Document Document Title
US09048321B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
Provided is a miniaturized transistor with stable and high electrical characteristics with high yield. In a semiconductor device including the transistor in which an oxide semiconductor film, a gate insulating film, and a gate electrode layer are stacked in this order, a first sidewall insulating layer is provided in contact with a side surface of the gate electrode layer, and a second sidewall insulating layer is provided to cover a side surface of the first sidewall insulating layer. The first sidewall insulating layer is an aluminum oxide film in which a crevice with an even shape is formed on its side surface. The second sidewall insulating layer is provided to cover the crevice. A source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer are provided in contact with the oxide semiconductor film and the second sidewall insulating layer.
US09048320B2 Display device including oxide semiconductor layer
A protective circuit includes a non-linear element which includes a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer covering the gate electrode, a first oxide semiconductor layer overlapping with the gate electrode over the gate insulating layer, a channel protective layer overlapping with a channel formation region of the first oxide semiconductor layer, and a pair of a first wiring layer and a second wiring layer whose end portions overlap with the gate electrode over the channel protective layer and in which a conductive layer and a second oxide semiconductor layer are stacked. Over the gate insulating layer, oxide semiconductor layers with different properties are bonded to each other, whereby stable operation can be performed as compared with Schottky junction. Thus, the junction leakage can be reduced and the characteristics of the non-linear element can be improved.
US09048317B2 Contact structure of semiconductor device
The disclosure relates to a semiconductor device. An exemplary structure for a contact structure for a semiconductor device comprises a substrate comprising a major surface; a fin structure extending upward from the substrate major surface, wherein the fin structure comprises a first fin, a second fin, and a third fin between the first fin and second fin; a first germanide over the first fin, wherein a first bottom surface of the first germanide has a first acute angle to the major surface; a second germanide over the second fin on a side of the third fin opposite to first germanide substantially mirror-symmetrical to each other; and a third germanide over the third fin, wherein a third bottom surface of the third germanide has a third acute angle to the major surface less than the first acute angle.
US09048311B2 Laminate and method for separating the same
A laminate including a supporting member which is light transmissive; a supported substrate supported by the supporting member; an adhesive layer provided on a surface of the supported substrate which surface faces toward the supporting member; and a release layer which is made of a fluorocarbon and is provided between the supporting member and the supported substrate, the release layer having a property that changes when it absorbs light coming through the supporting member.
US09048309B2 Uniform masking for wafer dicing using laser and plasma etch
Uniform masking for wafer dicing using laser and plasma etch is described. In an example, a method of dicing a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits having bumps or pillars includes uniformly spinning on a mask above the semiconductor wafer, the mask composed of a layer covering and protecting the integrated circuits. The mask is then patterned with a laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with gaps, exposing regions of the semiconductor wafer between the integrated circuits. The semiconductor wafer is then etched through the gaps in the patterned mask to singulate the integrated circuits.
US09048303B1 Group III-nitride-based enhancement mode transistor
A Group III-nitride-based enhancement mode transistor includes a heterojunction fin structure. Side faces and a top face of the heterojunction fin structure are covered by a p-type Group III-nitride layer.
US09048302B2 Field effect transistor having semiconductor operating layer formed with an inclined side wall
A field effect transistor has an MOS structure and is formed of a nitride based compound semiconductor. The field effect transistor includes a substrate; a semiconductor operating layer having a recess and formed on the substrate; an insulating layer formed on the semiconductor operating layer including the recess; a gate electrode formed on the insulating layer at the recess; and a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on the semiconductor operating layer with the recess in between and electrically connected to the semiconductor operating layer. The recess includes a side wall inclined relative to the semiconductor operating layer.
US09048296B2 Method to fabricate copper wiring structures and structures formed thereby
Techniques formation of high purity copper (Cu)-filled lines and vias are provided. In one aspect, a method of fabricating lines and vias filled with high purity copper with is provided. The method includes the following steps. A via is etched in a dielectric. The via is lined with a diffusion barrier. A thin ruthenium (Ru) layer is conformally deposited onto the diffusion barrier. A Cu layer is deposited on the Ru layer by a sputtering process. A reflow anneal is performed to eliminate voids in the lines and vias.
US09048295B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of immersing a substrate in a solution containing metal ions to adhere a metal catalyst to a surface of the substrate, immersing the substrate with the metal catalyst adhered thereto in an electroless plating solution to electrolessly plate a layer on the substrate, immersing the substrate in an electroplating solution to electroplate a layer on the electrolessly plated layer using the electrolessly plated layer as a power feeding layer, and forming a metal layer of Cu or Ag on the electroplated layer. The electroplated layer is formed of a different material than the metal layer.
US09048293B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. An additional spacer is formed at a lateral surface of an upper part of the bit line so that the distance of insulation films between a storage node and a neighboring storage node contact plug is increased. Accordingly, the distance between the storage node and the neighboring storage node contact is guaranteed and a bridge failure is prevented.
US09048290B2 Method for manufacturing thin film transistor array
A thin film transistor (TFT) array includes a substrate, a thin film transistor, a first wall, a transparent electrode and a color resist. The thin film transistor is disposed on the substrate. The first wall is disposed on the substrate and separates a first contact hole from a pixel region on the substrate, wherein the first contact hole exposes a drain electrode of the thin film transistor. The first wall has a first sidewall facing towards the first contact hole and a second sidewall facing towards the pixel region, wherein the slope of the first sidewall is gentler than the slope of the second sidewall. The transparent electrode is electrically connected to the drain electrode of the thin film transistor through the first contact hole. The pixel region is filled with the color resist.
US09048287B1 Mechanisms for forming semiconductor device structure with floating spacer
Embodiments of mechanisms for forming a semiconductor device structure with floating spacers are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate and a gate stack formed on the SOI substrate. The semiconductor device structure also includes gate spacers formed on sidewalls of the gate stack. The gate spacers include a floating spacer. The semiconductor device structure further includes a contact etch stop layer formed on the gate stack and the gate spacers. The contact etch stop layer is formed between the floating spacer and the SOI substrate.
US09048284B2 Integrated RF front end system
Systems and methods are disclosed for integrating functional components of front-end modules for wireless radios. Front-end modules disclosed may be dual-band front-end modules for use in 802.11ac-compliant devices. In certain embodiments, integration of front-end module components on a single die is achieved by implementing a high-resistivity layer or substrate directly underneath, adjacent to, and/or supporting SiGe BiCMOS technology elements.
US09048281B2 Semiconductor device and method for producing the same
A semiconductor device satisfies the condition Db≦(⅓)×Da, in which Da represents a distance between a top surface of a cathode segment and an end of an embedded gate segment facing an anode segment, and Db represents a distance between a highest-impurity concentration portion in the embedded gate segment and an end of the cathode segment facing the anode segment.
US09048280B2 Vertical polysilicon-germanium heterojunction bipolar transistor
A vertical heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) includes doped polysilicon having a doping of a first conductivity type as a wide-gap-emitter with an energy bandgap of about 1.12 eV and doped single crystalline Ge having a doping of the second conductivity type as the base having the energy bandgap of about 0.66 eV. Doped single crystalline Ge having of doping of the first conductivity type is employed as the collector. Because the base and the collector include the same semiconductor material, i.e., Ge, having the same lattice constant, there is no lattice mismatch issue between the collector and the base. Further, because the emitter is polycrystalline and the base is single crystalline, there is no lattice mismatch issue between the base and the emitter.
US09048278B2 Semiconductor device
By configuring an ESD protection element of an NPN transistor (101), it is possible to reduce the area of the ESD protection element and reduce the voltage in a region in which the current increases sharply, and thus possible to increase ESD tolerance. Also, it is possible to provide a highly reliable semiconductor device wherein it is possible to flatten and smooth the surface of an upper layer pad electrode (16) by dividing a pad electrode (8) into a two-layer structure sandwiching an interlayer insulating film (15), and possible to increase the junction strength of a bonding wire, and suppress damage to underlying silicon layers when bonding.
US09048277B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
To reduce defects of a semiconductor device, such as defects in shape and characteristic due to external stress and electrostatic discharge. To provide a highly reliable semiconductor device. In addition, to increase manufacturing yield of a semiconductor device by reducing the above defects in the manufacturing process. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor integrated circuit sandwiched by impact resistance layers against external stress and an impact diffusion layer diffusing the impact and a conductive layer covering the semiconductor integrated circuit. With the use of the conductive layer covering the semiconductor integrated circuit, electrostatic breakdown (malfunctions of the circuit or damages of a semiconductor element) due to electrostatic discharge of the semiconductor integrated circuit can be prevented.
US09048275B2 Transport system and set-up method
In a transport system, a positioning hole is provided in an undersurface of a container. A positioning protrusion corresponding to the positioning hole of the container is provided on a first load port of a manufacturing device. When a transport vehicle places the container onto the first load port, the placement position of the container is established by having the positioning protrusion of the first load port fit into the positioning hole. A second load port different from the first load port of the manufacturing device is provided on a storage device. A positioning protrusion is not provided on the second load port. A slip prevention member is provided on an upper surface of the second load port.
US09048274B2 Portable stocker and method of using same
A system comprising a conveyor. A semiconductor processing tool has a lifter port. The tool is positioned near the conveyor, such that the lifter port is configured to transport a Front Opening Unified Pod (FOUP) between the conveyor and the lifter port. An upstream stocker and a downstream stocker are both co-located with the conveyor and the tool. The upstream and downstream stockers each have a respective storage space for the FOUP and a respective robotic device configured to transport the FOUP between its respective storage space and the conveyor. The upstream stocker is configured to receive the FOUP from an overhead transport (OHT) and deliver the FOUP to the conveyor. The downstream stocker is configured to receive the FOUP from the conveyor and deliver the FOUP to the OHT.
US09048272B2 Devices and method for handling microelectronics assemblies
The disclosure relates to trays for the handling and shipping of computer chips, or similar microelectronic devices. The tray include a series of channels, each extending along a width of the tray. The channels include such devices as pins and clips for securing a thermoformed tape. The thermoformed tape includes pockets for storing the various computer chips, or similar microelectronic devices.
US09048270B2 Apparatus and method for heating semiconductor wafers via microwaves
An apparatus for heating a semiconductor wafer includes: a microwave source; an applicator cavity; and, a fixture for supporting a wafer in the cavity. The fixture contains a dielectric mechanical support for the wafer and a grounded metallic ring movably positioned parallel to and concentric with the wafer at some distance from the wafer, to adjust the microwave power distribution to compensate for edge effects. A closed-loop feedback system adjusts the distance based on wafer edge and center temperatures. A method for heating a semiconductor wafer includes: a. placing the wafer in a microwave cavity; b. supporting the wafer on a fixture having a dielectric wafer support and a grounded metallic ring movably positioned at some distance from the wafer; c. introducing microwave power into the cavity to heat the wafer; and d. adjusting the distance between wafer and ring to modify the power distribution near the wafer edge.
US09048267B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device according to the present embodiment includes a semiconductor layer. A gate dielectric film is provided on a surface of the semiconductor layer. A gate electrode is provided on the semiconductor layer via the gate dielectric film. A drain layer of a first conductivity type is provided in a part of the semiconductor layer on a side of a first end of the gate electrode. A source layer of a second conductivity type is provided in a part of the semiconductor layer on a side of a second end of the gate electrode and below the gate electrode. The source layer has a substantially uniform impurity concentration at the part of the semiconductor layer below the gate electrode. Voltages of a same polarity are applied to the gate electrode and the drain layer.
US09048264B2 Manufacturing method of semiconductor device and semiconductor device
A manufacturing method of a junction field effect transistor includes the steps of: (a) forming an n+-type source layer on a surface of an n−-type drift layer formed on an n+-type SiC substrate; (b) forming a plurality of shallow trenches disposed at predetermined intervals by etching the surface of the n−-type drift layer with a silicon oxide film formed on the n−-type drift layer used as a mask; (c) forming an n-type counter dope layer by doping the n−-type drift layer below each of the shallow trenches with nitrogen by using a vertical ion implantation method; (d) forming a sidewall spacer on each sidewall of the silicon oxide film and the shallow trenches; and (e) forming a p-type gate layer by doping the n−-type drift layer below each of shallow trenches with aluminum by using the vertical ion implantation method.
US09048262B2 Multi-fin finFETs with merged-fin source/drains and replacement gates
A semiconductor structure including semiconductor fins, a gate over a middle portion of the semiconductor fins, and faceted semiconductor regions outside of the gate separated from gaps may be formed. The semiconductor structure may be formed by forming fins on a semiconductor substrate where each fin has a pair of sidewalls aligned parallel to the length of the fin, growing dummy semiconductor regions on the sidewalls of the fins, forming a sacrificial gate that covers a center portion of the fins and the dummy semiconductor regions, removing portions of the dummy semiconductor regions not covered by the sacrificial gate, and growing faceted semiconductor regions on the sidewalls of the portions of the fins not covered by the sacrificial gate. The faceted semiconductor regions may intersect to form gaps between the faceted semiconductor regions and the gate.
US09048260B2 Method of forming a semiconductor device with tall fins and using hard mask etch stops
A hard mask etch stop is formed on the top surface of tall fins to preserve the fin height and protect the top surface of the fin from damage during etching steps of the transistor fabrication process. In an embodiment, the hard mask etch stop is formed using a dual hard mask system, wherein a hard mask etch stop layer is formed over the surface of a substrate, and a second hard mask layer is used to pattern a fin with a hard mask etch stop layer on the top surface of the fin. The second hard mask layer is removed, while the hard mask etch stop layer remains to protect the top surface of the fin during subsequent fabrication steps.
US09048256B2 Gate insulator uniformity
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to display devices and methods for manufacturing display devices. Specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure employ an enhanced etching process to create uniformity in the gate insulator of thin-film-transistor (TFTs) by using an active layer to protect the gate insulator from inadvertent etching while patterning an etch stop layer.
US09048252B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
There are provided a semiconductor device having a drain region making a BLDD structure withstandable against a high voltage, sufficiently suppressing a hot-carrier deterioration, and having a high ESD withstandable characteristic, and a method for manufacturing the same. A semiconductor device is formed including a MOS transistor having a source region and a drain region both formed in a semiconductor substrate, and a channel region formed therebetween. At this time, the concentration of holes emitted form P-type impurities injected into the channel region and contributing an electrical conduction is lower at a side close to the drain region than at a side close to the source region. The drain region includes a drift region into which N-type impurities are injected. The drift region extends toward the channel region from the drain region except a nearby area to the surface of the semiconductor substrate.
US09048250B2 Method of manufacturing a super-junction semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a super-junction semiconductor device is disclosed that allows forming a high concentration layer with high precision and improves the trade-off relationship between the Eoff and the dV/dt. The method comprises a step of forming a parallel pn layer and a step of forming a proton irradiated layer in the upper region of the pn layer. Then, heat treatment is conducted on the proton irradiated layer for transforming the protons into donors to form a high concentration n type semiconductor layer.
US09048248B2 Integrated circuit package assembly including wave guide
Some embodiments herein relate to a transmitter. The transmitter includes an integrated circuit (IC) package including a first antenna configured to radiate a first electromagnetic signal therefrom. A printed circuit board (PCB) substrate includes a waveguide configured to receive the first electromagnetic signal and to generate a waveguide signal based thereon. A second antenna can be electrically coupled to the waveguide and can radiate a second electromagnetic signal that corresponds to the waveguide signal. Other devices and methods are also disclosed.
US09048242B2 Semiconductor device manufacturing method, semiconductor device, and wiring board
In a semiconductor device manufacturing method, a semiconductor chip is mounted on a support board so as to expose a side of the semiconductor chip on which a plurality of terminal electrodes are provided. An insulating layer is formed so as to cover the side of the semiconductor chip on which the terminal electrodes are provided. Through electrodes connecting to the terminal electrodes and piercing the insulating layer are formed. Metal wirings connecting to the through electrodes are formed on the insulating layer. External terminal electrodes connecting the metal wiring are formed. Second spacing, spacing between the adjacent external terminal electrodes, is larger than first spacing, spacing between the adjacent terminal electrodes.
US09048238B1 Integrated circuit device with a connector access region and method for making thereof
An integrated circuit device and a method for making it are provided. The integrated circuit device comprises plural conductive layers, plural dielectric layers and plural first stopping layers. The conductive layers are extending in a first direction. The dielectric layers are paralleled to the conductive layers, and the conductive layers and the dielectric layers are disposed in an alternative arrangement. The first stopping layers are disposed over the conductive layers and the dielectric layers. The first stopping layers make no contact with the conductive layers.
US09048230B2 Half-bridge package with a conductive clip
According to an exemplary embodiment, a stacked half-bridge package includes a control transistor having a control drain for connection to a high voltage input, a control source coupled to a common conductive clip, and a control gate for being driven by a driver IC. The stacked half-bridge package also includes a sync transistor having a sync drain for connection to the common conductive clip, a sync source coupled to a low voltage input, and a sync gate for being driven by the driver IC. The control and sync transistors are stacked on opposite sides of the common conductive clip with the common conductive clip electrically and mechanically coupling the control source with the sync drain, where the common conductive clip has a conductive leg for providing electrical and mechanical connection to an output terminal leadframe.
US09048229B2 Printed wiring board
A printed wiring board includes a core substrate, an electronic component accommodated in the substrate, a first buildup layer laminated on first surface of the substrate and including the outermost interlayer resin insulation layer and the outermost conductive layer formed on the outermost interlayer resin insulation layer of the first buildup layer, and a second buildup layer laminated on second surface of the substrate and including the outermost interlayer resin insulation layer and the outermost conductive layer formed on the outermost interlayer resin insulation layer of the second buildup layer. The outermost interlayer resin insulation layer of the first buildup layer has thermal expansion coefficient which is set lower than thermal expansion coefficient of the outermost interlayer resin insulation layer of the second buildup layer.
US09048223B2 Package structure having silicon through vias connected to ground potential
A package structure having silicon through vias connected to ground potential is disclosed, comprising a first device, a second device and a conductive adhesive disposed between the first device and the second device. The first device comprises a substrate having a front surface and a back surface, and a plurality of through silicon vias filled with a conductor formed within the substrate. The first device is externally connected to the second device by wire bonding.
US09048222B2 Method of fabricating interconnect structure for package-on-package devices
An interconnect structure and a method of forming an interconnect structure are provided. The interconnect structure is formed over a carrier substrate, upon which a die may also be attached. Upon removal of the carrier substrate and singulation, a first package is formed. A second package may be attached to the first package, wherein the second package may be electrically coupled to through vias formed in the first package.
US09048219B2 High integration semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device includes a substrate including a first active region, a second active region and a field region between the first and second active regions, and a gate structure formed on the substrate to cross the first active region, the second active region and the field region. The gate structure includes a p type metal gate electrode and an n-type metal gate electrode directly contacting each other, the p-type metal gate electrode extends from the first active region less than half way toward the second active region.
US09048216B2 Self aligned embedded gate carbon transistors
Transistors with self-aligned source/drain regions and methods for making the same. The methods include forming a gate structure embedded in a recess in a substrate; removing substrate material around the gate structure to create self-aligned source and drain recesses; forming a channel layer over the gate structure and the source and drain recesses; and forming source and drain contacts in the source and drain recesses, wherein the source and drain contacts extend above the channel layer.
US09048214B2 Bidirectional field effect transistor and method
In one embodiment, a structure for a semiconductor device has trench shield electrodes formed above and below a gate electrode. The structure can be configured to function as a bidirectional power field effect transistor.
US09048211B2 Semiconductor device and method of embedding thermally conductive layer in interconnect structure for heat dissipation
A semiconductor device has a first thermally conductive layer formed over a first surface of a semiconductor die. A second surface of the semiconductor die is mounted to a sacrificial carrier. An encapsulant is deposited over the first thermally conductive layer and sacrificial carrier. The encapsulant is planarized to expose the first thermally conductive layer. A first insulating layer is formed over the second surface of the semiconductor die and a first surface of the encapsulant. A portion of the first insulating layer over the second surface of the semiconductor die is removed. A second thermally conductive layer is formed over the second surface of the semiconductor die within the removed portion of the first insulating layer. An electrically conductive layer is formed within the insulating layer around the second thermally conductive layer. A heat sink can be mounted over the first thermally conductive layer.
US09048210B2 Transistors and methods of manufacturing the same
A transistor includes a device portion and a collector layer. The device portion is in a first side of a semiconductor substrate, and includes a gate and an emitter. The collector layer is on a second side of the semiconductor substrate, which is opposite to the first side. The collector layer is an impurity-doped epitaxial layer and has a doping profile with a non-normal distribution.
US09048208B2 Organic light emitting display and fabricating method thereof
A method of making a display device includes forming first electrodes of organic light emitting diodes in respective pixel areas on a substrate, forming a first common layer on the first electrodes in the pixel areas, forming emission layers in the pixel areas on the first common layer, forming a second electrode of the organic light emitting diodes on the emission layer, and applying physical pressure to divide the first common layer.
US09048205B2 Organic light emitting diode display
An organic light emitting diode includes: a substrate; an encapsulation substrate facing the substrate and including a transmission region through which light is transmitted and an absorption region through which the light is not transmitted; a sealant between the substrate and the encapsulation substrate; and a pixel unit between the substrate and the encapsulation substrate, and including a plurality of pixels respectively including an organic light emitting element. The absorption region of the encapsulation substrate includes photoreactive crystals.
US09048203B2 Light emitting device, method of manufacturing the same, and manufacturing apparatus therefor
A light emitting device having high definition, a high aperture ratio, and high reliability is provided. The present invention achieves high definition and a high aperture ratio with a full color flat panel display using red, green, and blue color emission light by intentionally forming laminate portions, wherein portions of different organic compound layers of adjacent light emitting elements overlap with each other, without depending upon the method of forming the organic compound layers or the film formation precision.
US09048200B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit device and method of manufacturing same
In manufacturing an LSI, or semiconductor integrated circuit device, the step of assembling device (such as resin sealing step) is normally followed by a voltage-application test in an environment of high temperature (e.g., from 85 to 130° C.) and high humidity (e.g., about 80% RH). It has been found that separation of a titanium nitride anti-reflection film from an upper film and generation of cracks in the titanium nitride film at an upper surface edge part of the aluminum-based bonding pad applied with a positive voltage in the test is caused by an electrochemical reaction due to moisture incoming through the sealing resin and the like to generate oxidation and bulging of the titanium nitride film. These problems are addressed by removing the titanium nitride film over the pad in a ring or slit shape at peripheral area of the aluminum-based bonding pad.
US09048199B2 Semiconductor package and method of manufacturing the semiconductor package
A semiconductor package and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor package are disclosed. A semiconductor package in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a substrate, which has a ground circuit formed thereon, a semiconductor chip, which is mounted on the substrate, a conductive first shield, which is formed on an upper surface of the semiconductor chip and connected with the ground circuit, and a conductive second shield, which covers the substrate and the semiconductor chip and is connected with the first shield. With a semiconductor package in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, grounding is possible between semiconductor chips because a shield is also formed on an upper surface of the semiconductor chip, and the shielding property can be improved by a double shielding structure.
US09048198B2 Biocompatible packaging
A method is disclosed for packaging a device, e.g., for bio-medical applications. In one aspect, the method includes obtaining a component on a substrate and separating the component and a first part of the substrate from a second part of the substrate using at least one physical process inducing at least one sloped side wall on the first part of the substrate. The method also includes providing an encapsulation for the chip. The resulting packaged chip advantageously has a good step coverage resulting in a good hermeticity, less sharp edges resulting in a reduced risk of damaging or infection after implantation and has a relatively small packaged volume compared to conventional big box packaging techniques.
US09048197B2 Integrated circuit package system employing wafer level chip scale packaging
An integrated circuit package system that includes: providing a substrate with a protective coating; attaching a labeling film to a support member in a separate process; joining the protective coating and the labeling film; and dicing the substrate, the protective coating, and the labeling film to form the integrated circuit package system.
US09048196B2 Power semiconductor package
A power semiconductor package that includes a semiconductor die having at least two power electrodes and a conductive clip electrically and mechanically coupled to each power electrode.
US09048191B2 Plasma etching method
A plasma etching method includes supplying an etching gas containing an oxygen gas and a sulfur fluoride gas at a predetermined flow rate into a processing chamber that accommodates a processing substrate including a silicon layer and a resist layer, and etching the silicon layer with plasma generated from the etching gas using the resist layer as a mask. The plasma etching method further includes a first step of etching the silicon layer while a flow ratio of the oxygen gas to the sulfur fluoride gas is adjusted to a first flow ratio; a second step of etching the silicon layer while decreasing a flow rate of the oxygen gas to decrease the flow ratio to a second flow ratio, which is lower than the first flow ratio; and a third step of etching the silicon layer while the flow ratio is adjusted to the second flow ratio.
US09048188B2 Semiconductor that has a functionalized surface
This invention provides a semiconductor having a functionalized surface that is resistant to oxidation and that includes a plurality of atoms of a Group III element bonded to organic groups. The functionalized surface has less than or equal to about 1 atom of the Group III element bonded to an oxygen atom per every 1,000 atoms of the Group III element bonded to the organic groups, as determined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. This invention also provides a method of functionalizing the surface and includes the step of halogenating at least one of the plurality of atoms of the Group III element to form halogenated Group III element atoms. The method also includes the step of reacting at least one of the halogenated Group III element atoms with a Grignard reagent to form a bond between the at least one Group III element atom and the organic groups.
US09048186B2 Methods for forming integrated circuits
A method for forming an integrated circuit is provided. The method includes forming a gate dielectric structure over a substrate. A titanium-containing sacrificial layer is formed, contacting the gate dielectric structure. The whole titanium-containing sacrificial layer is substantially removed.
US09048184B2 Method of forming a gate contact
A method is provided for forming a gate contact for a compound semiconductor device. The gate contact is formed from a gate contact portion and a top or wing contact portion. The method allows for the tunablity of the size of the wing contact portion, while retaining the size of the gate contact portion based on a desired operational frequency. This is accomplished by providing for one or more additional conductive material processes on the wing contact portion to increase the cross-sectional area of the wing contact portion reducing the gate resistance, while maintaing the length of the gate contact portion to maintain the operating frequency of the device.
US09048182B2 Semiconductor device manufacturing method
A semiconductor device manufacturing method, the method including: forming an insulation layer having a protruding portion, the insulation layer having a surface and a rising surface that protrudes upward from the surface, on a semiconductor substrate; forming a conductive layer to cover the insulation layer having the protruding portion; and removing a predetermined region of the conductive layer by patterning the predetermined region according to an etching process using microwave plasma, which uses a microwave as a plasma source, while applying bias power of 70 mW/cm2 or above on the semiconductor substrate, under a high pressure condition of 85 mTorr or above.
US09048168B2 Semiconductor packages having warpage compensation
A semiconductor package can include a substrate body having a first surface and a second surface. A semiconductor chip can be mounted on the first surface and a plurality of electrode pads can be on the second surface and selectively formed to have progressively smaller or larger sizes extending from a central region of the substrate body toward an outer edge of the substrate body based on a reflow soldering process warpage profile for the semiconductor package.
US09048167B2 Reacted conductive gate electrodes and methods of making the same
A semiconductor device and a method for fabricating a semiconductor device involve a semiconductor layer that includes a first material and a second material. The first and second materials can be silicon and germanium. A contact of the device has a portion proximal to the semiconductor layer and a portion distal to the semiconductor layer. The distal portion includes the first material and the second material. A metal layer formed adjacent to the relaxed semiconductor layer and adjacent to the distal portion of the contact is simultaneously reacted with the relaxed semiconductor layer and with the distal portion of the contact to provide metallic contact material.
US09048165B2 Light-emitting diode device
A light-emitting diode device having two electrode pads for connecting to an external power comprises a substrate; a plurality of light-emitting diode units on the substrate; and a plurality of conductive connecting structures electrically connecting the plurality of light-emitting diode units; wherein the two electrode pads are encircled by the plurality of light-emitting diode units.
US09048159B2 Solid-state imaging device and method for fabricating the same
A solid-state imaging device includes: a substrate; an insulator layer formed on the substrate; a semiconductor layer formed on the insulator layer; and a silicon layer formed on the semiconductor layer. The silicon layer includes a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric converter configured to convert light into signal charge, and a circuit configured to read the signal charge, and a refractive index of the insulator layer is lower than a refractive index of the semiconductor layer.
US09048158B2 Semiconductor device with isolation insulating layer containing air gap
A semiconductor device having a solid-state image sensor which can prevent inter-pixel crosstalk more reliably. The device includes: a semiconductor substrate having a main surface; a first conductivity type impurity layer located over the main surface of the substrate; a photoelectric transducer including a first conductivity type impurity region and a second conductivity type impurity region which are joined to each other over the first conductivity type impurity layer; and transistors which configure a unit pixel including the photoelectric transducer and are electrically coupled to the photoelectric transducer. At least part of the area around the photoelectric transducer in a plan view contains an air gap and also has an isolation insulating layer for electrically insulating the photoelectric transducer and a photoelectric transducer adjacent to it from each other. The isolation insulating layer abuts on the top surface of the first conductivity type impurity layer.
US09048155B2 Photoelectric conversion apparatus and imaging system using the same
A plurality of photoelectric conversion elements including a first photoelectric conversion element, a second photoelectric conversion element, and a third photoelectric conversion element, are arranged in a photoelectric conversion apparatus of the present invention. Provided, between the first photoelectric conversion element and the second photoelectric conversion element, is a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type and of a first width in which a signal charge is a minor charier. And, provided, between the first photoelectric conversion element and the third photoelectric conversion element, is a second semiconductor region of the first conductivity type in a higher impurity concentration and of a second width narrower than the first width at a position deeper in a semiconductor substrate rather than a depth of the first semiconductor region.
US09048154B2 Radiation imaging apparatus and imaging system
A radiation imaging apparatus, comprising an imaging unit in which a plurality of pixels are arranged to form a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, and a control unit configured to control the imaging unit so as to perform reset operation for initializing each of the plurality of pixels repeatedly, and readout operation, after the reset operation, for reading out a signal from each of the plurality of pixels sequentially, wherein one cycle length of the reset operation is shorter than a period of time required for the readout operation, and a pulse width of a signal supplied to each of the plurality of pixels in the reset operation is shorter than a pulse width of a signal supplied to each of the plurality of pixels in the readout operation.
US09048153B2 Three-dimensional image sensor
An integrated image sensor capable of determining the distance to objects contained in a scene including at least a set of first pixels and a set of second pixels, the first and second pixels being alternately distributed in an array, the first pixels having a different angular aperture than the second pixels.
US09048148B2 Method of manufacturing TFT array using multi-tone mask
The present invention discloses a thin-film transistor (TFT) array substrate and a manufacturing method thereof. Depositing a transparent conductive layer and a first metal layer on a substrate, which is patterned by a multi-tone mask (MTM) to form a gate, a common electrode and a reflecting layer; depositing a gate insulation layer, which is patterned by a first mask to remain the gate insulation layer on the gate; depositing a semiconductor layer, which is patterned by a second mask to remain the semiconductor layer on the gate; and depositing a second metal layer, which is patterned by a third mask to form a source and a drain.
US09048147B2 Display device
A display device of which frame can be narrowed and of which display characteristics are excellent is provided. In a display device including a switch portion or a buffer portion, a logic circuit portion, and a pixel portion, the pixel portion includes a first inverted staggered TFT and a pixel electrode which is connected to a wiring of the first inverted staggered TFT, the switch portion or the buffer portion includes a second inverted staggered TFT in which a first insulating layer, a semiconductor layer, and a second insulating layer are interposed between a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode, the logic circuit portion includes an inverter circuit including a third inverted staggered thin film transistor and a fourth inverted staggered thin film transistor, and the first to the fourth inverted staggered thin film transistors have the same polarity. The inverter circuit may be an EDMOS circuit.
US09048146B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A means of forming unevenness for preventing specular reflection of a pixel electrode, without increasing the number of process steps, is provided. In a method of manufacturing a reflecting type liquid crystal display device, the formation of unevenness (having a radius of curvature r in a convex portion) in the surface of a pixel electrode is performed by the same photomask as that used for forming a channel etch type TFT, in which the convex portion is formed in order to provide unevenness to the surface of the pixel electrode and give light scattering characteristics.
US09048141B2 Method for aligning a biochip
A method of aligning a semiconductor chip includes forming a semiconductor chip with a light-activated circuit including at least one photosite, positioning the semiconductor chip relative to a device, and illuminating the positioned semiconductor chip. The method further includes generating an RF signal with an RF circuit based upon illumination of the at least one photosite, and determining the position of the photosite with respect to the device based upon the generated RF signal.
US09048138B2 Methods of fabricating three dimensional semiconductor memory devices
A three dimensional semiconductor memory device has a stacked structure including cell gates stacked therein that are insulated from each other and first string selection gates laterally separated from each other, vertical active patterns extending through the first string selection gates, multi-layered dielectric layers between sidewalls of the vertical active patterns and the cell gates and between the sidewalls of the vertical active patterns and the first string selection gates, and at least one first supplement conductive pattern. The first string selection gates are disposed over an uppermost cell gate of the cell gates. Each vertical active pattern extends through each of the cell gates stacked under the first string selection gates. The first supplement conductive pattern is in contact with a sidewall of one of the first string selection gates.
