an image sensor and LED light sources. Using three images captured by the image sensor when only the LED light source is turned ON, when only the LED light source is turned ON, and when only the LED light source is turned ON, respectively, the motion sensor device estimates the distance to an object based on the luminance ratio of the object.
US09978145B2 Assessment of an attentional deficit
A system and method are provided for use in the assessment of an attentional deficit. During the assessment, a test image is presented to a subject on a display. A camera image is obtained from a camera which is indicative of a geometric relation between the head of the subject and the display during the assessment. The camera image is analyzed to determine a deviation in the geometric relation between the head of the subject and the display from a reference geometric relation. Deviation data is then generated and output which is indicative of the deviation. Advantageous uses of the deviation data include providing visual feedback to the user, adjusting the test image, and taking the deviation into account when processing test data of the assessment. Advantageously, the need for a trained professional to be present during the assessment is reduced or avoided.
US09978142B2 System and method for quality assessment of optical colonoscopy images
A system for quality assessment of optical colonoscopy images includes an input device configured to acquire a series of images during an optical colonoscopy. A computing device is coupled in communication with the input device and configured to acquire from the input device an input image from the series of images captured during the optical colonoscopy; form a cell grid including a plurality of cells on the input image; perform an image transformation onto the input image with each cell of the plurality of cells within the cell grid; reconstruct each cell to form a reconstructed image; compute a difference image of a sum of a plurality of differences between the input image and the reconstructed image; compute a histogram of the difference image; and apply a probabilistic classifier to the histogram to calculate an informativeness score for the input image.
US09978129B2 Patch partitions and image processing
Patch partition and image processing techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a system includes one or more modules implemented at least partially in hardware. The one or more modules are configured to perform operations including grouping a plurality of patches taken from a plurality of training samples of images into respective ones of a plurality of partitions, calculating an image processing operator for each of the partitions, determining distances between the plurality of partitions that describe image similarity of patches of the plurality of partitions, one to another, and configuring a database to provide the determined distance and the image processing operator to process an image in response to identification of a respective partition that corresponds to a patch taken from the image.
US09978127B2 Aligning a result image with a source image to create a blur effect for the source image
A processing device receives input representing a selection of a first area of a source image. The processing device identifies a result image that corresponds to the source image. The result image is previously created for the source image using a blur operation. The processing device aligns the selected first area of the source image with a corresponding portion in the result image. The processing device transforms, using the corresponding portion in the result image, the aligned first area in the source image to a blurred area without blurring a remaining area of the source image.
US09978126B2 Image resolution modification
A method performed under control of a storage manager may include identifying a subject of an image; determining a resolution value for the image based, at least in part, on the identified subject; and modifying a resolution of the image in accordance with the determined resolution value.
US09978122B2 Electronic endoscope
An electronic endoscope system has an image sensor driver configured to read one line's worth of image-pixel signals in order; at least four line memories configured to store one line's worth of image-pixel signals, respectively; and an interpolation processor that interpolates image-pixel signals of interpolated scanning lines to generate an enlarged image. The interpolation processor generates one line's worth of interpolated image-pixel signals based on image-pixel signals that are stored in the line memories. The image sensor driver reading one line's worth of image-pixel signals intermittently, and the interpolation processor suspends a writing of image-pixel signals that are stored in the line memories in accordance to a suspension of the outputting of the one line's worth of image-pixel signals from the image sensor.
US09978121B2 Adaptive sharpening in image processing and display
A method for sharpening of an image. The method combines edge sharpening and noise reduction on image and video data to eliminated artifacts, thereby creating natural looking output images and video without increased noise. The algorithm uses one dimensional look-up tables not requiring complex spatial frequency processing of input image and video data. The look-up tables reduce differences for small input differences which are likely noise, increase differences for mid-level input differences to increase edge slope and sharpness, and maintain high-level input differences to maintain sharp edges without noise increase on those edges that are already sharp. A device for sharpening an image is also disclosed, comprising of a processor in communication with a non-transitory computer readable medium storing the sharpening algorithm communicable to and executable by the processor.
US09978116B2 Core processes for block operations on an image processor having a two-dimensional execution lane array and a two-dimensional shift register
A method is described that includes, on an image processor having a two dimensional execution lane array and a two dimensional shift register array, doubling a simultaneous shift amount of multiple rows or columns of the two dimensional shift register array with each next iteration. The method also includes executing one or more instructions within respective lanes of the two dimensional execution lane array in between shifts of iterations. Another method is described that includes, on an image processor having a two dimensional execution lane array and a two dimensional shift register array, repeatedly executing one or more instructions within respective lanes of the execution lane array that select between content in different registers of a same array location in between repeated simultaneous shifts of multiple rows or columns of data in the two dimensional shift register array.
US09978110B2 Patient-specific bin assignment systems, methods, and devices
Systems, methods, and devices are described related to the assignment and management of patient-specific bins. A dispensing device at a healthcare facility includes a number of bins for storage of medical supplies, with some of the bins designated as patient-specific bins allocated to be assigned to patients for storage of their medications or certain other supplies. A central server computer system, in communication with a computer of the dispensing device, may monitor and assign current and future patient-specific use of the bins for the dispensing device. The assignment and management of patient-specific bins may be performed by devices distributed through the system.
US09978108B2 Method and system for controlling vehicles and drones
Embodiments are provided for controlling a fleet of vehicles and drones. The vehicles are directed to respectively drop off passenger groups at multiple locations. Routes are calculated routes for the vehicles to respectively pick up the passenger groups from the multiple locations based on predicted pick-up times, passenger group sizes and available vehicle capacities. One or more assign drones are assigned to each passenger group at each location. Each drone is configured to broadcast a current location of the passenger group in the location and a corresponding one of the predicted pick-up times and delay the corresponding passenger group in the location based on one of the vehicles assigned as a pick-up vehicle for the passenger group being delayed.
US09978101B1 Method and system for integrating trade executions among multiple market participant types
A computerized system (10) and method for integrating trade executions among multiple market participant types is disclosed. The system (10) includes a client system (14) that provides a user interface (150) for inputting an order for the execution of a trade and a server system (12) in communication with the client system (14). The server system (12) accepts the order for the execution of the trade from the client system (14). The server systems (12) then routes the order to a trade execution location (30) of one market participant type selected from among multiple market participant types such as the market participant types of ECNs, market makers and exchanges. The server system (12) has direct and indirect access to the ECNs and the market makers and has indirect access to the exchanges, thereby integrating trade executions among multiple market participant types.
US09978089B2 Personalized interactive network with multiple channels coupled to integrated knowledge management system
Systems and methods provide for personalizing interaction between a provider using a integrated knowledge management (KM) system that tracks data exchanged between users and the provider over multiple communication channels. User requests to a provider can made via multiple different incoming channels, such as by using ATMs, PDAs, cell phones, computers accessing web sites or other Web Devices, Voice Response Units (VRUs), and others. User requests submitted over these multiple channels are routed into an integrated KM system that services these requests and selects personalized offers and/or personalized content and/or personalized format presentation to be provided to the users.
US09978087B2 Methods and systems for managing employee-liable expenses
A method for managing payments made as part of an employee-liable expense reimbursement program is described. A plurality of employees are enrolled in the program and submit requests for reimbursement for expenses related to a service provided to the employees by a service provider for which the employees are liable. The method includes receiving, by the computer system, requests for reimbursement and aggregating the requests for reimbursement scheduled for payment within a predefined time period and associated with the service provider. The method also includes generating an invoice that includes a payment amount to be paid to the employee for subsequent payment to the service provider. The method also includes automatically requesting funds from an employer of the plurality of employees for the payment amount included in the invoice and electronically transferring funds associated with the employer to the service provider or alternatively, to the employee for subsequent payment to the service provider.
US09978082B1 Activating display and performing additional function in mobile terminal with one-time user input
A mobile terminal includes a touch screen display, a camera, a power button and an activation button for turning on the touch screen display. The mobile terminal has a first function and a second function to perform in response to user input and provides user settings for configuring at least one of the first and second functions such that the at least one of the first and second functions is performed along with turning on the touch screen display when pressing of the activation button is detected while the touch screen display is turned off. The mobile terminal is configured to perform the first and second functions depending upon length of pressing of the activation button in addition to turning on the touch screen display.
US09978081B1 Method and apparatus of requesting customized location information at a mobile station
A method and apparatus of processing a call are disclosed. One example method may include receiving a request at a server for dealer information. The request may be initiated by a user via his or her mobile station. The example method may also include determining whether there is user preference information and user location information included in the request. The information may be used to limit the amount of search results to increase relevancy. The method may also include searching a database for at least one dealer based on the user preference information and the user location information, and transferring the at least one dealer information to the user.
US09978080B2 Systems and methods for providing event reminder alerts
A system for providing reminder alerts including a host computer and a client device is disclosed. The system includes the client device for receiving a registration code associated with an item provided to a client, the item associated with a company brand of a company providing the item, transmitting the registration code from the client device to the host computer, receiving a branded alert from the host computer, and outputting the branded alert; and the host computer for registering the client device based on the registration code, determining an alert event, and transmitting to the client device the branded alert, the branded alert including information related to the alert event and information identifying the company.
US09978078B2 Tracking offers across multiple channels
Provided is a process, including: obtaining a coupon issued by a merchant, the coupon being redeemable both on-line, at the merchant's website, and in-store, at a physical location of the merchant; sending the coupon to publishers for presentation to consumers by the publishers on user devices of the consumers; and receiving indications from the user devices of the consumers that the consumers interacted with the coupon, the indications indicating a consumer selection of an in-store redemption option or an on-line redemption option.
US09978077B2 Integrated payment method using near field communication and mobile terminal using the same
Disclosed herein is a method for performing an integrated payment using Near Field Communication (NFC). The method is performed using a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal receives Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag information from a payment system in an NFC scheme. The mobile terminal analyzes the received RFID tag information, and then extracts an integrated payment application which corresponds to the RFID tag information. The mobile terminal drives the integrated payment application and transmits discount benefit information to the payment system.
US09978076B2 Location-based crowdsourced funds
Methods and systems for providing cash using crowdsourcing are described. A requestor sends a request for cash, and the request is relayed to a plurality of lenders in the vicinity of the requestor. The requestor is matched with a lender based on certain criteria. After the exchange of cash is confirmed, the lender may be given a reward, such as cash, coupons, a good rating, and/or virtual points.
US09978074B2 Automated experiment scheduling
Various embodiments are generally directed to an automated A/B testing system using a combination of classical and alternative statistical analysis to control the performance A/B tests. An apparatus includes a processor circuit; and logic to commence collection of a specified number of samples of user responses to multiple versions of a user interface in a test, employ an alternative statistical analysis to analyze the samples as they are collected, determine whether a proposed version elicits a statistically significant improvement in user response over a control version, terminate the test before the specified number of samples are collected in response to a statistically significant improvement over the control version elicited by the proposed version, and complete collection of the specified number of samples and employ a classical statistical analysis to analyze the samples in response to the proposed version not eliciting the statistically significant improvement. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09978072B2 Computerized system and method for creating a modified version of a digital slide show by creating and inserting a digital content item into the digital slide show
Systems and methods are disclosed for automatically adding advertisements into a slide show data feed. The disclosure includes receiving a request for a slide show data feed and generating a modified slide show data feed from the original data feed. One or more advertisements are selected and inserted as slides into the modified slide show data feed. The modified slide show data feed is then transmitted to the requester. When rendered on the requestor's device, the modified slide show data feed displays the slides of the originally requested data feed along with the advertisements.
US09978071B2 Customer relationship management system
Systems and methods for customer relationship management are disclosed. In one example, a customer relationship management system can receive, from a customer device, a customer location and a request for a sales representative. In response, the customer relationship management system can send, for display to a sales representative device, the customer location and then receive, from the sales representative device, a request for customer profile information. In response to this request, the customer relationship management system can send, for display to the sales representative device, at least some of the customer profile information.
US09978067B1 System and methods for dynamic digital threat mitigation
Systems and methods include: collecting digital event data from at least one remote source of digital event data; using the collected digital event data as input into primary machine learning ensemble that predicts the likelihood of digital fraud and/or digital abuse; generating by the machine learning system the global digital threat score; identifying a sub-request for a specific digital threat score for a digital abuse type; in response to identifying the sub-request, providing the input of the collected digital event data to a secondary machine learning model ensemble of the machine learning system that predicts a likelihood of the identified digital abuse type; generating by the secondary machine learning ensemble the specific digital threat score for the digital abuse type based on the input of the collected digital event data; and transmitting the global digital threat score and the specific digital threat score for the identified digital abuse type.
US09978066B2 Privacy-protected check certification system
A computer system, computer program codes and computerized methods certify with privacy protection whether a particular check has been legitimately issued, cashed or deposited. As a result of the certification, all types of fraud associated with checks are prevented.
US09978063B2 Direct connection systems and methods
Embodiments of the invention are directed to passing a plurality of communications directly from a merchant to a payment processing network. A first communication may include payment information in an authorization request, while a second transaction may include non-payment transaction data. The communications may be linked with a transaction identifier. In other embodiments, a capture file process is disclosed where capture files are generated by the payment processing network, and transactions are subsequently cleared and settled.
US09978051B2 Methods and systems for facilitating payment transaction reconciliation
A method for facilitating payment transaction reconciliation is provided. The method includes receiving a purchasing entity identifier at a point of sale. Payment transaction information associated with the purchase, and the purchasing entity identifier, are transmitted to a financial institution providing the payment service used to make the purchase. Merchant transaction information is also transmitted to the financial institution, with the purchasing entity identifier, to be recorded against the payment transaction information.
US09978048B2 Methods and systems for connected sales associate services
A method and system for providing a connected sales associate service application via a mobile device. The application provides for an integrated platform upon which various tools for providing support to a sales associate are built. The application includes a database of information regarding the operation of a retail establishment, and a database of reference materials. The application provides a user interface for allowing several sales associate to access a central server for the retail establishment on multiple mobile devices. The user interface displays information regarding sales and inventory information and reference materials for products, such as user's manuals, which enable the sales associate to answer questions posed by customers. A sales associate can thus search for and find all store products which meet a customer's specifications.
US09978047B2 Integrating payment aggregators with e-commerce platform
Systems and methods for integrating an e-commerce platform with at least one payment aggregator are provided. The system comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory comprises an integrating module configured to provide a Generic Interface Framework (GIF). The GIF comprises a plurality of configuration files having activity details of a plurality of payment aggregators. The integrating module is further configured to integrate at least one payment aggregator selected from amongst the plurality of payment aggregators with the e-commerce platform based upon the plurality of configuration files.
US09978046B2 Method and apparatus for automated bill timeline
A computer-implemented method for displaying a plurality of bill due dates, the method comprising: displaying an account identifier for each bill in the plurality of bills; showing a timeline with a due date indicator for each bill in the plurality of bills, the timeline disposed proximate to the account identifier; and wherein each of the account identifiers and timelines are disposed along an axis relative to the other account identifiers and timelines.
US09978037B2 Personal inventory and product support system
Methods, systems, apparatus, and machine-readable media enable managing information about products. In a device associated with a user, a method is implemented to receive data identifying a product acquired by the user, configure the device to receive product support content for the acquired product based on the identifying data, the product support content having been curated from a plurality of content servers on behalf of the user, including product recall information received from a product recall server, receive a notification that curated product support content for the product is available, and present the curated product support content to the user. The method may further include organizing an inventory of the products, including generating folders to contain the data identifying the products, receiving user input to manipulate the data identifying the products into the folders, and presenting the data contained in the folders in a personal inventory report. Corresponding methods, systems, apparatus, and machine-readable media for managing information about products can be implemented in servers supporting the user device.
US09978035B2 Proximity node location using a wireless node network
Methods, media, apparatus, and systems are described for improved and enhanced node location determination related to one of a plurality of nodes in a wireless node network. A first and second other node in the network are instructed to detect any message broadcast from the one node over a period of time. The server receives a first indication from the first other node, where the first indication relates to a characteristic of all messages broadcast from the one node that are detected by the first other node during the time period. The server receives a second indication from the second other node, where the second indication relates to the characteristic of all messages broadcast from the one node that are detected by the second other node during the time period. The server then determines a location of the one node based upon a difference in the first and second indications.
US09978032B2 Method for tracking procedures performed on personal protection equipment and actions of individuals
A method for tracking procedures performed on personal protection equipment (PPE) and actions of individuals includes the following steps. An article of PPE configured with a smart tag is provided to an individual prior to performance of a task. After the individual performs the task, the article of PPE is processed. Information is retrieved from the smart tag during at least one of: before, during and after processing the article of PPE. After the performance of the task, the individual's data is read and the individual enters into a designated area.
US09978021B2 Database management and presentation processing of a graphical user interface
A system for database management and presentation processing of a graphical user interface includes a network interface interfacing with multiple data sources comprising internal systems and external systems, one or more processors, and an application service integration and communication layer to receive data including a live data feed. A data storage device stores schemas of data structures, and the data structures may include tables based on types and fields. The application service integration and communication layer normalizes and formats the live data feed according to the predetermined schemas, and stores the normalized and formatted procurement data in the database. A graphical user interface of true conditions assigned to procurement data in the live data feed is displayed.
US09978020B1 Optimizing physical parameters in fault-tolerant quantum computing to reduce frequency crowding
A technique relates to quantum error correction. Code qubits are configured as target qubits, and the code qubits have a first dephasing time and a first anharmonicity. Syndrome qubits are configured as control qubits, and the syndrome qubits have a second dephasing time and a second anharmonicity. The target qubits and the control qubits are configured to form one or more controlled not (CNOT) gates. The first dephasing time is greater than the second dephasing time and the second anharmonicity is greater than the first anharmonicity.
US09978019B2 System and method for improving efficiency of containment determination processing
Method for calculating whether an actual location of a target device is on one side of a boundary zone includes: receiving an estimated location of the target device; receiving a desired confidence level; forming a first circle with radius D, centered at the estimated location, where D is the shortest distance from the estimated location to the boundary zone; forming a second circle with radius R′, centered at the estimated location, wherein R′ is determined in such a way so that a likelihood that the actual location is inside the second circle equals or exceeds the desired confidence level; forming an angle with an apex at the estimated location and rays passing through two closest points to the estimated location where the second circle intersects the boundary zone; and using a size of an annulus formed by the first circle, the second circle, and the rays to estimate whether the actual location lies on the same side of the boundary zone.
US09978018B2 Method and system for optimizing execution of user commands in relation to power management
A computer-implemented method and system for optimizing user experience are disclosed. The method and system include determining a power profile of a device; determining historical behavior of at least one user and using a criterion based on the power profile of the device for checking the historical behavior of the at least one user for establishing a connection.
