| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09049328B2 |
Automatic document feeding apparatus, image scanning apparatus, and image forming system
A CPU checks a detecting state of a document set sensor at a point when the trailing end of a document sheet is assumed to pass through a separating position at which the document sheet is separated by a separation roller, based on a document length determined based on a detecting output from an abutting sensor. If the document set sensor does not detect a document sheet, the CPU determines that the next document sheet is not present. If the document set sensor detects a document sheet, the CPU checks a detecting state of the document presence detecting sensor. If the document presence detecting sensor detects a document sheet, the CPU determines that the next document sheet is present. |
| US09049327B2 |
Image reading apparatus
The instant application discloses an apparatus including an image forming unit and an image reading apparatus. The image forming unit may be disposed adjacent to the base wall of the image reading apparatus. The image reading apparatus may include a base member including the base wall and a peripheral wall protruding orthogonally from the base wall to define an accommodation region; a movable member configured to reciprocate between one end portion of the accommodation region and another end portion of the accommodation region; a reading unit supported by the movable member; a cable having a first extending portion, a curve portion, and a second extending portion; and a contact reduction portion configured to reduce contact of the second extending portion of the cable with a side wall of the peripheral wall. Various embodiments of the contact reduction portion are also disclosed. |
| US09049324B2 |
Data processing device and data processing method for creating a file in a specified format or outputting a file in a determined format
A data processing device for incorporating one or more scanned data files generated by an image scanning device for storage into a file in a specified format (e.g. an Excel file) equipped with a plurality of display areas (e.g. spreadsheets), which is capable of receiving user's designation of one of the display areas to which each of the scanned data files is allocated to (S101), and modifying configuration data (e.g. part files) of the file so that each of the scanned data files is allocated to one of the display areas according to the user's designation (S112). |
| US09049322B2 |
Information processing apparatus, control method, and information processing system for performing wireless communication
In response to detecting a wireless communication apparatus, an information processing apparatus acquires from the wireless communication apparatus setting information for causing a function corresponding to a display screen to be executed, and executes the function based on the acquired setting information. |
| US09049320B2 |
Image processing apparatus including a blank-area identifying unit and a concealing unit, image processing method, and non-transitory computer readable medium
An image processing apparatus includes following components. A blank-area identifying unit identifies a blank area having a size exceeding a predetermined size, from a non-specifying-mark image portion of a recording area image of a recording area that includes individual images and a specifying mark specifying an area containing images among the individual images. A concealing unit conceals a divided area specified by the specifying-mark image, among divided areas obtained by dividing a non-blank area by a gap having a width equal to or larger than a threshold in a specific direction, among gaps between the individual images arranged in the specific direction in the non-blank area. The non-blank area is an area of the non-specifying-mark image portion of the recording area image other than the blank area identified by the blank-area identifying unit. |
| US09049317B2 |
Communication system, communication terminal, and method of controlling a communication system
A camera system includes a plurality of first cameras and a second camera. Each of the plurality of first cameras has a first receiving section that receives a control signal, a first image pickup section that photographs a first image based on the control signal, and a first transmitting section that transmits the first image and terminal information based on the control signal. The second camera has a second image pickup section that photographs a second image, a second transmitting section that transmits the control signal, a second receiving section that receives the first image and the terminal information, a camera selecting section that selects the first camera that satisfies a predetermined condition as control target camera based on the terminal information, and a storing section that stores the second image. |
| US09049316B2 |
Printer having web server function
A printer may comprise a command file storage unit, a receiving unit, a command file sending unit, and a first data sending unit. The command file storage unit may store a command file including a first command, a second command, and a third command. The first command is a command for sending a request for first data. The second command includes design data, and is a command for converting the first data into second data in accordance with the design data. The third command is a command for displaying a web page in accordance with the second data. The receiving unit may receive a request. The command file sending unit may send a response including the command file when a request for the command file is received. The first data sending unit may send a response including the first data when the request for the first data is received. |
| US09049310B2 |
Data communication
A method for the communication of data with respect to at least two telephony user devices in a data communications network comprises determining call party details for a telephone call. The telephone call involves at least a first device and a second device. The call party details include first and second identities associated with the first and second devices respectively. A separate communications session is established on the basis of the first and second identities. The communications session is separate from the telephone call and is for the communication of data to and/or from the at least two devices. An alert activation request for an alert mechanism associated with the at least one of the at least two devices is transmitted via the communications session. The alert activation request is capable of causing the at least one of the at least two devices to activate the alert mechanism. |
| US09049304B2 |
Information display system, communication terminal, cellular phone and information display method
Each of the cellular phones includes a specification information storage unit for specifying the cellular phone itself, an image information storage unit that stores image information, an operation information creation unit that creates operation information for operating a display image, and a transmission unit that transmits, to the communication terminal, a communication signal including the specification information, the image information and the operation information. The communication terminal includes a reception unit that receives the communication signal from each of the cellular phones, a display information storage unit that stores, as display information, the image information included in the received communication signal, a display unit, and a display control unit for reading out display information of the cellular phone, from the display information storage unit, and for displaying the display information as an image on the display unit, and for controlling the display image displayed on the display unit based on the operation information. |
| US09049298B2 |
Service request routing using passive skill certification
In a data processing system coupled for communication to a plurality of agent terminals, a message is received indicating that an agent associated with the agent terminal handled a service request utilizing a skill in which the agent is not indicated as certified by an agent database of the data processing system. In response to receipt of the message, the data processing system updates in the agent database an agent skill record indicative of an amount of utilization of the skill by the agent in handling service requests. The data processing system compares the amount of utilization of the skill by the agent to a threshold. In response to a favorable comparison, the data processing system updates the agent skill record to indicate certification of the agent in the skill. The data processing system performs skill-based routing in a contact center by reference to the agent skill record. |
| US09049297B1 |
Networked contact center
This document discusses, among other things, a networked contact center that includes multiple platforms to host multiple tenants. Example embodiments include receiving a message associated with one of the tenants and identifying one or more of the platforms associated with the message. For some example embodiments, the networked contact center may allow the platform to access a data location that is both associated with the tenant and shared by two or more of the multiple tenants. |
| US09049296B2 |
System and method for distributing auto-attendant across user endpoints
Embodiments of the present invention generally provide techniques and apparatus that may be used to distribute services in a telephone system. Utilizing these techniques, functions conventionally centralized and requiring a separate server may be distributed to end units, for example, as instances of such applications running on network telephones. Examples of such functions include, but are not limited to, auto attendant functions, distributed voice mail functions, and operator functions. |
| US09049289B1 |
Remote telephony service management
The present invention provides a system and method enabling telephony service subscribers to activate, deactivate, make service changes, and access call-related information from telephony services provided by a telephony service provider. According to one aspect, the service management system of the present invention interacts with subscriber terminals connected to a public data network. The service management system receives requests from subscriber terminals and converts the requests into a format compatible with terminal emulation programs, such as the Telnet protocol, running on end office switches. Using the converted request information, the requested service changes are made or the requested call-related information is collected by the end office switches with little or no intervention by service provider personnel. |
| US09049287B2 |
Method and system for resolving phone numbers for filtering voice calls
A private branch exchange (PBX) server determines a caller identification (ID) of a voice call received from a first phone system attempting to reach a second phone system. The PBX server transmits a request to a remote phone number resolving server for categorizing the caller ID. In response to a response received from the remote phone number resolving server indicating one or more categories associated with the caller ID, the PBX server processes the voice call based on the one or more categories. |
| US09049286B2 |
Registration, verification and notification system
A user provides at least one electronic contact address, such as a telephone number, during a registration process. The user is verified by establishing a connection with the user via the electronic contact address. Notification events are established, and the electronic contact address re-verified with the user via the electronic contact address when the notification event occurs. A re-verification code is conveyed to the user, which is returned by the user via an on-line form or telephone entry. |
| US09049284B2 |
Electronic device with partially illuminated annular input unit
An electronic device includes a case, a multi-directional input unit having an annular base and a flange that extends from an outer circumferential surface of the annular base and fits part of the case, the flange guiding light emitted from a light source and radiating the light; and a cover having a through-hole through which part of the multi-directional input unit passes, the cover abutting the flange and being secured to the case. |
| US09049283B1 |
Case having a storage compartment for electronic devices
A case, having a storage compartment, for an electronic device includes a soft protective case that protects the electronic device installed therein; a hard protective frame, configured to removably mount over the soft protective case wherein the hard protective frame comprises grooves; and a cover which has rails adapted to mate with and slidably mounted on the grooves so that the cover slides along the grooves to open and close the storage compartment. |
| US09049282B1 |
Cross-talk cancellation
Cross-talk reduction and/or cancellation systems and methods are provided herein. In exemplary embodiments, a far-end acoustic signal is delayed by M samples. Additionally, a cross-talk estimate value for the delayed far-end acoustic signal may be subtracted from an input acoustic signal. The cross-talk estimate value is a scaled version of filter outputs generated by a finite impulse response filter that utilizes predetermined filter coefficients. The filter outputs are scaled using a dynamic gain value. |
| US09049281B2 |
Nonlinear echo suppression
Presented is a method and associated system for suppression of linear and nonlinear echo. The method includes dividing an input signal into several frequency bands in each of a several of time frames. The input signal may include an echo signal. The method further includes multiplying the input signal in each of the several frequency bands by a corresponding echo suppression signal. Calculating the corresponding echo suppression signal may include estimating a power of the echo signal in a particular frequency band as a sum of several component echo powers, each of the several component echo powers due to an excitation from a far-end signal in a corresponding one of the several frequency bands. Calculating the corresponding echo suppression signal may further include subtracting the power of the echo signal in the particular frequency band from a power of the input signal in the particular frequency band. |
| US09049279B2 |
Mobile terminal
A mobile terminal is provided. The mobile terminal includes a terminal body having a case defining an appearance of the terminal body, the case having at least one opening, a window disposed to shield the opening and a support frame located within the case, the window being mounted on the support frame. The support frame includes a first member to which the window is coupled and a second member integrally formed with the first member, the second member being coupled to the case. |
| US09049277B2 |
Event notification device, event notification method, program, and recording medium
Provided is an event notification device capable of notifying an event with excellent immediacy without giving a shock or a sense of discomfort to a user. The event notification device 10 of the present invention includes: a notification event detection unit 11 that detects an event to be notified to a user and outputs notification data a; a stimulus control unit 12 that outputs stimulus presentation data b for providing control for presenting a stimulus to the user until the stimulus control unit receives the notification data a, and outputs stimulus removal data c for providing control for removing the presented stimulus after the stimulus control unit receives the notification data a; a stimulus presentation unit 13 that presents the stimulus upon receipt of the stimulus presentation data b and removes the presented stimulus upon receipt of the stimulus removal data c; and a transmission unit 14 that transmits presentation and removal of the stimulus to the user. |
| US09049275B1 |
Telephone communication system and method of using
A telephone communication system for reducing the number telephone of assigned numbers while allowing for increased availability of individuals and method of using the telephone communication system. The telephone communication system has at least two telephones and each telephone may be placed in activated mode or in the alternative, stand-by mode. The at least two telephones have one and only one active calling number per device and the active calling number for each device is identical to the calling number of the other device(s). A switch is capable of transferring a call from a previously activated phone to a newly activated phone utilizing an on-the-fly-redirect feature. |
| US09049273B2 |
Selective network transmission
Network transmission of messages is contemplated. The contemplated transmission may be facilitated with a selectable one or more interfaces. The interfaces may be included as part of a gateway or other device tasked with facilitating network communications, such as but not limited to a gateway tasked with facilitate network transmissions between device connected to a home network and devices connected beyond the home network. |
| US09049268B2 |
Global provisioning of millions of users with deployment units
Described herein is technology for, among other things, global provisioning of a service. The technology involves a provisioning server obtaining location information for a client. The provisioning server determines an appropriate deployment unit, based on the location information, to which the client will be assigned. The provisioning server transmits assignment information for the appropriate deployment unit to the client. The client then communicatively couples to the assigned deployment unit and begins receiving the service from the deployment unit. |
| US09049265B1 |
Serving remote access to storage resources
A method of processing client requests that includes receiving a client request from a client for access to data, issuing a direct memory access command to non-transitory storage resources to load data to a target memory location without accessing the target memory location, and instructing a network interface controller in communication with the storage resources to send a response to the client. The response includes an information portion and a data portion. |
| US09049257B2 |
Methods and apparatus for an E-mail-based management interface for virtualized environments
A server system is configured to provide an e-mail based interface for executing management operations on a virtualized infrastructure which includes a plurality of virtual machines (VMs), underlying host computers, clusters, and/or data centers. Such an interface may be provided in a virtualized infrastructure to enable a system administrator to execute administrative operations remotely from a mobile device without requiring custom installation of an application on the mobile device or a secure connection to the server system. The server system receives e-mails at a pre-determined e-mail address, authenticates the sender of the e-mail, and extracts and executes commands from the e-mail. A number of techniques for validating the e-mail containing server commands may also be provided. |
| US09049255B2 |
Visual event notification on a handheld communications device
A method of event notification on a handheld communications device involves first receiving an indication of an occurrence of an event at the handheld communications device. The communications device comprises a display device, and the event has an associated notification definition for providing a visual notification of the occurrence of the event. The notification definition comprises a content parameter that specifies a scope of the content of the visual notification, and an action parameter that specifies the action to be taken on the communications device after the visual notification is initiated. Then, a visual notification of the occurrence is provided on the display device in accordance with the associated notification definition. The visual notification provides particulars of the event. |
| US09049253B2 |
Resetting / restarting SIP endpoint devices
In one embodiment, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) endpoint device unregisters all lines from a call manager component. This is followed by a power-on reset. A server is then accessed to read a configuration file of the SIP endpoint device. Finally, the SIP endpoint device re-registers all lines with the call manager component. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. |
| US09049247B2 |
Internet-based proxy service for responding to server offline errors
A proxy server receives from a client device a request for a network resource that is hosted at an origin server for a domain. The request is received at the proxy server as a result of a DNS request for the domain resolving to the proxy server. The origin server is one of multiple origin servers that belong to different domains that resolve to the proxy server and are owned by different entities. The proxy server transmits the request to the origin server. Responsive to determining that the origin server is offline, the proxy server determines whether the requested resource is available in cache. If it is in cache, the proxy server retrieves the requested resource from the cache and transmits the requested resource to the client device. |
| US09049246B2 |
Reducing web page loading time
A backwards-compatible mechanism for reducing web page loading time is disclosed. A method includes forwarding, by a web server extension module of a server machine, a web page request to a web server component of the server machine, the web page request received from a client-side agent associated with the web server extension module. The method further includes receiving, from the web server component, page source code of a web page of the web page request, parsing the page source code to identify one or more resources associated with page source code, requesting the identified one or more resources from the web server component, compressing resources of the one or more resources that are received from the web server component into an archive file, and sending the page source code and the archive file to the client-side agent as one or more packages. |
| US09049245B2 |
Method and apparatus for flexibly converting and routing data between disparate systems
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to facilitate the transfer of data from a source system to a recipient system in instances in which the source and recipient systems process data having different data stream types, such as differently formatted data. In regards to a method, data is received from any one of a plurality of source systems, each of which has a respective first data stream type. The method determines a recipient system from among a plurality of candidate recipient systems and determines a second data stream type accepted by the recipient system. The method directs the data to a first processing module of a plurality of processing modules based upon the source system, the recipient system and the first and second data stream types. The method processes the data with the first processing module based upon a recipient system and its second data stream type. |
| US09049239B2 |
Wireless device and method for low power and low data rate operation
Embodiments of a wireless device and method for transmitting a packet comprising one or more orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) transmission symbols are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the wireless device may be configured to map data to active tones and map zeroes to nulled tones of a set of OFDM tones to generate an OFDM symbol comprising both the active and the nulled tones. The number of active and nulled tones may be based on a nulling factor. The OFDM symbol may be down-clocked to generate an OFDM transmission symbol for transmission over a reduced transmission bandwidth. Accordingly, low power may be used for very low data rate transmissions, which may be suitable for sensor devices. |
| US09049238B2 |
System for creating anonymous social gatherings
A system for creating an anonymous social gathering of 3 or more persons. The system has a server digital device and a client digital device both operatively connected to a distributed network and thus to each other. The client device is configured to display an electronic mapping received from the server digital device through the distributed network and the electronic mapping displays at least one selectable geolocation indicator. Each geolocation indicator represents an indicated location of a gathering of at least two anonymous portable digital devices. The electronic mapping is configured to display indicator identification information on the user device for the momentarily selected indicator. |
| US09049237B2 |
System and method for performing partial evaluation in order to construct a simplified policy
Methods and devices for constructing a simplified attribute-based access control policy, which more faithfully reproduces not only Permit and Deny decisions but also data relating to errors and quasi-errors resulting from the evaluation. To this end, the simplified policy includes new data fields for storing intermediate results. Further, improved simplification rules allowing partial evaluation to be used in a broader range of situations. |
| US09049236B2 |
Distributed network instrumentation system
A distributed network instrumentation system (100) includes a security management station (110) including a global network policy decomposer (112) configured to decompose global network security policies to local security policies for distributed policy enforcement, and a network interface (220) communicatively coupled to a compute platform (200). The network interface (220) is configured to off-load processing of the local security policies and end-to-end encryption from an operating system (210) of the compute platform (200) for facilitating network instrumentation. |
| US09049235B2 |
Cloud email message scanning with local policy application in a network environment
A method for applying policies to an email message includes receiving, by an inbound policy module in a protected network, message metadata of an email message. The method also includes determining, based on the message metadata, whether receiving the email message in the protected network is prohibited by at least one metadata policy. The method further includes blocking the email message from being forwarded to the protected network if receiving the email message in the protected network is prohibited by the metadata policy. In specific embodiments, the method includes requesting scan results data for the email message if receiving the email message in the protected network is not prohibited by one or more metadata policies. In further embodiments, the method includes receiving the scan results data and requesting the email message if receiving the email message in the protected network is not prohibited by one or more scan policies. |
| US09049228B1 |
System and method for reducing load on an operating system when executing antivirus operations
An initial trust status is assigned to a first object, the trust status representing one of either a relatively higher trust level or a relatively lower trust level. Based on the trust status, the first object is associated with an event type to be monitored, where the event type is selected from among: essential events, occurrence of which is informative as to trust status evaluating for an object, and critical events, including the essential events, and additional events, occurrence of which is informative as to execution of suspicious code. Occurrences of events relating to the first object are monitored. In response to the first object being assigned the relatively higher trust level, only the essential events are monitored. In response to the first object being assigned the relatively lower trust level, the critical events are monitored. A need for performing malware analysis is determined based on the trust status of the first object and the event type. In response to determination of the need for performing the malware analysis, the malware analysis for the first object is either performed, or not. |
| US09049220B2 |
Systems and methods for detecting and preventing flooding attacks in a network environment
A method for processing network traffic data includes receiving a packet, and determining whether the packet is a previously dropped packet that is being retransmitted. A method for processing network traffic content includes receiving a plurality of headers, the plurality of headers having respective first field values, and determining whether the first field values of the respective headers form a first prescribed pattern. A method for processing network traffic content includes receiving a plurality of packets, and determining an existence of a flooding attack without tracking each of the plurality of packets with a SYN bit. |
| US09049219B2 |
Device and method for specifying a transmission channel of a slave
A method is disclosed for specifying a transmission channel within a multichannel communication system for a slave of the communication system, as well as to a device of a multichannel communication system. In at least one embodiment of the method, wherein a master can communicate with a safe slave and with a normal slave within the communication system, the transmission channel of a slave of the communication system is specified explicitly as a function of the slave type of the slave. |
| US09049218B2 |
Stateless fibre channel sequence acceleration for fibre channel traffic over Ethernet
A method for offloading Fiber Channel transmit data in an I/O operation. The transmit data includes Fiber Channel sequences, each Fiber Channel sequence includes multiple frames. The method includes generating a single transmit sequence request descriptor for transmitting all of the plurality of frames; creating an Ethernet header, a FCoE encapsulation header, and a Fiber Channel header for each frame in response to information in the transmit sequence request descriptor; creating start of frame and end of frame delimiters; inserting data into each frame; computing Fiber Channel CRC and Ethernet FCS for each frame; and transmitting the plurality of frames over a network. In each of the plurality of frames, the Ethernet header precedes the FCoE encapsulation header, which precedes the Fiber Channel header, which precedes the data. The data is followed by the Fiber Channel CRC, which is followed by the Ethernet FCS. |
| US09049217B2 |
High availability network storage system incorporating non-shared storage suitable for use with virtual storage servers
A technique is disclosed for providing high availability (HA) capability with a plurality of storage servers, which may be virtual storage servers (VSSs), in a shared-nothing storage environment. The technique uses a proxy mechanism to route requests originating at one storage server to an HA partner storage server, where the proxy is implemented inside a VSS logically below the RAID layer. The technique also involves distributing non-shared storage devices “owned” by a storage server so that existing storage device-based heartbeat and fencing mechanisms can function unmodified for HA VSSs in shared-nothing environments. For example, a third, external host can be used to provide and export its non-shared storage to first and second storage servers, where the first and second storage servers do not own the non-shared storage on their local physical host machine. |
| US09049213B2 |
Cross-environment user interface mirroring using remote rendering
Cross-environment rendering and user interaction support provide a seamless computing experience in a multi-operating system computing environment. The multi-operating system computing environment may include a mobile operating system and a desktop operating system running concurrently and independently on a mobile computing device. The seamless computing experience includes mirroring the active user interaction space of the mobile operating system to a display of a user environment associated with the desktop operating system. The user interface is rendered by the desktop operating system by accessing surface information of the active user interaction space directly from shared memory. The mobile computing device may be a smartphone running the Android mobile operating system and a full desktop Linux distribution on a modified Android kernel. |