US09048136B2 SRAM cell with individual electrical device threshold control
A static random access memory cell is provided formed in a silicon layer over a buried oxide layer on a substrate and including first and second inverters each having a pull-up and pull-down transistor configured to form a cell node. Each of the pull-down transistors of the first and second inverters are formed over first regions below the buried oxide layer with the first regions having a first doping level forming first backgates for the pull-down transistors. A pair of passgate transistors respectively couples to the cell nodes of the first and second inverters and each are formed over second regions below the buried oxide layer with the second regions having a second doping level forming second backgates for the passgate transistors. Active bias circuitry applies potentials to the first and second backgates during read, standby and write operations of the static random access memory cell.
US09048135B2 Copper pillar bump with cobalt-containing sidewall protection
An integrated circuit device includes a Cu pillar and a solder layer overlying the Cu pillar. A Co-containing metallization layer is formed to cover the Cu pillar and the solder layer, and then a thermally reflow process is performed to form a solder bump and drive the Co element into the solder bump. Next, an oxidation process is performed to form a cobalt oxide layer on the sidewall surface of the Cu pillar.
US09048133B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. In the semiconductor device, an upper part of a storage node contact plug is increased in size, and an area of overlap between a storage node formed in a subsequent process and a storage node contact plug is increased, such that resistance of the storage node contact plug is increased and device characteristics are improved. The semiconductor device includes at least one bit line formed over a semiconductor substrate, a first storage node contact plug formed between the bit lines and coupled to an upper part of the semiconductor substrate, and a second storage node contact plug formed over the first storage node contact plug, wherein a width of a lower part of the second storage node contact plug is larger than a width of an upper part thereof.
US09048132B2 Lateral double diffused metal oxide semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
An LDMOS device includes a second conduction type buried layer, a first conduction type drain extension region configured to be formed on and/or over a region of the second conduction type buried layer, a second conduction type drain extension region configured to be formed in a partial region of the first conduction type drain extension region, a first conduction type body, a first guard ring configured to be formed around the second conduction type drain extension region and configured to include a second conduction type impurity layer, and a second guard ring configured to be formed around the first guard ring and configured to include a high-voltage second conduction type well and a second conduction type impurity layer. Further, the second conduction type impurity layer of the first guard ring and the second conduction type impurity layer of the second guard ring operate as an isolation.
US09048131B2 Apparatus and methods relating to a memory cell having a floating body
An apparatus is disclosed for a memory cell having a floating body. A memory cell may include a transistor over an insulation layer, the transistor including a source, and a drain. The memory cell may also include a floating body including a first region positioned between the source and the drain, a second region positioned remote from each of the source and drain, and a passage extending through the insulation layer and coupling the first region to the second region. Additionally, the memory cell may include a bias gate at least partially surrounding the second region and configured for operably coupling to a bias voltage. Furthermore, the memory cell may include a plurality of dielectric layers, wherein each outer vertical surface of the second region has a dielectric layer of the plurality adjacent thereto.
US09048130B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A conventional DRAM needs to be refreshed at an interval of several tens of milliseconds to hold data, which results in large power consumption. In addition, a transistor therein is frequently turned on and off; thus, deterioration of the transistor is also a problem. These problems become significant as the memory capacity increases and transistor miniaturization advances. A transistor is provided which includes an oxide semiconductor and has a trench structure including a trench for a gate electrode and a trench for element isolation. Even when the distance between a source electrode and a drain electrode is decreased, the occurrence of a short-channel effect can be suppressed by setting the depth of the trench for the gate electrode as appropriate.
US09048129B2 Method for forming fully relaxed silicon germanium on silicon
Semiconductor devices are formed with a thin layer of fully strain relaxed epitaxial silicon germanium on a substrate. Embodiments include forming a silicon germanium (SiGe) epitaxial layer on a semiconductor substrate, implanting a dopant into the SiGe epitaxial layer, and annealing the implanted SiGe epitaxial layer.
US09048128B2 Inductor structure with magnetic material
Embodiments of mechanisms of forming an inductor structure are provided. The inductor structure includes a substrate and a first dielectric layer formed over the substrate. The inductor structure includes a first metal layer formed in the first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer over the first metal layer. The inductor structure further includes a magnetic layer formed over the first dielectric layer, and the magnetic layer has a top surface, a bottom surface and sidewall surfaces between the top surface and the bottom surface, and the sidewall surfaces have at least two intersection points.
US09048125B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device including a relatively thin interposer excluding a through silicon hole and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The method includes forming an interposer on a dummy substrate. The forming of the interposer includes, forming a dielectric layer on the dummy substrate, forming a pattern and a via on the dielectric layer, and forming a seed layer at the pattern and the via of the dielectric layer and forming a redistribution layer and a conductive via on the seed layer. A semiconductor die is connected with the conductive via facing an upper portion of the interposer, and the semiconductor die is encapsulated with an encapsulant. The dummy substrate is removed from the interposer. A bump is connected with the conductive via facing a lower portion of the interposer.
US09048124B2 Heat sinking and electromagnetic shielding structures
An electronic device may be provided with electronic components such as radio-frequency transceiver integrated circuits and other integrated circuits that are be sensitive to electromagnetic interference. Metal structures are configured to serve both as heat sinking structures for the electrical components and electromagnetic interference shielding. Components are mounted to the substrate using solder. Metal fence structures are also soldered to the substrate. Each metal fence has an opening that covers a respective one of the components. A thermally conductive elastomeric gap filler pad is mounted in the opening. A metal heat spreading structure is electrically shorted to the fence using a conductive gasket that surrounds the gap filler pad so that the structure serves as an electromagnetic interference shield. Heat from the component travels through the gap filler pad to the metal heat spreading structure so that the heat spreading structure may laterally spread and dissipate the heat.
US09048122B2 FinFET drive strength modification
A device and method of fabricating the same are disclosed. In an example, a device includes a first fin Field Effect Transistors (finFET) formed on a substrate. The first finFET including a fin formed on the substrate. The device further includes a second finFET formed on the substrate. The first finFET and the second finFET share the fin and wherein the first finFET is without any low density doped (LDD) extension region in the substrate and wherein the second FinFET is associated with a first LDD extension region formed in the substrate such that a drive strength of the second finFET is greater relative to a drive strength of the first finFET.
US09048118B2 Lateral transistors with low-voltage-drop shunt to body diode
Methods and systems for power semiconductor devices integrating multiple quasi-vertical transistors on a single chip. Multiple power transistors (or active regions) are paralleled, but one transistor has a lower threshold voltage. This reduces the voltage drop when the transistor is forward-biased. In an alternative embodiment, the power device with lower threshold voltage is simply connected as a depletion diode, to thereby shunt the body diodes of the active transistors, without affecting turn-on and ON-state behavior.
US09048111B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a buried insulating film formed on the substrate, an SOI layer formed on the buried insulating film, an insulating film formed to extend from a top surface of the SOI layer to the buried insulating film and to divide the SOI layer into a first SOI layer and a second SOI layer isolated from the first SOI layer, an element formed in the first SOI layer, and an electrode having at one end thereof a pad located directly above the second SOI layer, the other end of the electrode being connected to the first SOI layer. A cavity region is formed between the buried insulating film and the substrate directly below the first SOI layer. The portion of the buried insulating film directly below the second SOI layer is at least partially in direct contact with the substrate.
US09048108B2 Integrated circuit with on chip planar diode and CMOS devices
An electrical circuit, planar diode, and method of forming a diode and one or more CMOS devices on the same chip. The method includes electrically isolating a portion of a substrate in a diode region from other substrate regions. The method also includes recessing the substrate in the diode region. The method further includes epitaxially forming in the diode region a first doped layer above the substrate and epitaxially forming in the diode region a second doped layer above the first doped layer.
US09048106B2 Semiconductor diode assembly
TSV devices with p-n junctions that are planar have superior performance in breakdown and current handling. Junction diode assembly formed in enclosed trenches occupies less chip area compared with junction-isolation diode assembly in the known art. Diode assembly fabricated with trenches formed after the junction formation reduces fabrication cost and masking steps increase process flexibility and enable asymmetrical TSV and uni-directional TSV functions.
US09048099B2 Multi-layer amorphous silicon structure with improved poly-silicon quality after excimer laser anneal
The embodiments described herein generally relate to methods for forming a multi-layer amorphous silicon structure that may be used in thin film transistor devices. In one embodiment, a method includes positioning a substrate comprising a buffer layer in a process chamber, the process chamber comprising a processing region, forming a plurality of amorphous silicon layers and annealing the amorphous silicon layers to form a polycrystalline silicon layer. Forming the plurality of layers includes delivering a silicon-containing precursor and a first activation gas to the processing region to deposit a first amorphous silicon layer over the buffer layer, the silicon-containing precursor and the first activation gas being activated by a plasma and maintaining a continuous flow of the silicon-containing precursor while delivering a second activation gas, without the first activation gas, to the processing region to deposit a second silicon layer on the first silicon layer.
US09048097B2 Semiconductive micro- and nano-wire array manufacturing
The disclosure provides methods of manufacturing semiconductive structures using stamping and VLS techniques.
US09048089B2 Apparatus to improve internal wafer temperature profile
Some embodiments relate to methods and apparatus for providing a homogeneous wafer temperature profile in a wafer cleaning tool without introducing unwanted particles onto the wafer. In some embodiments, a disclosed wafer cleaning tool has a processing chamber configured to house a semiconductor wafer. A dispensing arm provides a high temperature cleaning solution to the semiconductor wafer. A heating cup is located within the processing chamber at a position that is around the perimeter of the semiconductor wafer. The heating cup generates heat that increases the temperature of outer edges of the semiconductor wafer by a greater amount than a temperature of a center of the semiconductor wafer, thereby homogenizing an internal temperature profile of the semiconductor wafer.
US09048087B2 Methods for wet clean of oxide layers over epitaxial layers
Methods for an oxide layer over an epitaxial layer. In an embodiment, a method includes forming an epitaxial layer of semiconductor material over a semiconductor substrate; forming an oxide layer over the epitaxial layer; applying a solution including an oxidizer to the oxide layer; and cleaning the oxide layer with a cleaning solution. In another embodiment, a densification process is applied to an oxide layer including treating with thermal energy, UV energy, or both. In an embodiment for a gate-all-around device, the cleaning process is applied to an oxide layer over an epitaxial portion of a fin. Additional methods are disclosed.
US09048085B2 Semiconductor device
A field plate of a semiconductor device is provided with i) an insulating film that is formed on a surface of the semiconductor substrate, and includes a plurality of first regions, one for each of a plurality of FLR layers, that contact the layers and are arranged at intervals in a radial direction, and a plurality of second regions, one for each of the first regions, that are adjacent to the first regions in the radial direction, and ii) a plurality of first conductive films that are formed, one for each of the layers, inside of the insulating film, are arranged at intervals in the radial direction along the layers when a semiconductor substrate is viewed from above, and that are electrically connected to the layers. A thickness of at least a portion of the second regions is thicker than a thickness of the first regions.
US09048084B2 Apparatus and method for extending bandwidth and supressing phase errors in multi-phase signals
Described herein is an integrated circuit which comprises: a first buffer, with positive trans-conductance, to drive a first signal with first phase; and a second buffer, with negative trans-conductance, to drive a second signal with second phase, wherein the first buffer and the second buffer are cross-coupled to one another.
US09048083B2 Method for operating an amalgam lamp
In a known method for operating an amalgam lamp having a nominal power Poptimum, it is provided that a lamp voltage Uoptimum designed for a maximum UVC emission is applied between electrodes or a lamp current Ioptimum designed for a maximum UVC emission flows between electrodes. The discharge space is accessible for an amalgam deposit, which is heatable by a heating element in which a heating current Iheating is conducted through the heating element. Starting from this background, in order to provide an operating mode that ensures a stable operation in the region of the optimum power, it is proposed that a target value of the lamp current Itarget is set that is less than Ioptimum and that the heating current Iheating is turned on or increased when the lamp current falls below a lower limit I1 and is turned off or reduced when it exceeds an upper limit I2 for the lamp current.
US09048081B2 Fast pushing time of flight mass spectrometer combined with restricted mass to charge ratio range delivery
Ions having a restricted range of mass to charge ratios are transmitted to the acceleration region of a Time of Flight mass analyzer. A control system applies a first extraction pulse to an acceleration electrode in order to accelerate a first group of ions into the time of flight region at a first time T1, wherein ions having the lowest mass to charge ratio in the first group of ions have a time of flight ΔT1min through the time of flight region and ions having the highest mass to charge ratio in the first group of ions have a time of flight ΔT1max through the time of flight region. The control system applies a second extraction pulse to the acceleration electrode at a subsequent second time T2, wherein ΔT1max−ΔT1min≦T2−T1<ΔT1max.
US09048080B2 Time-of-flight mass spectrometer with accumulating electron impact ion source
An accumulating ion source for a mass spectrometer that includes a sample injector (328) introducing sample vapors into an ionization space (115) and an electron emitter (102) emitting a continuous electron beam (104) into the ionization space (115) to generate analyte ions. The accumulating ion source further includes first and second electrodes (108a, 108b) arranged spaced apart in the ionization space (115) for accumulating analyte ions substantially therebetween. The first and second electrodes (108a, 108b) receive periodic extraction energy potentials to accelerate packets of analyte ions from the ionization space (115) along a first axis. An orthogonal accelerator (140) receives the packets of analyte ions along the first axis and periodically accelerates the packets of analyte ions along a second axis substantially orthogonal to the first axis. A time delay between the extraction acceleration and the acceleration of each respective packet of analyte ions provides a proportional mass range of the respective packet of analyte ions.
US09048078B2 Mass spectrometry
There is provided an ion reflector for use with a mass spectrometer for directing a flow of ions between two distinct axes of travel. The reflector includes an electric field capable of causing a flow of ions focused through a first spatial region to be focused toward a second spatial region, whereby the first and second spatial regions are aligned with respective axes of travel.
US09048075B1 Time-of-flight type mass spectrometer
A time-of-flight type mass spectrometer in which, at the time when ions are generated by irradiating a sample with a laser beam, an extraction electric field having a potential gradient that decreases gradually from a sample plate toward an extraction electrode is formed. Ions are roughly separated in accordance with the m/z in the extraction region due to the effect of this electric field, and ions with a large m/z remain near the sample. The voltages applied to the sample plate and an auxiliary electrode are increased after a delay time has passed so as to form an acceleration electric field having a potential gradient with a polygonal line pattern. Since this electric field is similar to an ideal potential gradient curve, it is possible to provide the ions with appropriate potential energy changes for each m/z, improving resolution by appropriately realizing energy convergence over a wide m/z range.
US09048072B2 Method of mass spectrometry and a mass spectrometer
The present invention relates to a method of mass spectrometry, an apparatus adapted to perform the method and a mass spectrometer. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a method of mass spectrometry comprising the step of associating parent and fragmentation ions from a sample by measuring the parent and fragmentation ions from two or more different areas of the sample and identifying changes in the number of parent ions between the areas in the sample, and corresponding changes in the number of fragmentation ions between the two areas.
US09048068B2 Electron beam device with dispersion compensation, and method of operating same
An electron beam device comprises: a beam emitter for emitting a primary electron beam; an objective electron lens for focusing the primary electron beam onto a specimen, the objective lens defining an optical axis; a beam separator having a first dispersion for separating a signal electron beam from the primary electron beam; and a dispersion compensation element. The dispersion compensation element has a second dispersion, the dispersion compensation element being adapted for adjusting the second dispersion independently of an inclination angle of the primary beam downstream of the dispersion compensation element, such that the second dispersion substantially compensates the first dispersion. The dispersion compensation element is arranged upstream, along the primary electron beam, of the beam separator.
US09048067B2 Mineral identification using sequential decomposition into elements from mineral definitions
Mineral definitions each include a list of elements, each of the elements having a corresponding standard spectrum. To determine the composition of an unknown mineral sample, the acquired spectrum of the sample is sequentially decomposed into the standard spectra of the elements from the element list of each of the mineral definitions, and a similarity metric computed for each mineral definition. The unknown mineral is identified as the mineral having the best similarity metric.
US09048064B2 Cathode assembly for a long throw length X-ray tube
Cathode assembly for a long throw length x-ray tube. In one example embodiment, a cathode assembly for an x-ray tube includes an electron emitter, an acceleration region, and a drift region. The electron emitter includes a curved emitting surface configured to emit an electron beam having a y-dimension that is greater than an x-dimension at the electron emitter. The acceleration region is defined adjacent to the electron emitter. The acceleration region is configured such that when the electron beam propagates within the acceleration region, the electron beam accelerates in a z-direction substantially normal to a midpoint of the curved emitting surface. The drift region is defined between the acceleration region and an anode. The drift region is configured such that the combined lengths of the drift region and the acceleration region are sufficient for the y-dimension to be less than the x-dimension at the anode.
US09048062B1 Method for improving performance of an energy filter
This invention provides a method for improving performance of a reflective type energy filter for a charged particle beam, which employs a beam-adjusting lens on an entrance side of a potential barrier of the energy filter to make the charged particle beam become a substantially parallel beam to be incident onto the potential barrier. The method makes the energy filter have both a fine energy-discrimination power over a large emission angle spread and a high uniformity of energy-discrimination powers over a large FOV. A LVSEM using this method in the energy filter can obviously improve image contrast. The invention also provides multiple energy-discrimination detection devices formed by using the advantages of the method.
US09048060B2 Beam pulsing device for use in charged-particle microscopy
The invention relates to a charged-particle microscope comprising a charged-particle source; a sample holder; a charged-particle lens system; a detector; and a beam pulsing device, for causing the beam to repeatedly switch on and off so as to produce a pulsed beam. The beam pulsing device comprises a unitary resonant cavity disposed about a particle-optical axis and has an entrance aperture and an exit aperture for the beam. The resonant cavity is configured to simultaneously produce a first oscillatory deflection of the beam at a first frequency in a first direction and a second oscillatory deflection of the beam at a second, different frequency in a second, different direction. The resonant cavity may have an elongated (e.g. rectangular or elliptical) cross-section, with a long axis parallel to said first direction and a short axis parallel to said second direction.
US09048057B2 Electron gun emitting under high voltage, in particular for electron microscopy
A field-emission electron gun including an electron emission tip, an extractor anode, and a mechanism creating an electric-potential difference between the emission tip and the extractor anode. The emission tip includes a metal tip and an end cone produced by chemical vapor deposition on a nanofilament, the cone being aligned and welded onto the metal tip. The electron gun can be used for a transmission electron microscope.
US09048053B2 Electrostatic micro relay and manufacturing method for the same
An electrostatic micro relay has a substrate, a signal line arranged on the substrate and having an input point configured to receive a signal and a plurality of signal channels configured to distribute the signal, the plurality of signal channels being each formed with a fixed contact, a plurality of movable contacts, each provided with respect to each of the fixed contacts and arranged so as to be opposed to a corresponding fixed contact across a space, a plurality of movable electrodes, each connected to each of the plurality of movable contacts and configured to make the connected movable contact brought into contact with and separated from the corresponding fixed contact, a cap, formed with a space configured to house the plurality of movable electrodes, and bonded with the substrate, and a signal input portion.
US09048052B2 Electromechanical microswitch for switching an electrical signal, microelectromechanical system, integrated circuit, and method for producing an integrated circuit
The invention relates to a microelectromechanical system with an electromechanical microswitch for switching an electrical signal in particular a radio frequency signal, in particular in a GHz range, comprising a multi-level conductive path layer stack arranged on a substrate, wherein conductive paths of the multi-level conductive path layer stack arranged in different conductive levels are insulated from one another through electrically insulating layers and electrically connected with one another through via contacts, an electromechanical switch which is integrated in a recess of the multi-level conductive path layer stack and which includes a contact pivot, an opposite contact and at least one drive electrode for the contact pivot, wherein the contact pivot, the opposite contact and the at least one drive electrode respectively form a portion of a conductive level of the multi-level layer stack.
US09048051B2 Electromagnetic contactor
An electromagnetic contactor has a pair of fixed contacts disposed and fixed maintaining a predetermined interval; a movable contact disposed to be capable of contacting to and separating from the pair of fixed contacts; an electromagnet unit to drive the movable contact; and a drive circuit driving the electromagnet unit. The electromagnet unit includes at least a movable plunger urged by a return spring, a coil to move the movable plunger, and a ring-form permanent magnet magnetized in a moving direction of the movable plunger. The drive circuit includes a power source to supply power to the coil; a pulse drive circuit to output and supply to the coil an engage pulse causing the movable plunger to perform an attracting operation and a hold pulse maintaining the attracting operation when the movable plunger is subject to the attracting operation, and a flywheel circuit having a semiconductor switching element.
US09048046B2 Oscillation operation input device
An operation input device includes: an operation body having a handle portion. The operation body tilting around a rotation center point when a user tilts the operation axis line of the handle portion. The operation body tilting in a predetermined number of tilting directions. The operation input device including multiple detection portions, the number of the detection portions being less than the predetermined number of tilting directions of the operation body. Each detection portion outputting a first output value when the operation body tilts in a direction corresponding to the detection portion and outputting a second output value when the operation body tilts in a direction not corresponding to the detection portion. A determination device determines a tilting direction of the operation body based on information on the number of first output values and information on a part of the detection portions that have outputted the first output values.
US09048045B2 Power supply circuit breaker
A power supply circuit breaker includes: a first connector housing; a second connector housing; a lever; a main circuit switch which is brought into a breaking state in a first operation position of the lever, and brought into a connecting state in a connector mating operation position and a second operation position of the lever; a signal circuit switch which is brought into a breaking state in the first operation position and the connector mating operation position of the lever, and brought into a connecting state in the second operation position of the lever; a first lock portion for locking the lever in the second operation position; a second lock portion for locking the lever in the connector mating operation position; and an unlocking operation portion capable of being operated to unlock a lock state of the second lock portion.
US09048040B1 Electrical unit outlet
An electrical unit outlet device is disclosed for controlling power isolation, based on a predetermined time, for a device charger, while remaining plugged into a power outlet. A power isolating circuit cuts any power to the charging device off when charge is complete.
US09048039B2 Vacuum switch assemblies
The present invention relates to a vacuum switch assembly for interrupting and isolating fault current. The vacuum switch assembly includes first and second dc lines that, in use, are electrically connected to the dc output terminals of a primary dc power source and a dc network. Each dc line includes at least one vacuum switch having contacts that are opened and closed under the control of a vacuum switch controller. A passive dc power supply unit is electrically connected to the first and second dc lines and includes a secondary dc power source that provides a substantially ripple-free sensing voltage. The vacuum switch controller is adapted to open the vacuum switch contacts when a fault condition (e.g. a fault current or other fault) or an operator request has been identified and when the current flowing between the vacuum switch contacts is below a chopping current associated with the vacuum switches.
US09048037B2 Linear automatic transfer switch and switching means
A transfer switch including: a bus bar; a track parallel to the bus bar; a first power source connection proximate to the track; a second power source connection proximate to the track offset along the track from the first power source connection; a conductive core slidably coupled to the track, wherein the core includes a deformable array of conductive sections and the array includes contacting surfaces on opposite sides of the array; wherein the conductive core has a first position providing a conductive coupling between the bus bar and the first power source and a second position providing a conductive coupling between the bus bar and the second power source.
US09048036B2 Switching apparatus provided with switches and lever
A switching apparatus includes a base, a housing, a main switch for mechanically disconnecting a power supply circuit and an interlock switch for electrically disconnecting the power supply circuit. The switching apparatus also includes a lever which is rotatably supported by one of the base and the housing and also is engaged with an engaging section formed in the other of the base and the housing. The lever causes a wall of the housing to be slid in a depth direction of an annular groove of the base in accordance with a rotation of the lever. The interlock switch is disconnected ahead of the main switch by separating a movable terminal of the interlock switch away from a fixed terminal of the interlock switch when the lever is rotated to cause the housing slid in a direction away from the base.
US09048034B2 Extended contact strip
The extended contact strip has a first elongate strip having first and second longitudinal edges, an upper and a lower surface, a first electrically conductive strip located on the upper surface of the first elongate strip, a second elongate strip having first and second longitudinal edges, and a flexible resilient portion extending between the first and second edges, the flexible resilient portion having an upper and a lower surface, a second electrically conductive strip located on the lower surface of the second strip, the first and second strips being connectable at their respective first and second edges, and the first and second strips forming an isolating gap such that the first and second electrical conductors lie opposite and spaced apart from each other when the second strip remains un-deformed, such that the first and second electrical conductors can make contact with each other upon deformation of the second strip.
US09048032B2 Electrical switching device
An electrical switch device has a contact system and a movable actuator for switching the contact system. The contact system resiliently preloads a sliding contact against a first fixed contact in a first switch position and against a second fixed contact in a second switch position. In case of pressurization, the actuator moves the sliding contact mainly linearly from the first switch position to the second switch position. In the first switch position, the actuator adjoins to a snap-action element having a stable position and actuates the latter from its stable position to an instable position when switching over to the second switch position, wherein the snap-action element returns to the stable position upon completion of pressurization by means of the actuator.
US09048031B2 Method of and printable compositions for manufacturing a multilayer carbon nanotube capacitor
Multilayer carbon nanotube capacitors, and methods and printable compositions for manufacturing multilayer carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are disclosed. A first capacitor embodiment comprises: a first conductor; a plurality of fixed CNTs in an ionic liquid, each fixed CNT comprising a magnetic catalyst nanoparticle coupled to a carbon nanotube and further coupled to the first conductor; and a first plurality of free CNTs dispersed and moveable in the ionic liquid. Another capacitor embodiment comprises: a first conductor; a conductive nanomesh coupled to the first conductor; a first plurality of fixed CNTs in an ionic liquid and further coupled to the conductive nanomesh; and a plurality of free CNTs dispersed and moveable in the ionic liquid. Various methods of printing the CNTs and other structures, and methods of aligning and moving the CNTs using applied electric and magnetic fields, are also disclosed.
US09048030B2 Wound electrochemical device
In an area where positive and negative electrode leads 11, 21 oppose each other through a separator 30 in a wound electrochemical device 1, active material layers are removed from surfaces of current collectors 10a, 20a, so as to form open areas 10e, 20e. Even if the active material layers are formed on the surfaces of the current collectors, surfaces opposing them through the separator are provided with the leads protected by insulating tapes, whereby the areas serving as the open areas originally have no function as a capacitor. Therefore, by removing the active material layers from areas having no function as a capacitor, the wound electrochemical device 1 can be made further thinner while inhibiting the capacity as a device from lowering.
US09048029B2 Flexible conducting polymer energy storage device
Electrochemical redox supercapacitor. The supercapacitor includes two thin films of electrically conducting polymer separated by an ion-permeable membrane and including an electrolyte disposed between the two thin films. Electrical contacts are disposed on outer surfaces of the two thin films. The supercapacitor is flexible and may be rolled, folded on itself, or kept substantially flat. A suitable conducting polymer is polypyrrole. In another aspect, the invention is a method for making a redox supercapacitor.
US09048025B2 Electrode for electric storage device, electric storage device and manufacturing method of electrode for electric storage device
An electrode for an electric storage device includes at least an active material selected from the group consisting of a carbon nanotube, activated carbon, hard carbon, graphite, graphene and a carbon nanohorn; an ionic liquid; and a three-dimensional network metal porous body.
US09048021B2 Integrated transformer
A transformer comprising primary and secondary windings is disclosed. Each winding has first and second metal capping layers coupled together electrically in parallel by a metal connector passing through a substrate lying between the first and second metal capping layers.
US09048020B2 Bond wire transformer
A bond wire transformer comprises a plurality of primary bond wires coupled in parallel; and a plurality of secondary bond wires coupled in parallel, each secondary bond wire being spaced apart from and oriented relative to a corresponding primary bond wire so as to achieve a desired mutual inductance between the corresponding primary and secondary bond wires, thereby providing magnetic coupling between the primary and secondary bond wires.
US09048016B2 Composite permanent magnetic material and preparation method thereof
The invention relates to the field of permanent magnet materials, and discloses a composite permanent magnet material. The material is formed by splicing at least one permanent magnet material, with binding agent in between. The novel composite permanent magnet material that is formed by splicing different magnets greatly enriches the existing permanent magnet system and can completely replace the expensive rare metallic magnetic material. The composite permanent magnet material disclosed by the invention has high performances. The magnetic performance of the magnet can be regulated and controlled by adjusting the type and length of the magnets. In particular, the magnetic blank between the bonded NdFeB and the sintered NdFeB provides the designer and user of permanent magnetic motors with broader and flexible in material selection space and cost selection space.
US09048013B2 Pressure sensible textile and pressure sensible device thereof
A pressure sensible textile has at least a high-resistance conducting area and two groups of low-resistance conducting wefts or warps contacting the high-resistance area directly. The two groups of low-resistance conducting wefts or warps cross each other and do not contact with each other directly. Furthermore, two scanning circuits can be electrically connected to the two groups of low-resistance conducting wefts or warps. Then, a controller is added to the two scanning circuits to obtain a pressure sensible device.
US09048012B2 Method of fabricating high-density hermetic electrical feedthroughs
A method of fabricating electrical feedthroughs selectively removes substrate material from a first side of an electrically conductive substrate (e.g. a bio-compatible metal) to form an array of electrically conductive posts in a substrate cavity. An electrically insulating material (e.g. a bio-compatible sealing glass) is then flowed to fill the substrate cavity and surround each post, and solidified. The solidified insulating material is then exposed from an opposite second side of the substrate so that each post is electrically isolated from each other as well as the bulk substrate. In this manner a hermetic electrically conductive feedthrough construction is formed having an array of electrical feedthroughs extending between the first and second sides of the substrate from which it was formed.
US09048011B2 Method of obtaining patters in an antireflective layer
The invention relates to the field of production in thin coatings of electronic devices and/or MEMS and relates to an improved method for forming a pattern in a thin SiARC anti-reflective coating, comprising the doping by deposition of such SiARC coating covered with a resist pattern through a protective coating of the resist pattern, then etching the doped zones of the SiARC coating (FIG. 3c).
US09048003B2 Self-supporting cable
The current invention relates to self-supporting cables that often are aerial mounted between cable fixing points (800) and where the conductors in the cables act as the bearing elements. In this type of cables, slippage between the surfaces of different layers in the cable is undesirable. On the other hand, it must be possible to easily bend the cable, even for larger dimensions. Both these requirements are difficult to meet with the solutions from prior art. The present invention overcomes this by introducing an intermediate layer (130) between the surfaces (112, 121) comprising at least on tape (511) with friction particles (512) where the friction obtained by the friction particles (512) is low enough to allow the two surfaces (112, 121) to slip relatively each other in longitudinal direction enough so that the cable 100 can be bent but prevents the two surfaces (112, 121) from slipping in response to an inwardly directed radial pressure force (F) at the cable fixing points (800).
US09047996B2 System and method for transferring and/or working near a radioactive payload using shield-gate apparatus
A method of transferring a radioactive payload and a method of performing work within a cavity of a shielding container. In one embodiment, the invention is a method comprising a) positioning a shield-gate apparatus atop a first shielding container, the shield-gate apparatus comprising a body, a passageway extending through the body, and one or more movable shielding gates that are open; and b) lifting a removable shielding lid of the first shielding container through the passageway, wherein during closing of the one or more shielding gates the removable shielding lid is maintained in a position in which either: (1) a bottom surface of the removable shielding lid is disposed within the passageway at a height above the one or more shielding gates; or (2) the bottom surface of the removable shielding lid is substantially flush with the top surface of the body of the shield-gate apparatus.
US09047993B2 Method and arrangement for producing fuel kernels
A method and an arrangement for producing spherical fuel cores and/or breeder material cores by dripping a pouring solution containing uranyl nitrate and a solution containing at least one auxiliary agent into an ammoniacal precipitation bath to form microspheres, aging, washing, drying, and thermally treating the microspheres. In order to provide a continuous production method along with a constantly high core quality, it is proposed that 1) the microspheres from the precipitation bath be separated through a first separator and fed to the ammoniacal aging water for aging, 2) the contact duration of the microspheres with the liquid of the precipitation bath before being introduced into the aging water be set equally or substantially equally, 3) the microspheres be transferred from the aging water to a multi-stage cascade scrubber using a transfer device, wherein the microspheres are washed in the multi-stage cascade scrubber so as to be free or substantially free from ammonium nitrate and at least one auxiliary agent contained in the microspheres, and 4) after drying, the microspheres be calcinated while distributed in a monolayer during a thermal treatment.
US09047991B2 Methods, apparatus, and systems to repair memory
Methods, apparatus and systems pertain to performing READ, WRITE functions in a memory which is coupled to a repair controller. One such repair controller could receive a row address and a column address associated with the memory and store a first plurality of tag fields indicating a type of row/column repair to be performed for at least a portion of a row/column of memory cells, and a second plurality of tag fields to indicate a location of memory cells used to perform the row/column repair.