US09978015B2 Cortical processing with thermodynamic RAM
A thermodynamic RAM apparatus includes a physical substrate of addressable adaptive synapses that are temporarily partitioned to emulate adaptive neurons of arbitrary sizes, wherein the physical substrate mates electronically with a digital computing platform for high-throughput and low-power neuromorphic adaptive learning applications. The physical substrate addressable adaptive synapses can be configured as a part of a memristor-based physical neural processing unit.
US09978014B2 Reconfigurable processing unit
A processing device includes a processor core and a number of calculation modules that each is configurable to perform any one of operations for a convolutional neuron network system. A first set of the calculation modules are configured to perform convolution operations, a second set of the calculation modules are reconfigured to perform averaging operations, and a third set of the calculation modules are reconfigured to perform dot product operations.
US09978013B2 Systems and methods for recognizing objects in radar imagery
The present invention is directed to systems and methods for detecting objects in a radar image stream. Embodiments of the invention can receive a data stream from radar sensors and use a deep neural network to convert the received data stream into a set of semantic labels, where each semantic label corresponds to an object in the radar data stream that the deep neural network has identified. Processing units running the deep neural network may be collocated onboard an airborne vehicle along with the radar sensor(s). The processing units can be configured with powerful, high-speed graphics processing units or field-programmable gate arrays that are low in size, weight, and power requirements. Embodiments of the invention are also directed to providing innovative advances to object recognition training systems that utilize a detector and an object recognition cascade to analyze radar image streams in real time. The object recognition cascade can comprise at least one recognizer that receives a non-background stream of image patches from a detector and automatically assigns one or more semantic labels to each non-background image patch. In some embodiments, a separate recognizer for the background analysis of patches may also be incorporated. There may be multiple detectors and multiple recognizers, depending on the design of the cascade. Embodiments of the invention also include novel methods to tailor deep neural network algorithms to successfully process radar imagery, utilizing techniques such as normalization, sampling, data augmentation, foveation, cascade architectures, and label harmonization.
US09978012B2 Non-transferable radio frequency identification label or tag
A Non-transferable Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) assembly for attachment to an article comprises a RFID module; and a antenna module coupled with the RFID module, the antenna module comprising a conductive layer, a substrate, and an adhesive modification layer between the conductive layer and the substrate, the adhesive modification layer configured such that when the assembly is attached to the article and attempt to remove the assembly will cause the substrate to release and leave the conductive layer intact.
US09978011B2 Network system for autonomous data collection
A system to monitor and report asset inventory and status on board a vehicle, for example, an aircraft. This system has low weight and provides high reliability. Energy harvesting is provided for applications where it is difficult to connect to a power source. In one embodiment, a sensor communicates with the asset. An RFID tag is affixed to the asset and communicates with the asset. The RFID tag containing digitally stored information about the asset. An RFID reader mounted to the vehicle and positioned such that the RFID tag is within communication range with the RFID reader. A data delivery system effective to digitally transmit information from the RFID reader to a data collection system. A secure interface disposed between the data collection system and a communication system with the communication system effective to transmit the information to a flight crew, a ground crew and/or a display.
US09978009B1 RFID antenna structure for increased range when coupled with a mobile device
An RFID tag device with an RFID antenna assembly that increases transmission range of the RFID tag device when adhesively coupled to a mobile device. The RFID tag device includes a RF interface that operates at a first RF frequency, a controller coupled to the RF interfaces, and the RFID antenna assembly. The RFID antenna assembly includes a first and a second dipole elements, each shaped as a half rectangle with an additional segment joining the respective element to a tuning element. The RFID antenna also includes a tuning element, which is a loop antenna, connecting the RF interface to the controller. A structure of the RF antennal assembly, when the RFID tag device is coupled to a mobile device, causes the mobile device to function as a reflector to increase gain of the RFID antenna assembly thereby improving transmission range.
US09978005B2 Printer for drawing bold character, method for controlling the same, and storage medium
A printer includes a receiving unit configured to receive data for drawing a character at a predetermined drawing position, and a drawing unit configured to, based on the data for drawing the character, draw the character multiple times by varying a drawing position of the character each time. The drawing performed multiple times includes at least drawing at the predetermined drawing position, drawing at a drawing position shifted from the predetermined drawing position only in a horizontal direction, and drawing at a drawing position shifted from the predetermined drawing position only in a vertical direction.
US09978003B2 Utilizing deep learning for automatic digital image segmentation and stylization
Systems and methods are disclosed for segregating target individuals represented in a probe digital image from background pixels in the probe digital image. In particular, in one or more embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods train a neural network based on two or more of training position channels, training shape input channels, training color channels, or training object data. Moreover, in one or more embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods utilize the trained neural network to select a target individual in a probe digital image. Specifically, in one or more embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods generate position channels, training shape input channels, and color channels corresponding the probe digital image, and utilize the generated channels in conjunction with the trained neural network to select the target individual.
US09978001B2 Systems and methods for inferential sharing of photos
Techniques for separating shareable images from non-shareable images. In various implementations, image metadata and feature analysis may be used to evaluate the “shareability” of a photograph associated with a particular user. In some implementations, single photos may be determined to be shareable. In another implementation, an event associated with multiple photos may be determined to be shareable. In some implementations, a photo may be determined to be shareable with a single recipient. In another implementation, a photo may be determined to be shareable with multiple recipients. In yet another implementation, these techniques may be assisted by supervised machine learning. In still yet another implementation, photos determined to be shareable may be suggested to a user for sharing, or automatically shared, per an opt-in feature.
US09977996B2 Characterizing porosity distribution from a borehole image
Apparatus and methods for use with borehole image data to: delineate a dip and/or a fracture from the borehole image data; create a gap-filled image from the borehole image data; extract a fracture segment from the borehole image data; determine matrix information from the borehole image data; delineate a heterogeneity from the borehole image data; and analyze image porosity. The image porosity analysis is based on: the dip and/or fracture delineated from the borehole image data; the gap-filled image created from the borehole image data; the fracture segment extracted from the borehole image data; the matrix information determined from the borehole image data; and the heterogeneity delineated from the borehole image data.
US09977988B2 Device and method for the classification of a food item of an organic or irregular structure
An apparatus for classifying a food item of organic or irregular structure includes an image capture unit, a data input unit, and a data output unit. An evaluation unit is connected to said image capture unit, to said data input unit and to said data output unit. The image capture unit captures the food item as optical data and provides the optical data in transmittable form for transmission to the evaluation unit. The evaluation unit extracts feature values of the food item from the optical data. The feature values are combined to form a feature value tuple for the food item. The feature value tuple is automatically assignable to a feature value tuple range. The feature value tuple range is formed by one or more feature value tuples. The feature value tuple range is assigned a class. The data input unit is used to perform an assignment of the class to the feature value tuple range.
US09977984B2 Computer-readable storage medium storing image processing program, image processing device, and image processing method
A first area, which includes a group of pixels with a first color, is specified. The first color corresponds to a color of an outline of a hole image in an image represented by image data. A second area corresponding to the hole image is determined. The second area is the first area larger than a first size when the first area is separated from four ends of the image. The second area is the first area larger than a second size when the first area is in contact with at least one of the four ends of the image. The second size is smaller than the first size.
US09977982B2 Medical image processing method and image processing system
A patient image record and a reference image record are read for capturing anatomical features of a patient on the basis of medical image records is provided. Joints are localized in the patient image record and in the reference image record by means of a pattern recognition method. At the localized joints, the patient image record is segmented into patient image segments and the reference image record is segmented into reference image segments. According to the invention, a segment-individual image deformation is established for a respective reference image segment or patient image segment, by means of which image deformation image structures of the reference image segment are mapped to corresponding image structures of the patient image segment). Then, an anatomical feature is captured on the basis of the segment-individual maps between the reference image segments) and the patient image segments.
US09977979B2 Merging non-overlapping broken lines of a table
A method for image processing includes obtaining a mask of an image; identifying, in the mask, a first stroke segment and a second stroke segment for possible merging, wherein the first stroke segment and the second stroke segment do not overlap; calculating a plurality of merger eligibility scores for the first stroke segment and the second stroke segment; calculating an aggregate merger eligibility score for the first stroke segment and the second stroke segment based on the plurality of merger eligibility scores; and merging the first stroke segment and the second stroke segment based on the aggregate merger eligibility score.
US09977972B2 3-D model based method for detecting and classifying vehicles in aerial imagery
A computer implemented method for determining a vehicle type of a vehicle detected in an image is disclosed. An image having a detected vehicle is received. A number of vehicle models having salient feature points is projected on the detected vehicle. A first set of features derived from each of the salient feature locations of the vehicle models is compared to a second set of features derived from corresponding salient feature locations of the detected vehicle to form a set of positive match scores (p-scores) and a set of negative match scores (n-scores). The detected vehicle is classified as one of the vehicle models based at least in part on the set of p-scores and the set of n-scores.
US09977971B2 Role-based tracking and surveillance
A method for surveilling a monitored environment includes classifying an individual detected in the monitored environment according to a role fulfilled by the individual within the monitored environment, generating a trajectory that illustrates movements and locations of the individual within the monitored environment, and detecting when the trajectory indicates an event that is inconsistent with an expected pattern for the role.
US09977967B2 Object detection device for recognizing an object in an input frame image using detection history information
The object detection device 1 detects an object being recognized (such as a pedestrian) in a frame image 42, and identifies an area 42a where a detected object which is detected in the frame image 42 is present. A frame image 43 is input after the frame image 42. The object detection device 1 detects the object being recognized in the frame image 43, and identifies an area 43a where a detected object which is detected in the frame image 43 is present. When a distance from center coordinates 42b of the area 42a to center coordinates 43b of the area 43a is smaller than a reference distance, the object detection device 1 determines that the detected object which is detected in the frame image 43 is identical to the detected object which is detected in the frame image 42.
US09977966B2 System and method for identifying, analyzing, and reporting on players in a game from video
The invention is a system and method used for detection, analysis, and reporting on player metrics of a sporting event using video images. The main components of the invention are: grabbing a digital video image frame or grabbing an analog video image frame and converting the analog video image frame to a digital video image frame, extracting field of play markings from the video image frame(s) for use as image control points, creating a perspective projection registration model based upon the pairing of image control points with a set of user-defined control points representative of the field of play, extracting player image locations on each team from the video image frames, and applying the perspective projection transformation model to register participant image locations to their respective planimetric coordinate position on the user defined field of play. In the case of processing multiple video image frames, to correct errors across perspective projection transformation models developed on each image frame, a final bundle adjustment affine transformation model is applied to correct participant locations. Analysis of players use network analysis, pattern analysis, spatial interpolation, hypothesis testing, or forecast modeling can then be performed with reports in tabular, chart and graphic, or cartographic formats.
US09977961B2 Method for maintaining detection capability when a frame in a multispectral image is corrupted
Exemplary embodiments provide a method, a system, and a computer readable medium for maintaining detection capability when a frame is corrupted. A plurality of data points of a multispectral gain in a frame is monitored. It is determined that the frame is corrupted by analyzing the plurality of data points. When the frame is corrupted, a single spectrum threat detection system is used instead of a multispectral threat detection system.
US09977959B2 Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for determining a salient region of geographic map
Provided are systems, methods, and computer-readable media for determining a salient region of a geographic map. Geographic areas corresponding to viewports are determined using map coordinates corresponding to perimeters of those viewports. Grid points, and the geographic areas, are overlaid on a portion of the geographic map. Each point is assigned a score based at least on the number of geographic areas overlaying that point. A polygon defined by a subset of the grid points is determined based on the scores, and the polygon is identified as defining a salient region of the geographic map.
US09977955B2 Method and system for identifying books on a bookshelf
A method and system for identifying books located on a bookshelf. Photographs of the bookshelf are captured and processed to identify individual books. Processing involves segmenting the photograph into individual book spines and extracting and analyzing features of the book spines. Analysis may include database matching and/or optical character recognition. Book spines for which a match is not found are human labeled, and the label information is added to the database. User feedback is also used to update the database.
US09977954B2 Robot cleaner and method for controlling a robot cleaner
A robot cleaner and a method for controlling a robot cleaner are provided. The robot cleaner may include a casing, a drive disposed in the casing, a camera disposed in the casing to acquire an image of a user's gesture, and a controller that extracts an image including a user's arm image from the image acquired by the camera to determine an angle and a direction of the arm expressed by the user's gesture from the arm image and determine an intension expressed by the determined arm angle, and controls the drive based on the determined intension. The method may include receiving a voice command through a voice recognition device disposed in the robot cleaner; determining, by a controller, whether the received voice command is a gesture recognition command; acquiring an image of a user's gesture by a camera, when the received voice command is the gesture recognition command; determining, by the controller, an angle and direction of an arm expressed by the user's gesture from the image acquired by the camera; and determining, by the controller, a function intended by the determined arm angle to control a movement device so as to execute the determined function.
US09977952B2 Organizing images by correlating faces
Methods and systems are presented for organizing images. In one aspect, a method can include generating a correlation value indicating a likelihood that a face included in a test image corresponds to a face associated with a base image, determining that a correlation threshold exceeds the correlation value and that the correlation value exceeds a non-correlation threshold, generating a similarity score based on one or more exposure values and one or more color distribution values corresponding to the test image and the base image, combining the similarity score with the correlation value to generate a weighted correlation value, and determining that the test image and the base image are correlated when the weighted correlation value exceeds the correlation threshold.
US09977946B2 Fingerprint sensor apparatus and method for sensing fingerprint
A fingerprint sensor apparatus including a fingerprint sensor and a processor circuit is provided. The fingerprint sensor is configured to capture a plurality of local fingerprint images of a fingerprint. The plurality of local fingerprint images include at least one first local fingerprint image and at least one second local fingerprint image. The processor circuit is electrically connected to the fingerprint sensor. The processor circuit is configured to identify the fingerprint according to the at least one first local fingerprint image of the local fingerprint images. The local fingerprint images form a global fingerprint image of the fingerprint. In addition, a method for sensing a fingerprint is also provided.
US09977945B2 Fingerprint sensing device and method for manufacturing a fingerprint sensing device
There is provided a capacitive fingerprint sensing device for sensing a fingerprint pattern of a finger, said capacitive fingerprint sensing device comprising: a protective top layer to be touched by said finger; a first metal layer comprising a two-dimensional array of sensing structures arranged underneath said top layer; a second metal layer, arranged underneath said first metal layer, comprising a plurality of conductive structures a dielectric layer arranged between the first and second metal layers to electrically insulate the first metal layer from the second metal layer, the dielectric layer comprising a low-k material; and readout circuitry arranged underneath said second metal layer and coupled to each of the electrically conductive sensing structures by means of via connections to receive a sensing signal indicative of a distance between said finger and said sensing structure. There is also provided a method for manufacturing such a device.
US09977942B2 Sensing apparatus for detecting user touch
A sensing apparatus includes a substrate, N groups of sensing elements formed on the substrate, a sensing circuit and a switch control circuit. Each group of the N groups of sensing elements includes a plurality of sensing elements. Each of the sensing elements includes a thin-film transistor (TFT) switch and a sensing electrode. The sensing electrode drives the N groups of sensing elements to sequentially generate N groups of sensing signals. By controlling the TFT switches, the switch control circuit controls a plurality of sensing electrodes included in one group of the N groups of sensing elements to be coupled to the sensing circuit.
US09977938B2 Method and apparatus for accessing electronic data via a plurality of electronic tags
The disclosed methods and apparatus relate generally to the use of electronic devices to interact with electronic tags associated with objects, services, places, people, or animals (“objects”) in order to access programming material related to these objects. The invention discloses the input of keywords, phrases, preferences, or interests into a user's device to search a plurality of electronic tags within a given physical range to access programming material from the tags—or via data links provided in the tags—that matches the keywords, phrases, preferences, or interests. Furthermore, the invention locates, maps, and labels the objects associated with this programming material on the user's display.
US09977936B2 Item locator
A computer-implemented method for tracking an item having an electromagnetic frequency signature is provided. The method includes obtaining, using a processor system of a device, an electromagnetic frequency signature of an item. The item associated with the obtained electromagnetic frequency signature is identified and the location of the device at the time the item is identified. The identity of the item associated with the electromagnetic frequency signature and the location of the device at the time the electromagnetic frequency signature is obtained are recorded for associating the item with the location of the device.
US09977935B1 Student accountability system
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for student accountability systems. School buses can be equipped with a bus system that executes a driver application. Students carry student identification (ID) systems that identify the students to the bus system, which in turn reports a geographic location to a student accountability system. The bus system is configured to permit rapid boarding and easy usage by drivers. The student accountability system provides a parent portal and an administrator portal to monitor the students and provide other useful functions.
US09977932B2 Method and arrangement for providing and managing information linked to RFID data storage media in a network
A method provides and manages information linked to RFID data storage media in a network with data transmission between an RFID data storage medium and an RFID reading unit, integrated in a mobile radio device, for reading the data stored on the RFID data storage medium. A data link is set up to a network server in a network via a radio interface of the mobile radio device. A data memory area on the network server is associated with the RFID data storage medium. An arrangement provides and manages information linked to RFID data storage media in a network. The arrangement includes an RFID data storage medium, a mobile radio device with an integrated RFID reading unit for reading RFID data records, and a network with a network server. The network server has a data memory area which is associated with the RFID data storage medium.
US09977930B2 Interference immune radio
An apparatus, system, and method for wireless communication with remote devices that reduce or eliminate interference from zero-mean noise and deterministic signals within the operating system frequency band are provided. An interrogator uses dithering of the initiation time of sequential transmitted signals or sets of transmitted signals with synchronous accumulation of the resulting received signals to reduce the relative strength of interfering signals while increasing the relative strength of the desired signal. The apparatus, system, and method are particularly advantageous when used to extract identification and/or sensor data from passive wireless sensors and tags.
US09977929B2 Communication device for identifying and/or locating an RFID transponder
A communication device is provided for identifying and/or locating an RFID transponder. The communication device includes a first RFID reader and at least one second RFID reader. The first and/or the at least one second RFID reader is configured to send out a query signal to the RFID transponder and to receive a response signal from the RFID transponder. The communication device also includes a trigger device configured to send a trigger signal to the first and/or the at least one second RFID reader, and as a result of which, the first and/or the at least one second RFID reader is configured to send out the query signal.