| US09049211B1 |
User challenge using geography of previous login
Methods and apparatus for performing a user challenge are disclosed. An example computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a server, a request, including a set of login credentials, to access an online service of the server and verifying the received credentials. In the event the login credentials are invalid, the request is denied, and, in the event the login credentials are valid, a challenge is provided to a user that provided the login credentials. The challenge includes: requesting that the user identify a geographic location of a previous successful login; receiving a response to the challenge, the response including a user provided geographic location; and determining if the challenge is satisfied by determining if the provided location is within a threshold distance of a previous login location associated with the user credentials. If the challenge is satisfied, the request is granted. If the challenge is not satisfied, the request is denied. |
| US09049209B2 |
Methods and apparatus to route a communication session in an internet protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) network
Methods and apparatus to route a communication session in an Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network are disclosed. An example method comprises determining at a tElephone NUMber mapping (ENUM) query server if a called destination associated with an ENUM query request message is subject to re-direction, and determining at the ENUM server a final destination for the called destination when the destination is subject to redirection, the final destination being different from the called destination. |
| US09049206B2 |
P2P for mobile providers
The present invention relates to methods and arrangements for arranging a distribution tree in a Peer To Peer P2P streaming system. The system comprises a bootstrapping server (10) that creates an external distribution tree based on received register messages from participating operator external clients (2, 3, 4). The method comprises the following steps: —Configuring an operator controlled node (7) to be a regular node in the created external distribution tree. Configuring the operator controlled node (7) to be a parent node for participating operator internal clients (1, 5, 6). |
| US09049205B2 |
System and methods for locating and acquisitioning a service connection via request broadcasting over a data packet network
A broadcast routing system with dynamic end node response capability includes a first node for creating a request for broadcasting, a broadcasting application running on, or available to the first node for broadcasting the request, one or more destination nodes enabled to monitor a broadcasting channel or channels and to receive the request, and a software routine running on or available to each of the one or more destination nodes for determining which, if any, of more than one destination node may service the request. |
| US09049204B2 |
Collaborative management of shared resources
Collaborative management of shared resources is implemented by a storage server receiving, from a first resource manager, notification of a violation for a service provided by the storage server or device coupled to the storage server. The storage server further receives, from each of a plurality of resource managers, an estimated cost of taking a corrective action to mitigate the violation and selects a corrective action proposed by one of the plurality of resource managers based upon the estimated cost. The storage server directs the resource manager that proposed the selected corrective action to perform the selected corrective action. |
| US09049203B2 |
Systems and methods for dynamically generating a privacy summary
A system and method for is provided. The present invention provides a system and method for dynamically generating a privacy summary. A profile for a user is created. One or more privacy setting selections are received from the user associated with the profile. The profile associated with the user is updated to incorporate the one or more privacy setting selections. A privacy summary is then generated for the profile based on the one or more privacy setting selections. |
| US09049201B1 |
Communication between integrated device and mobile application client on mobile personal communication device
Communication between an integrated device and a mobile application client on a mobile personal communication device involves a command generated using a mobile application client implemented by non-managed code. The command is received by an operating system, is socket based and conforms with a standard network communications protocol. The command is forwarded to an intermediate module implemented by code executed on the mobile personal communication device and configured for socket based communication according to the standard network communications protocol. After receiving the command, the intermediate module generates a command communication, for receipt by the peripheral device, according to a protocol specific to the peripheral device. The command communication instructing the peripheral device to perform an operation corresponding to the command. The operation is performed using the peripheral device upon receiving the command communication. |
| US09049200B2 |
System and method for improving hardware utilization for a bidirectional access controls list in a low latency high-throughput network
A method in an example embodiment includes creating a first search key from variable data of a message received in a network environment, creating a second search key from constant data of the message, identifying a first database entry in a first database based on the first search key, and identifying a second database entry in a second database based on the second search key. The method can also include performing an action associated with the first database entry when a correlation is identified between the first and second database entries. In specific embodiments, the variable data are modified and the constant data are not modified. The first search key can be created prior or subsequent to forwarding the message. In further embodiments, the correlation is identified when an offset of the first database entry is the same as an offset of the second database entry. |
| US09049192B2 |
Biometric authentication method and computer system
A biometric authentication method for a computer system, the computer system comprising: a computer; and an authentication server, the biometric authentication method including steps of: extracting a first feature from the captured biometric information; generating a template polynomial for enrollment; extracting a second feature from the captured biometric information; generating a template polynomial for authentication; generating a correlation function for calculating a correlation between the template polynomial for authentication and the enrolled template polynomial; calculating a correlation value between the template polynomial for authentication and the enrolled template polynomial by using the generated correlation function, and determining based on the calculated correlation value whether or not the biometric information at the time of authentication coincides with the biometric information enrolled. |
| US09049189B2 |
Multi-control password changing
Multi-control password changing includes initiating a password change cycle to change a target user's password, selecting a plurality of administrators to provide password part inputs, receiving password part inputs separately and confidentially from the plurality of administrators, generating a multi-control password comprised of multiple password part inputs, changing the target user's password to the multi-control password, and transmitting either the single multi-control password or multiple password parts each separately to target user. In an exemplary embodiment, a system for multi-control password changing includes a multi-control password changing module configured to change a target user's password, a recruitment module configured to select a plurality of administrators to provide password part inputs, a regulation module configured to receive and process password part inputs from the plurality of administrators, and a change value module configured to generate a multi-control password comprised of multiple password part inputs. |
| US09049186B1 |
Trusted security zone re-provisioning and re-use capability for refurbished mobile devices
Embodiments relate generally to systems and methods for generating and using user specific keys to execute one or more secure application in a trusted security zone of a mobile device. The user specific keys may be used in place of a trusted security zone master key and may be generated based on the trusted security zone master key. The trusted security zone master key and the user specific keys may be stored in the trusted security zone. A trusted security zone key may be used to verify the identity of a user and/or mobile device when executing in the trusted security zone. It may be tied to a particular user and may be known by a trusted service manager in communication with the mobile device. |
| US09049184B2 |
System and method for provisioning a unique device credentials
According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for controlling access to a network comprises a first operation of determining a type of electronic device to join the network. Then, unique device credentials are sent to the electronic device. These unique device credentials are used in authenticating the electronic device, and the format of the unique device credentials is based on the type of electronic device determined. |
| US09049183B2 |
Ethernet base, network system, and data forwarding method
The present invention discloses an Ethernet base, a network system, and a data forwarding method. The Ethernet base receives service data which is in a USB format and sent by a 3G router, and after converting the service data in the USB format into service data in an Ethernet format, sends the service data in the Ethernet format to a fixed network router. The Ethernet base further performs software configuration on its USB unit, so as to enable the USB unit to fulfill a hardware time sequence function of a USB host device. According to embodiments of the present invention, network traffic of the 3G router can be switched to the fixed network router without modifying basic architecture of the 3G router; and a USB interface of the Ethernet base supports charging the 3G router simultaneously in a process of data transmission. |
| US09049175B2 |
Client-adjustable window size for connectionless transfer protocols
Described herein are various principles for operating transfer protocols using adaptive flow control techniques. In accordance with some of these principles, a client may adaptively negotiate with a server regarding a window size to use when communicating datagrams using a connectionless content unit transfer protocol like the Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP). In some implementations, a client may inform a server whether to increase or decrease a window size. In these implementations, the client may increase the window size upon determining that a previous window size has led to successful transfer of content without any loss of datagrams and the client may decrease the window size upon detecting a loss of a datagram. Because of the limited resources available in some environments in which these techniques may be used, in some implementations a window size may be increased by small amounts but may be decreased drastically upon detecting a loss. |
| US09049173B2 |
Cloud based logging service
Methods and systems are provided for providing access to a cloud-based logging service to a user without requiring user registration. Methods and systems are also provided for providing cloud-based logging service to users by integrating the cloud-based logging service within a network security gateway appliance, thereby enabling the users to use the cloud-based logging service by accessing the gateway appliance. The cloud-based logging service can be accessed via an Application Programming Interface (API) without requiring user registration and allows easy and efficient access to log files, viewing of log files, and data security to stored log files and generated reports. Methods and systems of the present invention can also be used for multiple other purposes apart from using the cloud-based logging service without registration including, but not limited to, reducing the complexity of a network architecture, providing better and more effective GUI representation and minimizing distribution of data over a controlled network, among other such purposes. |
| US09049169B1 |
Mobile email protection for private computer networks
Email synchronization between a mobile device and a messaging server may be performed through a mobile email protection system. The mobile email protection system may parse network traffic for the email synchronization to retrieve an email element of an email. The mobile email protection system may scan the email element for protected content indicated in preconfigured compliance templates. The mobile email protection system may also scan the email element for prohibited content to prevent the prohibited content from being received by the messaging server. |
| US09049167B2 |
Mobile access notification service interface
Apparatus are provided that include a mobile access notification service interface configured to operate on messages targeting a mobile access notification service so that a given message targeting a given user via the mobile access notification service causes a access notice indicator of the given user's mobile data communication device to visibly show when data from the given message is ready for access via one or more designated non-mobile access devices. The mobile access notification service interface includes an access notification trigger data detector configured to process and identify, from among plural messages originating at message source machines, access notification messages containing access notification trigger data. A mobile access notification service linking mechanism is configured to link access notification messages containing the access notification trigger data to access notice indicators on corresponding targeted user mobile data communication devices, to link the access notification messages to one or more non-mobile access devices for access of content of the access notification messages at those non-mobile access devices, and to communicate non-mobile access device access code information to the targeted users for controlled user access at the one or more non-mobile access devices. |
| US09049166B2 |
System and method for messaging content delivery
An integrated system for messaging content delivery for use in a wireless network that incorporates a messaging application broker that interfaces with messaging applications; management applications, a plurality of user devices, and external networks. The interfaces use the appropriate protocols to interact with the messaging applications, management applications, user devices and external networks. |
| US09049165B2 |
Method for delivering message based on CPM service and server thereof
A method for delivering a message from a converged IP messaging (CPM) server include: checking registered target terminals that can receive a message from a source terminal based on a user preference; determining whether to deliver a message from the source terminal to the checked target terminal based on the user preference; when the message is determined to be delivered, determining whether to store the message in a message storage server based on the user preference; when the message is determined to be stored, requesting the message storage server to store the message; receiving a response message including information regarding the stored message from the message storage server; and including the information in the message and transmitting the same to the target terminal. |
| US09049162B2 |
Compression of message information transmitted over a network
Disclosed are systems and methods for providing message compression instructions by communicating with a plurality of sender machines and a plurality of receiver machines and monitoring one or more messages from the plurality of sender machines. The disclosed systems and methods may also identify a part of the one or more messages that is frequently included in a plurality of the messages sent by the plurality of sender machines, dynamically determine compression instructions to compress this part of the message, and provide the compression instructions to at least one of the plurality of sender machines, such that the compression instructions reduce size of the messages having the part of the message associated with the compression instructions. |
| US09049161B2 |
Linking sounds and emoticons
A method and apparatus for linking sounds and emoticons to allow a recipient of a message containing an emoticon to hear audio associated with the emoticon. In one aspect of the invention, a first user or sender establishes a link or association between the emoticon being sent and a sound file to be associated with that particular emoticon. The emoticon is then transmitted from the sender to the recipient along with the link or association such that the recipient can hear the audio when the emoticon is displayed. |
| US09049160B2 |
Identifying users sharing common characteristics
Displaying electronic information in an instant-messaging application includes accessing a first electronic message providing information describing a first user that has an identifier included in a set of identifiers of users of an instant messaging application. A second electronic message providing information describing a second user that has an identifier included in the set of identifiers of users of an instant messaging application is accessed. Content contained within the first and second messages is analyzed to determine that at least a portion of content is common to the first and second electronic messages. Based upon the content analysis, an indication that the first and second messages include common content is provided to the user. Alternatively or additionally, an indication that two users are in physical proximity to a geographic location may be provided in response to detecting that the two users are within a threshold distance from the geographic location. |
| US09049159B2 |
Establishing audio communication sessions
Systems and techniques for transferring electronic data include enabling instant messaging communication between a sender an at least one recipient through an instant messaging host. In addition, voice communication is enabled between the sender and the recipient through the instant messaging host. |
| US09049158B2 |
Communication session admission control systems and methods
Communication session admission control systems and methods are disclosed. A state of a communication system is monitored, and admission of a communication session into the communication system is controlled based on a random admission control procedure and a current state of the communication system. Monitoring of the current state of equipment in the communication system, connections in the communication system, communication sessions in progress in the communication system, special monitoring sessions established in the communication system, and/or an overall state of the communication system can have several benefits. These benefits may include improving utilization of resources in the system, and providing a session admission control scheme that is capable of reacting to actual observed conditions and adapting to changing system topologies following a fault, for instance. Random admission control further avoids all or nothing session blocking, which can have the undesirable effect of prompting a high number of session retries. |
| US09049155B2 |
Dual interpretation of a length field of a signal unit
A method includes receiving, at a first wireless device from a second wireless device, a signal (SIG) unit including a length field and an aggregation field. The length field is interpreted as a number of symbols in response to determining that the aggregation field has a first value. The length field is interpreted as a number of bytes in response to determining that the aggregation field has a second value. |
| US09049154B2 |
Method and system for managing global network access
An access management system provides tiered access to a global communications network. A default level of restricted access to the global communications network, for example the Internet, is provided free for all users with a compatible communications device, and at least one subscription level of service is provided to users for a fee. Access to the communications network is monitored and restricted based on user content and resource privileges. |
| US09049150B2 |
Communication system, control apparatus, node controlling method and node controlling program
A controller connected to a node configured for processing a packet received in accordance with a processing rule that stipulates a matching rule and processing for a packet matching to the matching rule includes a removal request history management unit, a processing rule search unit and a processing rule setting unit. The removal request history management unit retains record(s) of requests made to the node(s) in connection with removing the processing rule. The processing rule search unit references, in setting a new processing rule for the node, the removal request history management unit to search for a processing rule having a matching rule that competes with the new processing rule. The processing rule setting unit re-requests, in case a processing rule having a matching rule competing with the new processing rule exists in the removal request history management unit, the node(s) to remove the processing rule having the matching rule competing with the new processing rule. |
| US09049148B1 |
Dynamic forwarding plane reconfiguration in a network device
A network router dynamically reconfigures representations of forwarding structures used within a forwarding unit of the router. The forwarding structures comprise a plurality of forwarding next hops associated with the routes and stored in a first representation within the forwarding unit. The router further comprises a control unit having a processor to install the forwarding structures within the forwarding unit. In response to input directing the router to change from a first operating mode to a second operating mode, the control unit installs, within the forwarding unit, one or more new forwarding next hops that are associated with none of the routes by the forwarding structures and are stored in a second representation within the forwarding unit that is different from the first representation and, after installing the new forwarding next hop, updates the forwarding structures to associate at least one of the routes to the new forwarding next hop. |
| US09049147B2 |
Determining service level agreement compliance
A system, computer implemented method, and server for measuring compliance with a SLA. The system includes a server operable to communicate with a number of UNIs. The system further includes a network operable to communicate packets between the server and the number of UNIs. The server includes an application engine operable to determine that the network is noncompliant with the SLA in response to the determined frame loss and further in response to a determination that a committed information rate (CIR) has not been exceeded, and the monitoring device being further operable to log the network is noncompliant with the SLA. |
| US09049146B2 |
Automatically connecting remote network equipment through a graphical user interface
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for designing a test network in an integrated application, and configuring remote network devices through a network design application to test a network design. One embodiment of the present claimed subject matter is provided as a system for automatically configuring remote network devices to simulate a network connection. The system includes a plurality of computing devices which are physically coupled to one or more network devices, wherein the network devices are automatically configured to comprise a test network corresponding to a remote test network topology design. |
| US09049145B2 |
Method and apparatus for calculating MPLS traffic engineering paths
Methods and apparatuses are provided for searching a least-cost path between a source node and a destination node in a communication network. A set of costs associated with least-cost paths from the source node to a set of intermediate nodes is first determined. A least-cost path in a reverse direction from the destination node to an intermediate node is also determined. The intermediate node is selected based at least on a first cost associated with the least-cost path from the destination node to the intermediate node, and a second cost associated with a least-cost path from the source node to the intermediate node that was first determined. Accordingly, the least-cost path between the source node and the destination node might then be calculated by using the second cost as heuristic information. |
| US09049142B1 |
Method and apparatus to enable protection for selective traffic in an MPLS network
In one embodiment, a technique enables protection, e.g., Fast Reroute (FRR) protection, for selective traffic in an area of a computer network. A source node, located at an edge or perimeter of a network area or located in the core of the network area, may utilize one of a plurality of labels when forwarding traffic to a destination node, wherein a first label (“a protected label”) indicates that traffic receive FRR protection and a second label (“an unprotected label”) indicates that that traffic not receive FRR protection. |
| US09049132B1 |
Locating a voice over packet (VoP) device connected to a network
Methods and systems are described for determining a physical address for a device connected to a network via an access point. Associations between one or more physical addresses and access points may be stored in a profile associated with the device. If the device is connected to a particular access point, the profile and associations may be used to determine a current physical address for the device. |
| US09049131B2 |
Network system and load balancing method
The load balancing method includes: receiving identify information of the nodes to construct a network topology diagram and receiving support rates of connection ports through a controller; monitoring average data rates of the connection ports through the controller; when the average data rate of one of the connection ports is in excess of a congestion criteria, searching a packet flow with the highest data rate among packet flows passing through the connection port of which the average data rate is in excess of the congestion criteria through the controller; and performing a shortest path first algorithm according to the packet flow with the highest data rate and the network topology diagram, wherein the computed connection ports do not include the connection port of which the average data rate is in excess of the congestion criteria; and a new transmitting path is acquired. |
| US09049130B2 |
Distributed monitoring and control of network components
A distributed monitoring system and a computer-implemented method monitors and controls locally situated network components through a monitoring and control device or processor querying the network component operating parameters and sending control commands for controlling the parameters queried. Reports of the status of the monitored network components are periodically generated from throughout the network and sent to a remotely located status viewing station configured to generate a monitoring interface and display the operational status of the network based on the status reports. If necessary, the status viewing station automatically transmits instructions, or a user enters instructions into the status viewing station, for instructing action be taken by the monitoring and control device or processor, e.g., to adjust one or more operating parameters queried. The distributed monitoring system may be particularly useful in monitoring and managing the health of a digital signage network. |
| US09049126B2 |
Transaction middleware based application level transaction instance tracking across a composite application
Responsive to transactional middleware for a particular domain processing a particular transaction instance at a processing point specified in transaction telemetry standards as a tracking point along a flow of the particular transaction, a facility of the middleware accesses correlation data for the particular transaction instance in the particular domain and extracts application level context information about the particular transaction instance from the particular domain, wherein the transaction telemetry standards specify a same set of standards for application by each separate transactional middleware instance of a composite application. At least one facility of the transactional middleware creates a tracking event comprising the correlation data and the application level context information formatted into an event structure defined by the transaction tracking standards. At least one facility of the transactional middleware surfaces the tracking event in compliance with the transaction telemetry standards. |
| US09049121B2 |
Exchange and use of globally unique device identifiers for circuit-switched and packet switched integration
According to one aspect, a system and method of exchanging GRUUs (Globally Routed User Agent URI (Uniform Resource Identifier)) between a first telephony-enabled device and a second telephony enabled device using a circuit-switched message is provided. Once exchanged, the telephony enabled devices can exchange SIP (session initiated protocol) communications routed by the GRUUs. Any one of the telephony-enabled devices can add a media component to the SIP communications. According to another aspect, a system and method of generating GRUUs is provided. According to another aspect, a system and method of handing off communications to a packet switched network from a circuit switched network is provided. |
| US09049120B1 |
Method and system for operating a communication circuit during a low-power state
A method and system for operating a communication circuit during periods of reduced energy consumption are disclosed. Data may be transmitted over a communication link from a first device to a second device in a low-power state. The data may be used by the second device to update coefficients and/or synchronize the receiver of the second device to a transmitter of the first device, thereby enabling a more efficient or rapid transition from the low-power state to an active state. A transmitter of the first device and a receiver of the second device may be activated before transmission of the data and deactivated after transmission of the data. In this manner, a receiver of the second device may be refreshed to enable a more efficient transition from the low-power state to an active state. |
| US09049117B1 |
System and method for collecting and processing information of an internet user via IP-web correlation
A method is provided for collecting and processing information of a target who is a user of a communication network. The method includes obtaining a first identifier of the target, accessing, based on a handle of the first identifier, a first public webpage associated with the target in a first Internet site identified based on a domain of the first identifier, extracting content of the first public webpage for including in target data of the target, obtaining a third identifier of the target, intercepting a document associated with the target from a private portion of communication network traffic identified based on a domain of the third identifier, extracting content of the document for including in the target data, determining a second identifier by searching the target data, associating the second identifier with the target based on a pre-determined criterion, and collecting information of the target based on the second identifier. |
| US09049116B2 |
Configurable light timer and method of receiving data to control the operation of a configurable light timer