US09047987B2 Multiple access test architecture for memory storage devices
A new architecture for use with computer memory storage devices is disclosed that provides means by which a memory storage device may be accessed both as standard archive file device as well as in any unique physical and native command set modes supported by the device. A system architecture for accessing a memory storage device that provides access to the storage device via a standard memory storage method while alternatively providing direct access to the full physical and functional capabilities of the storage device. The system architecture has four main elements. Firstly, a central processing system which acts as the user interface and controls access to all attached peripheral functions. Secondly, an electronic bridge connected on one side to the central processing system via a standard I/O channel and on the other side to the memory device through a memory bridge presenting the memory device to the central processing system as a standard memory peripheral. Thirdly, a second processing unit which on one side is connected to the central processing system and on the other side is connected to the memory storage device via the multiplexer thus providing the second processing unit direct access to the memory storage device. And finally, the multiplexer that can connect either the electronic memory bridge or the second processing system to the memory storage device.
US09047982B2 Data compensating method for flash memory
A data compensating method for a flash memory is provided. Firstly, a first threshold voltage distribution curve of the cells of the flash memory with a first storing state is acquired. Then, a second threshold voltage distribution curve of the cells of the flash memory with a second storing state is acquired. Then, a first occurrence probability of a first type ICI pattern of the first storing state is calculated according to a statistic voltage range and the first threshold voltage distribution curve. A second occurrence probability of the first type ICI pattern of the second storing state is acquired according to the statistic voltage range and the second threshold voltage distribution curve. During a read cycle, storing states of central cells corresponding to the first type ICI pattern are compensated according to the first occurrence probability and the second occurrence probability.
US09047977B2 Circuit and method for outputting refresh execution signal in memory device
A circuit for outputting a refresh execution signal to a memory cell of a memory device in an auto-refresh mode comprises a first frequency dividing unit, a first selection circuit, a second frequency dividing unit, and a second selection circuit. The first frequency dividing unit receives an auto-refresh signal from outside the memory device and generates a plurality of first divided signals. The first selection circuit generates a selection signal selected from the auto-refresh signal and the first divided signals. The second frequency dividing unit divides the frequency of the selection signal and generates a plurality of second divided signals. The second selection circuit generates the refresh execution signal from the selection signal and the second divided signals.
US09047976B2 Combined signal delay and power saving for use with a plurality of memory circuits
A system and method are provided. In use, at least one of a plurality of memory circuits is identified. In association with the at least one memory circuit, a power saving operation is performed and the communication of a signal thereto is delayed.
US09047974B2 Erased state reading
A method of determining whether a page of NAND flash memory cells is in an erased condition includes applying a first set of read conditions to identify a first number of cells having threshold voltages above a discrimination voltage under the first set of read conditions, if the first number of cells is less than a first predetermined number, applying a second set of read conditions that is different from the first set of read conditions to identify a second number of cells having threshold voltages above the discrimination voltage under the second set of read conditions, and if the second number of cells exceeds a second predetermined number, marking the page of flash memory cells as partially programmed.
US09047970B2 Word line coupling for deep program-verify, erase-verify and read
In a non-volatile storage system, a reduced voltage is provided on a selected word line during a sensing operation, using down coupling from one or more adjacent word lines. Voltages of one or more adjacent word lines of a selected word line are driven down while a voltage of the selected word line is floated. Capacitive coupling from the one or more adjacent word lines to the selected word line reduces the voltage of the selected word line. The capacitive coupling can be provided during a read, a program-verify test or an erase-verify test. The erase-verify test can be performed on cells of even-numbered word lines while capacitive coupling is provided by odd-numbered word lines, or on cells of odd-numbered word lines while capacitive coupling is provided by even-numbered word lines. Voltages of non-adjacent word lines can be provided at fixed, pass voltage levels.
US09047967B2 Data-masked analog and digital read for resistive memories
An analog read circuit measures the resistance of each of a plurality of bits in an array of resistive memory elements. Data stored within a latch determines whether to selectively enable the analog read circuit. In an alternate embodiment, a sense amplifier is coupled to the latch and the array, and the data stored in the latch determines whether to selectively enable the sense amplifier.
US09047960B2 Flash memory cell with capacitive coupling between a metal floating gate and a metal control gate
An apparatus includes a storage transistor. The storage transistor includes a floating gate configured to store electrical charge and a control gate. The floating gate is coupled to the control gate via capacitive coupling. The floating gate and the control gate are metal. The apparatus also includes an access transistor coupled to the storage transistor. A gate of the access transistor is coupled to a word line. The storage transistor and the access transistor are serially coupled between a bit line and a source line.
US09047957B2 Programmable read-only memory device and method of writing the same
A bit cell of the PROM-device comprises a carbon nanotube having a tilted portion comprising a free end and a fixed portion which is to the reference node. The carbon nanotube comprises a structural defect between the fixed and the tilted portion which causes the carbon nanotube to tilt such that the free end is electrically connected to either the storage electrode or an opposite release electrode.
US09047953B2 Memory device structure with page buffers in a page-buffer level separate from the array level
A structure of a memory device and a method for making the memory device structure are described. The memory device includes an array of memory cells in an array level die. The array comprises a plurality of sub-arrays. Each of the sub-arrays comprises respective data lines. The memory device also includes page buffers for corresponding sub-arrays in a page-buffer level die. The memory device also includes inter-die connections that are configured to electrically couple the page buffers in the page-buffer level die to data lines of corresponding sub-arrays in the array level die.
US09047949B2 Non-volatile storage system using opposite polarity programming signals for MIM memory cell
A reversible resistance-switching metal-insulator-metal (MIM) stack is provided which can be set to a low resistance state with a first polarity signal and reset to a higher resistance state with a second polarity signal. The first polarity signal is opposite in polarity than the second polarity signal. In one approach, the MIM stack includes a carbon-based reversible resistivity switching material such as a carbon nanotube material. The MIM stack can further include one or more additional reversible resistivity switching materials such as metal oxide above and/or below the carbon-based reversible resistivity switching material. In another approach, a metal oxide layer is between separate layers of carbon-based reversible resistivity switching material.
US09047943B2 Non-volatile storage system biasing conditions for standby and first read
Methods for reducing power consumption of a non-volatile storage system and reducing first read latency are described. The non-volatile storage system may include a cross-point memory array. In some embodiments, during a standby mode, the memory array may be biased such that both word lines and bit lines are set to ground. During transition of the memory array from the standby mode to a read mode, a selected word line comb may be set to a read voltage while the unselected word lines and the bit lines remain at ground. During the read mode, memory cells connected to the selected bit lines and the selected word line comb may be sensed while the selected bit lines are biased to a selected bit line voltage equal to or close to ground and the unselected bit lines are left floating after initially being set to ground.
US09047940B2 Resistive random access memory cells having variable switching characteristics
Provided are resistive random access memory (ReRAM) cells forming arrays and methods of operating such cells and arrays. The ReRAM cells of the same array may have the same structure, such as have the same bottom electrodes, top electrodes, and resistive switching layers. Yet, these cells may be operated in a different manner. For example, some ReRAM cells may be restively switched using lower switching voltages than other cells. The cells may also have different data retention characteristics. These differences may be achieved by using different forming operations for different cells or, more specifically, flowing forming currents in different directions for different cells. The resulting conductive paths formed within the resistive switching layers are believed to switch at or near different electrode interfaces, i.e., within a so called switching zone. In some embodiments, a switching zone of a ReRAM cell may be changed even after the initial formation.
US09047937B2 Resistive random access memory device, method for manufacturing the same, and method for operating the same
A resistive random access memory device, a method for manufacturing the resistive random access memory device, and a method for operating the resistive random access memory device are disclosed. The resistive random access memory device includes a resistive switching memory element including two electrodes and a layer of variable-resistance material between the two electrodes, wherein the layer of variable-resistance material exhibits bipolar resistive switching behavior; and a Schottky diode including a metal layer and a p-doped semiconductor layer which contact each other, wherein the metal layer of the Schottky diode is coupled to one of the two electrodes of the resistive switching memory element. The present disclosure provides the resistive random access memory device operating in bipolar resistive switching scheme.
US09047934B1 Timing signal adjustment for data storage
An integrated circuit includes a delay circuit, a buffer circuit, and a storage circuit. The delay circuit delays a first timing signal to generate a second timing signal. The buffer circuit generates a third timing signal for transmission to an external device. The third timing signal is generated based on the first timing signal. The external device provides data to the integrated circuit based on the third timing signal. The storage circuit captures the data transmitted from the external device in response to the second timing signal.
US09047931B2 Internal voltage generation circuits
Internal voltage generation circuits are provided. The internal voltage generation circuit includes a code signal generator and an internal voltage generator. The code signal generator generates input code signals having a logic level combination corresponding to a difference between a frequency of an external clock signal and a frequency of an internal clock signal. The internal voltage generator is selectively activated according to the logic level combination of the input code signals to drive an internal voltage signal.
US09047930B2 Single-ended low-swing power-savings mechanism with process compensation
A single-ended low-swing power-savings mechanism is provided. The mechanism comprises a precharge device that turns off in an evaluation phase and a first biasing device is always on. Within the mechanism, a strength of a keeper device is changed to a first level in response to an input of the second biasing device being at a first voltage level. Within the mechanism the strength of the keeper device is changed to a second level in response to the input of the second biasing device being at a second voltage level. Responsive to receiving a (precharged voltage level read data line signal, a precharged voltage level of the first node falls faster when the keeper device is weakened to a first level. The keeper device turns on in response to receiving a LOW signal and pulls up the voltage at the first node so that a HIGH signal is output.
US09047929B2 Memory system having memory ranks and related tuning method
A memory device comprises at least two memory ranks sharing input/output lines, at least one mode register configured to store bits used to tune delays of data signals of the at least two ranks output through the input/output lines, a controller configured to determine tuning parameters for the data signals based on the stored bits in the at least one mode register, the tuning parameters comprising at least the delays of the data signals, and at least one nonvolatile memory disposed in at least one of the at least two memory ranks and configured to store the tuning parameters.
US09047923B1 Fast shingled tracks recording
Implementations disclosed herein provide a method comprising determining used shingled data tracks adjacent to a target track using a track usage monitoring scheme, and reading the used shingled data tracks to perform a write operation to the target track.
US09047916B2 Recording medium, category creating apparatus, and category creating method
A category creating apparatus receives a piece of music, extracts video image information included in the received music, and decomposes the extracted video image information with respect to each characteristic of the extracted video image information. Then, the category creating apparatus creates, with respect to each piece of decomposed video image information, a category representing the characteristic of the piece of video image information. The category creating apparatus extracts, from the video image information in the received music, character information and decomposes the extracted character information into words. The category creating apparatus creates, for each decomposed word, a category associated with the word.
US09047914B1 Content navigation
Technology is described for navigating content. The method may include receiving instructions for activating a navigation mode in order to navigate through play content. The navigation mode may have a modified frame configuration as compared to the play mode. Navigation content selected from a plurality of navigation content sources may be received. The navigation content may be previously encoded to provide content in a modified frame configuration. The navigation content may be provided for display according to the navigation mode. The play content may be played in response to receiving instructions for activating the play mode.
US09047913B2 Media bundle overlays
A media bundle and one or more media bundle overlays allow modifying content that is to be played by a playback framework of an electronic device with multimedia content objects contained in the media bundle overlays without modifying the media bundle. A runtime data structure dynamically incorporates the multimedia content contained in the media bundle with multimedia content contained in the media bundle overlays. Manifest objects in the media bundle and some media bundle overlays describe multimedia content contained in the media bundle and the corresponding media bundle overlays. Multimedia content contained in the multimedia bundle overlays may supplement or replace multimedia content contained in the media bundle.
US09047911B2 Disk drive unit having seal part forming gas-liquid interface of lubricant
A disk drive unit includes a stationary body; a rotating body rotatably supported on the stationary body, a seal part configured to form a first gas-liquid interface of a lubricant existing in a gap between the stationary body and the rotating body, and a groove-shaped opening opposing the seal part and communicating to the gap via a communication hole. The seal part has a shape such that the gap gradually increases towards an aperture opposing the groove-shaped opening, and the groove-shaped opening has a shape such that the gap gradually increases towards an aperture opposing the seal part.
US09047910B2 Spindle motor and hard disk drive including the same
There are provided a spindle motor including a lower thrust member fixed to a base member; and a shaft fixed to the lower thrust member, wherein the lower thrust member includes a fitting protrusion protruding upwardly in the axial direction and fitted into a fixing groove formed in a lower end of the shaft so as to be depressed upwardly in the axial direction, a thrust bearing surface forming a thrust bearing between the thrust bearing surface and a lower surface of the sleeve, and an extension part protruding from an outer edge of the lower thrust member in a radial direction upwardly in the axial direction to form a liquid-vapor interface between the extension part and an outer surface of the sleeve while enclosing the sleeve, and the thrust bearing surface has inner and outer concave parts depressed in one of inner and outer diameter directions thereof, respectively.
US09047907B2 Electronic device avoiding false detection of free fall event based on detected operating modes
An electronic device is disclosed comprising an acceleration sensor operable to generate an acceleration signal, and a free fall detector operable to detect a free fall event in response to the acceleration signal. A frequency response of the acceleration signal is measured, and the free fall detector is disabled when a magnitude of the frequency response within one of a plurality of frequency bands exceeds a threshold, wherein each frequency band corresponds to one of a plurality of normal operating modes.
US09047906B2 Dual-layer magnetic recording structure
The embodiments disclose a dual-layer magnetic recording structure including a top magnetic layer etched to remove patterned portions of the top magnetic layer and a bottom magnetic layer including portions with altered magnetic properties of molecules to reduce net magnetic moments and including portions of unaltered magnetic properties exchange-coupled through the top magnetic layer.
US09047904B2 Magnetic recording medium
An aspect of the present invention relates to a magnetic recording medium comprising a nonmagnetic layer comprising a nonmagnetic powder and a binder and a magnetic layer comprising a ferromagnetic powder and a binder in this order on a nonmagnetic support, wherein the magnetic layer and/or nonmagnetic layer comprises organic acid A and organic acid B below, with an acid strength pKa(A) of organic acid A and an acid strength pKa(B) of organic acid B satisfying a relation of pKa(A)
US09047897B1 Lateral tape motion signal conditioning
Various embodiments described herein include processing of a lateral tape motion signal, caused primarily by a tape supply reel (e.g., depending on direction of tape movement). The resulting data may be used, at least in part, to determine placement of a coarse actuator. In one general embodiment, a method includes receiving a signal representative of a lateral position of a magnetic head, and integrating portions of the signal representative of a lateral position of a magnetic head, the portions corresponding to fractions of one or more revolutions of a supply reel for generating first data. The first data is averaged over a value or values corresponding to one or more revolutions of the supply reel for generating second data.
US09047896B1 Head assembly and disk device provided with the same
According to one embodiment, a head gimbal assembly includes a support plate, a wiring member including a thin metallic plate, an insulating layer and a conductive layer, the wiring member including a tongue portion located on a convex portion of the support plate, a proximal end portion fixed onto the support plate, and a bridge portion bridged between the tongue portion and the proximal end portion and including a inflection point with respect to a height direction of warping, a magnetic head attached to the tongue portion, and a piezoelectric element bonded to the bridge portion at a section between the proximal end portion and the inflection point.
US09047894B2 Magnetic write head having spin torque oscillator that is self aligned with write pole
A magnetic write head having a write pole with a tapered trailing edge portion and having a spin torque oscillator that is formed entirely on the tapered trailing edge portion and that is self aligned with first and second sides of the write pole. The write pole and spin torque oscillator are formed by a method wherein the sides of the spin torque oscillator and write pole are defined in the same photolithographic and ion milling process, thereby allowing for the self alignment of the spin torque oscillator with the sides of the write pole.
US09047893B1 Magnetic sensor having narrow trackwidth and small read gap
A magnetic sensor having a first sensor stack portion that includes a free layer, non-magnetic spacer or barrier layer and a portion of a pinned layer structure. The sensor has second sensor stack portion formed over the first sensor stack portion. The second sensor stack portion include includes a second portion of the pinned layer structure and a layer of antiferromagnetic material formed over the. The first sensor stack portion is configured with a width and stripe height that define the functional width and strip height of the sensor, whereas the upper portion can be made wider and deeper without affecting sensor performance. Because the patterning of the first sensor stack portion is performed on a thinner structure than would be necessary to pattern the entire sensor stack, the patterning can be performed with smaller dimensions and increased resolution.
US09047892B2 Current-perpendicular-to-the-plane (CPP) magnetoresistive (MR) sensor having an antiparallel free (APF) structure with improved magnetic stability
A current-perpendicular-to-the-plane magnetoresistive sensor has an antiparallel free (APF) structure and soft side shields wherein the upper free layer (FL2) of the APF structure is magnetically coupled antiparallel to the top shield and a top shield seed layer via a nonmagnetic antiparallel coupling (APC) layer. In one embodiment the antiparallel coupling is through an antiferromagnetic-coupling (AFC) layer that provides a dominant antiferromagnetic indirect exchange coupling of FL2 to the top shield. In another embodiment the antiparallel coupling is by an APC layer that decouples FL2 and the top shield and causes the edge-induced magnetostatic coupling between FL2 and the seed layer to dominate. The degree of coupling is controlled by the composition and thickness of the nonmagnetic APC layer between FL2 and the seed layer, and by the thickness of the seed layer.
US09047890B1 Inductor with non-uniform lamination thicknesses
A thin film inductor having yokes, one or more of which is laminated, and one or more conductors passing between the yokes. The laminated yoke or yokes help reduce eddy currents and/or hysteresis losses. Magnetic layers of the laminated yoke have varying thickness, with the thickness of magnetic layers closer to the winding (that is, in areas of higher density magnetic flux) having relatively lower thickness(es) in order to further reduce eddy currents and related energy losses.
US09047888B2 MAMR head adapted for high speed switching
A microwave-assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) head according to one embodiment includes a main magnetic pole adapted to generate a writing magnetic field when current is applied to a write coil; a trailing shield positioned, at an air bearing surface (ABS), in a trailing direction from the main magnetic pole; and a field generation layer (FGL) positioned, at the ABS, between the main magnetic pole and the trailing shield, wherein either a portion of the main magnetic pole closer to the FGL or a portion of the trailing shield closer to the FGL is adapted to act as a spin polarization layer.
US09047885B2 Perpendicular magnetic recording head and method of manufacturing the same
Embodiments of the present invention provide a perpendicular magnetic recording head which can suppress reduction in recording field and efficiently reduce a fringe field. According to one embodiment, a side shield disposed at a side of each side face in a cross track direction of a main pole is arranged at a far leading side compared with the main pole.
US09047883B2 Optical pickup device, optical information device, and information processing device
An optical pickup device includes a single objective lens that focuses a light beam to irradiate an optical disk, and an objective lens actuator that drives the objective lens. The objective lens actuator includes a lens holder that holds the objective lens. Two gaps (Ga, Gb) are formed between the lens holder and the objective lens. In an xy plane in which the center of the objective lens is defined as an origin, the tracking direction is defined as an y axis, and the tangential direction of tracks of the optical disk is defined as an x axis, the gap (Ga) is positioned at least in the first quadrant of the xy plane, and the gap (Gb) is positioned at least in the third quadrant of the xy plane.
US09047880B1 Heat assisted magnetic recording method for media having moment keeper layer
Systems and methods for providing media having a moment keeper layer for heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR). One such method for writing information to a magnetic media having a moment keeper layer using heat assisted magnetic recording includes heating a portion of the media to a preselected temperature, where the media includes a magnetic recording layer adjacent to the keeper layer, where a Curie temperature of the keeper layer is greater than a Curie temperature of the recording layer, and where the preselected temperature is about equal to, or greater than, the Curie temperature of the recording layer, allowing the portion of the media to cool, and writing information to the media during the cooling.
US09047875B2 Spectrum flatness control for bandwidth extension
In accordance with an embodiment, a method of decoding an encoded audio bitstream at a decoder includes receiving the audio bitstream, decoding a low band bitstream of the audio bitstream to get low band coefficients in a frequency domain, and copying a plurality of the low band coefficients to a high frequency band location to generate high band coefficients. The method further includes processing the high band coefficients to form processed high band coefficients. Processing includes modifying an energy envelope of the high band coefficients by multiplying modification gains to flatten or smooth the high band coefficients, and applying a received spectral envelope decoded from the received audio bitstream to the high band coefficients. The low band coefficients and the processed high band coefficients are then inverse-transformed to the time domain to obtain a time domain output signal.
US09047866B2 System and method for identification of a speaker by phonograms of spontaneous oral speech and by using formant equalization using one vowel phoneme type
A system and method for identification of a speaker by phonograms of oral speech is disclosed. Similarity between a first phonogram of the speaker and a second, or sample, phonogram is evaluated by matching formant frequencies in referential utterances of a speech signal, where the utterances for comparison are selected from the first phonogram and the second phonogram. Referential utterances of speech signals are selected from the first phonogram and the second phonogram, where the referential utterances include formant paths of at least three formant frequencies; wherein the first two formants are within typical variability limits for one vowel phoneme type. The selected referential utterances including at least two identical formant frequencies are compared therebetween. Similarity of the compared referential utterances from matching other formant frequencies is evaluated, where similarity of the phonograms is determined from evaluation of similarity of all the compared referential utterances.
US09047865B2 Scalable and embedded codec for speech and audio signals
A system and method for processing of audio and speech signals is disclosed, which provide compatibility over a range of communication devices operating at different sampling frequencies and/or bit rates. The analyzer of the system divides the input signal in different portions, at least one of which carries information sufficient to provide intelligible reconstruction of the input signal. The analyzer also encodes separate information about other portions of the signal in an embedded manner, so that a smooth transition can be achieved from low bit-rate to high bit-rate applications. Accordingly, communication devices operating at different sampling rates and/or bit-rates can extract corresponding information from the output bit stream of the analyzer. In the present invention embedded information generally relates to separate parameters of the input signal, or to additional resolution in the transmission of original signal parameters. Non-linear techniques for enhancing the overall performance of the system are also disclosed. Also disclosed is a novel method of improving the quantization of signal parameters. In a specific embodiment the input signal is processed in two or more modes dependent on the state of the signal in a frame. When the signal is determined to be in a transition state, the encoder provides phase information about N sinusoids, which the decoder end uses to improve the quality of the output signal at low bit rates.
US09047864B2 Antigen compositions and methods of inhibiting Campylobacter jejuni bacterial infection and uses of the antigen compositions
Methods and compositions for reducing the incidence of C. jejuni bacteria infections in poultry and in humans and other animals are formulated to include C. jejuni antigens, and particularly CadF, FlpA and FlaA. The antigens may be provided in the form of polypeptides or by hosts that produce the antigens. Fibronectin binding proteins of C. jejuni may also be used to deliver substances of interest to humans and other animals.
US09047863B2 Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media for criticality threshold control
A method of audio signal processing is described. The method includes calculating a criticality measure based on information about a first frame of the audio signal. The method also includes calculating a threshold value based on information relating to a state of a transmission channel. The method further includes comparing the calculated criticality measure to the calculated threshold value. The method additionally includes deciding to transmit a redundant copy of the first frame based on a result of the comparison. The method also includes transmitting the redundant copy of the first frame with a second frame. The first frame precedes the second frame in the audio signal.
US09047859B2 Apparatus and method for encoding and decoding an audio signal using an aligned look-ahead portion
An apparatus for encoding an audio signal having a stream of audio samples has: a windower for applying a prediction coding analysis window to the stream of audio samples to obtain windowed data for a prediction analysis and for applying a transform coding analysis window to the stream of audio samples to obtain windowed data for a transform analysis, wherein the transform coding analysis window is associated with audio samples within a current frame of audio samples and with audio samples of a predefined portion of a future frame of audio samples being a transform-coding look-ahead portion, wherein the prediction coding analysis window is associated with at least the portion of the audio samples of the current frame and with audio samples of a predefined portion of the future frame being a prediction coding look-ahead portion, wherein the transform coding look-ahead portion and the prediction coding look-ahead portion are identically to each other or are different from each other by less than 20%; and an encoding processor for generating prediction coded data or for generating transform coded data.
US09047855B2 Pressure-related feedback instability mitigation
An apparatus includes a member configured to form an acoustic seal around a portion of an acoustic environment, and active noise reduction circuitry. The active noise reduction circuitry includes: detection circuitry configured to detect a change in pressure within the acoustic environment caused by movement of the member, and gain compensation circuitry configured to change a loop gain of a feedback loop in response to the detected change in pressure.
US09047849B2 Pick holder
Generally, a body having body upper face, a closed-end aperture element disposed in the body communicating with the body upper face, and a securement element affixed to the body opposite the body upper face, which can removably couple to a support surface. Specifically, a pick holder having body upper face, a closed-end aperture element disposed in the body communicating with the body upper face, which can be configured to removably retain a pick, and a suction cup affixed to the body opposite the body upper face, which can removably couple to a stringed instrument.
US09047843B2 Liquid crystal display device and driving method thereof
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel, a gate driver, a data driver, and an initial driving control unit. The liquid crystal panel includes a plurality of liquid crystal cells. Each liquid crystal cell is defined by a gate line, a data line and a thin film transistor. The gate driver controls the thin film transistor connected to the gate line of each liquid crystal cell according to a gate control signal. The data driver outputs a pixel signal to the data line of the each liquid crystal cell according to a data control signal. The data driver includes a switch connected to the data line of the each liquid crystal cell. The initial driving control unit is structured to compare a clock count with a predetermined reference value and operable to alternately generate a first state signal and a second state signal based on the comparison. The unit applies the first state signal to the switch during a masking interval. The pixel signal is not output to the data line during the masking interval.
US09047840B2 Display device and electronic appliance
Included are a display panel including first to third pixel regions and a driver circuit; a backlight portion divided into a first light source region where light is emitted in response to input of a video signal to the first pixel region, a second light source region where light is emitted in response to input of a video signal to the second pixel region, and a third light source region where light is emitted in response to input of a video signal to the third pixel region; a video signal selection circuit used to supply the video signals from plural memory circuits to the driver circuit; a control circuit that supplies a control signal for controlling the driver circuit; a sequence determination circuit that supplies a backlight control signal and a selection signal; and a random number generation circuit used for selection from colors in the sequence determination circuit.
US09047836B2 Display device and electronic device
Multiple gray levels are expressed in a display device. The display device includes a pixel portion where pixels including transistors and display elements are arranged in matrix, a gate driver electrically connected to a gate of the transistor, a source driver electrically connected to a source or a drain of the transistor, and a data processing circuit which outputs a signal to the source driver. The transistor includes an oxide semiconductor. In the data processing circuit, n-bit digital data of input m-bit digital data (m and n are positive integers, where m>n) is used for voltage gradation and (m−n) bit digital data is used for time gradation.
US09047835B2 Thermal and power aware graphics processing
Embodiments for thermal and/or power aware graphics processing are provided. In an embodiment, a thermally and/or power adaptive graphics processing environment is presented. The graphics processing environment includes various thermally and/or power adaptive elements, each of which may be thermally and/or power aware (adaptive) in the sense that it may adapt at least one aspect of its operation and/or outputs based on thermal and/or power information to effectuate a change in graphics processing in any element (including itself) of the environment. This may include changing or causing a change in at least one of a graphics element, feature, setting, or characteristic based on thermal and/or power information. In an embodiment, thermal and/or power based adaptation may include software and/or hardware adaptation of graphics processing to affect thermal and/or power performance.
US09047825B2 Display device and display method
A display device includes a calculation unit which calculates a required luminance according to a set luminance for each color of a backlight, for each of a first video signal and a second video signal, and obtains the higher of the required luminance corresponding to the first video signal and the required luminance corresponding to the second video signal as an objective luminance for each color based on a calculation result, a backlight driving unit which drives the backlight for each color according to the obtained objective luminance of each color, a detection unit which compares the required luminance with the objective luminance and detects, for each color, the required luminance corresponding to the video signal lower than the objective luminance, and a brightness adjustment unit which performs adjustment for each color so that an image corresponding to the video signal lower than the objective luminance is darkened.
US09047824B2 Virtualized data presentation in a carousel panel
Embodiments are directed to displaying data items in a carousel display panel and to efficiently presenting virtualized data in a carousel display panel. In one example, a computer system accesses a list of data items that include at least a first data item and a last data item which are to be displayed in a carousel display panel. The computer system displays the selected portion of data items in the carousel display panel and receives a user input indicating that the last data item in the list is to be displayed in the carousel display panel. The computer system then rotates the data items displayed in the carousel display panel to the last data item. The last data item is thus displayed, along with at least a portion of a second-to-last data item and the first data item in the list.
US09047823B2 Organic light emitting display and method of erasing afterimage thereof
An organic light emitting display and a method of erasing an image sticking thereof are provided. In the image sticking erasing method, a panel driving circuit is driven by a logic power voltage during a power-off delay time to discharge pixels.
US09047819B2 Organic light emitting display having uniform brightness
An organic light emitting display is capable of preventing brightness from being non-uniform due to IR drop so as to improve reliability of the organic light emitting display. The organic light emitting display comprises: a display panel having a display region and a non-display region; a plurality of sub pixels defined by perpendicularly intersecting a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines formed in the display region of the display panel; and a power source supply pad unit provided in the non-display region of the display panel for supplying a power source voltage to the plurality of sub pixels. A resistance value of sub pixels arranged in a first region adjacent to the power source supply pad unit is higher than a resistance value of sub pixels of a second region which is separated from the power source supply pad unit, with the first region interposed therebetween.
US09047813B2 Pixel circuit, display device, electronic apparatus, and method of driving pixel circuit
Disclosed herein is a pixel circuit, including: a display portion; a drive transistor driving the display portion; and a characteristics controlling portion configured to control characteristics of the drive transistor.
US09047812B2 Display device, apparatus for compensating degradation and method thereof
A display device includes: a plurality of pixels; a degradation compensator for using a temperature weight value for a reference temperature, a luminance weight value for a reference luminance, and a material weight value for a reference material, for calculating a reference using time when a degradation rate of the pixels is changed to a reference degradation rate of a reference degradation curve, and for generating a control variable according to the reference using time; and a power supply for controlling a voltage difference between a first power source voltage for supplying a driving current to the pixels and a second power source voltage according to the control variable.
US09047810B2 Circuits for eliminating ghosting phenomena in display panel having light emitters
The present disclosure provides a circuit for discharging parasitic capacitance in a display panel with common-anode topology having a plurality of light emitters, as well as a circuit for charging parasitic capacitance in a display panel with common-cathode topology. In the common-cathode topology, the circuit includes a three-terminal device having a gate, a source, and a drain, wherein one of the source and the drain is electrically coupled to a common cathode of the light emitters, and a mechanism for controlling the three-terminal device, the mechanism being electrically coupled to the gate. Shortly after a previously selected light emitter is unselected, the mechanism turns on the three-terminal device to form a conductive path between the source and the drain. The mechanism turns off the three-terminal device after a voltage at the common cathode is increased to a predetermined voltage level or after a maximum period of time lapses.
US09047809B2 Display device and driving method and electronic apparatus of the display device
To reduce a pseudo contour which occurs when displaying by a time gray scale method. When gradation is expressed with an n bit, bits each of which is shown by a binary of the gray scales are divided into three bit groups, and one frame is divided into two subframe groups. Then, a (0
US09047808B2 Method for charging external device by which unnecessary power consumption is alleviated and displaying apparatus using thereof
A method for charging an external device and a display using the method are provided. The method includes, determining whether the external device is chargeable and connected to the display through a connector when the displaying apparatus is in a standby mode; and if it is determined that the external device is chargeable and connected, charging the external device through the connector in the standby mode. The display includes a power supply that supplies standby power or main power; a checker which determines, in a standby mode, whether an external device is connected and chargeable; and a controller. The controller controls the power supply to output standby power while the checker determines whether the external device is connected and is a chargeable device, and if the external device is connected and chargeable, controls the power supply to output main power to charge the external device.
US09047806B2 Display device and method of adjusting viewing angle thereof
A display device for selectively adjusting a viewing angle thereof and a method of adjusting a viewing angle thereof are provided. The display device comprises: a display unit displaying an input image based on a determined viewing angle; and a controlling unit determining a viewing angle of the display unit according to a predetermined viewing condition and controlling to display the input image with the determined viewing angle, wherein the viewing condition is one of a viewer position condition, an image type condition, and a viewer setting condition.
US09047804B1 Lexical-based processing of color images
Processing of a digital image includes using a machine to convert numerical representations of colors in the digital image to lexical representations of the colors. The lexical representations may be used for image processing such as color reproduction. Examples of lexical-based color reproduction include, without limitation, using the lexical representations to perform color correction of an image display device, identifying potential problems with color shifts, generating statistics about lexical boundary crossings, and developing image processing pipelines.
US09047803B2 Display apparatus including bi-directional gate drive circuit
A gate drive circuit includes a plurality of driving stages. An n-th (‘n’ is a natural number) driving stage includes a pull-up part, a carry part, a first pull-down part, a first pull-up/down control part and a second pull-up/down control part. The first pull-up/down control part applies a first power signal of an ON voltage to a control terminal of the pull-up part in a forward direction mode, and applies the first power signal of a second OFF voltage to a control terminal of the pull-up part in a reverse direction mode. The second pull-up/down control part applies a second power signal of the second OFF voltage to the control terminal of the pull-up part in the forward direction mode, and applies the second power signal of the ON voltage to the control terminal of the pull-up part in the reverse direction mode.
