Document Document Title
US09053832B2 Lanthanide doped strontium-barium cesium halide scintillators
The present invention provides for a composition comprising an inorganic scintillator comprising an optionally lanthanide-doped strontium-barium, optionally cesium, halide, useful for detecting nuclear material.
US09053831B2 Shock-absorbing device for fuel assembly and fuel assembly housing container
A fuel assembly 20 is constituted by combining a plurality of fuel rods 21, holding the fuel rods 21 by a plurality of support grids 22, and arranging a lower nozzle 24 and an upper nozzle 23 at opposite ends of the fuel rods 21. A shock-absorbing device 10 for a fuel assembly is fitted to the lower nozzle 24 and the upper nozzle 23. The shock-absorbing device 10 for a fuel assembly is constituted a nozzle support 12 fitted to a depression 24U of the lower nozzle 24 and a depression 23U of the upper nozzle 23, and a buffer 11 combined with the nozzle support 12, with stiffness thereof in a longitudinal direction of the fuel rods 21 being equal to or lower than that of the nozzle support 12.
US09053828B2 Nuclear reactor bottom-mounted instrumentation nozzle repair method
A method for removing and replacing a bottom-mounted instrumentation nozzle on a nuclear reactor pressure vessel. The method (i) caps or plugs the existing bottom-mounted instrumentation nozzle; (ii) cuts the nozzle at or near the nozzle to in-core instrument tube weld; (iii) installs a water-tight sealing enclosure outside the vessel over the bottom of the bottom-mounted instrumentation nozzle creating a water-tight seal with the underside of the reactor vessel; (iv) cuts to sever the existing bottom nozzle from the reactor vessel; (v) extracts the existing nozzle; (vi) installs a replacement alloy 690 nozzle or plug from inside the vessel; and (vii) welds the replacement nozzle or plug in place. The replacement bottom-mounted instrumentation nozzle incorporates an integral shoulder that prevents ejection during operation and facilitates installation, and the entire method is performed while the reactor pressure vessel is filled with water.
US09053826B2 Protective grid attachment
A fuel assembly for a pressurized water reactor that has a protective grid attached to the bottom nozzle through a spacer insert captured between a control rod guide thimble end plug and the bottom nozzle. A thimble screw attaches the bottom nozzle to the control rod guide thimble end plug through a central opening in the spacer insert. The control rod guide thimble end plug is provided with a raised annular boss that encircles the thimble screw shank and rests against the upper surface of the bottom nozzle through the opening in the spacer insert. The opening in the spacer insert is large enough to provide both an axial and radial clearance between the spacer insert and the end plug to accommodate differences in thermal expansion.
US09053824B2 Nuclear control rod with flexure joint
A rod cluster control assembly having a control rod upper end plug formed in two parts and connected together with a flexible joint coupling located at or below a connecting finger on a spider vane. The upper portion of the upper control rod end plug is screwed into the connecting finger on the spider vane and lock welded between a lower portion of the finger and a shoulder on an abutting ledge of the upper portion of the end plug.
US09053821B2 Semiconductor device performing stress test
A semiconductor device includes a memory cell array that is divided into a plurality of memory cell mats by a plurality of sense amplifier arrays, and each of the plurality of memory cell mats includes a plurality of word lines and a test circuit for performing a test control to activate, at a time, a plurality of word lines included in each of a plurality of selected memory cell mats that are not disposed adjacent to each other in the plurality of memory cell mats. According to the present invention, the memory cell mats with the plurality of activated word lines are distributed. Therefore, as compared with many word lines activated in one memory cell mat, the load applied to a driver circuit for driving word lines and the load applied to a power supply circuit for supplying an operation voltage to the driver circuit are reduced. As a result, more word lines can be activated at the same time.
US09053820B2 Internal data load for non-volatile storage
Techniques are disclosed herein for performing an Internal Data Load (IDL) to sense non-volatile storage elements. Read pass voltages that are applied to the two neighbor word lines to a selected word line may be adjusted to result in a more accurate IDL. The read pass voltage for one neighbor may be increased by some delta voltage, whereas the read pass voltage for the other neighbor may be decreased by the same delta voltage. In one aspect, programming of an upper page of data into a word line that neighbors a target word line is halted to allow lower page data in the target memory cells to be read using an IDL and preserved in data latches while programming the upper page in the neighbor word completes. Preservation of the lower page data provides for a cleaner lower page when later programming the upper page into the target memory cells.
US09053819B2 Programming method to tighten threshold voltage width with avoiding program disturb
A non-volatile storage system that performs a multi-stage programming process to program non-volatile storage to a set of data threshold voltage distributions. The multi-stage programming process includes performing a first stage of the multi-stage programming process to change threshold voltages of at least a subset of the non-volatile storage elements from an erased distribution to one or more intermediate distributions, performing an intermediate stage of the multi-stage programming process to change threshold voltages of at least some of the non-volatile storage elements to appropriate distributions of the data threshold voltage distributions, and performing a later stage of the multi-stage programming process, after performing the intermediate stage of the multi-stage programming process, to tighten only a subset of the data threshold voltage distributions.
US09053817B2 Amplifier
A circuit comprises a first data line, a second data line, a charging circuit, a first circuit, a second circuit, a first switching circuit, and a second switching circuit. The charging circuit and the first circuit are each coupled with the first data and the second data line. The first switching circuit is coupled between the first data line and a first node of the second circuit. The second switching circuit is coupled between the second data line and a second node of the second circuit. The data on the first node or the second node represents data in a single-ended circuit. Data on both the first node and the second node represent data in a differential circuit.
US09053816B2 Semiconductor device
A well voltage supply cell includes third gate electrode group (including a third gate electrode corresponding to a first gate electrode) located symmetrically to first gate electrode group (including the first gate electrode constituting an access transistor) of a first SRAM cell, fourth gate electrode group (including a fourth gate electrode corresponding to a second gate electrode) located symmetrically to second gate electrode group (including the second gate electrode constituting an access transistor) of a second SRAM cell. a P-type impurity diffusion region located on a P well between the third gate electrode and the fourth gate electrode located opposite to each other, a first N-type impurity diffusion region located on the side of the third gate electrode closer to the first SRAM cell, and a second N-type impurity diffusion region located on the side of the fourth gate electrode closer to the second SRAM cell.
US09053815B2 Circuit in dynamic random access memory devices
A circuit in dynamic random access memory devices includes a command extension circuit. The command extension circuit is configured to generate at least one multiple-cycle command signal by lengthening a single-cycle clock command signal from a command decoding circuit. Control logic extends and reduces the multiple-cycle command signal to provide additional functions such as burst length and burst chop. Additional control logic is configured to determine whether a clock signal is enabled in output control logic circuitry according to the multiple-cycle command and logic level generated in the output logic circuitry.
US09053810B2 Defect or program disturb detection with full data recovery capability
A programming operation for a set of non-volatile storage elements determines whether the storage elements have been programmed properly after a program-verify test is passed and a program status=pass is issued. Write data is reconstructed from sets of latches associated with the storage elements using logical operations optionally one or more reconstruction read operations. Normal read operations are also performed to obtain read data. A number of mismatches between the read data and the reconstructed write data is determined, and determination is made as to whether re-writing of the write data is required based on the number of the mismatches.
US09053809B2 Data protection from write failures in nonvolatile memory
A method includes calculating redundancy information over a set of data items, and sending the data items for storage in a memory. The redundancy information is retained only until the data items are written successfully in the memory, and then discarded. The data items are recovered using the redundancy information upon a failure in writing the data items to the memory.
US09053803B2 Integrated circuit and method for manufacturing and operating the same
An integrated circuit and methods for manufacturing and operating the same are provided. The integrated circuit comprises a fork architecture and a first conductive structure. The fork architecture comprises a handle portion and prong portions extending from the handle portion. The fork architecture comprises a stacked structure and a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is between the first conductive structure and the handle portion of the stacked structure.
US09053800B2 Memory element and memory apparatus
There is provided a memory element having a layered structure, including a memory layer having magnetization perpendicular to a film face in which a magnetization direction is changed corresponding to information, and including a Co—Fe—B magnetic layer and at least on non-magnetic layer; the magnetization direction being changed by flowing a current in a lamination direction of the layered structure to record the information in the memory layer, a magnetization-fixed layer having magnetization perpendicular to the film face that becomes a base of the information stored in the memory layer, and an intermediate layer that is formed of a non-magnetic material and is provided between the memory layer and the magnetization-fixed layer, further including a laminated structure where an oxide layer, the Co—Fe—B magnetic layer and the non-magnetic layer are laminated is formed.
US09053799B2 Optimizing fuseROM usage for memory repair
A memory repair system in an integrated circuit (IC) that optimizes the fuseROM used for memory repair. The IC includes a plurality of memory wrappers. Each memory wrapper includes a memory block with a fuse register and a bypass register. The bypass register has a bypass data that indicates a defective memory wrapper of the plurality of memory wrappers. A fuseROM controller is coupled to the plurality of memory wrappers. A memory bypass chain links the bypass registers in the plurality of memory wrappers with the fuseROM controller. The fuseROM controller loads the bypass data in the memory bypass chain. A memory data chain links the fuse registers in the plurality of memory wrappers with the fuseROM controller. The memory data chain is re-configured to link the fuse registers in a set of defective memory wrappers of the plurality of memory wrappers responsive to the bypass data loaded in the memory bypass chain.
US09053795B2 Solid state drive encountering power failure and associated data storage method
A solid state drive and its associated data storage method are provided. The data storage method comprising steps of: receiving data-for-writing from a host, and transforming the data-for-writing to data-for-storage; comparing a supply voltage and a predetermined voltage; and when the supply voltage is lower than the predetermined voltage, proceeding a strong-page programming procedure for storing the data-for-storage to a blank area of a multi-level cell flash memory.
US09053789B1 Triggered cell annihilation for resistive switching memory devices
Structures and methods of operating a resistive switching memory device are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a resistive switching memory device, can include resistive memory cells configured to be programmed to a low resistance state by application of a first voltage, and to be erased to a high resistance state by application of a second voltage; a detector configured to detect when at least one resistive switching memory cell is to be rendered inoperable; and a program/erase controller configured to render the at least one resistive switching memory cell inoperable by application of a third voltage during a program/erase operation, where the third voltage is greater in absolute value than the first or second voltage, and where the at least one resistive switching memory cell rendered inoperable remains in the low/high resistance state after subsequent erase/program operations.
US09053786B2 Resistance-change memory
According to one embodiment, a resistance-change memory includes a memory cell and a control circuit. The memory cell comprises first and second electrodes, and a variable resistance layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The control circuit applies a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode to perform writing, erasing, and reading. During the writing, the control circuit applies a first voltage pulse between the first electrode and the second electrode, and then applies a second voltage pulse different in polarity from the first voltage pulse after applying the first voltage pulse.
US09053772B2 Method for conducting reference voltage training
A method for conducting reference voltage training includes setting levels of a reference voltage in response to code signals and receiving and storing data for the respective levels of the reference voltage, and simultaneously outputting the stored data.
US09053768B2 Systems and methods of pipelined output latching involving synchronous memory arrays
Systems and methods of synchronous memories and synchronous memory operation are disclosed. According to one illustrative implementation, a memory device is disclosed comprising memory circuitry having a memory output, the memory circuitry including a sense amplifier having a first output and a second output, a first data path coupled to the first output of the sense amplifier, the first data path including 2 latches/registers, and a second data path coupled to the second output of the sense amplifier, the second data path including a plurality latches/registers. In further implementations, various control circuitry, connections and control signals may be utilized to operate the latches/registers in the first and second data paths according to specified configurations, control, modes, latency and/or timing domain information, to achieve, for example, pipelined output latching and/or double data rate output.
US09053766B2 Three dimensional memory system with intelligent select circuit
A three dimensional monolithic memory array of non-volatile storage elements includes a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines. The plurality of bit lines are grouped into columns. Performing memory operation on the non-volatile storage elements includes selectively connecting bit lines to sense amplifiers using selection circuits that include a storage device, a select circuit connected to the storage device and one or more level shifters providing two or more interfaces to the respective selection circuit.
US09053760B2 Semiconductor device including a sense amplifier
A semiconductor device including a sense amplifier that includes a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor includes a first gate electrode formed over a first channel region and connected to a first bit line, a first diffusion region connected to a second bit line with a first side edge defining the first channel region, and a second diffusion region connected to a power line and includes a second side edge defining the first channel region. The second transistor includes a second gate electrode formed over a second channel region and connected to the second bit line, a third diffusion region connected to the first bit line and includes a third side edge defining the second channel region, and a fourth diffusion region connected to the power line with a fourth side edge defining the second channel region. Directions of the bit lines and diffusion side edges are prescribed.
US09053755B2 Method and apparatus for active noise shedding
A method for reducing audible noise in a vehicle audio component includes steps of: determining that the audio component is or is about to be operating in a susceptible mode wherein it is likely to receive electrical interference caused by an electrical component operating in an interfering operating state; communicating to the electrical component that the audio component is operating in the susceptible mode; and changing operation of the electrical component from the interfering operating state to a non-interfering operating state less likely to generate electrical signals causing audible noise.
US09053753B2 Method and system for a flexible multiplexer and mixer
Certain aspects of a method and system for a flexible multiplexer and mixer (FMM) are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include mixing primary audio information and secondary audio information of sampled received audio data based on corresponding metadata information to generate mixed output audio data. The generated mixed output audio data may be pulled through a plurality of pipeline stages.
US09053749B1 Disk drive comprising a per-drive and per-head fly height filter
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a plurality of disk surfaces, and a head actuated over each disk surface, where each head comprises a fly height actuator (FHA) operable to control a fly height of the head over the corresponding disk surface. A fly height is measured for each head to generate a plurality of fly height measurements. An average value is generated in response to the plurality of fly height measurements, and a first control value is generated for a first head based on the average value and the fly height measurement for the first head. The first FHA of the first head is controlled in response to the first control value.
US09053742B1 Repeated runout (RRO) zero phase start (ZPS)
Systems, methods, apparatus, and techniques are provided for producing an estimate of a digital sequence. A continuous-time signal is obtained. The continuous-time signal is sampled with an oversampling factor to produce a discrete-time signal corresponding to the continuous-time signal. A phase offset estimate of the continuous-time signal is produced based on the discrete-time signal. The discrete-time signal is interpolated based on the phase offset estimate to produce an interpolated discrete-time signal. The interpolated discrete-time signal is processed to produce an estimate of a digital sequence.
US09053738B1 Inventory management for automated data storage libraries
In one embodiment, of inventory management for automated data storage libraries, a first subset of data storage cartridges is scanned and extracted from a multi-cartridge deep slot cell and transported to and filled into another multi-cartridge deep slot cell while maintaining tier order of the first subset. A second subset of data storage cartridges is scanned and extracted from the multi-cartridge deep slot cell and returned to its original multi-cartridge deep slot cell while maintaining tier order of the second subset. Other aspects are described herein.
US09053736B2 Method for manufacturing an aluminosilicate glass substrate for hard disks
A method for manufacturing an aluminosilicate glass substrate for a hard disk of the present invention includes polishing an aluminosilicate glass substrate to be polished with a polishing composition that includes silica particles, a polymer having a sulfonic acid group, and water, wherein an adsorption constant of the polymer having the sulfonic acid group on aluminosilicate glass is 1.5 to 5.0 L/g. The polymer having the sulfonic acid group is preferably a polymer having an aromatic ring. The weight average molecular weight of the polymer having the sulfonic acid group is 3000 to 100000.
US09053735B1 Method for fabricating a magnetic writer using a full-film metal planarization
A method fabricates a magnetic transducer having air-bearing surface (ABS) location and an intermediate layer having a trench therein. The trench has a shape and location corresponding to a main pole. The method includes depositing at least one main pole layer. A portion of the main pole layer(s) is in the trench. A refill layer is provided on the main pole layer(s). The main pole layer(s) may not be patterned after being provided and before the refill layer is provided. At least the refill layer is planarized. A full-film metal planarization is performed for at least one of the refill layer and the at least one main pole layer. The full-film metal planarization may include a bulk ion mill and/or ion beam scan.
US09053733B2 Magnetic recording medium with magnetic portions of different orientations and method of manufacturing the same
According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording medium includes a data region and a servo region adjacent to the data region and including a magnetic recording layer, the magnetic recording layer including first and second patterned regions adjacent to each other, the first patterned region including a first nonmagnetic matrix and first magnetic particles dispersed in the first nonmagnetic matrix and having magnetization oriented in a first direction, the second patterned region includes a second nonmagnetic matrix and second magnetic particles dispersed in the second nonmagnetic matrix and having magnetization oriented in a second direction opposite to the first direction, sizes of the first magnetic particles being smaller than sizes of the second magnetic particles.
US09053725B1 High-speed recording disk defect detection
A hard disk drive electronic component processes a signal from a piezoelectric actuator to identify where on a disk the slider encounters a disk defect. The signal received from the piezoelectric actuator may be based on the mechanical propagation, through the suspension to the piezoelectric actuator, of an effect of slider contact with the protrusion. Further, an actuator may be commanded to systematically move the head slider across the writeable portion of the disk to map all the protrusions on the writeable portion of the disk.
US09053724B1 Disk drive actuating first head microactuator while sensing signal from second head microactuator
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a first disk surface and a second disk surface, a first head operable to be positioned over the first disk surface, a second head operable to be positioned over the second disk surface, a first microactuator operable to actuate the first head, and a second microactuator operable to actuate the second head. The first head is actuated over the first disk surface using the first microactuator while processing a second sensor signal generated by the second microactuator, and the second head is actuated over the second disk surface using the second microactuator while processing a first sensor signal generated by the first microactuator.
US09053721B1 Magnetic read sensor with independently extended pinned layer and seed layer
A magnetic read sensor having a magnetic seed layer, a pinned layer structure formed over the magnetic seed layer, a non-magnetic barrier or spacer layer formed over the pinned layer structure and a magnetic free layer structure formed over the non-magnetic barrier or spacer layer. The pinned layer has a stripe height (measured from the media facing surface) that is greater than a stripe height of the magnetic free layer structure. In addition, the magnetic seed layer structure has a stripe height (also measured from the media facing surface) that is greater than the stripe height of the magnetic pinned layer structure and the magnetic free layer structure. The stripe height of the magnetic seed layer structure can be controlled independently of the stripe heights of the magnetic pinned layer structure and the magnetic free layer structure.
US09053719B2 Magnetoresistive sensor for a magnetic storage system read head, and fabrication method thereof
A magnetic read transducer including a magnetoresistive sensor is described, as well as a fabrication method thereof. The magnetoresistive sensor includes a cap layer overlaying a free layer. The cap layer is situated with a first thickness to absorb boron from the free layer. The magnetoresistive sensor is annealed, and boron is diffused from the free layer and absorbed by the cap layer, improving the magnetic performance of the free layer. The cap layer thickness is then reduced to a second thickness, thereby reducing the shield-to-shield (SS) stack spacing of the magnetoresistive sensor and allowing for increased areal recording density.
US09053717B1 Photodiode integrated edge emitting laser for heat assisted magnetic recording
Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a magnetic recording device including slider, a magnetic head assembly and a laser diode having a photodiode integrated therein. The photodiode and the laser diode are both fabricated on a structure. Having the integrated laser diode and photodiode reduces the cost relating to fabricating individual, discrete photodiode and assembling the individual, discrete photodiode on the magnetic recording device.
US09053714B2 Information recording medium including a first resonance enhancing film and recording layer, information device, and method for producing information recording medium
An information device is an information device that records information on or reproduces information from an information recording medium (3). The information device includes a light source (14) and a near-field light generating element (9) including a resonating section (22) configured such that plasmon resonance occurs between the resonating section (22) and a recording region (4). The resonating section (22) causes the plasmon resonance when emission light from the light source is irradiated on the near-field light generating element (9). A resonance enhancing film enhances the plasmon resonance between the resonating section (22) and the recording region (4). The resonating section (22) generates near-field light and irradiates the near-field light on the recording region (4) from a recording layer side.