US09977926B2 Proximity-based localization of wireless tags based on wireless gateway association information
A capability for localization of a wireless tag based on wireless gateway association information uses a wireless tag supporting multiple states and wireless gateway association information associated with the wireless tag to control localization of the wireless tag. The wireless tag may support an unconnected state in which the wireless tag communicates location tracking information using a wireless beacon signal which may be detected by various wireless gateways and a connected state in which the wireless tag communicates location tracking information via one or more connections with one or more wireless gateways. The wireless gateway association information may include wireless gateway lists (e.g., whitelists, blacklists, or the like), association rules, notification rules, or the like. The wireless gateway association information may be used to control transitions of the wireless tag between the unconnected state and the connected state, to control notifications for the wireless tag, or the like.
US09977925B2 Device for determining an amount of insulin to be injected for diabetes patients
The invention relates to a slide device (1) for ascertaining an amount of insulin to be injected, comprising portions of flat material arranged in layers, which form a disk-like housing body (52), having a plurality of slide tongues displaceable counter to one another, wherein a first slide tongue (8) has a plurality of input scales (16), each with an equidistant line graduation, and a output scale (18), and can be manually grasped for the intended use and is displaceable in a first direction (14); wherein each input scale (16) is assigned a first parameter (37); wherein a second slide tongue (30) is displaceable in a second direction (32), which extends transversely to the first direction (14), and has a window (34) with a setting mark (35), which can be positioned relative to the housing body (52) in such a way that a visual inspection selectively of each of the input scales (16) is enabled; wherein next to the second slide tongue (30), a third slide tongue (38) is displaceable in the second direction (32) and has a plurality of windows (40), which are embodied and arranged in such a way that each window (40), in a suitably selectable displacement position of the third slide tongue (38) relative to the housing body (52), enables a visual inspection of the output scale (18); and wherein each window (40) of the third slide tongue (38) on its periphery in the first direction has a reading scale (42) with an equidistant line graduation, and each reading scale (42) is assigned a second parameter (45); and wherein the second slide tongue (30) and the third slide tongue (38) can be placed nondisplaceably in a respective positioning relative to the housing body (52); and wherein after the second and third slide tongues (30, 38) have been positioned, the first slide tongue (8) can be positioned opposite the setting mark (35) at the window (34) of the second slide tongue (30) and then, at a value of the reading scale (42) as a reading mark, a value on the output scale (18) can be read out, which is equivalent to the amount of insulin to be injected.
US09977911B2 Methods and systems for managing permissions to access mobile device resources
In an electronic device, a first application sends a request to a second application for access by the first application to a resource of the electronic device, wherein the first and second applications run on an operating system of the electronic device. In response to the first request, the second application is used to ask a user of the electronic device for permission for the first application to access the resource. A first user input is received, providing permission for the first application to access the resource. In response to the first user input, the second application is used to grant permission to the first application to access the resource.
US09977908B2 Implementation and management of information security for distributed data storage systems
This disclosure relates generally to information security, and more particularly to implementation and management of information security of a Big Data environment of an organization. In one embodiment, security related inputs are received from a user and are converted into security requirement. Thereafter, a security policy template is identified from plurality of pre-defined security policy templates based on security reference architecture and the security requirement. The security policy template represents a plurality of security controls. Thereafter, one or more security controls are selected from the security controls based on the security requirement. Further, one or more existing security controls implemented in Big Data environment are identified. Thereafter, the selected security controls are compared with the existing security controls for determining a security control that is not implemented in the Big Data environment. Subsequently, the security control is implemented in the Big Data environment to provide security to the Big Data of the organization.
US09977899B2 Cyclic redundancy check method with protection from side-channel attacks
In an aspect, a method can include generating a cyclic redundancy check code for a binary data item, using a generator polynomial; and masking, using polynomial addition, the binary data item with a binary mask. The method can also include at least one of: storing, by a microcircuit, the masked binary data item in a memory of an electronic device; or transferring, by the microcircuit, the masked data item to another device. The cyclic redundancy check code for the binary data item can be generated from the masked binary data item to prevent discovery of the binary data item by a side-channel attack during the generating the cyclic redundancy check. The binary mask can be a multiple of a random number and the generator polynomial, such that respective cyclic redundancy check code of the masked data item and the binary data item have a same result.
US09977895B2 Malicious software identification integrating behavioral analytics and hardware events
A security system and method secures and responds to security threats in a computer having a CPU, a Kernel/OS, and software applications. A low-level data collector intercepts a selection of first tier calls between the CPU and Kernel/OS, and stores associated first tier call IDs. A Kernel module intercepts a selection of second tier calls between applications and the Kernel/OS, and stores associated second tier call IDs. An Analytic Engine maps the stored first and second tier call IDs to a rulebase containing patterns of security threats, to generate a threat analysis, and then responds to the threat analysis. The Analytic Engine enlarges or contracts the selection of first and second tier calls to increase or decrease specificity of the threat analysis. A Management Module generates user interfaces accessible remotely by a user device, to update the rulebase and configure the low-level collector, the Kernel module, and the Analytic Engine.
US09977893B1 Password reset system
A customer initiated password reset system resets user passwords on a variety of network entities, such as internal systems, allowing simultaneous reset with a minimum number of user specified passwords that nonetheless satisfy the password specifications of these internal systems. Thereby, the user avoids the tedium of logging into each of these systems, changing their password, logging out, etc., for each system with the likelihood of creating unique passwords for each system that have to be remembered. By further incorporating a score metric based upon how many character sets are touched, a required degree of complexity can be measured and enforced against the password specifications. Advantageously, a table-based approach to enforcing password reset against the multiple password specifications facilitates making and fielding updates.
US09977890B2 Method and device for controlling access from the device to a card via a NFC interface
The present relates to a method and device for controlling access from the device to a card via a Near Field Communication (NFC) interface of the device. An Access Control List (ACL) is stored at a memory of the device. The ACL comprises application signatures and corresponding card identifiers. A request is received at a processor of the device from a specific application executing on the device. The request is for accessing a particular NFC enabled card via the NFC interface of the device. The request comprises a particular card identifier of the particular card and a specific signature of the specific application. A determination is made by the processor based on the specific signature, the particular card identifier and the ACL. The determination consists in whether the specific application is granted or alternatively denied access to the particular card via the NFC interface.
US09977888B2 Privacy protected input-output port control
Systems and techniques for privacy protected input-output port control are described herein. In an example, an indication may be obtained that a protected port is disabled. A set of application attributes stored in a secure memory location may be compared to a set of attested application attributes to create a verification flag. At least one port attribute of the protected port may be obtained based on the verification flag. The protected port may be enabled using the at least one port attribute. Other examples, for controlling an input-output port using computer firmware and trusted execution techniques are further disclosed.
US09977887B2 Electronic device and method for validation of a trusted user
Method for validating a trusted user of an electronic device, which electronic device comprises an input surface, e.g. on a key, dedicated for application of a user finger; a user input data sensor system, including a fingerprint sensor connected to the input surface for detecting user input fingerprint data, and a tremor sensor for detecting user input tremor data; data access to stored user input data corresponding to a trusted user; and a main processor system configured to match detected user input data with stored input data for validation of a trusted user. A triggering algorithm may run in a sub-sensor system, for sensing device handling and comparing sensed device handling with stored data. If the comparison reveals that user input is likely to occur based on the, a command is sent to the main processing system to trigger activation of tremor sensing and matching.
US09977885B2 Method and apparatus for eye-scan authentication using a liquid lens
A method and apparatus for providing authentication using an adaptive liquid lens are disclosed. For example, in one embodiment, the method receives a request for authentication from a mobile endpoint device of a user, wherein the request comprises a first retinal image of the user captured using an adaptive liquid lens of the mobile endpoint device. The method obtains a second retinal image of the user, wherein the second retinal image is a stored retinal image of the user. The method authenticates the first retinal image against the second retinal image. In another embodiment, the method captures a first retinal image of a user via a mobile endpoint device of the user, wherein the mobile endpoint device comprises an adaptive liquid lens. The method then sends a request for authentication from the mobile endpoint device over a network, wherein the request comprises the first retinal image.
US09977883B2 Method and apparatus for creating switchable desktops with separate authorizations
A system and method for creating switchable desktops each with its own authorization. The system provides a custom authentication and authorization data store that defines permission sets called roles, and lists which roles each user may assume. The system also provides a custom virtual desktop manager that creates new virtual desktops using the permissions defined by roles allowed for each user. When a user requests a new virtual desktop and role from the desktop manager, the manager requests new virtual desktop components from the operating system. The desktop manager intercepts a request by the operating system to the Local Security Authority module for permissions to grant the new virtual desktop. The manager substitutes the user's requested role permissions (if the user may assume the rule) for the permissions granted by the LSA module. The LSA module and operating system grant those role permissions to the user's activities in a newly created virtual desktop.
US09977882B2 Multi-input user authentication on display device
Embodiments are disclosed that relate to authenticating a user of a display device. For example, one disclosed embodiment includes displaying one or more virtual images on the display device, wherein the one or more virtual images include a set of augmented reality features. The method further includes identifying one or more movements of the user via data received from a sensor of the display device, and comparing the identified movements of the user to a predefined set of authentication information for the user that links user authentication to a predefined order of the augmented reality features. If the identified movements indicate that the user selected the augmented reality features in the predefined order, then the user is authenticated, and if the identified movements indicate that the user did not select the augmented reality features in the predefined order, then the user is not authenticated.
US09977881B2 Methods, apparatus and systems for securely authenticating a person depending on context
Methods, apparatus and systems are described for securely authenticating a person at an appropriate level of security depending on context without having to enter any passwords. In some embodiments, a meta-wallet processor receives a request for user authentication from a user device which includes a meta-wallet identifier, an entity identifier, a context identifier and user biometric data and/or user personal assets data, and/or user social media data. The meta-wallet processor determines that the user is registered meta-wallet user and is engaging in a predetermined type of activity, selects an authentication protocol, determines that the user biometric data and/or user personal assets data, and/or user social media data matches stored personal meta-wallet data and satisfies the authentication protocol, and then transmits a user authentication confirmation message to one of the user device and an entity computer associated with the entity identifier.
US09977878B2 Methods and systems for accessing licensable items in a geographic area
Methods and apparatus for accessing licensable items unique to a geographic area via a wireless device are provided. The method and apparatus may include obtaining access to licensable items available in a first location of the wireless device. The methods and apparatus may further include downloading a licensable item. The licensable item is associated with a license providing the wireless device with a right to distribute the licensable item. The methods and apparatus may also include leaving a virtual copy of the licensable item in a second location of the wireless device different from the first location using the right to distribute.
US09977875B2 Systems and methods of managing treatment of a chronic condition by symptom tracking
Devices, systems, and methods for use in managing treatment of a chronic disorder with pharmaceutical or therapeutic compounds by tracking symptoms associated with the disorder. Methods include inputting patient attributes, factors and various and other data relating to the patient in conjunction with one or more symptoms into a symptom tracking system and outputting a report of the data tracked over time to any of the patient, a medical professional and a drug developer to improve identification of a relapse of the chronic condition and improve management of the treatment regimen for any and all patients.
US09977873B1 Secure transfer of medications within hospital
A process of safe, secure storage and transfer of prescription medications for patient care in a hospital, clinic, nursing home, or similar health care facility, permits the authorized user to obtain medications for multiple patients along a patient care route, place the medications in respective locking compartments for each patient, and bring the cart to each patient in turn to administer the medications. Scanning in the user ID opens the cart, and the ward or floor medications cabinet displays a 2-D bar code containing patient identification data, the user identification, and one or more delimiter characters indicating that the medication was transferred by the authorized user directly to the cart. For each patient, a patient specific drawer or compartment is unlocked and opened, and the medications are placed into it. This is repeated for each patient on the care route. At each patient bedside, the user scans in the patient ID, which opens only the patient specific drawer. If a medication is obtained when the cart is not at the cabinet, the cabinet labels the medication with a bar code containing a different delimiter. The system maintains an audit of each person handling the medication, and when each event occurred.
US09977872B2 Dispensing system for pharmacies
There is disclosed a dispensing system for pharmaceutical products, the dispensing system comprising: a plurality of individually lockable storage bins for storing respective pharmaceutical products, each storage bin comprising a lock coupled to an actuator; a database which associates respective bin identifiers with respective product codes of the pharmaceutical products; and a dispensing server comprising a dispensing module which is configured to: receive a selection of one of said pharmaceutical products; receive scan data indicative of a product code for the selected product; determine, from said database, a bin identifier associated with the product code; and send an unlock signal to the actuator of a storage bin corresponding to said bin identifier.
US09977860B2 Differential dissociation and melting curve peak detection
Systems and methods are provided for processing a melting or dissociation curve of a DNA or other sample, for example, during PCR processing. In some embodiments, detection of the melting point and melting curve behavior can be enhanced by taking a derivative of the curve, and detecting peaks in the differential dissociation curve. In some embodiments, the derivative operation can comprise the use of edge-processing, or other detection algorithms. In some embodiments, the dissociation analysis can comprise removing low-frequency (or pedestal) components of the differential dissociation curve. In some embodiments, the differential dissociation curve can exhibit a smoothed or more regular appearance than the raw detected data.
US09977858B2 Electromagnetic interference filters for power converter applications
Methods, computer-readable storage mediums and systems provide for designing a motor drive power system including switching mode power conversion equipment. According to aspects of the disclosure, a resonant point is shifted to a shifted resonant point by changing impedance of at least one of a feeder or a motor. An EMI filter is designed for the shifted resonant point that is at a higher frequency such that the EMI filter for the shifted resonant point is lighter as compared to an EMI filter designed for the resonant point before it is shifted.
US09977856B2 Integrated circuit layout design methodology with process variation bands
A system for analyzing IC layouts and designs by calculating variations of a number of objects to be created on a semiconductor wafer as a result of different process conditions. The variations are analyzed to determine individual feature failures or to rank layout designs by their susceptibility to process variations. In one embodiment, the variations are represented by PV-bands having an inner edge that defines the smallest area in which an object will always print and an outer edge that defines the largest area in which an object will print under some process conditions.
US09977855B2 Method of wiring layout, semiconductor device, program for supporting design of wiring layout, and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, a design method of layout formed by a sidewall method is provided. The method includes: preparing a base pattern on which a plurality of first patterns extending in a first direction and arranged at a first space in a second direction intersecting the first direction and a plurality of second patterns extending in the first direction and arranged at a center between the first patterns, respectively, are provided; and drawing a connecting portion which extends in the second direction and connects two neighboring first patterns sandwiching one of the second patterns, and separating the one of the second patterns into two patterns not contacting the connecting portion.
US09977853B2 Application specific integrated circuit link
Systems and methods for application specific integrated circuit design using Chronos links are disclosed. A Chronos Link is an ASIC on-chip and off-chip interconnect communication protocol that allows interfaces to transmit and receive information. The protocol may utilize messages or signals to indicate the availability and/or readiness of information to be exchanged between a producer and a consumer allowing the communication to be placed on hold and to be resumed seamlessly. A method includes inserting gaskets and channel repeaters connected to interfaces of multiple intellectual property (IP) blocks in order to replace traditional links with Chronos Links; performing simplified floorplanning; performing simplified placement; performing simplified clock tree synthesis (CTS) and routing; and performing simplified timing closure.
US09977846B2 Product quality control method
A real-time release testing capable of constantly ensuring quality, a method for quality testing of a product using real-time release testing, a method for quality testing of an in-process product and/or an end product by real-time release testing, comprising the step of assessing the quality from design space established with only material attributes as inputs, and a manufacturing parameter-independent method for quality testing of a product using real-time release testing.
US09977842B2 Method and control for calculating a data-based function model
A method for carrying out a calculation of a data-based function model in a control unit having a computing unit and a separate model calculation unit having a computing core, including: loading a first part of the configuration data, which contain hyperparameters of the data-based function model and a first part of supporting point data having multiple supporting points, into the model calculation unit; starting a calculation in the computing core of the model calculation unit, to obtain a model value at a predefined test point; and transferring a second part of the configuration data, which contain a second part of the supporting point data having multiple supporting points, into the model calculation unit, prior to the completion of the calculation in the computing core of the model calculation unit.
US09977840B2 Computer-implemented methods for generating 3D models suitable for 3D printing
Computer-implemented processes for allowing a user with limited technical knowledge to easily design 3D models. The 3D models generated by such processes may be 3D printed, as the models are solid, which is necessary for 3D printing. Each of these computer-implemented processes takes a small amount of simplified user input and generates one of a number of different 3D models. More specifically, based on the user input, the computer-implemented processes automatically generate CAD primitives, and automatically perform certain CAD operations on those primitives, such that a 3D model is generated.
US09977837B2 Redirecting graph queries
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and software for redirecting relational data queries to previously generated graphs. In one example, a method of operating a graph redirect system includes identifying a relational data query and identifying whether at least one previously generated graph in a group of one or more previously generated graphs relates to the relational data query based on similarity data. The method further provides, in response to identifying that at least one previously generated graph relates to the relational data query, directing the relational data query to the at least one previously generated graph, and responding to the relational data query using the at least one previously generated graph.
US09977835B2 Queryless search based on context
Computer-readable media, computer systems, and computing devices for initiating a queryless search is provided. In this regard, a search can be initiated without a user inputting a query. In one embodiment, the method includes recognizing a search indication provided by a user to indicate a desire to view one or more search results related to content being presented. Such a search indication can be performed without accessing a web page associated with a search engine. In accordance with the search indication, contextual information related to the content being presented can be automatically captured. Thereafter, the captured contextual information is provided to initiate a search for information corresponding with the contextual information. Search results corresponding with the contextual information are received and presented.
US09977831B1 Targeting users' interests with a dynamic index and search engine server
A method (and concomitant apparatus and computer-readable medium comprising software) for providing personalized advertising to users of internet web pages comprising providing an index server maintaining a dynamic index to internet web pages and employing a hierarchical plurality of topic categories whose contents are maintained and updated by the index server, permitting a user to specify any subset of the plurality of topic categories, and serving to the user an advertisement based upon the subset specified by the user.
US09977830B2 Call summary
A faster and more streamlined system for providing summary and analysis of large amounts of communication data is described. System and methods are disclosed that employ an ontology to automatically summarize communication data and present the summary to the user in a form that does not require the user to listen to the communication data. In one embodiment, the summary is presented as written snippets, or short fragments, of relevant communication data that capture the meaning of the data relating to a search performed by the user. Such snippets may be based on theme and meaning unit identification.