US09047802B2 Organic light emitting display device and testing method thereof
An organic light emitting display device and a testing method thereof for detecting a failure occurring in a cutting process of a protective film attached to an upper end of a panel. The organic light emitting display device includes a first substrate on which a pixel unit and a tester are formed. The pixel unit includes a plurality of pixels positioned at intersection portions of scan lines and data lines, and the tester includes a plurality of transistors coupled to the respective data lines so as to supply test signals to the data lines. The transistors are divided into at least two groups, so that transistors of one group are turned on/off by a first test control line, and transistors of another group are turned on/off by a second test control line, the first and second test control lines being disposed on opposite sides of the substrate.
US09047801B2 Method of remotely adjusting display device and display device
A method of remotely adjusting a display device is provided which introduces the concept of Pages as a superordinate concept of VCPs known as control or adjustment item codes under current standards, defines the maximum value of the VCP Pages, and controls the VCP Pages from a personal computer, thereby to define and control more VCPs.
US09047798B2 Display apparatus and method of displaying three dimensional images using plural barrier states
A display apparatus includes a display panel, a display panel driver, a light source part, a light directing element and a barrier driver. The display panel displays a 3D image by dividing a single 3D image frame into plural sub frames including one corresponding to a first stereoscopic view for display during a first sub frame and a second corresponding to a second stereoscopic view for display during a second sub frame. The light source part provides selectively blockable backlighting. The light directing element is disposed between the display panel and the light source part so as to implement selective blocking. The light directing element includes a barrier part and a lens part disposed on the barrier part. The barrier part has a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes crossing the first electrodes.
US09047795B2 Methods and devices for providing a wallpaper viewfinder
Methods and electronic devices for providing a wallpaper viewfinder are described. In one aspect, a method includes: receiving image data from a camera of the electronic device; displaying a viewfinder for the camera on a display of the electronic device based on the image data; identifying a subject in the image data; and overlaying one or more interface element representations on a portion of the displayed viewfinder which does not contain the identified subject, the interface element representations depicting interface elements associated with a graphical user interface of the electronic device.
US09047793B2 Three dimensional video display device
In a three dimensional video display device (1), an LED unit (10) rotates in the direction of the arrow (24) along top and bottom edges of a display section (28). The LED unit (10) has a left-eye LED array (6) and a right-eye LED array (8), each including plural LEDs (4) aligned in a column. The left-eye LED array (6) displays a left-eye image through an afterimage effect produced by displaying, while rotating, columns of pixel groups constituting the left-eye image. The right-eye LED array 8 displays a right-eye image through an afterimage effect produced by displaying, while rotating, columns of pixel groups constituting the right-eye image. Light from the left-eye image enters the left eye of a viewer, whereas light from the right-eye image enters the right eye. The viewer recognizes a three dimensional image in a range of 360° around the viewer based on binocular parallax.
US09047792B2 Backlight module with diffusion sheet having a sub-wavelength grating
A diffusion sheet includes a light incident surface and a light emitting surface opposite to the light incident surface. The light emitting surface includes a sub-wavelength grating to diffuse lights propagated in the diffusion sheet. The sub-wavelength grating is used to avoid a total internal reflection of some of the lights. A backlight module having the diffusion sheet is also provided.
US09047787B2 Perfusion method and apparatus
Apparatus use with a perfusion system, the apparatus including a subject simulator for simulating subject. The subject simulator includes a circulatory system having an inlet line for receiving fluid from the perfusion system, an outlet line for transferring fluid to the perfusion system, at least on sensor for sensing at least one fluid property and at least one control device coupled to at least one of the inlet line and the outlet line. In use this, allows the control device to manipulate the at least on fluid property based at least partially on signals from the at least one sensor, to thereby simulate a least one of compliance and resistance of the simulated subject.
US09047785B2 Integration of an e-book e-report with data collection and control devices using APIs that operate within a browser
An educational electronic book (e-Book) facility that may be suitable for use in public school classrooms and many other environments may be based on an encapsulated HTML technology to facilitate complete interactive operation without use or risks associated with an external network connection, such as the Internet.
US09047784B2 Automatic eBook reader augmentation
Method, system, and computer program product for performing an operation for automatic electronic book augmentation. The operation presents an electronic book via a display screen of an electronic device, and identifies user preferences. The operation then determines a current reading position of a user within the electronic book. The operation then identifies, based on the user's current reading position, a context within the electronic book. The operation then identifies, based on the context and the user preferences, sensory effects to enhance the user's experience. The operation then outputs the sensory effects.
US09047783B2 Communication systems and methods for flexible telematics at a vehicle
A method for providing telematics to a vehicle includes the step of providing a user-removable telematics component with a Global Positioning System (GPS) device, a data pump, and a short range wireless personal area network transceiver. The telematics component is communicatively connected to an integrated communication device of the vehicle. The integrated communication device has a short range wireless personal area network transceiver and a memory storing a list that includes at least a phone number of at least one currently paired mobile communication device. At least a portion of the list is periodically received at the data pump, the portion of the list including the phone number of the at least one currently paired mobile communication device. The portion of the list is periodically transmitted out from the telematics component to an off-site telematics provider utilizing a communications path of the data pump.
US09047782B1 Vehicle ultrasonic parking assistance apparatus including charge pumping circuit and method of operating the same
Provided are a vehicle ultrasonic parking assistance apparatus including a charge pumping circuit and a method of operating the same. The vehicle ultrasonic parking assistance apparatus changes a transmission output voltage in a voltage driving scheme without using a transformer. By using the charge pumping circuit instead of the transformer so as to boost a voltage, the manufacturing cost is reduced, and a signal is input to the ultrasonic converter at the same voltage as a voltage of when the transformer is used. Also, the charge pumping circuit is provided at a region in which the variable current source was provided, and thus, the manufacturing cost is not additionally expended. Furthermore, since only a conversion of energy by the ultrasonic converter is considered, designing is simplified.
US09047780B2 Collision mitigation systems and methods using driver attentiveness
Methods and systems for mitigating vehicle collisions. One system includes a processor configured to set a driver attention level to at least one of an attentive level and an inattentive level based on a driver's interaction with at least one device located within a vehicle. The processor is also configured to automatically pre-fill at least one brake line of the vehicle when the driver attention level is set to the inattentive level, automatically perform a brake jerk when the driver attention level is set to the inattentive level and a distance between the vehicle and a closest object detected around the vehicle is less than a first predetermined distance, and automatically slow the vehicle when the driver attention level is set to the inattentive level and a distance between the vehicle and a closest object detected around the vehicle is less than a second predetermined distance.
US09047776B2 Apparatus for providing drive assist information
An apparatus for providing drive assist information depending on a driving experience amount in a country and/or region where a host vehicle currently travels. The apparatus includes a processing unit configured to determine a country and/or region where a host vehicle currently travels, determine whether or not a driving experience amount of a driver in the determined country/region reaches a predetermined reference value, and to stop providing at least a part of the assist information related to the country and/or region where the host vehicle currently travels, if the driving experience value reaches the predetermined reference value.
US09047774B2 Method and apparatus for crowd-sourced traffic reporting
A system includes a processor configured to project monitoring needs for a road segment. The processor is further configured to contact one or more vehicles traveling on the road segment during a time of monitoring need. The processor is additionally configured to instruct a first number, determined based on a projected monitoring need, of contacted vehicles to being monitoring and reporting traffic data for the road segment.
US09047773B2 Exceptional road-condition warning device, system and method for a vehicle
An exceptional road-condition warning device, system and method for a vehicle are provided. The system includes an information processing device and a display device. The display device provides real-time and advance warning information to a driver of the vehicle. The system may notice the driver and passenger in advance to respond to an exceptional road condition before the vehicle approaches the occurring place of the road condition through a back-end cooperative self-learning mechanism. The back-end cooperative self-learning mechanism may collect the exceptional road conditions from different vehicles and update the database automatically to maintain the accuracy. The back-end cooperative self-learning mechanism further shares the information stored in the database with the databases installed in the vehicles by a bidirectional communication manner to update the information inside the database of the vehicles for the information processing device.
US09047769B2 System for aiding the guidance of an aircraft travelling around an airport zone
The general field of the invention is that of systems for aiding the guidance of a first aircraft travelling around an airport zone. The system according to the invention comprises: a set of databases comprising bulkiness and performance characteristics of the said first aircraft, geometric and technical characteristics of the airport zone and information about the air traffic in the immediate environment of the said first aircraft; calculation means making it possible to firstly determine a safety zone around the said first aircraft taking into account at least the position of the said aircraft, its size and the uncertainty in the measurement of its position; and then a taxiing indication on the basis of the information arising from the databases and the characteristics of the safety zone; viewing means displaying at least one view of the airport one in which the first aircraft is situated and a representation of the said taxiing indication.
US09047767B2 Traffic impact prediction for multiple event planning
Embodiments relate to traffic impact prediction in a transportation network. Link level background traffic demand in a transportation network may be estimated based on information about available routes, and based on expected background traffic volumes between origins and destinations. A background traffic flow model that optimizes a background flow of the expected background traffic volumes among the available routes to minimize a sum of background congestion costs, background path entropy, and errors between an observed background traffic flow and the optimized background flow may be applied. Alternative routes may be identified based on the available routes and event based control plans. Expected additional event based traffic volumes may be received. A link level total traffic demand in the transportation network may be estimated based on the expected additional event based traffic volumes, the identified alternative routes, and the estimated background traffic demand.
US09047764B2 Method of alert calculation for an aircraft ground proximity warning system
The invention relates to a method of alert calculation for an aircraft obstruction proximity warning system including a step for detecting a hazardous flight situation capable of triggering an alert as a function of a data signal representing the change in height below the aircraft, including, prior to the step of detection, a step for converting the data signal representing the change in height as a function of information representative of the vertical profile of the obstructions below the aircraft.
US09047763B2 Methods and systems for representing time of arrival information on a cockpit display
A method is provided for displaying information on a display device of an aircraft. The method comprises receiving data indicating a point selected from a trajectory of a flight path; determining an estimated time of arrival minimum and an estimated time of arrival maximum based on the point; and displaying in a dialogue box associated with the trajectory of the flight path the estimated time of arrival minimum and the estimated time of arrival maximum for the point.
US09047759B2 Communication device
A mobile device includes a position sensing unit, a remote control information obtainment unit, and a storage unit. Position information obtained by the position sensing unit is stored in the storage unit in association with remote control information. The mobile device further includes a directional space obtainment unit and an apparatus specification unit. The mobile device recognizes a direction pointed by a user using the mobile device, and enables operation of a terminal apparatus existing in the pointing direction.
US09047757B2 Systems and methods for remotely controlling an advanced metering infrastructure
A computer-implemented method for remotely controlling an AMI is disclosed. The method includes receiving at an AMI controller module, meter event data from a remote command and control module; generating, at a third module, rules for the management, implementation and compliance documentation of connect/disconnect orders; processing, at the third module, the meter event data based on those rules to aggregate, batch, filter, or prioritize execution of individual connect/disconnect orders; communicating the connect/disconnect execution orders and policy compliance verification information to the AMI controller module; and, at the AMI controller module, executing connect/disconnect operations via the command and control module.
US09047755B2 Hygiene compliance system and method
A hygiene compliance system comprising personnel tags each having a respective status indicator that may be set to a first value indicating hygiene compliance or to a second value indicating hygiene non-compliance. Monitors for target zones, e.g. patients' beds, detect the presence of the personnel tags at the target zone. Monitors for hygiene stations, e.g. washbasins, detect the presence of the tags at the hygiene stations. When the hygiene station monitor detects that a hygiene station has been used, the respective tag is set to the first value. The target zone monitor checks the status of tags detected in its target zone and may issue a warning if the status indicates hygiene non-compliance. When the person leaves the target zone, the target zone monitor changes the respective tag's status to the second value.
US09047754B2 Lighting system for light emitting diode having gas detection function
A light emitting diode (LED) lighting system having a gas detection function may be used not only for lighting but also for detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) causing the sick house syndrome at home and other odorless and colorless non-combustible gas harmful to a human body. The LED lighting system may be used as an optical sensor showing with the fast response time and high sensitivity with respect to an environment harmful to a human body. In addition, since the presence of gas can be easily detected through a change of color in comparison to sound alarms for fire and gas contamination, emergency situations can be effectively handled.
US09047753B2 Networked touchscreen with integrated interfaces
An integrated security system integrates broadband and mobile access and control with conventional security systems and premise devices to provide a tri-mode security network that with remote connectivity and access. The integrated security system includes a touchscreen providing security keypad functionality as well as content management and presentation, and is used as a security system interface and an interface for interacting with a network. The integrated security system delivers remote premise monitoring and control functionality to conventional monitored premise protection and complements existing premise protection equipment. The integrated security system integrates into the premise network and couples wirelessly with the conventional security panel, enabling broadband access to premise security systems. Automation devices can be added, enabling users to remotely see live video or pictures and control home devices via a personal web portal, mobile phone, or other client device. Users can receive notifications of detected events via electronic message.
US09047752B2 Alarm device to prevent drowsiness in drivers
The invention relates in general to an alarm device with the shape of a ring, comprising a housing located on its upper end, which contains an alarm system, which is activated upon the first signs of drowsiness or sleep of a human body. The relaxation or loosening of the muscles of the hand causes the pressure exerted on a lever located adjacent the ring to cease, which results in the enlargement of the circumference of the ring so that it will exert pressure on a knob, which in its turn will actuate a horn capable of producing a shrill sound and a vibrator, upon which the driver will recover a state of consciousness.
US09047750B2 Movement monitoring
A monitoring device includes a memory with a management application installed thereon. The application is configured to process a sensor signal generated by a sensor system configured between a patient and a corresponding surface, the sensor signal being configured based on a physiological movement detected by the sensor system, analyze the sensor signal utilizing a monitoring heuristic associated with a patient profile. The monitoring heuristic is configured to identify physiological movement patterns over time within the sensor signal and generate an output based on the physiological movement patterns.
US09047749B2 System and method for situational awareness
A method for determining location of a person relative to a vehicle. A first device comprising a Bluetooth transceiver is associated with the person, and a second device comprising a Bluetooth transceiver is associated with the vehicle. The method includes determining whether the strength of a signal received by one device from the other device via has diminished below a predetermined level, in which case a notification is provided to a computer system via wireless data communication that the status has changed from a first link status wherein the first device is within a predeterminable distance from the second device to a second link status wherein the first device is beyond the predeterminable distance from the second device.
US09047747B2 Dual serial bus interface
An interface protocol for patient monitoring systems includes a Dual Serial Bus (DSB) interface. The DSB interface includes a first serial protocol that is USB, Firewire, or Ethernet protocol and a second serial protocol that is a low power serial (LPS) protocol. DSB interfaces provide for communication between DSB Hosts and DSB Devices and allow for the transfer of operating and battery charging power from DSB Host to DSB Device. In addition, the DSB host contains a switched Auxiliary Voltage Supply (AVS) which can provide up to 15 W of power to DSB devices for battery charging or other high power needs. The DSB interface eliminates the need for multiple cables for different parameter sensing devices as there is only one type of connector and, accordingly, reduces the risk of damage caused by inadvertently plugging a parameter sensing device into the wrong receptacle.
US09047746B1 Electronic medication compliance monitoring system and associated methods
A system and method for monitoring a patient's compliance with a medication regimen includes an electronic tag integral with or attached to a medicine delivery device such as a capsule, the tag having an antenna and a receiver/transmitter, the system also including a reader positioned externally for detecting the presence and location of the delivery device in the patient.
US09047743B2 Sophisticated automated relationship alerter
Device, process and program for determining and alerting a user of the existence of nearby acquaintance, including: providing a first electronic communication device having near-field transmitting and receiving communications capability, a user interface and control circuitry; transmitting from the first communication device an inquiry to determine the presence in the near-field of a compatible second electronic communication device; upon receipt of a positive response to the inquiry, transmitting from the first communication device anonymous user indicia; receiving anonymous user indicia from the second communication device; coordinating the received anonymous user indicia to determine the presence of any matches between the transmitted anonymous user information and the received anonymous user indicia; and providing either a list of matches or an indication of no matches to the user via the user interface. Based on the information exchanged, the users can determine whether a relationship between the users exists or might be created.
US09047737B2 Web based methods and apparatus for parimutual historical gaming
A system for parimutuel wagering on actual past events includes, in one embodiment, a video server including a database having video images of gaming events stored therein, a game server including a computer system configured to facilitate pari-mutuel wagering on actual past events and to permit a player to select a percentage weight for each of a plurality of handicapping factors, and a plurality of terminals. The video server and plurality of terminals are communicatably coupled to the game server.
US09047735B2 Head to head gambling hybrid games
Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention include: at least one gambling game with a real world engine; a multiplayer entertainment game with a head to head gambling controller constructed to: instruct the real world engine to conduct a head to head gambling session in which at least two players of the multiplayer entertainment game conduct at least one wager in at least one gambling game where real world credit payout as a result of the at least one wager in the at least one gambling game of the head to head gambling session is distributed between the at least two players of the multiplayer entertainment game within the head to head gambling session; and parameterize wager terms of each wager made in each gambling game of the head to head gambling session using information related to gameplay within the multiplayer entertainment game.
US09047734B2 Systems and methods for integrating graphic animation technologies in fantasy sports contest applications
Systems and methods for integrating graphic animation technologies with fantasy sports contest applications are provided. This invention enables a fantasy sports contest application to depict plays in various sporting events using graphic animation. The fantasy sports contest application may combine graphical representation of real-life elements such as, for example, player facial features, with default elements such as, for example, a generic player body, to create realistic graphic video. The fantasy sports contest application may provide links to animated videos for depicting plays on contest screens in which information associated with the plays may be displayed. The fantasy sports contest application may play the animated video for a user in response to the user selecting such a link. In some embodiment of the present invention, the fantasy sports contest application may also customize animated video based on user-supplied setup information.
US09047732B2 Method, apparatus, and computer-readable media for enabling real-time competition having an entertaining experience based on a live event
The disclosed embodiment relates to methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media for enabling real-time competition. An exemplary computer-implemented method executed by one or more computing devices for enabling real-time competition between users according to the disclosed embodiment includes, for example, receiving information from a first user computing device associated with a first user corresponding to the first user's competitive position regarding a real-time event, transmitting information to a second user computing device associated with a second user identifying the real-time event, receiving information from the second user computing device corresponding to the second user's competitive position regarding the real-time event, and transmitting information to the first user computing device and the second user computing device regarding an outcome of the real-time event relative to the first user's competitive position and the second user's competitive position.
US09047728B1 Banking system controlled responsive to data bearing records
An automated banking machine operates to cause financial transfers responsive at least in part to data read from data bearing records. The automated banking machine includes a card reader that is operative to read card data corresponding to financial accounts from user cards. The card data is linked in at least one data store to data indicating that the card data corresponds to a financial account that is authorized to be used to conduct at least one transaction through use of the automated banking machine. The automated banking machine may be used to carry out financial transfers involving financial accounts by users who are determined to be authorized users of such accounts.
US09047727B2 Portable electronic device and method for securing such device
A portable electronic device includes a first interface adapted for establishing a communication with a first external electronic entity. A first security element is adapted for detecting at least one type of attack and forbidding at least one data communication using the first interface after the detection of an attack. A second interface is different from the first interface and is adapted for establishing a communication with a second external electronic entity. A management element of the first security element uses the second interface for managing the first security element.
US09047723B2 Defect categorization
A method of categorizing defects in a media item is described. The method comprises the steps of: receiving an ultrasonic image of the media item, where the ultrasonic image comprises a plurality of points, each point having a thickness value corresponding to a normal value, a thin value, or a thick value; identifying one or more blobs comprising contiguous points each having a thickness value corresponding to a thin value; for each identified blob, comparing a size of the blob with a damage criterion; ignoring the blob if the blob size does not meet the damage criterion; and for each identified blob having a size meeting the damage criterion, categorizing the identified blob using the thickness values and locations.
US09047722B2 Vehicle location and fault diagnostic systems and methods
A fault diagnostic system of a vehicle includes: a global positioning system (GPS) receiver and a diagnostic module. The GPS receiver determines a location of the vehicle. The diagnostic module diagnoses a fault in a component of the vehicle. In response to the diagnosis of the fault, the diagnostic module stores diagnostic data in a computer readable medium. The diagnostic data includes both a predetermined diagnostic trouble code associated with the fault diagnosed and the location of the vehicle when the fault was diagnosed.
US09047721B1 Driver log generation
A system for determining a driver log entry comprises a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to determine a log start time. The processor is configured to determine a driver identity after the log start time. The processor is configured to determine whether a change to the driver identity has occurred based at least in part on a sensor data. In the event that the driver identity has changed, the processor is configured to determine a log stop time and determine a driver log entry using the log start time, the driver identity, and the log stop time.
US09047716B1 System and method for two-way remote activation with adaptive protocol
In one embodiment of a system and method for remote activation of a device includes, a transceiver is provided for transmitting a command signal according to a first transmission protocol having a first data rate, receiving an acknowledgment signal indicating that the command signal transmitted according to the first transmission protocol has been received, and transmitting the command signal according a second transmission protocol, the second transmission protocol having a second data rate less than the first data rate and including partition of the command signal. A controller is provided for selecting the first transmission protocol for use in transmitting the command signal in response to a user input, and selecting the second transmission protocol for use in transmitting the command signal when the transceiver fails to receive the acknowledgment signal.
US09047707B2 Graph display device
A graph display device includes a display module, a graph display control module which displays a graph corresponding to an expression on the display module, a specifying module which specifies a point on a graph displayed on the display module, a setting module which sets a tangent that contacts the graph at the specified point, an area determination module which, of two areas divided by the tangent set by the setting module, determines one area opposite to the area in which the graph lies to be a display area for coordinate values, and a coordinate value display control module which displays coordinate values of the specified point in the area determined by the area determination module.
US09047706B1 Aligning digital 3D models using synthetic images
To align a first digital 3D model of a scene with a second digital 3D model of the scene, real-world photographs of the scene are received and synthetic photographs of the first digital 3D model are generated according to different camera poses of a virtual camera. Using the real-world photographs and the synthetic photographs as input photographs, points in a coordinate system of the second digital 3D model are generated. Camera poses of the input photographs in the coordinate system of the second 3D model also are determined. Alignment data for aligning the first 3D model with the second 3D model is generated using the camera poses of the virtual camera and the camera poses corresponding to the input photographs.
US09047705B1 Methods and systems for electronically displaying financial data
Methods and systems for electronically displaying financial data involve, for example, providing access to an authorized user via a client computing device to financial data on a back-end server using a processor coupled to memory; likewise using the processor, sending the financial data to the client computing device from the back-end server; and also using the processor, rendering a three-dimensional graphic display showing a plurality of geographic locations associated with the financial data on the client computing device.
US09047701B2 4D cone beam CT using deformable registration
A method of obtaining a volumetric image includes obtaining a plurality of volumetric images, the volumetric images generated using respective sets of projection images, wherein the volumetric images and the respective sets of projection images correspond with different respective bins for a physiological cycle, and determining an additional volumetric image using one or more of the projection images from each of the sets that correspond with the different respective bins for the physiological cycle, wherein the act of determining the additional volumetric image is performed using a processor.
US09047700B2 Virtual and augmented reality
Technologies are generally described for systems and methods effective to implement virtual and augmented reality. In an example, a first device may send data to a second device. The first device may include a processor and a memory. The processor may receive first image data based on a first real image from a third device. The first real image may include a fourth device image that relates to a fourth device. The processor may receive second image data based on a second real image from the fourth device. The processor may send the first image data to the second device. The processor may receive a first request from the second device to receive the second image data. The processor may send a second request to the fourth device for the second image data, receive the second image data, and send the second image data to the second device.
US09047699B2 System and method for creating and displaying map projections related to real-time images
There is provided a method and system for creating and displaying a map projection of a device's real-time viewing area to depict virtual objects, the virtual objects providing a reflected view of real-time objects displayed within the device's viewing area, the method comprising: displaying a real-time image of the device's viewing area taken from a geographical location on a display; retrieving the map projection for revealing the reflected view as an elevated view of a ground surface about the device's current geographical location and in accordance with the device's viewing area; superimposing the map projection on the display and overlaid in an upper portion of the real-time image; and defining one or more markers configured to show a relationship between the map projection and the real-time image, each marker overlaid on the display and configured to connect between the virtual object in the map projection and the corresponding real-time object on the real-time image.
US09047697B2 Recording medium, information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method
An example information processing apparatus includes: an operation part; an attitude output part outputting, in time series, attitude data corresponding to attitude; an information storage part storing, in time series, information relevant to the attitude data outputted by said attitude output part; a display processing part, in correspondence to the attitude data outputted by said attitude output part, performing processing concerning display of a three-dimensional virtual space; an information acquiring part, from the information stored in time series by said information storage part, acquiring information corresponding to the time preceding by a given period the time that operation was performed on said operation part; and an information processing part, on the basis of the operation performed on said operation part and the information acquired by said information acquiring part, performing information processing.
US09047695B2 Transformation method for diffusion spectrum imaging using large deformation diffeomorphic metric mapping
A transformation method for diffusion spectrum imaging includes: receiving an original DSI dataset and a template DSI dataset; computing an energy function; computing, for each time point, first-order and second-order derivatives of the energy function with respect to velocity fields in an image space and in a q-space; computing, for each time point, the velocity fields in the image space and in the q-space based upon the first-order and second-order derivatives; performing integration on the velocity fields over time to obtain a deformation field; and generating a transformed DSI dataset according to the deformation field.
US09047692B1 Scene scan
Systems, methods, and computer storage mediums are provided for creating a scene scan from a group of photographic images. An exemplary method includes determining a set of common features for at least one pair of photographic images. The features include a portion of an object captured in each of a first and a second photographic image included in the pair. The first and second photographic images may be captured from different optical centers. A similarity transform for the at least one pair of photographic images is the determined. The similarity transform is provided in order to render the scene scan from each pair of photographic images. At least one of the rotation factor, the scaling factor, or the translation factor associated with the similarity transform is used to position each pair of photographic images such that the set of common features between a pair of, at least in part, align.
US09047690B2 System and method for facilitating creation of a rich virtual environment
A virtual venue application for displaying information is provided, where the virtual venue application is implemented as part of an apparatus, or a system. The virtual venue application allows one or more users to store digital information, where the virtual venue application displays the stored digital information within a virtual environment, and where the virtual environment is presented by one or more two- or three-dimensional screens displayed within a user interface. The virtual venue application further enables interaction between users in a virtual environment.
US09047689B2 Method and apparatus for visualizing multi-dimensional well logging data with shapelets
A method for visualizing parametric logging data includes interpreting logging data sets, each logging data set corresponding to a distinct value of a progression parameter, calculating a geometric image including a representation of data from each of the logging data sets corresponding to a wellbore measured depth, and displaying the geometric image(s) at a position along a well trajectory corresponding to the wellbore measured depth. The progression parameter includes time, a resistivity measurement depth, differing tool modes that are sampling different volumes of investigation, and/or sampling different physical properties. The geometric images include a number of parallel lines having lengths determined according to the logging data and/or an azimuthal projection of the logging data, a number of concentric axial projections, and/or shapelets determined from parallel lines and/or concentric axial projections. The method includes dynamically determining a selected measured depth, measured depth interval, and/or azimuthal projection angle.
US09047688B2 Depth cursor and depth measurement in images
One or more systems, devices, and/or methods for illustrating depth are disclosed. For example, a method includes receiving a depthmap generated from an optical distancing system. The depthmap includes depth data for each of a plurality of points, which are correlated to pixels of an image. Data indicative of a location on the image is received. Depth data correlated with the first point is compared to depth data correlated with pixels at surrounding points in the image. If the depth data correlated with the first point indicate a lesser distance from a viewer perspective of the image than the depth data of a pixel at the surrounding points in the image, the pixel is changed to a predetermined value. The comparison may be repeated at other pixels and a depth illustration may be drawn that relates the depth of the received location to other objects in the image.
US09047684B2 Systems and methods for synthesizing high resolution images using a set of geometrically registered images
Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed that use super-resolution (SR) processes to use information from a plurality of low resolution (LR) images captured by an array camera to produce a synthesized higher resolution image. One embodiment includes obtaining input images, determining an initial estimate of at least a portion of a high resolution image using a plurality of pixels from the input images, and determining a high resolution image that when mapped through the forward imaging transformation matches the input images to within at least one predetermined criterion using the initial estimate of at least a portion of the high resolution image. In addition, each forward imaging transformation corresponds to the manner in which each imager generates the input images, and the high resolution image has a resolution that is greater than any of the input images.
US09047682B2 Method and system for image processing
The disclosure provides a method for image processing, including: loading and decrypting an image file to obtain an original image, and saving the original image; shrinking the original image to obtain a pending image with a preset resolution, and saving the pending image; editing the pending image and previewing the pending image in real time; and editing the original image after the real-time previewing. The disclosure also provides a system for image processing. the disclosure can increase efficiency of real-time preview at the time of image editing.
US09047680B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and data structure of content files
As a user inputs instruction to start up content, an initial image is displayed. A viewpoint shift request is made, viewpoint coordinates are calculated according to the viewpoint shift request. Then verified is whether a hierarchical level has been changed in hierarchical image data due to a shift of the viewpoint coordinates or not. If the hierarchical level has been changed, the node of a hierarchical image is extracted from image correspondence data and then a coordinate transform matrix associated with the node is modified. A new elemental image is decoded, each image is subjected to the coordinate transform based on the image correspondence data so as to evaluate the coordinates on display coordinates. Each elemental image is placed on the evaluated coordinates, which in turn integrates the elemental images and updates a displayed imaged.
US09047675B2 Strike detection using video images
A method and apparatus for strike detection. Images of an object are identified in video images from a video camera on a vehicle. A movement of the object with respect to the vehicle is identified from the images of the object in the video images. It is determine whether the movement of the object with respect to the vehicle indicates that the object will strike the vehicle. A strike report comprising information indicating that the object will strike the vehicle is generated in response to a determination that the object will strike the vehicle.
US09047672B2 Image generation apparatus, image generation method and image generation program
An image generation apparatus is provided with: a resolution sensitivity conversion unit which generates different weight-averaged images by performing convolution operations on the infrared image with plural different weighted-filter images, and generates a resolution-sensitivity-converted image by adding luminance differences between the weight-averaged images to luminance values of the infrared image; a luminance shift calculating unit which sets the most frequently appearing luminance value of the resolution-sensitivity-converted image to an intermediate value in an enlarged range and as an intermediate luminance value, and generates a luminance-shifted image obtained by linearly shifting luminance values of the resolution-sensitivity-converted image in such a manner that the shifting corresponds to the intermediate luminance value and the enlarged range; and a luminance arithmetic operation unit which generates an arithmetically processed image by performing an arithmetic operation based on luminance differences between corresponding positions of the luminance-shifted image and a reverse shifted image.
US09047671B2 Platelike workpiece with alignment mark
A platelike workpiece having an alignment mark formed on the front side thereof and adapted to be recognized by an imaging unit included in an alignment apparatus for performing alignment. The platelike workpiece includes a plurality of direction indicating marks formed at given intervals so as to surround the alignment mark. Each of the direction indicating marks is pointed toward the alignment mark. The space of the direction indicating marks is set so that at least two of the plural direction indicating marks fall in the visual field of the imaging unit in viewing the platelike workpiece from the imaging unit.
US09047670B2 Method and apparatus for exemplar-based inpainting in a multi-scaled space using Laplacian pyramid
A method for exemplar-based inpainting using a Laplacian pyramid in a multi-scale space is provided, which is capable of reflecting structural features and texture features simultaneously every time inpainting is performed. The exemplar-based inpainting method using the Laplacian pyramid in the multi-scale space includes constructing a Laplacian pyramid image including a plurality of levels using an input image and performing inpainting reflecting the structural features of a low frequency region and the texture features of a high frequency region using the Laplacian pyramid image.
US09047668B2 Location determination for an object using visual data
A global position of an observed object is determined by obtaining a first global position of an observed object with at least one positioning device. A determination is made as to whether a set of stored visual characteristic information of at least one landmark matches a visual characteristic information set obtained from at least one captured image comprising a scene associated with the observed object. In response to the set of stored visual characteristic information matching the obtained visual characteristic information set, a second global position of the observed object is determined based on a set of stored location information associated with the at least one landmark and the first global position.
US09047663B2 Method for triggering blood salvage
One variation of a method for triggering blood cell salvage for a patient includes: processing a first photographic image of a canister to estimate a content of a blood component within the canister; processing a second photographic image of a gauze sponge to estimate a content of the blood component in the gauze sponge; estimating an aggregate salvageable blood component content for the patient based on the estimated content of the blood component within the canister and the estimated content of the blood component in the gauze sponge; and in response to the estimated aggregate salvageable blood component content exceeding a threshold salvageable blood component content, generating a prompt to salvage the blood component from fluid within the canister and from the gauze sponge.