A configurable light timer adapted to receive data to control the operation of the configurable light timer is disclosed. The configurable light timer comprises a control circuit; an input portion coupled to receive a portable memory device by way of a connector on the configurable light timer, wherein the portable memory device stores data to be used by the configurable light timer and is adapted to be removed after the data is downloaded; and a memory coupled to receive the data stored on the portable memory device; wherein control circuit accesses the data from the memory after the data is downloaded and the portable memory device is removed. A method of receiving data to control the operation of the configurable light timer is also disclosed. |
| US09049114B2 |
Network access device and method for automatically establishing connection to a wide area network
A network access device (NAD) is configured to automatically establish a connection to a WAN. The NAD tests IP configurations according to a first priority scheme at least until a currently best scoring one of the IP configurations is selected for use to communicate over the WAN. The testing of the IP configurations includes transmitting requests according to a first priority scheme and tracking any replies reflecting which IP configurations are valid. The first priority scheme is for selecting among IP configurations for testing and prioritizing a first type of IP configuration over a dynamically determined type of IP configuration. Which IP configurations of the dynamically determined type that are to be tested are determined by attempting to obtain DHCP leases using different VLAN IDs according to a second priority scheme of VLAN IDs to include in DHCP requests. |
| US09049111B2 |
Progressive charting of network traffic flow data
Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus, method, and computer program for progressive charting of network traffic flow data. The method includes, in one example, receiving, at a network traffic analyzer, a query of network traffic flow data over a certain time period. The method further includes modifying the query to produce sub-queries each based on different segments of time within the certain time period, executing at least one of the sub-queries, and incrementally outputting results of each of said executed sub-queries as each of the sub-queries are completed. |
| US09049108B2 |
Wireless network fault diagnosis method and device
A wireless network fault diagnosis method and device are provided. The method includes receiving, by a network management server, sampling data of user equipment in at least one area in a wireless network, where the sampling data includes attribute information of the user equipment and probe-collected information of the user equipment; generating, by the network management server according to the sampling data of the user equipment in the at least one area, statistical information that corresponds to each area of the at least one area; and performing, by the network management server, area-based wireless network fault diagnosis according to the statistical information that corresponds to each area of the at least one area. Therefore, area-based wireless network fault diagnosis is performed, a fault trend of the user equipment can be fully perceived, so that corresponding measures are taken against wireless network faults to effectively improve satisfaction on user experience. |
| US09049103B2 |
Grid event detection
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for detecting grid events. In one aspect, a method includes receiving signal characteristic data that specify signal characteristic values for signals that are received over each of a plurality of communications channels of a power line communications network. A determination is made that the signal characteristic values for the signals that are received over at least one of the communications channels are outside of a baseline signal value range. An endpoint that communicates over the at least one communications channel is identified, and a determination is made that a set of the signal characteristic values for the identified endpoint matches one of a plurality a grid event signatures for the identified endpoint. Data that identify the endpoint and a particular grid event that is represented by the matched grid event signature are provided. |
| US09049102B1 |
Closed loop communication
Disclosed are various embodiments of a system. In one embodiment, among others, a method comprises intercepting a communication between a first party and a second party in a communication forum. The communication includes first party proxy information as an intended recipient information. The method further comprises accessing a communication pair using the intended recipient information. The intended recipient information is associated with second party proxy information. The second party proxy information is associated with second party information. Additionally, the method comprises determining whether the identity of the sender is valid. |
| US09049097B2 |
Communication management apparatus, communication node, and communication system, and data communication method
The communication management apparatus includes a network-presence-check processing unit that performs network presence check processing for generating network presence information, a token-circulation-order determining unit that determines token circulation order using the network presence information, a setup processing unit that notifies each of communication nodes in the network of token circulation destination information, a token-frame processing unit that, after transmission of a data frame by a data-frame-communication processing unit, transmits, based on the token circulation order, a token frame including information concerning a transmission right acquiring apparatus that acquires a transmission right next and determines whether the transmission right acquiring apparatus of the transmission right acquiring apparatus information of the received token frame is the own apparatus, and the data-frame-communication processing unit that performs transmission and reception processing for a data frame for acquiring the transmission right. |
| US09049095B2 |
Methods and devices for providing ingress routing in selective randomized load balancing
The performance of randomized load balanced or selective, randomized load balanced networks is enhanced by using ingress traffic engineering in addition to randomized traffic splitting. By first using the capacity of all links leading to the final destination of traffic, the remaining capacity is freed up for best effort traffic. Traffic splitting rules that enhance the performance of randomized load balanced networks in terms of packet missequencing and other quality of service criteria are also described. |
| US09049094B2 |
Generation of multilevel signals using correlative coding
Disclosed is a polybinary-signal generator in which correlative coding is applied to a plurality of fractional-bit-rate signals instead of being applied to a corresponding multiplexed full-bit-rate signal. The resulting coded fractional-bit-rate signals are variously delayed with respect to one another and then summed to generate a polybinary output signal. One beneficial feature of this architecture is that most circuit components of the polybinary-signal generator operate at the fractional bit rate, which helps to alleviate at least some of the technical difficulties associated with the design of radio-frequency circuits intended for relatively high bit rates. Another beneficial feature of this architecture is that the polybinary-signal generator also serves as a signal multiplexer. |
| US09049091B2 |
System and method for in-phase/quadrature-phase (I/Q) time delay measurement and compensation
A system for determining a time delay between an in-phase signal component and a quadrature-phase signal component includes an in-phase signal start time determination module coupled to an in-phase delay module, the in-phase signal start time determination module and the in-phase delay module configured to receive an in-phase signal component of a received signal. The in-phase signal start time determination module is configured to receive a reference signal. The system also includes a quadrature-phase signal start time determination module coupled to a quadrature-phase delay module, the quadrature-phase signal start time determination module and the quadrature-phase delay module configured to receive a quadrature-phase signal component of a received signal. The quadrature-phase signal start time determination module is configured to receive a reference signal, wherein the in-phase delay module is configured to develop an in-phase delay signal and the quadrature-phase delay module is configured to develop a quadrature-phase delay signal. |
| US09049087B2 |
Communication device and communication system
A communication device includes: a reception element for receiving a radio signal modulated in a first modulation scheme or a second modulation scheme; a first demodulation element for demodulating the received radio signal in a first demodulation scheme corresponding to the first modulation scheme; a second demodulation element for demodulating the received radio signal in a second demodulation scheme corresponding to the second modulation scheme; and a modulation scheme detection section for detecting a modulation scheme of the received radio signal. The received radio signal includes modulation scheme determination information. The modulation scheme detection section detects the modulation scheme of the received radio signal based on a result of demodulation of the modulation scheme determination information performed by the first demodulation element and a result of demodulation of the modulation scheme determination information performed by the second demodulation element. |
| US09049083B2 |
Base station antenna and base station antenna feed network
Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of communications technologies, and provide a base station antenna and a base station antenna feed network. The base station antenna includes a transceiver array, a first-level vector synthesis network, a second-level phase shifter array, a second-level vector synthesis network, and an antenna unit array. By using the second-level vector synthesis network, the base station antenna makes phase differences between multiple vector signals sent to antenna units smoother, thereby extending an adjustable range of a downtilt on the premise that the number of transceivers is as small as possible. |
| US09049082B2 |
Carrier frequency and phase recovery in quadrature encoded E-band communications
A mechanism for retrieval of carrier frequency and carrier phase in a received modulated carrier waveform. Retrieval of carrier frequency and carrier phase can be implemented in an analog electrical circuit, using a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or in computer code. Independent of the implementation, the mechanism performs frequency and primary phase recovery by forcing transforms of a pilot tone in the upper and lower sidebands to the same frequency using a feedback loop. The difference-in-magnitudes of the channelized pilot are used by a phase lock loop to perform secondary phase recovery in a manner that also resolves phase sign ambiguity. Benefits of this mechanism include improved phase lock loop tracking performance and a reduction of noise in the data demodulated from the received carrier waveform. |
| US09049080B2 |
Injection-locked RF receiver having trifilar transformer splitter
The present invention relates to an injection-locked RF receiver having trifilar transformer splitter. The injection-locked RF receiver includes a trifilar transformer splitter, an injection-locked oscillator and a phase detector. The trifilar transformer splitter includes a primary winding, a secondary winding and a tertiary winding. RF input signal is input to the primary winding. The secondary winding outputs a first differential signal to the injection-locked oscillator. The tertiary winding outputs a second differential signal to the phase detector. Using the trifilar transformer splitter of the invention, the frequency-shift keying demodulation with high sensitivity is achieved, and the number of amplifier can be reduced so as to lower the power consumption of the injection-locked RF receiver and reduce the complexity of the involved system. |
| US09049075B2 |
Adaptive modal PAM2/PAM4 in-phase (I) quadrature (Q) phase detector for a receiver
A phase detector includes data detection logic for detecting data in a communication signal, amplitude detection logic for processing modulation chosen from any of a PAM2 and a PAM4 communication modality, in-phase edge detection logic for detecting in-phase edge information in the communication signal, quadrature edge detection logic for detecting quadrature edge information in the communication signal, and mixing logic for determining an amount of in-phase edge information and quadrature edge information to be applied based on at least one channel parameter in the communication channel. |
| US09049074B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for initiating conference call using calendar events
An email client method and server that allow a conference organizer to schedule a conference (e.g., conference call) using a calendar feature found in today's email applications. When the email client is installed to work with the user's email application, an option becomes available to allow access to a conferencing scheduling feature. The server is adapted to receive an incoming conference request via a data message (e.g., email message) and coordinate acceptances to the request. At the time of the conference, the server retrieves a list of conference participants/attendees and their contact information. The server determines whether or not each participant/attendee is a server participant. If the participant/attendee is a server participant, the server will initiate the conference by calling the multiple contact numbers associated with the participant/attendee. Otherwise, the server will call one contact number associated with the participant/attendee. |
| US09049073B2 |
Systems and methods for initializing allocations of transport streams based on historical data
Systems and methods for allocating media assets to a plurality of transport streams in a mixed service system to allow simultaneous receipt of at least two media assets using a single stream selector are provided. The mix-service content delivery system comprises a content delivery server comprising control circuitry. At a first time, the first instance of the at least two media assets may be allocated to different transport streams. A user request to simultaneously receive the at least two media assets may be received. A viewing history based on the user request may be generated during a predetermined time period. At a second time after the first time, the control circuitry may allocate a second instance of the at least two media assets to a same transport stream of the plurality of transport streams. The allocations may be determined based on the generated viewing history. |
| US09049072B1 |
Method for DC offset removal in OFDM systems
Systems and methods for removing a DC offset from an orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) signal transmitted over a plurality of subcarrier frequencies. The system includes a receiver. The system further includes a high pass DC component filter configured to reduce a DC component of the orthogonal frequency division multiplexed signal, the high pass DC component filter shaping noise in the orthogonal frequency division multiplexed signal which results in a non-uniform power spectral density of the noise across the plurality of subcarrier frequencies. The system further includes a noise whitener configured to compensate for the noise shaping by the high pass DC component filter by normalizing the non-uniform power spectral density of the noise across the plurality of subcarrier frequencies. |
| US09049070B2 |
Dynamic client/server session recovery in a heterogenous computer network
A method and system for establishing and maintaining a connection in a client/server environment is disclosed. A client requests a connection from a server, and the client and server negotiate environment options to establish the connection including a recovery location comprising, in one example, an IP address and port. The server stores the recovery location received from the client in a recovery information file. In response to losing the connection with the server, the client checks the recovery location for a recovery notification sent by the server. When the server is re-started, a recovery notification is sent by the server to the recovery location that was stored in the recovery information file. The client receives this recovery notification, and the connection between the client and the server is re-established without the need for the client to query the server. |
| US09049069B2 |
Sparse equalizer system
A sparse equalizer system is disclosed. One or more multiple tapped delay lines (e.g., equalizers and/or pre-equalizers) are implemented to service one or more respective channels with which a communication device operates to support communications with at least one other communication device. Adaptive selection of which subsets of taps of the one or more multiple tapped delay lines is made to control those particular taps of which contribute to one or more subsequent slicer inputs. Those taps which are not currently operating to contribute to the slicer input may undergo processing, updating, etc. in parallel with or simultaneously with the processing of a signal to generate the outputs to be provided to the one or more subsequent slicers. |
| US09049066B2 |
Method and apparatus for communication in a system employing differing transmission protocols
A method and apparatus for communication in a system employing differing transmission protocols. It is determined whether a first time slot of one transmission protocol is adjacent to a second time slot of another transmission protocol, and if a first symbol within the first time slot is adjacent to a second symbol of the second time slot. A pilot power and/or a number of pilot sub-carriers or tones of the first symbol is increased and channel estimation is performed on the first symbol. |
| US09049063B2 |
Method and system for communication in a wireless network
Methods and apparatus are described for processing data in a wireless communication network. Iterative estimation techniques are used to enable tracking of time-varying communication channels. A signal is transmitted over a channel in the network, the signal comprising a sequence of symbols carried on a plurality of sub-carriers. Boot-up estimator estimates, in a time domain, parameters of a model of the channel based on the received signal. A domain converter transforms at least one of the estimated parameters from the time domain to provide at least one transformed parameter in a second domain. An equalizer and decoder determine estimates of symbols from the received signal using the at least one transformed parameter, and tracking estimator updates the estimated model parameters during reception of the signal using at least one estimated symbol. |
| US09049059B2 |
Receiving circuit
A circuit includes: a first adder configured to add a first offset cancellation value to an input signal value; a second adder configured to add a first equalization value to an output signal value from the first adder; a first comparator configured to make a binary decision on an output signal value from the second adder; a third adder configured to add a second offset cancellation value to the input signal value; a fourth adder configured to add a second equalization value to an output signal value from the third adder; a second comparator configured to make a binary decision on an output signal value from the fourth adder; a selector configured to output a determination result of the first comparator or a determination result of the second comparator in accordance with a determination result of preceding one bit of the input signal value. |
| US09049057B2 |
Duty cycle compensation of RAM transmitters
Disclosed embodiments may include a circuit having a clock-to-output (TCO) compensation circuit coupled to a RAM pull-up transmitter and a RAM pull-down transmitter. The TCO compensation circuit may be configured to compare a first output with a second output and to generate a delay code, based on the comparison, for at least one other RAM transmitter on the die to adjust a duty cycle of a third output associated with the at least one other RAM transmitter. Other embodiments may be disclosed. |
| US09049055B1 |
Message clustering by contact list
Systems and methods for clustering messages are provided. In some aspects, a method includes receiving a set of communications. The set of communications includes a set of messages. Each communication in at least a portion of communications in the set of communications is associated with a set of contacts. The method also includes determining a first contact list based on the set of communications. The method also includes determining a first subset of the set of messages, each message in the first subset of the set of messages being associated with a set of contacts including at least a first threshold number of contacts in the first contact list. The method also includes providing an indication of the first subset of the set of messages. |
| US09049052B2 |
System and method of communicating a priority indication in a call control/bearer control telecommunication system
The present invention relates generally to telecommunication services, and in particular, to communicating priority indications between telecommunication nodes in a telecommunication system having a separated call control and bearer control architecture. The present invention provides a number of solutions which map or assign the call level priority to the bearer level. |
| US09049048B2 |
Recording medium having communication program recorded therein, relay node and communication method
A recording medium, relay node and method are provided. The recording medium having recorded therein a communication program causing non-real time communication to be executed by first and second node groups in a network for conducting real time communication between the nodes through relay devices connecting the first and second node groups. The communication program causing a computer of a local node to execute causing a local node selected from the first node group to set a path leading from the local node to another node selected from the second node group, causing the local node to receive data on the non-real time communication from the other nodes of the first node group than the local node to the other nodes of the second node group than the another node; and transferring from the local node to the another node, the data received, using the path set in the setting. |
| US09049047B2 |
Method for providing scalable multicast service in a virtual private LAN service
Multicast capability in a virtual private LAN service (VPLS) is provided in a provider IP/MPLS infrastructure without headend replications by encapsulating a customer data packet to use an established multicast protocol, such as IP multicast. In one example, the customer data packet is encapsulated by an IP header having an IP multicast group address and an Ethernet header. In one implementation, a DNS type mechanism is provided to distribute the IP multicast addresses for VPLS use. Such IP multicast group address can be set aside from an administratively scoped address range. An efficient IP routing algorithm running on the provider's network provides an efficient distribution tree for routing IP-encapsulated customer packet for the VPLS. |
| US09049044B1 |
Method of management and distribution of device adapters for element management systems
A system and method for managing network elements in a communication network. The system includes a storage unit for storing one or more cartridges, where the one or more cartridges contain network element-specific information. The storage unit also contains a generic framework for managing the one or more network elements via use of the one or more cartridges. Finally, the storage unit includes a processor for using the one or more cartridges and the generic framework to manage the one or more network elements. |
| US09049041B2 |
Method and system for distributed initiation of USB over network data plane connections
Connecting USB devices with USB hosts over a network supporting distributed initiations of USB connections over the network, including the following steps: Connecting non-collocated USB hosts with respective non-collocated USB host adaptors (USBHs), according to USB specification timings. Connecting non-collocated USB devices with respective non-collocated USB device adaptors (USBDs). Enabling the USBDs and the USBHs to communicate over the network and to discover the presence and capabilities of one another. Initiating, by the USBDs or the USBHs, via the network control plane, USB-over-network-data-plane connections between the USB devices and the USB hosts. And operating at least two of the USB-over-network-data-plane connections essentially simultaneously and without any common network node. |
| US09049039B2 |
System and method for managing a control device in a universal plug and play home network
A method and system for managing capabilities of a control device in a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) home network. The method includes advertising a list of capabilities of a control device to a control point in the UPnP home network, updating, by the control device, a capability in the list of capabilities, and advertising an updated list of capabilities to the control point. |
| US09049036B2 |
Computer system analyzing apparatus and computer system analyzing method
A computer system analyzing apparatus includes an acquiring unit which acquires information indicating at least use states of a plurality of computer resources, and a detecting unit which detects whether each of the use states of the computer resources which are indicated by the information corresponds to a state determined as an unreasonable state in advance. |
| US09049034B2 |
Multicast flow monitoring
Provided is a method of monitoring a multicast flow. An initial multicast flow is characterized as a baseline flow entity. A subsequent multicast flow is compared against the baseline flow entity to identify anomalies between the baseline flow entity and the subsequent multicast flow. |
| US09049031B2 |
Systems and methods for point to multipoint communication in networks using hybrid network devices
An information handling system is provided. The information handling system includes an ingress network device receiving a multicast stream from a coupled source device and a first and a second egress network device. The first and second egress network devices each receive the multicast stream for coupled destination devices. The information handling system also includes a plurality of intermediate network devices by which the ingress network device is coupled to the first and second egress network devices to form a network and further includes a network controller. The network controller has a topology of the network in a memory and forms a multicast tree based on the topology as well as a link load level and a multicast replication capacity associated with links to the first and second egress network devices and to each of the plurality of intermediate network devices. |
| US09049029B2 |
Providing different network services to a network agent
Differing network services can be provided to a single network agent such that a single agent can access services billed to different accounts. Different services and billed to different accounts by the network agent sending a network agent identifier to the network which identifies the agent. After an agent is identified, it sends a service qualifier that identifies a service being requested and an account to which the service should be billed or charged. |
| US09049023B2 |
Outsourcing the decryption of functional encryption ciphertexts
Functional encryption (FE) ciphertext is transformed into partially-decrypted (PD) ciphertext. The PD ciphertext has a shorter bit length than the FE ciphertext, or the decryption time of the PD ciphertext is less than the decryption time of the FE ciphertext. The FE ciphertext can be an attribute-based encryption ciphertext. The transformation can be performed with a transformation key generated by an authority with a master key or by a user with a decryption key. The transformation can also be performed, without a transformation key, based on unencrypted components of the FE ciphertext and on auxiliary information associated with the unencrypted components of the FE ciphertext. The PD ciphertext can require less transmission time across a network than the FE ciphertext. The PD ciphertext can require less time to decrypt than the FE ciphertext, particularly when the computational resources performing the decryption are limited. |
| US09049022B2 |
Hashing prefix-free values in a certificate scheme
Methods, systems, and computer programs for producing hash values are disclosed. A prefix-free value is obtained based on input data. The prefix-free value can be based on an implicit certificate, a message to be signed, a message to be verified, or other suitable information. A hash value is obtained by applying a hash function to the prefix-free value. The hash value is used in a cryptographic scheme. In some instances, a public key or a private key is generated based on the hash value. In some instances, a digital signature is generated based on the hash value, or a digital signature is verified based on the hash value, as appropriate. |
| US09049020B2 |
Circuitry to facilitate testing of serial interfaces
Circuitry to facilitate testing of serial interfaces is described. Specifically, some embodiments of the present invention facilitate testing the clock and data recovery functionality of a receiver. A serial interface can include a multiplying phase locked loop (MPLL) clock generator, a transmitter, and a receiver. The MPLL clock generator can generate a first clock signal and a second clock signal, and can vary a phase and/or frequency difference between the first clock signal and the second clock signal. During test, the transmitter and the receiver can be directly or capacitively coupled to each another. Specifically, during test, the serial interface can be configured so that the transmitter transmits data using the first clock signal, and the receiver receives data using the second clock signal. The clock and data recovery functionality of the receiver can be tested by comparing the transmitted data with the received data. |
| US09049018B2 |
Method of an uplink HARQ operation at an expiry of time alignment timer
A method of processing data for a Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) operation in a wireless communication system. The method includes receiving a timing alignment command (TAC) and one or more uplink grants from a network; and generating a data unit. The one or more uplink grants are used for transmitting the generated data unit to the network. The method further includes starting a time alignment timer (TAT) upon receiving the TAC. The TAT is used to control how long a User Equipment (UE) is considered to have an uplink time that is aligned. The method further includes when the TAT expires, clearing the one or more uplink grants. |
| US09049015B2 |
Allowing TCP ACK to pass a gateway while queuing data for parsing
In one embodiment, a method for providing an ACK packet while queuing data is provided. One or more packets in a series of packets may be received from a client at a gateway. The gateway determines that a packet in the series of packets has not been received. The one or more packets are then queued. The queued packets may have included an ACK for one or more previously sent packets. Thus, if the gateway had forwarded the one or more packets that are queued, then the ACK would have been received by the server. However, the one or more packets are queued and thus the ACK included in the packets is not sent with the queued packets. Even though the plurality of packets are queued, an acknowledgement packet is generated and then sent for the previously sent packets. The acknowledgement packet acknowledges to the server that the one or more previously sent packets were received by the client. The server may then continue transmitting packets to the client and knows it does not need to retransmit the one or more previously sent packets. |