US09053707B2 Evaluation of voice communications
One-to-many comparisons of callers' words and/or voice prints with known words and/or voice prints to identify any substantial matches between them. When a customer communicates with a particular entity, such as a customer service center, the system makes a recording of the real-time call including both the customer's and agent's voices. The system segments the recording to extract different words, such as words of anger. The system may also segment at least a portion of the customer's voice to create a tone profile, and it formats the segmented words and tone profiles for network transmission to a server. The server compares the customer's words and/or tone profiles with multiple known words and/or tone profiles stored on a database to determine any substantial matches. The identification of any matches may be used for a variety of purposes, such as providing representative feedback or customer follow-up.
US09053706B2 Disambiguating input based on context
In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a mobile computing device, ambiguous user input that indicates more than one of a plurality of commands; and determining a current context associated with the mobile computing device that indicates where the mobile computing device is currently located. The method can further include disambiguating the ambiguous user input by selecting a command from the plurality of commands based on the current context associated with the mobile computing device; and causing output associated with performance of the selected command to be provided by the mobile computing device.
US09053704B2 System and method for standardized speech recognition infrastructure
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for selecting a speech recognition model in a standardized speech recognition infrastructure. The system receives speech from a user, and if a user-specific supervised speech model associated with the user is available, retrieves the supervised speech model. If the user-specific supervised speech model is unavailable and if an unsupervised speech model is available, the system retrieves the unsupervised speech model. If the user-specific supervised speech model and the unsupervised speech model are unavailable, the system retrieves a generic speech model associated with the user. Next the system recognizes the received speech from the user with the retrieved model. In one embodiment, the system trains a speech recognition model in a standardized speech recognition infrastructure. In another embodiment, the system handshakes with a remote application in a standardized speech recognition infrastructure.
US09053702B2 Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media for bit allocation for redundant transmission
Compressibility-based reallocation of initial bit allocations for frames of an audio signal is described. Applications to redundancy-based retransmission of critical frames (e.g., for fixed-bit-rate modes of speech codec operation) are also described.
US09053701B2 Channel signal generation device, acoustic signal encoding device, acoustic signal decoding device, acoustic signal encoding method, and acoustic signal decoding method
Provided is a channel signal generation device capable of avoiding a decrease in the prediction performance for predicting an L channel signal and an R channel signal from a monaural signal and achieving encoding with high sound quality. In the device, a monaural MDCT coefficient corrector (301) generates a left channel change monaural MDCT coefficient and a right channel change monaural MDCT coefficient using a decoding monaural MDCT coefficient generated using a left channel signal and a right channel signal, which constitute an acoustic signal. More specifically, the monaural MDCT coefficient corrector (301) generates the left channel change monaural MDCT coefficient and the right channel change monaural MDCT coefficient by performing change processing for compensating for the phase difference between the left channel signal and the right channel signal on the decoding monaural MDCT coefficient according to inputted determination data.
US09053698B2 Jitter buffer enhanced joint source channel decoding
Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided for performing jitter buffer enhanced joint source channel decoding. Jitter buffer enhanced joint source channel decoding may be performed in a manner that exploits parameter domain correlation. A jitter buffer stores hard bits of properly channel decoded packets, and a secondary jitter buffer is implemented to store soft bits associated with packets that are improperly channel decoded. Joint source channel decoding may be delayed to perform channel decoding of a frame in the penultimate position of the jitter buffer. The soft bits stored in the secondary jitter buffer as well as hard bits stored in the jitter buffer, which may include future frames, are utilized to perform channel decoding. The delayed jitter buffer enhanced joint source channel decoding may also be extended to iteratively perform channel decoding for giving frames at each position in the jitter buffer as they traverse the jitter buffer.
US09053695B2 Identifying musical elements with similar rhythms
A compositional tool classifies and indexes loops in a library of audio loops by generating a time-stamped series of the durations of the percussive events that comprise each loop. The duration of a percussive event is based on spectral masking, in which a subsequent event having a spectral similarity to a prior event terminates the prior event. A composer queries the library with a query loop, and the system returns loops ranked according to the distance of their rhythmic signatures from that of the query loop, the distance determination being based on dynamic time warp analysis. Rhythmic signatures may also be used to classify and index video sequences.
US09053694B2 Electronic percussion instrument
An electronic percussion instrument includes a stand, a support member (e.g. a stay), a pad member with a head, and an impact sensor. The support member has an L-shape including a stand-attaching portion and a pad-attaching portion. The stand-attaching portion is fixed to the stand while the pad-attaching portion is extended vertically from the front end of the stand-attaching portion at an inflection point. Owing to the elasticity of the support member, the pad-attaching portion is deflected about the inflection point in the rearward direction in comparison with the stand-attaching portion due to a striking force applied to the head being struck with a beater. Upon detecting an impact applied to the head, the impact sensor generates an electric signal so as to generate a musical sound. Thus, it is possible to suppress floor reverberation by absorbing an impact between the head and the beater via the support member.
US09053691B2 Musical performance evaluation device, musical performance evaluation method and storage medium
In the present invention, a CPU obtains the number of notes for each skill type from note data included in a phrase segment for which musical performance input has been performed, compares the note data included in the phase segment for which the musical performance input has been performed and musical performance data inputted by the musical performance so as to obtain the number of correctly played notes for each skill type, and accumulates evaluation values for the respective skill types each found by multiplying an accuracy rate for each skill type obtained from the obtained number of notes and the obtained number correctly played notes for each skill type by a skill value of each type so as to obtain an overall musical performance evaluation value.
US09053690B2 String instrument, system and method of using same
A string instrument is provided having: a body with a sound hole; a neck extending from the body; a plurality of strings strung over the neck and sound hole; a plurality of frets positioned under the strings along the neck, a plurality of sensors positioned on the neck; and electronic circuitry associated with the sensors; characterized, in that each of the frets comprises separate individual fret sections each mounted over a corresponding sensor, thereby forming separate individual dynamic fret-activated sensors, each individual dynamic fret-activated sensor being positioned correspondingly under one of the plurality of strings. When a chord is played by applying finger pressure on the strings, pressure is applied on the corresponding individual frets activating the individual dynamic fret-activated sensors, which transmit the pressure data representing the played chord, via the electronic circuitry to a processor to produce an audio output comprising the played chord.
US09053687B1 Drum restraint device
A bass drum is precluded from progressive movement from the hammer or bass drum beater impact by a strap connecting it to the drummer's seat. The strap is preferably connected to the foot pedal by a coupling plate that is seated there under or forms part of the foot pedal base.
US09053686B2 Music box
A music box includes a plurality of star wheels, a frame, a casing, a vibration plate, and a moving mechanism. Each of the plurality of star wheels being configured to rotate about a first axis. The frame is configured to rotatably support the first axis. The vibration plate comprises a plurality of vibration valves corresponding to the plurality of star wheels. Each of the plurality of vibration valves is extending in a first direction. The plurality of vibration valves is arrayed along a second direction parallel to the first axis. The vibration plate is fixed to the casing. The moving mechanism is configured to move the frame to the vibration plate in the first direction.
US09053685B2 One touch drum tuning components
Methods and devices for attaching a one touch tuning system to different drum types. Components preferably include a retrofit ring for fitting the one touch tuning system to a lug style drum, and elevators to attach and adjust the height of the tuning system on the drum. On full floating drums, a framework is provided so that no hardware need be attached to the drum's shell. Framework may also include adjustable pull rods which can attach a tuning system on one end of the drum to another tuning system on the opposite end. Twisting the adjustable pull rods one direction extends the length of them, twisting the opposite direction retracts them thereby shortening the overall length of the framework in relation to the depth of the drum shell. Offset rim rollers help align the inner hoop and rotating actuator rings to offer more precise tuning and free movement.
US09053683B1 String instrument's extension for activating keyboard's keys
An accessory device removably mounted to the headstock of a string instrument including an arm assembly for, actuating the keys of a keyboard instrument. The distal end of the arm assembly includes at least one tip cooperatively shaped to actuate the keys of a keyboard instrument. The arm assembly having an elongated arm member that is slidably and lockingly mounted to a clamp assembly that is removably mounted to the stock.
US09053682B2 Stop action-magnets to reduce musical instrument wiring, connections, and logic
The present invention provides, for musical instruments such as organs, action-magnets and action-magnet drivers that facilitate reduction of wiring, connections, and logic circuitry. Some embodiments of present invention provide stop action-magnets, also called SAM's, comprising integral drive circuitry and, which may further comprise additional integral circuitry. Embodiments of this invention may comprise, logic circuits such as a shift-register cells, micro-controllers, or both. Some embodiments of this invention comprise shift-cells and registers combining both SIPO and PISO functions for addressing SAM's. A single-coil SAM embodiment of the present invention may respond to signals intended to operate traditional two-coil SAM's. In another embodiment, a pipe action-magnet driver comprises logic circuitry. In yet another embodiment a pipe action-magnet comprises an integral driver that further comprises logic circuitry.
US09053681B2 Real-time video frame pre-processing hardware
A dynamically reconfigurable heterogeneous systolic array is configured to process a first image frame, and to generate image processing primatives from the image frame, and to store the primatives and the corresponding image frame in a memory store. A characteristic of the image frame is determined. Based on the characteristic, the array is reconfigured to process a following image frame.
US09053680B2 Neighbor mapping systems and methods
Neighbor mapping and communication systems and methods are provided herein.
US09053679B2 Semiconductor display device correcting system and correcting method of semiconductor display device
A semiconductor display device correcting system includes a control circuit for carrying out gamma correction of a picture signal supplied from the outside and a nonvolatile memory for storing data for gamma correction. The data for gamma correction is prepared for each semiconductor display device, so that excellent gradation display can be made.
US09053677B2 Gate driving circuit and display panel having the same
Provided is a display panel including: a display area; and a gate driver to receive a first clock signal, a first clock bar signal, a second clock signal and a second clock bar signal, the gate driver comprising a first stage and a second stage to respectively apply a first gate voltage and a second gate voltage to the display area, wherein the first clock signal and the first clock bar signal have opposite phases to each other, the second clock signal and the second clock bar signal have opposite phases to each other, the second clock bar signal has phases later than the first clock bar signal, the first stage discharges the first gate voltage based on the first clock signal and a first transfer signal, and the second stage outputs the first transfer signal based on the second clock bar signal.
US09053670B2 Liquid crystal display apparatus and LED backlight module thereof
A liquid crystal display apparatus includes an LED backlight module incorporated therein, and the LED backlight module includes a boosting circuit for receiving a direct current voltage, boosting the direct current voltage, and then outputting a step-up direct current voltage; an LED string, including a plurality of LEDs connected in series, for receiving the step-up direct current voltage from the boosting circuit; a constant current driver circuit for generating a signal used for controlling the boosting circuit; and a amplified circuit for receiving the direct current voltage, magnifying the signal from the constant current driver circuit, and then outputting a magnified signal to the boosting circuit. The power consumption of the boosting circuit is reduced by adding the amplified circuit for amplifying a driving voltage to the boosting circuit. Furthermore, the driving voltage input to the MOS transistor of the boosting circuit is amplified by the amplified circuit, and thereby the value of the DCR value of the MOS transistor is reduced. The power consumption of the MOS transistor is reduced, and the temperature is lowered, so the lifespan of the MOS transistor is extended.
US09053669B2 Apparatus for scan driving including scan driving units
A scan driving apparatus, includes a first scan driving unit coupled to a second scan driving unit, the first scan driving unit receives a first start signal, a first clock signal, a second clock signal, and sequentially outputs the first clock signal as a first scan, and outputs the first boost clock signal as a first boost signal, and the second scan driving receives the first clock signal, the second clock signal, a second boost clock signal, and the first scan signal as a second start signal, to sequentially output the second clock signal as a second scan signal, and sequentially outputs the second boost clock signal as a second boost signal.
US09053663B1 Array substrate and liquid crystal display panel
The present invention discloses an array substrate and a liquid crystal display panel. In the array substrate, each pixel unit has a first pixel area, a second pixel area, and a third pixel area. The voltage applied at the first pixel area is Va. The voltage applied at the second pixel area is Vb, and the voltage applied at the third pixel area is Vc, and the relationship among the voltages is Va>Vb>Vc. Ranges of area ratios of the first pixel area, the second pixel area and the third pixel area to the pixel unit are respectively 5%-25%, 20%-45% and 35%-75%. Therefore, it can reduce the color difference at the large viewing angle to obtain a better low color shift effect and improve the display quality.
US09053661B2 Display device and driving method thereof
A gate-off voltage generator provides a gate-off voltage to a gate line of a display panel. The gate-off voltage generator includes a transistor having a base terminal, a collector terminal, and an emitter terminal, the emitter terminal configured to output the gate-off voltage to the gate line. A controller is connected to the base terminal. A feedback circuit is connected between the gate line and the controller, the feedback circuit configured to provide to the controller a feedback voltage based upon the gate-off voltage outputted from the emitter terminal. The gate-off voltage from the emitter terminal is compared with a desired gate-off voltage in the controller and the voltage at the base terminal is controlled by the controller to provide the desired gate-off voltage to gate line.
US09053656B2 Apparatus for evaluating optical properties of three-dimensional display, and method for evaluating optical properties of three-dimensional display
An interocular luminance analyzing unit analyzes luminance perceived between eyes of an observer based on a luminance distribution image, thereby generating a stereoscopy determination image, a stereoscopy determining unit determines a stereoscopy possible region based on this stereoscopy determination image. This is applicable irrespective of the kind of 3D displays including the two-view type, the multi-view type, and the integral type. Therefore, with the apparatus for evaluating optical properties of a 3D display and the method for evaluating optical properties of a 3D display, the evaluation of optical properties can be performed independently of the kind of 3D displays.
US09053655B2 Driver of display unit
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a driver of a display unit including a latch circuit holding gradation information, a D/A converter outputting analog signal based on the gradation information held by the latch circuit, a test circuit provided between the latch circuit and the D/A converter, the test circuit inputting or outputting test signal regarding the latch circuit, a switch connecting voltage output of the D/A converter and a driver output terminal in normal operation, and a test switch connecting the test circuit and the driver output terminal in test operation and disconnecting the test circuit and the driver output terminal in normal operation.
US09053651B2 Flexible display device
Provided is a flexible display device including a display body having flexibility; an actuator for changing and driving the display body; and an initial shape forming substrate for maintaining an initial state of the display body before the display body is changed and driven. The flexible display device allows a user to exactly control a change state of the flexible display device by driving the actuator and to decrease power consumption for changing and driving the flexible display device. Thus, by using the flexible display device, user convenience can be improved and the flexible display device can be driven with low power consumption.
US09053650B2 Backlight unit and display apparatus thereof
A backlight unit and a display device having the same are provided. The backlight unit includes a light source, a reflector arranged on and under the light source to totally reflect at least a part of light emitted from the light source in a lateral direction, a reflective sheet arranged under the reflector, and a diffusion sheet arranged on the reflector.
US09053648B1 Tiled displays using multiple display panels over monolithic backlight modules
A modular display including a monolithic backlight module to generate light and a plurality of display panels disposed over the monolithic backlight module, and tiled such that each display panel abuts another display panel along at least one edge thereof to form a seam. Each display panel includes a light modulation layer disposed adjacent to the monolithic backlight module to modulate the lamp light received from a first side and to output a display image from a second side, and seam-concealing optics disposed over the second side of the light modulation layer. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
US09053646B2 Spacer and support assembly for wall mounted signs
A spacer assembly for mounting a sign to a wall includes proximal and distal spacer members. The proximal spacer member includes a barrel and a coaxial coupling shaft extended distally from the barrel. The distal spacer member includes a distal barrel and a recess extending into the barrel and sized to slidably and rotatably receive the coupling shaft. A threaded stud extends proximally from the proximal barrel, and a distal threaded stud extends distally from the distal barrel. Each stud is removably threaded into its associate barrel. The distal member barrel supports a radially oriented set screw, movable toward and away from an advanced position in which the screw engages the coupling shaft to integrally secure the barrels. The spacer assembly allows the sign to be detached from the wall while leaving in place the studs coupled to the sign and wall.
US09053645B2 Suspension device for screens
The suspension device for screens having a rectangular screen format comprises at least one substantially square frame element having a holder for the screen. The frame element is fastened to a supporting wall or to a stand. A corresponding screen wall having at least two screens is formed by a suspension device which interconnects the screens and which has a stand, which comprises at least one base and at least one stand element supported by the base, wherein the base and the stand element support a frame element, a spacer element and/or a support element. By exactly positioning the frame elements and the spacer elements, for example on a supporting wall, a stable suspension device for an entire screen wall can be formed. The respective screens only need to be suspended in the related holders in such a suspension device.
US09053644B2 Arrangement of identification plates
The invention relates to an arrangement of multiple identification plates (10) for identifying objects. Each identification plate (10) has a flat material strip which has a front surface and a rear surface, which extends in a longitudinal direction between two ends, and which has at least one fixing tab (16), the tab being connected to the front surface and extending at a distance from the front surface in some sections. According to the invention, a base (40) is provided on which the identification plates (10) are removably fixed, the identification plate front surfaces and rear surfaces each lying on one plane, and the base (40) has a number of fixing openings (42), the number corresponding to the number of fixing tabs. One of the fixing tabs (16) protrudes through each of the fixing openings, and the fixing tabs (16) are removably fixed to the base (40).
US09053643B2 Sealing system for sealing of doors of transport vehicles
Described herein is a seal, having a tape-like shape, for doors of transport vehicles, attachable to the doors to indicate closure. The door includes a first area to be positioned onto the door and a second area to be positioned onto an area-around the door. The seal also includes an indicator suitable to be activated after attaching the seal to the transport vehicle—and suitable to send-out a warning signal-in case the seal is detached or damaged after activation of the indicator. A portable logging device for sealing doors of transport vehicles includes a data insert unit to insert a specific type of transport vehicle and to insert the executed attachment of a seal to a certain door, to record sealing the door.
US09053642B2 Self-supporting sign and method of manufacturing same
A self-supporting sign of unitary construction comprises a middle portion having a first side, a second side, an upper side, and a lower side. A first foldable flap extends from the first side at a first distance beneath the upper side. A second foldable flap extends from the second side at a second distance beneath the upper side. A front foldable portion having a rounded perimeter extends from the lower side. In a use configuration, the middle portion forms an obtuse angle with respect to the front portion. A first slit is provided adjacent the first side and a second slit is provided adjacent the second side. The first and second slits are configured to aid in the respective folding of the first flap and the second flap with respect to the middle portion.
US09053639B2 Educational board game
An educational device comprising a game board demarcated with a plurality of positions, each position having associated with it and actuator, actuation of which causes the communication device to provide instruction to the player as to what the player is supposed to do. A player can activate a random number generator to determine how many positions to move. Once instruction has been received, the player utilizes game pieces on the game board to execute the instruction. By going through this process, any player can learn a particular skill or gain particular knowledge that can be applied in life.
US09053636B2 Management center module for advanced lane management assist for automated vehicles and conventionally driven vehicles
The automated lane management assist method, data structure and system receive unprocessed lane-specific limited-access highway information, including lane use and speed limits, from freeway transportation management centers or traffic management centers, process and convert the unprocessed information to a form that assists in the selection of driving lanes and target speeds for vehicles, and communicate the processed information to the vehicles by suitable means.
US09053634B2 Conflict detection and resolution using predicted aircraft trajectories
A method of detecting conflicts between aircraft passing through managed airspace, and resolving the detected conflicts strategically. The method may include obtaining intended trajectories of aircraft through the airspace, detecting conflicts in the intended trajectories, forming a set of the conflicted aircraft, calculating one or more revised trajectories for the conflicted aircraft such that the conflicts are resolved, and advising the conflicted aircraft subject to revised trajectories of the revised trajectories.
US09053631B2 Method for transmitting route data for traffic telematics
A method for providing traffic telematics information about the travel route of a vehicle traveling on a road system having multiple roads interconnected between road junctions includes: determining a probability of the vehicle approaching a road junction and assigning the probability to the respective road junction, and transmitting information regarding the road junctions for which the probability of being driven through is above a specified threshold.
US09053630B2 Methods and systems for depicting a data driven minimum safe altitude
A method for providing a minimum safe altitude indication on an aircraft display is described. The method includes utilizing current aircraft heading and position data to generate a location and orientation for an own-ship depiction with respect to an aircraft display, utilizing the current position data, along with terrain data, to generate minimum safe altitude data for an area surrounding the aircraft, and displaying on the aircraft display, about the location for own-ship depiction, the minimum safe altitudes surrounding the aircraft.