US09047660B2 Network cycle features in relative neighborhood graphs
Methods for analyzing biomedical data include: (a) obtaining macroscopic imaging data; (b) obtaining histopathological imaging data; (c) executing a parallel algorithm stored on a non-transient computer-readable medium to compute one or a plurality of network cycle features of a relative neighborhood graph derived from the histopathological imaging data; (d) registering the macroscopic imaging data and the histopathological imaging data; and (e) correlating the macroscopic imaging data and the network cycle features. Systems for analyzing biomedical data and computer readable storage media are described.
US09047659B2 System, method and computer-accessible medium for performing attenuation-corrected multispectral luminescence tomography of cerenkov and bioluminescent light sources
The present disclosure can provide apparatus, system, methods, and computer-accessible medium for generating particular information which is at least one of three-dimensional information or intensity information of a tissue portion which can include at least one of a tissue surface or a tissue volume. For example, the exemplary method can include determining a light intensity distribution of light provided on the tissue portion, using the light intensity distribution, determining one or more attenuation maps of the tissue portion, obtaining one or more multispectral measurements of the light intensity distribution on the tissue portion taken from one or more views, and generating the particular information using an image reconstruction procedure in conjunction with data from the one or more tissue attenuation maps and the multispectral measurements.
US09047653B2 Stitched digital images
Disclosed is a method of blending stitched document image portions. The method identifies background pixels and foreground pixels on each boundary of the image portions. Pixels of the image portions are then modified based on a pixel value difference between corresponding background pixels on the respective boundary of the first and second portions.
US09047650B2 Geographically-aware electronic traveling advertisements
A mechanism for geographically-aware electronic traveling advertisements is disclosed. A method of the invention includes displaying each of a plurality of advertisements on an electronic display of a mobile advertising unit in a general rotation and on a random basis, determining a current location of the mobile advertising unit from a Geographic Positioning System (GPS) unit and a current time from a clock, interrupting the general rotation to display a high priority advertisement if the current location of the mobile advertising unit is within a GPS waypoint range of the high-priority advertisement, interrupting the general rotation to display a high priority advertisement if the current time of the mobile advertising unit is within a time range of the high-priority advertisement, and recording statistics for each advertisement displayed on the electronic display in a log stored at the mobile advertising unit.
US09047649B2 Intelligently providing user-specific traffic-related information
A method, system, and medium are provided for distributing transportation alerts to computing devices in accordance with factors, such as device-specific and location-specific factors. In embodiments of the present invention, travel alerts, including public alerts associated with certain areas, are formatted or held prior to delivery, based on safety concerns, legal requirements, device settings, or other considerations.
US09047648B1 Measurement, collection, reporting and processing of health condition data
Systems and methods for measuring, collecting, managing, reporting and distributing data pertaining to medical device measurements, such as personal health condition data, are provided. In various embodiments, medical device(s) are paired (integrated, tethered, or wirelessly coupled) with a user's portable computing device, such as a cell phone, so that the portable device receives locally made health data measurement(s) recorded by the medical device(s). After any pre-processing by the portable device, standard interfaces enable the health data measurement(s) to be transmitted, e.g., periodically, from the portable device to a health station server on a wireless communications network. The health station server may then analyze the health data measurement(s), e.g., versus historical and demographic data, so that the results of the analysis can be distributed to end users and service providers alike who make use of the communications network in a variety of ways.
US09047642B2 Social choice engine
A social choice engine is disclosed for eliciting and receiving responses to questions or issues and ranking the responses using the Borda ranking system. The social choice engine provides a user interface to a survey administrator that allows for the defining of the social choice survey. The social choice engine also provides a pick list of possible participants, where the possible participants are members of an online community. To administer the social choice survey, the social choice engine sends electronic notifications to selected participants. The participants respond to the social choice survey through a user interface that includes interactive features. The results of the social choice survey are then displayed to the survey administrator.
US09047641B2 Methods and systems for using metadata to represent social context information
A method includes establishing an interaction session between a plurality of devices associated with a plurality of users, respectively. Access to an asset by a first device in the interaction session is detected. Session metadata relating to the interaction session is associated with the asset. The asset may be an asset that was generated by another device during another interaction session or it may have been generated by the first device in the interaction session.
US09047640B2 Exceeded account threshold service involving exceeded account threshold magnetic stripe
In general terms, embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for providing an account exceeding available funds or credit service involving an account exceeding available funds or credit magnetic stripe. For example, in some embodiments, a method is provided that includes: (a) receiving transaction information associated with a transaction, where the transaction involves a transaction machine and an account, and where the account is associated with a credit/debit card; (b) determining, based at least partially on the transaction information, that the account will incur an account exceeding available funds or credit as a result of the transaction; (c) receiving account exceeding available funds or credit swipe information indicating that an account exceeding available funds or credit magnetic stripe of the credit/debit card was swiped at the transaction machine; and (d) authorizing the transaction based at least partially on receiving the account exceeding available funds or credit swipe information.
US09047637B1 Method and system for converting printed checks into pre-paid debit card funds
A pre-paid debit or credit card account, and an associated pre-paid debit or credit card, is provided to a consumer for use with one or more check conversion stations. The check conversion stations include a card reader for obtaining user account data associated with the consumer's pre-paid debit or credit card account from the pre-paid debit or credit card and a paper check scanner for obtaining check data from a paper check provided by the consumer. At least part of the user account data and the check data is then subjected to analysis, verification, and/or approval of a transfer of at least part of the funds indicated by the check data to the balance of the pre-paid debit or credit card.
US09047629B2 System for handling network transactions
The present invention relates to a method of enabling a computer network transaction for a product being purchased by a buyer from a seller, comprising the steps of generating a once-only transaction identification means associated with the transaction, providing the transaction identification means to a transaction acquirer, together with a buyer identification means which identifies the buyer to the transaction acquirer, and providing the once-only identification means to the seller, whereby the seller may provide the transaction identification means to the transaction acquirer and the transaction acquirer can match the transaction identification means received from the seller with the transaction identification means they have been provided with and, if they match, can enable settlement of the transaction.
US09047625B2 Integrated digital broadcasting system, network, and methods
An integrated system, network, and method for providing audio/video broadcasting of programming and advertising content. The system provides sales, traffic, playback automation, and accounting services to a media outlet. The network links multiple integrated systems together between multiple media outlets and advertising clients. The network also provides distribution of programming and advertising content to multiple media outlets simultaneously.
US09047624B1 Auditing of content related events
At times, it may be desirable to determine that a client system is, or to determine the number of client systems that are, presenting particular dynamic content when an auditable event occurs in the dynamic content. One manner of making the determination may include accessing presentation time information that indicates the time(s) at which one or more client systems present particular dynamic content and accessing event time information indicating the time(s) at which one or more auditable events occur in the dynamic particular content. Based on the presentation time information and the event time information, it may be possible to determine that a client system is, or to determine the number of client systems that are, presenting particular dynamic content when an auditable event occurs in the dynamic content.
US09047607B1 Method, medium, and system for determining eligibility for a location-based shipping option for fulfillment networks
Methods, systems and apparatus are described for determining eligibility for a location-based shipping option for multiple fulfillment networks. Embodiments may send display information to a user in response to a user request for display information for one or more items offered on a network-based site. The display information may be configured to indicated whether items are eligible for an enhanced shipping option based upon the shipping origin of the item and a predicted shipping destination. Some embodiments may provide multiple fulfillment networks with the enhanced shipping option. Some of the fulfillment networks may be controlled by an entity different from the entity controlling the network-based site. In some embodiments the enhanced shipping option is an option within a subscription-based shipping program for the network-based site.
US09047606B2 Social and contextual recommendations
A method performed by a processing system includes receiving a recommendation from a source user in response to performing an action corresponding to an action context of the recommendation, determining whether the source user appears in social network information of a target user, and distinguishing a presentation of the recommendation to the target user in response to the source user appearing in the social network information of the target user.
US09047604B2 Secure transaction card using biometrical validation
A validation scheme for use with a transaction card such as a calling card, et cetera, using personalized biometric profile data that is inherently coupled to the card owner/user. A configuration process is used for populating a profile database with sample voice or other biometric responses elicited from the owner/user in response to a plurality of questions relating to information uniquely linked to the user such as, e.g., name, age, hobbies, et cetera, or biometric responses such as fingerprints, retinal scans, and palm prints, or implanted ID chips. When a transaction is attempted using the transaction card, a determination is made if a voice profile validation is required for authentication. If so, a question from the plurality of questions used in the configuration process is randomly selected and directed to the user for a response. Access is provided only if a match between the response and corresponding sample is found. In a passive mode, the validation scheme may be utilized as an auxiliary fraud prevention scheme in addition to existing authentication systems.
US09047601B2 Method and apparatus for settling payments using mobile devices
Techniques for mobile devices configured to support settlement of charges in electronic invoices or bills are described. A mobile device embedded with a secure element generates or is loaded with an electronic invoice. When the mobile device is brought to a consumer with an NFC mobile device, the data including the electronic invoice and other information regarding the mobile device or an owner thereof is read off wirelessly into the NFC mobile device. After the user verifies the amount being charged and authorizes the payment, the NFC mobile device communicates with a payment gateway or network for payment that is configured to proceed with the payment in accordance with a chosen payment methods.
US09047599B1 Method and apparatus for wirelessly processing a financial transaction using a wireless payment card reader
A wireless device including a reader to read information from a payment card and generate data. A verification module verifies whether the reader has correctly read the information. A security module securely connects the wireless device to a mobile device using a first or a second wireless communication protocol. A transmitter transmits the data and identifying information received from a user to the mobile device using the first or the second wireless communication protocol. The mobile device transmits the data and the identifying information to a payment system. A receiver at the wireless device receives from the mobile device an acknowledgement received by the mobile device from the payment system, indicating whether the payment system has approved the data and the identifying information. An indicator on the wireless device indicates whether the reader has correctly read the information and the payment system has approved the data and the identifying information.
US09047598B1 Systems and methods for financial transaction through card reader in communication with third party financial institution with encrypted information
A system is provided that includes a transaction engine running on a mobile device. In response to a financial transaction between a buyer and a seller, the transaction uses the mobile device to accept information selected including but not limited to information from financial transaction or information pertaining to financial transaction card used by the buyer in the transaction. At least a portion of this information is communicated with a third party financial institution or payment network to authorize the transaction. Encrypted information is sent to the third party payment system authorizing a financial transaction.
US09047594B2 Smart phone system and method
A system and method for remediation, curing concerns, and transferring information associated with declined transactions is disclosed. The present disclosure generally relates to electronic commerce, and more particularly, to a system and method of validation and efficiency associated with electronic commerce.
US09047591B2 Systems and methods to plan events at different locations
Systems and methods are provided to specify a location of a planned event via a selection of a listing that has location information. For example, in response to a search request a listing may show a business entity at a geographic location; and the user may select the listing as a way to specify the location of a new event or an existing event. In some embodiments, one event can have multiple listings specifying multiple locations.
US09047584B2 Web-based user interface tool for social network group collaboration
Members of a social networking system group are provided multiple interfaces to communicate within the group. A first communication interface allows a user to upload a first content item; in response to this, the first content item is transmitted via a first communication channel to online members of the group. A second communication interface allows a user to upload a second content item; in response to this, the second content item is transmitted via a second communication channel to online and offline members of the group. Transmission via a first communication channel may comprise sending an instant message containing the first content item. Transmission via a second communication channel may comprise displaying the second content item on a group message board. Both interfaces may be contained within the group's web page or may be contained within another web page within the social networking system or outside of it.
US09047582B2 Methods and systems for managing enterprise assets
The disclosed methods and systems can be used to manage at least one asset in an Enterprise, where the methods and systems include providing a first server, the first server configured to include at least one asset profile associated with the at least one asset, the first server controlled by the Enterprise, and receiving at the first server, in response to a request to a distinct second server, data associated with at least one vulnerability associated with the at least one asset, where the second server is outside the control of the Enterprise.
US09047580B1 Method, system, and computer readable medium for electronic auditing
Embodiments of systems, methods, and computer-readable media for auditing electronic freight bills are disclosed. For example, one embodiment of the present invention is a method including the steps of receiving a first data source comprising a first set of data; receiving a second data source comprising a second set of data; generating a record comprising at least a portion of the first data set and at least a portion of the second data set; and conducting an audit of the record. In another embodiment, a computer-readable media comprises code for carrying out such a method.
US09047579B2 Advanced material tracking system (AMTS)
A method for tracking and reporting material movements and responding to material movements. Tracked-components are assigned a component identifier which can be associated with a location. The identifier is associated with a first location, and in response to a movement trigger, the location associated with the identifier is updated to a second location. A component can be comprised of multiple sub-components, each of which itself is a tracked component. When the location of the component is updated, the location of each sub-component is similarly updated. Each update of the location of a component can trigger reports or other actions within the system.
US09047577B2 Extensible support system for service offerings
Techniques are disclosed for integration, provisioning and management of entities and processes in a computing system such as, by way of example only, business entities and business processes. In particular, techniques are disclosed for implementing an extensible support system for multiple service offerings. For example, such a support system can be a business support system which may be employed in conjunction with a cloud computing environment.
US09047575B2 Creative process modeling and tracking system
One embodiment is a system that allows multiple entities to track a process for developing a product. The system receives a process defined in terms of the entities, which are involved in the process, and the relationships, which exist among the entities. The system permits a process instance to be created from the defined process upon deeming that the process is valid, and permits the first process instance to be tracked with respect to requirements and solutions that are specified by entities in the process instance.
US09047572B2 Mode determination for multivariate time series data
Embodiments relate to mode determination for multivariate time series data. An aspect includes determining first within-mode and first cross-mode parameters for a first number of modes, each mode comprising one or more time periods in the multivariate time series. Another aspect includes determining a first likelihood of the at least one multivariate time series based on the first sets of within-mode parameters and first set of cross-mode parameters. Another aspect includes determining second within-mode and second cross-mode parameters for a second number of modes. Another aspect includes determining a second likelihood of the at least one multivariate time series based on the second sets of within-mode parameters and second set of cross-mode parameters. Another aspect includes based on the first likelihood being higher than the second likelihood, selecting the first number of modes to model the at least one multivariate time series.
US09047571B2 Method and apparatus for quantum holographic information processing
Encoding of quantum algorithm and devices therefrom are provided. The encoding includes receiving a unitary matrix operator representing the quantum algorithm, each row of the unitary matrix operator defining a superposition of basis state vectors for transforming input states to output states. The encoding also includes recording rows of the unitary matrix operator by applying, to a volume holographic element, a combination of an ith one of n reference waves and a superposition of n signal waves defined by the superposition defined in an ith row of the unitary matrix operator. The n signal waves are a first set of n plane waves lying on a first conical surface having a first half angle and the n reference waves are a second set of n plane waves lying on a second conical surface, concentric with the first conical surface, with a second half angle different that the first half angle.
US09047570B2 Evolving algorithms for telecommunications network nodes by genetic programming
A method is provided of evolving algorithms for network node control in a telecommunications network node by updating a model of the network node, and genetic programming by (a) generating algorithms, (b) determining fitness level of the algorithms based on the model of the network node, and (c) selecting the algorithm that meet a predetermined fitness level. The steps (a), (b) and (c) are repeated automatically to provide a series of algorithms over time adapted to the changing model of the network node for possible implementation in the network node.
US09047563B2 Performing an action related to a measure of credibility of a document
A plurality of topics encompassed in a document are determined and, for each such topic, a sentiment for that topic is likewise determined. Thereafter, credibility of the document is determined based on the resulting plurality of sentiments. In one embodiment, credibility of at least one target document is established by first determining, for each of a plurality of portions of the at least one target document, at least one topic encompassed in the portion to provide a plurality of target topics. Likewise, sentiment scores are determined for each portion. Thereafter, for each prior topic of a plurality of prior topics, a topic-sentiment score is determined based on sentiment scores corresponding to those portions of the plurality of portions having a target topic corresponding to the prior topic. A credibility index is determined based on the resulting plurality of topic-sentiment scores.
US09047562B2 Data processing device, information storage medium storing computer program therefor and data processing method
A plurality of pruning measures (PM) are calculated from a feature amount (CV) of test data (TD) which is input, a plurality of isopycnic surfaces (EC) are plotted and set on a threshold space (SS), a threshold curved surface (SC) in which a decrease in at least one of a plurality of pruning measures (PM) causes an increase in at least one thereof is generated using a portion of one isopycnic surface (EC) as a part, a hypothesis curved surface (HC) of subject data (CD) is generated on the threshold space (SS) to set a position intersecting the threshold curved surface (SC) to a pruning threshold (PS), and a plurality of hypotheses of the subject data (CD) are pruned. Thereby, there is provided a data processing device of which at least one of the recognition speed and the recognition accuracy is higher than in the related art.
US09047556B2 Media determination for a print job from a rasterization process
Methods and systems herein provide for identifying multiple types of media that will be used for print a print job by rasterizing raw print data for the print job. In one embodiment, a print controller receives a print job. The print controller identifies multiple types of media that will be utilized for printing the print job by rasterizing raw print data of the print job. The print controller generates a list of printable media that will be utilized for printing the job based on the multiple types of media that are identified. The print controller then provides the list of printable media to a print operator.
US09047553B2 Methods and apparatuses for printing three dimensional images
Systems and methods for printing a 3D object on a three-dimensional (3D) printer are described. The methods semi-automatically or automatically delineate an item in an image, receive a 3D model of the item, matches said item to said 3D model, and send the matched 3D model to a 3D printer.
US09047549B2 Antenna for dipole-type IC tag, antenna roll, and usage method for IC tag
To provide an antenna for dipole-type IC tag, which can conform to various IC chip specifications and communication frequencies in a wide area without causing an increase in the size of antenna, while advantageously suppressing a decrease in a communication distance caused by a defect part in an antenna pattern, in an antenna for dipole-type IC tag, an antenna radiation part is configured by extending an antenna wire in a radiation part extending direction, while repeatedly forming a pair of branch paths that branches in a direction intersecting with the radiation part extending direction, and a connection path which connects the pair of branch paths. The connection path is configured to extend in the radiation part extending direction from a junction of a pair of branch paths to a branch point of a next pair of branch paths.
US09047548B2 Semiconductor chip, transponder and method of manufacturing a transponder
A semiconductor chip (1, 91) for a transponder (3, 93) comprises a chip substrate (4) with a surface (5), chip terminals (6, 7) arranged on the surface (5), and a passivation layer (22) covering the surface (5) and completely covering the chip terminals (6, 7), so that an antenna (2, 30) with antenna terminals (24, 25) can be attached to the chip (1, 91) above the chip terminals (6, 7), so that the chip terminals (6, 7), the passivation layer (22) and the antenna terminal (24, 25) form first capacitors.
US09047546B2 Method of money transfer via a mobile phone having security code generator
A transaction card comprises a substrate having an IC. An interface is coupled to the IC for signal transmission; a security code generator is coupled with the IC to generate a security code for banking transaction; an electricity generating button is coupled to the security code generator to generate the security code, a display is on the substrate and is coupled to the IC for displaying the security code. The electricity generating button includes piezoelectric material to generate electricity by piezoelectricity. The interface is contactless or contact type. The display is electronic paper, OLED, FED.
US09047545B2 Modular chemistry analyzer
A chemistry analyzer is disclosed that can include a unitary base with vertical and horizontal supports for constraining subassemblies. The subassemblies include at least a reagent/sample carousel subassembly, a transfer arm subassembly, and a reaction carousel subassembly. A centralized hydraulic system can also be provided behind a user access panel. The analyzer can use machine-readable test specifications coupled with its reagent vessels to define tests that include operations that employ the reagents. The analyzer can also display to the operator a pictorial representation that includes graphical elements that convey levels of usage for the storage vessels, and access icons that are each associated with a color and each lead to a set of screens for different types of operations for the analyzer.
US09047542B2 System and method for adding data to a printed publication
Systems and methods for adding data to a printed publication are provided. One method includes receiving variable data and controlling an energy source to at least partially ablate the printed publication based on the variable data. The printed publication is printed on the substrate using the commercial printing press based on fixed data. Controlling the energy source to at least partially ablate the printed publication includes, after the printed publication has been printed on the substrate by the commercial printing press based on the fixed data, controlling the energy source to remove a portion of the printed publication based on the variable data.
US09047538B2 Facial image quality assessment
An example method includes capturing, by a camera of a mobile computing device, an image, determining whether the image includes a representation of at least a portion of a face, and, when the image includes the representation of at least the portion of the face, analyzing characteristics of the image. The characteristics include at least one of a tonal distribution of the image that is associated with a darkness-based mapping of a plurality of pixels of the image, and a plurality of spatial frequencies of the image that are associated with a visual transition between adjacent pixels of the image. The method further includes classifying, by the mobile computing device, a quality of the image based at least in part on the analyzed characteristics of the image.
US09047528B1 Identifying characters in grid-based text
A method for identifying characters in scanned images of objects includes identifying a first set of characters in a scanned image of an object based on connected component analysis, identifying a second set of characters for the object based on an optical character recognition (OCR) process on the image of the object, and combining the first set of characters with the second set of characters to create a third set of characters.
US09047525B2 Imaging apparatus having imaging assembly
There is described an imaging apparatus having an imaging assembly that includes an image sensor. The imaging apparatus can capture a frame of image data having image data corresponding to a first set of pixels of the image sensor. The imaging apparatus can capture a frame or image data having image data corresponding to a second set of pixels of the image sensor.
US09047524B2 Variable capacitance element and high-frequency device
A high-frequency device includes an antenna coil, a variable capacitance element, and an RFIC. The variable capacitance element is configured by capacitor units in each of which a ferroelectric film is sandwiched between capacitor electrodes, and a capacitance value changes according to a control voltage applied between the capacitor electrodes. A control voltage application circuit configured by a plurality of resistance elements of different resistance values, and a resistance element of the variable capacitance element unit configured to apply a control voltage to the variable capacitance element are arranged in a layered manner above the capacitor unit. Thus, a variable capacitance element and a high-frequency device that includes a control voltage application circuit eliminating problems such as distortion due to active elements and growing IC size along with complication of circuit architecture, and ensuring reliability on impact due to falling or the like, are provided.
US09047523B2 Systems and methods using single antenna for multiple resonant frequency ranges
A radio frequency device utilizing an antenna having a single antenna structure resonant on multiple resonant frequency ranges. The antenna can be configured to operate within multiple frequency ranges for communication according to respective protocols associated with the respective frequency ranges.
US09047519B2 Optoelectronic apparatus for measuring structural sizes or object sizes and method of calibration
An optoelectronic apparatus is set forth for measuring structural sizes or object sizes which has a light reception element for converting received light into image data, a reception optics arranged before the light reception element as well as an evaluation unit which is configured to identify structures or objects in the image data, to determine its dimensions in picture elements and to convert the dimensions into absolute, in particular metric, units of length with reference to a scaling factor, wherein the scaling factor can be determined in a calibration procedure. In this respect, the evaluation unit is configured to locate code regions in the image data and to read out code information from the code regions and to calculate the scaling factor during the calibration procedure from dimensions of a calibration code whose code information includes a size indication for the calibration code in the absolute units of length.
US09047517B2 Image monitoring system and image monitoring program
An image monitoring system includes a recorder that records an image captured by a camera via a network. The system is controlled to display the present image captured by the camera or a past image recorded on the recorder. A moving object is detected from the image captured by the camera, the detector including a resolution converter for generating an image with a resolution lower than the resolution of the image captured by the camera. A moving object is detected from the image generated by the resolution converter and positional information on the detected moving object is output. The positional information of the detected moving object is merged with the image captured by the camera on the basis of the positional information.
US09047505B2 Collating device
A collating device includes a collation list, a collation unit and a comparison unit. The collation list is configured to retain a false alarm list including a registered image, a threshold value serving as a criterion for determining whether to perform alarm activation, and a false alarm person image. The collation unit is configured to collate an input image with the registered image and the false alarm person image managed by the collation list, thereby obtaining a similarity therebetween. The comparison unit is configured to compare: a larger one of a value of the similarity between the input image and the false alarm person image, which is obtained by the collation unit, and the threshold value; and the similarity between the input image and the registered image, which is obtained by the collation unit, thereby determining whether to perform the alarm activation.
US09047502B2 Automatic system for judging quality of cell
An automatic culture device 1 having an automatic quality determination system is equipped with an analysis program 12. The analysis program 12 extracts cell characteristics from a captured image of a cell by driving a characteristic quantity extraction program 13, which is an image processing program for extracting characteristics (characteristic quantities) of this cell. The quality of the cell is then determined from the extracted characteristic or a combination of a plurality of characteristics by driving an identification program 15 that determines the quality of a cell. This allows cell quality determination to be automated.
US09047500B2 Integrated thin film imager for bright field, dark field, and frustrated total internal reflection imaging
An optical imaging system includes a thin film imager that is able to create images of objects in various modes of imaging such as bright field, dark field, frustrated total internal reflection, fly eye, and the like. The imaging system may be an integrated optical design that performs different modes of optical imaging in the same imaging device by positioned pin hole structures in geometries that capture images according to the desired mode of imaging.
US09047497B2 Method and system for authenticating a user by means of an application
A user may be authenticated by an application. The user may be in possession of a user-specific card, which may store a user ID (UID), an operator ID (SID), and a plurality of application IDs (AIDn), and other related data. The card may provide data for implementing a plurality of security steps, performed individually or in combination, as chosen depending on a desired security level and/or the application. In a first security step, the application may read from the card the user ID (UID) from the card. In a second security step, the application may read out the operator ID (SID) and forward it to a server of an operator, which may then verify the operator ID (SID). In a third security step, the application may read out and verify its corresponding application ID (AIDn). The application may request additional information for the user from the server, using the user ID (UID).
US09047495B2 Identifying impact of a traffic incident on a road network
A method and system for identifying impact of a traffic incident on a road network, wherein the impact may be measured in terms of a spatial-temporal-impact region, in terms of incident duration from the time the incident is reported to the time at which the affected road network returns to recurrent flow conditions, and in terms of a cumulative time delay of all affected drivers.
US09047491B2 Encryption acceleration
The subject matter herein relates to data processing and, more particularly, to encryption acceleration. Various embodiments herein provide devices and systems including a standardized encryption application programming interface embedded in firmware to perform encryption services. Some such embodiments move encryption operations away from operating system processes into firmware. As a result, encryption operations are generally accelerated.
US09047490B2 Method and a system for secure execution of workflow tasks in a distributed workflow management system within a decentralized network system
There are provided a method, a system and an initiator server for a secure execution of workflow tasks of a workflow to be executed according to a given execution pattern in a distributed workflow management system within a decentralized network system with a plurality of servers (b0, b1, . . . , bn) including at least an initiator server and at least a number of groups of servers of the plurality of servers. Each group satisfies a policy (poli) of a vertex, and thus, knows a corresponding policy key pair including a policy private key (SKpoli) and a policy public key (PKpoli), respectively. Each vertex denotes a set of workflow tasks to be executed in accord with the execution pattern and is assigned a vertex key pair including a vertex private key and a vertex public key. The vertex private keys and the policy public keys are jointly encrypted within a first onion structure, the first onion structure being built up of a number of onion layers representing the execution pattern which defines a succession of vertices such that each layer is decryptable by using the policy private key of exactly one vertex thus revealing the corresponding vertex private key.
US09047488B2 Anonymizing sensitive identifying information based on relational context across a group
Mechanisms are provided for relational context sensitive anonymization of data. A request for data is received that specifies a relational context corresponding to a selected group of selected persons selected from a global group of persons based on the relational context. The relational context specifies one or more attributes of selected persons in the selected group that establishes a relationship between the selected persons and distinguishes the selected persons from non-selected persons in the global group that are not in the selected group. For the relational context, based on a corpus of personal information data corresponding to the selected persons, key attributes in the personal information data are determined and a rarity value for each key attribute is determined. Selected key attributes are then anonymized based on the determined rarity value for each of the key attributes within the relational context of the selected group.
US09047482B2 Token-based security for links to media streams
Systems and methods of token-based protection for links to media streams are disclosed. For example, a computing device may receive a media request in response to selection of a link to a media stream. The link may include a first token that is generated based on a private key and an encryption algorithm, and the media request may include the first token. The computing device may grant or deny the media request based on a comparison of the first token and a second token that is generated based on the private key and the encryption algorithm.
US09047480B2 Secure application access system
A proxy server creates an index of keywords, receives at least a portion of a file, and, when a keyword in the index is encountered in the at least a portion of the file as the at least a portion of the file is being encrypted, associates in the index an encrypted record location identifier with the encountered keyword. The proxy server receives a search query and uses the keyword index to retrieve encrypted records from the server. The encrypted records are decrypted and sent as search results in response to the search query.
US09047471B2 Security enclave processor boot control
An SOC implements a security enclave processor (SEP). The SEP may include a processor and one or more security peripherals. The SEP may be isolated from the rest of the SOC (e.g. one or more central processing units (CPUs) in the SOC, or application processors (APs) in the SOC). Access to the SEP may be strictly controlled by hardware. For example, a mechanism in which the CPUs/APs can only access a mailbox location in the SEP is described. The CPU/AP may write a message to the mailbox, which the SEP may read and respond to. The SEP may include one or more of the following in some embodiments: secure key management using wrapping keys, SEP control of boot and/or power management, and separate trust zones in memory.
US09047469B2 Modes for applications
Techniques for modes for applications are described. In one or more implementations, multiple operational modes are provided for an application. The operational modes can be associated with different resource access permissions, trust statuses, graphical user interfaces, and so on. An application can be launched in a particular one of the operational modes based on a context in which a request to launch the application is received. In one or more implementations, correlations between launch request contexts for an application and operational modes can be configured to enable different launch requests to cause an application to launch into different operational modes.
US09047457B2 Portable electronic entity, host station and associated method
A host station includes: a first electronic component having a “first” identifier, conforming to a predetermined convention, identifiers according to the convention including a “common” part, common to electronic components of the same family, and a “unique” part specific to each instance of an electronic component in the same family, at least one second electronic component having a “second” identifier conforming to the convention, and the common part of the second identifier being different from the common part of the first identifier, and verification of matching in accordance with a predetermined rule of the unique part of the first identifier with the unique part of the second identifier.
US09047452B2 Multi-user BIOS authentication
An information handling system which supports Pre-Boot Authentication (PBA) and which provides the ability for each authorized user of the system to have a unique ID and key at the BIOS level. In these systems, a user only needs knowledge of the traditional BIOS password only at the time the user is enrolled in the PBA feature. Later changes to the password do not have the effect of denying access to enrolled users.
US09047448B2 Branch auditing in a computer program
A branch auditing system can be automatically injected into a computer program, in one embodiment, in response to a programming call provided in source code by a programmer who has selected a particular branch, in a set of possible branches, for auditing. The branch auditing system can record, in an obfuscated data structure, a path taken at the particular branch and the parameters associated with the branch and later an auditor can determine whether the path taken was valid, and if the path taken was invalid, operations can be performed to protect the program, system and/or user.
US09047445B2 Memory device and method for updating a security module
A memory device and method for updating a security module are disclosed. In one embodiment, a memory device is provided comprising a memory operative to store content and a controller in communication with the memory. The controller is configured to send an identification of the memory device's security module to a host and receive an identification of the host's security module. If the memory device's security module is out-of-date with respect to the host's security module, the memory device receives a security module update from the host. If the host's security module is out-of-date with respect to the memory device's security module, the memory device sends a security module update to the host.
US09047441B2 Malware analysis system
In some embodiments, a malware analysis system includes receiving a potential malware sample from a firewall; analyzing the potential malware sample using a virtual machine to determine if the potential malware sample is malware; and automatically generating a signature if the potential malware sample is determined to be malware. In some embodiments, the potential malware sample does not match a preexisting signature, and the malware is a zero-day attack.
US09047439B2 Reactor with reactor head and integrated valve
A reactor with minimal dead volume especially suited to reverse-flow applications comprises: a) a reactor body; b) a first head engaged with said reactor body; c) a first conduit extending from outside said head to at least partially through said head; and d) a first valve in flow communication with said first conduit controlling fluid flow along a flow path extending from the first valve and through the reactor body. The reactor is especially suited for use in a process for rapid stream-switching of at least two streams in a reverse-flow reactor.
US09047437B2 Method, system and software for accessing design rules and library of design features while designing semiconductor device layout
Provided is a system and method for designing the layout of integrated circuits or other semiconductor devices while directly accessing design rules and a library of design features by interfacing with a GUI upon which the design layout is displayed. The design rules may be directly linked to the design features of the pattern library and imported into the device layout. The design rules may be directly accessed while designing the layout or while conducting a design rule check and the design features from the pattern library may be used in creating the layout.
US09047436B2 Computer-based modeling of integrated circuit congestion and wire distribution for products and services
A computer-based system and method for modeling integrated circuit congestion and wire distribution determines a boundary where a tile congestion corresponding to a first layer group is equivalent to a first blockage ratio corresponding to a second layer group, formulates a piece-wise linear formula that relates the tile congestion to a number of wires of a two-dimensional tile, and distributes a portion of the number of wires to a layer of the tile based on the tile congestion.