| US09049014B2 |
Subsea data communication system and method
A subsea data communication system and a method of performing a data communication between a topside control system and a subsea installation are provided. The topside control system includes a topside low frequency modem adapted to perform a data communication in a first frequency range, and the subsea installation includes a subsea low frequency modem adapted to perform a data communication in the first frequency range. The topside low frequency modem is coupled to a subsea low frequency modem by a data transmission line of an umbilical that connects the topside control system to the subsea installation. |
| US09049010B2 |
Portable data encryption device with configurable security functionality and method for file encryption
A portable encryption device with logon access controlled by an encryption key, with an on board cryptographic processor for reconstituting the encryption key from a plurality of secrets generated by a secret sharing algorithm, optionally shrouded with external secrets using an invertible transform resistant to quantum computing attacks. Another embodiment provides file decryption controlled by a file encryption key, with the on board cryptographic processor reconstituting the file encryption key from a version of the file encryption key which has been shrouded with a network authorization code. A method for encryption of a plaintext file by hashing, compressing, and encrypting the plaintext file, hashing the ciphertext, hashing the plaintext hash and the ciphertext hash, and sealing the ciphertext together with the resulting hash. A portable encryption device for performing the method is also disclosed. |
| US09049008B2 |
Distributed key-based encryption system
A distributed key-based encryption system comprises a sending side and a receiving side. The sending side comprises a key-data generation unit, an encryption unit, a first wireless-transfer unit, and a second wireless-transfer unit. The receiving side comprises a third wireless-transfer unit, a fourth wireless-transfer unit, and a decryption unit. The communication between the second wireless-transfer unit and the fourth wireless-transfer unit is directional. |
| US09049005B2 |
Storage device and memory controller thereof
A memory controller controlling a nonvolatile memory is provided. The memory controller includes an encryption key feeder configured to feed a cipher key according to a logical address transferred from a host; and an encryption engine configured to perform an encryption operation on data transferred from the host or a decryption operation on data transferred from the nonvolatile memory device, using the cipher key provided from the encryption key feeder. |
| US09049004B2 |
Low-power encryption apparatus and method
A low-power encryption apparatus and method are provided. The low-power encryption apparatus includes a mask value generation unit, a mask value application unit, a round key application unit, a mask operation unit, a shift operation unit, and a shift operation correction unit. The mask value generation unit generates a mask value M having the same bit length as input round function values. The mask value application unit generates first masking round function values by applying the mask value M. The round key application unit generates second masking round function values by applying round key values. The mask operation unit generates third masking round function values by performing a mask addition operation. The shill operation unit generates fourth masking round function values by performing a circular shift operation. The shift operation correction unit generates output round function values by performing an operation using the mask value M. |
| US09048996B2 |
Method and device for de-mapping on LTE downlink control channel
A method for de-mapping on a Long Term Evolution (LTE) downlink control channel is provide, which includes that: a resource element group table and a first parameter are acquired from the configuration parameters, and the resource element group table is analyzed according to the first parameter to acquire a mapping address of Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) data; a second parameter is acquired from the configuration parameters, and de-cyclic-shift processing is performed on the mapping address of the PDCCH data according to the second parameter to acquire a de-cyclic-shift address; and a third parameter is acquired from the configuration parameters, and de-interleaving processing is performed on the de-cyclic-shift address according to the third parameter to acquire a de-mapping address. Accordingly, a device for de-mapping on an LTE downlink control channel is also provided. |
| US09048994B2 |
Downclocking and/or adaptive sub-carriers for single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications
Downclocking and/or adaptive sub-carriers for single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. Communication device operation within a wireless local area network (WLAN/WiFi) is effectuated in the frequency spectra typically associated with television broadcast channels. Operation is made on a secondary non-interfering basis to such television broadcast channels. Any desired channel bandwidth (e.g., 6 MHz, 7 MHz, 8 MHz, etc.) may be employed. Adaptation with respect to the number of data sub-carriers within different respective packets may be made in accordance with two or more respective operational modes. For example, modification of the number of data sub-carriers in different respective packets may be made to increase the signal bandwidth from a first band was to a second bandwidth. Also, appropriate frequency down-clocking of a first channel bandwidth may be performed to generate the desired channel bandwidth to be employed within an available television broadcast channel bandwidth. |
| US09048992B2 |
Transmitting spread signal in communication system
A method for receiving Acknowledgement/Negative acknowledgement (ACK/NACK) information in a mobile communication system includes receiving a first signal including first spread ACK/NACK information and second spread ACK/NACK information from a first antenna set of a transmitting end in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol; receiving a second signal including third spread ACK/NACK information and fourth spread ACK/NACK information from a second antenna set of the transmitting end in an OFDM symbol; and de-spreading at least the first and third spread ACK/NACK information or the second and fourth spread ACK/NACK information for identifying the ACK/NACK information. |
| US09048990B2 |
Power efficient paging channel decoding
Disclosed are various embodiments of extracting a paging message from paging channel downlink communications. A first and second page bursts and received. When the signal to noise ratio of the first and second bursts exceeds a threshold, a Viterbi decoder is executed and an error checking code calculated to determine whether the paging message is successfully extracted. If not, a third page burst is received and a Viterbi decoder executed to extract the paging message. |
| US09048987B2 |
Joint detector/ decoder devices and joint detection/ decoding methods
According to various embodiments, a joint detection/decoder device may be provided. The detector and decoder device may include: an input circuit configured to receive an input signal; a survivor splitting circuit configured to produce a plurality of survivors of a next instance based on at least one survivor of a previous instance and based on the input signal; and a survivor discarding circuit configured to discard survivors based on a set of predetermined criteria; wherein each survivor has an associated bit sequence. |
| US09048981B2 |
Wireless telecommunicatons network
A femtocell including a transceiver and a processor coupled to the transceiver for implementing transmission and reception in a wireless communication network utilizing OFDM/OFDMA, and the processor including modules for collecting information about neighboring base stations and femtocells and utilizing the collected information to select the femtocell's own radio parameters, and a method for radio resource allocation in a wireless communication network implementing OFDM/OFDMA, the method including performing preamble synchronization by a sniffing femtocell on a neighboring femtocell, and determining radio resource parameters of the neighboring femtocell based on the synchronized preamble. |
| US09048979B2 |
RF carrier synchronization and phase alignment methods and systems
A method comprising generating a baseband information signal by mixing a received modulated carrier signal with a local oscillator (LO) signal having an LO frequency; obtaining baseband signal samples of the baseband information signal having a baseband signal magnitude and a baseband signal phase; determining a cumulative phase measurement associated with baseband signal samples having a baseband signal magnitude greater than a threshold; and, applying a correction signal to compensate for an LO frequency offset of the LO frequency based on the cumulative phase. |
| US09048976B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting reference signals in wireless communication system
Provided are a method and apparatus for transmitting reference signals in a wireless communication system. A first set of reference signals and a second set of reference signals are generated and mapped to a first resource block (RB) in accordance with a first reference signal pattern and a second RB which is close to the first RB in accordance with a second reference signal pattern. The first RB and the second RB are transmitted from a base station to user equipment. Each of the first reference signal pattern and the second reference signal pattern is formed of one sub-frame and on RB unit. In addition, resource elements (Rs) to which the first set of reference signals and the second set of reference signals are respectively mapped in accordance with the second reference signal pattern are REs to which the second set of reference signals and the first set of reference signals are respectively mapped in accordance with the first reference signal pattern. |
| US09048972B2 |
Communication apparatus and reference signal receiving method
Provided are a wireless communication apparatus and a reference signal generating method, wherein inter-cell interference is reduced inside and outside a CoMP set. A CoMP mode setting unit (101) sets whether the terminal (100) thereof is a CoMP terminal or a Non-CoMP terminal. When the terminal (100) is set as a Non-CoMP terminal, the hopping pattern calculating unit (104) calculates a ZC sequence number to be used as the transmission timing, from among all the ZC sequence numbers that can be used within the system. When the terminal (100) is set as a CoMP terminal, the hopping pattern calculating unit (104) calculates a ZC sequence number to be used as the transmission timing, by hopping the ZC sequence numbers to be used within the CoMP set. A ZC sequence generating unit (105) generates a ZC sequence to be used as an SRS, using the calculated ZC sequence number. |
| US09048970B1 |
Feedback for cooperative multipoint transmission systems
A method in a mobile communication terminal includes receiving signals from a serving cell and from one or more interfering cells. Respective channel responses are estimated in the terminal for the signals received from the interfering cells. A level of interference, caused by the signals of the interfering cells to a signal received from the serving cell, is derived from the channel responses. A Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) is calculated for the signal received from the serving cell based on the level of interference caused by the signals of the interfering cells. Feedback information is produced based on the SNR and transmitted from the terminal. |
| US09048960B2 |
Methods and apparatus for communicating safety message information
Various embodiments, relate to a communications system in which communications devices of users and communications devices of vehicular systems communicate safety messages through a cellular communications band or the DSRC (Dedicated short-range communications) vehicular communications band or a combination of both. Various methods and apparatus are directed to communicating safety messages between vehicles and pedestrians/cyclists through the use of a cell phone, thus improving the impact of vehicular communications. In some embodiments, at least some cell phones in a communications system includes both a DSRC communications capability and a cellular communications capability. |
| US09048957B2 |
Signal processing circuit, optical receiver, detector and method for compensating for waveform distortion
A signal processing circuit includes: a first compensator configured to compensate for waveform distortion corresponding to chromatic dispersion of a received optical signal by using digital electrical signals obtained by sampling analog electrical signals by using a sampling signal, the analog electrical signals being obtained by opto-electric conversion of multiple optical signals that include an intensity of the received optical signal and phase information thereon; and a chromatic dispersion compensation controller configured to control a compensation value for the chromatic dispersion in the first compensation from the digital electrical signals in which the chromatic dispersion has been compensated for on the basis of a detected phase offset between the sampling signal and a modulation frequency of the received optical signal. |
| US09048950B2 |
Multiple-input method and apparatus of free-space optical communication
An approach is provided that uses diversity to compensate fading of free-space optical (FSO) signals propagating through an environment characterized by atmospheric scintillation. One embodiment involves collecting at least one FSO beam, demultiplexing the beam by wavelength into at least two sub-beams, detecting each sub-beam to produce an electrical output therefrom, and recovering a signal using complementary information from at least two of the electrical outputs. Another embodiment involves collecting the FSO beam onto an array of spatially separated sub-apertures, detecting the light entering each sub-aperture to produce an electrical output therefrom, and recovering a signal using complementary information from at least two of the electrical outputs. This second embodiment enables both electronic adaptive processing to coherently integrate across the sub-apertures and in the case of multiple transmit apertures a free space optical Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) system. |
| US09048945B2 |
Antenna training and tracking protocol
A particular communications protocol is used for antenna training to accomplish directional communications in a wireless communications network. In some embodiments, pertinent information for various requests, responses, and status reports, is included in information elements. |
| US09048943B2 |
Low-power, noise insensitive communication channel using logarithmic detector amplifier (LDA) demodulator
A method is provided for communicating signals at a low power level in an electromagnetic interference (EMI) environment. A first device transmits a modulated signal having a first carrier frequency, including the encoded information via a hardwire transmission medium. In one aspect, the power level of the modulated signal can be adjusted to minimize power consumption or reduce the generation of EMI. The modulated signal may be in one of the following formats: frequency modulation (FM) or phase modulation (PM) to name a few examples. A second device including a logarithmic detector amplifier (LDA) demodulator circuit receives the signal, which may be mixed with EMI. The LDA demodulator circuit amplifies the modulated signal, without amplifying the EMI, to supply a demodulated baseband signal, which may be an n-ary digital signal, or an audio signal. A low-power, noise insensitive communication channel is also provided. |
| US09048924B2 |
Relay station in radio communication system and operating method for the relay station
A method for operating a relay station in a wireless communication system includes: obtaining information regarding assigned subframes among a plurality of subframes; monitoring a PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel) carrying information regarding a radio resource allocation within the assigned subframes; and receiving data from a base station on the basis of the radio resource allocation of the monitored PDCCH. The relay station may operate to guarantee compatibility with an existing terminal in a wireless communication system. Also, a method for assigning radio resources between a base station and the relay station is defined. |
| US09048920B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing FM audio artifacts in a receiver
An apparatus and method for reducing FM audio artifacts in a receiver are provided. A direct conversion radio frequency (RF) receiver converts an analog FM signal into a phase shifted digital low IF signal. A digital controller coupled to the analog FM receiver provides adaptive frequency translation for different channel spacing and provides adaptive low IF configuration through the different channel spacing, thereby suppressing audio artifacts. |
| US09048914B2 |
Radio base station device, mobile station device and radio communication method
Provided is a downlink reference signal structure suitable for increase in number of transmission layers. A radio base station device (20) has a plurality of transmission antennas; a orthogonal RS sequence generator (22) for generating orthogonal reference signals based on a two-dimensional orthogonal code, the orthogonal reference signals being orthogonalized between downlink reference signals adjacent in two-dimensional directions of frequency direction and time direction to each other in one transmission layer and being orthogonalized in different transmission layers assigned to one radio resource; a multiplexer (23) for multiplexing transmission data and the orthogonal reference signals in the one transmission layer; and a transmitter for transmitting a transmission signal obtained by multiplexing the transmission data and the orthogonal reference signals, via the transmission antenna in transmission layers simultaneously. |
| US09048913B2 |
Method and apparatus for adaptive control of transmit diversity to provide operating power reduction
A method and apparatus for selectively enabling or disabling transmit diversity in a mobile communication device. The mobile communication device may switch between diversity and non-diversity operation based on various transmit power considerations. |
| US09048908B2 |
Finding channel state information with reduced codebook in a multi-antenna wireless communication system
Multiple antennas employed at the transmitter and receiver can significantly increase a MIMO system capacity, especially when channel knowledge is available at the transmitter. Channel state information may be provided to the transmitter by the receiver in a codebook based precoding feedback. An approach is proposed in which the receiver conducts a search of precoder elements of a codebook to provide the transmitter with rank information and precoder control index that enhances capacity. Unlike the conventional exhaustive search, the proposed approach reduces complexity by reducing the search space of precoder elements for consideration. Performance loss is minimized by reducing the search space of higher rank precoder elements and keeping the search space of lower rank precoder elements. |
| US09048907B2 |
Methods for reducing interference in communication systems
Example embodiments are directed to methods of reducing interference in a communication system. A method includes receiving, by a transmitter, first and second quantized matrices from a mobile station. The first and second quantized matrices are based on an estimated channel matrix and an estimated interference matrix. The method further includes determining, by the transmitter, a transmission beamforming vector based on the first and second quantized values. |
| US09048906B2 |
Beamforming precoding matrix using non-uniform angles quantization
Beamforming precoding matrix using non-uniform angles quantization. Adaptively generated feedback information is provided between communication devices that communicate using more than one communication path, link, connection, etc. With respect to feeding back different types of information having different respective characteristics (e.g., different respective probability density functions), different and respective quantization may be employed for the different types of information. For example, uniform, Gaussian, or per bit loop optimized quantization may be individually selected and employed for each of the different types of feedback information used in a wired communication system (e.g., one which is implemented or compliant in accordance with PLC/HP (Powerline/HomePlug), and/or at least one version of the IEEE 1901-2010—IEEE Standard for Broadband over Power Line Networks: Medium Access Control and Physical Layer Specifications), signaling may be effectuated between communication devices using more than one communication pathway (e.g., more than one communication link between respective communication devices). |
| US09048893B1 |
Determining channel information using decision feedback equalization
In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides transmitters, receivers, and methods of determining channel state information for a maximum likelihood (ML) multiple input multiple output (MIMO) receiver, as well as transmitting and demodulating signals based on the determined channel state information. A ML MIMO receiver receives a first MIMO signal from a MIMO transmitter. Channel characteristics of the first MIMO signal are determined based on decision feedback equalization (DFE) processing. The DFE-determined channel characteristics, or information derived from the DFE-determined channel characteristics, are reported to the MIMO transmitter and the MIMO ML receiver decodes a second MIMO signal based on ML processing. The second MIMO signal is modulated and encoded by the MIMO transmitter according to a modulation and coding scheme in accordance with (1) the DFE-determined channel characteristics or (2) the information derived from the DFE-determined channel characteristics. |
| US09048890B1 |
Transmitter circuit with integrated power control
An integrated circuit device, set forth by way of example and not limitation, includes an IC package provided with a plurality of leads and enclosing: a) a buffer amplifier, b) a switching-mode power amplifier having an input coupled to the output of the buffer amplifier and having an output coupled to at least one of the plurality of leads, and c) a digital controller. A method, set forth by way of example and not limitation, for controlling the power output of a RF transmitter circuit without the need for an attenuator includes developing a signal source, applying the signal source to a buffer amplifier to provide an amplified signal, applying the amplified signal to a switching-mode power amplifier to provide a power output signal, and controlling a gain of the switching-mode power amplifier in response to a digital command. |
| US09048888B2 |
Power line communication system
A power line communication system is provided in which the influence of the impulsive noise unexpectedly generated on a power line which is a communication medium can be reduced according to the characteristics of the impulsive noise by an existing method and power line communication can be realized without a hindrance. A transmitter is constituted by: a modulator for conveying a LIN data signal by a power line; a filter that allows a signal of a predetermined band to pass therethrough; and a sinusoidal wave outputter (sinusoidal wave in the figure). In contrast, the receiver is constituted by the sinusoidal wave outputter, the filter and a demodulator that performs demodulation. To the power line, a limiter that limits the amplitude of the propagating signal to a predetermined amplitude (reception signal amplitude) is connected. |
| US09048887B2 |
Wireless communication methods and apparatus
In one embodiment, a method, in a wireless network, of transmitting a sequence of bits of information from an array of antennas, the array of antennas comprising a plurality of antennas, each antenna of the plurality of antennas having a plurality of feed points, comprises selecting an antenna and at least one feed point of the plurality of feed points for the selected antenna from a plurality of combinations of antenna and at least one feed point to indicate at least part of the sequence of bits; and transmitting a signal from the selected antenna by driving the selected at least one feed point. |
| US09048885B2 |
Method of transmitting control information in coordinated multi-point (COMP) system by a base station and receiving downlink data via a best downlink channel cell by a mobile station
A method of transmitting control information in a wireless communication system is disclosed. A method of receiving control information in a mobile station which receives downlink data from a plurality of cells simultaneously in a wireless communication system comprises receiving downlink control information including the control information on data transmitted from the plurality of cells from a serving base station via a downlink control channel. |
| US09048883B2 |
Electronic system having shared antenna structure for receiving signals corresponding to various frequency bands
An electronic system includes a shared antenna, a diplexer and a processing circuit. The shared antenna corresponds to a first frequency band and a second frequency band, wherein the first frequency band meets a wireless radio frequency identification (RFID) standard, and the second frequency band meets a near field communication (NFC) standard. The diplexer receives a wireless signal from the shared antenna, and divides the signal into a WIRELESS RFID signal component corresponding to the first band and an NFC signal component corresponding to the second band. The processing circuit is coupled to the diplexer, and arranged to process the WIRELESS RFID signal component and the NFC signal component. |
| US09048882B2 |
Near field communications (NFC) and proximity sensor for portable devices
Described herein are techniques related to near field coupling and proximity sensing operations. For example, a proximity sensor uses a coil antenna that is utilized for near field communications (NFC) functions. The proximity sensor may be integrated into an NFC module to form a single module. |
| US09048880B2 |
Kiosk-based mobile customer check-in
A customer-accessible station includes a near field communication (NFC) transceiver configured to interact with another NFC transceiver of a customer's mobile station and/or a micro-cell base station subsystem for use at a premises of an enterprise includes a base transceiver system configured for wireless communication with a mobile station over a frequency band allocated for mobile traffic in a macro cellular network. A communication interface sends and receives communications for one or more mobile stations when at the premises via a packet data network. A controller coupled to the base transceiver system operates the micro-cell base station subsystem to appear as a base station similar to a base station of the macro cellular network, including enabling mobile station registration. A customer management server responds to identification of a registered mobile station by communicating information about a customer associated with the identified mobile station to a system used by enterprise personnel. |
| US09048879B1 |
Error correction system using an iterative product code
An error correction system includes an iterative code that employs an interleaved component code and an embedded parity component code. In some embodiments, on the transmission side, input signals received at an input node are encoded based on the interleaved code, which encodes an interleaved version of the input data to produce a first set of codewords. At least a portion of the first set of codewords preferably is divided into a plurality of symbols which are encoded based on the embedded parity code to provide encoded data. Similarly, in some embodiments, on the receiving side, received data are detected to produce detected information and soft outputs. The detected information is decoded based on the embedded parity code to obtain decoded information. The decoded information preferably is used, together with other soft information, by an interleaved decoder to generate reliability metrics for biasing a subsequent decoding iteration. |
| US09048872B2 |
Layered decoding architecture with reduced number of hardware buffers for LDPC codes
A layered decoding architecture with a reduced number of hardware buffers for low-density parity-check (LDPC) decoding by storing a variable-to-check message. When a check node begins a new operation, a variable-to-check message (Q) is added to a check-to-variable message (R) obtained in previous check-node operation to obtain an updated APP value. Then, the R value for the check node in the layer being processed is deducted from the APP value to obtain a variable-to-check message (Q). This variable-to-check message is stored in the memory and inserted into the check node equation to obtain a check-to-variable message. Finally the check-to-variable message obtained in this operation is stored to the check-to-variable message shift register to complete the updating operation for the check node and the variable node for the layer being processed. Improved hardware utilization and fewer buffers, thus achieving a smaller hardware area while retaining the converge speed, is obtained. |
| US09048870B2 |
Low density parity check decoder with flexible saturation
Embodiments of the present inventions are related to systems and methods for decoding data in an LDPC decoder with flexible saturation levels for variable node probability values. |
| US09048862B2 |
Systems and methods for selecting data compression for storage data in a storage system
Storage systems and methods to improve space saving from data compression by providing a plurality of compression processes, and optionally, one or more parameters for controlling operation of the compression processes and selecting from the plurality of compression processes and the parameters to satisfy resource limits, such as CPU usage and memory usage. In one embodiment, the methods takes into account the content-type, such as text file or video file, and select the compression process and parameters that provide the greatest space savings for that content type while also remaining within a defined resource-usage limit. |
| US09048861B2 |
Analogue to digital converter
An analog to digital converter comprises an input terminal configured to receive an analog input signal and an output terminal configured to provide an output digital signal. The analog to digital converter also comprises a main summer having a summing input, a subtracting input and a summing output, wherein the summing input is connected to the input terminal; an analog filter having a filter input and a filter output, wherein the filter input is connected to the summing output; a quantizer having a quantizer input and a quantizer output, wherein the quantizer input is connected to the filter output; a digital integrator having a digital integrator input and a digital integrator output, wherein the digital integrator output is configured to provide a multi-bit output signal, the digital integrator input is connected to the quantizer output, and the digital integrator output is connected to the output terminal; and a main feedback digital to analog converter having a main feedback converter input and a main feedback converter output, wherein the main feedback converter input is connected to the digital integrator output, and the main feedback converter output is connected to the subtracting input of the main summer. |
| US09048859B2 |
Method and apparatus for compressing and decompressing data