US09053629B2 Contextual data delivery to mobile users responsive to access of an electronic lockbox
An electronic lockbox sends identifying data to a portable communications device, which relays that data to a central computer, generating a response from the central computer containing customized information of special interest to the user. Such data can include information relating to the lockbox's property, and contextually relevant information relating to other similar properties nearby. Such data from the central computer also can be delivered to one more auxiliary portable communication devices, including such devices carried by individuals either in close proximity to the lockbox or at a remote location. The data also could comprise visitation history relevant to the user, allowing an agent or a prospect to review information about previous visits to properties. The central computer can also query a user to provide location information for a lockbox that has been added to the system database.
US09053628B2 System and method for collecting data using a wireless communication channel
A first apparatus receives, from a second apparatus, a signal including information on first time-periods each associated with an occupancy rate, using a wireless channel. The first time-periods each indicate a time-period during which data are scheduled to be collected by the second apparatus, and the occupancy rate indicates a ratio of a duration-time during which data are actually collected by the second apparatus using the wireless channel, to the each first time-period. The first apparatus, based on the occupancy rate and the received power of the first signal, calculates interference values each indicating a degree of interference caused by a radio wave from the second apparatus during the each first time-period, and acquires, based on the calculated interference values, second time-periods during which data are scheduled to be collected by the first apparatus, and collects data from a node apparatus during the third time-periods using the wireless channel.
US09053627B2 Integrated rehabilitation system with feedback mechanism
An integrated rehabilitation system with feedback mechanism for a rehabilitant includes a computing center, a memory unit, a plurality of screens, a following module, a plurality of rehabilitation machines, and a feedback module. The memory unit, the screens, the following module, the rehabilitation machines and the feedback module are signally connected with the computing center. A target value of the rehabilitant is stored in the memory unit. A movement-indicating image and a movement mark are displayed on each of the screens. A visual following mark displayed on each of the screens is provided by the following module and corresponds to the target value. Each of the rehabilitation machines corresponds to one of the screens respectively, the movement-indicating image displayed on the screen corresponds to the rehabilitation machine, and the movement mark displayed on the screen corresponds to an operation value generated from the rehabilitation machine.
US09053623B2 Security tag for delicate articles
A security tag is configured to releasably attach to an article. The security tag includes a tack in which the tack includes a tack head and a pin shank extending from the tack head. The pin shank has a maximum diameter less than 0.9 millimeters. The security tag further includes a housing in which the housing includes an electronic article surveillance (EAS) element. The housing further includes a clutch that is configured to releasably retain the pin shank after insertion into the housing. The clutch retaining the pin shank if up to an eighty pound pull force is applied to the tack.
US09053619B2 LED strobes with fixed pulse width
An LED strobe notification device and method for operating an LED strobe notification device is provided. The LED strobe notification device is configured to generate an output at two or more candela settings and is configured to generate the output at the two or more candela settings having a human-perceived pulse duration with a fixed width. The LED strobe device includes: an LED strobe element; and an LED controller in communication with the LED strobe element with the LED controller configured to: receive a candela selection for the LED strobe element, the candela selection selected from the two or more candela settings; receive a command to activate the LED strobe element of the LED strobe notification device; and in response to receiving the command, control the LED strobe element in order to generate the output from the LED strobe element having the human-perceived pulse duration with the fixed width.
US09053617B2 Systems including electromechanical polymer sensors and actuators
A localized multimodal haptic system includes one or more electromechanical polymer (EMP) transducers, each including an EMP layer, such as an electrostrictive polymer active layer. In some applications the EMP transducer may perform an actuator function or a sensor function, or both. The EMP polymer layer has a first surface and a second surface on which one or more electrodes are provided. The EMP layer of the EMP actuator may be 5 microns thick or less. The EMP transducers may provide local haptic response to a local a stimulus. In one application, a touch sensor may be associated with each EMP transducer, such that the haptic event at the touch sensor may be responded to by activating only the associated EMP transducer. Furthermore, the EMP transducer may act as its own touch sensor. A variety of haptic responses may be made available. The EMP transducers may be used in various other applications, such as providing complex surface morphology and audio speakers.
US09053616B2 Computing systems and methods for electronically indicating the acceptability of a product
Computing systems and methods for electronically indicating the acceptability of a product. An image capture and communication device may analyze a product label that includes one or more monitors, authentication elements, and identification elements. The image capture and communication device may determine the type and features of the monitors, authentication elements, and identification elements and, based on the type of the monitors, authentication elements, and identification elements. The image capture and communication device may transmit data based on the type and features to a host server, which may transmit data associated with the host product to the image capture and communication device in, inter alia, the form of an acceptability report.
US09053615B2 Method and apparatus pertaining to use of both optical and electronic product codes
A control circuit accesses information regarding both scanned optical product codes as correspond to items being purchased in a given transaction as well as read electronic product codes as correspond to items being purchased in that same transaction. The control circuit then compares that information to identify discrepancies. An example of a discrepancy of likely interest includes noting items for which there is a read electronic product code but not a corresponding scanned optical product code and vice versa.
US09053608B2 Methods and apparatus for parimutual historical gaming
A system for parimutuel wagering on actual past events includes, in one embodiment, a video server including a database having video images of gaming events stored therein, a game server including a computer system configured to facilitate pari-mutuel wagering on actual past events and to permit a player to select a percentage weight for each of a plurality of handicapping factors, and a plurality of terminals. The video server and plurality of terminals are communicatably coupled to the game server.
US09053607B2 Emulator for production software outcome validation
A test tool provides a flexible resource for control an of electronic gaming machine (EGM) via a data network. The test tool provides both interactive and automated access to the EGM when the EGM is operated using a special diagnostic BIOS that supports both communication with the test tool over the data network and the ability to set operational variables including random numbers. The test tool can use structured data test scripts, such as XML files, to automate repetitive testing of one or more gaming machines by automating breakpoint setting, variable settings, and comparison of expected results based on game type, paytables, currency, etc.
US09053602B2 Flexible determination of progressive awards
The present invention provides methods and devices for implementing progressive systems on networked gaming machines. Some implementations allow a target progressive pool size to be selected and apply payouts such that the actual progressive pool size is not likely to exceed greatly the target progressive pool size. Some implementations control the actual progressive pool size by applying a function to control percentages of the progressive pool size payable to players. The function may be a function of a current progressive pool size, target progressive pool size and bet size. The function may cause relatively higher percentages to be payable to players when the current progressive pool amount is greater than a target progressive pool size and relatively lower percentages to be payable to players when the current progressive pool size is less than or equal to a target progressive pool size.
US09053601B2 Progressive gaming device and method of use
A gaming apparatus includes a gaming device that is adapted to accept a wager and allow a player to play a game. A controller is in communication with the gaming device. The controller maintains a progressive jackpot and randomly determines a contribution amount from the wager placed on each game cycle by each participating player. The contribution amount is collected from the wager and added to the progressive jackpot. A gaming method using the gaming apparatus is also disclosed.
US09053598B2 Banknote processing device
A banknote processing device that stacks banknotes in a banknote storage section even when a jam occurs. The device has an insertion aperture, a verification section, the storage section and a controller. The aperture separates and feeds inserted banknotes. The verification section verifies the banknotes fed from the aperture. The banknotes are stacked in the storage section. The controller controls conveyance of the banknotes conveyed from the aperture to the verification section such that, depending on verification results, the banknotes are conveyed directly to the storage section. When a jam occurs during conveyance of the banknotes, the controller stops the separation and feeding of the banknotes from the aperture, and controls conveyance such that banknotes for which the storage section has been set as a conveyance destination by the verification section are conveyed directly to the storage section and banknotes for which no conveyance destination has been set are ejected.
US09053596B2 Systems and methods for spectral authentication of a feature of a document
Systems and methods for authenticating a document are provided. In one embodiment, a method for authenticating a feature of a document includes capturing a first image of a region of a document while the region is subjected to a first wavelength of electromagnetic radiation. The region includes at least a portion of the document. The method also includes determining a first intensity value associated with the first image of the region, and comparing the first intensity value with a first training intensity value of a region of a training document. The first training intensity value is obtained using the first wavelength of electromagnetic radiation. The method also includes determining whether the document is authentic at least partially based on the comparison between the first intensity value and the first training intensity value.
US09053593B2 Vehicle data analysis method and vehicle data analysis system
The invention provides a vehicle data analysis method that enables quantitative analysis of characteristics of vehicle data indicating transition in a driver's driving operation, and a vehicle data analysis system using this analysis method. A plurality of vehicle data are collected based a plurality of types of driving operations. Based on an evaluation criterion as an index for evaluating levels of the driving operations, the collected vehicle data are grouped into at least two groups. Characteristic values of the vehicle data differing between these groups are extracted.
US09053586B1 Security system
The present invention is directed to a security system and method for child safety. Advantageously, the present invention includes displaying an image of a child, and for departure, the child recognizing the image of himself/herself, and being informed upon seeing his/her image that a person has arrived who is authorized to leave a setting such as a day care center, with the child. The invention is particularly useful in the case of young children unable to read, but capable of identifying their own images.
US09053581B2 Hidden line grids in a browser environment
A method for rendering elements in a browser includes determining a first element and a line grid element to be rendered in three dimensions (3D) in the browser. The browser treats individual elements as having independent 3D spaces in the browser. The method transforms and projects the first element into a 3D space for the browser in which lines of the line grid element will be drawn. Geometry information for the first element in the 3D space is determined after the transform and projection into the 3D space. The positions are calculated in the 3D space to hide lines of the line grid element based on the geometry information for the first element and geometry information for the lines of the line grid element. The method renders lines in the 3D space in the browser, wherein portions of the lines are hidden based on the calculated positions.
US09053575B2 Image processing apparatus for generating an image for three-dimensional display
A detecting unit detects an object in an input image. A depth map generating unit selects a depth template corresponding to a type of the object and places a selected depth template on a depth map in accordance with a position of the object to generate the depth map having a depth value for each pixel. A correcting unit calculates a weight of at least one interested pixel and a weight of a peripheral pixel based on a relationship between pixel values to the interested pixel and the peripheral pixel and corrects the depth value of the interested pixel based on a weighted sum of the respective depth values corresponding to the interested pixel and the peripheral pixel. An image generating unit generates parallax images based on the corrected depth map and the input image.
US09053574B2 Calibrated natural size views for visualizations of volumetric data sets
Systems, methods, computer programs, and circuits that can provide 3-D perspective natural size views calibrated to ROIs.
US09053573B2 Systems and methods for generating a virtual camera viewpoint for an image
A color image and a depth image of a live video are received. A user is extracted from the information of the color image and the depth image. Spurious depth vales may be corrected. Points or pixels of an image as seen from a viewpoint of a reference camera at a reference camera location are mapped to points of the image as would be seen from a viewpoint of a virtual camera at a virtual camera location. As such, a transformed color image is generated. Disoccluded pixels may be processed to address any gaps within the transformed color image.
US09053572B2 Densifying and colorizing point cloud representation of physical surface using image data
Image data obtained from an image sampling of a physical surface is integrated with position data obtained from a three-dimensional surface sampling of the same physical surface by combining data from the images with the measured surface points from the surface sampling to create additional “implied” surface points between the measured surface points. Thus, the originally obtained point cloud of measured surface points is densified by adding the implied surface points. Moreover, the image data can be used to apply colors to both the implied data points and the measured data points, resulting in a colored three-dimensional representation of the physical surface that is of higher resolution than a representation obtained from only the measured surface points.
US09053571B2 Generating computer models of 3D objects
Generating computer models of 3D objects is described. In one example, depth images of an object captured by a substantially static depth camera are used to generate the model, which is stored in a memory device in a three-dimensional volume. Portions of the depth image determined to relate to the background are removed to leave a foreground depth image. The position and orientation of the object in the foreground depth image is tracked by comparison to a preceding depth image, and the foreground depth image is integrated into the volume by using the position and orientation to determine where to add data derived from the foreground depth image into the volume. In examples, the object is hand-rotated by a user before the depth camera. Hands that occlude the object are integrated out of the model as they do not move in sync with the object due to re-gripping.
US09053564B1 Vibration sensing and canceling electronics
This disclosure is directed at least in part to sensing movement of an electronic display and canceling perceived movement of content on the electronic display in response to the sensing. A controller may reassign “physical pixels” to “image pixels” (or virtual pixels) such that the image appears to be stationary while the physical pixels are moving due to movement of the electronic display. For example, if the physical pixels are moving upward, the image pixels may be reassigned downward in an equal and opposite manner. The user's persistence of vision may then be reinforced by reassignment of the pixels by the display manager. For example, text displayed on the electronic display may be more readable and images more easily viewed by a user.
US09053561B2 System and method for workpiece measurement during forging by image processing
The amount of elongation of a workpiece during forging can be determined by image processing to calculate the total amount of horizontal movement of marked patterns such as forging scale on the ends of the workpiece which move away from a forging bite during the forging blow. Images of marked patterns before and after a forging blow on both sides of the bite of a forging die are compared to determine the movement of the marked patterns and thus the movement of the ends of the workpiece. A method and system of determining the elongation and vertical displacement of a workpiece during forging is disclosed.
US09053559B1 Method and system for presenting image data to a video output device
A method and system for presenting image data to a video output device is disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method, which includes the steps of queuing the buffer of image data for display, attaching an object to a command associated with presenting the buffer of image data, wherein the object is capable of storing timing information relating to executing the command, and enabling an application program to access the timing information.
US09053558B2 Method and system for fusing multiple images
A method and system is provided for combining information from a plurality of source images to form a fused image. The fused image is generated by the combination of the source images based on both local features and global features computed from the source images. Local features are computed for local regions in each source image. For each source image, the computed local features are further processed to form a local weight matrix. Global features are computed for the source images. For each source image, the computed global features are further processed to form a global weight vector. For each source image, its corresponding local weight matrix and its corresponding global weight vector are combined to form a final weight matrix. The source images are then weighted by the final weight matrices to generate the fused image.
US09053555B1 Creating a mesh from a sparse structure-from-motion point cloud using co-visibility of points
A method for creating a three-dimensional mesh model of a structure includes accessing a set of three-dimensional points associated with a set of images of the structure. For each three-dimensional point in the set of three-dimensional points, the method determines a reference image, identifies a subset of images from the set of images of the structure taken within a distance from the reference image, determines a subset of three-dimensional points seen by the subset of images, filters the subset of three-dimensional points to retain only a set of co-visible points that lie in a visibility cone of the reference image, and selects a normal using the set of co-visible points. The three-dimensional mesh model of the structure is computed using the selected normal, and the model may be provided to a second computing device.
US09053553B2 Methods and apparatus for manipulating images and objects within images
Methods and apparatus for manipulating digital images. A warping module is described that enables the manipulation of a surface by selectively deforming portions of the surface while maintaining local rigidity. The user may position multiple control points on a surface to constrain deformation. The user may specify multiple properties (e.g., translation, rotation, depth, and scale) at each control point. A mesh may be overlaid on the surface. The warping module may perform an initialization in which the properties are propagated other vertices in the mesh to generate an initial deformed mesh. The warping module may then perform an iterative optimization operation on the deformed mesh to improve the deformation while retaining local rigidity. Thus, instead of moving every pixel in the surface, the warping module moves or adjusts coordinates of the vertices of the mesh. The surface is then deformed according to the deformed mesh.
US09053551B2 Vessel identification using shape and motion mapping for coronary angiogram sequences
Embodiments of the invention relate to a method, system, and computer program product to automate image classification with respect to coronary vessels in an angiography sequence. Two primary elements are employed, including training and recognition. Training pertains to the pre-processing images and extracting salient features that characterize the appearance of coronary arteries under different viewpoints. Recognition pertains to extraction of features from a new image sequence and determining a classification boundary for the new image from previously classified and labeled image sequences.
US09053550B2 Techniques for rapid stereo reconstruction from images
Stereo image reconstruction techniques are described. An image from a root viewpoint is translated to an image from another viewpoint. Homography fitting is used to translate the image between viewpoints. Inverse compositional image alignment is used to determine a homography matrix and determine a pixel in the translated image.
US09053542B2 Image resampling by frequency unwrapping
A method determines at least one image value of a corresponding desired output position of an output image from an input image. An orientation of an edge passing through the output position is determined in a localised region of the input image. A frequency spectrum for the region of the input image is extended. A main frequency band of the edge is aligned in the extended frequency spectrum parallel to a first sampling axis of a grid based on the orientation of the edge. The grid is selected from a set of the input and output grids. The aligned main frequency band is filtered along a second sampling axis of the grid, orthogonal to the first sampling axis, the filter removing frequencies associated with replica bands and maintaining the main frequency band. The image value is determined from the filtered edge at the desired output position.
US09053539B2 Image processing apparatus
An image processing apparatus having an input unit for inputting an image signal and an image corrector for correcting the input image signal is disclosed. The image corrector is arranged to extract from the input image signal a specular reflection component and a diffuse reflection component and generate a corrected image signal based on a computation result with respect to these specular and diffuse reflection components thus extracted. This image corrector is adaptable for use in various types of image processors, including projectors, display devices and imaging devices.
US09053536B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method for a tomogram of an eye region
There is provided a technique for adaptively acquiring, from a tomogram of an eye region, diagnosis information data of the eye region which is used for the diagnosis of a plurality of kinds of diseases, without increasing load on a user. A layer acquisition unit (331) acquires a predetermined layer area from the tomogram of the eye region. A changing unit (332) changes an algorithm for the acquisition of diagnosis information data as information used for the diagnosis of the eye region from the tomogram based on the information data extracted from the layer area. A quantifying unit (336) acquires diagnosis information data from the tomogram based on the changed algorithm.
US09053533B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer-readable recording medium for extracting a dark portion area from an intraluminal image
An image processing apparatus includes a low-luminance area detecting unit that detects a low-luminance area based on pixel values of pixels of the intraluminal image; a peripheral feature data calculating unit that calculates peripheral feature data based on pixel values of periphery of the low-luminance area; and a dark portion area determining unit that determines whether or not the low-luminance area is the dark portion area based on the peripheral feature data.
US09053532B2 Automatic filtering of SEM images
A method, system, and computer program product to automatically evaluate a scanning electron microscope (SEM) image are described. The method includes obtaining a source image and the SEM image taken of the source image. The method also includes evaluating the SEM image based on comparing source contours extracted from the source image and SEM contours extracted from the SEM image to determine whether the SEM image passes or fails.
US09053531B2 Multi layered image enhancement technique
A system for enhancing an input image including receiving an input image and filtering the input image with a plurality of non-linear smoothing filters providing a respective plurality of filtered outputs. The system processes a plurality of the filtered outputs with respect to at least one of another of the filtered outputs and the input image to determine a plurality of detail layers. The system filters the plurality of detail layers with a plurality of non-linear smoothing filters providing a respective plurality of smoothed layers. The system adjusts the plurality of smoothed layers in such a manner that regions closer to an edge are enhanced to a lesser extent than regions farther from an edge and combining the adjusted the smoothed layers to provide an enhanced output image.
US09053530B2 Method for sliced inpainting
A method for replacing image data in a destination region that is divided into sub-pieces along one or more cutting paths, which start and end at two different points on the border, and finding replacement data for the sub-pieces. The cutting paths may be determined as a function of the type of image structured at the start and the end points. The cutting paths may also be determined as a function of the area of the sub-pieces and the lengths of the cutting paths. Optionally, the destination region may be determined by a spot detection algorithm. Further optionally, the spot detection algorithm may comprise calculation of a high pass filter, or detection of areas of luminosity and border-to-volume ratios. A method for moving an image element within an image is also provided.
US09053529B2 System and method for capturing digital images
The present invention provides system for capturing displayed digital images. The system includes a selection tool utilisable by a user to select at least one portion of at least one displayed image; and, a capture routine arranged to reproduce the selected portion. If the selection tool selects only a portion of one image, then the captured image is sourced from a secondary storage source and if the selection tool selects more than one portion of one image, then the captured image is sourced from a primary storage source.
US09053527B2 Detecting defects on a wafer
Methods and systems for detecting defects on a wafer are provided. One method includes identifying one or more characteristics of first raw output generated for a wafer that correspond to one or more geometrical characteristics of patterned features formed on the wafer and assigning individual output in second raw output generated for the wafer to different segments based on the identified one or more characteristics of the first raw output and based on the individual output in the second raw output and individual output in the first raw output that were generated at substantially the same locations on the wafer such that the one or more geometrical characteristics of the patterned features that correspond to each of the different segments in the second raw output are different.