US09047433B2 Cell and macro placement on fin grid
A die includes at least one standard cell, which includes a first boundary and a second boundary opposite to the first boundary. The first boundary and the second boundary are parallel to a first direction. The at least one standard cell further includes a first plurality of FinFETs including first semiconductor fins parallel to the first direction. The die further includes at least one memory macro, which has a third boundary and a fourth boundary opposite to the third boundary. The third boundary and the fourth boundary are parallel to the first direction. The at least one memory macro includes a second plurality of FinFETs including second semiconductor fins parallel to the first direction. All semiconductor fins in the at least one standard cell and the at least one memory macro have pitches equal to integer times of a minimum pitch of the first and the second semiconductor fins.
US09047429B2 In-place resynthesis and remapping techniques for soft error mitigation in FPGA
In-place resynthesis for static memory (SRAM) based Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) toward reducing sensitivity to single event upsets (SEUs). Resynthesis and remapping are described which have a low overheard and improve FPGA designs without the need of rerouting LUTs of the FPGA. These methods include in-place reconfiguration (IPR), in-place X-filling (IPF), and in-place inversion (IPV), which reconfigure LUT functions only, and can be applied to any FPGA architecture. In addition, for FPGAs with a decomposable LUT architecture (e.g., dual-output LUTs) an in-place decomposition (IPD) method is described for remapping a LUT function into multiple smaller functions leveraging the unused outputs of the LUT, and making use of built-in hard macros in programmable-logic blocks (PLBs) such as carry chain or adder. Methods are applied in-place to mapped circuits before or after routing without affecting placement, routing, and design closure.
US09047418B2 Methods and devices for extending USB 3.0-compliant communication
Devices and methods for extending USB-compliant communication distances, including USB 3.0 SuperSpeed communication, are provided. In some embodiments, a host is communicatively coupled to a device that provides an upstream facing port, and a USB device is communicatively coupled to a device that provides a downstream facing port. The upstream facing port and downstream facing port are coupled via a communication channel. In some embodiments, the upstream facing port and downstream facing port generate packets to ensure that timing requirements of the USB specification are met regardless of the latency of the communication channel.
US09047415B2 Device and method for media access control
A method for media access control, the method includes generating at least one media access grant in response to at least one media access request. The method further includes monitoring a data line, while maintaining at least a clock line in a low power mode, to detect at least one media access request generated by at least one component connected to the data line and to the clock line; and forcing the at least clock line to exit the low power mode and starting a contention prevention period, when the media access controller or at least one component requests to access the data line. Also disclosed is a device for implementing the method of media access control.
US09047408B2 Monitoring software execution
A method enables a computer to execute software and to monitor software execution, the method comprising: acquiring, by one or more processors, image data of a screen image displayed on a display device while monitored software is executed; acquiring, by one or more processors, peripheral information, wherein the peripheral information is a state of software and hardware in which the software is executed, at a time of acquisition of the image data; and adding, by one or more processors, the peripheral information to the image data and storing the image data having the peripheral information added thereto into a storage device, so that, in response to an image based on the image data being displayed on the display device, a content of the peripheral information acquired by the peripheral information acquiring unit is displayed along with the screen image.
US09047403B2 Debugger with previous version feature
According to embodiments of the invention, methods, computer readable storage medium, and a computer system for providing multiple versions of elements of a program in a single compile are disclosed. The method may include receiving a request to compile a current version of a program for debug. The method may also include identifying, by an integrated development environment, a previous version of an element of the program, wherein the previous version of the element is identified by comparing the current version of the program to a previous version of the program. The method may also include inserting the previous version of the element into the current version of the program. The method may also include creating a compiler directive identifying the previous version of the element. The method may also include compiling the current version of the program for debug.
US09047402B2 Automatic calculation of orthogonal defect classification (ODC) fields
A method and system for Orthogonal Defect Classification (ODC) analysis in a computing system, is provided. One implementation involves determining a defect in a software application, providing a defect fix to the software application, linking the source code fix to the defect, and automatically performing ODC analysis and calculating ODC information has based on calculations against the source code linked to the defect fixed.
US09047395B2 Endoscope apparatus and method for storing endoscopic image
An endoscope apparatus has an LCD which displays an endoscopic image, and an operation section. The endoscope apparatus stores an endoscopic image in a storage destination folder which is set as a storage destination for the endoscopic image from a plurality of folders which are created in a storage device in advance, displays information indicating the storage destination folder in a state in which the endoscopic image is displayed in the display section, and changes the storage destination folder in response to an operation of the operation section.
US09047394B2 3D ultrasound system for intuitive displaying to check abnormality of object and method for operating 3D ultrasound system
Provided are a three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound system and a method for operating the 3D ultrasound system, which are capable of intuitively displaying the abnormality of an object by determining a grade by comparing measurement data obtained by measuring ultrasound data relating to the object and displaying the measurement data in a different way based on the determined grade.
US09047393B1 Cross-domain communications with a shared worker application
Techniques are described herein that provide for inter-domain communications with one or more shared worker applications. A parent web application associated with a first domain may create a child web application associated with a second domain different than the first domain. The child web application may determine whether a shared worker associated with the second domain is operating. The shared worker acquires information associated with the second domain in response to one or more requests, and stores acquired information associated with the second domain in a memory of the local computing device. The parent web application may request, via the child web application, information associated with the second domain from the shared worker. In response to the request, the parent web application may receive, from the shared worker, information associated with the second domain stored in the memory of the local computing device.
US09047387B2 Secregating anonymous access to dynamic content on a web server, with cached logons
A system and method are provided for segregating access to dynamic content on multiple websites hosted by a web server. When a request is received for dynamic content from a website, a UserRetriever module identifies a path to the content and retrieves a username and password corresponding to the website, from a database that is separate from the web server and used for other purposes (e.g., billing). A UserImpersonator module requests a logon handle for that username from a logon cache manager. The logon handle is used to associate the request with the impersonated user account instead of the default anonymous user account with which the request was initially associated. The dynamic content is retrieved and served under the context of the restricted impersonated user account session, after which the applied logon handle is stripped off and the request is re-associated with the default anonymous user account.
US09047386B2 Creating a link relationship between document objects and storing in a link directory
Methods for searching relationships between and among documents are detailed. One method includes steps for selecting one or more initial search items from a group consisting of: (a) document objects, (b) link references to document objects, (c) link reference attributes, and (d) link relationship attributes. The method also includes steps for identifying one or more link relationships using the selected initial search items, and for presenting one or more link relationships attributes describing the identified link relationships. A user interface for presenting and searching relationships between document objects located on a network is also detailed. The user interface may include a first portion of a screen display for displaying one or more link relationship attributes and a second portion of the screen display for displaying one or more entries from a group consisting of: (a) link references that represent the document objects, (b) link relationship attributes describing the link relationships, (c) link reference attributes describing the link references, and (d) document objects. The displayed entries in the second portion of the user interface are related to the displayed one or more link relationship attributes in the first portion.
US09047381B1 Method and apparatus of obtaining and organizing relevant user defined information
A method and apparatus of organizing user requested data is disclosed. One example method may include transmitting a query message to a remote site to obtain the user requested data, receiving a response data based on the query message, the response data may include at least a portion of the user requested data. The method may also include storing the response data in a temporary data file memory location, processing the response data in the temporary data file, storing said at least a portion of the user requested data in a permanent data file, and presenting the permanent data file contents to the user. The user may have the capability of receiving numerous messages in a single interface and expanding those messages of interest to review the original message information.
US09047379B2 Methods and apparatuses for searching content
Embodiments of methods and apparatuses for searching contents, including structured search for atomic search expressions, including proximately associated atomic search expressions, are described herein. Embodiments may use tree structures (or more generally, graph structures), layout structures, and/or other information to capture within search results relevant content, include sub-document constituents, to reduce the incidence of false positives within search results, and/or to improve the accuracy of rankings within search results. Embodiments may use distance and/or scoring functions to generate scores for the structures to indicate relevance, including usage of local geometry, and linear iteration over portions of the content at a level to capture potential of a portion to influence other portions of the level, and influence received by a portion from the other portions of the level. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09047378B1 Systems and methods for accessing a multi-organization collection of hosted contacts
A host service holds a collection of contacts for multiple organizations, or domains. The system maintains an index made of one or more tables. The index may be sorted across multiple machines. Each table contains a set of elements, and each element points to a subset of the contacts that share a common attribute. When the system receives query to return at least one of the contacts in the collection, the system accesses the index to identify a first element having a domain that matches the domain of the first query and an attribute that matches an attribute value of the query. In response, it returns the contacts to which the first element points.
US09047376B2 Augmenting video with facial recognition
A video segment including interactive links to information about an actor appearing in the segment may be prepared in an automatic or semi-automatic process. A computer may detect an actor's face appearing in a frame of digital video data by processing the video file with a facial detection algorithm. A user-selectable link may be generated and activated along a track of the face through multiple frames of the video data. The user-selectable link may include a data address for obtaining additional information about an actor identified with the face. The video data may be associated with the user-selectable link and stored in a computer memory. When later viewing the video segment via a media player, a user may select the link to obtain further information about the actor.
US09047374B2 Assembling video content
A computer-implemented method involves accessing a library of video segments, receiving a user instruction to assemble a movie related to an organizing element that includes a video segment from the library of video segments, relating the organizing element to a video segment in the library of video segments, determining, based on relating the organizing element to the video segment in the library of video segments, whether the video segment should be added to a list of selected segments used to assemble the movie, selectively adding the video segment to the list of selected segments in response to determining that the video segment should be added, and assembling the movie using the list of selected segments.
US09047373B2 Multimedia identifier
This invention relates to efficiently performing a close-duplicate search within large collections of data streams, preferably in the context of Multimedia (audio and video files or streams). In a first aspect the present invention relates to a method for feeding information of a data from a data file or a data stream into a database. In a second aspect a method is provided for tagging or identifying a data stream by querying an unknown data or data stream to a database of known data streams. In a third aspect a computer program or suite of computer programs are provided to operate the methods of this invention. The robustness of the Multimedia Identifier system of the present invention results from the use of high-dimensional descriptors, which describe local interest points extracted from the frames of audio and/or video data.
US09047371B2 System and method for matching a query against a broadcast stream
A method for identifying with a broadcast stream. That method includes receiving one or more broadcast streams, from which it generates and stores an audio fingerprint of a selected portion of each received broadcast stream. A query is received, and the method generates an audio fingerprint of the query. From that point, the method continues by identifying audio content from the query, using the query audio fingerprint and a database of indexed audio content. The method concludes by identifying the source of the query using the query audio fingerprint and the stored audio fingerprints. Embodiments of the method further include predictively caching audio fingerprint sequences and corresponding audio item identifiers from a server after storing audio fingerprints extracted from the broadcast stream; and using the predictively cached audio fingerprint sequences to identify an audio item within the audio signal based on at least some additional audio fingerprints of the audio signal.
US09047368B1 Self-organizing user-centric document vault
Multiple documents associated with a user are retrieved from one or more sources. Textual elements in the documents are identified, and the documents are classified according to document type. Cluster keys are identified in the documents, based on document content and document classification. A cluster key comprises an association between a document and a specific entity associated with the individual user, around which to cluster associated documents. Identifying cluster keys for a document can take the form of performing feature reduction, and identifying any features remaining thereafter as cluster keys. Names and addresses other than those of the document recipient can be identified as cluster keys. Retrieved documents, identified cluster keys and associations between them are stored, thereby organizing documents into clusters based on entities associated with the individual user. The user is provided with access to the documents according to the clusters into which they are organized.
US09047364B2 Intelligent client capability-based results related to a character stream
Information may be presented to a user by using a first application to receive a character stream of one or more noncompletion characters. The noncompletion characters indicate that additional characters may be received. The character stream is exchanged with a host that analyzes the character stream to generate results that are responsive to the user's predicted interest. Results are received and displayed so that the user may select one of the results to launch a code segment related to the selected result.
US09047361B2 Tracking usage of a media asset
An enhanced metadata structure and associated process is provided which captures and stores metadata gathered about the source and usage of a media asset or file. The source and usage metadata is integrated, such as by encoding within the enhanced media file, as the media asset is transferred and used. The integrated metadata accumulates, as a trail of source information and usage information in the enhanced media asset, and can be extracted upon arrival at a target computer system.
US09047356B2 Synchronizing multiple reading positions in electronic books
An electronic book system is configured to allow a user to read a primary portion of an electronic book, then switch to reading a secondary portion of the book, the secondary portion being presented based on a current reading position for the main portion. A reader can repeatedly switch back and forth between primary and secondary portions without losing track of the reader's progress through the book. As an example, a reader in a textbook can immediately switch to a problem set corresponding to the reader's current position in the textbook.
US09047354B2 Statement categorization and normalization
Systems, methods and computer program products for statement categorization and normalization are described herein. An embodiment includes a statement categorizer and a statement normalizer. The statement categorizer categorizes statements to reduce or even eliminate inconsistencies that may arise between primary and replicate databases as a result of executing certain statements. Categorized statements are normalized by the statement normalizer to generate normalized statements, which are provided to a replication server. Normalized statements assist replication server to regenerate a statement to be executed on a replicate database.
US09047349B2 Methods for effective processing of time series
A method of effectively representing and processing data sets with time series is disclosed. The method may comprise representing time series as a virtual part of data in a data store layer of a user system, thereby allowing processing of time-series related queries in said data store layer of said user system.
US09047348B2 Event correlation in cloud computing
The present invention pertains to cloud computing systems and handling of events that occur in the cloud. A correlation system obtains and analyzes various events to obtain comprehensive information about the behavior of the cloud. An event repository receives and maintains time-stamped events, which may be obtained from the cloud itself or from external sources reporting on the cloud. A query engine is employed to select, filter and aggregate events from the event repository. The query engine may take into account metadata which describes relationships between different parts of the cloud. Results from the query engine may be presented on a display or otherwise reported. Using such information, the system may fix known problems or change certain parameters to improve the cloud computing process.
US09047347B2 System and method of merging text analysis results
A system and method of merging text analysis results. The system uses a set of three corrected, weakened Jaccard factors to determine whether the respective results of multiple text analysis operations are equal, subtypes of each other or associated with each other, in order to merge the results.
US09047346B2 Reporting language filtering and mapping to dimensional concepts
Architecture that translates a complex dimensional hierarchy (e.g., XBRL) into an understandable member picker which removes the complexities that the user would otherwise have to face. Using a building block metaphor, the architecture provides element and dimension tagging. The building blocks can include rows, columns, and optional trees. Building blocks are selected and grouped into a report definition, which definition is utilized to retrieve and process basis data into fact data in the final reports. The reporter mechanism removes the complexities in both the XBRL standard and XML, and ensures that the user associates the information appropriately within the report definition. The architecture extends the building block metaphor to include dimension tagging. A portion of the information from each building block is used to produce a fully qualified dimension context and logical validation is performed to ensure accuracy.
US09047345B1 Processing annotations for a search result
A system and machine-implemented method for processing annotations for a search result. A social annotation by a first user for a search result is received. In response to receiving the social annotation, at least one suggested interaction associated with the search result is obtained. The at least one suggested interaction is provided for display to the first user.
US09047343B2 Find regular expression instruction on substring of larger string
A technique for pattern matching is provided. A processing circuit receives an input string streamed in as input, and the input string is designated into substrings according to predefined bytes. A first substring of the substrings is in a first register to be compared against a pattern of the predefined bytes in a second register. The processing circuit compares the first substring in the first register to the pattern in the second register according to a type of evaluations specified in a third register, and determines state information that includes a number of states achieved for the pattern based on the comparison. The state information is stored in a fourth register to be utilized in a next run for a next substring of the substrings making up the input string, where the next run builds from the state information in the fourth register.
US09047342B2 Method for accelerating queries containing local range conditions using subtraction of cumulative bitmaps
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for optimizing a range-based query on a table in a database system.
US09047339B2 Query rewriting with entity detection
A system determines whether a received search query includes an entity name, determines whether to rewrite the received search query based on information relating to prior searches involving the entity name, and rewrites the received search query when it is determined that the received search query should be rewritten. The system further determines whether to provide a suggestion of rewriting the received search query, as a rewriting suggestion, based on information relating to prior searches involving the entity name when it is determined that the received search query should not be rewritten. The system also generates the rewriting suggestion when it is determined that the rewriting suggestion should be provided. The system performs a search based on one of the received search query and the rewritten search query to obtain search results, presents the search results, and presents the rewriting suggestion when it is determined that the rewriting suggestion should be provided.
US09047338B2 Managing drill-through targets
A target drill-through metadata manager has a target drill-through metadata handler and a target specification processor. The target drill-through metadata handler defines and manages target drill-through metadata in a metadata model for model constructs that are selected as drill-through target constructs. The target specification processor processes a target report definition using the target drill-through metadata to locate a data item that refers to a drill-through target construct or part of a drill-through target construct, and automatically adds one or more target filters associated with the drill-through target construct to a target report.
US09047331B2 Scalable row-store with consensus-based replication
A method for updating a scalable row-store, including: receiving an update to a key within a range of keys in a database table, wherein the database table is distributed across nodes in a cluster of computing devices; and replicating the update over a group of the nodes using a consensus-based replication algorithm, wherein the replication algorithm includes completing the update in response to receiving acknowledgement messages from a majority of the nodes in the group indicating that the majority has received notification of the update.
US09047330B2 Index compression in databases
Systems, methods and computer program products for compression of database indexes are described herein. A system embodiment includes a sequence determiner to scan a database index and to determine a start of a range and end of a range of consistently changing values in one or more index pages of said database index and an index updater to update said database index based on a sequence determined by said sequence determiner, while suspending writing of one or more values that lie within start of said range and end of said range of values. A method embodiment includes scanning an index, determining a pattern of changing values in one or more index pages of said index and selectively updating said index based on said determining step to minimize index insertions. The method embodiment further includes determining a start of a range of values and an end of said range of values in an index page, setting appropriate bits to identify said start of range of values and end of range of values, determining if an entry to be inserted can appended to at the end of said range of values, and compressing said index by suspending writing of one or more values that occur between said start of range of values and said end of range of values.
US09047329B1 Method and system for an algorithm and circuit for a high performance exact match lookup function
In one aspect, a device is configured to provide a lookup operation for looking up a data value stored in a result table. The device includes several data tables for storing keys, or compressed representations of keys, associated with data values stored in the result table. During an example lookup operation, storage locations included within the data tables are searched for a particular key, or compressed representations of the key. If the key is found, the storage location is used to identify a memory address associated with the result table. In some implementations, the data tables are accessed in parallel to provide a lookup operation having a fixed latency. Storage locations within the data tables also are arranged to reduce the amount of memory used to implement each data table. In some implementations, the data tables are configured to use no more than one result table access per lookup operation.
US09047326B2 Index configuration for searchable data in network
An entity using a computing device can upload searchable data to a network service to be indexed and stored. The data can include a plurality of data fields, each data field having one or more associated values. The network service can analyze the data fields and their respectively associated values to determine data field types for the data fields and search options to be enabled for the data fields. Based at least in part on the data field types and the search options, the network service can generate a search index configuration/schema. Based at least in part on the generated search index configuration/schema, the network service can generate a search index for the data. In some embodiments, the network service can also convert the data into a format compatible with the search index.
US09047321B2 Prioritizing downloading of image files
Technology is disclosed for downloading image files associated with a user to a computing device of the user from a distributed backup system. Each of the image files is associated with a popularity score that is determined as a function of a user-related access pattern and a group-related access pattern of the image files. While the user-related access pattern is determined based on an access of the image files by the user, the group-related access pattern is determined based on an access by a group of users. The image files are categorized into priority files and non-priority files based on the popularity score of the image files. The priority files are downloaded in an original format and the non-priority files are downloaded in one or more image qualities that minimize the consumption of computing resources in downloading the image files.
US09047315B1 Geotagged hashtags
A system and method for geotagging hashtags. Geographic location information related to a hashtag is determined, and a geolocation is assigned to the hashtag based on the determined geographic location information. The assigned geolocation is stored in association with the hashtag in a data store. The hashtag may be provided for display on a map based on the assigned geolocation stored in the data store.
US09047314B1 Creating and using dynamic vector classes
A device may store a data structure including information identifying a geometric relationship between first and second coordinate values of a first data type. The data structure may also include a first array of a first length that includes the first coordinate value located at a position identifiable by a reference value. The data structure may also include a second array of a second length that includes the second coordinate value located at a position identifiable by the reference value. The data structure may also include a third array of a third length that includes an attribute value of a second data type, located at a position identifiable by the reference value. The device may receive an indication that one of the lengths is to be modified, and may modify the data structure so that the first length, the second length, and the third length are equivalent.
US09047309B1 Dynamic snapshot mounting
Techniques are presented for keeping only the most commonly-accessed snapshots mounted at any given time, while providing for fast mounting of unmounted snapshots. Techniques are also provided for maintaining separate databases for the snapshots of each primary filesystem in order to minimize locking latency.
US09047308B2 Methods and apparatus for providing unified access to various data resources using virtualized services
A non-transitory processor-readable medium stores code representing instructions to be executed by a processor. The code causes the processor to receive, from a client device, a request for a service associated with a set of compute devices. The processor is caused to define a normalized request, based on a metadata associated with service requirements. The processor is caused to define a translated request for a compute device from the set of compute devices based on the normalized request. The processor is caused to send the translated request to the compute device in accordance with an endpoint interface associated with a format of the translated request. The processor is caused to receive data associated with the service from the compute device, in response to the translated request. The processor is caused to send, to the client device, a response having a format associated with the client device based on the data.
US09047307B1 Systems and methods for replicating data
A system facilitates the distribution and redistribution of chunks of data among multiple servers. The system may identify servers to store a replica of the data based on at least one of utilization of the servers, prior data distribution involving the servers, and failure correlation properties associated with the servers, and place the replicas of the data at the identified servers. The system may also monitor total numbers of replicas of the chunks available in the system, identify chunks that have a total number of replicas below one or more chunk thresholds, assign priorities to the identified chunks, and re-replicate the identified chunks based substantially on the assigned priorities. The system may further monitor utilization of the servers, determine whether to redistribute any of the replicas, select one or more of the replicas to redistribute based on the utilization of the servers, select one or more of the servers to which to move the one or more replicas, and move the one or more replicas to the selected one or more servers.
US09047305B2 Methods and systems for vectored data de-duplication
The present invention is directed toward methods and systems for data de-duplication. More particularly, in various embodiments, the present invention provides systems and methods for data de-duplication that may utilize a vectoring method for data de-duplication wherein a stream of data is divided into “data sets” or blocks. For each block, a code, such as a hash or cyclic redundancy code may be calculated and stored. The first block of the set may be written normally and its address and hash can be stored and noted. Subsequent block hashes may be compared with previously written block hashes.
US09047304B2 Optimization of fingerprint-based deduplication
Described are embodiments of an invention for identifying chunk boundaries for optimization of fingerprint-based deduplication in a computing environment. Storage objects that are backed up in a computing environment are often compound storage objects which include many individual storage objects. The computing device of the computing environment breaks the storage objects into chunks of data by determining a hash value on a range of data. The computing device creates an artificial chunk boundary when the end of data of the storage object is reached. When an artificial chunk boundary is created for the end of data of a storage object, the computing device stores a pseudo fingerprint for the artificial chunk boundary. If a hash value matches a fingerprint or a pseudo fingerprint, then the computing device determines that the range of data corresponds to a chunk and the computing system defines the chunk boundaries.
US09047302B1 Systems and methods for deduplicating file data in tiered file systems
A computer-implemented method for deduplicating file data in tiered file systems may include identifying a tiered file system that includes a primary storage tier and a deduplicated storage tier. The method may also include detecting at least a portion of file data that has not been accessed in the primary storage tier within a predetermined period of time. The method may further include determining whether the portion of data stored in the primary storage tier is also stored in the deduplicated storage tier. In addition, the method may include ensuring that the deduplicated storage tier is currently storing a unique instance of the portion of file data stored in the primary storage tier and then removing the portion of file data from the primary storage tier. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US09047301B2 Method for optimizing the memory usage and performance of data deduplication storage systems
A method and system of optimizing the memory usage and performance of data deduplication storage systems includes organizing the metadata of data blocks needed by deduplicating storage systems. A three level hierarchy is used. Level 1 stores the metadata on disk along with the user data. Level 2 uses low latency storage (e.g. RAM and Solid State Disks) to cache the on-disk meta data for faster direct access. Level 3 organizes the fingerprints using a Trie and is entirely resident in RAM. Thus, the search, to determine whether a data block is unique or not and a candidate for transfer, can be more efficiency executed and to ensure that the meta data is transactionally secure.
US09047298B2 File searching on mobile devices
Systems and methods are provided for file searching on mobile devices. A system includes a user interface and a file query system. The user interface is for receiving a user-provided spatio-temporal query for use in searching for a particular file. The user-provided spatio-temporal query is provided by a user of a mobile device. The file query system is for determining information about the particular file responsive to the user-provided spatio-temporal query, and identifying from the information one or more files as a search result for the particular file.
US09047293B2 Computer file format conversion for neutralization of attacks
A method and a non-transitory computer readable medium that stores instructions for converting a first file of a first format to a second file of a second format that differs from the first format; wherein the converting comprises converting first file fields having invalid values with second file fields having valid values; and converting the second file to a third file of the first file format, if the converting of the first file to the second file succeeds.
US09047292B2 Systems and methods for application reuse
System and methods are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a master data archiver configured to store a data related to a turbomachine system and a first data collector service system configured to collect the data from the master data archiver. The system also includes a second data collector service system communicatively coupled to the first data collector service system and configured to pull or to push the data from the first data collector service system and a first data archiver configured to receive at least some of the data from the second data collector service system. The system further includes an asset model database storing a plurality of turbomachine tags, wherein the turbomachine tags are configured to categorize the data and a data access system (DAS) configured to provide data access to the first data archiver, the asset model database, or a combination thereof.
US09047288B2 Intelligent data delivery and storage based on data characteristics
Methods, program products, and systems of intelligent data delivery and storage based on data characteristics are disclosed. A database server can receive, from a user device, a request for data. The database server can determine a data size and a data type of the requested data. The database server can identify, based on the data size and data type, and from multiple candidate data delivery protocols for responding to the request, a data delivery protocol designated for delivering data having the data size and data type. The database server can deliver the data to the user device in response to the request using the identified data delivery protocol.
US09047286B2 Program and syndicated content detection
Content from multiple different stations can be divided into segments based on time. Matched segments associated with each station can be identified by comparing content included in a first segment associated with a first station, to content included in a second segment associated with a second station. Syndicated content can be identified and tagged based, at least in part, on a relationship between sequences of matched segments on different stations. Various embodiments also include identifying main sequences associated with each station under consideration, removing some of the main sequences, and consolidating remaining main sequences based on various threshold criteria.
US09047283B1 Automated topic discovery in documents and content categorization
A computer-assisted method for discovering topics and categorizing contents in a document includes the steps of calculating an importance score for a term based on grammatical roles, parts of speech, and semantic attributes, selecting terms based on the importance score values of the respective terms, and outputting terms comprising the selected term to represent topics in the document, and building a category structure based on the selected terms.
US09047282B2 Document management systems, apparatuses and methods configured to provide user interface customized for specific user
Apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for accessing a document management application through a network, wherein user interface information comprising one or more of a plurality of user interfaces customized for a specific user is maintained, and upon successful login of the specific user, said one or more of the plurality of user interfaces are provided for display to the specific user.
US09047280B2 Apparatus and method for position determination
An apparatus for position determination has an optical scanning unit which is to be moved relative to a surface and which includes an image sensor for detecting light intensity patterns of light which is reflected by the surface. The apparatus furthermore has an electronic processing unit which is associated with the image sensor and configured to determine a traveled movement path and/or a movement speed of the optical scanning unit relative to the surface from a difference between light intensity patterns detected after one another in time. A further processing unit is configured to produce an intensity correlated signal which correlates with the intensity of the light reflected by the surface. An evaluation device is associated with the image sensor and is configured to recognize a graphical code pattern located on the surface with reference to the intensity correlated signal and to read out information from the code pattern.
US09047277B2 Systems and methods for synchronizing hierarchical repositories
Systems and methods which implement synchronization across hierarchical targets by ordering elements in a hierarchical target in order of hierarchical depth and propagating a first set of element changes based upon the hierarchical order of elements and a second set of element changes based upon a non-hierarchical order of elements priority are shown. A child attribute data model is utilized with respect to hierarchical data structures for which synchronization is provided in which hierarchy relationships are represented as an attribute of the child according to embodiments.
US09047276B2 Automatic translation of system messages using an existing resource bundle
A processing device receives a message identifier associated with an application. and identifies a first language that an operating system running on the processing device is configured to use. Responsive to determining that a first application resource bundle associated with the application and configured for the first language is not available, the processing device selects a second application resource bundle that is associated with the application and configured for a second language, identifies a first version of a message associated with the message identifier in the second application resource bundle, sends the first version of the message to an automated translator with a request to translate the first version of the message to the first language, and receives a first translated version of the message that is in the first language. The processing device may then present or store the first translated version of the message.
US09047275B2 Methods and systems for alignment of parallel text corpora
Computer-implemented systems and methods align fragments of a first text with corresponding fragments of a second text, which is a translation of the first text. One preferred embodiment preliminarily divides the first and second texts into fragments; generates a hypothesis about the correspondence between the fragments of the first and second texts; performs a lexico-morphological analysis of the fragments using linguistic descriptions; performs a syntactic analysis of the fragments using linguistic descriptions and generates syntactic structures for the fragments; generates semantic structures for the fragments; and estimates the degree of correspondence between the semantic structures.
US09047274B2 Machine translation-driven authoring system and method
An authoring method includes generating an authoring interface configured for assisting a user to author a text string in a source language for translation to a target string in a target language. Initial source text entered by the user is received through the authoring interface. Source phrases are selected that each include at least one token of the initial source text as a prefix and at least one other token as a suffix. The source phrase selection is based on a translatability score and optionally on fluency and semantic relatedness scores. A set of candidate phrases is proposed for display on the authoring interface, each of the candidate phases being the suffix of a respective one of the selected source phrases. The user may select one of the candidate phrases, which is appended to the source text following its corresponding prefix, or may enter alternative text. The process may be repeated until the user is satisfied with the source text and the SMT model can then be used for its translation.
US09047262B2 Semiconductor data processing device, time-triggered communication system, and communication system
The variation of the timing of starting interrupt processing in response to a timer interrupt request is reduced regardless of the condition of processing of other interrupts. A semiconductor data processing device incorporated in each of plural electronic control devices coupled to a network for time-triggered communication system is provided with a central processing unit, a communication control circuit and an interrupt control circuit. The communication control circuit has a local time timer for use in time-triggered communication and issues, based on time counting by the local time timer, a timer interrupt request for time-triggered communication. When a timer interrupt request for time-triggered communication is received, the interrupt control circuit performs control to cause the central processing unit to delay, by a predetermined reservation time, starting the interrupt processing to be performed in response to the timer interrupt request.
US09047259B1 System and method for renaming hyperlinks
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for receiving a first hyperlink as input, the first hyperlink comprising a resource indicator and link text, processing the resource indicator using a computing device to determine substitute link text, generating a second hyperlink, the second hyperlink comprising the resource indicator and the substitute link text, and providing the second hyperlink to be displayed on a display.
US09047252B1 Method and apparatus for detecting a row or a column of a memory to repair without reporting all corresponding defective memory cells
A system including first and second devices. The first device generates a trigger signal to test a memory. The memory has memory cells including first and second cells. The first and second cells are defective and are in a same row or column. The second device: tests the memory in response to the trigger signal and based on a first frequency; generates an error signal in response to detecting the first cell as defective; and based on the test, generates information including first and second addresses of the first and second cells. The first device, based on the error signal, receives the information at a second frequency. The second device compares the first and second addresses, and if a match, continues the test without reporting the second cell as defective. The first device, based on a number of times the first address is matched, repairs the row or the column.
US09047251B2 Systems and methods for implementing connection mirroring in a multi-core system
The present application is directed to systems and methods for providing failover connection mirroring between two or more multi-core devices intermediary between a client and a server. A first multi-core device may receive a hash key of a second multi-core device for mapping packets to cores of the second multi-core device. The first device may identify a core of the second device using (i) the hash key of the second device and (ii) tuple information corresponding to a connection between the client and the server via the first device. The first device may determine that the identified core is not a desired core for providing a failover connection. The first device may modify the tuple information so as to identify the desired core when used with the hash key of the second device. The first device may use the modified tuple information to establish the failover connection.
US09047250B2 Failover processing
A method of providing failover processing between a first element and a second element in a data communications network, the method comprising configuring a first channel and a second channel between the first and second elements, the first and second channels comprising different physical data paths, receiving at the first element, via the first channel, first data signals representative of functioning statuses of the second element, the first channel being configured to allow a non-optimal, partly functioning status of the second element to be communicated to the first element; and receiving at the first element, via the second channel, second data signals representative of functioning statuses of the second element, the second channel being configured to allow a failed functioning status of the second element to be communicated to the first element; and conducting failover processing based on both the first and second data signals.