One embodiment of the invention provides a method and apparatus for decompressing a compressed data set using a processing device having a plurality of processing units and a tangible, non-transitory shared memory. The compressed data set comprises a plurality of compressed data segments, in which each compressed data segment corresponds to a predetermined size of uncompressed data. The method includes loading the compressed data set into the shared memory so that each compressed data segment is stored into a respective memory region of the shared memory. The respective memory region has a size equal to the predetermined size of the corresponding uncompressed data segment. The method further includes decompressing the compressed data segments with the processing units; and storing each decompressed data segment back to its respective memory region within the shared memory. |
| US09048858B1 |
Mean frequency calibration for a voltage controlled oscillator based analog-to-digital converter
A method is provided for calibrating the mean frequency of a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) based analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The method accepts a differential analog input signal comprising a positive signal and a negative signal. The positive signal is converted into a first frequency and the negative signal is converted into a second frequency. The first frequency is converted into a first digital value and the second frequency is converted into a second digital value. The first digital value is added to the second digital value to find a common mode value, and the common mode value is compared to a predetermined common mode value to find a first error. The first error is converted to a first bias modification of the differential analog input signal, and in response to the differential analog input first bias modification, the first error is minimized. |
| US09048857B2 |
Analog-to-digital converter circuit and method of controlling analog-to-digital converter circuit
An analog-to-digital converter circuit includes a plurality of conversion stages that are cascaded to be coupled in series. Each of the plurality of conversion stages includes a signal holding circuit configured to hold an input voltage, an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the input voltage into a digital signal based on a first reference voltage, a digital-to-analog converter configured to generate a first voltage according to the digital signal, the first reference voltage, and the input voltage, an amplifier configured to amplify the first voltage to generate an output voltage, and a reference holding circuit configured to hold a holding voltage that is in proportion to the first reference voltage. The amplifier is coupled to the reference holding circuit to receive and amplify the holding voltage to generate a second reference voltage. |
| US09048856B2 |
Data bus inversion apparatus, systems, and methods
Apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed such as those that operate to encode data bits transmitted on a plurality of channels according to at least one of multiple Data Bus Inversion (DBI) algorithms. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. |
| US09048855B2 |
Method and apparatus for parallel data interfacing using combined coding and recording medium therefor
A semiconductor device may include a coding lookup table unit including a plurality of coding lookup tables each of which is selected by a respectively selection signal, and a selection unit configured to receive one of N-bit parallel data and extract respective encoded data corresponding to the selection signal and to which the N-bit parallel data is mapped from the coding lookup table unit, and encoded data and extract respective N-bit parallel data corresponding to the selection signal and to which the encoded data is mapped from the coding lookup table unit, wherein N is 2 or an integer greater than 2, and wherein the coding lookup tables respectively store a plurality of coded data patterns that respectively correspond to patterns of the N-bit parallel data and are random temporally and spatially. |
| US09048854B2 |
Unicode character conversion using one of two conversion services
Disclosed is a method to convert a Unicode character. The method includes intercepting a service call for a character conversion, determining if a character associated with the service call is a candidate for a first conversion service, if the character is a candidate for the first conversion service, converting the character using the first conversion service, if the character is not a candidate for the first conversion service, converting the character using a second conversion service, and returning the converted character. |
| US09048849B2 |
Supply regulated voltage controlled oscillator including active loop filter and phase locked loop using the same
The inventive concept relates to a supply regulated voltage controlled oscillator having a function of an active loop filter by sharing one operational amplifier without additional use of active elements in a supply regulated voltage controlled oscillator using an operational amplifier as a supply regulator, and a phase locked loop using the same. |
| US09048847B2 |
Apparatus and methods for synchronizing phase-locked loops
Apparatus and methods for synchronizing phase-locked loops (PLLs) are provided. In certain implementations, a fractional-N synthesizer includes a PLL and a control circuit that controls a division value of the PLL. The control circuit includes an interpolator, a reset phase adjustment calculator, and a synchronization circuit. The interpolator can control a fractional portion of the PLL's division value. The reset phase adjustment calculator can include a counter for counting a number of cycles of the reference clock signal since initialization of the fractional-N synthesizer, and the reset phase adjustment calculator can generate a phase adjustment signal based on the count. The synchronization circuit can synchronize the PLL in response to a synchronization signal, and can correct for a synchronization phase error indicated by the phase adjustment signal. |
| US09048846B2 |
Device having digitally controlled oscillator
A device includes a digital-to-time converter and an interpolator having a data input and a data output coupled to the digital-to-time converter. The interpolator may be configured to receive a converter control signal at the data input and to provide an interpolated converter control signal at the data output. An interpolation rate of the interpolator may depend on the converter control signal. |
| US09048843B1 |
Techniques for dividing frequencies of periodic signals
A frequency divider circuit includes an adder circuit, multiplexer circuits, and a phase interpolator circuit. The adder circuit generates a summed value. The multiplexer circuits receive first periodic signals and generate second periodic signals by selecting among the first periodic signals based on the summed value. The phase interpolator circuit generates a third periodic signal using a weighted average of the second periodic signals that is determined based on the summed value. |
| US09048837B2 |
Cascode transistor and method of controlling cascode transistor
A cascode transistor includes: a first switch; a second switch that has a withstand voltage higher than that of the first switch and is cascade coupled to a drain of the first switch; and a circuit in which a third switch and a capacitor are coupled in series with each other and that is provided between a connection node and a source of the first switch, the connection node being a node at which the first switch and the second switch are coupled to each other. |
| US09048828B2 |
Controller for a transducer, transducer, and control method
A controller for a converter is designed to receive from a measuring device measurement signals from an output line of the converter, and to analyze the measurement signals in order to generate a switching signal that has a switching frequency, wherein the controller comprises a sampler for generating a sample signal by sampling received measurement signals. The sampler is designed to perform the sampling at a sampling frequency that is less than three times the switching frequency. A converter comprises a controller in accordance with the invention. |
| US09048820B2 |
High-speed fully-differential clock duty cycle calibration circuit
A high-speed fully differential clock duty cycle calibration circuit applied to calibrating the clock duty cycle in a high-speed system. The circuit detects the duty cycle with a continuous time integrator, and directly adjusts the duty cycle on a clock transmission link so as to increase the working speed. Being of a fully differential circuit structure, the circuit can calibrate the duty cycle under a designated process within a higher and wider frequency range, and has relatively good constraining force for process mismatch and common mode noise. The circuit comprises adjustment level ADJ1 and ADJ2, a first buffer level BUF1, a second buffer level BUF2 and a duty cycle detection level DCD. |
| US09048817B2 |
Voltage fed feed forward active EMI filter
An apparatus for active feed forward electromagnetic interference (EMI) filtering, including, a noise detection and current reconstruction circuit that receives EMI noise occurring at a noise source, and noise voltage compensation circuit operatively coupled to the noise detection and current reconstruction circuits. The active feed forward circuit generates a noise voltage compensation signal based on the EMI noise reconstructed by the noise detection circuit. |
| US09048816B2 |
Acoustic wave filter
An acoustic wave filter has a first signal line connecting one among the plurality of first IDT electrodes and the first balanced signal terminal; a second signal line connecting the other first IDT electrode with the second balanced signal terminal; a third signal line connecting one among the plurality of second IDT electrodes with the second balanced signal terminal; and a fourth signal line connecting the other second IDT electrode with the first balanced signal terminal. The fourth signal line has an intersection portion three-dimensionally intersecting with a part of the second signal line. The intersection portion extends in a direction inclined relative to the second signal line on the major surface. |
| US09048813B2 |
Acoustic wave device and antenna duplexer using the same
An acoustic wave device includes a piezoelectric substrate, a comb-shaped electrode formed on the piezoelectric substrate and configured to excite a Rayleigh wave as a main acoustic wave, a first dielectric film formed above the piezoelectric substrate to cover the comb-shaped electrode, and a second dielectric film having a portion provided between electrode fingers of the comb-shaped electrode and a portion provided above the comb-shaped electrode. The portion provided between the electrode fingers is provided between the piezoelectric substrate and the first dielectric film. The portion provided above the comb-shaped electrode is provided between the comb-shaped electrode and the first dielectric film. A speed of a transverse wave propagating through the first dielectric film is lower than a speed of the Rayleigh wave excited by the comb-shaped electrode. A speed of a transverse wave propagating through the second dielectric film is higher than the speed of Rayleigh wave excited by the comb-shaped electrode. |
| US09048812B2 |
Bulk acoustic wave resonator comprising bridge formed within piezoelectric layer
A bulk acoustic wave (BAW) structure includes a first electrode disposed over a substrate, a piezoelectric layer disposed over the first electrode, and a second electrode disposed over the first piezoelectric layer. A bridge is formed within the piezoelectric layer, where the bridge is surrounded by piezoelectric material of the piezoelectric layer. |
| US09048811B2 |
Integration of piezoelectric materials with substrates
Devices having piezoelectric material structures integrated with substrates are described. Fabrication techniques for forming such devices are also described. The fabrication may include bonding a piezoelectric material wafer to a substrate of a differing material. A structure, such as a resonator, may then be formed from the piezoelectric material wafer. |
| US09048810B2 |
Piezoelectric vibration element, manufacturing method for piezoelectric vibration element, piezoelectric resonator, electronic device, and electronic apparatus
A piezoelectric vibration element includes a piezoelectric substrate including a thin vibration region and a thick section integrated along three sides excluding one side of the vibration region, excitation electrodes respectively arranged on the front and rear surfaces of the vibration region, and lead electrodes. The thick section includes a first thick section and a second thick section arranged to be opposed to each other across the vibration region and a third thick section connected between proximal ends of the first and second thick sections. The second thick section includes an inclined section connected to the one side of the vibration region, a second thick section main body connected to the other side of the inclined section, and at least one slit for stress relaxation. |
| US09048806B2 |
Surface acoustic wave device, electronic apparatus, and sensor apparatus
A SAW device includes an IDT which is provided on the principal surface of a quartz crystal substrate having Euler angles (−1.5°≦φ≦1.5°, 117°≦θ≦142°, |ψ|≠90°×n (where n=0, 1, 2, 3)) and excites a Rayleigh wave (wavelength: λ) in a stopband upper end mode. Inter-electrode-finger grooves are recessed between electrode fingers of the IDT. An IDT line occupancy η and an inter-electrode-finger groove depth G satisfy a predetermined relationship in terms of the wavelength λ, such that the SAW device has a frequency-temperature characteristic of a cubic curve having an inflection point between a maximum value and a minimum value in an operation temperature range. The inflection point is adjustable to a desired temperature or a desired temperature range depending on the IDT line occupancy η within an operation temperature range. |
| US09048800B2 |
Power amplifier power controller
A power amplifier power controller in the power amplifier system monitors various operating conditions of the power amplifier, and controls the output transmit power of the power amplifier by coordinated control of both the input drive level to the power amplifier and the gain of the power amplifier. The power amplifier power controller controls the input drive level to the power amplifier so that the input drive level does not change substantially while adjusting the gain of the power amplifier to maximize the transmit power. The power amplifier power controller may also adjust the input drive level by some portion of the overall change required to the power of the power amplifier, while adjusting the gain of the power amplifier by the remaining portion of such overall change. |
| US09048799B2 |
Method for enhancing low frequences in a digital audio signal
The method comprises the steps of: a) converting the digital audio signal (PCM) into a voltage signal (VE); b) first lowshelf filtering of fixed gain (G2); c) calculating a value of excursion (x) of the loudspeaker; d) comparing the excursion with a maximum value and calculating a first gain of possible attenuation (G3); e) second lowshelf filtering of gain (G4+G3) taking into account the first gain of possible attenuation; g) comparing with the maximum saturation or clipping voltage (vMAX) and calculating a second gain of possible attenuation (G5); h) third lowshelf filtering gain (G6+G3+G5) taking into account the first and/or second gains of possible attenuation; i) comparing with the maximum saturation or clipping voltage (vMAX) and applying a gain of possible overall attenuation (G7); j) optionally compensating for the nonlinearities of the loudspeaker response; and k) reversely converting the signal (Vs) into a digital audio signal (S) without dimension, for later amplification. |
| US09048797B2 |
High efficiency, remotely reconfigurable remote radio head unit system and method for wireless communications
A remote radio head unit (RRU) system is disclosed. The present invention is based on the method of adaptive digital predistortion to linearize a power amplifier inside the RRU. The power amplifier characteristics such as variation of linearity and asymmetric distortion of the amplifier output signal are monitored by a wideband feedback path and controlled by the adaptation algorithm in a digital module. Therefore, embodiments of the present invention can compensate for the nonlinearities as well as memory effects of the power amplifier systems and also improve performance, in terms of power added efficiency, adjacent channel leakage ratio and peak-to-average power ratio. The present disclosure enables a power amplifier system to be field reconfigurable and support multi-modulation schemes (modulation agnostic), multi-carriers, multi-frequency bands and multi-channels. Consequentially, the remote radio head system is particularly suitable for wireless transmission systems, such as base-stations, repeaters, and indoor signal coverage systems. |
| US09048796B2 |
Transmission signal power control apparatus, communication apparatus and predistortion coefficient updating method
A transmission signal power control apparatus includes a power amplifier model unit which generates a learning digital signal by multiplying part of a predistortion signal by model coefficients which tentatively represent the input-output characteristics of a power amplifier, and an adaptive low-pass filter which generates a pseudo feedback signal by attenuating the high frequency components of the learning digital signal by multiplying the learning digital signal by weighting coefficients. Then, the power amplifier model unit updates the model coefficients such that the error between the feedback signal whose the high frequency components are attenuated by the low-pass filter and which is digitized, and the pseudo feedback signal is minimized, and the adaptive low-pass filter updates the weighting coefficients such that the error is minimized. |
| US09048794B2 |
Method and apparatus for efficient and distortion compensated digital class-D amplifier ternary modulation scheme
The present disclosure generally relates to the field of digital Class-D amplifiers and more specifically to a technique for reducing output waveforms distortion of a digital class-D amplifier implementing a ternary modulation scheme. An apparatus embodiment comprises an enlarging component for enlarging at least one pulse of a first output waveform PWM_P_TERN′ of the amplifier 50 by a first enlarging pulse, wherein the at least one pulse of the first output waveform PWM_P_TERN′ is symmetrically enlarged by the first enlarging pulse with respect to the center position of the at least one pulse; and a pulses generating component for generating at least one first compensating pulse comp_pulse_p and for adding the generated at least one first compensating pulse comp_pulse_p on a second output waveform PWM_N_TERN′ of the amplifier 50, wherein the at least one first compensating pulse comp_pulse_p has substantially the same width P as the first enlarging pulse and is added on the second output waveform PWM_N_TERN′ at a position which corresponds to the center position of the at least one pulse of the first output waveform PWM_P_TERN′. |
| US09048786B2 |
Switching system with linearizing circuit
A transistor-based switch is coupled to a replica circuit that includes transistor circuitry similar to that of the switch. The replica circuit biases a switched transistor to promote linear operation of the switch. |
| US09048781B2 |
Abnormality diagnosis device, method therefor, and computer-readable medium
There is provided an abnormality diagnosis device including: a storage storing power generation output data representing a current and a voltage of electrical power generated by each of the subsystems according to sampling time; a correcting unit configured to correct, for each of the subsystems, at least the current out of the current and the voltage in the power generation output data to a current corresponding to a standard insolation condition to generate corrected data including a corrected current and either one of a corrected voltage or the voltage in the power generation output data; a gradient estimating unit configured to produce, for each of the subsystems, an approximation graph of the corrected data and calculate a gradient of the approximation graph; and an abnormality diagnosing unit determining a subsystem for which the gradient satisfies a first threshold to be a subsystem including an abnormal module. |
| US09048776B2 |
Modular motor drive configuration system and method
A motor drive system includes a power sub-assembly that comprises power electronic components and driver circuitry for controlling gate drive signals to the power electronic components. A control sub-assembly is removably mounted to the power sub-assembly and comprises control circuitry for implementing a motor control routine for control of an electric motor. In operation, all control signals originate in the control-subassembly, and are transmitted via mating connectors to the power sub-assembly for driving the motor. |
| US09048772B2 |
Method and device for operating an electric motor
A method for operating an electric motor is provided, wherein a motor actuating signal is generated and transmitted to the motor. In order to reduce the noise generated by operating the motor, a suitable additional signal is generated and overlaid on the motor actuating signal when the motor actuating signal is transmitted to the motor. |
| US09048769B2 |
Motor driving circuit and motor driving system
The motor driving circuit includes a first converting circuit that outputs an analog voltage proportional to a rotational speed of a motor, a differential voltage calculating circuit that calculates a differential voltage between the analog voltage and a rotation instruction voltage that prescribes the rotational speed of the motor and outputs a differential voltage signal including information on the differential voltage, a duty controlling circuit that outputs, based on the differential voltage signal, a duty controlling signal including information on a control duty that controls a duty of a PWM signal so as to bring the differential voltage between the rotation instruction voltage and the analog voltage close to zero, and a motor driving waveform controlling circuit that generates the PWM signal in response to a signal based on the duty controlling signal and that outputs the PWM signal. |
| US09048768B2 |
Stationary energy generation plant having a control device and method for controlling the same
A stationary energy generation plant includes a control device that serves to control current and energy flow. The energy generation plant includes at least one mechanically driven rotor and a generator mechanically coupled to the rotor. To this end, power electronics operationally connected to the generator enable variable energy flow from the rotor through the generator and the power electronics to a load. In order to compensate for vibrational loads on the generator side, at least one current control is made possible by means of a first intermediate circuit storage of the power electronics. In order to compensate for mechanical vibrational loads and transients of a drivetrain, an energy flow control is provided by means of at least one additional second intermediate circuit storage disposed in the power electronics and having a multiple of the storage capacity of the first intermediate circuit storage. |
| US09048759B2 |
Multistage force amplification of piezoelectric stacks
Embodiments of the disclosure include an apparatus and methods for using a piezoelectric device, that includes an outer flextensional casing, a first cell and a last cell serially coupled to each other and coupled to the outer flextensional casing such that each cell having a flextensional cell structure and each cell receives an input force and provides an output force that is amplified based on the input force. The apparatus further includes a piezoelectric stack coupled to each cell such that the piezoelectric stack of each cell provides piezoelectric energy based on the output force for each cell. Further, the last cell receives an input force that is the output force from the first cell and the last cell provides an output apparatus force In addition, the piezoelectric energy harvested is based on the output apparatus force. Moreover, the apparatus provides displacement based on the output apparatus force. |
| US09048756B2 |
DC-side leakage current reduction for single phase full-bridge power converter/inverter
Leakage current through stray or parasitic capacitance (which is particularly large in devices such as photovoltaic cell arrays and which are damaged by such leakage currents) due to common mode switching noise in a full bridge single phase power converter is reduced at high frequencies by magnetically coupling the two phase legs on the AC side of the power converter and connecting mid points of the AC and DC sides of the power converter and is reduced at low frequencies by use of a feedback arrangement that modifies sinusoidal modulation of the switches of the full bridge converter to function as an active filter. The magnetic coupling for the two phase legs is designed in a simple manner to avoid saturation based on volt-second considerations. |
| US09048750B2 |
Active buck power factor correction device
The present disclose relates to a power active buck power factor correction device, comprising: a AC source; a rectifying device coupled to the AC source for receiving and rectifying the AC source so as to generate an input voltage; a first converting device coupled to the assistance device for receiving, transmitting, converting and storing energy; a load coupled to the first converting device; and an assistance device coupled to the first converting device for generating an assistance voltage. Specifically, the polarity of the assistance voltage is same with the input voltage, but is contrary to an output voltage, so that the first converting device may continue to work and receive an input current under the input voltage is smaller than the output voltage while the discontinue time of the input current is getting shorter so as to obtain the perfected power factor correction effect. |
| US09048748B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus for a high power factor single phase rectifier
Systems, methods and apparatus are disclosed for broadband AC to DC conversion. In one aspect, a power conversion apparatus for providing direct current (DC) based at least in part on an alternating current is provided. The power conversion apparatus includes a first rectifier circuit configured to rectify the alternating current to a first direct current. The power conversion apparatus further includes an averaging circuit configured to average the first direct current received from the first rectifier circuit and to provide a second direct current. The power conversion apparatus further includes a second rectifier circuit configured to rectify the alternating current to a third direct current. The direct current is derived from the second direct current and the third direct current. |
| US09048747B2 |
Switched-mode power supply startup circuit, method, and system incorporating same
A startup circuit delivers regulated startup current to a control IC in a switched-mode power supply (SMPS) system, and automatically disconnects the startup current when the SMPS Control IC starts switching the transformer or inductor used as the energy storage element in the SMPS system. Disconnection of the startup current may be triggered by detecting a time-varying voltage waveform on an accessible node in the SMPS system, or by detecting an increased current consumption by the SMPS Control IC, without requiring any ground reference to the SMPS Control IC, nor without requiring any logic signals generated by the SMPS Control IC. This provides for rapid and predictable startup of an SMPS Control IC and reduced power loss once the SMPS Control IC is operational, and is independent of the operating voltages of the SMPS control IC, and independent of the particular control scheme and switch topology of the SMPS system. |
| US09048744B2 |
Method and apparatus for resonant converter control
A method and apparatus for controlling resonant converter power production. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining accumulated charge processed by a resonant converter; dynamically determining a level of the accumulated charge that generates a predetermined output power; and controlling a switching cycle of the resonant converter based on the level of the accumulated charge. |
| US09048741B2 |
Switching power supply device
A primary side resonant circuit is formed by a primary side resonant inductor and a primary side resonant capacitor, and secondary side resonant circuits are formed by secondary side resonant inductors and secondary side resonant capacitors. Equivalent mutual inductances and equivalent mutual capacitances are formed through electromagnetic field resonant coupling between a primary winding and secondary windings, and a multi-resonant circuit including an LC resonant circuit formed in each of the primary side and the secondary side is formed. Electric power is transmitted from the primary side circuit to the secondary side circuit, and resonant energy that is not transmitted from the primary winding and, of energy which the secondary winding has received, resonant energy that is not supplied to an output are each retained in the multi-resonant circuit. |
| US09048740B2 |
Variable duty cycle switching with imposed delay
Power conversion methods, systems, articles of manufacture, and devices are provided. The power conversion may include converting between direct current and alternating current wherein switching losses associated with latent electrical charges are reduced. Current sensing may be low-side bus reference. Solid-state implementations, code implementations, and mixed implementations are provided. |
| US09048737B2 |
Switching-mode power supply (SMPS) having overvoltage cutoff function, and method of cutting off overvoltage and image forming apparatus using the SMPS
A switching-mode power supply (SMPS) for an image forming apparatus which may prevent an overvoltage supplied to the SMPS, and damage to circuits in the SMPS in the image forming apparatus. The SMPS includes a rectifying circuit to rectify an alternating-current (AC) voltage input from an external power supply source into a direct-current (DC) voltage, a transformer to transform the rectified DC voltage input to a primary coil and output the transformed DC voltage to a secondary coil, a main switch that is connected to the primary coil and switches an output of the transformer, a first overvoltage detecting unit to determine whether the rectified DC voltage is an overvoltage by comparing the rectified DC voltage with a first reference voltage, and a switching control unit to control a switching operation of the main switch based on a result of the determination. |
| US09048735B2 |
Power supply device and method of determining abnormality in power supply device
A power supply device includes: a first switching element and a flywheel semiconductor element which are connected in series to a first DC power source in this order; and a reactor and a second DC power source which are connected in series in this order to a node between the first switching element and the flywheel semiconductor element. A second switching element and a charge circuit for charging a line between the first switching element and the second switching element are interposed between the reactor and the second DC power source. Abnormality of each element is determined from a voltage of each portion of the power supply device measured when the first and second switching elements and the flywheel semiconductor element are driven and controlled. |
| US09048732B2 |
Control circuit for AC-DC power converter
A control circuit for an AC-DC power converter includes a junction field effect transistor (JFET), a first resistor, a second resistor, and a third resistor. The JFET includes a substrate, a drain, a source, a gate, a first oxide layer, and a second oxide layer. The first oxide layer is attached to a region located between the drain and the gate of the JFET, and the second oxide layer is not attached to a region located between the drain and the gate of the JFET. The first resistor is positioned on the first oxide layer, and the second resistor and the third resistor are positioned on the second oxide layer. When the JFET and the first resistor receive an input power signal, the first, the second, and the third resistors divide the input power signal, and prevent from the breakdown of the first oxide layer and the second oxide layer. |