US09977828B2 Assisted memorizing of event-based streams of mobile content
Handling event data received by a mobile device includes filtering out at least a subset of event data based on pre-determined filtering rules, forming groups of event data by grouping at least some of the event data that has not been filtered out based on pre-determined grouping rules, and storing, based on pre-determined auto-filing rules, at least one of: groups of event data and non-filtered event data that is not included with any groups of event data. The event data may include photos, videos, recorded voice notes, phone calls, voice mails, user location data, messaging data, calendar entries, email messages, wireless data transmissions, and/or events scheduled from software applications and online services. The filtering rules may be based on a filtering criteria such as time, location, keyword match, semantic similarity, and/or relations to known events.
US09977826B2 Computerized method of generating and analytically evaluating multiple instances of natural language-generated text
A computerized method for generating and evaluating natural language-generated text involves receiving, in a computer, data input by a user, generating, using a natural language generation technique, multiple instances of text stories based upon both contents of a corpus and the received data; analyzing the multiple instances of text stories as a weighted combination of computed geographic scores, distance scores, information content scores, replacement scores and extra aspect scores, providing a ranked set of the generated text stories to a user, receiving a selection of one of the text stories in the ranked set, and storing the selected story.
US09977825B2 Document analysis system, document analysis method, and document analysis program
Efficiency in monitoring documents is promoted by quantifying the priorities of the documents to be monitored. A document analysis system (1) includes: a score calculation unit (116) that calculates a score indicating strength of linkage between a document included in document information and a classification code indicating the relevance between the document information and a lawsuit or a fraud investigation; and a score report unit (701) that reports the score to a user according to the calculated score.
US09977824B2 System and method for creating structured event objects
Disclosed is a system and method for converting a voluminous stream of unstructured short text messages into event-objects of specific event type that may be of potential interest to users at far away locations. The method of structuring involves detecting long tail of events in spite of their sparsity. This is followed by extracting and correlating detected short text messages that describe same event type to create structured event objects.
US09977823B2 Content control method, content control apparatus, and program
A content control method according to the present disclosure includes: obtaining first content file information including attribute information items each on one of first content files which belong to a first content file group; obtaining second content file information including attribute information items each on one of second content files which belong to a second content file group; narrowing down the first content files, the narrowed-down first content files each having an attribute information item satisfying a condition which is set based on the first content file information and the second content file information; and identifying a first content file and a second content file which are partially or entirely same by matching entity information items each on one of the second content files and entity information items each on one or more of the narrowed-down first content files as matching targets.
US09977817B2 Matching co-referring entities from serialized data for schema inference
A system and method provide for identifying coreference from serialized data coming from different services. The method includes generating a tree structure from serialized data. The serialized data includes responses to queries from the different services. The responses each identify a hierarchical relationship between a respective set of objects. Nodes of the tree structure each have a name corresponding to a respective one of the objects. The tree structure is traversed in a breadth first manner and, for each node in the tree structure, a respective pairwise similarity is computed with each of the other nodes of the tree structure. The computed pairwise similarity is compared with a threshold to identify co-referring nodes that refer to a same entity. The threshold is a function of a depth of the node in the tree structure.
US09977816B1 Link-based ranking of objects that do not include explicitly defined links
A system determines ranking scores for objects based on “virtual” links defined for the objects. A link-based ranking score may then be calculated for the objects based on the virtual links. In one implementation, the virtual links are determined based on a metric of content-based similarity between the objects.
US09977811B2 Presenting availability statuses of synchronized objects
The objects of an on object set may be synchronized across many clients (e.g., various devices may synchronize files of a mirrored filesystem). However, the synchronization of an object may be complicated, and an object may not yet be synchronized in the object set of a client for many reasons, such as an incomplete reception of the object, an unavailability of the object from currently reachable hosts, and a versioning conflict with a different version of the same object in the object set. In order to inform a user of the availability of an object in the object set, an analysis of the availability status of the object may be performed (e.g., by tracking metadata stored in object descriptors of respective objects of the object set, and later examining the metadata of respective objects), and a selected availability status may be presented to the user.
US09977809B2 Information and data framework in a content centric network
One embodiment provides a system that facilitates a single interface for file I/O and network communication. During operation, the system receives from a local application a first command to create content. The first command includes a content name and access control information that indicates how the content may be accessed. The content name is a hierarchically structured variable length identifier that includes contiguous name components ordered from a most general level to a most specific level. The system creates a first manifest which is a content object that indicates a set of content objects by a name and a digest. The first manifest name is the content name corresponding to the first command, and access to the manifest is based on the access control information included in the first command. The system transmits to the local application the first manifest and an indicator of success for creating the first manifest.
US09977800B2 Systems and methods for enabling a user to operate on displayed web content via a web browser plug-in
A method and apparatus is disclosed that transmits a plug-in module to a web browser of a client computer. The web browser displays web content in a main window. The plug-in module, when activated, causes the web browser to display a user interface to a user of the client computer. The user interface is separate from the main window of the web browser, displays at least a portion of the web content, and is configured to enable the user to operate on the displayed at least a portion of the web content.
US09977797B2 Combined directed graphs
A combined directed graph is created having a corresponding node for each node in a first directed graph lacking a corresponding node in a second directed graph, each node in the second graph lacking a corresponding node in the first graph, and each node in the first graph having a corresponding node in the second graph. A corresponding directed arc is created in the combined directed graph for each arc in the first graph lacking a corresponding arc in the second directed graph, each arc in the second graph lacking a corresponding arc in the first graph, and each arc in the first graph having a corresponding arc in the second graph. A recommendation is output for a user to interact with a recommended object based on an object interaction and a conditional probability, in the combined graph, which corresponds to the recommended object and the object interaction.
US09977795B1 System and method for multiplayer network gaming
Disclosed are systems and methods for operating a peer-to-peer multiplayer gaming architecture. Scripts are provided to define multi-player game environments and scenarios. The operation of the multiplayer game is accommodated by the transmission of high-level game events among the multiple players. One player is designated host and charged with maintaining the consistency among the game players. The host role is transferred from one player to another quickly and seamlessly, as needed.
US09977794B2 Management apparatus, design management method, and non-transitory computer readable medium
A design management apparatus is provided for presenting a template used to create a design. The design management apparatus may include a calculator that receives multiple templates having multiple character strings as predetermined samples and calculates a score for each character string in each template, where the score concerns a subject of the template and corresponds to a size of the character string. Moreover, the design management apparatus may receive information indicating a search subject to output the template including the character string which corresponds to the search subject and the score of which meets an output condition.
US09977792B2 Apparatus, systems, and methods for analyzing movements of target entities
The present disclosure relates to apparatus, systems, and methods for providing a location information analytics mechanism. The location information analytics mechanism is configured to analyze location information to extract contextual information (e.g., profile) about a mobile device or a user of a mobile device, collectively referred to as a target entity. The location information analytics mechanism can include analyzing location data points associated with a target entity to determine features associated with the target entity, and using the features to predict attributes associated with the target entity. The set of predicted attributes can form a profile of the target entity.
US09977781B2 Techniques for performing language detection and translation for multi-language content feeds
A technique for translating a portion of a website includes receiving a language set of a user indicating a primary language of the user is received. A content feed to be displayed to the user is received and parsed to identify a text portion of a user generated content. The original language of the text portion is determined and compared with the one or more languages in the language set. When the original language of the text portion does not match the languages in the language set: (i) the text portion, the original language, and the primary language are provided to a translation engine, (ii) a translated version of the text portion is received from the translation engine, (iii) the translated version of the text portion is inserted into the content feed to obtain a modified content feed, and (iv) the modified content feed is displayed to the user.
US09977780B2 Generating language sections from tabular data
A computer implemented method of generating a language section from tabular data in an electronic document may include identifying, in a first tabular portion of the electronic document, a set of categories used to organize tabular data. The method may include identifying a content characteristic for each category of the set of categories in the first tabular portion. And the method may include generating a first language section from at least two distinct categories of the set of categories, wherein a format of the first language section is based on the content characteristics for the at least two distinct categories.
US09977778B1 Probabilistic matching for dialog state tracking with limited training data
A system and method for dialog state tracking employ an ontology in which a set of values are indexed by slot. A segment of a dialog is processed to detect mentions. Candidate slot values are extracted from the ontology, based on the detected mentions. The candidate slot values are ranked. A dialog state is updated, based on the ranking of the candidate slot values, which may be conditioned on the output of a temporal model, which predicts whether the value of the slot has been instantiated, modified, or is unchanged.
US09977773B1 Automatic generation of narratives from data using communication goals and narrative analytics
The exemplary embodiments described herein are related to techniques for automatically generating narratives about data based on communication goal data structures that are associated with configurable content blocks. The use of such communication goal data structures facilitates modes of operation whereby narratives can be generated in real-time and/or interactive manners.
US09977771B2 System and method for printable document viewer optimization
In some embodiments a method includes sending, from a composition compute device and to a user compute device, a data file that is based on a print file template. The data file includes (1) a plurality of raster image fonts based on user selected text, (2) a low-resolution image based on a user selected image, and (3) frame data indicative of coordinate locations on a webpage for the raster image fonts and for the low-resolution image. The method includes receiving, at the composition computer device and from the user computer device, a signal indicative of a modification to the data file. The method includes defining, at the composition compute device, a print file based on (1) a plurality of vector fonts based on the user selected text, (2) a high-resolution image based on the user selected image, (3) the frame data, and (4) the modification to the data file.
US09977769B2 Assessment item generator
Techniques described herein relate to generating new assessment items and updating existing assessment items. Input data may be received corresponding to the addition, removal, or modification of assessment components within assessment items, and may cause immediate generation and validation of corresponding markup language data blocks, thereby allowing for interactive construction and automated encoding of assessment items. Additional techniques described herein relate to determining compatible scoring types for assessment items and generating and embedding markup language data blocks corresponding to assessment item scoring data.
US09977768B2 System for clipping webpages by traversing a dom, and highlighting a minimum number of words
Disclosed is software which enables a service which allows users to load screen-shots of webpages to boards as clipped content, which preserves “live” links to the webpages from the clipped content, which identifies the content which was clipped, and which preserves links and other dynamic content in the clipped content.
US09977765B2 Information processing device, information processing method, information processing program, display control device, and display control program
An information processing device according to one embodiment includes a receiving unit, a frame generation unit, an acquisition unit, an embedding unit and a transmitting unit. The receiving unit receives a request for a full size frame from a user terminal. The frame generation unit generates the full size frame having a size of a region occupied by a plurality of objects to be displayed on a plurality of pages arranged in a specified direction. The acquisition unit acquires, from an object storage unit, all initial display objects to be embedded in an initial display page. The embedding unit embeds the initial display objects in the full size frame. The transmitting unit transmits the full size frame in which the initial display objects are embedded to the user terminal.
US09977762B2 Disjoint array computer
A hierarchical array computer architecture comprised of a master computer connected to a plurality of node computers wherein each node has a memory segment. A high speed connection scheme between the master computer and the nodes allows the master computer or individual nodes conditional access to the node memory segments. The resulting architecture creates an array computer with a large distributed memory in which each memory segment of the distributed memory has an associated computing element; the entire array being housed in a blade server type enclosure. The array computer created with this architecture provides a linear increase of processing speed corresponding to the number of nodes.
US09977761B2 Virtualizing TCP/IP services with shared memory transport
A method for testing a client service locally using a shared memory transport is presented. The method may include recording a plurality of interactions between the client service located in a local host and a real server. The method may include generating a virtual server based on the recorded plurality of interactions. The method may include deploying the generated virtual server in the local host. The method may include executing the client service. The method may include receiving a TCP/IP request from the client service. The method may include converting the received TCP/IP request to a shared memory request. The method may include sending the shared memory request to the virtual server. The method may include receiving a shared memory reply from the virtual server. The method may include sending the shared memory reply to the client service.
US09977760B1 Accessing data on distributed storage systems
A distributed storage system includes memory hosts, a curator, and a cache manager. Each memory host includes remote direct memory accessible non-transitory memory and a network interface controller that is in communication with the memory. The network interface controller services remote direct memory access requests. The curator communicates with the memory hosts, manages striping of a file amongst the memory hosts, and generates a file descriptor for the file that maps the striping of the file to corresponding storage locations on memory hosts. In addition, the cache manager stores copies of file descriptors generated by the curator in the memory of the memory hosts for remote direct memory access by a client in communication with the memory hosts.
US09977759B2 Parallel computing apparatus, compiling apparatus, and parallel processing method for enabling access to data in stack area of thread by another thread
A parallel computing apparatus includes a first processor that executes a first thread, a second processor that executes a second thread, and a memory. The memory includes a first private area that corresponds to the first thread, a second private area that corresponds to the second thread, and a shared area. The first processor stores first data in the first private area and stores address information that enables access to the first data in the shared area. The second processor stores second data in the second private area, accesses the first data based on the address information, and generates third data based on the first and second data.
US09977757B2 Prevented inter-integrated circuit address conflict service system and method thereof
In the system, a buffer and a multiplexer are electrically connected to an I2C interface and a control interface of a PCH. A plurality of memory are electrically connected to the buffer and corresponding to a first I2C address respectively. A plurality of card slots are electrically connected to the multiplexer for connecting to a function card so that the function card is corresponding to a second I2C address. When the first I2C address is distinct to the second I2C address, the PCH triggers the multiplexer to be enabled through the control interface to have the function card electrically connected to the PCH through the I2C interface. When the first I2C address is the same as the second I2C address, the PCH triggers the multiplexer or the buffer to be disabled through the control interface to have the function card or the memories electrically connected to the PCH through the I2C interface.
US09977752B2 Semiconductor storage device and control method thereof
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor storage device includes a plurality of semiconductor chips and a control unit. The plurality of semiconductor chips is configured to connect to a signal transmission path and is controlled individually by individual chip enable signals. The plurality of semiconductor chips each includes a termination circuit connected to the signal transmission path. When one of the semiconductor chips is selected to input or output data, the control unit activates the termination circuit provided in the semiconductor chip that is not selected based on a first instruction signal and the chip enable signal.
US09977748B2 Managing storage of digital content
Apparatuses, methods, systems, and program products are disclosed for managing storage of digital content. An eligibility module determines one or more content elements that are eligible for compression. A content element is determined to be eligible for compression based on one or more characteristics of the content element. A rate module determines a compression rate for each of the one or more content elements. The compression rate comprises an amount of compression to be applied to a content element. The amount of compression to be applied to the content element is determined as a function of one or more characteristics of the content element. A compression module compresses each of the one or more eligible content elements according to the determined compression rate.
US09977746B2 Processing of incoming blocks in deduplicating storage system
Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for deduplicating data. One method includes an operation for receiving a data block having a logical address. The storage system includes a logical address mapping index for mapping logical addresses to block numbers, a block index for mapping block numbers to physical locations, and a fingerprint index for mapping fingerprints of data blocks to block numbers. Additionally, the method includes an operation for inline processing the data block. Inline processing the data block includes determining a fingerprint of the data block, examining the fingerprint index to determine if the fingerprint is already mapped to an existing data block in the storage system, if the fingerprint is already mapped then adding a mapping of the logical address to the existing data block in the logical address mapping index, and if the fingerprint is not already mapped then creating the corresponding entries in the indices.
US09977745B2 Flow control through packet router
A router requests a reservation for an egress port prior to dequeuing data from an ingress port data queue. A request is also made for the allocation of a buffer. After the reservation is received and a buffer is allocated, the data is copied the ingress port data queue to the buffer, and an identifier of the buffer is enqueued to an identifier queue of the egress port. After the identifier is dequeued, the data is copied from the buffer to an egress data queue of the egress port, and the buffer is released for reallocation. The buffer can be released prior to completion of the data being copied from the buffer. The queues associated with the egress port determine whether their depths equal or exceed a threshold associated with the respective egress queues. If one or more of the depths does equal or exceed the associated threshold, the granting of reservations for the egress port are postponed. The thresholds are each set to less than full capacity, so as to indicate that the respective queue is congested, rather than to indicate that they have no space available.
US09977743B2 Managing enclave memory pages
A processing device includes a first counter having a first count value of a number of child pages among a plurality of child pages present in an enclave memory of a first virtual machine (VM). The plurality of child pages are associated with a parent page in the enclave memory. The processing device includes a second counter having a second count value of a number of child pages among the plurality of child pages not present in the enclave memory and being shared by a second VM, wherein the second VM is different from the first VM. A non-zero value of at least one of the first counter or the second counter prevents eviction of the parent page from the enclave memory.
US09977741B2 Fusible and reconfigurable cache architecture
A reconfigurable cache architecture is provided. In processor design, as the density of on-chip components increases, a quantity and complexity of processing cores will increase as well. In order to take advantage of increased processing capabilities, many applications will take advantage of instruction level parallelism. The reconfigurable cache architecture provides a cache memory that in capable of being configured in a private mode and a fused mode for an associated multi-core processor. In the fused mode, individual cores of the multi-core processor can write and read data from certain cache banks of the cache memory with greater control over address routing. The cache architecture further includes control and configurability of the memory size and associativity of the cache memory itself.
US09977739B2 Image processing apparatus, control method for image processing apparatus, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus that schedules and executes a process in response to a request for job processing includes a detection unit configured to detect a process which requests backing up of management information to be managed in the job processing, a setting unit configured to set, in a case where a process requesting data backup is detected, a caching destination to which management information requested to be backed up is to be cached to a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory based on a data amount of the management information requested to be backed up, and a cache unit configured to cache the management information in the set caching destination.
US09977737B2 Method and an apparatus for memory address allignment
A method and a system embodying the method for a memory address alignment, comprising configuring one or more naturally aligned buffer structure(s); providing a return address pointer in a buffer of one of the one or more naturally aligned buffer structure(s); determining a configuration of the one of the one or more naturally aligned buffer structure(s); applying a modulo arithmetic to the return address and at least one parameter of the determined configuration; and providing a stacked address pointer determined in accordance with the applied modulo arithmetic, is disclosed.
US09977732B1 Selective nonvolatile data caching based on estimated resource usage
The disclosure is related to systems and methods of nonvolatile data caching. In some embodiments, circuits or methods may be configured to store selected data to a nonvolatile data cache based on selection criteria. The selection criteria may be based on previous data access commands. The selection criteria may relate an amount of resources, such as time or power, needed to retrieve the selected data from a data storage medium. The selected data may be retrieved from the data storage medium and stored at the nonvolatile data cache during an idle state.
US09977728B2 Visual test workload execution modeling
Aspects of the present invention include a method, system and computer program product for creating a test workload execution model. The method includes a processor determining relationships between a work unit and one or more activities in a set of activities that the work unit exercises by utilizing one or more data stores; determining a distribution of the one or more activities in the set of activities; providing a control for each of the one or more activities in the set of activities; responding to a change in a control for one of the one or more activities in the set of activities; and determining whether to perform a store activity or a view activity.