US09047248B2 Logical domain recovery
Recovering logical domain processes from a virtual production environment to a recovery environment by building recovery automation scripts. The process, partially automated and partially guided by an administrative user, captures logic necessary for orderly recovery, but also permits the user to specify certain configuration information for the recovered logical domains. A first step before building recovery script(s) is to execute a capture script on the production environment to retrieve configuration information for the production logical domains. Based on this captured output, a recovery script builder then starts to build one or more recovery script(s). To account for unavoidable inconsistencies between the production and recovery environments, the user is guided through a deterministic process of providing additional information, such as different resource mappings, so that the script builder may further address such differences.
US09047244B1 Multi-screen computing device applications
A system, apparatus and method for executing a software program on a plurality of computing devices are disclosed. A first computing device executes a software program and displays data related to that program. A second computing device displays data related to the program and to location data regarding a physical location of the second computing device related to the first computing device. Display data can be updated based on changes in relative position and/or changes made on one of the devices.
US09047236B2 Client side stream switching
Client side stream switching enables substantially uninterrupted transmission of a highest compatible bit rate of a stream of media to a client via a network connection. The client may include one or more buffers for receiving the stream of media. Attributes including the buffer activity and a bandwidth of the network connection may be monitored by a streaming module to determine an alternative bit rate of the stream of media. The stream of media may be transitioned from the first bit rate to the alternative bit rate without an interruption of the stream of media to provide the client with the highest compatible bit rate based on the monitored attributes.
US09047235B1 Content management for packet-communicating devices
Media content associated with a playlist is provided for remote access over a packet-based network. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a host server provides access to a user-defined playlist depicting media content available from user's media content source (e.g., at a registered user's PC). User-defined playlists and associated media content are managed to facilitate access to media in accordance with characteristics of the media content and/or playlist such as format and bitrate, and as may be related to an intended playback use of the playlist. Media content for the playlists is stored in a network storage device for remote access, with the storage managed to facilitate remote access in appropriate formats, with selective cross-referencing among playlists for different playlist types, content format and content bandwidth.
US09047234B1 Data context passing between non-interfaced application programs in a common framework
Permitting the context sharing between non-interfaced web-based applications associated in a web-based framework server via adjusting the parent domain of the web-based applications and the framework to be the same, providing in the framework server the location of a JavaScript file, and configured to permit communication between the web-based applications through http function calls. The location of the JavaScript file may be provided to all the applications in the form of a cookie. Alternatively permitting context sharing between non-interfaced web-based applications associated in a web-based framework server comprising selectively adjusting the domain of the web-based applications and the framework such that each defines a subdomain of a parent domain when the web-based applications are being navigated.
US09047229B1 System and method for protecting content
A method, computer program product, and computing system for storing an unsecure data portion within a temporary storage device. An indication of a power failure event within the storage system is received. The unsecure data portion is processed to produce a secure data portion via a processor included within a first controller card included within the storage system. The secure data portion is stored on a persistent storage device via a second controller card.
US09047225B1 Dynamic selection of data replacement protocol for cache
An improved technique for managing data replacement in a cache dynamically selects a data replacement protocol from among multiple candidates based on which data replacement protocol produces the greatest cache hit rate. The technique includes selecting one of multiple data replacement protocols using a random selection process that can be biased to favor the selection of certain protocols over others. Data are evicted from the cache using the selected data replacement protocol, and the cache hit rate is monitored. The selected data replacement protocol is then rewarded in response to the detected cache hit rate. The selection process is repeated, and a newly selected data replacement protocol is put into use. Operation tends to converge on an optimal data replacement protocol that best suits the application and current operating environment of the cache.
US09047222B2 Unified multi-transport medium connector architecture
A device, method, and system are disclosed. In one embodiment the device includes a router to transmit data packets between multiple host controllers and one or more peripheral devices. The router can receive a data packet from a host controller and transmit the data packet to a peripheral device across a data transmission path. The peripheral device is coupled to the first data transmission path through a first universal multi-transport medium (UMTM) connector. The connector includes an optical coupling capable of transporting the first data packet within an optical signal and an electrical coupling capable of transporting the first data packet within an electrical signal.
US09047221B2 Virtual machines failover
Disclosed is a computer system (100) comprising a processor unit (110) adapted to run a virtual machine in a first operating mode; a cache (120) accessible to the processor unit, said cache including a cache controller (122); and a memory (140) accessible to the cache controller for storing an image of said virtual machine; wherein the processor unit is adapted to create a log (200) in the memory prior to running the virtual machine in said first operating mode; the cache controller is adapted to transfer a modified cache line from the cache to the memory; and write only the memory address of the transferred modified cache line in the log; and the processor unit is further adapted to update a further image of the virtual machine in a different memory location, e.g. on another computer system, by retrieving the memory addresses stored in the log, retrieve the modified cache lines from the memory addresses and update the further image with said modifications. A computer cluster including such computer systems, a method of managing such a computer cluster and a computer program product are also disclosed.
US09047219B2 Storage system, storage control device, and storage control method
A control device manages a plurality of storage devices so that data to be recorded is redundantly recorded in different storage devices. An error monitoring unit monitors an occurrence of an error in each of the plurality of storage devices to register information indicative of error occurrence conditions in an error information storage unit for each storage device. When the use of one of the plurality of storage devices is stopped, a rebuild controller determines a timing to perform rebuild processing based on past error occurrence conditions in the storage devices other than the one storage device of the plurality of storage devices by referring to information registered in the error information storage unit.
US09047218B2 Dispersed storage network slice name verification
A method begins by a processing module dispersed storage error encoding data to produce a plurality of sets of encoded data slices in accordance with dispersed storage error coding parameters. The method continues with the processing module determining a plurality of sets of slice names corresponding to the plurality of sets of encoded data slices. The method continues with the processing module determining integrity information for the plurality of sets of slice names and sending the plurality of sets of encoded data slices, the plurality of sets of slice names, and the integrity information to a dispersed storage network memory for storage therein.
US09047216B2 Virtual disk drive system and method
A disk drive system and method capable of dynamically allocating data is provided. The disk drive system may include a RAID subsystem having a pool of storage, for example a page pool of storage that maintains a free list of RAIDs, or a matrix of disk storage blocks that maintain a null list of RAIDs, and a disk manager having at least one disk storage system controller. The RAID subsystem and disk manager dynamically allocate data across the pool of storage and a plurality of disk drives based on RAID-to-disk mapping. The RAID subsystem and disk manager determine whether additional disk drives are required, and a notification is sent if the additional disk drives are required. Dynamic data allocation and data progression allow a user to acquire a disk drive later in time when it is needed. Dynamic data allocation also allows efficient data storage of snapshots/point-in-time copies of virtual volume pool of storage, instant data replay and data instant fusion for data backup, recovery etc., remote data storage, and data progression, etc.
US09047215B1 Method and system for reducing the effect of component recovery
Methods, computer-readable mediums and systems for reducing transistor recovery are disclosed. Data which toggles at least one bit may be periodically communicated over a data path, where toggling of at least one bit may effectively reset the recovery period for any transistors in the data path associated with the at least one bit. Timing uncertainty associated with a given transistor may be reduced by limiting the amount of recovery experienced by the transistor. Accordingly, recovery of transistors in a data path may be limited to predetermined amount by toggling bits of the data path at a predetermined frequency, thereby reducing timing uncertainty and allowing a smaller system margin and/or higher data transmission speeds.
US09047213B2 Coding architecture for multi-level NAND flash memory with stuck cells
Encoded least significant bit (LSB) values are generated for a cell based at least in part on a readback value for the cell. The encoded LSB values is decoded in order to obtain one or more decoded LSB values. Encoded most significant bit (MSB) values are generated for the cell based at least in part on (1) the readback value for the cell and (2) the decoded LSB values. The encoded MSB values are decoded in order to obtain one or more decoded MSB values, wherein the bit positions of the decoded LSB values do not overlap with the bit positions of the decoded MSB values.
US09047206B1 Disk drive apparatus and method of manufacturing the disk drive apparatus
In a disk drive apparatus, a plurality of data sectors is recorded on a disk. A data sector is designated by a logical block address in accordance with a read command received from a host, and the data is read from the data sector specified by a physical address corresponding to the designated logical block address included in the read command. Predetermined data different from the data read from the designated data sector is sent back to the host in response to information relevant to the physical address included in the read data.
US09047203B1 Systems and methods for encoding and decoding data
Methods and systems for encoding and decoding data using a streaming product-code (SPC). An SPC codeword has a first and second portion in a first and second component stream of the SPC, respectively. The first portion of the first codeword is arranged along a first dimension of the SPC, and the second portion of the first codeword is arranged along a second dimension of the SPC. The SPC efficiently encodes data into a desired target frame format without the overhead of dedicated mapping logic used by product-codes solutions.
US09047202B1 Creating a relationship tree representing relationships of graphs to enable navigation through the graphs without accessing an input data set
Actions associated with visualizing an input data set using plural graphs are monitored. At least one of the graphs is produced based on selection from another of the graphs. A relationship tree that represents relationships of the graphs is created based on monitoring the actions. Output information including description data and image data is provided, where the description data contains at least a portion of the relationship tree. The output information enables interactive navigation through the plural graphs without accessing the input data set.
US09047201B2 Method for waking up a plurality of hibernated mass storage devices
A method for waking up a plurality of hibernated mass storage devices is disclosed. The method includes receiving a first command from a control circuit for accessing data stored in a plurality of hibernated mass storage devices; dividing the plurality of hibernated mass storage devices into a plurality of mass storage groups; waking up a first mass storage group of the plurality of mass storage groups; and notifying the control circuit to stop sending commands to the remaining hibernated mass storage devices in a period of time.
US09047197B2 Non-coherent store instruction for fast inter-strand data communication for processors with write-through L1 caches
A method is disclosed that uses a non-coherent store instruction to reduce inter-thread communication latency between threads sharing a level one write-through cache. When a thread executes the non-coherent store instruction, the level one cache is immediately updated with the data value. The data value is immediately available to another thread sharing the level-one write-through cache. A computer system having reduced inter-thread communication latency is disclosed. The computer system includes a first plurality of processor cores, each processor core including a second plurality of processing engines sharing a level one write-through cache. The level one caches are connected to a level two cache via a crossbar switch. The computer system further implements a non-coherent store instruction that updates a data value in the level one cache prior to updating the corresponding data value in the level two cache.
US09047190B2 Intrusion protection for a client blade
Receiving, by a blade management module from a client blade, notification of a loss of communications between a remote desktop apparatus and the client blade; responsive to the notification, accepting, by the blade management module from the remote desktop apparatus, an instruction to alter a power setting of the client blade; and; responsive to the instruction, altering, by the blade management module, the power setting of the client blade.
US09047189B1 Self-describing data blocks of a minimum atomic write size for a data store
Self-describing data blocks of a minimum atomic write size may be stored for a data store. Data may be received for storage in a data block of a plurality of data blocks at a persistent storage device that are equivalent to a minimum atomic write size for the persistent storage device. Metadata may be generated for the data that includes an error detection code which is generated for the data and the metadata together. The data and the metadata are sent to the persistent storage device to store together in the data block. An individual atomic write operation may write together the data and the metadata in the data block. When accessed, the error detection code is applicable to detect errors. The metadata may also be applicable to determine whether the data is stored for a currently assigned purpose or a previously assigned purpose of the data block.
US09047187B2 Defect management in memory systems
Defect management logic extends a useful life of a memory system. For example, as discussed herein, failure detection logic detects occurrence of a failure in a memory system. Defect management logic determines a type of the failure such as whether the failure is an infant mortality type failure or a late-life type of failure. Depending on the type of failure, the defect management logic performs different operations to extend the useful life of the memory system. For example, for early life failures, the defect management logic can retire a portion of the block including the failure. For late life failures, due to excessive reads/writes, the defect management logic can convert the failing block from operating in a first bit-per-cell storage density mode to operating in a second bit-per-cell storage density mode.
US09047182B2 Message service downtime
The description relates to addressing the downtime of a message service. One example can include determining that an error occurred during a message send process. A decision can be made whether the error is a suspicious error or a non-suspicious error. In an instance where the error is a suspicious error, any resend attempts can be limited to a number of times defined by a crash count threshold.
US09047178B2 Auto-commit memory synchronization
Apparatuses, systems, methods and computer program products are disclosed for auto-commit memory management. A method includes receiving a memory request from a client, such as a barrier request or a checkpoint request. The memory request is associated with a volatile memory buffer of a non-volatile recording device. The memory buffer may be configured to preserve data in the non-volatile recording device in response to a trigger. A method includes issuing a serializing instruction that flushes data from a processor complex to the memory buffer. A method includes determining completion of the serializing instruction flushing the data to the memory buffer.
US09047171B2 Differentiating cache reliability to reduce minimum on-die voltage
Systems and methods may provide for determining whether a memory access request is error-tolerant, and routing the memory access request to a reliable memory region if the memory access request is error-tolerant. Moreover, the memory access request may be routed to an unreliable memory region if the memory access request is error-tolerant. In one example, use of the unreliable memory region enables a reduction in the minimum operating voltage level for a die containing the reliable and unreliable memory regions.
US09047170B2 Safety control system for vehicles
According to one aspect of one embodiment of the present invention, a safety control system for vehicles, includes, a communication device having at least one of an input accessible from within the vehicle and an output communicated within the vehicle, at least one sensor operable to sense at least one condition related to vehicle operation, and a controller communicated with the sensor and the communication device to selectively suppress at least one of said input and said output in response to a sensed parameter of said at least one condition being outside of a threshold. When an input is suppressed, the driver is prevented from accessing or inputting information into the communication device. When an output is suppressed, communication between the device and the driver of a vehicle is suppressed to, among other things, avoid distracting the driver during certain driving situations or conditions relating to the driver, vehicle and/or environment.
US09047167B2 Calculating the modular inverses of a value
A method for calculating the modular inverse of a value in relation to a module is used for cryptographic calculations on a portable data carrier. The method includes determining a breakdown of the module into at least two factors, calculating a respective auxiliary value for each of the factors, wherein each auxiliary value is the modular inverse of the value in relation to the respective factor as module, and calculating the modular inverse of the value in relation to the module using the calculated auxiliary values. The method offers an increase in efficiency, with greater efficiency obtained the stronger the computing outlay depends on the length of the module in the inversion method. The method is suitable for execution by relatively low-power processors, and security of the calculation against spying attacks is not impaired. If security requirements are high, combining the method with suitable measures against spying presents no problems.
US09047164B2 Calculating defect density by file and source module
Techniques are provided for tracking and analyzing defect density by source file or module. Defect density is the number of distinct defects which required changes to be made (to fix the defect) to a particular file or module in a given period of time. This metric is very useful for identifying the most critical areas of weakness of the system and hence the areas where additional investment/action may be taken. For example, this metric can be used to prioritize the area in which unit tests should be written, for which additional automated system tests should be written or which a project should be undertaken to re-write the error prone file or module to improve its quality and maintainability.
US09047158B2 Using preprovisioned mutated templates
Illustrative embodiments include a system, and computer program product for creating a virtual machine using a preprovisioned mutated template. A template to use for creating the virtual machine is identified, a template including data usable to create the virtual machine on a data processing system. A block of data is selected in the mutated template for reconstructing the template from the mutated template. The block of data is included in the mutated template at a location specified in a manifest associated with the mutated template. A data structure of the template is populated with the block of data such that the block of data occupies a predetermined position in the template, thereby reconstructing the template from the mutated template. The virtual machine is created on the data processing system using the template.
US09047155B2 Message-based installation management using message bus
Embodiments relate to message-based installation management using a message bus. In embodiments, a deployment server or other provisioning host can be connected to a resource via a message bus. A processor monitors the bus message traffic to detect a message activity. The processor generates an installation command to cause a software installation in a managed network in view of the message activity detected on the message bus.
US09047152B2 Delay device, method, and random number generator using the same
A delay device for generating a signal for a random component in a random number generator is disclosed. The delay device includes a delay module, for generating a plurality of delayed signals, wherein each delayed signal has a delay time and the delay time is different from each other; a first multiplexer, coupled to the delay module, for outputting a delayed signal among the plurality of delayed signals as a delayed trigger signal to control the random component to generate a random bit; and a delay selector, coupled to the first multiplexer, for generating a selecting signal to control the first multiplexer to select to output the delayed signal as the delayed trigger signal.
US09047146B2 Method and system for transforming input data streams
A system and method for processing an input data stream in a first data format of a plurality of first data formats to an output data stream in a second data format of a plurality of second data formats. A plurality of input connector modules receive respective input data streams and at least one input queue stores the received input data streams. A plurality of job threads is operatively connected to the at least one input queue, each job thread formatting a stored input data stream to produce an output data stream. At least one output queue stores the output data streams from the plurality of job threads. A plurality of output connector modules is operatively connected to the at least one output queue, the output connector modules supplying respective output data streams.
US09047145B2 Event source management using a metadata-driven framework
The system and method described herein relates to managing multiple network device connections, collecting event source data from one or more network devices with one or more collectors, filtering the event source data, continuously monitoring the network device connections, controlling raw data collection from the one or more network devices, parsing the event source data into normalized data structures, and managing configurations for the collectors, among other things. Event sources may be physical or logical network devices distributed across a network, including but not limited to, firewalls, routers, biometric devices, mainframes, databases, and applications. The network devices may be sources from which the collectors may receive or request the event source data.
US09047143B2 Automation and programmability for software defined networking systems
System, method, and computer program product to orchestrate software defined networking (SDN) applications, by providing a plurality of network elements in a network, each network element comprising a plurality of ingress interfaces, a plurality of egress interfaces, and a routing information base (RIB), providing, to an SDN application, an application program interface (API) to abstract properties and events of: (i) the ingress interfaces, (ii) the egress interfaces, and (iii) the RIB of a specified network element, receiving a request from the SDN application apply a function to the specified network element, the function specifying to modify: (i) a preprocessing operation on a data packet, (ii) the RIB, (iii) a post processing operation on the data packet, and (iv) the properties of the ingress interfaces, egress interfaces, and RIBs of the specified network element, and applying the function to the specified network element through the API.
US09047140B2 Independently timed multiplier
An independently timed multiplier unit includes a multiplier and a clock generator. The multiplier has a first set of semiconductor circuits in a critical path. The clock generator has a second set of semiconductor circuits configured to control a clock period of said clock generator selected to set a clock period longer than the propagation delay through the critical path of the multiplier. The clock generator may include a delay circuit having a delay to set the clock period longer than the propagation delay through the critical path of said multiplier. The clock generator uses circuit with identical logical design including the same standard cells, the same logic design or the same floor plan. Close matching of these circuit causes the multiplier and the clock generator to experience the same PVT speed variations.
US09047138B2 Apparatus and method for thread scheduling and lock acquisition order control based on deterministic progress index
Provided is a method and apparatus for ensuring a deterministic execution characteristic of an application program to perform data processing and execute particular functions in a computing environment using a micro architecture. A lock controlling apparatus based on a deterministic progress index (DPI) may include a loading unit to load a DPI of a first core and a DPI of a second core among DPIs of a plurality of cores at a lock acquisition point in time of each thread, a comparison unit to compare the DPI of the first core and the DPI of the second core, and a controller to assign a lock to a thread of the first core when the DPI of the first core is less than the DPI of the second core and when the second core corresponds to a last core to be compared among the plurality of cores.
US09047136B2 Method and system for migrating the state of a virtual cluster
The administrative work needed to configure a virtual cluster is a major obstacle that limits its adoption by customers. Moreover, an organization can spend much time and effort testing a cluster configuration and would like to deploy this cluster configuration at many sites. To address these problems, the disclosed embodiments provide a mechanism that facilitates migrating a virtual cluster from a first computer system to a second computer system. During operation, the system captures the virtual cluster configuration state, including application configuration state and executables. The system then instantiates this captured state on a second computer system, thus re-creating the virtual cluster state of the first computer system on the second computer system.
US09047128B1 Backup server interface load management based on available network interfaces
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for managing interfaces. In some embodiments, this includes detecting a new interface, adding a job to the new interface, and incrementing a counter associated with the new interface. In some embodiments, the new interface may be an additional physical interface. In some embodiments, the new interface may be a no longer reserved interface.
US09047127B2 Method and system for an atomizing function of a mobile device
Systems, apparatuses and methods are disclosed for apportioning tasks among devices. One such method is performed in handheld wireless communication device (HWCD). The method includes discovering available resources in a network and dynamically assessing cost functions for performing a task on the HWCD and on each of the discovered resources. Each of the respective cost functions is based on performance factors associated with the HWCD or with one of the devices. Based on change in the cost functions, the task is apportioned for local execution by the HWCD or remote execution by the available resources.
US09047120B2 Virtual queue processing circuit and task processor
A queue control circuit controls the placement and retrieval of a plurality of tasks in a plurality of types of virtual queues. State registers are associated with respective tasks. Each of the state registers stores a task priority order, a queue ID of a virtual queue, and the order of placement in the virtual queue. Upon receipt of a normal placement command ENQ_TL, the queue control circuit establishes, in the state register for the placed task, QID of the virtual queue as the destination of placement and an order value indicating the end of the queue. When a reverse placement command ENQ_TP is received, QID of the destination virtual queue and an order value indicating the start of the queue are established. When a retrieval command DEQ is received, QID is cleared in the destination virtual queue.
US09047116B2 Context switch data prefetching in multithreaded computer
An apparatus, program product and method initiate, in connection with a context switch operation, a prefetch of data likely to be used by a thread prior to resuming execution of that thread. As a result, once it is known that a context switch will be performed to a particular thread, data may be prefetched on behalf of that thread so that when execution of the thread is resumed, more of the working state for the thread is likely to be cached, or at least in the process of being retrieved into cache memory, thus reducing cache-related performance penalties associated with context switching.
US09047111B2 Resource allocation in a virtualized computing environment
Machines, systems and methods for deciding whether a plurality of virtual machines (VMs) may be hosted on a computing system with resources to support at least one of the VMs, the method comprising determining maximum permissible probability of infringement (maxPermInfrProb(v)) for a VM(v), wherein “v” is a value from 1 to n, such that n is the number of VMs in a set G, as stipulated by the VMs' SLA, wherein “v” is a value from 1 to n, such that n is the number of VMs in a set G; partitioning the set G into a plurality of groups Gi (G1, . . . Gi, . . . Gn), so that each group is homogenous with respect to maxPermInfrProb defined for members of the group Gi; and organizing the groups Gi based on the value of maxPermInfrProb for each Gi.
US09047110B2 Virtual machine handling system, virtual machine handling method, computer, and storage medium
A memory retaining unit (106) of a virtual machine handling system (10) retains a memory image (IMG) of a first computer (100). An update recording unit (203) records update information (UD) indicating a partial region of a memory image (IMG1) which is updated by the execution of a transferred virtual machine (VM) by a virtual machine execution unit (202) of a second computer (200). When receiving an undo request, a return unit (160) transmits partial data (PD) indicated by the update information (UD) from the second computer (200) to the first computer (100). A virtual machine execution unit (102) of the first computer (100) executes a continuing process of the virtual machine (VM) using the memory image (IMG) retained in the memory retaining unit (106) and the partial data (PD) received from the second computer (200).
US09047109B1 Policy enforcement in virtualized environment
Policy enforcement in an environment that includes virtualized systems is disclosed. Virtual machine information associated with a first virtual machine instance executing on a host machine is received. The information can be received from a variety of sources, including an agent, a log server, and a management infrastructure associated with the host machine. A policy is applied based at least in part on the received virtual machine information.
US09047106B1 Managing application features
A method is used in managing application features. A first XML file is extracted from a first JAR file, and a second XML file is extracted from a second JAR file. Based on an identifier that is common to the first and second XML files and a directory structure that is common to the first and second JAR files, a merging operation is executed on the first and second XML files. An application feature is derived from the results of the merging operation.
US09047105B2 Configuration modeling with objects
A computer-implemented method, computer program product and system for configuration modeling with objects are disclosed. A base configuration of an application is modeled, to generate a configuration model that specifies parameters, types, structures, and boundary conditions of the base configuration of the application. The configuration model is stored in a database repository as a repository object that can be activated with configuration data. One or more extensions to the base configuration is modeled as one or more configuration model extensions. The one or more configuration model extensions are stored as repository objects linked to the repository object representing the configuration model.
US09047103B2 Resource index identifying multiple resource instances and selecting most appropriate UI resource instance based on weighted resource request conditions
A resource index on a computing device identifies multiple resource instances (e.g., multiple user interface (UI) resource instances) of multiple resource items (e.g., of multiple UI resource items), each resource instance having one or more resource instance conditions. In response to a request for a resource item received from an application, a determination is made based on the resource index of one of the multiple resource instances that satisfy conditions associated with the request, and the one of the multiple resource instances is returned to the application. Additionally, the resource index can be used to identify potential errors in running an application in various potential contexts.
US09047101B2 Method for compiling an intermediate code of an application
A method for compiling an original application written in an intermediate code, in which the original application is executed by means of a virtual machine. The method supplies a native application having a native binary code. The method includes: extracting at least one intermediate code instruction at least one corresponding function input point; a first step of compiling the intermediate code of the application to a code that includes control flow management and calls said at least one input point of each function implementing the instructions of the intermediate code; and a second step of compiling the compiled application code and intermediate code functions supplying the optimised native application.
US09047099B2 Method and system for synchronous operation of linked command objects
A system and method for synchronous operation of linked command objects in a software application. The software application manages data objects in a number of contexts. Each context manages a number of command objects. Each command object operates on data objects in its context. To support synchronous operations that affect the state of data objects in more than one context, command objects are linked to each other. When a command object is executed, its context identifies a command object linked to the executed command object and initiates the execution of the linked command object. This synchronization allows for synchronous undo and redone operations. The delete states of the command objects are also synchronized. When one command object is deleted the command object linked thereto is also deleted, thereby preventing the linked command object from being independently undone resulting in an inconsistent state of the contexts.
US09047098B2 Method of programming the default cable interface software in an indicia reading device
An indicia reading apparatus includes an interconnect cable and an indicia reading device. The indicia reading device is configured so that, if the indicia reader device is not configured to any interconnect cable and detects an indicia which does not contain one of a plurality of specified sequences of data elements that the indicia reading device will recognize and use to configure itself to operate with the interconnect cable, the indicia reading device will indicate to the user of the indicia reading device that the indicia reading device needs to be configured to operate with the interconnect cable.
US09047097B2 Method for providing an application as a library in a virtual machine
A method for providing an application by a virtual machine. The method includes a step of compiling an application written in a source code to a native application for a particular platform and a step of transforming the compiled application into a library, wherein the library is made available to the virtual machine.
US09047095B2 Embedding of a non-imperative programming language for data transformation operations within an imperative programming language
In an embodiment, a method of computer program compilation is presented. In this method, a compiler for a first programming language is provided. In one example, the first programming language allows a data assignment to depend on a result of a previous data assignment. Source code including a first portion written in the first programming language and a second portion written in a second programming language is accessed, with the second portion representing a data transformation from a first data structure accessible in the first portion to a second data structure accessible in the first portion. In one example, the second programming language prevents a data assignment that depends on a result of a previous data assignment. The source code is compiled using the compiler to generate executable code to be executed by an engine for the first programming language, which includes an interpretation engine to interpret the second portion.
US09047094B2 Apparatus and method for separate asymmetric control processing and data path processing in a dual path processor
According to embodiments of the invention, there is disclosed a computer processor architecture; and in particular a computer processor, a method of operating the same, and a computer program product that makes use of an instruction set for the computer. In one embodiment according to the invention, there is provided a computer processor, the processor comprising: a decode unit for decoding instruction packets fetched from a memory holding a sequence of instruction packets; and first and second processing channels, each channel comprising a plurality of functional units, wherein the first processing channel is capable of performing control operations and comprises a control register file having a relatively narrower bit width, and the second processing channel is capable of performing data processing operations at least one input of which is a vector and comprises a data register file having a relatively wider bit width. The decode unit is operable to detect for each instruction packet whether the instruction packet defines (i) a plurality of control instructions to be executed sequentially on the first processing channel or (ii) a plurality of instructions comprising at least one data processing instruction to be executed simultaneously on the second execution channel, and to control the first and second channels in dependence on said detection.
US09047093B2 Data transfer bus communication to receive data by sending request instruction attached with identifier indicating processor and thread context identities
Systems and methods for managing context switches among threads in a processing system. A processor may perform a context switch between threads using separate context registers. A context switch allows a processor to switch from processing a thread that is waiting for data to one that is ready for additional processing. The processor includes control registers with entries which may indicate that an associated context is waiting for data from an external source.
US09047088B2 Multiprocessor system and method of controlling power
According to one embodiment, a multiprocessor system includes a plurality of processors, a power supply device and a shared memory. The shared memory includes a thread pool and a thread queue. In the thread pool, threads each having waiting events are registered in association with the numbers of the waiting events. In the thread queue, threads having no waiting event are registered. One or more first processors acquire first thread from the thread queue and execute the first thread. A second processor updates the number of waiting events of a second thread, which is registered in the thread pool, having completion of required procedure for the second thread by the first thread as a waiting event. A third processor operates supply of power to the first processors individually based on the number of threads in the thread queue and the number of waiting events.
US09047085B2 Method and apparatus for controlling sparse refresh of a self-refreshing display device using a communications path with an auxiliary communications channel for delivering data to the display
A method and apparatus for controlling sparse refresh of a self-refreshing display device coupled to a graphics controller are disclosed. The display device includes capabilities to drive the display based on video signals generated from a local frame buffer. The graphics controller may optimally be placed in one or more power-saving states when the display device is operating in a panel self-refresh mode. When exiting the power-saving state to update the image displayed by the display device, a fast-resume initialization routine may be run to reconfigure the GPU when operating in a sparse refresh mode, i.e., where the image being displayed on the display device is updated infrequently. In such cases, the graphics controller may be configured to receive instructions and data from a central processing unit via an alternative low-bandwidth communications path instead of the high-bandwidth communications path used in normal operation.
US09047082B2 Instruction-set architecture for programmable Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) computations
A method and apparatus to perform Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) operations on a data block using a plurality of different n-bit polynomials is provided. A flexible CRC instruction performs a CRC operation using a programmable n-bit polynomial. The n-bit polynomial is provided to the CRC instruction by storing the n-bit polynomial in one of two operands.
US09047073B2 System method for detecting a type of device wherein a potential level of the device determines if power should be supplied based on the type of the device
A small-sized connecting appliance is provided. An electronic appliance includes: a connecting section including a power-supply terminal and a connecting terminal to be connected to a connecting appliance; a detecting section that detects the potential of the connecting terminal; a power source control section that starts supplying power via the power-supply terminal; and an appliance recognizing section that recognizes the type of the connecting appliance based on the result of detecting the potential of the connecting terminal after the power supply start. A computer readable medium causes a computer to perform: detecting the potential of a connecting terminal connected to a connecting appliance; starting power supply via a power-supply terminal included in a connecting section that connects to the connecting appliance; and recognizing the type of the connecting appliance based on the result of detecting the potential of the connecting terminal after the power supply start.
US09047069B2 Computer implemented method of electing K extreme entries from a list using separate section comparisons
A computer implemented method selects K extreme elements of a list of N elements by partitioning each of the N elements into a plurality of sections. For each section the method selects a threshold selection determining at least K extreme entries from the list. This iteratively compares a corresponding section to a section threshold, counts a number of sections which are more extreme than the section threshold, increasing (or decreasing) the section threshold if the count is greater than K and decreasing (or increasing) the section threshold if the count is less than K. The method forms a combined threshold by concatenation of said section thresholds in order, compares each of the N elements to the combined threshold, and selects at least K elements from the set of N elements more extreme than the combined threshold.
US09047067B2 Sensorless detection and management of thermal loading in a multi-processor wireless device
A method and system for thermal mitigation in a personal computing device is disclosed. A signal associated with an electronic element in the portable computing device is monitored. A thermal condition indicating excessive heat production is determined in response to the monitored signal. An action to mitigate heat production in the portable computing device may be performed in response to the thermal condition.
US09047066B2 Apparatus and method to efficiently cool a computing device
Embodiments disclosed herein include devices to cool the walls of a mobile computing device. In one embodiment, a louvered vent is formed within an external wall of a mobile computing device to create an air curtain between the external wall and a heat generating component to cool the external wall. In another embodiment, a nozzle vent is formed within the external wall of a mobile computing device to flow cooling air at a heat generating component to cool the heat generating component.
US09047062B2 Multi-configurable switching system using multi-functionality card slots
An embodiment of the invention comprises a reconfigurable chassis with one or more multi-functionality card slots, where each multi-functionality card slot is capable of being populated with at least one of a plurality of different types of cards, including port cards and switch cards. In a first configuration, the port card slots and the multi-functionality card slots are populated with port cards. In a second configuration, a first set of multi-functionality card slots is populated with switch cards and a second set of multi-functionality card slots is populated with port cards. In a third configuration, the first set of multi-functionality card slots and the second set of multi-functionality card slots are populated with switch cards.