US09053525B2 Entropy coding method using an index mapping table, and image-encoding/decoding apparatus and method using said entropy coding method
Disclosed is an entropy coding method using an index mapping table, and an apparatus using the method. An imagedecoding method comprises: a step of mapping an inputted codeword to a code number with reference to an inverse codeword mapping table, and calculating the mapped code number in a table index; and a step of updating the inverse mapping table based on the accumulated number of occurrences of the code number, the number of sequential occurrences of the code number, neighbor block encoding/decoding information, and/or threshold value information for updating the inverse index mapping table. According to the present invention, an index mapping table is realigned based on a certain condition, thereby improving encoding/decoding efficiency.
US09053524B2 Eye beautification under inaccurate localization
Sub-regions within one or more face images are identified within a digital image, and enhanced by applying an artificial glint symmetrically and/or synchronously to image data corresponding to sub-regions of eyes within the face image. An enhanced face image is generated including an enhanced version of the face that includes certain original pixels in combination with pixels corresponding to the one or more eye regions of the face with the artificial glint.
US09053523B2 Joint enhancement of lightness, color and contrast of images and video
In some embodiments, color and contrast enhancement video processing may be done in one shot instead of adjusting one of color and contrast enhancement, then the other, and then going back to the first one to readjust because of the second adjustment. In some embodiments, global lightness adjustment, local contrast enhancement, and saturation enhancement may be done at the same time and in parallel. Lightness adjustment improves visibility of details for generally dark or generally light images without changing intended lighting conditions in the original shot, and is used to enhance the range of color/saturation enhancement. Local contrast enhancement done in parallel improves visual definition of objects and textures and thus local contrast and perceived sharpness.
US09053520B2 Associating an information reader and a medical device
A device agent including an information accessor for accessing association information obtained via an information reader. The association information includes medical device information for uniquely identifying the medical device, and device agent information for facilitating in an association between the medical device and the information reader. The device agent also includes an associator for associating the medical device and the information reader based on the association information.
US09053518B1 Constructing social networks
Aspects of the disclosure provide techniques that enable a first user to add a second user to a social subnetwork of the first user's social network. In one example, a method may include discovering a second computing device associated with a second user. A first user associated with a first computing device and the second user may each be associated with a social networking service. The method may include receiving, from the second computing device, identification data associated with the second user. The method may include determining an identifier based at least in part on the identification data received from the second computing device. The identifier may identify the second user in the social networking service. The method may also include sending a request to a remote computing device to associate the second user with the social subnetwork of the first user.
US09053516B2 Risk assessment using portable devices
In one embodiment, a method of evaluating vehicle operation performance comprises obtaining first information correlating to the movement of a vehicle; obtaining second information different from the first information correlating to the movement of a portable device relative to the vehicle; and correlating the first information with the second information to evaluate the vehicle operation performance by an operator of the portable device during use of the portable device while operating the vehicle. In another embodiment, the information correlating to the movement of the vehicle is correlating to the use of one or more software applications or the use of one or more functional features of a portable device by an operator of the portable device while operating the vehicle.
US09053511B2 Swipable product swatching
In an example embodiment, a system for displaying a product in a touch-sensitive display of a hand-held electronic device comprises at least one module, executing on one or more computer processors to present a graphical image representative of the product in the touch-sensitive display, detect a slide-based contact with the touch-sensitive display at or over a first predefined location corresponding to the product image in the display, and display, in response to the detection of the slide-based contact, an array of swatch images associated with variants of the product in the touch-sensitive display.
US09053510B2 Shopping apparatus and methods
Methods and apparatus related to enabling a shopper to utilize a mobile electronic device to enhance the shopping experience. A shopper may utilize the mobile electronic device to access retail store-specific information regarding the location of items in a retail store. A mobile electronic device may be utilized to compile an electronic shopping list and/or transmit an electronic shopping list. Locations of one or more items in the retail store may be associated with items on the electronic shopping list.
US09053509B2 Recommended modes of transportation for achieving fitness goals
A computing system is described that determines one or more of modes of transportation available to a user of a computing device to travel from a current location of the computing device to a particular destination such that the user is predicted to arrive at the particular destination by a particular future time. The computing system determines, based at least in part on a fitness goal associated with the user of the computing device, a recommended mode of transportation from the one or more modes of transportation, the recommended mode of transportation being a particular mode of transportation predicted to aid the user in achieving the fitness goal. The computing system outputs, for transmission to the computing device, an indication of the recommended mode of transportation.
US09053503B2 Fueling environment wireless architecture
A method and system for transmitting data between devices within a fueling environment comprising a wireless mesh network wherein the devices are configured to communicate via the wireless mesh network. A wireless communication device is connected to each device, and a middleware executed by the wireless communication device handles communications between the devices and the wireless mesh network.
US09053500B2 Internet-based education support system and method with multi-language capability
A system, method and medium for determining and displaying one or more locales on a web browser. The method can include the steps of providing in the web browser a plurality of display regions, associating a locale with a plurality of web pages, selecting by a user a user-specified locale, associating the locale with one or more particular display regions, and determining whether the locale is mandatory. If the locale is mandatory, content associated with the user-specified locale can be translated to content associated with the locale. Finally, content is displayed in the one or more particular frames in accordance with the locale.
US09053498B2 Systems and methods for indicating the existence of accessible information pertaining to articles of commerce
A system and method are provided for indicating an existence of a link to information pertaining to an article of commerce. The present disclosure provides for downloading a look-up table from a server database to a mobile device via a communication network. The look-up table is configured to store a plurality of UPC numbers associated with a plurality of articles of commerce and a plurality of information link indicators. Each information link indicator is associated with a respective UPC number and article of commerce and indicates the existence of a link via the communication network to information pertaining to the respective article of commerce. The mobile device allows a consumer to immediately determine if product information is available for a particular article of commerce, via a visual or audible indication on the mobile device, without access to the communication network.
US09053494B2 System for data management and on-demand rental and purchase of digital data products
A system for handling data and transactions involving data through the use of a virtual transaction zone, which virtual transaction zone removes the dependency of such transaction on the delivery medium of the product. The invention may reside and operate on a variety of electronic devices such as televisions, VCRs, DVDs, personal computers, WebTV, any other known electronic recorder/player, or as a stand alone unit. The transaction zone also provides a mechanism for combining mediums, data feeds, and manipulation of those feeds. The transaction zone also provides a mechanism for controlling the content, delivery, and timing of delivery of the end consumer's product.
US09053493B2 Affecting display of content based on negative reactions
Techniques for affecting display of content may include receiving a request for content to supplement a response to an input initiated by a first user; outputting first content in response to the request, where the first content includes a control feature that is displayable along with the first content, and where the control feature enables the first user to register a negative reaction to the first content; obtaining information relating to the first content based on the negative reaction; identifying second content having one or more characteristics in common with the first content; identifying one or more second users having one or more characteristics in common with the first user; and using the information relating to the first content in determining whether to provide the second content to the one or more second users.
US09053489B2 Facilitating presentation of ads relating to words of a message
Targeted delivery of contextually relevant ad impressions to a mobile device is provided. The ad impressions are delivered within text messages and/or instant message chat threads. Monetizing of text messaging and instant messaging by providers of such services is achieved, while providing unobtrusive and contextually relevant information to users of such services.
US09053487B2 Methods, systems, and products for notifying of enhancements to quality of service and experience
Methods, systems, and products notify users when changes in a communication network improve quality of service. When a service provider changes a configuration parameter in the communications network, a change to the configuration parameter is compared to a rule. When the change to the configuration parameter results in a perceivable improvement in quality of service, a notification is sent to a user's device. The notification informs the user's device of the improvement in quality of service caused by the change to the configuration parameter.
US09053486B2 Systems and methods for managing and distributing media content
In accordance with the present invention, a media content management application that allows a user to customize, assemble, distribute, and track one or more versions of media content based on semantic criteria is provided.
US09053481B2 Methods and systems for providing a payment account with adaptive interchange
Pursuant to some embodiments, systems, methods, apparatus, and means for conducting payment transactions using mobile devices are provided in which a mobile device is presented at a point of sale for use in a payment transaction. A selection of a primary account is received from a user of the mobile device, and the mobile device automatically identifies a product type of the primary payment account. The mobile device selects and transmits a proxy payment account identifier having a product type equivalent to the product type of the primary payment account to the point of sale for use in the payment transaction. The point of sale causes a first payment authorization request message to be routed to an issuer of the proxy payment account.
US09053476B2 Systems and methods for initiating payment from a client device
The disclosed embodiments include a mobile client device for automatically performing a mobile financial service function, including a memory storing software instructions, the software instructions including a mobile financial service application configured to perform financial service processes. The system may also include and one or more processors configured to execute the software instructions to detect a physical action performed on the mobile client device, and determine a first financial service function to perform based on the detected physical action, wherein the first financial service function is a function provided by the mobile financial service application. The one or more processors may also determine whether verification of a user is required, verify the user if verification of the user is required, and automatically initiate the first financial service function.
US09053470B2 Card security activation label and method
Card security apparatus and methods are provided. An obstruction layer (e.g., a hot-stamped scratch off foil label) may be provided in at least partially overlapping relation to a data field of a card (e.g., including proprietary information unique to the specific card). The obstruction layer may render all or at least a portion of the card data field unreadable in the presentation position. All or at least a portion of an exposed data field, such e.g., as an activation field, may be disposed on an outer surface of the obstruction layer such that the activation field is readable with the obstruction layer in the presentation position. Displacement of the obstruction layer may render the exposed data field, e.g., activation field, unreadable (e.g., via destruction of all or at least a portion of the obstruction layer) and the data field readable.
US09053469B1 System and method for providing usage based vehicle insurance
Methods and systems for providing usage based insurance for one or more vehicles for an insured individual or party. In an example, fuel transaction data is received for a party, the fuel transaction data includes a fuel cost; insurance policy data is received for an insurance policy; a premium is determined for the insurance policy using a computing device and the premium is added to the fuel cost. In an example, a geographic location for a vehicle is determined and a premium is determined using at the least the geographic location. In an example, a number of miles driven in a time period is determined and a premium is determined using at the least the number of miles driven. In an example, a premium is determined for an insurance policy using at least a portion of the fuel transaction data. In an example, at least one vehicle related parameter is predicted from the fuel transaction data and a premium is determined using the vehicle related parameter.
US09053468B2 Methods and systems for monitoring operation of equipment
A condition assessment system for use in monitoring the operation of at least one of a plurality of units included within a fleet of substantially similar units is described. The system includes an input device configured to receive a selection of at least one source of data related to the operation of at least one of the plurality of units. The system also includes at least one sensor associated with the at least one source of data and configured to sense data related to the operation of at least one of the plurality of units. The system also includes a condition assessment device configured to receive data from the at least one sensor, sample data associated with at least one data parameter from the received data, and generate a baseline parametric curve from the data associated with the at least one sampled data parameter.
US09053465B2 Techniques to manage event notifications
Techniques to manage event notifications are described. An apparatus may comprise a server having an event notification component. The event notification component may have an event agent component to receive a message indicating a change event for line of business (LOB) data, and convert the change event to a defined LOB entity event. The event notification component may have a notification service component to generate a LOB event message for the entity event. The event notification component may have an event database to store the event message in a user event queue. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09053463B2 Apparatus and method for pushing e-mail to portable terminal in e-mail system
Provided is an apparatus and method for pushing an e-mail to a portable terminal in an e-mail system. In an e-mail system for pushing an e-mail, an e-mail agent checks reception of a new e-mail, receives and stores the new e-mail, and generates a mail notification message, a message server receives the mail notification message and transmits it to an e-mail client, the e-mail client generates a mail request message and transmits it to the e-mail agent.
US09053462B2 User interface for a system and process for providing dynamic communication access and information awareness in an interactive peripheral display
The system and method of the present invention provides a user interface for providing peripheral awareness of information to a user. The information to be provided is either determined automatically, or specified by the user. Once the information to be provided is determined or specified, it is automatically tracked or watched via at least one conventional communications interface. Current information is then automatically dynamically provided in an interactive peripheral display which minimizes any potential distraction to the user. Determining or specifying, tracking or watching, and providing the information is accomplished using at least one customizable dynamic encapsulated object, a “ticket,” that when paired with a “viewer,” provides peripheral awareness of information to the user. Further, in one embodiment, the tickets are sharable among users, and may be copied, cut, pasted, saved, transmitted, dragged and dropped from web pages, etc., like any other electronic file using conventional techniques.
US09053461B2 Instant messaging interoperability between disparate service providers
An apparatus for facilitating instant messaging communications between clients of different instant messaging service provider networks is provided. The apparatus includes translation logic for translating received communications related to an instant messaging service, the received communications associated with an external instant messaging service provider network and formatted according to a secondary protocol. The translation logic translates the received communication from the secondary protocol to a primary protocol, the primary protocol native to a receiving service provider network. The communication may then be routed to a client of the primary network according to the native, primary protocol.
US09053460B2 Rule management using a configuration database
A Configuration Management DataBase (CMDB) is utilized when determining if resources, which are modeled in and managed by the CMDB, are in compliance with a new resource rule that affect how the resource operates. In one embodiment, the computer-implementable method includes the step of, in response to detecting a rule change, transmitting a new rule to a rule control logic in a resource management database, wherein the rule change changes a rule for an attribute of a resource in a data processing system, and wherein the resource management database describes attributes of resources in the data processing system. The method may include the further step of transmitting the new rule from the rule control logic to a resource manager, wherein the resource manager is a person who has the capacity to implement the new rule in a resource in the data processing system
US09053458B2 System and method for profiling clients within a system for harvesting community knowledge
A privacy-preserving system and method is disclosed for profiling clients within a system for knowledge management. The method of the present invention discloses steps for generating a client profile in support of receiving and processing messages using scoring techniques and/or filtering techniques. The method of the present invention further includes steps for generating a client profile in support of a method for generating and obtaining responses to messages using scoring techniques and/or filtering techniques. The system of the present invention, includes all means for implementing the method.
US09053457B2 System and method for changing categorisation data in relation to spend analysis reports in real time
A computer based system for changing categorization data, in relation to spend analysis reports, in real time, the system comprising a processor unit; and a computer readable medium storing instructions executable by the processor unit comprising a client side processing means adapted to transmit a user generated request for change, in real time and a server side processing means adapted to receive said transmitted requested change, in real time, for effecting said requested change.
US09053456B2 Techniques for conference system location awareness and provisioning
Techniques for conference system location awareness and provisioning are described. An apparatus may comprise a room detection component operative to determine a room identifier of a room which a conference system is in, a database component operative to determine one or more room properties of the detected room by querying a database of room properties using the room identifier, and a conference configuration component operative to configure one or more conference elements using the room properties. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09053454B2 Automated straight-through processing in an electronic discovery system
Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for automated straight-through processing in an electronic discovery system. Further, the embodiments described herein provide for electronic discovery processes, such as, but not limited to, data collection, barcoding, source-to-processing, quality control, third-party network data transfer and data analysis platform loading to be automatically initiated and performed in pipeline fashion. Once a process is completed on a dataset, the next process in the flow is automatically initiated unless exceptions are determined to exist. In addition, embodiments provide for prioritizing cases and conducting each process in the straight-through data processing based on the case prioritization.
US09053452B2 Supply ordering system and method
A system and method for ordering supplies, includes a portable barcode scanner configured to output data according to at least one of an HID, CDC or SPP protocol. A mobile phone device incapable of recognizing and parsing data when the data is configured according to the HID, CDC or SPP protocol is connected to the scanner using a communication connection. A scanner adapter application on the mobile phone device, which receives the output data comprising order data, is configured to parse the order data and pass it to an upload application having a current data field that receives at least part of the order data. A listener server configured to receive the at least part of the order data from the upload application processes the order information into an electronic order, and sends the electronic order to a vendor server.
US09053449B2 Using structured communications to quantify social skills
Embodiments for using structured communications to quantify social skills and social behavioral factors. Communications between at least two devices are intercepted and/or relayed by a computer system wherein a portion of the communications correspond to an audible source and wherein the forwarding or processing of communications is based on a combination of historical, contextual and/or commanded information derived from current and past communications by the computer system. Primary statistics are measured based on the communications and contextual information. Secondary statistics are derived related to a user wherein the secondary statistics quantify social skills and behavioral factors of the user in one or more dimensions against one or more profiles or roles.
US09053448B2 Method for systematic modeling and evaluation of application flows
A system and method for modeling and evaluating resource requirements of services is disclosed. The system and method in one aspect enable describing an application session in a software model, for example, as a sequence of events in a sequence diagram, annotating the sequence diagram with information and using the sequence diagram and the information to create a mathematical model such as a Markov model that represents the application session. Once in Markov form the service can be analyzed. The system may include a user interface for allowing a user to enter annotations to the sequence diagram.
US09053447B2 Method and system for automated messaging in an online legal workflow tool
A computer system and computer-implemented method for message or “chaser” management in a distributed legal workflow environment is provided. Embodiments provide central administration of legal workflow conducted by a plurality of distributed participants. A plurality of workflow chasers associated with a plurality of workflow records are created and defined based on a plurality of attributes (e.g. associated record identification, action identification, target user, display date, etc.). New and existing chasers are compared to one another to identify any redundancies (e.g. duplicate chasers, unnecessary chasers, etc.). Redundant chasers are deleted or otherwise de-activated. Remaining chasers are implemented within the distributed legal workflow environment, as appropriate (i.e. displayed to their target user on the associated target display date. Chasers may be created automatically as required for conformance to workflow policies, procedures or applicable laws. Chasers may also be user-defined and modified.
US09053445B2 Managing business objects
In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, a system and methods are provided for managing business objects in memory. The system and methods may be provided for defining a context of one or more input parameters of data used to determine one or more properties of one or more business objects, defining one or more rules associated with the one or more properties of each business object, and generating a metadata model for each business object based on the context of the one or more input parameters of each business object and the one or more rules associated with the one or more properties of each business object.
US09053443B2 Adaptive customized presentation of business intelligence information
In one example, a method includes receiving information on a user role of a user account associated with a business intelligence system. The method further includes gathering information on interactions of the user account with the business intelligence system. The method further includes generating an initial business intelligence output based on data from one or more data sources. The method further includes generating a customized business intelligence output for the user account based on the initial business intelligence output, the user role, and the interactions of the user account with the business intelligence system. The method further includes providing the customized business intelligence output to the user account.
US09053439B2 Predicting near-future photovoltaic generation
Systems and automated methods for predicting photovoltaic (PV) generation are provided. Weather forecast data and present-day and historical PV generation data are provided to respective predictors. The predictors derive weighted predictions that are used to calculate a Bayesian model average. Near-future generation by the PV system is predicted using the Bayesian model average. Production rates, worker scheduling, hours of operation and other planning decisions can be made in accordance with the predicted near-future generation.
US09053434B2 Determining an obverse weight
A technique for determining an obverse weight. A set of cases can be divided into bins. An obverse weight for a bin can be determined based on an importance weight of the bin and a variance of an error estimate of the bin.
US09053432B2 Waveform mapping technique and process for tracking and estimating evolution of semantic networks
In certain embodiments, a computer-implemented method includes accessing first and second data associated with a semantic network, the first data indicating a first plurality of nodes within the semantic network and a first plurality of relationships between the first plurality of nodes at a first time, and the second data indicating a second plurality of nodes within the semantic network and a second plurality of relationships between the second plurality of nodes at a second time. The method further includes generating a first waveform from the first data and a second waveform from the second data. The waveforms indicate an activity level of each of the nodes within the semantic network. The method further includes analyzing the semantic network using the generated first and second waveforms.
US09053429B2 Mapping neural dynamics of a neural model on to a coarsely grained look-up table
Embodiments of the invention relate to mapping neural dynamics of a neural model on to a lookup table. One embodiment comprises defining a phase plane for a neural model. The phase plane represents neural dynamics of the neural model. The phase plane is coarsely sampled to obtain state transition information for multiple neuronal states. The state transition information is mapped on to a lookup table.