US09977726B2 System and method for smart framework for network backup software debugging
A system for network software debugging comprises a processor, an input interface, and an output interface. The processor is configured to determine a set of available components of a selected component type, and determine a set of backup processes running on the component. The input interface is configured to receive a selection of a backup process of the set of backup processes. The output interface is configured to provide an indication of a change of verbosity level.
US09977725B2 Automatic classification and parallel processing of untested code in a protected runtime environment
A system is provided to run new code modules safely in a duplicative, protected environment without affecting the code modules that are already trusted to be on the system. The system receives a new code module that validates operational data of a computing device, and instantiates a new, parallel execution engine to run the new code module on the operational data in parallel with another execution engine running the trusted/verified code modules that also validate the same operational data. The new engine runs the new code module with the operational data to produce new code module results. The production engine runs the trusted/verified code modules with the operational data to produce verified code module results. The new code module results are combined with the verified code module results to produce combined results describing the operational status of the computing device.
US09977722B2 Cabinet type on-site monitoring device and monitoring method thereof
The present disclosure illustrates a cabinet type on-site monitoring device, which comprises a monitoring module and a positioning mechanism, and monitoring method thereof. The monitoring module can automatically detect an electric apparatus installed inside a cabinet for monitoring, and a main body can be combined on a casing structure, or the casing structure is movably pivoted on a cabinet door by using a positioning component and hang holes or a through hole on a support. Manager can watch the monitoring device via window or directly to look over current operation status of respective electric apparatus without opening the cabinet door. A sound or visible warning action is performed when the monitoring module automatically detects and gets real-time status data of any of electric apparatus exceeding a setting normal range, so as to increase convenience and flexibility of on-site immediate management, and keep the electric apparatus operate more efficiently.
US09977721B2 Evaluating and predicting computer system performance using kneepoint analysis
The present invention provides methods, systems, apparatus, and computer software/program code products adapted for operating in, or in conjunction with, an otherwise conventional computing system, and which enable evaluating, monitoring and predicting the performance of computer systems and individual elements or groups of elements within such computer systems.
US09977719B1 Fast system state cloning
A system and method to create a clone of a source computing system, the system including the steps of selecting a memory space coupled to the source computing system, retrieving uncoded data from the selected memory space, encoding the uncoded data by use of a bit-marker-based encoding process executing on a backup server, storing encoded data in a protected memory coupled to the backup server, wherein the protected memory is protected from a power interruption, retrieving the encoded data from the protected memory; and decoding the encoded data onto a target computing system, wherein the target computing system is separate from the source computing system.
US09977715B2 Techniques to manage collaborative documents
Techniques to manage collaborative documents are described. An application program may comprise a document render component to render a first document instance of a collaborative document, a document share component to receive a document update list comprising a set of change records for a second document instance of the collaborative document, and modify properties of one or more constructs for the first document instance based on the change records to form a merged document instance of the collaborative document, and an undo manager component to manage a local undo stack for the first document instance, the local undo stack comprising a set of undo records, and determine whether to preserve one or more of the undo records of the local undo stack after formation of the merged document instance based on one or more of the change records. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09977712B2 Memory device with different parity regions
The present disclosure memory includes a controller for a semiconductor memory device, the device including a memory cell array including a plurality of pages. The controller includes a memory control module suitable for translating a logical address for data provided from a host to a physical address representing one of the plurality of pages, and determining one of a plurality of operation modes based on the physical address and pre-stored parity-related information. The controller further includes and an error correction code circuit suitable for generating parity-data for the data provided from the host according to the determined operation mode.
US09977708B1 Error correction in ancestry classification
Error correction in ancestry classification includes obtaining, from a classifier, initial ancestry classifications associated with portions of two phased haplotypes of a chromosome pair of an individual; performing error correction on an initial ancestry classification, including detecting a phasing error in the initial ancestry classifications; and outputting a corrected ancestry classification in which the phasing error is corrected.
US09977700B2 System and method for providing an application programming interface for deploying a service bus artifact from a local development environment to a cloud environment
In accordance with an embodiment, described herein is a system and method for deploying a service bus artifact from a local development environment to a service bus instance in a cloud environment. A deployment API can be plugged into the local development environment to perform a plurality of steps required for deploying the service bus artifact, including enabling communication from the local development environment to pass through a corporate firewall. The plurality of steps can be wrapped in a single service call to the service bus instance; and can include creating a session, uploading the service bus artifact, importing the uploaded service bus artifact, executing customization, and activating the session. In the event of a failure of any step, the service call can abort. The deployment API is generic and can be plugged into a plurality of development products.
US09977699B2 Energy efficient multi-cluster system and its operations
A multi-cluster system having processor cores of different energy efficiency characteristics is configured to operate with high efficiency such that performance and power requirements can be satisfied. The system includes multiple processor cores in a hierarchy of groups. The hierarchy of groups includes: multiple level-1 groups, each level-1 group including one or more of processor cores having identical energy efficiency characteristics, and each level-1 group configured to be assigned tasks by a level-1 scheduler; one or more level-2 groups, each level-2 group including respective level-1 groups, the processor cores in different level-1 groups of the same level-2 group having different energy efficiency characteristics, and each level-2 group configured to be assigned tasks by a respective level-2 scheduler; and a level-3 group including the one or more level-2 groups and configured to be assigned tasks by a level-3 scheduler.
US09977698B2 Virtual machine migration into the cloud
The migration of virtual machines internal to a cloud computing environment. The cloud maintains the replicas for virtual machines that could be migrated. The cloud also is aware of location of user data for each of the virtual machines. The replica together with the user data, represents the virtual machine state. If migration to the cloud computing environment is to occur for any given virtual machine, the cloud computing environment correlates the replica with the user data for that virtual machine, and then uses the correlation to instantiate the virtual machine in the cloud.
US09977696B2 Methods and apparatus of adaptive memory preparation
A technique, as well as select implementations thereof, pertaining to adaptive memory preparation is described. The technique may involve analyzing memory usage data of a plurality of child processes of a parent process. The technique may also involve determining whether a shared memory space is to be prepared by the parent process for use by at least a first child process based at least in part on the analyzing.
US09977695B2 Orchestrating competing activities for scheduling actions of multiple nodes in a distributed environment
Automatic programming, scheduling, and control of planned activities at “worker nodes” in a distributed environment are provided by a “real-time self tuner”(RTST). The RTST provides self-tuning of controlled interoperation among an interconnected set of distributed components (i.e., worker nodes) including, for example, home appliances, security systems, lighting, sensor networks, medical electronic devices, wearable computers, robotics, industrial controls, wireless communication systems, audio nets, distributed computers, toys, games, etc. The RTST acts as a centralized “planner” that is either one of the nodes or a dedicated computing device. A set of protocols allow applications to communicate with the nodes, and allow one or more nodes to communicate with each other. Self-tuning of the interoperation and scheduling of tasks to be performed at each node uses an on-line sampling driven statistical model and predefined node “behavior patterns” to predict and manage resource requirements needed by each node for completing assigned tasks.
US09977693B2 Processor that uses plural form information
A computing device includes a memory storing one or more Variables, and information relating to the singular/plural nature of at least one variable and/or algorithm, one or more functional units (Language Unit). The functional units receive the singular/plural information and perform one or more operations using at least one of the Variables using the singular/plural information. In an embodiment, a method of computing with plural information includes storing, in a memory, one or more Variables, storing, in a memory, information relating to the singular/plural nature of at least one algorithm; receiving at least a portion of the singular/plural information; and performing, using the singular/plural information, one or more operations using at least one of the Variables. In one embodiment, a method of computing includes linguistically implementing, by one or more circuits, plural-form instructions comprising one or more threads. Each thread may be a set of one or more programs. Each thread may be associated with one or more Variables such that the thread can be assigned plural and robustness properties relating to its interaction discipline(s) with other threads.
US09977690B2 Hypervisor-visible guest thread management
Responsive to receiving a first request from an application to create a thread for the application, a guest operating system sends a first notification to a hypervisor to create a dedicated virtual processor for the thread. Responsive to receiving an identifier associated with the dedicated virtual processor from the hypervisor, the guest operating system starts the thread using the dedicated virtual processor, and pins the thread to the dedicated virtual processor.
US09977686B2 Apparatus for allocating functions to each of electronic control units of a vehicle
An ECU (Electronic Control Unit) evaluation apparatus, for use in vehicle design, allocates functions appropriately to respective ECUs of a vehicle. The function allocation can be performed based on user-specified priority aspect(s) in conjunction with stored information concerning the respective functions and information concerning the ECUs, such as installation positions on the vehicle, mechanical and electrical specifications of component parts of ECUs, etc.
US09977685B2 Configuration of logical router
Some embodiments provide a method of operating several logical networks over a network virtualization infrastructure. The method defines a managed physical switching element (MPSE) that includes several ports for forwarding packets to and from a plurality of virtual machines. Each port is associated with a unique media access control (MAC) address. The method defines several managed physical routing elements (MPREs) for the several different logical networks. Each MPRE is for receiving data packets from a same port of the MPSE. Each MPRE is defined for a different logical network and for routing data packets between different segments of the logical network. The method provides the defined MPSE and the defined plurality of MPREs to a plurality of host machines as configuration data.
US09977683B2 De-coupling user interface software object input from output
In one embodiment, a first thread of execution on a computing device receives a user-interface input. The first thread of execution is associated with a user interface of the computing device. The first thread of execution identifies a second thread of execution on the computing device to process the user-interface input. The second thread of execution is associated with the user interface and is de-coupled from the first thread of execution. The first thread of execution sends the user-interface input to the second thread of execution. The second thread of execution also processes the user-interface input to generate a user-interface output associated with the user-interface input.
US09977682B2 System management mode disabling and verification techniques
Various configurations and methods for disabling system management mode (SMM) and verifying a disabled status of SMM in a computing system are disclosed. In various examples, SMM may be disabled through a hardware strap, soft-straps, or firmware functions, and the indication of the SMM disabled status may be included in a model specific register (MSR) value accessible to the central processing unit (CPU). Additionally, techniques for verifying whether SMM is disabled in hardware or firmware, preventing access of SMM functionality, and handling secure software operations are disclosed.
US09977680B2 Clock-gating for multicycle instructions
A system and a method of clock-gating for multicycle instructions are provided. For example, the method includes enabling a plurality of logic blocks that include a subset of multicycle (MC) logic blocks and a subset of pipeline logic blocks. The method also includes computing a precise enable computation value after a plurality of cycles of executing an instruction, and disabling one or more of the subset of multicycle (MC) logic blocks based on the precise enable computation value. Also, at least the subset of pipeline logic blocks needed to compute the instruction remains on.
US09977679B2 Apparatus and method for suspending execution of a thread in response to a hint instruction
An apparatus and method are provided for processing instructions from a plurality of threads. The apparatus comprises a processing pipeline to process instructions, including fetch circuitry to fetch instructions from a plurality of threads for processing by the processing pipeline, and execution circuitry to execute the fetched instructions. Execution hint instruction handling circuitry is then responsive to the fetch circuitry fetching an execution hint instruction for a first thread, to treat the execution hint instruction, at least in a presence of a suspension condition, as a predicted branch instruction with a predicted behavior, and to cause the fetch circuitry to suspend fetching of instructions for the first thread. The execution circuitry is then arranged to execute the predicted branch instruction with a behavior different to the predicted behavior, in order to trigger a misprediction condition. The fetch circuitry is then responsive to the misprediction condition to resume fetching of instructions for the first thread. This provides a reliable mechanism for temporarily suspending fetching of instructions for a thread in response to a hint instruction, whilst still reliably resuming fetching in due course.
US09977675B2 Next-instruction-type-field
A graphics processing unit core 26 includes a plurality of processing pipelines 38, 40, 42, 44. A program instruction of a thread of program instructions being executed by a processing pipeline includes a next-instruction-type field 36 indicating an instruction type of a next program instruction following the current program instruction within the processing thread concerned. This next-instruction-type field is used to control selection of to which processing pipeline the next instruction is issued before that next instruction has been fetched and decoded. The next-instruction-type field may be passed along the processing pipeline as the least significant four bits within a program counter value associated with a current program instruction 32. The next-instruction-type field may also be used to control the forwarding of thread state variables between processing pipelines when a thread migrates between processing pipelines prior to the next program instruction being fetched or decoded.
US09977674B2 Micro-operation generator for deriving a plurality of single-destination micro-operations from a given predicated instruction
Disclosed are an apparatus, system, and method for implementing predicated instructions using micro-operations. A micro-code engine receives an instruction, decomposes the instruction, and generates a plurality of micro-operations to implement the instruction. Each of the decomposed micro-operations indicates a single destination register. For predicated instructions, the decomposed micro-operations include “conditional move” micro-operations to select between two potential output values. Except in the case that one of the potential output values is a constant, the decomposed micro-operations for a predicated instruction also include an append instruction that saves the incoming value of a destination register in a temporary variable. For at least one embodiment, the qualifying predicate for a predicated instruction is appended to the incoming value stored in the temporary register.
US09977672B2 Attributing authorship to segments of source code
An electronic device identifies a segment of source code in a second version of a software program that has changed relative to a corresponding segment in a first version of the program. The first version was written by a first author and the segment of source code in the second version has been changed by a second author. Attribution values for the first and second authors are determined based at least in part on one or more differences between the segment in the second version and the corresponding segment in the first version. The attribution values for the first and second authors indicate degrees of contribution by the first and second authors for the segment in the second version. The electronic device displays or sends instructions for displaying indicia of the attribution values for the first and second authors concurrently with the segment in the second version.
US09977668B2 Automatic updating of applications
In some implementations, a mobile device can be configured to automatically download and install updates to applications installed on the mobile device. In some implementations, the automatic updates can be performed based on how the mobile device is connected to a network that provides access to the application updates. In some implementations, the automatic updates can be performed based on whether the mobile device has previously downloaded applications or application updates from a caching server. In some implementations, indicia can be presented on a graphical user interface of the mobile device to indicate which applications have been updated. In some implementations, an application update can be downloaded while the corresponding application is in use by the user. The application can be installed when the application is no longer being used by the user.
US09977667B2 Updating software utilizing domain name system (DNS)
Examples described herein are directed to systems and methods for updating software. An update system may generate a first Domain Name System (DNS) record comprising first version data indicating a version of an update to the software. The update system may send the DNS record to a DNS server with an indication of a domain name associated with the software.
US09977664B2 Information processing device and information processing method in heterogenous multi-cores having different architectures
An application process is switched between asymmetric processor cores having no compatibility in instruction set architectures so that the process can be continuously executed. In an information processing device, when a request to switch an execution subject is generated while a first processor core is executing an application program, a switch process code makes the first processor core specify a basic block being executed at present. The switch process code makes the first processor core execute a first execution code until a branch instruction at the end of the specified basic block, and makes a second processor core execute a second execution code from an instruction at the head of a basic block to be executed next to the specified basic block.
US09977661B2 Method and system for generating a user interface
The present disclosure provides a method and system for generating an user interface, and the method includes: reading, by a script engine having memory and one or more processors, a user interface description file, analyzing, by the script engine, the user interface description file and generating, by the script engine, user interface data; and transmitting the user interface data to a main program wherein the main program acquires, from the script engine, a user interface element corresponding to the user interface data and draws a user interface according to the user interface element and the user interface data. The method for generating the user interface enables the main program to quickly generate the user interface.
US09977658B2 Code validation using content assist
A process and associated system for code validation using content assist. A first list of items is presented to a code developer who is writing software code during operation of a content assist in an integrated development environment (IDE). Each item of the first list of items is enabled for validation. An item selected by the developer from the first list of items is received during the operation of the content assist. A result for the selected item is generated by (i) executing the selected item using at least one value received as input from the developer during the operation of the content assist and (ii) ascertaining whether executing the selected item requires prior initialization of a value of a variable. During the operation of the content assist, the result is displayed to the developer.
US09977656B1 Systems and methods for providing software components for developing software applications
This disclosure relates to methods and systems for providing software components for developing software applications. In one embodiment, a method for providing software components for developing software applications is provided. The method comprises receiving user input requirements associated with the software application; determining a requirements matching score for every software component existing in an application development environment, based on a comparison between the received requirements and a requirements model, wherein the requirements model is generated based on historic user requirements and usage; determining a performance score based on a response time associated with the software components; determining weights corresponding to the requirements matching score and the performance score based on the requirements matching score; determining a combined score based on the determined scores and associated weights; selecting software components for developing the software application based on the determined combined scores; and providing the selected software components to the user.
US09977655B2 System and method for automatic extraction of software design from requirements
System, methods, and software products automatically extract software design from a requirements document. A requirements hierarchical decomposition table is generated from the requirements document defining a plurality of decomposition levels. An initial hierarchical decomposition design having a plurality of decomposition levels based upon the requirements hierarchical decomposition table is generated. Input and/or output parameters for each decomposition level in the hierarchical decomposition design are identified, and a current hierarchical decomposition design is generated based upon the initial hierarchical decomposition graph and the input and/or output parameters.
US09977653B2 Discovery and modeling of deployment actions for multiple deployment engine providers
Provided are techniques for modeling operational units, each operational unit corresponding to an operational workflow and to one or more deployment engines of a plurality of deployment engines; selecting, for each of the plurality of operational units, one of the corresponding deployment engines; ordering the operational units with respect to the operational workflow; grouping the ordered operation units according to the selected deployment engines into deployment engine groupings; mapping output parameters corresponding to a first operational unit that concludes a first deployment engine grouping to input parameters corresponding to a second operational unit that initiates a second deployment engine grouping, inserting between the first operational unit and the second operational unit a transitional operational unit for transitioning between a first deployment engine corresponding to the first deployment engine grouping and a second deployment engine corresponding to the second deployment engine grouping to generate a multi-deployment engine operational workflow.
US09977651B2 Mobile terminal and image processing method thereof
The present disclosure discloses an image processing method of a mobile terminal, and a mobile terminal. To process an image, an audio signal is collected using a sensor of the mobile terminal. Air-blowing signal intensity is acquired by performing a windowed fast Fourier transform (FFT) on the audio signal to obtain a frequency domain signal of the audio signal. The frequency domain signal of the audio signal is divided into at least one time-slice frequency domain signal. It is then identified whether the audio signal is an air-blowing signal according to the at least one time-slice frequency domain signal and a preset property of the air-blowing signal. The air-blowing signal intensity is acquired according to the at least one time-slice frequency domain signal when the audio signal is identified as an air-blowing signal. An image is acquired according to the air-blowing signal intensity. In this manner, the image processing method using the air-blowing signal intensity may provide improved processing efficiency and simplified operation.