US09047052B2 Simplified control input to a mobile device
A method and system for operating a mobile device includes interpreting a user-defined pattern detected by at least one of a touch interface and a motion sensor included with the mobile device. The user-defined pattern may be interpreted as at least one of: a polygon, an ellipse, a curve, a line segment, an alphanumeric character, and a movement of the mobile device. The user-defined pattern may be a two-dimensional pattern traced by the user on the touch interface. When the user-defined pattern is recognized, a wireless communication command may be executed by the mobile device. The wireless communication command may be a telephone command or a remote control command for a remote-controlled device.
US09047048B2 Rotating mechanism for electronic device
An electronic device comprises a first portion, a second portion, and a rotating mechanism. The first portion covers on the second portion. The rotating mechanism is disposed in the second portion and is used for rotatably connecting the first portion and the second portion. The first portion is rotatable relative to the second portion from a first position to a second position by rotating the first portion relative to the rotating mechanism in a first plane. In the first position, the first position covers on the second portion. In the second position, a part of the second portion is exposed, and the angle between the first portion and the second portion is adjustable by rotating the first portion in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane.
US09047046B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method and program
An information processing apparatus includes a first touch panel, a second touch panel, and a controller. The first touch panel displays a first object and detects a first touch operation of a user on the first object. The second touch panel displays a second object and detects a second touch operation of the user on the second object. The controller links and changes the displayed first object and the displayed second object when the second touch operation is detected within a predetermined time period since the first touch operation has been detected.
US09047040B2 Method for running computer program on video card selected based on video card preferences of the program
A parameter relating to the video card preferences of a target computer program is determined. In response to the target computer program being started on a computing device having a number of video cards, one of these video cards is selected to run the target computer program on, based on the parameter. The target computer program is then run on the video card selected. The parameter may include the specific identify of one of the video cards on which the target computer program is to be run, as well as other types of parameters that do not specifically identify any of the video cards. The video card preferences of the target computer program may also include video card requirements of the target computer program.
US09047038B2 Smartpad smartdock—docking rules
A multi-display device is adapted to be dockable or otherwise associatable with an additional device. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, the multi-display device is dockable with a smartpad. The exemplary smartpad can include a screen, a touch sensitive display, a configurable area, a gesture capture region(s) and a camera. The smartpad can also include a port adapted to receive the device. The exemplary smartpad is able to cooperate with the device such that information displayable on the device is also displayable on the smartpad. Furthermore, any one or more of the functions on the device are extendable to the smartpad, with the smartpad capable of acting as an input/output interface or extension of the smartpad. Therefore, for example, information from one or more of the displays on the multi-screen device is displayable on the smartpad.
US09047031B2 Process-related record information recording device and method
An image forming device is capable of executing an application. In the image forming device, a determining unit is configured to determine, in response to a request of execution of a communication process from the application, whether the communication process is an encrypted communication based on contents of a call stack which stores the request. A log recording unit is configured to record log information of the communication process in a storage device when the communication process is determined as being an encrypted communication.
US09047029B2 Terminal device and printer
A terminal device may receive print condition related information being related to an actual print condition from a printer, and register, in a print intermediation server, by using the print condition related information, printer related information including actual print condition information indicating the actual print condition. The terminal device may control a display unit to display a selection screen by using the actual print condition information in a case where file related information related to a target file is to be registered in the print intermediation server after the printer related information was registered in the print intermediation server. The selection screen may cause a user to select a print setting from among the actual print condition. The terminal device may register the file related information and print setting information in association with the printer related information in the print intermediation server.
US09047027B2 System for authenticating communications between a non-cloud ready networked printer and a cloud-based service through a virtual printer interface device
A virtual printer interface node enables a non-cloud-ready printer to communicate with a cloud-based service, residing on an internet. The virtual printer interface node includes a housing; a communication interface to provide communication directly to the network router; and a microcontroller operatively connected to the communication interface. The microcontroller converts commands, received through the communication interface, from the cloud-based service, residing on the internet, to native protocols of the non-cloud-ready networked printer and communicates the converted native protocols to the non-cloud-ready networked printer.
US09047024B2 Recording medium recording replacement printing control program for performing replacement on original data and causing printing machine to print based on data obtained by replacement, replacement printing control apparatus, and replacement printing control method
A computer-readable storage medium stores a program for causing a computer to execute a process. The process includes: a data generation step of, in response to a command to perform replacement printing of original data, generating, based on the original data, print target data to be printed on a sheet and save data to be transmitted to a data saving server connected via a network; a save-data transmission step of transmitting the save data generated in the data generation step to the data saving server, and acquiring address information indicating a save location of the save data saved in the data saving server; and a data print step of generating print data by adding the address information acquired in the save-data transmission step to the print target data and driving a printing machine to print the print data as generated.
US09047013B2 Avionic data dictionary based messaging system and method
An avionics messaging system comprises a memory configured to store a plurality of pre-defined avionics message elements; a display unit configured to display data; a user input device configured to receive input from a user; and a processing unit configured to output a user-customizable list of pre-defined avionics message elements to the display unit, the user-customizable list comprising at least a subset of the plurality of pre-defined avionics message elements; wherein the processing unit is further configured to update the user-customizable list based on input received from the user input device; wherein the processing unit is further configured to provide a message composition screen to the display unit based on user input received from the user input device; and wherein the message composition screen corresponds to a pre-defined avionics message element selected from the user-customizable list of pre-defined avionics message elements.
US09047012B1 Using information from a user device and a server to suggest an input
Systems may include receiving, from the user device, data representing input to a virtual keyboard on the user device, where the virtual keyboard includes keys, and the data represents least one of: locations at which the keys were selected and durations for which the keys were selected. The systems may include using the data to identify character strings; and performing a spellcheck on the character strings to identify candidates for the character strings. The systems may also include determining popularities of the candidates; selecting one or more of the candidates based on popularity and ranking of the one or more candidates; and outputting the selected one or more candidates.
US09047008B2 Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for determination of the digit being used by a user to provide input
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are herein provided for determination of the digit being used by a user to provide input. A method may include receiving user input defining a slide gesture from a digit of a user on a touchscreen. The method may further include determining a characteristic of the user input. The method may further include determining, based at least in part on the characteristic of the user input, the digit used by the user to provide the user input. In some cases, the method may further include causing modification of presentation of information on a display based on the digit determined to be used. Corresponding apparatuses and computer program products are also provided.
US09047006B2 Electronic device system with information processing mechanism and method of operation thereof
A method of operation of an electronic device system includes: detecting a drag performed on a touch screen, the drag having a first direction from a starting point and an ending point; detecting a stretchable cursor extendable based on the drag, the stretchable cursor having a cursor length, a cursor direction, a starting portion, and an ending portion at the ending point and larger than the starting portion at the starting point; displaying the stretchable cursor on the touch screen, the stretchable cursor stretched across a centerline on the touch screen; detecting whether a second direction of the drag is opposite the first direction; and moving a starting position of the stretchable cursor toward the centerline and away from the starting point when the second direction is opposite the first direction.
US09047004B2 Interface element for manipulating displayed objects on a computer interface
The present invention provides method of manipulating a displayed object capable of interacting with an interface element of a computing interface. The computing interface has a display module for displaying the displayed object in a display area, and which causes the displayed object to interact with the interface element and manipulating the displayed object according to the nature of the input received. The manipulation includes varying the size of the displayed object when the received input results in movement of the displayed object, into, out-of, or through a region of the display area designated as belonging to the interface element.
US09047002B2 Systems and methods for parallax compensation
An electronic device may include a touch screen electronic display configured to offset and/or shift the contact locations of touch implements and/or displayed content based on one or more calculated parallax values. The parallax values may be associated with the viewing angle of an operator relative to the display of the electronic device. In various embodiments, the parallax value(s) may be calculated using three-dimensional location sensors, an angle of inclination of a touch implement, and/or one or more displayed calibration objects. Parallax values may be utilized to remap contact locations by a touch implement, shift and/or offset displayed content, and/or perform other transformations as described herein. A stereoscopically displayed content may be offset such that a default display plane is coplanar with a touch surface rather than a display surface. Contacts by a finger may be remapped using portions of the contact region and/or a centroid of the contact region.
US09047001B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
There is provided an information processing apparatus including a determination section for determining whether or not an input operation is valid on the basis of a proximity distance and a target object, and a process execution section for executing a process according to the input operation when it is determined that the input operation is valid. The proximity distance is a distance between a proximity detection type operation unit and an operating body performing the input operation using the proximity detection type operation unit. The target object is a target of the input operation.
US09046994B2 Systems and methods of assessing permissions in virtual worlds
Systems and methods of virtual world interaction, operation, implementation, instantiation, creation, and other functions related to virtual worlds (note that where the term “virtual world” is used herein, it is to be understood as referring to virtual world systems, virtual environments reflecting real, simulated, fantasy, or other structures, and includes information systems that utilize interaction within a 3D environment). Various embodiments facilitate interoperation between and within virtual worlds, and may provide consistent structures for operating virtual worlds. The disclosed embodiments may further enable individuals to build new virtual worlds within a framework, and allow third party users to better interact with those worlds.
US09046985B2 Visual browsing system and method
A visual browsing method allows a user to look at an item closely by hovering over, instead of clicking on, an icon representing the item. The method also enables the user to browse items in different levels of a multiple level category without waiting for web pages to be loaded, to know where he/she has been in the multiple level category, and to back up if he/she likes. The method makes the browsing process faster and easier.
US09046983B2 Hierarchically-organized control galleries
A computing system provides a graphical user interface having hierarchically-organized control galleries. The computing system displays the graphical user interface on a display device. The graphical user interface contains a document area and a control ribbon. The document area contains at least a portion of a document that a user is editing. The control ribbon includes a class control gallery. The class control gallery includes a plurality of class controls associated with different classes of related commands. The computing system displays a variation control gallery containing variation controls in a class associated with a selected one of the class controls. In response to a selection of a variation control in the variation control gallery, the computing system applies a command associated with the variation control to a document in the document area.
US09046979B2 Panel configurator engine
A method including receiving input identifying a panel associated with a software application, the software application including a Graphical User Interface (GUI) and the panel comprising a discrete area of the GUI within which to group software objects to control the software application. Additionally, the method includes processing the input to identify an object of the software objects to be included in the panel. Further, the method includes generating a panel definition including the object and dimensions of the panel, the panel definition to be processed to render the GUI.
US09046970B2 Pointer detection apparatus, position detection sensor, and manufacturing method for position detection sensor
A pointer detection apparatus and a position detection sensor are provided, with which a signal transmission characteristic of a conductor for detecting a position at a periphery of a transparent region (valid area) is improved. Also, a simplified method of manufacturing the position detection sensor is provided. The position detection sensor includes a first glass substrate, a transmission conductor group formed of a plurality of transparent conductors disposed on one face of the first glass substrate, a reception conductor group formed of a plurality of transparent conductors disposed in a direction crossing the transmission conductor group, and a signal detection circuit for detecting a signal generated in the reception conductor group based on the existence of a pointer near the position detection sensor. The position detection sensor further includes a metal wiring line pattern disposed in parallel with the transmission conductor group in a non-transparent region (outside the valid area) so as to reduce resistance of that portion of the transmission conductor group to thereby improve its signal transmission characteristic.
US09046968B2 Systems and method for detecting contact with a display panel by asymetric detection waveform
A capacitance-type touch panel, allowing disturbance noise and touch detection time to be reduced and having a simple configuration, is provided. The capacitance-type touch panel including: a plurality of drive electrodes each having a strip shape; a drive control circuit performing control such that a drive signal for touch detection is selectively applied to the drive electrodes; a plurality of touch detection electrodes arranged to intersect with the drive electrodes in such a manner that capacitance is formed in each intersecting part, and each outputting a detection signal in synchronization with the drive signal; and a detection circuit detecting an external proximity object based on the detection signal. The drive control circuit controls application of the drive signal in such a manner that the detection signal is a polarity-alternating signal including a positive-negative asymmetrical signal component which is due to presence of the external proximity object.
US09046966B2 Method and system for calibrating an acoustic touchscreen
A method for calibrating an Acoustic Pulse Recognition (APR) touchscreen comprises touching an APR touchscreen at N comparison touch points. N audio profiles are acquired, and each of the N audio profiles are associated with one of the N comparison touch points. A predetermined calibration file is selected based on the N audio profiles. The predetermined calibration file comprises audio profiles associated with coordinate locations on the touchscreen.
US09046963B2 Reflective mirror and optical touch device using the same
A reflective minor includes a reflective film, a light-transmitting base and a light-transmitting adhesive layer. The reflective film includes a first connection surface and a plurality of reflection structures opposite to the first connection surface. Each reflection structure protrudes away from the first connection surface. The light-transmitting base includes a light penetration surface and a second connection surface opposite to the light penetration surface. The light-transmitting adhesive layer is disposed between the reflective film and the light-transmitting base and connected to the first connection surface and the second connection surface. An optical touch device is also provided in the present invention. Thus, the reflective minor as well as the optical touch device are easy to be manufactured and accordingly have a lower production cost.
US09046962B2 Methods, systems, apparatuses, circuits and associated computer executable code for detecting motion, position and/or orientation of objects within a defined spatial region
The present invention includes methods, systems, apparatuses, circuits and associated computer executable code for detecting motion, position and/or orientation of objects within a defined spatial region. According to some embodiments, a defined spatial region (hereinafter also referred to as the: “Active Space”) may be monitored, by any type of appropriate sensor or sensors, and position, orientation and movement of objects within the active space may be determined. Determined position, orientation and movement of objects within the active space may be translated to control signals or other forms of input for an associated computational device.
US09046961B2 Robust optical touch—screen systems and methods using a planar transparent sheet
An optical touch screen that utilizes a planar transparent sheet and that is configured to determine the position of a touch event on the transparent sheet is disclosed. Light-source elements and light-sensing elements are operably disposed at the transparent sheet perimeter. Light is detected over lines-of-sight between the light-source elements and the light-sensing elements. Attenuated lines-of-sight due to a touch event are determined. Polygons are established by overlapping triangles defined by the limiting lines of sight for each light-sensing element. Polygons with attenuations below the attenuation threshold are eliminated. The centers of the remaining polygons are then determined to establish the locations of the touch events. The systems and methods provide robust detection of multiple touch events.
US09046954B2 Display device integrated with touch screen and method of driving the same
Disclosed are a display device integrated with a touch screen and a method of driving the same, the display device comprising: a touch panel comprising a touch electrode which is disposed in each of a plurality of pixels defined by intersections between a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines; a display driver supplying data voltages for displaying an image to the respective pixels during a display period, and supplying an initialization data voltage for initializing a capacitance of the touch electrode to each pixel during a touch sensing period; and a touch driver sensing the capacitance of the touch electrode to detect a touched position during the touch sensing period. The display device integrated with the touch screen and the method of driving the same according to the present invention initialize capacitances of the touch electrodes to the same value irrespective of image data of the pixels being changed from black to white during the display period, thus preventing the occurrence of a touch error due to a screen change.
US09046944B2 Touch screen panel and driving method thereof
A touch screen panel includes a plurality of driving electrodes, a plurality of sensing electrodes crossing the driving electrodes, a driver for supplying a driving signal to the driving electrodes in a touch recognizing mode, and a controller for receiving signals from the sensing electrodes. In a noise measuring mode, the controller is configured to cut off an electrical connection between one of the driving electrodes and the driver or between one of the sensing electrodes and the controller, maintain an electrical connection between another one of the sensing electrodes and the controller, and detect a noise signal from the other one of the sensing electrodes. The touch screen panel and a driving method of the touch screen panel can increase or maximize the reception sensitivity of outside noise.
US09046939B2 Optical navigation device with non-spherical ellipsoidal reflector
An optical navigation device that can sense the movement of an object, such as a user's finger, so that the movement can control a feature of a consumer digital device such as a cursor on a display screen. The device includes a substrate to which an LED, reflector, and image sensor are attached. Light from the LED is directed by the elliptical reflector toward and through a window that is transparent to the light from the LED and then is reflected off of the user's finger back through the window, through a lens, and onto the image sensor. The reflector is positioned to direct light toward the window at an oblique angle, in the range of 65 to 70 degrees from an angle normal to the window. Further, the reflector is curved to gather light across a large solid angle in the vicinity of the LED. The curved shape of the reflector may be a portion of an ellipsoid and the LED may be located at one of the foci of the ellipsoid, with the window located at the other foci of the ellipsoid.
US09046933B2 Displaying three-dimensional image data
Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for displaying three-dimensional image data. For example, the position of one or more markers can be tracked. Then, image may be displayed based at least in part on the position of the one or more markers.
US09046930B2 Object information derived from object images
Search terms are derived automatically from images captured by a camera equipped cell phone, PDA, or other image capturing device, submitted to a search engine to obtain information of interest, and at least a portion of the resulting information is transmitted back locally to, or nearby, the device that captured the image.
US09046929B2 System and method for inputting user commands to a processor
A system for inputting operation system (OS) commands to a data processing device. The system comprises a video camera that captures images of a viewing space. A processor detects a predetermined object in the images using an object recognition algorithm not involving background information in an image. One or more image analysis parameters of the object are extracted from the images and one or more motion detection tests are applied. Each motion detection test has an associated OS command, and when a test succeeds, the OS command associated with the test is executed. By not relying on background information in an image, the system of the invention may be used in devices that are moved in use, such as a palm plot, personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile telephone, a digital camera, and a mobile game machine.
US09046928B2 Method and apparatus for improved text entry
A method and apparatus which improves QWER-sive text input into an information handling system by gestures on or above a keyboard layout. It is known that languages have a characteristic frequency at which characters will appear. Relying upon such characteristics, a keyboard layout is generated in such a way that the area allocated to individual characters varies among the character set with larger areas being assigned to characters more likely to be used in a language selected by a user. Such enlargement of areas of response may either be visible to the user or concealed, in which latter case all of the individual characters appear to have been allocated areas of the same size.
US09046925B2 Method for using the GPU to create haptic friction maps
A haptics rendering system comprises: a display device having a display screen and one or more haptic feedback mechanisms associated with at least one tactile output peripheral; and a graphics processing unit (GPU) communicatively coupled to the display device. The GPU: receives one or more portions of display image software code for a three dimensional display image; generates a three dimensional (3D) visual output of the display image for display on the display device; and concurrently generates one or more specific friction maps to provide haptic feedback of depth and/or texture associated with specific portions of the display image that comprise at least one portion having at least one of a different depth and a different texture than other portions of the display image. The GPU renders the display image and the friction map from a same set of 3D commands within the display image software code.
US09046923B2 Haptic/voice-over navigation assistance
A method includes displaying a user interface on a touch display, receiving a user input on the touch display, determining whether the user input is associated with a navigational assistance area of the user interface, outputting one or more vibrations, when it is determined that the user input is associated with the navigational assistance area of the user interface, and outputting an auditory navigational cue that corresponds to a name associated with the navigational assistance area, when it is determined that the user input is associated with the navigational assistance area of the user interface.
US09046922B2 Products and processes for providing multimodal feedback in a user interface device
Products and processes for providing multimodal feedback in a user interface device are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, an apparatus comprises a manipulandum and an actuator in communication with the manipulandum. In one embodiment, the actuator may be operable to provide haptic feedback to the manipulandum and to produce an audible sound correlated with the haptic feedback.
US09046921B2 Display apparatus and control method thereof
A display apparatus includes: an image receiving unit which receives a content; a display unit which displays the received content; an image pickup unit which captures images of a user; a storage unit which stores the content and at least one of the captured images of the user; and a control unit which displays a portion of the content with the at least one captured image from among the captured images of the user.
US09046920B1 Rotating an N-sided object to navigate items of an ordered data set
An initial face of an object having N faces along an axis of rotation is detected. A data set of ordered content items is assessed. An initial one of the ordered content items is visually presented within a field of a user interface shown on a display. The field of the user interface is a displayed graphical element of the user interface distinct from the object. The object being rotated along the axis of rotation is detected so that X number of faces are cycled as the object is rotated from the initial face to a post-rotation face of the N faces. The data set is sequentially advanced by X number of items from the initial one of the content items to a current item of the content items. The field of the user interface is updated to visually present the current content item.
US09046912B1 Thermally balanced parallel operation of transistors
A system and method for prolonging and equalizing the effective life of a plurality of transistors operating in parallel. The temperature of each transistor is measured and compared with the average temperature of the transistor system. A temperature difference is determined between the average temperature of the transistors and the measured temperature of each of the transistors. The gate resistance and the gate emitter resistance of each transistor is varied based on the temperature differences to control the measured temperature of each transistors by controlling current through each transistor thereby thermally balancing the transistors.
US09046911B2 Variable voltage generation circuit
A variable voltage generation circuit includes an amplifier, a P-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor, at least one variable resistor, and a lower resistor. Each variable resistor includes M resistors and M switches. An ith switch of the M switches has a first terminal coupled to a first terminal of the variable resistor, and a second terminal. An ith resistor has a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the ith switch, and a second terminal coupled to a first terminal of an (i+1)th resistor, where 2≦M, 1≦i≦M, and i and M are natural numbers. Therefore, the variable voltage generation circuit outputs at least one variable voltage according to a reference voltage, the at least one variable resistor, and the lower resistor.
US09046909B2 On-chip regulator with variable load compensation
An integrated circuit includes a voltage regulator to supply a regulated voltage and a data output that couples to an unterminated transmission line. The circuit draws a variable amount of power from the voltage regulator according to the data. The voltage regulator includes a first current generation circuit to provide a data transition-dependent current.
US09046908B2 Calibration method and apparatus for current and resistance
A calibration method and apparatus for current and resistance are provided, where the current calibration method includes: injecting at least one portion of a set of predetermined compensation currents into at least one of an output current of a first current source and an output current of a second current source, and dynamically adjusting a distribution of the at least one portion of the set of predetermined compensation currents until two monitored voltage drops are equal to each other, and recording a first compensation current configuration; exchanging the first and second current sources, and dynamically adjusting the distribution of the at least one portion of the set of predetermined compensation currents until the two monitored voltage drops are equal to each other, and recording a second compensation current configuration; and according to the first and second compensation current configurations, generating a resultant compensation current, for use of current compensation.
US09046905B2 Apparatus and methods for bidirectional current sensing in a switching regulator
Apparatus and methods for current sensing in switching regulators are provided. In certain implementations, a switching regulator includes a switch transistor, a replica transistor, a current source, a sense resistor, and a current sensing circuit. The drain and gate of the switch transistor can be electrically connected to the drain and gate of the replica transistor, respectively. Additionally, the current sensing circuit can control the voltage of the source of the replica transistor based on the polarity of a current through the switch transistor to generate an output current that changes in response to the switch transistor's current. The sense resistor can receive an offset current from the first current source and the output current from the current sensing circuit such that the voltage across the sense resistor changes in relation to the current through the switch transistor.
US09046903B2 Controller
The disclosed invention provides a controller that can prevent overshoot and undershoot from occurring when a voltage is switched to another voltage without using two types of regulators. Voltage regulators supply a power supply voltage to a CPU. An SVID interface receives a command to change the number of voltage regulators to be actuated among the voltage regulators from outside. A phase clock generating circuit makes a stepwise change of the number of voltage regulators to be actuated from the current number of regulators to the commanded number of regulators after change.
US09046900B2 Method and apparatus for monitoring refrigeration-cycle systems
A monitoring system for an HVAC system including an evaporator unit device, first and second temperature sensors, and a condenser unit. The evaporator unit device includes a first current sensor that measures current provided to a circulator blower and a differential pressure sensor that measures pressure between a point prior to a filter element and a point after the filter element. The first temperature sensor measures a refrigerant temperature between a condenser and an expansion valve. The second temperature sensor measures a refrigerant temperature between an evaporator and a compressor. The condenser unit device communicates with the evaporator unit device over low-voltage control lines, wherein the condenser unit comprises a second current sensor that measures current provided to the compressor. The evaporator unit device transmits sensor data to a remote monitoring service over a data network. An efficiency of the HVAC system is calculated based on the sensor data.
US09046899B2 Aircraft heating system
An aircraft heating system (100) is provided which can be supplied with DC power from an onboard source (130). The system (100) comprises a heater (150) positioned to provide heat to an aircraft appliance (101), a sensor (160) situated to sense appliance-relevant temperatures, a reporter (170) reporting system faults, and an introducer (180) introducing temperature setpoints. A thermostat (200) integrates circuitries which together manage power supply, control heating, convey sensed temperatures, detect heater and/or sensor faults, and/or perform other advantageous functions.
US09046898B2 Power-preserving communications architecture with long-polling persistent cloud channel for wireless network-connected thermostat
Provided according to one or more embodiments herein are methods, systems and related architectures for facilitating network communications between a wireless network-connected thermostat and a cloud-based management server in a manner that promotes reduced power usage and extended service life of a rechargeable battery of the thermostat, while at the same time accomplishing timely data transfer between the thermostat and the cloud-based management server for suitable and time-appropriate control of an HVAC system. The thermostat further comprises powering circuitry configured to: extract electrical power from one or more HVAC control wires in a manner that does not require a “common” wire; supply electrical power for thermostat operation; recharge the rechargeable battery (if needed) using any surplus extracted power; and discharge the rechargeable battery to assist in supplying electrical power for thermostat operation during intervals in which the extracted power alone is insufficient for thermostat operation.
US09046893B2 Deep lane navigation system for automatic guided vehicles
A method for automatically guiding a vehicle along at least a first of a plurality of rows comprising predefined centerlines. At least a second of the rows comprises a number of objects of known dimensions positioned at known locations along the centerline thereof. The method comprises the steps of scanning the objects from the vehicle, generating a set of data points representative of the locations of the objects relative to the vehicle, determining a sensed position and heading of the vehicle from the data points, comparing the sensed position and heading of the vehicle to a position and direction of the first row centerline, and generating offset and heading errors for the vehicle based on differences between the sensed position and heading of the vehicle and the position and direction of the first row centerline.
US09046891B2 Control effector health capabilities determination reasoning system and method
A system and method for determining the response capabilities of a control effector are provided. Command data and sensor data associated with the control effector are processed to generate control effector health data representative of control effector health. The control effector health data are processed in a reasoned. The reasoned is configure to selectively indict and clear one or more faults, determine one or more failures that cause indicted faults, and determine, based on the one or more determined failures, a usable range of control effector commands to which the control effector can respond.
US09046888B2 Method and system for detouring around features cut from sheet materials with a laser cutter according to a pattern
A path of a cutter head of a laser cutting machine is modified to cut features according to a pattern from a material. A no-travel zone that the laser cutter avoids while performing lateral movements between cuts is specified. Locations of the path that cross the no-travel zones are also specified. The path is then modified such that all locations that violate the no-travel zone are removed so that the laser cutter detours around the no-travel zone when performing the lateral movements.
US09046887B2 Actuating apparatus
An actuating apparatus has an actuator including a link having a plurality of joints and a plurality of motors for actuating the joints, and a controller for controlling the actuator. The controller controls the motors with a control torque m_τ_cntrl calculated according to the equation: m_τ_cntrl=M·(I−mEff)−1·(ddθ_cntrl−mEff·ddθ_cntrl—p)+C_cmpn from a target angular acceleration ddθ_cntrl, a preceding target angular acceleration ddθ_cntrl_p, a displaceable member torque response matrix Eff, an inertial matrix M, and a dynamic corrective force C_cmpn.
US09046886B2 System and method for logging security events for an industrial control system
A system includes a security server including a memory and a processor configured to receive a first set of communications from a human machine interface (HMI) device, wherein the first set of communications relates to HMI device security events. The security server is also configured to receive a second set of communications from an industrial controller, wherein the second set of communications relates to industrial controller security events. The security server is further configured to package and send the received first and second sets of communications to a remote managed security service provider (MSSP) for analysis.
US09046882B2 Nonlinear model predictive control of a batch reaction system
The present invention provides novel techniques for controlling batch reaction processes. In particular, a parametric hybrid model may be used to parameterize inputs and outputs of batch reaction processes. The parametric hybrid model may include an empirical model, a parameter model, and a dynamic model. Critical quality parameters, which are correlated with, but not the same as, end-of-batch quality values for the batch reaction processes may be monitored during cycles of the batch reaction processes. The quality parameters may be used to generate desired batch trajectories, which may be used to control the batch reaction processes during the cycles of the batch reaction processes.
US09046881B2 Updating and utilizing dynamic process simulation in an operating process environment
A simulation system that includes interconnected simulation blocks which use process models to perform simulation activities for a process plant is integrated into a process control environment for the process plant in a manner that makes the simulation system easy to use and easily updated for on-line process simulation. The disclosed simulation system enables future predicted values as well as the current predicted values of process parameters produced by the simulation system to be made available for performance evaluation as well as to guide plant operations. Additionally, the simulation system is connected to the operating process plant to receive various on-line process plant measurements, and uses these measurements to automatically update the process models used in the simulation system, to thereby keep the simulation system coordinated with the actual operating conditions of the process plant.
US09046876B2 Protection of a structural component of a timepiece
Protective device (1) for the protection of a structural component, notably a main plate (2), of a timepiece movement (3) on a receiving surface comprised in this structural component (2) for receiving in abutment a complementary bearing surface (51) of a wheel set (5).This protective device (1) includes at least one insert (6) including a slide surface (7) having a higher surface hardness than that of this structural component (2), this insert (6) being assembled on or in this structural component (2) so that this slide surface (7) thereof coincides with this receiving surface.
US09046872B2 Cooling device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A cooling device includes a cooling member to cool a recording material. The cooling member includes a cooling surface member, a heat exchanging member, and a fastening member. The cooling surface member has a cooling surface to directly or indirectly contact the recording material and absorb heat of the recording material to cool the recording material. The heat exchanging member is directly or indirectly joined to the cooling surface member to radiate heat absorbed by the cooling surface member directly or indirectly via a radiation member. The fastening member fastens the cooling surface member and the heat exchanging member to retain a joined state in which the cooling surface member and the heat exchanging member are directly or indirectly joined to each other. The cooling surface member and the heat exchanging member are separable from the joined state to a separated state without damaging the fastening member.
US09046871B2 Process cartridge, main cartridge, sub cartridge, and image forming apparatus
A process cartridge includes a main cartridge configured to be attachable to an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus, and a sub cartridge configured to be attachable to the main cartridge, wherein the main cartridge includes a moving member configured to be capable of moving between a first position for preventing, by the moving member contacting the apparatus body, the main cartridge from entering the inside of the apparatus body and a second position for allowing the main cartridge to enter the inside of the apparatus body, and a regulation member capable of moving between a regulation position for locking the moving member at the first position and an allowable position for allowing the moving member to move to the second position, and wherein the regulation member moves to the allowable position by attaching the sub cartridge to the main cartridge.
US09046869B2 Cartridges including detection member and cover member
Cartridges may include a developing roller, an electrode, a detection member, and a cover member. The developing roller rotates about an axis extending along a first direction. The electrode includes a protrusion that protrudes along the first direction to an end portion. The detection member includes a cover portion, which covers an exposable portion of the protrusion when the detection member is in a first position, and which exposes the exposable portion of the protrusion when the detection member is in a second position. The cover member covers a portion of the detection member and exposes the cover portion when the detection member is in the first position. The cover member extends in the first direction to an end portion. An overlap portion of the protrusion extends at least to the end portion of the cover member and overlaps a portion of the cover member in a second direction.
US09046864B2 Cleaning blade, and image forming apparatus using same and process cartridge
Provided is a cleaning blade formed of an elastic blade and configured to abut on the surface of a cleaning target member, which allows a leading end edge portion of the elastic blade to move on the surface thereof, to remove powder from the surface of the cleaning target member. A blade surface of the elastic blade, which has the leading end edge portion of the elastic blade on one side thereof and faces the surface of the cleaning target member, has a Martens hardness of 1.2 N/mm2 or greater when it is indented by 5 μm at a location that is 20 μm away from the leading end edge portion, a Martens hardness of 1 N/mm2 or less when it is indented by 20 μm at the location, and an elastic power of 70% or greater when it is indented by 5 μm at the location.
US09046858B2 Cooling device and image forming apparatus including same
A recording-material cooling device includes a first cooling member, a second cooling member, an approach-and-separation member, and a positioning member. The first cooling member is disposed at a first face side of a recording material to absorb heat of the recording material. The second cooling member is disposed at a second face side of the recording material to absorb heat of the recording material. The approach-and-separation member brings the first cooling member and the second cooling member close to and away from each other. The positioning member positions the first cooling member and the second cooling member relatively brought close to each other by the approach-and-separation member.
US09046857B2 Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device includes a pair of fixing members that contact each other and that rotate or circulate, and that heat and press a sheet that is transported with a toner image being carried thereby and that is interposed between the fixing members, to fix the toner image to the sheet; and a guide member that guides to a fixing area the sheet that is transported towards the fixing members. The guide member includes a metallic member and resin members. The metallic member has a guide surface that faces the sheet that is transported towards the guide member. The resin members are disposed at the guide surface so as to be spaced apart from each other in a widthwise direction. The resin members protrude from the guide surface and are struck by a front edge of the sheet in the transport direction of the sheet.
US09046855B2 Image forming apparatus
A feeder is configured to feed a recording medium. An image forming unit has a maximum sheet feed width corresponding to a longer side length of a maximum size recording medium to be accommodated in the feeder, and is disposed above the feeder in such a manner as to allow the maximum size recording medium to enter the image forming unit with a longer side first.