| US09048729B2 |
Step-up/down DC-DC converter and switching control circuit
A step-up/down DC-DC converter and switching control circuit are described. According to one implementation, a switching control circuit generates on/off signals of a first switching device supplying a current to a voltage conversion inductor of a step-up/down DC-DC converter and a second switching device receiving a current from the inductor. The switching control circuit includes an error amplifier circuit, an inverter amplifier circuit, a waveform generator circuit, a first voltage comparator circuit, a second voltage comparator circuit, and a voltage generator circuit. An inverting reference voltage supplied to the inverting amplifier circuit is set to an electric potential so as not to fall below a highest electric potential of triangle waves supplied to the first and second voltage comparator circuits. |
| US09048724B2 |
Controlled switch for opening or closing on demand a section of an electrical circuit of a power stage
The invention proposes a voltage regulating device having a switch in an electrical circuit between a first node (30, 140) and a second node (40, 130), comprising a first field effect transistor (21, 110) and a second field effect transistor (22, 120) connected in cascade. The switch is controlled by: —setting the gate (G1,G3) of the first transistor to a first electrical potential, and, —to close the switch, setting the gate (G2, G4) of the second transistor to the first potential, or —to open the switch, setting the gate of the second transistor to the electrical potential of the second node, with the difference between the first potential and the second potential then being adapted to allow opening the first transistor and the second transistor. The switch can be used in a switched-mode power supply. |
| US09048721B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device is provided with: a semiconductor element; and a connecting conductor that electrically connects at least one of an input terminal and an output terminal of the semiconductor element to a connection terminal of an electronic device. In this semiconductor device, the connecting conductor is a block structure. |
| US09048718B2 |
Linear vibrator having pole plate positioned in weight thereof
A linear vibrator is disclosed. The linear vibrator includes a housing having a base and a cover, a number of elastic members connected to the housing, a vibrating unit suspended in the housing by the elastic members, and a coil positioned in the housing. The vibrating unit includes a pole plate received in a recess formed in the vibrating unit, and a damper positioned on the pole plate by magnetic flux. |
| US09048717B2 |
Multipolar electromagnetic generator
A power generator includes a first array of magnets or a first sheet magnet, a first conductor, and a power management circuit. The first array comprises a one dimensional or two dimensional array of magnets. The first sheet magnet includes a one dimensional or two dimensional array of alternating magnetic poles. The first conductor comprises a first serpentine conductor that is on a plurality of layers of a first multilayer printed circuit board or a first serpentine conductor that is on one or more planes. The power management circuit provides DC power as a result of relative motion between the first array of magnets or the first sheet magnet and the first conductor. |
| US09048716B2 |
Motor including specific magnetic sensor arrangement
In a motor, a magnetic sensor is provided on the lower surface of a substrate disposed above a magnetic sensor. On an upper surface of the substrate, a plate-shaped magnetic member is disposed at a position axially overlapping the magnetic sensor. The substrate and the magnetic member are fixed to each other at a plurality of fixing positions by axial tightening. On the upper surface of the magnetic member, a rib extending to connect the vicinity of one fixing position and the vicinity of another fixing position is provided. Flexure of the magnetic member is significantly reduced and prevented by this rib. For this reason, the direction of the magnetic flux of a magnet is concentrated on the magnetic sensor side. As a result, detection accuracy of the magnetic sensor is significantly improved. |
| US09048709B2 |
Motor heat dissipation structure with inbuilt electronic board
A motor heat dissipation structure with an inbuilt electronic board includes a motor casing made of an aluminum material. The electronic board is disposed in the motor casing. Electronic components provided on one side of the electronic board are attached to the inner wall of one end of the motor casing. A heat dissipation metallic member is provided on electronic components on the other side of the electronic board. The heat dissipation metallic member extends to the circumferential side of the motor casing and is attached to the motor casing. Thus, the heat generated from the electronic components is conducted to the outside through the motor casing to enhance heat dissipation efficiency of the electronic board so as to protect the electronic board, preventing the electronic board from being overheated. |
| US09048708B2 |
Integrated drive-motor assembly with IP seal and enhanced heat transfer
An electronics drive module is connected to the flange of a drive motor assembly. The module includes: a metal frame including a peripheral wall; and a metal floor. A power supply PCBA is located adjacent the upper surface of the metal floor, and a switching chip assembly is located adjacent the lower surface of the floor. The base plate of the switching chip assembly conducts heat into the floor and conducts heat into the mounting flange. An environmental seal is located between the lower edge of the frame and the sealing surface of the mounting flange and extending coextensively with the lower edge of the peripheral wall such that a sealing zone is defined within the peripheral wall of the frame and the first and second thermal interfaces are located within the sealing zone. |
| US09048707B2 |
Linear motor air-cooling structure
A linear motor air-cooling structure includes two cooling sections. Each cooling section has an elongated board-shaped main body. The main body is attached to a lateral side of the stator of the linear motor. An air flow way is formed in the main body. The external air can be uniformly guided through the air flow way and distributed to every part of the linear motor. Accordingly, in operation, a better air-cooling effect is provided for the linear motor. |
| US09048698B2 |
Hoist
A hoist with a regenerative resistor contains the following in a casing: a load-raising/lowering motor driven by an inverter control device and provided with a forced-cooling means; and a mechanism part containing a reduction mechanism part and a load sheave that uses power from the reduction mechanism part to take up and let out a chain. The load-raising/lowering motor, mechanism part, inverter control device, and regenerative resistor are distributed inside the casing to achieve a balance of weight about the center of gravity of the load applied when raising or lowering. Also, the inverter control device and the regenerative resistor are affixed to the casing, in close contact therewith, in parts of the casing separated from each other with the mechanism part therebetween. |
| US09048695B2 |
Wireless power transmission device and method
A wireless power transmission device and method are provided. An amount of power transmitted wirelessly by the wireless power transmission device may be controlled based on information to be transmitted by the wireless power transmission device, such that the information may be transmitted without using any additional device for information transmission. Additionally, an internal impedance of a terminal may be controlled based on information to be transmitted by the terminal, and a reflected wave of a transmission signal transmitted by the wireless power transmission device may be then controlled, such that the information may be transmitted without using any additional device for information transmission. Therefore, no further device may be desired, and thus a power consumption amount may be reduced, and there may be no need to match a communication part for information exchange with a transmission part for wireless power transmission. |
| US09048689B2 |
Energy management on board an aircraft
Energy management on board an aircraft includes: a plurality of thermal and electrical energy sources, a plurality of loads which are capable of being supplied with power by the various energy sources, among which at least one load is capable of being supplied with power by an electrical energy source and by a thermal energy source, and real-time management means for energy transfers from the various energy sources to the various loads as a function of the present and future energy requirement of the various loads and the present and future availability of the various sources, with the management means providing a permanent and standardized correlation between thermal and electrical energies. |
| US09048687B2 |
Power supply device and control method for power supply
A power supply device includes: a main power supply configured to feed power to a load with constant-voltage output using an external power supply; an auxiliary power supply configured to feed power to the load using an internal power storage unit; a constant-current/constant-voltage switching power supply configured to feed a part of current flowing through the load by which part the current exceeds an upper limit value of output current of the main power supply instructed by a current upper-limit instruction unit, with the constant-current output from the auxiliary power supply; and an output switching unit switching the constant-current/constant-voltage switching power supply from the constant-current output to the constant-voltage output when a power cut monitoring unit determines stop of power supply from the external power supply. |
| US09048685B2 |
Emergency lighting with charging indicator circuitry
Emergency lighting with a charging indicator circuitry comprises a power source module, a lighting circuit, a battery circuit, and an emergency switch circuit. The battery circuit includes charging indicator circuitry and a battery module; the power source module is connected with the battery module via the charging indicator circuitry. When the utility power is interrupted or a test switch is pressed, the light of the charging indicator circuitry goes out to indicate that the emergency lighting is in discharging status. When the utility power is supplied normally, if a battery within the battery module is in disconnected state, the light of the indicating circuitry goes out to indicate that the emergency lighting is in disconnected state. The charging indicator circuitry may be a simple light-emitting indicating circuit, has no need for much modification to the original circuit during manufacture and design, and may be simple and quickly-responsive. |
| US09048682B2 |
Wireless power multi-charging method and power transmitter
A wireless multi-charging method of a power transmitter that wirelessly transmits power includes sensing a first power receiver, increasing a transmission power required for charging the first power receiver, sensing a second power receiver, decreasing the transmission power required for suspending charging of the first power receiver, and increasing the transmission power required for simultaneously charging both the first power receiver and the second power receiver. |
| US09048681B2 |
Wireless power and data apparatus, system and method
Wireless charging and data communication are effected. In accordance with various example embodiments, a transceiver-type circuit wirelessly charges portable devices, such as hand-held telephones via wireless signals, and also wirelessly communicates data with remote transponders. The data communication is carried out to facilitate authentication of the remote transponders and may, for example, be limited relative to a power-carrying capability of the transponders. Such aspects may be implemented, for example, in a transceiver for both transponder-based operation and (high-power) wireless charging applications in vehicle-based circuits. |
| US09048674B2 |
System and method for charge notice or charge mode in a vehicle
A charge notification system or user-selectable charge configuration for a vehicle. The system includes a battery, a charging connector, a charging cable, a charge location, a processor and a memory. The processor of the vehicle determines, based upon logic steps or parameters stored in the memory, when to send messages to a remote device based upon a charging characteristic of the vehicle. Different messages may be generated by the processor and transmitted for different charging characteristics of the vehicle. The charge notification system may also include an indicator local to the vehicle and configured to illuminate in varying configurations or at varying frequencies based upon a state of charge of the battery. A user may select between charging modes for the vehicle in order to extend a useable life of the battery by allowing the battery to charge up to predetermined or modifiable battery charge levels. |
| US09048666B2 |
USB charging circuit
A USB charging circuit includes a mating hub module including a USB input port for the connection of an external computer and a USB main hub control circuit electrically connected to the USB input port, a power supply module including a power supply device and a synchronization/charge mode switching circuit for detecting the power signal output of the USB input port and outputting a corresponding mode judgment signal, and one or multiple output control units each including a USB charging control circuit electrically connected to the USB main hub control circuit, the power supply device and the synchronization/charge mode switching circuit to receive the outputted data signal, power supply and mode judgment signal and a USB output port for receiving the outputted data signal and power supply from the USB charging control circuit so that connected portable electronic devices can be charged or receive data synchronously. |
| US09048660B2 |
Short-circuit detecting apparatus and method of heating system for high voltage battery
A short-circuit detecting apparatus and method of a heating system for a high voltage battery that includes a plurality of heaters, a short-circuited detection resistor, an A/D converter, and a Battery Management System (BMS). The plurality of heaters are connected to a high voltage battery to heat the high voltage battery. The short-circuit detection resistor is connected between the heaters to detect whether the heaters are short-circuited. The A/D converter is configured to sense a voltage applied across the short-circuit detection resistor. The BMS is configured to calculate a final operation value using the voltage applied across the short-circuit detection resistor and compare the final operation value with the value of battery pack voltage to detect whether the heaters are short-circuited. |
| US09048659B2 |
Energy storage subsystem for a vehicle
An energy storage subsystem includes a metal casing and an electrical storage system mechanically fastened within the metal casing and including at least one super-capacitor module having a plurality of super-capacitors linked together in series. The subsystem includes at least one electrical protection device configured to open an electrical circuit to link electrical ground to either the metal casing or the super-capacitor module. |
| US09048655B2 |
ESD protection scheme using I/O pads
Some embodiments relate to an IC that includes an ESD-susceptible circuit. The IC includes a number of IC pads that are electrically coupled to respective nodes on the ESD-susceptible circuit. The IC pads are electrically accessible from external to the IC, and include one or more power supply pads and one or more I/O pads. The IC also includes a number of ESD protection devices coupled to the plurality of IC pads, respectively. A trigger circuit on the IC is configured to detect an ESD event impingent on a power supply pad and, in response to the detection, to trigger concurrent shunting of energy of the ESD event over both an ESD clamp element of an I/O pad and an ESD clamp element of the power supply pad. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US09048654B2 |
Reduction of inrush current due to voltage sags by impedance removal timing
Various systems and methods are provided for minimizing an inrush current to a load after a voltage sag in a power voltage. In one embodiment, a method is provided comprising the steps of applying a power voltage to a load, and detecting a sag in the power voltage during steady-state operation of the load. The method includes the steps of adding an impedance to the load upon detection of the sag in the power voltage, and removing the impedance from the load when the power voltage has reached a predefined point in the power voltage cycle after the power voltage has returned to a nominal voltage. |
| US09048651B2 |
Low-profile strain relief and cable retention
A strain relief and cable retention assembly for retaining a cable to a casing includes an anchor made of a flexible material. An internal bore along an axis of the anchor is sized to fit an outer jacket of the cable. Tabs extend away from the bore along axes perpendicular to the axis of the bore. A plate made of a stiff material extends along the tabs of the anchor. A section of the anchor passes through the plate such that the plate rests flat against the tabs between the tabs and a face of a casing. Reinforcing fibers from the cable are tied around the plate and the tabs, distributing stress from the cable to the plate and casing. |
| US09048648B1 |
Cover plate screw extender
An apparatus for facilitating using a screw to secure a receptacle cover plate over a junction box recessed in a wall, the junction box including at least one tapped screw receiver, and the cover plate defining at least one hole corresponding to the at least one tapped screw receiver. At least one stud threadingly engages the at least one tapped screw receiver, and at least one threaded bushing is threadingly secured to one end of the at least one stud. The at least one screw extends through the at least one hole defined in the cover plate to threadingly engage the threaded bushing, thereby securing the cover plate to the junction box. |
| US09048642B1 |
Expandable electrical outlet raceway system with cordless electrical receptacles
An electrical outlet raceway that eliminates the necessity of daisy chaining or doubling of electrical cords within the raceway. The electrical outlet raceway includes a modular system of several components that can be assembled together in order to provide additional electrical outlets on a wall, including a raceway back plate, a cordless receptacle, a raceway cover, a coupler, and one or more faceplates for attaching a high or low voltage component to the raceway. The electrical outlet raceway may also include a corner, end caps, and means for attaching faceplates to the raceway. Cordless receptacles enable the use of off-the-shelf electrical cords, thus allowing the installer to plan a given installation and obtain the proper number and lengths of electrical cords required to construct the planned installation. This eliminates the inefficiencies caused by the corded receptacles of conventional electrical raceways. |
| US09048633B2 |
Laser device with configurable intensity distribution
The present invention relates to a laser device comprising an array of several large area VCSELs (101) and one or several optics (201, 202) designed and arranged to image the active layers of the VCSELs (101) of said array to a working plane (501) such that the laser radiation emitted by the active layers of all VCSELs (101) or of subgroups of VCSELs (101) of the array superimposes in the working plane (501). The proposed laser device allows the generation of a desired intensity distribution in the working plane without the need of an optics specially designed for this intensity distribution or beam profile. |
| US09048629B2 |
Semiconductor device having a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) and a protection diode integrated therein and having reduced capacitance to allow the VCSEL to achieve high operating speeds
A semiconductor device is provided that has a VCSEL and a protection diode integrated therein and that has an additional intrinsic layer. The inclusion of the additional intrinsic layer increases the width of the depletion region of the protection diode, which reduces the amount of capacitance that is introduced by the protection diode. Reducing the amount of capacitance that is introduced by the protection diode allows the VCSEL to operate at higher speeds. |
| US09048628B2 |
Solid-state dye laser medium and process for production thereof
The challenge of providing a long-life solid-state dye laser medium is tackled. This challenge is solved by a solid-state dye laser medium comprising a polydimethylsiloxane, and a dye dissolved in the polydimethylsiloxane. The dye is preferably a pyrromethene dye. |
| US09048627B2 |
Mode-locked fiber laser with improved life-time of saturable absorber
A mode locked fiber laser system is arranged to have a lasing bandwidth and having a linear cavity, the cavity including a gain medium, a saturable absorber having a saturation power, and a filter having a spectral response, wherein the mode locked fiber laser system is arranged so that substantial CW mode locked operation is obtainable with less than 3 times the saturation fluence impinging on the saturable absorber. |
| US09048622B2 |
High power pulsed light generation device
A high power pulsed light generation device includes: a master clock generator that generates a master signal; an optical oscillator that generates a pulsed light synchronized with the master clock signal; an optical amplifier that amplifies the pulsed light emitted from the optical oscillator to output a high power pulsed light; a pump semiconductor laser that generates a pulsed light for pumping the optical amplifier; a driving unit that drives the pump semiconductor laser by a pulsed driving current synchronized with the master clock signal; and a control unit which controls the driving unit and controls a gain of the optical amplifier for each pulse by changing a pulse width of the pulsed drive current from driving unit so as to change the pulse width of the pumping pulsed light. |
| US09048620B2 |
Semiconductor laser device
A bi-section type GaN-based semiconductor laser device that has a configuration and a structure in which damage is less likely to be caused in a region in a saturable absorption region that faces a first light emission region is provided. The semiconductor laser device includes a first light emission region, a second light emission region, a saturable absorption region sandwiched by the foregoing light emission regions, a first electrode, and a second electrode. Laser light is emitted from an end face on a second light emission region side thereof. The second electrode is configured of a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. 1 |
| US09048619B2 |
Laser diode assembly
A laser diode assembly includes: a mode-locked laser diode device; a diffraction grating that configures an external resonator, returns primary or more order diffracted light to the mode-locked laser diode device, and outputs 0-order diffracted light outside; and an imaging section provided between the mode-locked laser diode device and the diffraction grating and imaging an image of a light output end face of the mode-locked laser diode device on the diffraction grating. |
| US09048618B2 |
Short gain cavity distributed bragg reflector laser
A long wavelength, short cavity laser can include: an active region or gain cavity having a length from about 10 microns to about 150 microns; a gap region adjacent to the active region and having a gap length that is less than 30 microns or less than the length of the active region; and a distributed Bragg reflector (“DBR”) region having a grating with a kappa of at least about 200 cm−1, wherein the gap region is between the active region and the DBR region, and wherein the laser lases at a long wavelength side of a Bragg peak of the laser. The laser can have a second DBR region opposite of the first DBR region. |
| US09048615B1 |
Slab gas laser with pre-ionizing cell
A slab gas laser has a live slab electrode and a ground slab electrode with the live slab electrode and the ground slab electrode defining a primary gas discharge chamber therebetween. The live electrode is in electrical communication with a first AC power supply to provide a first excitation signal. A pre-ionizing cell comprises a live electrode and a ground electrode defining a pre-ionizing gas discharge chamber therebetween. The live electrode is in electrical communication with a second AC power supply distinct from the first AC power supply to provide a second excitation signal delivering a discharge of electrons from the pre-ionizing gas discharge chamber. The pre-ionizing and the primary gas discharge chambers are aligned such that the pre-ionizing cell is oriented with the edges of its live and ground electrodes adjacent and substantially parallel to edges of the ground slab and live slab electrodes, respectively. |
| US09048608B2 |
Method for the manufacture of a cermet-containing bushing for an implantable medical device
One aspect relates to an electrical bushing for use in a housing of an implantable medical device. The electrical bushing includes at least one electrically insulating base body and at least one electrical conducting element. The conducting element is set-up to establish, through the base body, at least one electrically conductive connection between an internal space of the housing and an external space. The conducting element is hermetically sealed with respect to the base body. The at least one conducting element includes at least one cermet. The cermet has a metal fraction in a range from 30% by volume to 60% by volume. |
| US09048607B2 |
Terminal crimping apparatus, method of manufacturing terminal crimping electric wire, and terminal crimping electric wire
A terminal crimping apparatus, which crimps a crimping part of a terminal onto a conductor at an end part of an electric wire, includes: an anvil which supports a bottom part of the crimping part in a mounted manner; and a crimper disposed so as to move in proximity to and apart from the anvil. A plurality of anvil-side crimping surfaces are formed in the anvil along a longitudinal direction of the conductor, the respective anvil-side crimping surfaces being formed so as to be continuous from each other without a step, in a substantially center part in a width direction thereof, along the longitudinal direction of the conductor and have curved surface shapes different from each other in both side parts thereof. |
| US09048606B2 |
Press bond terminal and method for pressing and bonding terminal
An object of the invention is to improve electrical connection performance by increasing a pressure of contact between an electric wire and a terminal. A conductor press bond part (11) of a terminal is formed in substantially a U-shaped cross section opened upward by a base plate (11A) and a pair of conductor crimp pieces (11B, 11B) extended upward from both right and left lateral edges of the base plate (11A). A range from the base plate (11A) to the root of the pair of conductor crimp pieces (11B, 11B) is formed as a curved wall (11H) with substantially a circular arc shape, and when a radius of curvature of an inner surface of the curved wall (11H) is R and a radius of a conductor of the electric wire is r, the curved wall is set so as to satisfy R |
| US09048604B2 |
Method and adjustment device for orientating contact pins of an electric component and electric component
The invention relates to a method (9) and an adjustment arrangement (2) for orientating contact pins (4) of an electric component (1) and to an electric component (1) having a plurality of contact pins (4). So as to be able to orientate the contact pins (4) as precisely and efficiently as possible along a contact contour (K) at least in portions and thus be able to fit the electric component (1) securely on a contact carrier, the invention provides that a plurality of contact pins (4) arranged along the contact contour (K) in advance are orientated simultaneously by a shaping body (3) to form the contact contour (K), the shaping body (3) being part of the adjustment arrangement (2). |
| US09048599B2 |
Coaxial cable connector having a gripping member with a notch and disposed inside a shell
A gripping member for a coaxial cable connector is disclosed. The gripping member has a front end and a rear end opposite the front end, and an outer surface and an inner surface defining a longitudinal hole extending between the front end and the rear end. A first portion of the gripping member terminates at the front end. A second portion of the gripping member terminates at the rear end and includes at least one notch which extends from the inner surface of second portion to a certain depth from inner surface. The gripping member is configured to be forced under a body of a coaxial cable connector when driven axially forward by a shell of a coaxial cable connector to secure a coaxial cable to the connector. |
| US09048596B2 |
Connector with resilient latches to accommodate mounting to curved or arcuate surfaces
An electrical connector and method for mounting to mating member with an arcuate cylindrical member. The electrical connector includes a housing and a mounting member extending from the housing. The mounting member has latching members and a mating member receiving section. The mating member receiving section has an arcuate configuration which cooperates with the arcuate cylindrical member to maintain the electrical connector on the arcuate cylindrical member. The latching members have latching arms, with each latching arm having an arcuate configuration which cooperates with a surface of the mating member to prevent unwanted rotation of the electrical connector relative to the mating member. |
| US09048591B2 |
Electrical connector having a grounding plate for shielding
An electrical connector electrically connecting a chip module to a printed circuit board includes an insulative housing including a top insulative housing and a bottom insulative housing matched with the top insulative housing, a number of terminals received in the top insulative housing and the bottom insulative housing and at least one shielding plate fixed in the insulative housing and located beside the terminal, the electrical connector further employs a grounding plate assembled between the top insulative housing and the bottom insulative housing, the grounding plate electrically connects with the shielding plate and the shielding plate has a pair of clips fixed to the grounding plate. |
| US09048587B2 |
Coaxial connector with inner shielding arrangement and method of assembling one
Externally insulated coaxial connector (2) for connecting two electrical coaxial components, the connector comprising an insulative housing 6 defining first and second intersecting passageways (18, 20) for respectively receiving at least portions of the coaxial components and having central longitudinal axes (16, 22) which are not aligned with each other and may be mutually perpendicular. The connector further comprising a first shield member (54) which is at least partly accommodated by the first passageway (18) and a second shield member (120) which is at least partly accommodated by the second passageway (20) and is engageable with the first shield member (54) by movement of the second shield member (120) with respect to the second passageway (20). Engagement of the first and second shield members (54, 120) with each other and engagement of first and second core connection members (44, 110) with each other may be by means of push-fit inter-engagement. |
| US09048585B2 |
Electrical connector having a rotatable buckle