US09977649B2 Synchronized audio mixing
A first example playback device includes one or more processors and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first playback device to perform functions. The functions include generating a mixed audio signal comprising one or more components of a first audio stream and one or more components of a second audio stream; and playing the mixed audio signal, where the one or more components of the second audio stream of the mixed audio signal played by the first playback device are played in synchrony with a second playback device configured to play the second audio stream. An example non-transitory computer-readable medium and an example method, both related to the first example playback device, are also disclosed herein.
US09977648B2 Using a plurality of buffers to provide audio for synchronized playback to multiple audio devices having separate device clocks
According to one embodiment, a media system communicates with an aggregate device that includes multiple media output devices. When providing media data for presentation, the system adjusts for device clock drift by resampling the media data provided to a media output device based at least in part on a device clock rate difference between a device clock of one of the media output devices and a device clock of another of the media output devices.
US09977646B2 Broadcast control and accrued history of media
Pairing a portable electronic device with a media device that is playing media, providing control to the portable device, displaying information about the media being played on the portable electronic device, and providing a link to the media asset in an online store. Discovering that a media device that is currently publically playing media, receiving a media signal encoded with metadata describing the media being played, and displaying an accrued history of various instances of media items that have been overheard during a public play session as a list of media items associated with metadata describing the media items.
US09977644B2 Methods, systems, and computer readable media for conducting interactive sound propagation and rendering for a plurality of sound sources in a virtual environment scene
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for conducting interactive sound propagation and rending for a plurality of sound sources in a virtual environment scene are disclosed. According to one method, the method includes decomposing a virtual environment scene containing a plurality of sound sources into a plurality of partitions and forming a plurality of source group clusters, wherein each of the source group clusters includes two or more of the sound sources located within a common partition. The method further includes determining, for each of the source group clusters, a single set of sound propagation paths relative to a listener position and generating a simulated output sound at a listener position using sound intensities associated with the determined sets of sound propagation paths.
US09977638B2 Job delection control method for an image processing apparatus
A multifunction peripheral (MFP) transmits, if the number of cases of accumulated non-transmitted history information has reached a predetermined number of cases or a designated transmission time has been reached, a communication management report (i.e., history information). When the MFP transmits the communication management report, the MFP inputs a transmission job in which deletion prevention information has been set on. Further, when performing a transmission process for processing the input transmission job, the MFP determines whether an error job clear function is executable on the job based on the deletion prevention information. If the error job clear function is not executable on the job, the MFP stands by for retransmission to be instructed by a user.
US09977637B2 Image reading apparatus for reading images formed on a sheet
According to an embodiment, an image reading apparatus comprises an acquisition section, a reading section, a storage section, a display section and a control section. The acquisition section acquires a plurality of mutual different setting values relating to an image. The reading section reads an image formed on a sheet. The storage section stores a plurality of image data respectively corresponding to the plurality of setting values of a document image read by the reading section. The display section preview-displays the plurality of image data stored in the storage section. The control section executes a designated processing with image data selected from the plurality of image data displayed on the display section.
US09977636B1 Method and system for the flexible merging of logical cells and printing
Methods and systems for the imposition of a print job. A grid composed of a 2D matrix of a group of logical cells can be graphically displayed in a graphical user interface. Each logical cell can be defined by a contiguous rectangular region made up cells of equal sized cells and wherein the grid directs the imposition of a print job. Graphical elements are also displayed in the graphical user interface, which when selected by a user allows for the merging of the logical cells across rows and columns of the grid for the imposition of the print job.
US09977632B2 Apparatus and method for processing information on file or job
An information processing apparatus which can be connected to a first network includes a connection acceptance portion which accepts connection to the first network from a first device, a job acceptance portion which accepts a job output from the first device connected to the first network to a second network different from the first network, and a transfer portion which transfers, when the job is a job held in a second holding portion included in the second network and designated to be executed in response to acceptance of an execution instruction from a user in the second network, the job to a first holding portion such that the job is held in the first holding portion included in the first network.
US09977630B2 Image forming apparatus having a folder accessible from an external apparatus, control method of image forming apparatus, and storage medium
An image forming apparatus capable of communicating with an external apparatus includes a storage unit having a folder, a setting unit configured to set a printing condition corresponding to the folder, and a printing unit configured to print a printing target file transmitted from the external apparatus and stored in the folder based on the printing condition set by the setting unit.
US09977624B2 Storage control apparatus and storage control method
In a storage control apparatus, a control unit determines whether prefetching data on a first data amount basis from a plurality of storage devices to a storage unit causes an imbalance in the numbers of commands issued to the storage devices. When determining that the prefetching causes the imbalance, the control unit prefetches the data on a second data amount basis such as to balance the numbers of commands issued to the storage devices. With this approach, the storage control apparatus creates a different imbalance of the number of read commands issued for each execution of prefetch staging, so as to prevent a fixed imbalance in which more read commands are always issued to a specific storage device.
US09977623B2 Detection of a sequential command stream
A data storage device includes a non-volatile memory and a controller coupled to the non-volatile memory. The controller is configured to receive a first command from an access device, the first command associated with a first logical block address (LBA). The controller is also configured to, after receiving the first command, receive a second command and a third command from the access device. The second command is associated with a second LBA that precedes the first LBA, the third command is associated with a third LBA that succeeds the first LBA. The controller is further configured to determine that the first command, the second command, and the third command correspond to a sequential command stream.
US09977622B1 Buffer operations in memory
Apparatuses and methods for performing buffer operations in memory are provided. One example method can include storing second page data and third page data on a buffer while programming first page data during a first pass programming operation and programming the second page data and the third page data from the buffer to the array of memory cells during a second pass programming operation.
US09977619B2 Transfer descriptor for memory access commands
A computer system processes instructions including an instruction code, source type, source address, destination type, and destination address. The source and destination type may indicate a memory device in which case data is read from the memory device at the source address and written to the destination address. One or both of the source type and destination type may include a transfer descriptor flag, in which case a transfer descriptor identified by the source or destination address is executed. A transfer descriptor referenced by a source address may be executed to obtain an intermediate result that is used for performing the operation indicated by the instruction code. The transfer descriptor referenced by a destination address may be executed to determine a location at which the result of the operation will be stored.
US09977618B2 Pooling of memory resources across multiple nodes
An apparatus for pooling memory resources across multiple nodes is described herein. The apparatus includes a shared memory controller, wherein each node of the multiple nodes is connected to the shared memory controller. The apparatus also includes a pool of memory connected to the shared memory controller, wherein a portion of the pool of memory is allocated to each node of the multiple nodes.
US09977617B2 Management of configurations for existing storage infrastructure
The method for managing one or more standard configurations includes calculating a plurality of configuration fingerprints for a plurality of storage systems. The configuration fingerprint is a numerical value that represents information about a configuration for one or more components of a storage system. The method also includes building a result set that includes the plurality of configuration fingerprints for the plurality of storage systems. The method also includes identifying a plurality of standard configurations for the plurality of storage systems from the result set based on the plurality of configuration fingerprints. The method also includes determining that a first storage system from the plurality of storage systems meets a standard configuration from the plurality of standard configurations. The method also includes creating metadata within the first storage system that describes the standard configuration.
US09977616B2 Storage device and storage control method
A storage device includes: a plurality of first storage devices; a second storage device; and a control device to use the plurality of first storage devices as a primary storage and the second storage device as a secondary storage, control access processing to a plurality of logical volumes each of which indicates a virtual recording medium, register a logical volume for which a mount request is made within a predetermined period of time among the plurality of logical volumes in an management information as the logical volume which belongs to the same group, and allocate a storage area of the primary storage corresponding to each of a plurality of registered logical volumes which belong to a group registered in the management information to any one of the plurality of first storage devices such that an allocation destination of the storage area is distributed among the plurality of first storage devices.
US09977614B2 Automatic back-up system with verification key and method of operation thereof
A method of operation of an automatic back-up system includes: providing a mobile device; coupling a removable media device to the mobile device; automatically launching an application on the mobile device; and backing-up user data selected by the application from the mobile device to the removable media device.
US09977612B1 System data management using garbage collection and logs
A data storage system is disclosed that utilizes garbage collection and logs for managing system data. In one embodiment, system data stored in a non-volatile memory is updated based on the character of changes to data stored in a data storage system (e.g., changes caused by host system activity). For example, when changes to stored data are scattered (e.g., changes are made to random memory locations), it may be beneficial to generate and accumulate more logs reflecting changes to the system data. As another example, when changes to stored data are substantially consolidated (e.g., changes are made to consecutive memory locations), it may be beneficial to update system data stored in the non-volatile memory more frequently. Reduction in write amplification, increase in efficiency, and reduction in start-up and initialization time can be attained. Reconstruction time of system data can also be reduced.
US09977611B2 Storage device, method, and computer-readable medium for selecting a write destination of target data to nonvolatile memories having different erase limits based upon a write interval
According to one embodiment, a storage device includes a storage, first data in which a sequence number indicating a write-completion order is associated with each erase unit area included in areas of the storage, second data indicating a relationship between each write interval and each write destination, a selection module which obtains the erase unit area corresponding to a logical address of target data to be written, calculates a write interval of the target data from a difference between the sequence number at an occurrence time of writing and the sequence number corresponding to the erase unit area of the first data, and selects the write destination corresponding to the write interval of the target data, and a write module which writes the target data to the selected write destination, and changes the sequence number when writing is completed for one erase unit area.
US09977609B2 Efficient accesses of data structures using processing near memory
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for implementing efficient queues and other data structures. A queue may be shared among multiple processors and/or threads without using explicit software atomic instructions to coordinate access to the queue. System software may allocate an atomic queue and corresponding queue metadata in system memory and return, to the requesting thread, a handle referencing the queue metadata. Any number of threads may utilize the handle for accessing the atomic queue. The logic for ensuring the atomicity of accesses to the atomic queue may reside in a management unit in the memory controller coupled to the memory where the atomic queue is allocated.
US09977608B2 Digital memory imaging system and method
A digital memory imaging system for imaging the digital memory of a target computer (1) comprising: a plurality of removable data storage devices (3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13) each receivable by the target computer (1); an imaging means configured to image the digital memory of the target computer; an output means to output the imaged digital memory as a series of data blocks to two or more of the removable data storage devices (3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13).
US09977607B2 Portable lighting device with reconfigurable user interface
A portable lighting device that provides different user interfaces that may be selected by the user. Each user interface may provide one or more operational modes, such as on mode, power save mode, strobe mode or momentary mode. After a user interface is selected, the user may select on of the operational modes. The portable lighting device may be a flashlight.
US09977602B2 Storage system, storage device, and control method of storage system
The storage device includes multiple NAND devices each of which performs a process on the basis of a command; a command management unit that issues the command from a host to one of the NAND devices specified by the command and that sends an issue completion notification of the issued command to the host; and a state notifying unit that notifies, based on whether each of the NAND devices performs a predetermined process, the host whether each of the NAND devices is ready to accept the command. The host includes a NAND control unit that selects one of the NAND devices that is ready to accept the command based on the notification from the state notifying unit when the issue completion notification is received and sends, to the command management unit, a command to allow the selected one of the NAND devices to perform the process.
US09977600B1 Optimizing flattening in a multi-level data structure
A system and method for efficiently maintaining metadata stored among a plurality of solid-state storage devices. A data storage subsystem supports multiple mapping tables. Records within a mapping table are arranged in multiple levels. Each level stores at least pairs of a key value and a physical pointer value. The levels are sorted by time. New records are inserted in a created new highest (youngest) level. No edits are performed in-place. A data storage controller determines both a cost of searching a given table exceeds a threshold and an amount of memory used to flatten levels exceeds a threshold. In response, the controller incrementally flattens selected levels within the table based on key ranges. After flattening the records in the selected levels within the key range, the records may be removed from the selected levels. The process repeats with another different key range.
US09977596B2 Predictive models of file access patterns by application and file type
The speed at which files can be accessed from a remote location is increased by predicting the file access pattern based on a predictive model. The file access pattern describes the order in which blocks of data for a given file type are read by a given application. From aggregated data across many file accesses, one or more predictive models of access patterns can be built. A predictive model takes as input the application requesting the file access and the file type being requested, and outputs information describing an order of data blocks for transmitting the file to the requesting application. Accordingly, when a server receives a request for a file from an application, the server uses the predictive model to determine the order that the application is most likely to use the data blocks of the file. The data is then transmitted in that order to the client device.
US09977593B2 Gesture recognition for on-board display
Methods and systems for a complete vehicle ecosystem are provided. Specifically, systems that when taken alone, or together, provide an individual or group of individuals with an intuitive and comfortable vehicular environment. The present disclosure includes a system to recognize the drivers and/or passengers within the automobile. Based on the recognition, the vehicle may change a configuration of the automobile to match predetermined preferences for the driver and/or passenger. The configurations may also include the recognition of a unique set of gestures for the person. Further, the configuration can also include the tracking of health data related to the person.
US09977592B2 Touch rim control method and associated device
A portable device is provided. The portable device includes: a display; a controller, a processor, a housing, and a touch rim. The controller and the processor are installed inside the housing. The touch rim is configured to detect a gesture performed on the touch rim to generate at least one touch detection signal. The controller is configured to receive at least one detection signal from the touch rim, and to transmit the touch detection signal to the processor. The processor analyzes the touch detection signal to determine the gesture performed on the touch rim, and performs an operation associated with the gesture.
US09977588B2 Display control apparatus, display control method, and computer program for executing the display control method
Provided is a computer-implemented display control method including a first display operation of displaying, in a second region of a screen, a first page on which contents belonging to a first category are arranged, and listing a plurality of categories in a vertical or horizontal direction and displaying the plurality of categories in a first region of the screen, wherein the first page is displayed to be scrollable in a direction in which the plurality of categories are listed, a recognition operation of recognizing a scroll signal which is input with respect to the first page, a determination operation of scrolling the first page based on the scroll signal, and generating a category change command based on the scroll signal if scrolling is not possible according to a position of the first page, and a second display operation of displaying, on the second region, a second page on which contents belonging to a second category are arranged, if it is determined to change the category based on the scroll signal.
US09977585B2 Predefining elements of a cemented wellbore
Systems and methods for predefining elements of a cemented wellbore using a graphical user interface comprising various elements for cementing the wellbore and a schematic view of the wellbore and tubing string.
US09977581B2 Selection refinement tool
Selection refinement tool techniques are described in which a selection within an image is modified using a tool that automatically resizes according to the shape of selection boundaries. In one or more implementations, selection boundaries are displayed in an image that is exposed in a user interface. The selection boundaries may represent an automatic selection via an editing tool, or a selection that is based on manual manipulation of an editing tool by a user. The selection refinement tool is operable to modify the selection boundaries by positioning of a cursor of the refinement tool proximate to the selection boundaries. In response to positioning of the cursor relative to the selection boundaries, the cursor is dynamically resized in dependence upon a positional relationship between the cursor and the selection boundaries, such that boundaries of the cursor are kept from intersecting with the selection boundaries.
US09977580B2 Easy-to-use desktop screen recording application
Systems and methods for computer screen recording are described herein. In an embodiment, a web-based application includes a screen recorder, a video transcoder, and a video upload manager. The screen recorder records video tutorials, the video transcoder transcodes the recorded video tutorials, and the upload manager uploads the transcoded video tutorial to a server. The server analyzes the uploaded video tutorial to determine search terms that are relevant to the uploaded video tutorial, and associates the determined search terms with the uploaded video tutorial. The server also receives from users search queries containing search terms, searches for video tutorials related to the search terms, and returns a search query result containing links to the related video tutorials.
US09977574B2 Accelerated instant replay for co-present and distributed meetings
Techniques for recording and replay of a live conference while still attending the live conference are described. A conferencing system includes a user interface generator, a live conference processing module, and a replay processing module. The user interface generator is configured to generate a user interface that includes a replay control panel and one or more output panels. The live conference processing module is configured to extract information included in received conferencing data that is associated with one or more conferencing modalities, and to display the information in the one or more output panels in a live manner (e.g., as a live conference). The replay processing module is configured to enable information associated with the one or more conferencing modalities corresponding to a time of the conference session prior to live to be presented at a desired rate, possibly different from the real-time rate.
US09977565B2 Interactive educational system with light emitting controller
Once embodiment of the invention is directed to a method comprising receiving, at a computing device, image data from a camera, converting, by the computing device, the image data to a YUV color space, filtering, by the computing device, the converted image data based on intensity and a predetermined color to produce a filtered image, and determining, by the computing device, a location of light emitted from a controller from the filtered image.
US09977558B2 Detection device and display device with detection function
According to one embodiment, a detection device includes a substrate, detection electrode, terminal formed of a metal material, lead, coating layer, conductive adhesion layer, and circuit board. The lead connects the electrode and the terminal. The coating layer covers the electrode and the lead, and partly covers the terminal. The adhesion layer covers a part of the terminal exposed from the coating layer and covers a part of the coating layer. The circuit board is connected to the terminal with the adhesion layer interposed therebetween. At least in an overlapping area where the adhesion layer covers the coating layer, an area of the metal material per unit area is smaller than that of the other area of the terminal.
US09977556B2 Controller for position detection
A controller for position detection is disclosed. At least one first 1-D position corresponding to at least one external object is determined based on signals of a plurality of first sensors by self-capacitance detection. Each first 1-D position is determined based on a differential sensing information whose each value is based on signals of two first sensors by self-capacitance detection. Then, at least one second 1-D position corresponding to the at least one first 1-D position is determined based on signals of a plurality of second sensors by mutual-capacitance detection.
US09977554B2 Touch display panel
A touch display panel includes a substrate, a first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer. The first and second electrode layers are disposed on the substrate. The second electrode layer electrically connects to the first electrode layer and includes a plurality of sensing electrodes. Each sensing electrode includes a plurality of first conductive lines and a plurality of second conductive lines connected to each other. The first and second conductive lines are respectively arranged along first and second directions, wherein the second direction is different from the first direction. In one of two adjacent sensing electrodes, the outermost first conductive line has at least one first edge and at least one second edge connected to the first edge. The first edge corresponds to one of the second conductive lines of the other one of the two adjacent sensing electrodes, and has a curved shape.
US09977543B2 Apparatus and method for detecting surface shear force on a display device
A display device includes: a pixel array including a plurality of pixels; a plurality of infrared (IR) emitters to emit IR light towards a surface of the display device; a plurality of IR detectors to detect IR light; a deformable layer on the pixels, on the IR emitters, on the IR detectors, and at the surface of the display device; and a plurality of tracers at the deformable layer to reflect the IR light emitted by the IR emitters towards the IR detectors and to, while a shear force is being applied at a point of contact at the surface of the display device, shift ones of the tracers around the point of contact in a direction of the shear force such that IR reflectance at the surface of the display device is changed.