US09053428B2 Method and apparatus of robust neural temporal coding, learning and cell recruitments for memory using oscillation
Certain aspects of the present disclosure support a technique for robust neural temporal coding, learning and cell recruitments for memory using oscillations. Methods are proposed for distinguishing temporal patterns and, in contrast to other “temporal pattern” methods, not merely coincidence of inputs or order of inputs. Moreover, the present disclosure propose practical methods that are biologically-inspired/consistent but reduced in complexity and capable of coding, decoding, recognizing, and learning temporal spike signal patterns. In this disclosure, extensions are proposed to a scalable temporal neural model for robustness, confidence or integrity coding, and recruitment of cells for efficient temporal pattern memory.
US09053427B1 Validity rating-based priority-based fact checking method and system
An efficient fact checking system analyzes and determines the factual accuracy of information and/or characterizes the information by comparing the information with source information. The efficient fact checking system automatically monitors information, processes the information, fact checks the information efficiently and/or provides a status of the information.
US09053422B1 Computer system and method for planning a strategy from data and model ontologies to meet a challenge
A computer modeling and simulation framework for analysis automates selection of data, models and visualization outputs for providing an insight into a wide range of scenarios without a priori knowledge of the scenarios. The framework organizes the data and models through an ontology for the data and models. A challenge specification is entered by an analyst via a structured document or natural language input, wherein a reasoner processing component of the system selects relevant data sets and models based on the challenge specification and the data and model ontology. The system may provide confidence indications based on the quality of relevant models and data and executes the selected models using the selected data sets as inputs. Results are stored and visualized resulting data presented for the analyst. A visualization ontology enables the system to select an optimum visualization approach.
US09053417B2 Domain level clustering
A computer implemented method for clustering documents that includes receiving at least a first first-level cluster of documents and a second first-level cluster of documents, wherein the first first-level cluster includes one or more first documents associated with a first domain, the first documents satisfying a first first-level classification criterion, and the second first-level cluster including one or more second documents associated with a second domain, the second documents satisfying a second first-level classification criterion. The method also includes creating, by a processor of the computer system, a second-level cluster by combining the first first-level cluster with the second first-level cluster when a) the first first-level cluster and second first-level cluster satisfy a second-level classification criterion; and b) the first domain does not match the second domain.
US09053415B2 Meter for a device for dispensing a fluid or powder product
A dose counter having a base body (460), with a rotary counter element assembled in the base body (460) on a pin (461) forming the axis of rotation. The rotary counter element co-operating with an actuator member (1430) adapted to cause the rotary counter element to turn each time the actuator member (1430) is actuated. The actuator member (1430) including a fastener (14301) for fastening to the base body (460) and arranged on a first side of the pin (461), and a substantially rigid support portion (1436) arranged on a second side of the pin (461). The support portion (1436) supporting an actuator element (1435) so that the actuator element (1435) is moved in translation. The support portion (1436) extended towards the pin (461) by a substantially-rectilinear flexible branch (1431) that supports a lug (14310) adapted to co-operate with the counter element on each actuation.
US09053413B2 Automatically identifying locations of printing defects within printed rolls
Methods and systems print markings on a web of media using a printer to produce a printed roll of media. During the printing, the printer automatically analyzes the internal printer conditions, and automatically identifies printing errors based on the internal printer conditions during the printing. Further, such methods and systems automatically record the printing errors in an error log file using a computerized device that is operatively connected to the printer and store the error log file in a network storage element within a computerized network. Also, such methods and systems transmit the error log file from the computerized device (or the network storage element) to a post-printing processing device using the computerized network after receiving a request for the error log file. The post-printing processing device unwinds the printed roll and automatically stops the unwinding process at locations of the printing errors based on the error log file.
US09053411B2 System and method for transferring documents
Mobile devices enable users to access data and documents in a convenient portable format. The disclosed method and system enables documents to be transferred/moved onto a mobile device for review or reference by making the transfer simple and straight forward so that it is easy for non-technically literate users (e.g. administrative assistant putting documents on their executive's mobile device). From a sender perspective the transfer mechanism can work whether the mobile device is on a local network (relative to the sender) or on a remote network when the sender does not know the actual location of the mobile device.
US09053409B2 Image forming apparatus, method, and program product determining periodic drawing pattern and thinning an image
The present invention is an image forming apparatus for interpreting data to generate intermediate data and the image forming apparatus includes: a unit configured to determine whether or not there is a periodic drawing pattern in data; a unit configured to determine whether or not there is a reduction command in data; a unit configured to obtain a ratio between the number of pitches of the period of the drawing pattern and a reduction ratio included in the reduction command; a unit configured to determine whether or not the ratio and a value in a table loaded by the image forming apparatus coincide with each other; and a unit configured to reduce, in the case where it is determined that the ratio coincides with a value in the table, an image by dividing the image into cells and performing thinning processing in units of cells.
US09053401B2 Laminating system, IC sheet, scroll of IC sheet, and method for manufacturing IC chip
Thin film integrated circuits are peeled from a substrate and the peeled thin film integrated circuits are sealed, efficiently in order to improve manufacturing yields. The present invention provides laminating system comprising transporting means for transporting a substrate provided with a plurality of thin film integrated circuits; first peeling means for bonding first surfaces of the thin film integrated circuits to a first sheet member to peel the thin film integrated circuits from the substrate; second peeling means for bonding second surfaces of the thin film integrated circuits to a second sheet member to peel the thin film integrated circuits from the first sheet member; and sealing means for interposing the thin film integrated circuits between the second sheet member and a third sheet member to seal the thin film integrated circuit with the second sheet member and the third sheet member.
US09053395B2 Image processor, image processing method, control program and recording medium
An image processor is provided, the image processor including a general-purpose classifier that detects a predetermined large classification target; and a dedicated classifier that detects a small classification target which is a subdivision of the large classification target; an image acquisition part that acquires an image photographed by a camera; an image extracting part that extracts a registered image including a user-assigned domain from the photographed image; a dedicated classifier performing part that causes the dedicated classifier to perform detection processing to the registered image extracted; a dedicated classifier selector that selects the dedicated classifier having a highest index indicating superiority or inferiority of a detection result; and a classifier generator that generates a registered image classifier to detect a target included in the registered image by replacing some weak classifiers included in the selected dedicated classifier with weak classifiers included in the general-purpose classifier.
US09053391B2 Supervised and semi-supervised online boosting algorithm in machine learning framework
A method for classification of samples comprising providing a trained statistical model based upon a set of initial samples. Receiving a set of first samples and training a first statistical model base upon the first set of samples, where the first statistical model is of the same class as the trained statistical model. Receiving a set of second samples and training a second statistical model base upon the second set of samples, where the second statistical model is of the same class as the trained statistical model. The trained statistical model, the first statistical model, and the second statistical model, being independent of each other and collectively used to classify another sample.
US09053390B2 Automated inspection scenario generation
Methods and systems for determining inspection scenarios without input from a user are presented. Inspection scenarios include at least one acquisition mode, defect detection parameter values, and classification parameter values. In one example, a number of defect events are determined by a hot inspection of a wafer surface. The defect events are classified and attributes associated with each defect event are identified. The defect events are labeled with this information. Based on the identified attributes and classification, inspection scenarios are determined. The inspection scenarios are solutions in a mathematical space formed by the identified attributes. In some examples, a plurality of inspection scenarios are determined and a desired inspection scenario is selected from the plurality based on the number of defects of interest and the number of nuisance events captured by the selected inspection scenario.
US09053385B2 Object detection device and object detection method
An object detection device includes: a binary difference image generation unit for generating a binary difference image C by binarizing a difference value between a background image B, which is an image as a reference for the absence of a detection target object in the detection area, and a detection target image F which is an image as a detection target to detect a detection target object in the detection area; a binary second derivative image generation unit for generating a binary second derivative image D by binarizing second derivatives of the detection target image F or of a smoothed image F′, obtained by smoothing the detection target image F; and an object detection unit for detecting the detection target object based on a logical product of the binary difference image C and the binary second derivative image D.
US09053377B2 Device and method for the automated reading/writing of RFID tags
A device is provided for reading/writing RFID tags, and includes a so-called pre-defined reading site, on/in which at least one object bearing an RFID tag is to be placed; at least one RFID antenna; and at least one RFID reader co-operating with the RFID antenna; the at least one RFID antenna being arranged in such a way as to read the at least one RFID tag of the at least one object placed on/in the reading site. A method for reading RFID tags is also provided.
US09053376B2 Electronic payment device
A payment device is provided, which is to be paired with a communication device in order to form an electronic payment terminal. The payment device includes an upper half-shell and a lower half-shell, which includes a surface for attaching a modular interface for pairing the communication device and which includes a longitudinally extending slot. The lower half-shell further includes, within the slot, an opening which enables a magnetic reading head to pass therethrough. Beneath the attachment surface, an electronic circuit card is arranged laterally relative to the magnetic reading head such that the electronic circuit card prevents the insertion of a fraudulent device into the payment device.
US09053372B2 Road marking detection and recognition
A system and method are disclosed for detecting road marking in a video using learned road marking templates. The system comprises a template learning module configured to learn the feature-based road marking templates from a set of training images. The template learning module is configured to rectify each training image, detect multiple regions of interest, and for each detected region of interest, detect multiple key points. The template learning module extracts feature vectors for the detected key points and builds the road marking templates from the feature vectors. The system also includes a road marking detection module for detecting road markings in a video at runtime using the learned road marking templates. During runtime, these templates are matched using a two-step process of first selecting promising feature matches and subsequently performing a structural matching to account for the shape of the road markings.
US09053371B2 Method, system and computer program product for identifying a location of an object within a video sequence
In response to detecting a motion within a video sequence, a determination is made of whether the motion is a particular type of movement. In response to determining that the motion is the particular type of movement, a location is identified within the video sequence of an object that does the motion.
US09053367B2 Detector evolution with multi-order contextual co-occurrence
Aspects of the present invention comprise generating and using Multi-Order Contextual co-Occurrence (MOCO) descriptors to implicitly model the high level context using detection responses from a baseline object detector. In embodiments, a 1st-order context feature is computed as a set of randomized binary comparisons on a response map of the baseline object detector. The statistics of the 1st-order binary context features are further calculated to construct a higher-order co-occurrence descriptor, which, in embodiments, may be combined with other features such as the 0th-order context features and/or the 1st-order features to form the MOCO. In embodiments, combining the MOCO feature with the original image feature, the baseline object detector may be evolved to a stronger context aware detector.
US09053363B1 Object identification in visual media
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining the identity of an object in an image where the object in the image is in a disassembled state. In one aspect, a method includes accessing previous interactive sessions, each of the interactive sessions including images of a reference object in one or more disassembled states and each of the interactive sessions specifying an identity of the reference object in an assembled state; processing an image of a first object to identify characteristics of the first object, the first object being in a disassembled state in the image; comparing the image of the first object in the disassembled state to images of reference objects in disassembled states; and determining an identity of the first object based on the comparison and the identities of the reference objects in assembled states specified in the interactive sessions.
US09053360B2 Image inspection apparatus, image forming apparatus, image inspection method, and image inspection program
An image inspection method and apparatus for inspecting images output on sheets including a reference white plate disposed at a position of the transport route of sheet while facing a scan position for scanning a sheet; a contact glass disposed opposite the reference white plate; an image scanning device fixed facing the scan position to conduct a scanning operation through the contact glass, a noise detector to detect a first noise image in a blank area of the inspection sheet by scanning the blank area of the inspection sheet, and a second noise image in the reference white plate by scanning the reference white plate; and a stain source determination unit to determine a noise origin from the contact glass or the reference white plate.
US09053356B2 Attribute determining method, attribute determining apparatus, program, recording medium, and attribute determining system
The present invention is to provide an attribute determining method, an attribute determining apparatus, a program, a recording medium, and an attribute determining system of high detection accuracy of a person with which an attribute of a person can be determined, for example, even in the case where characteristic parts of the face are hidden.The attribute determining method of the present invention includes an image acquiring step (S11) of acquiring an image of a person to be determined, an attribute determination region detecting step (S21) of detecting at least two attribute determination regions selected from the group consisting of a head region, a facial region, and other regions from the image of a person to be determined, and an attribute determining step (S22) of determining an attribute based on images of the at least two attribute determination regions.
US09053355B2 System and method for face tracking
Improved face tracking is provided during determination of an image by an imaging device using a low power face tracking unit. In one embodiment, image data associated with a frame and one or more face detection windows from a face detection unit may be received by the face tracking unit. The face detection windows are associated with the image data of the frame. A face list may be determined based on the face detection windows and one or more faces may be selected from the face list to generate an output face list. The output face list may then be provided to a processor of an imaging device for the detection of an image based on at least one of coordinate and scale values of the one or more faces on the output face list.
US09053353B2 Image classification of germination potential of somatic embryos
The present invention is directed towards methods for the classification of plant embryos by the application of one or more classification algorithms to analyze digitized images and absorption, transmittance, or reflectance spectra. The methods are generally applicable and emphasize the importance of acquiring and using as much image and absorption, transmittance, or reflectance spectral information as possible, based on objective criteria. The present invention allows automated selection of embryos most suitable for further culture and rejection of those seen as less suitable.
US09053350B1 Efficient identification and correction of optical character recognition errors through learning in a multi-engine environment
OCR errors are identified and corrected through learning. An error probability estimator is trained using ground truths to learn error probability estimation. Multiple OCR engines process a text image, and convert it into texts. The error probability estimator compares the outcomes of the multiple OCR engines for mismatches, and determines an error probability for each of the mismatches. If the error probability of a mismatch exceeds an error probability threshold, a suspect is generated and grouped together with similar suspects in a cluster. A question for the cluster is generated and rendered to a human operator for answering. The answer from the human operator is then applied to all suspects in the cluster to correct OCR errors in the resulting text. The answer is also used to further train the error probability estimator.
US09053344B2 Securing sensitive data for cloud computing
A method and associated system for securing sensitive data in a cloud computing environment. A system has proprietary data as a record stored in a database. The system associates a hashing directive with the record prior to sending the data out to a cloud for computing services. The hashing directive classifies each data field of the record into sensitive and transactional. The hashing directive controls a mode of hashing, either one-way hashing or two-way hashing for each sensitive data field associated with the hashing directive. A cloud receives the record secured according to the hashing directive and process the record to generate a result value for a cloud process result field of the record. The system reconstitutes the record the record according to the mode of hashing indicated in the hashing directive.
US09053343B1 Token-based debugging of access control policies
Methods and systems for allowing system administrators to effectively debug access control issues experience by users without comprising security. In some embodiment, when a user's request to access services provided by a service provider is denied, the user may be issued a token that encodes some of debugging information useful for determining the cause of the denial of access. The debugging information may be encoded such that it is inaccessible to the user. Subsequently, the user may give the token to an administrator. The administrator may submit the token to the service provider, which may decode the token and provide the administrator access to debugging information that is useful for debugging access control policies causing the denial of access.
US09053342B2 Multi-identity for secure file sharing
Techniques for controlling access to shared data files such as stored in a collaborative file sharing service. Organizations want to have access to data originated by their employees and want that access to continue even when the employees leave the company. Also, organizations do not want former employees to have access to the company's files. A file storage service uses an Organization's recovery key while creating a recovery record for a file (which may be stored in a folder), and protected using a Work identity. The individual person who originally creates a file and/or shares a folder securely with others is considered the folder's owner as long as he is part of the same Organization. User's identities are validated upon access. The keys are also purged from a local key store as soon as identity changes are detected. In this way, the folder owner will not be able to decrypt files stored in a folder shared using a Work identity if the identity is canceled by the Organization.
US09053336B2 Document display system, display device, controller and computer readable medium
A document display system includes: a plurality of display units that display an image of an electronic document including a plurality of pages for each page unit; a plurality of detecting units that detect a display operation performed by a user to each of the plurality of display units; and a control unit that controls the display unit related to the detecting unit that detects the display operation to display a page image in order of the pages corresponding to the order of detecting the display operations.
US09053331B2 Securisation of a remote executable code using a footprint of the computer recipient
Method of securing exchanges between two electronic devices, by using an imprint of at least one of the two devices. This imprint is obtained on the basis of all or part of the electronic components of which this device is composed. This imprint will serve, either to protect the confidentiality of the data exchanged, or to attest to the identity of the device issuing the data.
US09053329B2 Systems and methods for validated secure data access
Methods, systems, and techniques for securing access to stored data are provided. Example embodiments provide a Storage Management System (“SMS”) that is configured to facilitate protected information sharing. The SMS may restrict access to shared information based on one or more criteria that validate an entity's right to access the information. For example, the SMS may restrict access to entities that are located in a particular geographic region, that are using a particular type of hardware or software, that hold particular credentials, or the like. In some cases, the SMS may require that an entity's claim to meet on or more required criteria be validated by a trusted third party.
US09053325B2 Decryption key management system
A decryption key management system includes a memory, a memory controller, a decryption engine, and an on-chip crypto-accelerator. A key blob and an encrypted code are stored in the memory. The memory controller fetches the key blob and stores it in a memory buffer. The decryption engine fetches the key blob and decrypts it using an OTP key to generate a decryption key. The decryption key is used to decrypt the encrypted code and generate a decrypted code.
US09053319B2 Context-sensitive taint processing for application security
In one implementation, a tag is associated with a tainted value of an application and an output context of the application that is associated with output from the application that includes the tainted value is determined. A taint processing is a applied to the tainted value in response to the output of the tainted value, the taint processing is compatible with the output context.
US09053314B2 Integrated login input apparatus and method in portable terminal
An apparatus and method in a portable terminal for an integrated login input are provided. The integrated login input method includes, displaying a plurality of images during registration of a password, displaying a plurality of images, selecting one of the plurality of displayed images, determining a coordinate system according to an encryption level to be set for the password and applying the determined coordinate system to the selected image, changing a tilt of the portable terminal by an angle and detecting the changed tilt, receiving a selection of the user on a region of the selected image, and combining the detected tilt and coordinates corresponding to the region where the user's selection is generated and registering the combination as the password.
US09053308B2 Multi electro-biometric user recognition
A pair of contacts on a processor-based device may be used to collect two different types of human physiological data. That data may then be used to authenticate the user of such a device.
US09053305B2 System and method for generating one-time password for information handling resource
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a method may include generating a random number to be associated with an information handling resource. The method may also include generating a challenge string based at least on the random number. The method may additionally include encrypting the challenge string using a first shared secret. The method may further include receiving a one-time password generated by a vendor associated with the information handling resource, the one-time password generated by decrypting the challenge string using the first shared secret, parsing the random number from the decrypted challenge string, and digitally signing the decrypted challenge string with a digital signature using a second shared secret. The method may also include granting user access to the information handling resource in response to verifying, using the second shared secret, that the digital signature matches the random number.
US09053303B2 Apparatus, authentication system, authentication control method, authentication control program, and computer-readable recording medium having authentication control program
A disclosed image forming apparatus includes an authentication information reception unit configured to receive first authentication information input to the image forming apparatus, an authentication control unit configured to send the first authentication information to a first authentication apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus via a network and cause the first authentication apparatus to carry out a first authentication based on the first authentication information, and an authentication information recording unit configured to record, when the first authentication based on the first authentication information has succeeded, the first authentication information therein as second authentication information. In the image forming apparatus, the authentication control unit carries out, in a case where the first authentication apparatus is not available, a second authentication based on the second authentication information recorded in the authentication information recording unit in lieu of the first authentication based on the first authentication information.
US09053301B2 Method for logging in to computer, information processing apparatus and computer-readable information recording medium
In a method for logging in to a computer, a log-in display is carried out on a terminal unit when the terminal unit is connected to a system management apparatus. A display is carried out to urge an operator to carry out a physical operation when a log-in starting operation is carried out to the terminal unit in response to the log-in display. An operation detection signal is sent when detecting the physical operation carried out to an operating panel. The computer enters a logged-in state when the operation detection signal is detected.
US09053300B2 Device and a method for generating software code
A method to generate final software code resistant to reverse engineering analysis from an initial software code, said initial software code transforming an input data to an output data, said final software code being executed by a processor being able to directly handle data of a maximum bit length M, comprising the steps of: building a conversion table comprising in one side one instruction and in the other side a plurality of equivalent instructions or sets of instructions; splitting the input data into a plurality of segments of random length, said segments having a length equal or smaller than the maximum bit length M; for each instruction of a block of instructions, selecting pseudo-randomly an equivalent instruction or set of instructions from the conversion table so as to obtain an equivalent block of instructions; and appending the plurality of equivalent blocks of instructions to obtain the final software code.