An electrical connector assembly (600) comprising a shielding housing (20) and a socket (40), and a buckle (60) assembled to the shielding housing. The shielding housing has a horizontal passage (22) and an entrance (220) backwardly communicating the passage and forwardly opening for receiving a plug (80). The socket is used for mating with a front end of a plug inserted therein. The buckle has a front latch (62) movable between an open position where a plug inside the shielding housing is permitted to be pulled out and a closed position where the front latch blocks the entrance of the shielding housing so that a plug inside the shielding housing is blocked from being pulled out. |
| US09048584B2 |
Electrical connector system having an insulator holding terminals
An electrical connector is provided for terminating a plurality of electrical conductors. The electrical connector includes a terminal subassembly having terminals configured to be electrically connected to the electrical conductors. The terminal subassembly has an insulator holding the terminals. The terminal subassembly has a mating interface where mating surfaces of the terminals mate with a mating connector. The mating interface of the terminal subassembly is approximately flat. The electrical connector also includes a metal shell holding the terminal subassembly. The metal shell has the cross-sectional shape of an oval. |
| US09048581B2 |
Electrical connectors and receptacle assemblies having retention inserts
An electrical connector includes a housing extending from a mating face to an opposite face, and first and second side walls that extend between the mating face and the opposite face. The housing has a contact cavity that includes opposing sides. The first side wall includes a side opening that extends through the first side wall into communication with the contact cavity. The contact cavity is accessible through the mating face for receiving a mating connector therein. Electrical contacts are held by the housing and arranged in opposing rows that extend along the opposing sides of the contact cavity. A retention insert is received within the side opening. The retention insert includes fingers that extend into the contact cavity and engage in physical contact with corresponding electrical contacts of one of the rows of the electrical contacts to hold the corresponding electrical contacts within the contact cavity. |
| US09048580B2 |
Easy-pull male network connector and tool combination
An easy-pull male network connector includes a male connector body providing a resilient clip lockable to a mating female network connector, a protective jacket surrounding the male connector body, a bracket located at one end of the male connector body remote from the resilient clip, a pivotable hook pivotally mounted at the bracket and hooked on the resilient clip and biasable to release or press the resilient clip when the protective jacket is moved forwards or backwards relative to the male connector body, and a tool attachable to the protective jacket and operable to move the protective jacket backwards relative to the male connector body. Thus, when the user pulls the protective jacket backwards, either with the hand or by means of the tool, to press the resilient clip, the easy-pull male network connector is disengaged from the mating female network connector. |
| US09048579B2 |
Lever-type connector
A lever (4) mounted on a cover (3) is held at a standby position and, in that state, the cover (3) is fitted to a housing (1) in a connecting direction to a position where the cover (3) is not aligned with the housing (1). At this position, gear teeth of the lever (4) and rack teeth of sliders (2) do not interfere with each other and are not engaged. If the cover (3) is subsequently moved in a direction perpendicular to the connecting direction via a guiding action of the engagement of guide receiving portions (9) of the connector housing (1) and U-shaped guide portions (15) formed on the cover (3), the cover (3) is smoothly mounted at a proper mounting position. At this time, since the guide portions (15) vertically sandwich the guide receiving portions (9), upward detachment of the cover (3) is prevented. |
| US09048575B2 |
Temperature controller, cable device, and temperature control unit
A temperature controller for adjusting temperature includes a substrate side contact portion formed on a surface on one side of a circuit substrate for processing an input signal. The substrate side contact portion is configured to be brought into contact with a cable device. |
| US09048564B2 |
Insulating sheath for retaining contacts in an electrical connector and related assembly method
An electrically insulating sheath for retaining electrical contacts in an electrical connector, the insulating sheath including an electrically non-conductive housing with a chamber defined therein. The chamber includes a pair of contact-receiving channels extending in an axial direction, each of the contact-receiving channels including a collar pocket for retaining the electrical contacts when inserted in the sheath. A dividing wall separates the contact-receiving channels from one another to reduce interference and crosstalk among the wires of the electrical contacts. The sheath includes a cover connected to the housing, the cover extending over at least a portion of the chamber. |
| US09048563B2 |
Connector for flat cables
This connector comprises: a connector housing (11), on one side of which is formed a flat cable terminal-section insertion section (13) wherein a flat cable terminal-section (26) is inserted, and on the other side of which is formed an interlocking hood section (15) wherein a mating connector (5) in an electric wire terminal (100) connected to a flat cable (2) interlocks; and a relay terminal (3) which is accommodated inside the connector housing (11), connects with a terminal fitting (7) in an electrical wire terminal, one end of which is connected to the flat cable terminal-section (26) and the other end of which is accommodated in the mating connector (5), and connects the flat cable (2) and electrical wire (6). A sealant accommodating section (17), wherein a sealant (9) which is attached to the flat cable terminal-section (26) is accommodated, is provided in the flat cable terminal-section insertion section (13). |
| US09048561B2 |
Waterproof structure for connector
A waterproof structure for a connector includes a housing, a shield wire, a shield terminal, a first packing, and a second packing. The housing has a tubular housing part. The shield wire passes through the inside of the tubular housing part and extends from the housing. The shield terminal has a first section, a second section and a third section. The first section and the second section get into the tubular housing part such that the shield wire passes through the inside of the shield terminal, the first section joints with a braided shield wire of the shield wire, and the third section protrudes from the tubular housing part. The first packing seals a gap between the second section of the shield terminal and the tubular housing part. The second packing seals a gap between the shield wire and the third section of the shield terminal. |
| US09048553B2 |
Card socket with heat sink
A card connector that includes a housing that houses a card provided with a terminal member, a connecting terminal attached to the housing that connects with the terminal member of the card, a cover member connected to the housing and which forms a card housing space between the housing, a card connector attached to a substrate. The cover member includes a top panel part, a plurality of side panel parts established from the side edge of the top panel part, and a fixed side that extends from the bottom end edge of the side panel part. At least one of the fixed sides is connected to a heat transfer pad arranged on the substrate. The top panel part contacts the top surface of the card housed within the card housing space and is provided with a heat transfer improving part that improves heat transfer from the card to the top panel part. |
| US09048552B2 |
Connector for making an electrical connection between two plates
A connector (100) for making an electrical connection between two plates (110, 120) that are mechanically secured to one another, the connector comprising a first socket (50) for fixing to a first plate (110), a second socket (60) for fixing to a second plate (120), and a connector pin (150), the first and second sockets both comprising an aperture (55, 65) for receiving the connector pin (150), wherein the connector further comprises a first spring (161) for contacting between the connector pin and the first socket, and a second spring (162) for contacting between the connector pin and the second socket. |
| US09048550B2 |
Crimped terminal
In a crimp terminal (1) with a conductor crimp portion (11) having recessed serrations in the inner surface (11R), circular recesses (20) as serrations are provided in an inner surface (11R) of the conductor crimp portion (11) to be scattered so as to be spaced from each other before the conductor crimp portion (11) is crimped to a conductor (Wa) of an electric wire (W). A strip-shaped serration non-forming region (22) is provided in an intermediate portion in a front-back direction of the conductor crimp portion (11) and formed without the recesses (20). |
| US09048548B2 |
Aircraft missile launcher cover
A cover for an empty rail missile launcher that can be used in flight. The cover is shaped to reflect radar signals transmitted by a radar transmitter away from the radar transmitter to reduce detectibility by radar. The cover may also be coated with radar absorbent material to reduce detectibility by radar. Hangers are used to mount the cover to the rail missile launcher. The cover is provided with a grounding mechanism to dissipate precipitation static. A restraint mechanism is provided to prevent the cover from inadvertently sliding off the rail missile launcher. |
| US09048547B2 |
Air loop antenna for shared AM/FM
Systems and methods are disclosed for shared AM/FM air loop antennas that may be advantageously implemented to provide a AM/FM receiver system with a single common air loop antenna for receiving both AM and FM channels, thus eliminating the need for additional materials and electronics associated with provision of a separate FM pigtail antenna and FM antenna jack for connection of same. The shared AM/FM air loop antennas may be connected to a radio device having antenna connections. |
| US09048543B2 |
Orthogonal modular embedded antenna, with method of manufacture and kits therefor
A system and method are disclosed which may comprise a composite resonating antenna structure which may comprise: a first substrate comprising a first portion of a flexible substrate comprising a first conductive layer forming a first resonating element on the first portion of a flexible substrate; a second substrate connected to a second portion of the flexible substrate to form a transition, with the first portion of the flexible substrate and the second substrate generally orthogonal to each other; and a second conductive layer attached to a third substrate, the second conductive layer shaped to include a ground plane section and a signal transmission line carrying microwave frequency signals including a center frequency; wherein the first resonating element radiates a frequency equal to the center frequency based on first portion of the flexible substrate and the third substrate being generally orthogonal to each other. |
| US09048539B2 |
Mitigation of undesired electromagnetic radiation using passive elements
The present invention relates to an apparatus for mitigating undesired portions of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) associated with an antenna. The apparatus comprises a coupling element EM inductively coupled with the antenna, the coupling element being substantially co-polarized with the antenna. The apparatus further comprises one or more dissipating elements EM inductively coupled with the coupling element, each of the one or more dissipating elements being substantially differently polarized than the antenna, for example cross-polarized to the antenna. The coupling element may be a conductive element configured for predetermined EM inductive coupling with at least the antenna and the one or more dissipating elements. Each of the one or more dissipating elements may be a conductive element configured for predetermined EM inductive coupling with the coupling element. A method of manufacture is also provided. |
| US09048536B2 |
Mobile communication device and impedance matching method thereof
A mobile communication device and an impedance matching method thereof are provided. The mobile communication device includes an antenna, a power amplifier, a tunable matching circuit, a power detection circuit and a controller. The tunable matching circuit determines an output impedance encountered by a radio frequency (RF) signal transmitted by the power amplifier to the antenna when the RF signal enters the tunable matching circuit. The power detection circuit detects a forward power of the RF signal entering the antenna and a reflected power of the antenna. The controller tunes the tunable matching circuit according to a frequency range currently used by the mobile communication device, the forward power and the reflected power to steer the output impedance toward a corresponding load-pull impedance that the power amplifier has in the frequency range. |
| US09048535B1 |
Transmit and receive low band antenna
A multi-frequency, noise optimized active antenna capable of transmit and receive operation consisting of one or several actively tuned antennas optimized over incremental bandwidths and capable of tuning over a large total bandwidth. One or several switches are integrated and provide the capability of operation of an active antenna for both transmit and receive functions. One or multiple impedance transformers are connected to the antennas at an optimal location, with the transformers acting to reduce the impedance for optimal coupling to a transceiver/receiver. Active components can be incorporated into the antenna structures to provide yet additional extension of the bandwidth along with increased optimization of antenna performance over the frequency range of the antenna. The radiating elements can be co-located with a ferrite material and/or active components coupled to the element to tune across a wide frequency range. |
| US09048534B2 |
Wide-band feeder circuit and antenna having the same
It is possible to obtain a wide-band feeder circuit a lower conductive plate provided substantially in parallel to an upper conductive plate, a short-circuit portion provided in a concave manner at a central portion of the lower conductive plate, and a countersunk portion provided in a convex manner at a central portion of a short-circuit plate forming a bottom of the short-circuit portion. It is also possible to obtain an antenna including such a wide-band feeder circuit. |
| US09048532B2 |
Multi-band antenna
A multi-band antenna suitable for an electronic device is provided. The electronic device has a metal shell. The multi-band antenna includes a ground portion, a radiating portion and a feeding portion. The ground portion has a ground plane. The radiating portion has at least one radiating section and a short-circuit section. An extending direction of the radiating section is parallel to the ground plane. The short-circuit section is electrically connected between the radiating section and the ground plane. The ground portion is adapted to obstruct a path between the metal shell and the radiating section. The feeding portion is electrically connected to the radiating section. |
| US09048531B2 |
Information communication device and antenna
Provided is an information communication device, including an enclosure, and an antenna disposed in the enclosure so that at least one surface of a radiation plate is oblique with respect to a bottom surface of the enclosure, the antenna having a feeding point located on the surface that is oblique with respect to the bottom surface. |
| US09048530B2 |
Deployable flat panel array
The deployable flat panel array technology includes panel arrays and/or methods for multi-axial deployment of a panel array. The panel array can include a first row of panels, a second row of panels, and at least two respective panels of each of the first and the second rows coupled together via a carpenter tape hinge and allowing for multi-axial deployment to form the panel array. |
| US09048525B2 |
Antenna circuit
An antenna circuit which includes a substrate and a planar circuit with a circuit line of a conductive material formed on a surface of the substrate, and at least one conductive pad (notch-forming part) electrically connected with the circuit line of the planar circuit. Cutting lines, such as perforations, are provided in the substrate around an outer periphery of the notch-forming part and extend into the notch-forming part on either side of connection points where the circuit line connects with the notch-forming part, The cutting lines approach each other in the notch-forming part to form a section (notch port). The antenna circuit can be destroyed even if an IC tag provided with the antenna circuit is peeled off from various directions, and the destruction rate of the circuit can be increased stably. |
| US09048522B2 |
Waveguide to planar line transducer having a coupling hole with oppositely directed protuberances
A waveguide/planar line transducer of the present invention includes a waveguide that transmits electromagnetic waves through an opening portion, and a multiplayer substrate that includes a plurality of conductive layers. The multilayer substrate includes: a first conductive layer that is in close contact with the opening portion of the waveguide, and includes a first coupling hole provided at a position overlapping the opening portion of the waveguide when viewed in a plate thickness direction of the multilayer substrate; a strip electrode that is electromagnetically coupled to the first conductive layer, arranged on an opposite side to the first conductive layer in the plate thickness direction, and extending in one of a planar direction of the multilayer substrate; and a second conductive layer that is arranged between the first conductive layer and the strip conductor in the plate thickness direction, and includes a second coupling hole having a protuberance facing at least one of directions in which the strip electrode extends. |
| US09048515B2 |
Battery pack
An electrical combination including a power tool and a battery pack. The power tool includes power tool terminals. The battery pack is configured to be interfaced with the power tool. The battery pack includes a battery pack housing, at least three terminals, and a plurality of battery cells. The battery pack terminals include a positive terminal, a negative terminal, and a sense terminal. The at least three terminals are configured to be interfaced with the power tool terminals. The plurality of battery cells are arranged within and supported by the battery pack housing. Each of the battery cells has a lithium-based chemistry and a respective state of charge, and power is transferable between the battery cells and the power tool. A circuit is configured to monitor the battery cells, detect a charge imbalance among the battery cells, and prevent the battery pack from operating when the charge imbalance is detected. |
| US09048507B2 |
High ionic conductivity electrolytes from poly(siloxanes-co-ethylene oxide)
Polymer electrolytes offer increased safety and stability as compared to liquid electrolytes, yet there are a number of new challenges that polymer electrolytes introduce. A novel polymer electrolyte, as disclosed herein, is an ionically-conductive polymer with a backbone that is both highly flexible and highly conductive with high conductivity pendant chains attached, thus increasing the concentration of lithium coordination sites and improving ionic conductivity. Previous strategies for comb-type conductive polymers have focused on attaching either conductive pendant chains to a flexible non-conductive backbone or conductive pendant groups to a marginally flexible conductive backbone. |
| US09048505B2 |
Lithium-ion battery with life extension additive
A system and/or method for replenishing lithium-ion battery capacity that is lost due to side reactions over the lifetime of a battery in one embodiment includes a battery with a first electrode, a second electrode, a separator region configured to electronically isolate the first and second electrodes, a first portion of lithium metal encapsulated within a first ionically insulating barrier configured to prevent transport of lithium ions therethrough, a memory in which command instructions are stored, and a processor configured to execute the command instructions to (i) determine a first lithium content of the first electrode, (ii) compare the first lithium content of the first electrode to a first threshold, and (iii) activate the first portion of lithium metal based on the comparison of the first lithium content to the first threshold. |
| US09048504B2 |
Secondary battery electrode, method for manufacturing same, and secondary battery
A secondary battery electrode includes an active material layer configured to be provided on a current collector and be obtained by stacking a plurality of active material sub-layers composed of an active material. Pores of which pore diameter along a thickness direction of the active material layer is 3 to 300 nm are formed along a boundary between the active material sub-layers, and at least a part of the pores is filled with an electrolyte and/or a product arising from reduction of the electrolyte upon assembling of a secondary battery. |
| US09048499B2 |
Catalyst, production process therefor and use thereof
[Object]The invention provides catalysts that are not corroded in acidic electrolytes or at high potential and have excellent durability and high oxygen reducing ability.[Solution]A catalyst of the invention includes a metal oxycarbonitride that contains titanium and at least one metal (hereinafter, also referred to as “metal M” or simply “M”) selected from silver, calcium, strontium, yttrium, ruthenium, lanthanum, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium and lutetium. |
| US09048495B2 |
Cathode active material coated with flourine compound for lithium secondary batteries and method for preparing the same
Disclosed herein is a cathode active material coated with a fluorine compound for lithium secondary batteries. The cathode active material is structurally stable, and improves the charge-discharge characteristics, cycle characteristics, high-voltage characteristics, high-rate characteristics and thermal stability of batteries. |
| US09048494B2 |
Electrolytic manganese dioxide improved for tool wear reduction
An electrolytic manganese dioxide improved for tool wear reduction, methods for preparing the improved electrolytic manganese dioxide and for preparing a positive-electrode precursor, and a primary battery are provided. One method includes displacement-washing neutralized electrolytic manganese dioxide with a solution including a corrosion inhibitor configured to be at a first predetermined concentration. The method further includes drying the washed electrolytic manganese dioxide to collect improved electrolytic manganese dioxide including the corrosion inhibitor configured to be at a second predetermined concentration within the improved electrolytic manganese dioxide to minimize corrosion of a metal material in contact with the improved electrolytic manganese dioxide. The corrosion inhibitor includes one of a benzoate salt, a phosphate salt, a carbonate salt, a metaborate salt, a tetraborate salt, a metaperiodate salt, and a meta-aluminate salt. |
| US09048492B2 |
Negative electrode active material for electric device
A negative electrode active material for an electric device includes an alloy containing silicon in a range from 33% by mass to 50% by mass, zinc in a range of greater than 0% by mass and less than or equal to 46% by mass exclusive, vanadium in a range from 21% by mass to 67% by mass, and inevitable impurities as a residue. The negative electrode active material can be obtained with a multi DC magnetron sputtering apparatus by use of, for example, silicon, zinc, and vanadium as targets. An electric device using the negative electrode active material can achieve long cycle life and ensure a high capacity and cycle durability. |
| US09048487B2 |
Secondary battery and manufacturing method thereof
A secondary battery which can maintain alignment between a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate and can improve the cell stability and life characteristic of the battery, and a manufacturing method thereof. A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly including a first electrode plate; a second electrode plate; a first separator between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate and including a central portion and an outer portion at a periphery of the central portion; and a second separator at a side of the first electrode plate or the second electrode plate opposite a side facing the first separator, the second separator including a central portion and an outer portion at a periphery of the central portion of the second separator, and the outer portion of the first separator and the outer portion of the second separator contact each other at least at a joining part. |
| US09048482B2 |
Battery tray
A battery tray includes a bottom plate and opposing end walls extending upward from the bottom plate. Each end wall includes a plurality of inward spaced battery connectors. A retainer is releasably secured to the bottom plate and is configured to retain batteries disposed on the bottom plate and abutting the end walls. At least one printed circuit board in an end wall includes circuitry connecting the battery connectors to the electrical output. |
| US09048481B2 |
Battery housing device
A battery housing device includes a case configured to house a battery and having a plus terminal and a minus terminal, a plus pole spring provided in the case and having one end connected to the plus terminal and an opposite end configured to come in contact with a plus pole of the battery, a minus pole spring provided in the case and having one end connected to the minus terminal and an opposite end configured to come in contact with a minus pole of the battery, and a battery support configured to support a bottom face of the battery and to support a side wall of the battery. The battery can be attached to and detached from the battery support in a length direction of the battery. |
| US09048476B2 |
Cover part for a rechargeable battery and rechargeable battery having a cover part such as this
The invention relates to a cover part (1) for a rechargeable battery, with the cover part (1) being produced from plastic and having at least one sleeve-like connecting socket (2) for making electrical contact with the rechargeable battery, with a lower section (26) of the connecting socket (2) being embedded in the plastic material of the cover part (1), wherein a plurality of sliding elements (3), which are in the form of strips and are separated from one another over the internal circumference of the connecting socket (2), are arranged on the inside of the connecting socket (2). |
| US09048475B2 |
Method for the detection of fuel cell system short circuits
An apparatus and method to detect a short circuit event in a fuel cell system of a vehicle. The detection relies on three existing sensors within the fuel cell system, two current sensors and a voltage sensor. A controller executes an algorithm with a set of thresholds stored in a computer readable medium to monitor the sensors to sense if any of the threshold values are crossed. If crossed, the controller may take remedial action to stop the short circuit and/or prevent damage to the fuel cell system. A mode manager may work with the controller to determine when the operating conditions of the fuel cell system are ideal for sensing for a low voltage condition indicative of a short circuit event. A pair of integrators may be electrically coupled to an alternating current sensor to differentiate a short circuit event from a high frequency resistance current. |
| US09048471B2 |
Graphene-based self-humidifying membrane and self-humidifying fuel cell
A self-humidifying fuel cell is made by preparing a porous substrate, coating the substrate with a zeolitic material (or a graphene derivative) and filling the pores with a mixture of graphene derivative and proton-conducting material (or a proton-conducting material). The coating of the substrate includes selecting a zeolitic material, and applying coating on the pore walls and surface of the porous substrate, to form zeolitic material-coated pores. The resulting composite material is used as a self-humidifying proton-conducting membrane in a fuel cell. |
| US09048469B2 |
Hollow-fiber membrane module for moisture exchange
A hollow-fiber membrane module for moisture exchange including a tubular outer case, a tubular inner case, plural hollow-fiber membranes, sealing portions, an inlet, an outlet, a first flow path, a second flow path, and a tubular porous member. The inner case is coaxially contained in the outer case so as to have a space therebetween. The hollow-fiber membranes are filled in the space and extend in the axial direction. The sealing portions are provided to both ends of the space so as to fix the plural hollow-fiber membranes and to seal the space. The first flow path extends from one end side of the hollow-fiber membranes to the other end side via insides of the hollow-fiber membranes. The second flow path extends from the inlet to the outlet via outsides of the hollow-fiber membranes in the space. The tubular porous member is inserted between the hollow-fiber membranes. |
| US09048468B2 |
Method for forming channels on diffusion media for a membrane humidifier
A membrane humidifier assembly for a membrane humidifier for a fuel cell system and a method for making the same is disclosed, the method comprising the steps of providing a material for forming a diffusion medium; forming a plurality of channels in the material with one of a channel-forming roller, a means for etching the material, and a press for forming the diffusion medium; and providing a pair of membranes, wherein the diffusion medium is disposed between the pair of membranes. |
| US09048466B2 |
Flat fuel cell assembly with air channel defined by case
A flat fuel cell assembly including a MEA, a cathode porous current collector, an anode porous current collector, a gas barrier material layer, a case, and at least one air baffle is provided. The cathode porous current collector and the anode porous current collector are disposed at two opposite sides of the MEA. The gas barrier material layer is disposed at a side of the cathode porous current collector and has at least one opening for exposing a surface of the cathode porous current collector. The case is disposed at a side of the MEA, the gas barrier material layer is disposed between the case and the MEA, and an air channel is located between the gas barrier material layer and the case. Additionally, the air baffle disposed within the air channel. |
| US09048460B2 |
Deposition apparatus and method for manufacturing organic light emitting display apparatus by using the same
A deposition apparatus is capable of checking, in real time, the thickness or uniformity of a thin layer which is formed. The deposition apparatus includes a moving unit to which a substrate is detachably fixed. A conveyer unit conveys the moving unit in a first direction or in an opposite direction to the first direction. A deposition unit includes at least one deposition assembly for depositing a deposition material on the substrate. A discharge data acquisition unit acquires data associated with the amount of the deposition material discharged per unit time from the at least one deposition assembly. A transmission unit transmits the data acquired by the discharge data acquisition unit. |
| US09048455B2 |
Encapsulation member, organic light emitting display device having encapsulation member and method of manufacturing organic light emitting display device having encapsulation member
An encapsulation member is disclosed. The encapsulation member includes at least two organic material layers, at least two inorganic material layers and a light absorption layer pattern. The inorganic material layers and the organic material layers are stacked alternately. The light absorption layer pattern is disposed between one of the organic material layers and one of the inorganic material layers which immediately neighbor each other. The light absorption layer pattern includes a plurality of wires which extend in a first direction, and are arranged substantially parallel to each other. |
| US09048453B2 |