US09977537B2 Hybrid force sensitive touch devices
A hybrid touch-screen display that integrates force-based touch-screen technology with any one from among a group of projective capacitive, surface capacitive, resistive, digital resistive, SAW, IR, APR, DST, optical and electromagnetic touch-screen technologies to provide an ability to compensate for non-perfect force transfer. An alternate implementation is also disclosed that employs a single force sensor for relative force measurement in a system in which force is traditionally not measured, here a water dispenser unit. This allows compensation for varying static loads, run-time calibration, and filtering of extraneous loads through firmware.
US09977531B2 Optical touch apparatus, a method for determining a position of a touch indicator point and an optical touch system
An optical touch apparatus configured to sense a touch operation of an optical touch stylus is provided. The optical touch apparatus includes a touch operation surface, an optical sensor and a touch controller. The optical touch stylus performs the touch operation on the touch operation surface. The optical sensor is disposed on a side of the touch operation surface and senses the light beam from the touch operation to obtain sensing data. The sensing data include an image of the optical touch stylus and a mirror image generated on the touch operation surface by the optical touch stylus. The touch controller is electrically connected to the optical sensor and calculates a brightness threshold according to the sensing data. The touch controller determines a position of the touch indicator point of the optical touch stylus on the touch operation surface according to the sensing data and the brightness threshold.
US09977530B2 Use of accelerometer input to change operating state of convertible computing device
A convertible computing device has an accelerometer to detect tapping gestures on the device, and a mode sensor to determine whether device is in a laptop mode or a tablet mode. The device includes a first physical human input sensor to change an operating state of the device between an OFF state and a non-OFF state and a second physical human input sensor to change an operating state of the computing device. When the device is in the laptop mode, the second physical human input sensor is enabled to change the operating state of the computing device, and when the computing device is in the tablet mode, the second physical human input sensor is disabled from changing an operating state of the device and, instead, the tapping gestures detected by the accelerometer are used to change the operating state of the device.
US09977528B2 Electronic device having touch sensor
An electronic device with a touch sensor includes a body mounted with an electronic element, and a cover detachably coupled to the body. The body includes a signal generating circuitry that generates an electric signal, a first antenna that transmits the electric signal, and a touch processing circuitry that processes a touch signal received through the first antenna. The cover includes a touch sensor that is driven by the electric signal and recognizes a touch, and a second antenna connected with the touch sensor. The second antenna receives the electric signal and transmits a touch signal sensed through the touch sensor unit.
US09977524B2 Flexible touch panel including a bonding layer
A flexible touch panel that achieves both thinness and high detection sensitivity. In the flexible touch panel obtained by attaching a flexible display panel and a flexible touch sensor with a bonding layer, the bonding layer has a Young's modulus of 1 kPa to 300 kPa, a thickness of 0.1 mm to 1 mm, and a transmittance of 70% or more.
US09977518B2 Scrolling based on rotational movement
Improved approaches for users to interact with graphical user interfaces of computing devices are disclosed. A rotational user action supplied by a user via a user input device can provide accelerated scrolling. The accelerated nature of the scrolling enables users to scroll or traverse a lengthy data set (e.g., list of items) faster and with greater ease. The amount of acceleration provided can be performed in successive stages, and/or performed based on the speed of the rotational user action. In one embodiment, the rotational user action is transformed into linear action with respect to a graphical user interface. The resulting acceleration effect causes the linear action to be enhanced such that a lengthy data set is able to be rapidly traversed.
US09977517B2 Input system and method for detecting touch using the same
An input system includes an input pen for interfacing with a touchscreen of a display panel. The input pen includes a conductive tip. A switching unit of the pen connects the conductive tip to a receiving unit and a driving unit. The receiving unit receives touchscreen driving signals from the touchscreen through the conductive tip. The driving unit generates pen driving signals transferred to the touchscreen through the conductive tip. The input pen also include a signal processing unit to calibrate timing of the pen driving signal by synchronizing the pen driving signal with the touchscreen driving signal. To enable touch detection, the conductive tip is positioned to contact or approach the touchscreen, the touchscreen driving signal is received from the touchscreen via the conductive tip. The pen driving signal is generated and transferred to the touchscreen via the conductive tip.
US09977516B2 User terminal device for displaying application and methods thereof
A content display method of a user terminal device including a bended touch screen divided into a main area and a sub area, includes displaying, on the main area, a first main content provided by a first application, and displaying, on the sub area, a first sub content associated with the first main content, receiving a user gesture input on the main area, and in response to receiving the user gesture, displaying, on the main area, a second main content provided by a second application, and displaying, on the sub area, a second sub content associated with the second main content.
US09977515B2 Display device, projector, and display method
A display device including an image input unit that receives image data from an image supply device, a display unit that displays a display image on a display surface based on image data, a location detection unit that detects a pointed location with respect to the display image on the display surface, a coordinate calculation unit that calculates first coordinates as coordinates of the pointed location in a displayable area on the display surface, a drawing unit that draws an image based on the first coordinates calculated by the coordinate calculation unit, and an output unit that outputs the coordinates to the image supply device based on the first coordinates.
US09977511B2 Peep-proof input keyboard for POS (point of sale) machine
The present invention is applicable to the field of POS machines, and provides a peep-proof input keyboard and a POS machine using the peep-proof input keyboard. The peep-proof input keyboard comprises a circuit board, a keyboard, and a peep-proof cover, the keyboard includes a plurality of keys configured to input information, a portion of the circuit board corresponding to the keys is provided with a first connecting finger configured for the pressing operations of the keys, the circuit board is provided with a second connecting finger configured to control the keyboard to work and be turned off, and a bottom of the peep-proof cover is provided with at least one support post configured to abut against the second connecting finger so as to enable the keyboard to work. By providing the circuit board with the second connecting finger, whether the keyboard can work or not is controlled by connection and disconnection of the second connecting finger; and by providing the peep-proof cover with the support post, the second connecting finger is connected by the support post, such that the keyboard can perform the input work. When the peep-proof cover falls off, the keyboard is in a shut-down state, that is, the keyboard cannot perform the input operation, so that the information input by users is prevented from being peeped.
US09977510B1 Gesture-driven introduction system
An introduction method can begin with gesture event data being received by a client application of a gesture-driven introduction system running on a user device of a first human actor. The gesture event data can comprise a gesture and ancillary conditions regarding performance of the gesture by a second human actor. The first human actor and the second human actor can be registered members of the gesture-driven introduction system. The received gesture event data can be assessed with respect to introduction definitions created by the first human actor. An introduction definition can define triggering parameters for exchanging predetermined introduction data. When the gesture event data satisfies the triggering parameters expressed in an introduction definition, the predetermined introduction data can be automatically transmitted to a user device of the second human actor. The transmission can occur without direct physical or verbal interaction between the first and second human actors.
US09977509B2 Gesture recognition method, apparatus and wearable device
A method and an apparatus for gesture recognition and a wearable device for gesture recognition are described. A method of gesture recognition involves using a processor to detect a motion artifact from an output signal of a biosignal sensor and generating a control signal to control a function of a target device that corresponds to a reference signal pattern in response to a signal pattern of the detected motion artifact corresponding to the reference signal pattern.
US09977506B2 Input optimization based on frequency of use
A primary user input mechanism is recommended to an application that executes on a computing device which supports a plurality of different user input mechanisms that users of the computing device can utilize to input information into the computing device. The utilization of each of the user input mechanisms is monitored on an ongoing basis, where this monitoring includes weighting each of the user input mechanisms based on its frequency of use. Upon receiving an indication to launch the application on the computing device, a one of the user input mechanisms currently having the highest weight is recommended to the application as being the primary user input mechanism. The weighting of each of the user input mechanisms is also provided to the application.
US09977503B2 Apparatus and method for an infrared contactless gesture system
An apparatus, a method, and a computer program product are provided. The apparatus generates at least one signal in response to a contactless gesture performed proximate to an infrared proximity sensor situated on the optical device, the contactless gesture corresponding to a command, identifies the command using the at least one signal, and executes the command.
US09977502B2 Providing non-visual feedback for non-physical controls
Techniques are described herein to assist users to operate non-physical controls in situations where the users are unable to visually locate the controls. According to one embodiment, the device containing the non-physical controls is designed to give non-visual feedback to the user based, at least on part, on the distance between (a) the current position of user input, and (b) the location of the non-physical control. At least one characteristic of the non-visual feedback changes as that distance changes.
US09977498B2 Methods and systems for providing haptic control
Haptic systems are disclosed which may provide increased resolution in tactile feedback. A tiered haptic system may be formed by stacking of haptic elements. One or more arrays of shape change elements such as, for example, piezoelectric elements may be used to actuate a screen surface. Arrays may also be used to sense tactile interactions and stimuli on a screen surface. An embedded haptic system may be formed by inserting haptic elements into a contoured elastic sheet. The embedded haptic system may provide tactile interactions to a user. In some embodiments, both tiered and embedded haptic arrangements may be used.
US09977496B2 Eye-wearable device user interface and augmented reality method
A software controlled user interface and method for a head-mountable device equipped with at least one display or connectivity to at least one touch pad. The method can scale between displaying a small to large number of different eye gaze target symbols at any given time, yet still transmit a large array of different symbols to outside devices. At least part of the method may be implemented by way of a virtual window onto the surface of a virtual cylinder, with touchpad or eye gaze sensitive symbols that can be rotated by touchpad touch or eye gaze thus bringing various groups of symbols into view, and then selected. Specific examples of use of this interface and method on a head-mountable device are disclosed, along with various operation examples including transmitting data including text, functionality in virtual or augmented reality, control of robotic devices and control of remote vehicles.
US09977495B2 Immersive displays
A method of providing information for display on a display of an immersive display. The method includes obtaining information utilized for displaying a first image in front of a first eye and a second image in front of a second eye of a user of the immersive display, excluding part of the information to yield adjusted information to occlude or replace first information from a first area of the first image and second information from a second area of a second image when displayed on the immersive display, and providing the adjusted information for displaying the first image absent the first area and the second image absent the second area on the immersive display.
US09977491B2 Method for interacting with flexible device and user terminal thereof
A method for interacting with a flexible device and a user terminal thereof includes detecting a physical transformation of the flexible device, and performing an interaction, in association with the flexible device, corresponding to the physical transformation.
US09977484B2 Ambient light sensors with auto gain switching capabilities
An ambient light sensor that is operable in high gain mode and low gain mode is provided. The high gain mode may help provide satisfactory sensitivity at low light levels but may generate saturated output levels in bright ambient lighting conditions. Low gain mode may therefore be switched into use when bright ambient lighting conditions are detected. The ambient light sensor may be placed in high gain mode by default. An auto-gain switch controller may detect whether the ambient light reading is saturated during a given period of time. In response to determining that the ambient light reading is saturated for a programmable number of consecutive time periods, the auto-gain switch controller may reset and switch the ambient light sensor to the low gain mode. The gain state may optionally be embedded into the ambient light sensor output.
US09977482B2 Method and apparatus for setting an I/O bandwidth-based processor frequency floor
An apparatus and method for managing a frequency of a computer processor. The apparatus includes a power control unit (PCU) to manage power in a computer processor. The PCU includes a data collection module to obtain transaction rate data from a plurality of communication ports in the computer processor and a frequency control logic module coupled to the data collection module, the frequency control logic to calculate a minimum processor interconnect frequency for the plurality of communication ports to handle traffic without significant added latency and to override the processor interconnect frequency to meet the calculated minimum processor interconnect frequency.
US09977481B2 Multi-function portable data management and processing system
There is disclosed a carry-on sized, portable apparatus configured as a processing apparatus for use as a single node, or as a node in a cluster of nodes, of a hyper-converged system. The apparatus is designed for quick extraction from the hyper-converged system in the event of a disaster and also configured to be able to re-establish communication for users requiring immediate access to mission critical applications in remote re-deployment. The processing apparatus includes an exoskeleton carrier with internally disposed chassis, the chassis including sub-chassis sections to securely contain an integrated power supply and management system, an integrated management and control system (MCS), and other electronics. The integrated MCS runs critical virtualization technology and is script configurable by an external programming source to operate as a single node, or as a node in a cluster of nodes, of a hyper-converged system in normal mode, but also in other modes in order to support disaster recovery contingencies. In an alternate embodiment, the apparatus is a data storage device with a separate dedicated MCS which helps with provisioning the apparatus on a network environment, but which is likewise configured for remote use such as in a disaster recovery.
US09977480B2 Selective coupling of power rails to a memory domain(s) in a processor-based system
Selective coupling of power rails to memory domain(s) in processor-based system, such as to reduce or avoid the need to provide intentional decoupling capacitance in logic domain(s) is disclosed. To avoid or reduce providing additional intentional decoupling capacitance in logic domain to mitigate voltage droops on logic power rail, power rail selection circuit is provided. The power rail selection circuit is configured to couple memory domain to a logic power rail when the logic power rail can satisfy a minimum operating voltage of memory arrays. The additional intrinsic decoupling capacitance of the memory arrays is coupled to the logic power rail. However, if the operating voltage of the logic power rail is scaled down below the minimum operating voltage of the memory arrays when the logic domain does not need higher operation functionality, the power rail selection circuit is configured to couple the memory domain to separate memory power rail.
US09977475B2 Over voltage protection for a communication line of a bus
An electronic device has an I/O port, a bus connector and a transistor that is connected between the I/O port and a communications contact of the bus connector. A control circuit is connected to the transistor to maintain a gate voltage of the transistor independent of power supply voltage on a power supply contact of the connector. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US09977472B2 Method and apparatus for displaying relative motion of objects on graphical user interface
A method including causing, at least in part, display of objects on a graphical user interface, where each of the objects corresponds to data or an application accessible via the graphical user interface. The method further includes causing, at least in part, display of the objects in motion on the graphical user interface based on user input and based on respective relative mass values associated with the objects.
US09977466B2 Flexible display panel and method of bending the same
A flexible display panel includes a display area to display an image, and a non-display area disposed outside the display area. The non-display area includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion extends from the display area, and includes a support layer disposed on a flexible substrate. The second portion extends from the first portion, and is bent from a plane of the first portion. A property of a material of the support layer in the first portion is different than the property of the material of the support layer in the second portion.
US09977463B2 Electronic device having a member for chassis
An electronic device having a member for chassis is disclosed. The member for chassis includes a surface layer, a rear layer disposed inside of the surface layer in a thickness direction, and an intermediate layer disposed between the surface layer and the rear layer. Each of the surface layer and the rear layer includes a fiber-reinforced resin plate. The intermediate layer is made of a material that is compressible in the thickness direction. The member for chassis further includes a fastening hole that penetrates through the surface layer, the intermediate layer and the rear layer, through which a fastener passes to fix the member for chassis to a member for attachment. The surface layer includes a cut line having a larger diameter than the fastening hole in order to surround the fastening hole.
US09977461B2 Wearable mobile device
A mobile device is provided that includes a display module that detachably couples to a wrap module. The interconnection between the wrap module and the display module provides data and/or power conductivity there between. In this manner, the wrap module can provide supplemental functionality, such as serving as an input device (touch), a power source, or a solar charger, among other features.
US09977459B1 Clock generating circuit and associated method
A clock generating circuit includes: a generating circuit, a reference circuit and an adjusting circuit. The generating circuit generates a clock signal. The reference circuit is coupled to the generating circuit, and generates a reference signal to the generating circuit according to the clock signal, wherein a frequency of the clock signal is varied according to the reference signal when the reference signal is received by the generating circuit. The adjusting circuit generates an adjusting signal and a trigger signal to the generating circuit, wherein the generating circuit refers to the trigger signal to decide whether to adjust the clock signal frequency according to the adjusting signal.
US09977455B2 Method and apparatus for filtering a rectified voltage
A configurable impedance circuit includes a controller that senses a rectified voltage and generates a first and second control signals based on a comparison of the rectified voltage to at least one threshold voltage. The configurable impedance circuit also includes a filter for filtering the rectified voltage that couples a plurality of capacitors in series to the rectified voltage in a first configuration based on the first control signal and couples the plurality of capacitors in parallel to the rectified voltage in a second configuration based on the second control signal.
US09977450B2 Micro-balance event resource selection
A method includes a resource selection for a control sub-slot of a balance event. The method includes computing availability schedules and creating a priority list of resources. The priority list includes an order in which the resources are added to a sub-group activated in the control sub-slot. The method includes calculating a resource capacity of the sub-group. The method includes receiving an energy target. If the resource capacity is less than the energy target, the method may include adding one of the resources that has a first position on the priority list to the sub-group and calculating an updated resource capacity. The method includes determining whether the updated sub-group resource capacity is greater than or equal to the energy target. If the updated sub-group resource capacity is greater than or equal to the energy target, the method may include communicating a command signal to the resources.
US09977444B1 Power management system and method of the same
A power management system comprises an input power detector configured to generate a first enablement signal by detecting whether a first voltage is supplied; a first output stage connected to the input power detector and configured to receive and regulate the first voltage upon receiving the first enablement signal; an error operational amplifier is connected to the first output stage, a first input port of the error operational amplifier is configured to receive a first reference voltage, a second input port of the error operational amplifier is connected to a connection point of a first resistor and a second resistor, the first resistor is connected to the first output stage, the second resistor is connected to ground, and a system output port is located at the connection of the output port of the first output stage and the first resistor, to drive a load.
US09977439B2 Energy efficiency aware thermal management in a multi-processor system on a chip
Various embodiments of methods and systems for energy efficiency aware thermal management in a portable computing device that contains a heterogeneous, multi-processor system on a chip (“SoC”) are disclosed. Because individual processing components in a heterogeneous, multi-processor SoC may exhibit different processing efficiencies at a given temperature, energy efficiency aware thermal management techniques that compare performance data of the individual processing components at their measured operating temperatures can be leveraged to optimize quality of service (“QoS”) by adjusting the power supplies to, reallocating workloads away from, or transitioning the power mode of, the least energy efficient processing components. In these ways, embodiments of the solution optimize the average amount of power consumed across the SoC to process a MIPS of workload.