US09053290B2 Method and system of estimating the cross-sectional area of a molecule for use in the prediction of ion mobility
A method of estimating the cross-sectional area of a molecule for use in the prediction of ion mobility gives gas phase interaction radii determination and cross-sectional algorithm computation to provide separation and characterization of structurally related isomers. More specifically, the invention provides a method of correlating the differences in the molecular structures with differences in anti-cancer activity of pre-determined anti-cancer drugs by utilizing a new algorithm for estimating the cross-sectional area of the molecules of such drugs.
US09053287B1 Notch detection and correction in mask design data
Mask data is analyzed for the presence of a notch. A notch candidate on a polygon boundary of mask data is defined as a plurality of line segments that includes an initial line segment, a final line segment and at least two line segments therebetween. The initial and final line segments define adjacent edges of the notch candidate and have an angle therebetween within a defined range. A direction of each line segment is a direction of travel from the initial line segment to the final line segment. A plurality of conditions is applied to the plurality of line segments and the direction of travel, and the notch candidate is a notch when all conditions are satisfied. The notch may be removed from the data before mask writing.
US09053284B2 Method and system for overlay control
A method for overlay monitoring and control is introduced in the present disclosure. The method comprises forming resist patterns on one or more wafers in a lot by an exposing tool; selecting a group of patterned wafers in the lot using a wafer selection model; selecting a group of fields for each of the selected group of patterned wafers using a field selection model; selecting at least one point in each of the selected group of fields using a point selection model; measuring overlay errors of the selected at least one point on a selected wafer; forming an overlay correction map using the measured overlay errors on the selected wafer; and generating a combined overlay correction map using the overlay correction map of each selected wafer in the lot.
US09053283B2 Methods for layout verification for polysilicon cell edge structures in finFET standard cells using filters
Methods for verifying the layout for standard cells using finFET standard cell structures with polysilicon on cell edges. Standard cells are defined using finFET transistors. Polysilicon dummy structures are formed on the edges of the active areas of the standard cells. Where two standard cells abut a single polysilicon dummy structure is formed. In a design flow, a pre-layout netlist schematic for the standard cells is formed that does not include devices corresponding to the polysilicon dummy structures. After an automated place and route process forms a device layout using the standard cells, a post layout netlist schematic is extracted including MOS devices corresponding to the polysilicon dummy structures. A layout versus schematic comparison is then performed, but during the comparison MOS devices corresponding to the polysilicon dummy structures are filtered from the post-layout netlist and are not compared. Additional methods are disclosed.
US09053281B2 Dual-structure clock tree synthesis (CTS)
Dual-structure clock tree synthesis (CTS) is described. Some embodiments can construct a set of upper-level clock trees, wherein each leaf of each upper-level clock tree is a root of a lower-level clock tree. Each upper-level clock tree can be optimized to reduce an impact of on-chip-variation and/or cross-corner variation on clock skew. Next, for each leaf of each upper-level clock tree, the embodiments can construct a lower-level clock tree to distribute a clock signal from the leaf of the upper-level clock tree to a set of clock sinks. The lower-level clock tree can be optimized to reduce latency, power consumption, and/or area.
US09053280B2 Rule optimization in lithographic imaging based on correlation of functions representing mask and predefined optical conditions
Methods, computer program products and apparatuses for optimizing design rules for producing a mask are disclosed, while keeping the optical conditions (including but not limited to illumination shape, projection optics numerical aperture (NA) etc.) fixed. A cross-correlation function is created by multiplying the diffraction order functions of the mask patterns with the eigenfunctions from singular value decomposition (SVD) of a TCC matrix. The diffraction order functions are calculated for the original design rule set, i.e., using the unperturbed condition. ILS is calculated at an edge of a calculated image of a critical polygon using the cross-correlation results and using translation properties of a Fourier transform. Once an optimum separation is calculated, it is incorporated into the design rule to optimize the mask layout for improved ILS throughout the mask.
US09053277B2 Clock tree construction across clock domains
Disclosed is a method and system for clock tree construction across clock domains, an integrated circuit and fabrication method thereof. A method for clock tree construction includes acquiring a netlist describing an integrated circuit (IC), comprising data for describing physical locations and logic connections of clock sinks belonging to multiple clock domains on the pattern of the IC, and constructing the clock tree across clock domains based on the netlist, such that clock cells belonging to different clock domains can share more physical locations. Accordingly, clock trees can be constructed across clock domains to improve IC performance.
US09053272B2 Method and apparatus of hardware acceleration of EDA tools for a programmable logic device
Disclosed is a hardware accelerator for development engineering processes for a programmable logic device, such as for an FPGA.
US09053271B1 Integrated circuit reset system modification tool
An electronic design automation (EDA) tool that analyzes a circuit design to identify sequential elements (flip-flops) that do not need to be reset, for example, because they do not need to be initialized in order to be in a known state, and converts the identified sequential elements to non-resettable circuits, which saves power and area.
US09053270B1 Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for synchronous hierarchical implementation of electronic circuit designs
Various embodiments use connectivity information or model(s), design attribute(s), and system intelligence layer(s) to make lower blocks at lower levels aware of changes made in other blocks at same or different levels to implement the design at different levels synchronously. Budgeting is performed for the design to distribute budgets to respective blocks in the design. The various budgets may be borrowed from one or more blocks and lent to a block in order for this block to meet closure requirements such that a total number of iterations of the reassembly process, which integrates lower level blocks into top level design, may be reduced or completely eliminated. The design attribute(s) or the connectivity model(s) or information is updated upon the identification of changes to provide the latest information or data for properly closing a design.
US09053264B2 What-if simulation methods and systems
What-if simulation methods and systems are provided. A design coding in HDL (Hardware Description Language) and a simulation result corresponding to the design are provided. A what-if design scope and a what-if time window are received. A portion of the design is extracted from the design according to the what-if design scope, and primary input signals are determined during the extraction of the sub-design. Then, what-if simulation data is extracted from the simulation result according to the primary input signals and the what-if time window. A what-if test bench is generated according to the what-if simulation data, wherein the what-if simulation data is read, and the signal values are fed to a simulator according to the what-if test bench.
US09053258B2 Automatic explode based on occlusion
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products feature providing a rendering of a three-dimensional assembly of components. An explosion sequence for separating first components of the assembly is determined. The explosion sequence comprises stages in which each stage represents a different spatial relationship between two or more of the first components. A first input is received from an interactive control. A first stage in the explosion sequence is selected based on the first input. The rendering of the assembly is updated, responsive to the first input, to show the first stage of the explosion sequence. A second input is received from the interactive control. A different second stage in the explosion sequence is selected based on the second input. The rendering of the assembly is updated, responsive to the second input, to show the second stage of the explosion sequence.
US09053254B2 Massive model visualization in PDM systems
Massive model visualization in product data management (PDM) systems. A method includes storing a massive model database for a product data structure in a PDM server system, including storing a spatial bounding box hierarchy that acts as a spatial index for spatial bounding boxes of a plurality of unconfigured components of the product data structure and storing a cell table that associates cells of the spatial bounding box hierarchy to corresponding component identifiers of the product data structure. The method includes responding to component identifier requests from a client system by sending requested component identifiers from the product data structure to the client system. The component identifier requests correspond to visible components of an assembly represented by the product data structure. The method includes transmitting geometric data to the client system, the geometric data corresponding to components of the product data structure associated with the requested component identifiers.
US09053252B2 Storage expansion apparatus and server
A storage expansion apparatus and a server, where the storage expansion apparatus includes a quick path interconnect (QPI) interface module, which communicates with a central processing unit (CPU) through a QPI bus; a peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) interface module, which communicates with the CPU through a PCIe bus; an interface selecting module, connected to the QPI interface module and the PCIe interface module separately; a home agent (HA) module, connected to the interface selecting module; and a memory controller engine (MCEng) module, connected to the HA module and the interface selecting module separately. The storage expansion apparatus may serve as a CPU memory capacity expansion device, and may also serve as storage expansion hardware of storage input and output (TO).
US09053251B2 Providing a sideband message interface for system on a chip (SoC)
According to one embodiment, a system on a chip includes multiple agents each corresponding to an intellectual property (IP) logic and a fabric to couple the agents. The fabric can include a primary message interface and a sideband message interface. The fabric further includes one or more routers to provide out-of-band communications between the agents via this sideband message interface. To effect such communication, the router can perform a subset of ordering rules of a personal computer (PC)-based specification for sideband messages. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09053248B2 SRAM handshake
Various exemplary embodiments relate to an integrated circuit including: a RF interface; a wired interface connectable to a host; a volatile memory having a first block and a last block configured to store data transferred between the RF interface and the wired interface; and a memory controller configured to detect when the last block of the volatile memory has been written and to indicate that the volatile memory is ready to read. Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method performed by a tag including: determining that data is to be received on the first interface; blocking the second interface; writing data from the first interface to a volatile memory; detecting that the last block of the volatile memory has been written; unblocking the second interface; indicating that data is available for reading; blocking the first interface; and reading data from the volatile memory to the second interface.
US09053247B2 Monitor circuit, bus system, and bus bridge
By connecting, to a bus bridge according to a configuration of a bus system, a monitor circuit including an activation control circuit generating a counter activation signal from an input monitor activation signal, a counter circuit, activated by the counter activation signal, counting the transfer number using a signal of bridge transfer completion indicating an issuance of one transfer from a bus bridge, and outputting a count completion signal when the transfers of the same number as that stuck in the bus bridge indicated by the signal of the transfer number stuck in the bridge is issued when being activated, and a completion control circuit outputting a monitor completion signal upon receiving the count completion signal from the counter circuit, consistency of data may be guaranteed in any bus system without changing the configuration of the bus bridge based on the number of masters accessing the bus bridge.
US09053244B2 Utilization-aware low-overhead link-width modulation for power reduction in interconnects
Methods and apparatus relating to low-overhead utilization-aware link-width modulation to reduce power consumption in interconnects are described. In one embodiment, a link width modulation logic adjusts the width of an interconnect link. More particularly, the link width modulation logic causes the interconnect link to transition from a first width to a second width based on comparison of a utilization value associated with the interconnect link against at least one of a plurality of utilization threshold values. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.
US09053241B2 Scripting application with role identification
In at least some embodiments, a computer system includes a processor and a computer-readable storage medium coupled to the processor and storing a scripting application. The scripting application, when executed, is configured to selectively record user actions on user interface (UI) objects of a browser hosted application based on identification of at least one role for each UI object.
US09053239B2 Systems and methods for synchronizing software execution across data processing systems and platforms
Systems and methods for software automation are provided. Software testcases are distributed across multiple data processing systems (equivalently, “machines” or “hosts”) that may collectively include multiple platforms (equivalently, “operating systems”). A testcase may be executed as one or more processes progressing through a sequence of phases, with execution within a phase being asynchronous among processes. Synchronization of the testcase processes across the data processing systems and platforms may be effected by managing an event; the testcase processes block on the event upon completion of the current testcase phase. A testcase phase execution service on each host handles synchronization events. The definition of the testcase may include metadata that identifies the particular phases in sequence, that is phase names, for the testcase; the phase names identifies the phases to the synchronization process that triggers the synchronization events which initiate each succeeding phase of the testcase.
US09053237B2 Test script generation
A test script generation system may generate end-to-end test scripts to test a software application. A workflow generator may generate recommendations of suggested modules corresponding to domain-specific reference application maps to include in a workflow. A visual representation of the workflow may be generated and provide an indication of suggested modules that have not been included in the workflow. A script generator may generate the end-to-end test scripts based on the workflow.
US09053235B1 Program code interface for providing program code and corresponding results of evaluating the program code
A device may receive an indication to evaluate a first portion of program code and a second portion of program code provided in a first section of a user interface. The device may evaluate the first portion of program code and the second portion of program code. The device may generate a first result corresponding to the first portion of program code and may generate a second result corresponding to the second portion of program code based on evaluating the first portion of program code and the second portion of program code. The device may provide the first result and the second result in a second section of the user interface. The second section may be separate from the first section. The device may provide a correspondence indicator that indicates a correspondence between the first result and the first portion of program code.
US09053233B2 Method and device for controlling debug event resources
Software executed at a data processor unit includes a software debugger. The software debugger can be assigned responsibility for servicing a debug event, and be authorized to allow software control of debug event resources associated with the debug event. An indicator, when asserted, prevents a authorized request by software to control a debug event resource.
US09053232B2 Method and apparatus for supporting a unified debug environment
A field programmable gate array (FPGA) includes a soft processor and a soft processor debug unit implemented by programmable logic on the FPGA. The FPGA includes a system on a chip (SOC) that includes a hard processor and a hard processor debug unit. The FPGA includes a bus bridge, coupled to an input output (IO) of the FPGA, operable to transmit data between the IO and the soft processor debug unit and the hard processor debug unit.
US09053231B2 Systems and methods for analyzing operations in a multi-tenant database system environment
A system and method for analyzing operations in a multi-tenant database system environment is provided. The system may include a database storing tenant application data and common application data, the tenant application data and common application data controlling a creation, read, update, deletion or undeletion of an object in the multi-tenant database system environment. The system may further include a processor to analyze the tenant application data and common application data to identify therein where the object is being modified, and generate a report identifying potential errors or side effects which may affect the object based upon the analyzed tenant application data and common application data.
US09053227B2 Concurrent assertion
A concurrency assertions system disclosed herein provides for atomic evaluation of an assertion expression by locking an assertion lock upon initiating an assertion and thereby protecting the assertion evaluation from concurrent modifications to the variables in the assertion expressions. When a violation of an assertion is detected, the concurrency assertions system ensures that the exception statistics at the time of the assertion violation represents a program state where the assertion is violated, thus improving analysis of assertion violations. Furthermore, the concurrency assertions system continuously evaluates an expression for an assertion for a time period while other threads in the program are being executed.
US09053226B2 Administering connection identifiers for collective operations in a parallel computer
Administering connection identifiers for collective operations in a parallel computer, including prior to calling a collective operation, determining, by a first compute node of a communicator to receive an instruction to execute the collective operation, whether a value stored in a global connection identifier utilization buffer exceeds a predetermined threshold; if the value stored in the global ConnID utilization buffer does not exceed the predetermined threshold: calling the collective operation with a next available ConnID including retrieving, from an element of a ConnID buffer, the next available ConnID and locking the element of the ConnID buffer from access by other compute nodes; and if the value stored in the global ConnID utilization buffer exceeds the predetermined threshold: repeatedly determining whether the value stored in the global ConnID utilization buffer exceeds the predetermined threshold until the value stored in the global ConnID utilization buffer does not exceed the predetermined threshold.
US09053224B2 Molecular profiling of tumors
Provided herein are methods and systems of molecular profiling of diseases, such as cancer. In some embodiments, the molecular profiling can be used to identify treatments for a disease, such as treatments that were not initially identified as a treatment for the disease or not expected to be a treatment for a particular disease.
US09053221B2 Promotion of performance parameters in distributed data processing environment
A method of performance monitoring in a data processing environment is provided. The data processing environment includes multiple systems, each of which has resources. Each resource relates to a resource type, wherein at least one performance parameter is defined for each resource type. The method includes determining a value of the at least one performance parameter for at least one resource, aggregating performance parameter values and related resources of a resource type, creating for at least a part of the resources a next predefined aggregation level which includes all resources relating to the resource type and associating all performance parameter values to this aggregation level, and repeating the creating for at least a part of the resources a next predefined aggregation level until a predefined target aggregation level of the data processing environment has been reached.
US09053216B1 CPU register assisted virtual machine screenshot capture timing apparatuses, methods and systems
The CPU REGISTER ASSISTED VIRTUAL MACHINE SCREENSHOT CAPTURE TIMING APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“CRV”) transforms register retrieval requests, via CRV components, into boot success messages and screenshot capture command invocation outputs. A method comprises determining when to capture a screenshot of a virtual machine's display output by observing the values of a virtual CPU's registers, or the entropy of the virtual CPU's register values, obtained from a hypervisor in communication with the virtual machine's virtual CPU. The method further comprises determining when the virtual machine is at a boot success state and capturing a screenshot of the virtual machine display output.
US09053214B2 Apparatus for collecting lifelog data and method thereof
Disclosed are an apparatus for collecting lifelog data and a method thereof according to the present invention.The present invention relates to an apparatus for collecting lifelog data and a method thereof, which collect information for analyzing a behavior pattern from devices used by a user in everyday life, convert the collected information according to a preset schema, and provide the converted information.
US09053206B2 Method and system of extracting web page information
A method of extracting web page information includes analyzing a document object model (DOM) structure of a sample page to obtain a position of information to be extracted. A node corresponding to the position of the information to be extracted is rendered in the DOM structure as a target node. Starting from the target node, relative position information is traversed recursively until the root node is found to create candidate paths. The candidate paths are rendered as a path set. A DOM structure of a page to be extracted is analyzed, information is located in the DOM structure of the page starting from the root node in the path set, and an extracted node candidate set is obtained. A node having highest robustness from the extracted node candidate set is selected to be a final extracted node and extracted information is obtained using the extracted node.
US09053204B2 Method for navigating within a search result obtained by means of a search engine
A method for navigating within a search result obtained with a search engine installed on an electronic device, wherein a list of results is obtained from a data server, the navigation method including: identifying, in each result in the list of results, first components of the result considered, and second components of the result considered; organizing the first components into a first sub-list of results and the second components into a second sub-list of results; restoring the first sub-list of results into a first display area of the screen, and the second sub-list of results into a second display area of the screen; synchronizing the selection of a result in the first sub-list of results with the selection of a corresponding result in the second sub-list of results; and using a multi-touch interface in order to select a search result spread over a plurality of lists showing a different view of the same information.
US09053203B2 Provider-specific parsing for content retrieval
This document describes techniques for, and apparatuses capable of, provider-specific parsing for content retrieval. In one embodiment, a user's computing device receives code (e.g., an executable script) from a content provider and utilizes a parsing scheme associated with the content provider to parse the code and determine an address that can be used to retrieve an instance of content. The instance of content can then be retrieved using the address and without executing the code. In some embodiments, the parsing scheme is specific to the content provider and can be updated based on a change to the code.
US09053202B2 Apparatus and methods for user generated translation
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for enabling user communities around the world to engage in translation of web properties while using such web properties. In certain embodiments, a translation interface is provided with a served web property to allow users to submit translations for user interface (UI) strings from a particular property interface. While a user is engaging with the web property, the interface can also enable in-context editing and submission of translations. For example, translation submission can be presented as a replacement for the translated text within the page that is being rendered to the translator user. Certain interface embodiments also are configured to allow the user community to give feedback on the submitted translations.
US09053201B2 Communication with a web compartment in a client application
A secure communication method between a web compartment and a client application can allow network updates to be used for a client application. For example, a secure communication method can allow predefined operations to be carried out on a client machine. An example web compartment can include an iframe tag and the communication can be a string command, such as by using a postmessage API. Such a structure allows some user interface elements to be supplied from a client device and other user interface elements to be supplied a server computer.
US09053198B2 Systems and methods for the creation, transmission and storage of information and subsequent retrieval by a user
Systems and methods for the creation, transmission and storage of information related to a specific person, animal, place or object and subsequent retrieval of information by a user positioned at remote locations are disclosed. The systems and methods comprise information; data input computer equipment, an operating system, software and methods for the electronic recording, scanning or creation of information; a remote electronic memory storage facility or capability, commonly known as “cloud computing and/or storage”; unique infographic symbols and a mobile computing device equipped with a camera capable of retrieving information via a communications link to the Internet and displaying the information at a remote location. The infographic symbol can be a QR code or other code laser bonded to the surface of a substrate.
US09053197B2 Suggesting websites
An apparatus and a method for suggesting a web site is described. In one embodiment, a user at a client enters a web address. A suggestion server receives the web address and generates one or more suggested web addresses for the user based on an analysis of captured aggregate online users behavior in relation to the web address. The suggestion server stores and organizes results of the analysis of the captured aggregate online users behavior. The results includes a list of two or more substantially related and relevant web addresses. The suggestion server compares the web address with the results of the analysis to generate the one or more suggested web addresses. The one or more suggested web addresses are sent to the client.
US09053195B2 Method and system for user and reference ranking in a database
A method and system for user and reference ranking in a database or index. Users may provide reference anchors to references and those may be rated by other users. References may be rated by users and the feedback of those ratings may dynamically alter a prior user's score or ranking. The weight of a user's rating thereafter may be influenced by his score or ranking. Users or the system may create categories, which may be cross-referenced, and users may provide ratings of those categories as well. Users may also suggest search fields for categories. Feedback ratings for the search fields and categories may also affect a user's score or ranking.