Light-emitting device
To provide a light-emitting device which can emit bright light without increasing the projected area of a light-emitting element and be manufactured with high yield. A light-emitting device of one embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of projections; a first electrode formed along the plurality of projections; a layer containing a light-emitting organic compound formed along the plurality of projections and over the first electrode; and a second electrode formed along the plurality of projections and over the layer containing a light-emitting organic compound. Further, the plurality of projections each have a bottom surface having a side in contact with a bottom surface of an adjacent projection; a plurality of side surfaces each having a certain angle greater than 0° and less than or equal to 80° with respect to the bottom surface; and a vertex having a first continuously curved surface. |
| US09048445B2 |
Gate insulating material, gate insulating film and organic field-effect transistor
To provide a gate insulating material which has high chemical resistance, is superior in coatability of a resist and an organic semiconductor coating liquid, and has small hysteresis, a gate insulating film and an FET using the same by a polysiloxane having an epoxy group-containing silane compound as a copolymerization component.A gate insulating material containing a polysiloxane having, as copolymerization components, at least a silane compound represented by the general formula (1): R1mSi(OR2)4-m (1), wherein R1 represents hydrogen, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, a heterocyclic group, an aryl group, a heteroaryl group or an alkenyl group and in the case where a plurality of R1s are present, R1s may be the same or different, R2 represents an alkyl group or a cycloalkyl group and in the case where a plurality of R2s are present, R2s may be the same or different, and m represents an integer of 1 to 3, and an epoxy group-containing silane compound represented by the general formula (2): R3nR4lSi(OR5)4-n-1 (2), wherein R3 represents an alkyl group or a cycloalkyl group having one or more epoxy groups in a part of a chain and in the case where a plurality of R3s are present, R3s may be the same or different, R4 represents hydrogen, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, a heterocyclic group, an aryl group, a heteroaryl group or an alkenyl group and in the case where a plurality of R4s are present, R4s may be the same or different, R5 represents an alkyl group or a cycloalkyl group and in the case where a plurality of R5s are present, R5s may be the same or different, l represents an integer of 0 to 2, and n represents 1 or 2 (however, l+n≦3). |
| US09048436B2 |
Oxadiazole derivative, and light emitting element, light emitting device, and electronic device using the oxadiazole derivative
An oxadiazole derivative represented by the following general formula (G1) is synthesized and applied to the light emitting element, Am; wherein Am is a substituent represented by a general formula (Am1), (Am2), or (Am3); each of α, β1, and β2 represents an arylene group having 6 to 25 carbon atoms; each of Ar1 to Ar6 represents an aryl group having 6 to 25 carbon atoms; each of R1 to R3 represents hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or an aryl group having 6 to 25 carbon atoms; and R4 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an aryl group having 6 to 25 carbon atoms. |
| US09048429B2 |
Method for enhancing optoelectronic properties of conjugated polymers
The present invention provides a method for enhancing optoelectronic properties of polymers that contain conjugated moieties in their molecular structures (hereby denoted as “conjugated polymers”), to be used in lighting, photovoltaics, other various optoelectronic devices and applications. The method of the present invention includes preparing a conjugated polymer layer or multiple conjugated polymer layers and imprinting the conjugated polymer layer or layers through the application of a mold or multiple molds. |
| US09048427B2 |
Thin film fabrication of rubber material with piezoelectric characteristics
The present invention is related to a thin film fabrication of a rubber material with piezoelectric characteristics and a manufacturing method thereof. The present invention is developed by utilizing polymer casting, multilayer stacking, surface coating, and micro plasma discharge processes. To realize the desired electromechanical sensitivity, cellular PDMS structures with micrometer-sized voids are implanted with bipolar charges on the opposite inner surfaces. The implanted charge pairs function as dipoles, which respond promptly to diverse electromechanical simulation. |
| US09048423B2 |
Memory storage device and method of manufacturing the same
A memory storage device including a lower electrode formed to be separate for each of a plurality of memory cells; a memory storage layer formed on the lower electrode and capable of recording information according to a change in resistance; and an upper electrode formed on the memory storage layer. The memory storage device includes a first layer formed of metal or metal silicide and a second layer formed on the first layer and formed of a metal nitride, the lower electrode is formed by lamination of the first layer and the second layer and formed such that only the first layer is in contact with a lower layer and only the second layer is in contact with the memory storage layer, which is an upper layer. The memory storage layer and the upper electrode are formed in common to plural memory cells. |
| US09048422B2 |
Three dimensional non-volatile storage with asymmetrical vertical select devices
A three-dimensional array adapted for memory elements that reversibly change a level of electrical conductance in response to a voltage difference being applied across them. Memory elements are formed across a plurality of planes positioned different distances above a semiconductor substrate. Bit lines to which the memory elements of all planes are connected are oriented vertically from the substrate and through the plurality of planes. |
| US09048414B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device and processing method
A method of processing a nonvolatile memory device includes forming a first electrode, depositing a layer of sol-gel solution on the first electrode, hydrolyzing the layer of sol-gel solution to form a layer of variable electric resistance material, and forming a second electrode on the layer of variable electric resistance material. |
| US09048409B2 |
Wafer-level light emitting diode package and method of fabricating the same
A light emitting diode (LED) package includes a semiconductor stack including a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, and an active layer disposed between the first and second semiconductor layers, the first and second semiconductor layers having different conductivity types, a first contact layer disposed on the first semiconductor layer, a second contact layer disposed on the second semiconductor layer, a first insulation layer contacting the first contact layer, a second insulation layer disposed on the first insulation layer, a first bump disposed on a first side of the semiconductor stack, the first bump being electrically connected to the first contact layer, a second bump disposed on the first side of the semiconductor stack, the second bump being electrically connected to the second contact layer, and a third insulation layer disposed on side surfaces of the first bump and the second bump. |
| US09048408B2 |
Light emitting diode package
A light emitting diode (LED) package includes a substrate, a first electrode and a second electrode embedded in the substrate and spaced from each other, an LED die mounted on a top surface of the substrate and electrically connected to the first and the second electrodes. Both the first and the second electrodes include a top face and a bottom face, with the top face and the bottom face of each of the first and the second electrodes being exposed at the top surface and a bottom surface of the substrate, respectively. The top face of the first electrode defines a first groove corresponding to a positive bonding pad (p-pad) of the LED die. The p-pad is partially inserted into the first groove. An oxidation-resistant metal coating layer is filled between an insertion portion of the p-pad and an inner surface of the first groove. |
| US09048406B2 |
Curable silicone composition, cured product thereof, and optical semiconductor device
A curable silicone composition comprises: (A) an organopolysiloxane represented by an average unit formula; (B) an organopolysiloxane having 10 or less silicon atoms, wherein 30 to 60 mole % of all silicon atom-bonded organic groups are alkenyl groups having from 2 to 6 carbons; (C) an organopolysiloxane represented by a general formula; (D) an organopolysiloxane having at least 2 silicon atom-bonded hydrogen atoms in a molecule, wherein the content of phenyl groups in all silicon atom-bonded organic groups in this component is at least 20 mole %; (E) an organopolysiloxane having at least 2 silicon atom-bonded hydrogen atoms in a molecule, wherein the content of phenyl groups in all silicon atom-bonded organic groups in this component is less than 20 mole %; (F) a hydrosilylation reaction catalyst; (G) a white pigment; and (H) an inorganic filler other than a white pigment, has excellent formability for forming a cured product that has little discoloration and lowering of mechanical strength by heat and light, has high light reflectance, has excellent dimensional stability, and is capable of good attachment by a sealing agent used for an optical semiconductor device. |
| US09048403B2 |
Light emitting device and lighting system with the same
A light emitting device including a light emitting structure having a first conduction type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conduction type semiconductor layer, a transparent conductive layer disposed on the light emitting structure, a metal filter having an irregular pattern disposed between the light emitting structure and the transparent conductive layer, and openings disposed between the irregular patterns in the metal filter. |
| US09048402B2 |
Epoxy resin composition and light emitting apparatus
Disclosed are an epoxy resin composition and a light emitting apparatus. The epoxy resin composition includes a triazine derivative epoxy resin and a silicon-containing alicyclic epoxy resin. |
| US09048401B2 |
Producing method of semiconductor device
A method for producing a semiconductor device includes a preparing step of preparing a board formed with a concave portion, a terminal disposed in or around the concave portion, and a semiconductor element disposed in the concave portion; a wire-bonding step of connecting the terminal to the semiconductor element with a wire; a pressure-welding step of pressure-welding an encapsulating sheet to the board so as to be in close contact with the upper surface of a portion around the concave portion and to be separated from the upper surface of the concave portion under a reduced pressure atmosphere; and an atmosphere releasing step of releasing the board and the encapsulating sheet under an atmospheric pressure atmosphere. |
| US09048398B2 |
Organic light-emitting element and light-emitting device with the organic light-emitting element
The present invention provides a white organic light-emitting element high in the emission efficiency. In particular, the invention provides a white organic light-emitting element that has an emission spectrum having peaks in the respective wavelength regions of red color, green color and blue color and is high in the emission efficiency. It is preferable to use an electron transport material between a first emission region and a second emission region and more preferable to use a hole block material. |
| US09048397B2 |
Color yield of white LEDs
A method of disposing a phosphor material on an LED such that the LED emits white light and adjusting the quantity of phosphor material such that the white light meets a color target. A formulated procedure is used to determine the adjustment required, and includes a correlation between a change in position of a color of an LED on a CIE diagram and a known quantity of phosphor material added to the LED. |
| US09048394B2 |
Light emitting diode package with oxidation-resistant metal coating layer
An exemplary light emitting diode (LED) package includes a substrate, a first electrode and a second electrode embedded in the substrate and spaced from each other, and an LED die mounted on a top surface of the substrate. The substrate also includes a bottom surface. Top ends of the first and second electrodes are exposed at the top surface of the substrate, and bottom ends of the first and second electrodes are exposed at the bottom surface of the substrate. An oxidation-resistant metal coating layer is formed on a top face of each of the first and second electrodes. The LED die is electrically connected to the first and second electrodes via the two oxidation-resistant metal coating layers. |
| US09048393B2 |
Optoelectronic component
An optoelectronic component including a connection carrier including an electrically insulating film at a top side of the connection carrier, an optoelectronic semiconductor chip at the top side of the connection carrier, a cutout in the electrically insulating film which encloses the optoelectronic semiconductor chip, and a potting body surrounding the optoelectronic semiconductor chip, wherein a bottom area of the cutout is formed at least regionally by the electrically insulating film, the potting body extends at least regionally as far as an outer edge of the cutout facing the optoelectronic semiconductor chip, and the cutout is at least regionally free of the potting body. |
| US09048390B2 |
Package for light emitting device, and light emitting device
A package for a light emitting device includes: a resin portion having a sidewall thereof; a first lead having a reflective layer containing silver, the first lead being embedded in the resin portion such that the reflective layer is exposed inside the sidewall; and a second lead having at least a part of a surface thereof exposed inside the sidewall, the second lead being embedded in the resin portion while being isolated from the first lead, wherein in the first lead, the reflective layer is provided spaced inward apart from a boundary between the first lead and the resin portion, and wherein a separating surface exposed between the boundary and the reflective layer is formed of a surface of metal containing silver in a smaller amount than that of the reflective layer. |
| US09048389B2 |
Light emitting diode
A light emitting diode including a substrate, a p-type and n-type semiconductor layers, an active layer, a first and second electrodes is provided. The active layer is located between the n-type and p-type semiconductor layers, and includes i quantum wells and (i+1) quantum barrier layers, each quantum well is located between any two of the quantum barrier layers, each of k quantum wells among the i quantum wells is constituted of a light emitting layer and an auxiliary layer, in which an indium concentration of the auxiliary layer is greater than an indium concentration of the light emitting layer, where i and k are natural numbers greater than or equal to 1 and k≦i. The first electrode and second electrodes are located on the n-type semiconductor layer and the p-type semiconductor layer, respectively. |
| US09048387B2 |
Light-emitting device with improved light extraction efficiency
A light emitting device with improved light extraction efficiency includes an n-type layer, a p-type layer, an active region sandwiched between the n-type layer and the p-type layer, a characteristic AlGaN layer over which the n-type layer is formed, and an AlN layer on which the characteristic AlGaN layer is formed. The characteristic AlGaN layer has gradually enlarging bandgap width from that of the n-type layer to that of the AlN layer in the direction pointing from the n-type layer to the AlN layer. The light-emitting device may further include a nanoporous AlN layer over which the AlN layer is formed. |
| US09048386B2 |
Semiconductor light-emitting element and light-emitting device
While maintaining unity of wavelength of light emitted from a semiconductor light emitting element, decrease of light emission efficiency with an increase in environmental temperature is suppressed. A semiconductor light-emitting element includes: an n-cladding layer; a light emitting layer laminated on the n-cladding layer; and a p-type semiconductor layer laminated on the light emitting layer. The light emitting layer includes a first barrier layer to an eighth barrier layer and a first well layer to a seventh well layer, and a single well layer is sandwiched by two barrier layers. The first well layer to the fifth well layer have a common standard well thickness and a common composition, and the sixth well layer and the seventh well layer are set at a maximum well thickness larger than the common standard well thickness and have a composition whose band gap energy is larger than that of the common composition. |
| US09048385B2 |
Nitride semiconductor light emitting diode
In a nitride semiconductor light emitting diode including a substrate made of a nitride semiconductor, a first conductive-type nitride semiconductor layer formed on the substrate, an active layer made of a nitride semiconductor, and a second conductive-type nitride semiconductor layer, characterized in that light emitted is extracted from the under surface side of the substrate or the upper surface side of the second conductive-type nitride semiconductor layer, an intermediate layer is formed between the substrate and the active layer, and dislocations is allowed to generates from the dislocation generating layer as the origin and to distribute in a light emitting region of the active layer. |
| US09048381B1 |
Method for fabricating light-emitting diode device
The invention provides a method for fabricating a light-emitting diode device. The method includes providing a carrier having a first surface and a second surface. The first surface has insulating micro patterns. A buffer layer, a first-type semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer and a second-type semiconductor layer are grown on the first surface to form a light-emitting lamination layer. A substrate is provided for the second-type semiconductor layer to bond on. The carrier is lifted off from the light-emitting lamination layer by a laser lift-off process, and surfaces of the insulating micro patterns and a surface of the buffer layer between the insulating micro patterns are exposed. The insulating micro patterns and the buffer layer are removed. Recess structures are formed on the first-type semiconductor layer. A surface-roughing process is then performed on the recess structures. |
| US09048380B2 |
Thermoelectric conversion material and production method for thermoelectric conversion material
A thermoelectric conversion material having a novel composition is provided. The thermoelectric conversion material comprises a first dielectric material layer, a second dielectric material layer, and an electron localization layer that is present between the first dielectric material layer and the second dielectric material layer and that has a thickness of 1 nm. |
| US09048378B2 |
Device with inverted large scale light extraction structures
An interface including roughness components for improving the propagation of radiation through the interface is provided. The interface includes a first profiled surface of a first layer comprising a set of large roughness components providing a first variation of the first profiled surface having a first characteristic scale and a second profiled surface of a second layer comprising a set of small roughness components providing a second variation of the second profiled surface having a second characteristic scale. The first characteristic scale is approximately an order of magnitude larger than the second characteristic scale. The surfaces can be bonded together using a bonding material, and a filler material also can be present in the interface. |
| US09048377B2 |
Light emitting device, method for fabricating the light emitting device, light emitting device package, and lighting unit
Provided are a light emitting device, a method for fabricating the light emitting device, a light emitting device package, and a lighting unit. The light emitting device includes a support member having a stepped portion on a side surface, a light emitting structure on the support member, the light emitting structure including a first conductive type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductive type semiconductor layer to generate light, and an electrode supplying a power to the first conductive type semiconductor layer. The support member has a first surface on which the light emitting structure is disposed and a second surface having an area greater than that of the first surface. |
| US09048376B2 |
Solar cell devices and apparatus comprising the same
A multi-junction solar cell device includes a substrate having a first lattice constant, a first optoelectronic conversion layer having a second lattice constant, and a second optoelectronic conversion layer having a third lattice constant wherein the value of the first lattice constant is between that of the second lattice constant and the third lattice constant. |
| US09048373B2 |
Evaporation apparatus and method
An evaporation apparatus comprises a chamber configured to contain at least one dispensing nozzle and at least one substrate to be coated. The chamber has at least one adjustable shielding member defining an adjustable aperture. The member is positioned between the at least one dispensing nozzle and the at least one substrate. The aperture is adjustable in at least one of the group consisting of area and shape. The at least one adjustable shielding member has a heater. |
| US09048372B2 |
Patterning
A method for patterning an article, the article comprising a first layer of a first material, the method comprising providing a thread carrying a first species, e.g. a solvent in which the first material is soluble, and contacting the thread with the first layer to remove at least part of the first layer. |
| US09048370B1 |
Dynamic control of diode bias voltage (photon-caused avalanche)
Methods and devices are provided for determining an operating bias voltage of a photodiode. One example method includes (i) varying a bias voltage of a photodiode; (ii) detecting spurious signals generated by the photodiode while varying the bias voltage of the photodiode; (iii) determining a threshold bias voltage at which a frequency of occurrence of the spurious signals reaches a threshold frequency; (iv) determining an operating bias voltage for the photodiode based on at least the threshold bias voltage; and (v) operating the photodiode with the operating bias voltage in a light-detection and ranging (LIDAR) system. |
| US09048361B2 |
Photovoltaic module
A photovoltaic module is provided. The photovoltaic module has excellent electricity generation efficiency and durability. |
| US09048360B2 |
Solar cell, solar cell with interconnection sheet attached and solar cell module
Disclosed are a solar cell, a solar cell with interconnection sheet attached, and a solar cell module wherein a surface of an electrode for first conductive type is covered with a migration suppressing layer for preventing a metal forming electrode for first conductive type from precipitating, and at least one of a surface of migration suppressing layer covering electrode for first conductive type and a surface of electrode for second conductive type is covered with an insulating member. |
| US09048356B2 |
Photoelectric conversion device
A photoelectric conversion device includes a first cell including a photoelectric conversion layer, a second cell over the first cell including a photoelectric conversion layer formed of a material having a wider band gap than that of the first cell, first and second electrodes under a surface of the first cell which is opposite to the second cell, and a third electrode over a surface of the second cell which is opposite to the first cell. The first and second cells each include a p-n or p-i-n junction, the first and second cells are in contact with each other and a p-n junction is formed in a contact portion therebetween, the first cell is electrically connected to the first and second electrodes to form a back contact structure, and the second cell is electrically connected to the third electrode. |
| US09048355B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof are provided which can suppress corrosion by chemicals in processes, while preventing generation of thermal stress on a mark. A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer with a front-side main surface and a back-side main surface opposed to the front-side main surface, a plurality of light receiving elements formed in the semiconductor layer for performing photoelectric conversion, a light receiving lens disposed above the back-side main surface for supplying light to the light receiving element, and a mark formed inside the semiconductor layer. The mark extends from the front-side main surface to the back-side main surface. The mark has a deeply located surface recessed toward the front-side main surface rather than the back-side main surface. The deeply located surface is formed of silicon. |
| US09048350B2 |
Sealed body, light-emitting module and method of manufacturing sealed body
A sealed body in which sealing is uniformly performed is provided. A light-emitting module in which sealing is uniformly performed is provided. A method of manufacturing the sealed body in which sealing is uniformly performed is provided. The sealed body comprises a first substrate alternately provided with a high-reflectivity region with respect to the energy ray and a low-reflectivity region with respect to the energy ray so as to overlap with a sealant surrounding a sealed object, and a second substrate capable of transmitting the energy ray. The sealed object is sealed between the first substrate and the second substrate by heating the sealant with irradiation with the energy ray through the second substrate. |
| US09048349B2 |
Optical device wafer processing method
A wafer processing method transfers an optical device layer (ODL) in an optical device wafer (ODW) to a transfer substrate. The ODL is formed on the front side of an epitaxy substrate through a buffer layer, and is partitioned by a plurality of crossing streets to define a plurality of regions where optical devices are formed. The transfer substrate is bonded to the front side of the ODL. The transfer substrate and the ODL are cut along the streets. The transfer substrate is attached to a supporting member, and a laser beam is applied to the epitaxy substrate from the back side of the epitaxy substrate to the unit of the ODW and the transfer substrate. The focal point of the laser beam is set in the buffer layer, thereby decomposing the buffer layer. The epitaxy substrate is then peeled off from the ODL. |
| US09048345B2 |
Method of forming light-emitting diode
A method of forming a light-emitting diode includes: providing a substrate having one or more first openings passing through the substrate; forming a sacrificial layer on the substrate; forming an epitaxial layer on the sacrificial layer; connecting a supporting substrate with the epitaxial layer; and separating the substrate from the epitaxial layer by selectively etching the sacrificial layer. |
| US09048344B2 |
Gas enclosure assembly and system
The present teachings relate to various embodiments of an hermetically-sealed gas enclosure assembly and system that can be readily transportable and assemblable and provide for maintaining a minimum inert gas volume and maximal access to various devices and apparatuses enclosed therein. Various embodiments of an hermetically-sealed gas enclosure assembly and system of the present teachings can have a gas enclosure assembly constructed in a fashion that minimizes the internal volume of a gas enclosure assembly, and at the same time optimizes the working space to accommodate a variety of footprints of various OLED printing systems. Various embodiments of a gas enclosure assembly so constructed additionally provide ready access to the interior of a gas enclosure assembly from the exterior during processing and readily access to the interior for maintenance, while minimizing downtime. |
| US09048340B2 |
Power semiconductor device with a reduced dynamic avalanche effect and subsequent local heating
A power semiconductor device includes a first layer of a first conductivity type, which has a first main side and a second main side opposite the first main side. A second layer of a second conductivity type is arranged in a central region of the first main side and a fourth electrically conductive layer is arranged on the second layer. On the second main side a third layer with a first zone of the first conductivity type with a higher doping than the first layer is arranged followed by a fifth electrically conductive layer. The area between the second layer and the first zone defines an active area. The third layer includes at least one second zone of the second conductivity type, which is arranged in the same plane as the first zone. A sixth layer of the first conductivity type with a doping, which is lower than that of the first zone and higher that that of the first layer, is arranged between the at least one second zone and the first layer. |
| US09048339B2 |
Deep trench capacitor
A method of forming a deep trench capacitor in a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate is provided. The method may include providing a pad layer positioned above a bulk substrate, etching a deep trench into the pad layer and the bulk substrate extending from a top surface of the pad layer down to a location within the bulk substrate, and doping a portion of the bulk substrate to form a buried plate. The method further including depositing a node dielectric, an inner electrode, and a dielectric cap substantially filling the deep trench, the node dielectric being located between the buried plate and the inner electrode, the dielectric cap being located at a top of the deep trench, removing the pad layer, growing an insulator layer on top of the bulk substrate, and growing a semiconductor-on-insulator layer on top of the insulator layer. |
| US09048338B2 |
Device including two power semiconductor chips and manufacturing thereof
A device includes a first power semiconductor chip having a first face and a second face opposite to the first face with a first contact pad arranged on the first face. The first contact pad is an external contact pad. The device further includes a first contact clip attached to the second face of the first power semiconductor chip. A second power semiconductor chip is attached to the first contact clip, and a second contact clip is attached to the second power semiconductor chip. |
| US09048337B2 |
Vertical transistor, memory cell, device, system and method of forming same
A memory device, system and fabrication method relating to a vertical memory cell including a semiconducting pillar extending outwardly from an integrally connected semiconductor substrate are disclosed. A first source/drain region is formed in the semiconductor substrate and a body region and a second source/drain region are formed within the semiconductor pillar. A first gate is coupled to a first side of the semiconductor pillar for coupling the first and second source/drain regions together when activated. The vertical memory cell also includes a storage capacitor formed on an extended end of the semiconducting pillar and electrically coupled to the second source/drain region. |
| US09048328B2 |
Semiconductor device having plural memory cells with cavities formed therein, and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes, a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of memory cells being provided on the semiconductor substrate in a memory cell region. Each of the plurality of memory cells having a first gate electrode disposed on the semiconductor substrate with a first gate insulating film, and the first gate electrode having a first charge storage layer, a first inter-electrode insulating film and a first control gate electrode film, and a cavity is interposed between an upper surface of the charge storage layer and the inter-electrode insulating film. |
| 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. |