US09977434B2 Automatic tracking mode for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle
Some embodiments include methods performed by a processor associated with a wireless communication device for enabling an unmanned autonomous vehicle (UAV) to operate in an automatic user tracking mode. Such embodiments may include capturing image data of surroundings by a camera while the UAV is operating in the automatic user tracking mode, calculating estimated position information for the wireless communication device based on captured image data, and transmitting estimated position information to the UAV for use in tracking a user of the wireless communication device. Some embodiments include methods performed by a processor of a UAV for enabling the UAV to automatically follow a user. Such embodiments may include calculating a current position of the UAV, receiving from a user's wireless communication device estimated position information derived from image data captured by a camera of the wireless communication device, and determining whether an update to the UAV motion is required.
US09977424B2 Dynamically calculated refractive index for determining the thickness of roofing materials
Disclosed is a system for measuring and controlling the thickness of asphalt roofing materials during manufacturing. Light beams are used to generate a time of flight signal that is used to determine the thickness of the asphalt roofing layer. A controller generates a thickness control signal that controls a coater to modify parameters of the coater to produce the asphalt roofing layer with a desired thickness.
US09977423B2 Rewind queue feature for protective packaging control
A control device comprising a processor and a memory. The memory contains computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to retrieve from a memory a queue containing a plurality of sets of instructions, each set of instructions corresponding to parameters for forming a unit of packaging material, cause a packaging machine to create a plurality of packaging units according to the parameters, receive user input corresponding to a rewind queue functionality, and rewind the queue to cause the packaging machine to rerun a portion of the queue and create some of the plurality of the packaging units during the rerun.
US09977422B2 Intelligent configuration of a user interface of a machinery health monitoring system
A machinery health monitoring module processes machine vibration data based on vibration signals and provides the machine vibration data to a distributed control system. A distributed control system operator computer executes a software user interface that filters relevant configuration parameters based on a selected machine measurement type so that only those parameters that are applicable to the selected measurement type appear on the user interface screen. Further, configuration parameters for individual measurement values within the measurement type are made available only when a particular measurement value is selected for acquisition. This greatly simplifies the information that is displayed on the configuration user interface.
US09977420B2 Automatically guided tools
A position correcting system, method and tool for guiding a tool during its use based on its location relative to the material being worked on. Provided is a system and tool which uses its auto correcting technology to precisely rout or cut material. The invention provides a camera which is used to track the visual features of the surface of the material being cut to build a map and locate an image on that map used to reference the location of the tool for auto-correction of the cutting path.
US09977415B2 System and method for virtual internet of things (IOT) devices and hubs
A system and method are described for virtualizing Internet of Things (IoT) devices and hubs. For example, one embodiment of a system comprises: a primary Internet of Things (IoT) cloud service to register IoT devices owned by users who have subscribed with the primary IoT cloud service; IoT device management logic on the primary IoT cloud service to provide access to data generated by the primary IoT devices and to control the IoT devices responsive to user input; the IoT device management logic to establish a communication channel with an external IoT cloud service responsive to a user registering one or more external IoT devices controlled by the external IoT cloud service; and wherein upon the external IoT cloud service providing the IoT device management logic with access to the one or more external IoT devices, the IoT device management logic to generate virtual representations of the one or more external IoT devices to allow user access to information generated by the external IoT devices and to allow the user to control the external IoT devices through the virtual representations.
US09977413B2 Apparatus and method for managing open windows in a graphical display for a representation of a process system
A method includes displaying a plurality of windows in a graphical display. Each window corresponds to a representation of at least a portion of an industrial process system. The method also includes, responsive to a first window being in an active state, subscribing to first operational data associated with the process system. The method further includes, responsive to a second window being in an inactive state, unsubscribing from second operational data associated with the process system.
US09977412B2 Electronic circuit to capture lock controller pulses
An electronic circuit to capture legacy lock controller pulses and reduce the energy consumed. The legacy pulse is captured, converted to power to power the circuit and the direction of the pulse—polarity—is determined. A substitute pulse is created at lower power and sent to a motor actuator in the lock. The total power consumed is substantially reduced by reducing the duration and voltage of the pulse. In the preferred design, the circuit also detects control voltages for solenoid locks and produces suitable control signals for a motor actuator.
US09977410B2 Control system and method thereof
In a control system, when a sensor receives a sensing signal, the sensor sends a notice signal to a preparatory starting device so that the preparatory starting device performs a starting operation. After the starting operation is finished, the preparatory starting device sends an operation command and/or operation power to a starting unit. The starting unit would not pass the operation command and/or the operation power to a receiving end until receiving a control signal.
US09977405B2 Athletic watch
A device for monitoring athletic performance of a user has a wristband configured to be worn by the user. The electronic module may include a controller and a screen and a plurality of user inputs operably associated with the controller. The user inputs may include a user input configured to be applied by the user against the screen and in a direction generally normal to the screen. The controller may further be configured to generate one or more user interfaces in response to various user inputs and conditions. For example, the controller may generate workout mode interfaces and non-workout mode interfaces including various goal information, workout data, reminders and the like. In one or more arrangements, multiple types of information may be displayed simultaneously.
US09977404B2 Method for testing the water resistance of a timepiece
Method for testing the water resistance of at least one timepiece, wherein it comprises the following stages:E1—Measuring the rate of the timepiece when subjected to a first external pressure, in particular atmospheric pressure, in order to obtain a first reference rate value;E2—Measuring the rate of a timepiece when subjected to a second external pressure inside a pressurization chamber, in order to obtain a second rate value under pressure;E3—Comparing the rate value under pressure and the reference rate value in order to deduce therefrom the presence or otherwise of a deficiency in the water resistance in the event of a variation in excess of a predefined threshold.
US09977403B2 Watch case provided with an external element
A watch case includes a case middle, a bezel, and an external element at least partially disposed between the case middle and the bezel. The bezel includes at least one hollow revealing the external element. The external element is attached directly to the case middle, independently of an attachment of the bezel to the case middle.
US09977400B2 Exhaust air cleaning apparatus and image forming apparatus
An exhaust air cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning duct for cleaning air to be exhausted from an exhaust port of an image forming apparatus. In the cleaning duct, a fan and a filter are provide between an inflow part connected with the exhaust port of the image forming apparatus and a discharge port for discharging air from the inside of the cleaning duct. The exhaust air cleaning apparatus further includes a pressure adjusting part for adjusting the pressure in the cleaning duct. The pressure adjusting part performs pressure adjustment so that the pressure at a pressure adjusting position located between the inflow part and the fan in the cleaning duct falls within an appropriate pressure range determined in advance to be equal to or less than atmospheric pressure.
US09977398B2 CRUM chip and image forming device for communicating mutually, and method thereof
An image forming device is provided. The device includes a main body which includes a main controller controlling operations of the image forming device, a consumable unit mounted on the main body to enable communication with the main controller, and a CRUM chip which is provided in the consumable unit and stores usage information of the consumable unit and characteristics information The main controller and the CRUM chip transmit and receive signals which include data and integrity detection data between each other. The integrity detection data is generated by accumulating and reflecting integrity detection data included in a previous signal.
US09977395B2 Image forming apparatus for image formation through transfer of toner images to transfer target in superimposed manner
An image forming apparatus (1) includes photosensitive drums (41y, 41c, 41m, and 41k), static eliminators (45y, 45c, 45m, and 45k), transfer rollers (54y, 54c, 54m, and 54k), a power source (55a) for transfer, and load resistors (47y, 47c, 47m, and 47k). The static eliminators (45y, 45c, and 45m) perform static elimination on adjacently upstream or downstream photosensitive drums (41y, 41c, 41m, and 41k) in a movement direction of a transfer target. The transfer rollers (54y, 54c, 54m, and 54k) are disposed opposite to the respective photosensitive drums (41y, 41c, 41m, and 41k). The power source (55a) for transfer applies potential to the transfer rollers (54y, 54c, 54m, and 54k). The load resistors (57y, 57c, 57m, and 57k) are respectively connected in parallel to one another and in series between the power source (55a) for transfer and the respective transfer rollers (54y, 54c, 54m, and 54k).
US09977394B2 Power source device, image forming apparatus and voltage control method
The power source device comprises a transformer, a voltage detection unit, a CPU and a drive circuit. Through an applying of a DC voltage, the transformer generates an AC voltage for development of an amplitude corresponding to the voltage value and an applying time of the DC voltage. The voltage detection unit detects a voltage value of the DC voltage. The CPU sets a reference value and generates PWM signals for controlling the applying time in accordance with a difference between the voltage value detected in the voltage detection unit and the reference value. The reference value is a voltage value of the DC voltage when an amplitude of the AC voltage reaches a predetermined value in a predetermined applying time. Controlling the applying time of the DC voltage to the transformer in accordance with the PWM signals, the drive circuit suppress variation in amplitude of the AC voltage.
US09977391B2 Print control apparatus, image forming system, print control method, and printed-matter manufacturing method
A print control apparatus includes a generating unit that generates color image data based on gloss-control image data, the gloss-control image data containing a gloss control value for identifying a type of a surface effect being a visual or a tactile effect applied to the recording medium and for identifying a region to which the surface effect is applied in the recording medium, and generates clear-toner image data based on presence or absence of at least one post processing device connected to the printing device and based on a type of the post processing device; a post-processing control unit that controls the post processing device in accordance with the presence or absence of the post processing device connected to the printing device and the type of the post processing device; and an output unit that outputs the clear-toner image data.
US09977390B2 Image forming apparatus and recording material determination unit
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording material, a first detection unit including a transmission unit for transmitting an ultrasonic wave and a reception unit for receiving the transmitted ultrasonic wave, first and second conveyance units for conveying the recording material, and a control unit. The first and second conveyance units form a loop on the recording material by conveying the recording material at different speeds. The control unit controls an image forming condition for forming an image on the recording material by the image forming unit, based on the ultrasonic wave received via the recording material in a period in which no loop is formed on the recording material by the first and second conveyance units.
US09977389B2 Sheet stacking apparatus and image forming apparatus
A sheet stacking apparatus includes a body, a stacking portion which a sheet is stacked, a width regulating portion configured to move between a first position and a second position closer to a center of the stacking portion in a width direction orthogonal to a sheet feeding direction than the first position, and including a regulating surface configured to regulate a position, in the width direction, of the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, and a supporting portion pivotably supporting the stacking portion. The supporting portion is disposed on the body and closer to the center of the stacking portion in the width direction, than the regulating surface of the width regulating portion positioned at the first position.
US09977386B2 Image forming apparatus and method for determining image forming condition based on characteristic of sheet to form images
An image forming apparatus determines, in a first mode, an image forming condition according to characteristic data, which is input by a user and represents characteristics of a sheet contained in a sheet container, causes a sensor to detect characteristics of a sheet, and stores characteristic data according to a result of the detection into a memory. The image forming apparatus determines, in a second mode with the characteristic data being stored in the memory, an image forming condition, based on the characteristic data stored in the memory before a result of detecting a characteristic of a sheet by the sensor is obtained. The image forming apparatus causes, in the second mode with the characteristic data being not stored in the memory, the sensor to detect characteristics of a sheet, and determines an image forming condition based on a result of the detection.
US09977381B2 Fixing device for fixing an image on a recording material and having a spacer between a projection of a nip plate and portions of a supporting member
A fixing device for fixing an image on a recording material. A heater radiates radiant light to heat a nip plate. A roller cooperative with the nip plate forms a nip between a cylindrical belt and an outer peripheral surface of the roller. A recording material carrying the image is fed through and heated in the nip to fix the image on the recording material. The nip plate has a projection in a region downstream of the nip with respect to a feeding direction of the recording material. At least a part of one of the two end portions of a supporting member overlaps the projection of the nip plate with respect to the feeding direction of the recording material and the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical belt to support the projection. A spacer is provided between the projection and at least part of one of the two end portions.
US09977378B2 Heating device, drying device, fixing device, image forming apparatus, and image forming system
A heating device including a heating member, a heat source, multiple non-contact temperature detectors, a contact temperature detector, a heat source drive controller, and a temperature detection abnormality detector is provided. The heating member contacts a heating target being conveyed. The heat source supplies heat to the heating member. Each of the non-contact temperature detectors detects a first temperature of the heating member without contacting the heating member. The contact temperature detector detects a second temperature of the heating member by contact with the heating member. The heat source drive controller controls drive of the heat source based on the first temperatures. The temperature detection abnormality detector performs a determination on whether each one of the non-contact temperature detectors has an abnormality or not while the heating target is not conveyed, by comparing the first temperature and the second temperature.
US09977377B1 Image forming apparatus
An embodiment provides an image forming apparatus that has a first operation mode and a second operation mode. The first operation mode forms an image on a sheet with toner. The second operation mode decolorizes the toner on the sheet on which the image is formed with a decolorable toner having a decoloring function. In the first operation mode, when the sheet passes through a transfer unit, a transfer bias having the same polarity as that of a charge of the toner is applied to the transfer member and a toner image formed on a surface of the transfer member is transferred to the sheet. In the second operation mode, when the sheet passes through the transfer unit, a cleaning bias having a reverse polarity to that of the transfer bias is applied to the transfer member.
US09977369B2 Developer conveying apparatus and developing apparatus
A developer conveying apparatus for conveying a developer that develops an electrostatic latent image includes a rotation unit which rotates around a rotation shaft extending in an axial direction and parallel to a developer conveying direction, a first developer conveying portion which is provided in the rotation unit and which has an opening configured to convey the developer in a first axial direction of the rotation shaft, and a second developer conveying portion which is provided in the rotation unit and which has an opening configured to convey the developer in a second axial direction opposite to the first axial direction. A distance from the rotation shaft to the opening in the first developer conveying portion is different than a distance from the rotation shaft to the opening in the second developer conveying portion.
US09977368B2 Developing apparatus, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
In an axial direction of a developing sleeve that bears magnetic developer on an outer circumferential surface thereof, ends of a sheet-shaped stirring member that stirs the magnetic developer in a container frame to move the magnetic developer toward the developing sleeve are disposed on an outer side of a region in a magnetic field region generated by a magnet roller disposed on an inner side of the developing sleeve. The region has a magnetic field strength equal to or larger than a predetermined magnetic flux density at which the magnetic developer can be borne on the surface of the developing sleeve.
US09977366B2 Component movement mechanism for an image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus may include a photosensitive member, a developing device including a developing roller, pressing members configured to engage with the developing device and springs configured to urge the pressing members. In some examples, each of the pressing members may be configured to contact and move the developing device between various positions based on the urging of the springs. Additionally or alternatively, various ends of a contact surface of the developing roller configured to contact developer may be disposed relative to an axis line of the developing roller and pressing surfaces of the pressing members.
US09977364B1 Lens mirror array
According to one embodiment, there is provided the lens mirror array in which a plurality of optical elements includes one pair or more of first light blocking surfaces that are formed by sharing sides thereof with the first mirror surface at positions nipping the symmetrical surface in the arrangement direction of the optical elements, a second light blocking surface that is formed on a side close to the second lens surface further than the first mirror surface on the same side as the first mirror surface of the optical elements, a concave portion configuring one pair of third light blocking surfaces that are formed to be recessed from the second light blocking surface in a direction orthogonal to the second light blocking surface over the adjacent two optical elements.
US09977363B2 Image forming apparatus with selective control of charges applied to residual toner
The image forming apparatus includes a control unit configured to selectively execute an operation for applying a voltage with a polarity opposite to an original charging polarity of a toner to a first charging member and a second charging member and an operation for applying a voltage with the polarity opposite to the original charging polarity of the toner to one of the first charging member and the second charging member and a voltage with the same polarity as the original charging polarity of the toner to another of the first charging member and the second charging member as a cleaning operation for charging a secondary transfer residual toner to the polarity opposite to the original charging polarity of the toner by using the first charging member and the second charging member to transfer the secondary transfer residual toner onto an image bearing member.
US09977361B2 Image forming apparatus and image forming system
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a charging, a charge power supply to supply a charging bias to the charging device, a developing device, a toner adhesion amount detector, an environment detector, and a controller to determine whether to execute a charging bias adjustment process in which the charging device charges the image bearer to have different potentials, the developing device supplies the toner to the image bearer according to the different potentials, the toner adhesion amount detector detects the amount of toner adhering to the image bearer, and the controller adjusts the charging. The controller includes a memory device to store the environment data, and is configured to compare the environment data with previous environment data stored in the memory device, and determine not to execute the charging bias adjustment process when an environment change amount is not greater than a threshold.
US09977360B2 Inner resistive film with ductile particles and outer resistive film without ductile particles
An inner resistive film is applied to a conductive substrate. Ductile particles are disposed substantially uniformly throughout the inner resistive film. An outer resistive film is applied to the inner resistive film.
US09977350B2 Environmental system including vacuum scavenge for an immersion lithography apparatus
A lithographic projection apparatus includes a projection system and a liquid confinement member extending along a boundary of a space under the projection system. The liquid confinement member has (i) a first opening facing downwardly via which a liquid is removed from a gap to be formed under the liquid confinement member, and (ii) a second opening facing downwardly via which fluid is removed from the gap to be formed under the liquid confinement member, the second opening being located radially outward of the first opening with respect to the space. The liquid in the space covers a portion of an upper surface of a substrate and the substrate is exposed through the liquid in the space.
US09977347B2 Positioning apparatus, lithography apparatus, and method of manufacturing article
An apparatus for moving movable part on surface parallel to first and second directions includes single guide to constrain position of the movable part in the second direction and drive mechanism to drive the movable part. The movable part includes first movable member movable in the first direction while being guided by the guide, second movable member having first and second ends, the first end being connected to the first movable member via rotation bearing and moving above the surface, and third movable member movable within range between the first and second ends while being guided by the second movable member. The drive mechanism includes first driver to drive the first end of the second movable member in the first direction, and second driver to drive the second end of the second movable member in the first direction.
US09977346B2 Lithography apparatus, and method of manufacturing article
The present invention provides a lithography apparatus which performs a process of forming a pattern on a substrate, the apparatus comprising a processing device configured to perform the process, an actuator configured to exert an action to the processing device, a detector configured to detect vibrations of a support for supporting the processing device, and a controller configured to control the actuator, wherein the controller is configured to perform an estimation of vibration transferred from the processing device to the detector, and control the actuator based on vibration obtained by the estimation and vibration detected by the detector.
US09977337B2 Exposure apparatus and exposure method
Provided is an exposure apparatus that exposes a pattern on a sample, the exposure apparatus including a plurality of blanking electrodes that are provided corresponding to a plurality of charged particle beams and each switch whether the corresponding particle beam irradiates the sample according to an input voltage; an irradiation control section that outputs switching signals for switching blanking voltages supplied respectively to the blanking electrodes; and a measuring section that, for each blanking electrode, measures a delay amount that is from when the switching signal changes to when the blanking voltage changes.
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