US09053194B2 Method and apparatus for correlating and viewing disparate data
A computer-implemented method comprising collecting data from a plurality of information sources, identifying a geographic location associated with the data and forming a corresponding event according to the geographic location, correlating the data and the event with one or more topics based at least partly on the identified geographic location and storing the correlated data and event and inferring the associated geographic location if the data does not comprise explicit location information, including matching the data against a database of geo-referenced data.
US09053193B1 System and method for filtering content based on gestures
In order to provide filtering of content to be presented on a mobile device, a gesture-based preferencing system and method may be employed. When content is presented to a user, the user may indicate a positive or negative preference toward that content by making a gesture. The gesture may be detected by a motion sensor and the preference of the content indicated by the gesture may be stored in a preference datastore. The preference may be used to subsequently filter content that is to be presented to the user.
US09053191B2 Retroactive search of objects using k-d tree
In one embodiment, a method includes at time t2, determining a delta set of first objects representing a difference between a first set of first objects at time t1 and a second set of first objects at time t2; comparing the delta set of first objects with a set of second objects represented as a balanced k-dimensional tree; and identifying each second object whose content substantially matches content of at least one first object from the delta set of first objects.
US09053190B1 Electronic book building system and method
A method, system and computer program product for building a custom publication is provided. A user may access a library of electronic source publications having defined units of content within the source publications, the library storing source publication metadata for the defined units of content. The user may select units of content from source publications for inclusion in an unpublished custom publication. The unpublished custom publication may be published in an electronic or printed format, wherein publishing the unpublished custom publication comprises applying consistent styling to common structural elements in the set of custom publication units of content to create a published custom publication with consistent styling.
US09053188B2 Web browser accessible search engine with statistics gathering persistence
A search engine server interacts with a client devices and web servers to enhance the quality of search service based on statistics that are gathered by the system. The search engine server monitors the quality of service and data format (i.e. encoding needed for secured delivery) of search results or searched web pages delivered from the web servers. On the client side, the system generates page content usefulness statistics by monitoring user interaction with search results or web pages on the client device. Each of the visited web pages/links is associated with a vectoring event, and a vector event table is constructed using these vectoring events from all the visited web pages or search results. The vectoring event table from several search sessions are retrieved periodically, and used to compute/evaluate statistics for each of the web servers that host web pages.
US09053186B2 Method and apparatus for detecting and explaining bursty stream events in targeted groups
A method and apparatus are provided for detecting and explaining bursty stream events in targeted groups. In one example, the method includes receiving validated bursty events, finding explanatory data sources having relevant bursty events that are relevant to the validated bursty events, wherein the explanatory sources explain the presence of the validated bursty events, correlating the validated bursty events to the relevant bursty events of the explanatory data sources to obtain burst results, and sending the burst results to a burst database that is accessible to an end user.
US09053183B2 System and method for storing and retrieving non-text-based information
A method for non-text-based identification of a selected item of stored music. The first broad portion of the method focuses on building a music identification database. That process requires capturing a tag of the selected musical item, and processing the tag to develop reference key to the same. Then the tag is stored, together with the reference key and an association to the stored music. The database is built by collecting a multiplicity of tags. The second broad portion of the method is retrieving a desired item of stored music from the database. That process calls for capturing a query tag from a user, and processing the query tag to develop a query key to the same. The query tag is compared to reference keys stored in the database to identify the desired item of stored music.
US09053180B2 Identifying common data objects representing solutions to a problem in different disciplines
An approach is provided for identifying a solution to a problem where the problem and solution are in different disciplines. First data elements in common between first and second ontologies are determined and second data elements in common between first and third ontologies are determined. Based on the number of first data elements exceeding a threshold value and the number of second data elements not exceeding the threshold value, a bridged ontology is generated that merges the first and second ontologies but not the first and third ontologies. A relationship is identified between a subject, predicate and object extracted from a first data object which specifies the problem and, respectively, a subject, predicate, and object of a second data object included in the bridged ontology. Based on the relationship, the solution is identified as being the second data object.
US09053179B2 Citation network viewer and method
A visualization-based interactive legal research tool that generates from a multi-dimensional citation network a semantics-constrained citation sub-network that focuses on one individual issue in which a user is interested, and puts the sub-network on an interactive user interface (“UT”), which allows the researcher to browse, navigate, and jump over to start new sub-networks on different issues that are relevant to original issues.
US09053177B1 Sitelinks based on visual location
A computing device may receive a request for sitelinks corresponding to a document and identify a plurality of hyperlinks corresponding to the document. Each hyperlink, of the plurality of hyperlinks, may include a hyperlink object within the document. The computing device may determine a visual location corresponding to each hyperlink of the plurality of hyperlinks corresponding to the document, and assign a score to each hyperlink, of the plurality of hyperlinks, based on the visual location corresponding to the hyperlink. The computing device may provide a sitelink, corresponding to a hyperlink, of the plurality of hyperlinks, based on the score assigned to the hyperlink.
US09053172B2 Medical image processing apparatus, program, and medical apparatus
According to one embodiment, a medical image processing apparatus includes a reception unit, determination unit, dividing unit, processing control unit, and storage processing unit. The reception unit receives first data including supported and unsupported tags, and individual data added to the supported or unsupported tag. The determination unit determines whether a tag included in the first data is supported or not. The dividing unit divides the first data into second data and third data. The processing control unit executes data processing by referring to the second data. The storage processing unit generates fourth data by adding second data to data acquired by the processing.
US09053169B2 Profile construction using location-based aggregate profile information
Systems and methods are disclosed for creating a user profile for a subject user based on historical aggregate profile data for locations at which the subject user was previously located. In one embodiment, one or more location and time period pairs are determined for the subject user, each defining a previous location of the subject user and a time period during which the subject user was at the location. For a plurality of location and time period pairs, a plurality of historical aggregate profiles for a corresponding plurality of sub-bands within the time period defined by each location and time period pair in the plurality of location and time period pairs is obtained. A user profile for the subject user is created based on the plurality of historical aggregate profiles for the corresponding plurality of sub-bands based on relevancy ratings for the plurality of sub-bands.
US09053167B1 Storage device selection for database partition replicas
A system that implements a data storage service may store data in multiple replicated partitions on respective storage nodes. The selection of the storage nodes (or storage devices thereof) on which to store the partition replicas may be performed by administrative components that are responsible for partition management and resource allocation for respective groups of storage nodes (e.g., based on a global view of resource capacity or usage), or the selection of particular storage devices of a storage node may be determined by the storage node itself (e.g., based on a local view of resource capacity or usage). Placement policies applied at the administrative layer or storage layer may be based on the percentage or amount of provisioned, reserved, or available storage or IOPS capacity on each storage device, and particular placements (or subsequent operations to move partition replicas) may result in an overall resource utilization that is well balanced.
US09053161B2 Database table format conversion based on user data access patterns in a networked computing environment
An approach for conversion between database formats (e.g., from a relational database format to a hash table or a “big table” database format) based on user data access patterns in a networked computing environment is provided. A first set of database tables having a first format is identified based on a set of access patterns stored in a computer storage device. A second set of database tables having a second database format corresponding to the first set of database tables may then be provided (e.g., accessed, augmented, and/or generated). A mapping between the first set of database tables and the second set of database tables may then be created. A column set may then be generated based on at least one condition of the set of queries. The column set may then be used as a key for the second set of database tables.
US09053160B2 Distributed, real-time online analytical processing (OLAP)
Source data of an event stream is parsed and supplemented with additional data from reference data sources, producing an enriched event stream from the parsed event stream data. The data records of the enriched event stream are partitioned into data fields designated as a dimension partition and a metric partition, which are partitioned into sub-dimension projections mapped to a plurality of storage keys, such that each of the storage keys includes one or more placeholder wildcard values and each of the storage keys is stored into a database of the computer system by the computer processor. The stored storage keys are then aggregated onto a two-dimensional coordinate vector such that, if the computer processor identifies a permuted storage key having metric values for which a corresponding storage key already exists in the database, then the computer processor aggregates the metric values of the identified storage key with the metric values of the corresponding storage key, and if the computer processor does not identify the permuted storage key as having a corresponding storage key that already exists in the database, then the computer processor writes the metric values of the permuted storage key into the database, comprising initial values for the key combination of dimension values.
US09053157B2 Method and system for identifying job candidates
A method for ranking profile records. The method includes receiving a search request from a user, obtaining a user profile associated with the user, generating a query based on the search request, issuing the query to a profile database, receiving search results in response to the query, wherein the search results comprise a plurality of profile records, and wherein each of the plurality of profile records comprises a plurality of action records and is associated with a potential job candidate, ranking the plurality of profile records using the user profile and a plurality of network scores to obtain ranked profile records, and transmitting the ranked profile records to the user.
US09053155B2 Proxy cache aggregator
A social data aggregator generates entries of action data describing actions taken by users of a social networking system. The entries are archived in a number of remote data hosts, with a portion of the entries stored in an action cache to expedite retrieval. The action cache is modified to include relevant entries of action data by selecting the most relevant entries from proxy data aggregators, which identify sets of entries from remote data hosts coupled to the proxy data aggregators based on the relevance of the entries in the remote data hosts. The relevance of an entry is based on an associated engagement score indicating a likelihood of a user requesting content interacting with a notification based on an entry.
US09053152B2 Search and context based creation in dynamic workspaces
The disclosure generally describes computer-implemented methods, software, and systems for search-, context-, and rule-based creation and runtime adaptation in dynamic workspaces. One computer-implemented method includes identifying a data artifact associated with each search result of at least one received search result, associating each identified data artifact with a module category of a plurality of module categories, injecting the identified artifacts into a content gallery, categorize, by operation of at least one computer, the injected identified artifacts within the content gallery, presenting at least a subset of the injected identified artifacts on an enterprise workspace page associated with an enterprise workspace, and constructing a context associated with at least one of the enterprise workspace or the enterprise workspace page.
US09053148B2 Destination prediction using text analysis
A method and device relating to destination prediction of communication messages is presented. The device may include an analyzer configured to analyze a message entered in a universal input field. The analyzer may also provide a search variable based on the entered message. The device may also include a or which may be configured to receive the search variable and determine at least one suggested destination based on the search variable. The prediction of communication destinations eliminates the need for various menus and sub-menus. Thus, a user may send a communication message without the need of lengthy navigations.
US09053144B2 System and method to automatically configure a component of the system
A system and method for automatically configuring a component, such as an MCC cell), of the system includes the component, which further includes a module having storage, and a data concentrator device that is in communication with the component. The data concentrator device is in communication with a database, which may be a local ID database or a master ID database. The module stores a unique configuration code that is provided to the data concentrator device. The data concentrator device determines whether the database stores configuration information for the module that corresponds to the unique configuration code. The data concentrator device accesses the configuration information and uses it to automatically configure the component.
US09053141B2 Serialization of access to data in multi-mainframe computing environments
A multi-mainframe operating system serialization method can include receiving, in a first computing system, a request to access a data set on behalf of a first peer application, sending, in the first computing system, a notification to a second peer application to obtain a normal enqueue, in response to the second peer application obtaining the normal enqueue, obtaining, in the first computing system, a first rider enqueue for the data set and sending, in the first computing system, a communication to peer instances to obtain additional rider enqueues for the data set, the additional rider enqueues corresponding to the first rider enqueue.
US09053138B2 Merging compressed data arrays
Compressed data sets can be merged without unraveling the compressed data sets. Concatenations of vectors of a first compressed data set that extend beyond a second compressed data set with no data vectors are represented in a third compressed data set. The no data vectors represent lack of data to be contributed from the second compressed data set. The third compressed data set represents a merger of the first and the second compressed data sets. Counterpart vectors of the first and second compressed data sets are determined using compression information for the vectors. Concatenations of the counterpart vectors are represented in the third compressed data set, as well as compression information that accounts for the determined counterpart vectors.
US09053132B2 System, method and computer program product for providing a team object in association with an object
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for providing a team object in association with an object. These mechanisms and methods for providing a team object in association with an object can allow for centralized management of a team in association with an object. For example, members of the team may be automatically identified (e.g. without manual intervention) for receiving notifications in association with an object.
US09053128B2 Assertion management method and apparatus, and reasoning apparatus including the assertion management apparatus
An assertion management method includes collecting a SameAs assertion from a plurality of assertions; searching the plurality of assertions for any assertion having a first individual of the SameAs assertion as an instance; and creating a new assertion having a second individual of the SameAs assertion as an instance from each found assertion.
US09053126B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and recording medium
A disclosed information processing apparatus is connected to an information management apparatus via a network. The information processing apparatus includes a data storage unit configured to store data that specifies the information management apparatus as an access destination, and a synchronization controller unit configured to periodically compare a list of data stored in the data storage unit and a list of data stored in the information management apparatus, transmit data stored only in the data storage unit to the information management apparatus, and acquire data stored only in the information management apparatus from the information management apparatus and store the acquired data in the data storage unit.
US09053125B2 System utilizing light signals with wavelengths approximately beyond human sensitive light spectrum
Identification systems and methods for utilizing light signals with wavelengths approximately above or below human sensitive light spectrum are disclosed comprising a special mark, wherein the special mark emits or absorbs light signals in light spectrums approximately below or above the visible light spectrum, a server comprising a processing unit, and a storage area, wherein the special mark is capable of being detected by the photographic instrument, and wherein a digital file is saved in the storage area, and wherein the special mark carries information which identifies the digital file saved in the storage area.
US09053124B1 System for a distributed file system element collection
Disclosed in some examples is a data distribution mechanism for distributing a collection of file system elements across one or more computing devices. The system can include a plurality of nodes implemented on a machine. The data distribution mechanism may be used in connection with data synchronization, sharing, backup, archiving, and versioning operations for a plurality of connected machines on behalf of one or a plurality of users.
US09053118B1 Image artifact prevention
Systems and methods are provided for processing images (or other such instances of content) to detect which of the images exhibit artifacts when modified, such as by applying standard transformation algorithms to modify the images. Such techniques enable transformation algorithms to be applied to the detected images to minimize or prevent artifacts. In some embodiments, the headers of the detected images can be tagged with transformative instructions that indicate which transformation algorithms to apply. Responsive to a request from a web client to modify and render one of the detected images, embodiments obtain the requested image, read the transformative instructions in the header, apply the transformation algorithm specified in the header to modify the image so as to minimize or prevent artifacts, and render the modified image.
US09053117B2 Storing application data with a unique ID
A method, system, and apparatus for storing data in a cloud environment that enables a multi-user interface, automatic data backup, and has a schema-less data storage. A data storage database may be provided in the cloud to store one or more data objects. A data management module may be configured to assign each data object a unique ID, wherein each unique ID comprises a timestamp with a granularity between about 0.1 millionths of second and 50 millionths of a second with each ID guaranteed to be unique without regard to the number of servers assigning IDs. A data backup module may be configured to create a new data object with a unique ID in response to a request to modify an original data object, wherein the original data object remains stored with its unique ID.
US09053113B2 Autonomic generation of document structure in a content management system
A content management system (CMS) autonomically generates structure for a document when a synchronization rule references structure that does not exist in the document. A dynamic structure policy specifies at least one criterion that determines if and how the structure is autonomically generated. By autonomically generating structure in a document, a CMS administrator or CMS user (such as the author) is relieved of the manual task of generating the structure before the synchronization rule can be successfully processed. Once dynamically generated, the added structure may be auto-populated with dummy data or with default data specified in the autonomic structure policy.
US09053112B2 Automated data validation
According to some embodiments, logic executing on a processor receives a request to compare a first file and a second file. Each file comprises records, attributes, and attribute values. An attribute value is a value that a record associates with a corresponding attribute. The logic receives a mapping file indicating a key and one or more selected attributes for comparison. The logic compares each record in the first file to its corresponding record in the second file, the corresponding record determined according to the key. For records that fail to match, the logic determines which of the selected attributes are unmatched. The logic communicates a report indicating a result of comparing the first file and the second file.
US09053109B1 Systems and methods for efficient data storage for content management systems
A computer-implemented method for efficient data storage for content management systems may include (1) identifying a content management system including a relation, wherein the implementation of the relation within the content management system supports attaching files to tuples within the relation, (2) identifying a request to retrieve a file attached to a tuple within the relation, (3) identifying a metadata store of an implementation of the tuple within the content management system, the metadata store including archive identification information identifying an archive of the tuple, (4) retrieving the file from the archive of the tuple, and (5) fulfilling the request with the retrieved file. Various other methods and systems are also disclosed.
US09053103B2 Method and apparatus for interacting with a plurality of media files
Methods, apparatus and computer program products are provided for facilitating interaction with a plurality of media files. In this regard, a method may be provided that includes causing the display of an image of a respective function and a plurality of images of respective media files. The display of the images may be such that at least one image is displayed in the foreground and at least one image is displayed in the background. The method may also receive a selection of the image of the respective function. In response to the selection of the image of the respective function, the respective function is performed with respect to at least one of the media files. For example, the respective function may include a shuffle function such that the plurality of media files are caused to be played in a random order.
US09053102B2 Generation of synthetic context frameworks for dimensionally constrained hierarchical synthetic context-based objects
A processor-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product derives and utilizes a context object to generate a synthetic context-based object. A context object for a non-contextual data object is derived by contextually searching a document that contains multiple instances of the non-contextual data object. The non-contextual data object is associated with the derived context object to define a synthetic context-based object, where the non-contextual data object ambiguously relates to multiple subject-matters, and where the context object provides a context that identifies a specific subject-matter, from the multiple subject-matters, of the non-contextual data object. The synthetic context-based object is then associated with at least one specific data store, which includes data that is associated with data contained in the non-contextual data object and the context object. A dimensionally constrained hierarchical synthetic context-based object library for multiple synthetic context-based objects is then constructed for handling requests for data stores.
US09053092B2 System authorizing direct data transfers between memories of several components of that system
The invention relates in particular to a computer system including peripheral devices (600) and at least one switch (605) connected to each device. A first device includes a means for initiating a control of direct access to memory areas, each one of which is associated with a separate element of the system. The switch includes a means for transmitting at least a portion of the control to each element. At least one element comprises a second device including a means for receiving at least one control of direct access to a memory area of said second device, said control being received from said first device via said switch, and a means for transmitting said received control to a component of said second device. Said system allows said first device to perform a direct data transfer to or from a memory of said first peripheral device from or to each element.
US09053091B2 Header-token driven automatic text segmentation
A method and a system to automatically segment text based on header tokens is described. A relevance value and an irrelevance value are determined for each token in a description, assuming no tokens are left out of computations. The irrelevance value is based on occurrences of a token in a sample set of descriptions. The relevance value is an estimated probability of relevance based on the header of the description being segmented.
US09053087B2 Automatic semantic evaluation of speech recognition results
A semantic error rate calculation may be provided. After receiving a spoken query from a user, the spoken query may be converted to text according to a first speech recognition hypothesis. A plurality of results associated with the converted query may be received and compared to a second plurality of results associated with the converted query.
US09053079B2 Techniques to manage collaborative documents
Techniques to manage collaborative documents are described. An application program may comprise a document render component to render a first document instance of a collaborative document, a document share component to receive a document update list comprising a set of change records for a second document instance of the collaborative document, and modify properties of one or more constructs for the first document instance based on the change records to form a merged document instance of the collaborative document, and an undo manager component to manage a local undo stack for the first document instance, the local undo stack comprising a set of undo records, and determine whether to preserve one or more of the undo records of the local undo stack after formation of the merged document instance based on one or more of the change records. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09053078B1 Statistics overlay
A publisher web page is rendered at a client device from a publisher and the client device issues a request for traffic statistics data related to traffic content in the web page. The client device receives the traffic statistics data and overlays the traffic statistics data on the web page, e.g., proximate to the related traffic content in the web page.
US09053074B2 Computer product, writing control method, writing control apparatus, and system
A computer-readable recording medium stores a program that causes a computer to execute a writing control process that includes receiving a writing request to write a first data to a first storage apparatus; determining a second data from among a series of data and based on a writing sequence of the series of data written to the computer and a count of storage areas at a second storage apparatus that sequentially selects from among the storage areas when data is received, a storage area to be over written by the received data, where the second data is written to the first storage apparatus and is identical to data that is stored in the storage area to be selected next at the second storage apparatus; and transmitting copy data of the first data to the second storage apparatus, when the second data has been written to the first storage apparatus.
US09053072B2 End node transactions at threshold-partial fullness of storage space
An upstream-communication end node of an apparatus in an example upon a receipt of an indication of threshold-partial fullness of transaction-storage space on a downstream-communication end node modifies transaction-selection for delivery to the downstream-communication end node to exclude one or more transactions originated on the upstream-communication end node.
US09053063B2 Method and apparatus for authenticating a communication device
A method and apparatus for authenticating a communication device is disclosed. An system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an authentication system having a controller element that receives from a communication device over a packet-switched network a terminal ID and a request to authenticate said communication device, generates a first registration ID, stores the first registration ID and a first communication identifier, transmits the first registration ID to the communication device, receives from an interactive response system a second communication identifier and a second registration ID that the interactive response system received during a communication session with the communication device over a circuit-switched network, and authenticates the communication device in response to detecting a match between the first and second communication identifiers and the first and second registration IDs. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US09053061B2 Restore manager
The restore of user data techniques include a method, a system, a device and/or a computer program product. In some embodiments of these techniques, the method includes receiving user selection for restoring backed up user data to a client device. The method further includes receiving backed up user data from a server based on the user selection. The method further includes determining file location for a file in the received backed up user data based on the user selection and a parameter associated with the client device. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.
US09053057B2 Cache coherence directory in multi-processor architectures
Technologies are generally described for a cache coherence directory in multi-processor architectures. In an example, a directory in a die may receive a request for a particular block. The directory may determine a block aging threshold relating to a likelihood that data blocks, including the particular data block, are stored in one or more caches in the die. The directory may further analyze a memory to identify a particular cache indicated as storing the particular data block and identify a number of cache misses for the particular cache. The directory may identify a time when an event occurred for the particular data block and determine whether to send the request for the particular data block to the particular cache based on the aging threshold, the time of the event, and the number of cache misses.
US09053056B2 Control apparatus, storage system, and memory controlling method
In order to more efficiently use a cache memory to realize improved response ability in a storage system, there provided are a cache memory which stores the data read from the storage apparatus, an access monitoring unit which monitors a state of access from the upper apparatus to the data stored in the storage apparatus, a schedule information creating unit which creates schedule information that determines contents to be stored in the cache memory based on the access state, and a memory controlling unit which controls record-processing of the data from the storage apparatus to the cache memory and removal-processing of the data from the cache memory based on the schedule information.
US09053053B2 Efficiently determining identical pieces of memory used by virtual machines
Efficiently determining identical pieces of memory within a computer memory area, which is occupied by a virtual machine manager hosting multiple guests and the computer memory area being logically separated into memory pages of a unique size. Each guest is inspected for its structural characteristics by the virtual machine manager. The structural characteristics of each guest are compared by the virtual machine manager, wherein memory regions of guests having a similar structure are identified; and the identical memory pages are identified by the virtual machine manager by comparing hash values of memory pages located within memory regions of guests having a similar structure, wherein identical memory pages are determined by comparing hash values calculated over the contents of the memory pages.
US09053051B2 Multi-level memory controller with probability-distribution-based encoding
A memory controller includes an encoder, a modulator, and a demodulator. A nonvolatile memory includes memory cells, each programmable to one of three or more levels. According to first encoded data, the modulator programs a first subset of the memory cells to a first of the levels and a second subset of the memory cells to a second of the levels. Measurable values of the first subset are characterized by a first probability density function having a first width. Measurable values of the second subset are characterized by a second probability density function having a second width. The first width is greater than the second width. The encoder generates the first encoded data based on input data such that the first subset is smaller than the second subset. The demodulator is configured to output second encoded data in response to measurable values of the memory cells.
US09053046B2 Edge devices settings via external source
A method for externally configuring a device, wherein the device is devised for configuring, comprising positioning in a sufficient proximity external to the device a portable object provided with a representation of a configuration data for the device, wherein the representation is according to a standard non-custom industrial practice, further obtaining by the device the representation from the portable object, deciphering the representation into the configuration data by the device, and responsively configuring the device according to the configuration data by the device, and an apparatus for performing the same.
US09053039B2 Installation cache
Data caching methods and systems are provided. The data cache method loads data into an installation cache and a cache (simultaneously or serially) and returns data from the installation cache when the data has not completely loaded into the cache. The data cache system includes a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, a cache coupled to the processor and the memory and an installation cache coupled to the processor and the memory. The system is configured to load data from the memory into the installation cache and the cache (simultaneously or serially) and return data from the installation cache to the processor when the data has not completely loaded into the cache.
US09053033B1 System and method for cache content sharing
A method, computer program product, and computing system for defining a first assigned cache portion within a cache system, wherein the first assigned cache portion is associated with a first machine. At least one additional assigned cache portion within the cache system is defined. The at least one additional assigned cache portion is associated with at least one additional machine. Content received by the first machine is written to the first assigned cache portion. After the occurrence of a reclassifying event, the first assigned cache portion is reclassified as a public cache portion that is added to an initial cache portion within the cache system. The public cache portion is associated with the first machine and the at least one additional machine.
US09053030B2 Cache memory and control method thereof with cache hit rate
A cache memory comprises a data array that stores a cashed block; a first address array that stores an address of the cached block; a second address array that stores an address of a first block to be removed from the data array when a cache miss occurs; and a control unit that transmits to a processor the first block stored in the data array as a cache hit block, when the address stored in the second address array results in a cache hit during a period before a second block which has caused the cache miss is read from a memory and written into the data array.
US09053027B1 Techniques for maintaining and restoring dirty caches across CPU resets
Described are techniques for performing caching. Write operations of a single transactions are received. Write data of the write operations is cached in one or more cache pages of a first cache of a first storage processor. State information is set for the one or more cache pages of the first cache from an invalid state to a prepared state. The write data of the write operations is also stored in a second cache of a second storage processor. A transaction commit state for the single transaction is set indicating that transaction commitment processing for the first cache has commenced and is pending. State information of the one or more cache pages of the first cache is set from the prepared state to a dirty state. The transaction commit state for the single transaction is updated to indicate that the transaction commitment processing for the first cache is completed.
US09053026B2 Intelligently responding to hardware failures so as to optimize system performance
A method, system and computer program product for intelligently responding to hardware failures so as to optimize system performance. An administrative server monitors the utilization of the hardware as well as the software components running on the hardware to assess a context of the software components running on the hardware. Upon detecting a hardware failure, the administrative server analyzes the hardware failure to determine the type of hardware failure and analyzes the properties of the workload running on the failed hardware. The administrative server then responds to the detected hardware failure based on various factors, including the type of the hardware failure, the properties of the workload running on the failed hardware and the context of the software running on the failed hardware. In this manner, by taking into consideration such factors in responding to the detected hardware failure, a more intelligent response is provided that optimizes system performance.
US09053024B2 Transactions and failure
Disclosed herein are techniques for system recovery. It is determined whether a transaction depends on a change committed before a failure. It is further determined whether a transaction conflicts with a change interrupted by the failure.
US09053020B2 Online protection coordination for distribution management system
A method for automatic protection coordination in a power system network comprises identifying radial source-to-load paths and fault protection devices in the source-to-load paths, for a portion of the power system network to be coordinated. Device settings data for fault protection devices are retrieved, including multiple preconfigured settings for some devices. Fault currents for each of multiple possible electrical faults in said portion of the power system network are predicted, and a selectivity check for each pair of fault protection devices that are adjacent to one another in an identified radial source-to-load path is performed, for each of one or more of the predicted fault currents, taking into account multiple preconfigured settings for remotely controllable fault protection devices. A combination of settings for remotely controllable fault protection devices that minimizes selectivity violations among the pairs is selected, and necessary change-setting commands are sent to remotely controllable fault protection devices.
US09053017B2 Managing object lifetime in a cyclic graph
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for managing object lifetime in a cyclic graph. Embodiments of the invention include reclaiming allocated system resources, for example, from a graph of objects that mixes different resource reclamation techniques (such as reference counting and garbage collection). In response to determining that garbage collection is to be performed, references between GC objects and Ref. Counted objects are detected. A reference type (e.g., direct, indirect, standard, tracked, weakened, etc.) for any detected references is also determined. Garbage collection is performed to determine if any allocated system resources can be reclaimed. Garbage collection considers references and references types between GC objects and Ref. Counted objects when determining if objects are to be reclaimed.
US09053012B1 Systems and methods for storing data for solid-state memory
Apparatus and methods provide relatively low uncorrectable bit error rates, low write amplification, long life, fast and efficient retrieval, and efficient storage density such that a solid-state drive (SSD) can be reliably implemented using various types of memory cells, including relatively inexpensive multi-level cell flash. One embodiment intelligently coordinates remapping of bad blocks with error correction code control, which eliminates the tables used to avoid bad blocks.
US09053011B2 Selective protection of lower page data during upper page write
Lower page data that may be endangered by programming upper page data in the same memory cells is protected during upper programming using protective upper page programming schemes. High overall programming speeds are maintained by selectively using protective upper programming schemes only where endangered data is committed and may not be recoverable from another location.
US09053010B2 Cache system using solid state drive
A cache system for a storage device includes (i) one or more solid state drives (SSDs), (ii) one or more random access memories (RAMs), and (iii) a cache control device. The cache control device caches at least some of first data that is to be written to the storage device, and caches at least some of second data that is retrieved from the storage device. When caching first data or second data in one of the one or more RAMs, the cache control device writes to the one RAM non-sequentially with respect to a memory space of the one RAM. When caching first data or second data in one of the one or more SSDs, the cache control device writes to the one SSD sequentially with respect to a memory space of the one SSD.
US09053006B2 Method for memory management
The invention relates to a method for memory management, in which memory usage data relating to the use of the memory is recorded. The memory usage data is determined in response to a number of memory write and/or read accesses.
US09053003B2 Memory compaction mechanism for main memory databases
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for performing memory compaction in a main memory database. The main memory database stores records within pages which are organized in doubly linked lists within partition heaps. The memory compaction process uses quasi-updates to move records from a page to the emptied to an active page in a partition heap. The quasi-updates create a new version of the record in the active page, the new version having the same data contents as the old version of the record. The creation of the new version can be performed using a transaction that employs wait for dependencies to allow the old version of the record to be read while the transaction is creating the new version thereby minimizing the effect of the memory compaction process on other transactions in the main memory database.
US09052999B1 Method and system for transmitting a determined altitude of a user equipment device located in a building
Disclosed is a method and corresponding system for transmitting a determined altitude of a user equipment device located in a building. One embodiment takes the form of a method. The method may involve determining a first distance between a node at a known position in a building and a user equipment device located in the building based on known planar coordinates of the node and known planar coordinates of the user equipment device. The method may further involve determining a second distance between the user equipment device and the node based on propagation of at least one signal between the node and the user equipment device. The method may further involve determining an altitude of the user equipment device based on the determined first distance, the determined second distance, and a known altitude of the node. And the method may involve transmitting the determined altitude of the user equipment device.
US09052995B2 Systems and methods providing mount catalogs for rapid volume mount
Systems and methods which provide mount catalogs to facilitate rapid volume mount are shown. A mount catalog of embodiments may be provided for each aggregate containing volumes to be mounted by a takeover node of a storage system. The mount catalog may comprise a direct storage level, such as a DBN level, based mount catalog. Such mount catalogs may be maintained in a reserved portion of the storage devices containing a corresponding aggregate and volumes, wherein the storage device reserved portion is known to a takeover node. In operation according to embodiments, a HA pair takeover node uses a mount catalog to access the blocks used to mount volumes of a HA pair partner node prior to a final determination that the partner node is in fact a failed node and prior to onlining the aggregate containing the volumes.
US09052991B2 System and method for audio sample rate conversion
A method for audio sample rate conversion may include receiving an audio signal at a first rate, the audio signal having a fundamental frequency, determining absolute derivatives of the audio signal at the first rate, and generating a weighted sum of the absolute derivatives to arrive at a combined absolute derivative. The combined absolute derivative may be analyzed to locate a local minimum of the combined absolute derivative, a location in the audio signal may be selected based on the local minimum of the combined absolute derivative and at least one audio sample in the audio signal may be altered at the selected location to develop an audio signal at a second rate.
US09052986B1 Pitch shift resistant audio matching
Systems and methods are provided herein relating to audio matching. Both melody fingerprints and audio-id fingerprints can be used to improve an audio matching system's resistance to pitch shifts. A melody fingerprint can be used to identify a set of potential melody matches. Varying pitch shifted audio-id reference fingerprints can be generated for audio-id fingerprints associated with the potential matches identified in melody matching. Additional pitch shifted audio-id fingerprints of a reference sample are generated and used in matching only if an audio sample has previously been matched to a melody fingerprint of the same reference sample. A reference index need not be expanded to include pitch shifted variations of each reference sample as pitch shifted variations of audio-id fingerprint reference samples are generated and used only if their associated melody fingerprint is deemed a potential match.
US09052985B2 Method and apparatus for efficient programmable cyclic redundancy check (CRC)
A method and apparatus to optimize each of the plurality of reduction stages in a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) circuit to produce a residue for a block of data decreases area used to perform the reduction while maintaining the same delay through the plurality of stages of the reduction logic. A hybrid mix of Karatsuba algorithm, classical multiplications and serial division in various stages in the CRC reduction circuit results in about a twenty percent reduction in area on the average with no decrease in critical path delay.
US09052984B2 Exception declaration refactoring to reduce memory footprint
A system, method and program product for optimizing compiled Java code to reduce file size. A system is provided that includes: a first optimization that removes unnecessary exception declarations in the compiled Java code; a second optimization that converts checked exception declarations to unchecked exception declarations in the compiled Java code; and a third optimization that removes exception lists in the compiled Java code.
US09052982B1 Adaptive shrinking software
Methods, articles, signals, and systems are provided for adaptively shrinking software. The software includes one or more adaptive features. A tracking facility tracks use of the adaptive features, and when it is determined that a given feature is unwanted or unnecessary in the software configuration preferred by a given user, a separation facility separates the feature from the rest of the software. The feature is then archived or deleted. In this manner, resources such as disk space are conserved, program load time and memory requirements are reduced, and user interfaces and supporting code are tailored to meet the needs of particular users.
US09052980B2 Exception based quality assessment
The embodiments may include an apparatus for measuring code quality using exceptions. The apparatus may include a runtime collector configured to intercept exceptions generated by an application, and collect exception information for each exception, during runtime of the application, based on instrumentation code included within the application. The apparatus may include a collection module configured to store the intercepted exceptions and corresponding exception information in a memory unit, an exception analyzer configured to analyze the intercepted exceptions based on the collected exception information stored in the memory unit, and a report generator configured to generate at least one report based on the analysis. The at least one report may provide an indication of code quality of the application.
US09052976B2 Methods, apparatuses and computer program products for facilitating efficient deployment of software
An apparatus is provided for enabling deployment of software code within one or more environments in an efficient and reliable manner. The apparatus includes a processor configured to receive a first selection of software code built by a device and automatically deploy the software code within a first environment in response to receipt of a second selection. The processor is also configured to enable installation of the software code to one or more devices that support the first environment and deploy the software code to a second environment in response to receipt of an indication that the software code deployed within the first environment is completed and approved. Corresponding computer program products and methods are also provided.
US09052972B2 Determining the processing order of a plurality of events
A method for operating a multi-threading computational system includes: identifying related events; allocating the related events to a first thread; allocating unrelated events to one or more second threads; wherein the events allocated to the first thread are executed in sequence and the events allocated to the one or more second threads are executed in parallel to execution of the first thread.
US09052971B2 Scalable event-driven system
Processing events in a distributed environment. There is provided an apparatus which includes a central queue for receiving events and tracking their progress through filtering, correlation, and update processing of stateful target objects, at least one filtering node, at least one correlation node and at least one update node. The central queue receives events in their order of arrival, each event having an entry in the central queue. Processing of events is divided into three pipelined stages in the order of filtering, correlating and updating. A result for each event of each of filtering the events, correlating the events and updating the target object is recorded in the central queue as part of the event's queue entry. The method may be performed by one or more computing devices. The exemplary embodiments detect and compensate for any erroneous results due to unsynchronized parallel processing, and guarantee an eventually correct outcome.
US09052965B2 Virtual machine for execution on multiple computing systems
A portable computing system can include a first virtue machine. The portable computing system can connect to a computing system. The computing system can access the virtual machine on the portable computing system.
US09052963B2 Cloud computing data center machine monitor and control
Systems, methods and computer-readable media provide for identifying a physical machine corresponding to a virtual machine. A system assigns a data center machine identifier to a physical computing device in a data center, along with a physical location for the physical computing system. In response to creating a virtual machine on the physical computing device, the system creates a mapping from a virtual machine identifier for the virtual machine to the data center machine identifier for the physical computing system.
US09052961B2 System to generate a deployment plan for a cloud infrastructure according to logical, multi-tier application blueprint
A deployment system enables a developer to generate a deployment plan according to a logical, multi-tier application blueprint defined by application architects. The deployment plan includes tasks to be executed for deploying application components on virtual computing resource provided in a cloud infrastructure. The deployment plan includes time dependencies that determine an execution order of the tasks according to dependencies between application components specified in the application blueprint. The deployment plan enables system administrators to view the application blueprint as an ordered workflow view that facilitates collaboration between system administrators and application architects.
US09052957B2 Method and system for conducting intensive multitask and multiflow calculation in real-time
The system for conducting intensive multitask and multistream calculation in real time comprises a central processor core (SPP) for supporting the system software and comprising a control unit (ESCU) for assigning threads of an application, the non-critical threads being run by the central processor core (SPP), whereas the intensive or specialized threads are assigned to an auxiliary processing part (APP) comprising a set of N auxiliary calculation units (APU0, . . . , APUN-1) that are optimized for fast processing of certain operations, a memory space (SMS) shared by the auxiliary calculation units (APU0, . . . , APUN-1) via an internal network and a unit (ACU) for controlling and assigning the auxiliary resources. The various elements of the system are arranged in such a manner that communication between the various auxiliary calculation units (APU0, . . . , APUN-1) or between those auxiliary calculation units (APU0, . . . , APUN-1) and the central processor core (SPP) is effected via the shared memory space (SMS) and the internal network.
US09052955B2 System and method for seamless application hosting and migration in a network environment
An example method includes receiving a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) request from a client for an application at a first datacenter at which the application is not available; and querying a first global site selector (GSS) configured to identify a second datacenter at which the application is available. The second datacenter can be identified by a selected virtual Internet Protocol (VIP) address. The method can also include forwarding the HTTP request to the selected VIP address; and responding to the client with an HTTP response received from the selected VIP address.
US09052953B2 Autonomous computer session capacity estimation
Systems and methods are disclosed for estimating and updating the capacity associated with resources in a virtualized computing environment. A capacity estimation value may be stored in computer memory. The capacity estimation value may estimate how many concurrent sessions a resource in the virtualized computing environment has workload capacity to desirably handle. The system may monitor one or more resource consumption metrics of the resource on an ongoing basis. The capacity estimation value may be updated based on, inter alia, the monitoring. The capacity estimation value may be used when a request is received to create a new session in the resource.
US09052952B1 Adaptive backup model for optimizing backup performance
This disclosure relates to a method, article of manufacture, and apparatus of adaptive storage system management for optimizing performance. In some embodiments, this includes polling attributes associated with a workload of a storage system to obtain corresponding values at a time instance, analyzing the values and the attributes to determine a need for modifying a set of the values corresponding to a set of the attributes when the workload is not at an optimized level, modifying the set of the values in response to the determination, and storing the time instance, the attributes, the values, and the modification.
US09052951B2 Software bus
The present invention relates to the field of methods of communication between software modules and more particularly software buses. There is described a software bus which allows communication between software modules. This communication occurs within a machine and between machines and operates interchangeably for the software module whether one is dealing with a process, a thread or a simple task. The communication relies on mechanisms adapted to the multitask level at which the sender and receiver software modules operate. It is based on a hierarchical architecture, phases of discovery and of recording of the various software modules having to communicate via the bus.
US09052950B2 Selective constant complexity dismissal in task scheduling
A strictly increasing function is implemented to generate a plurality of unique creation stamps, each of the plurality of unique creation stamps increasing over time pursuant to the strictly increasing function. A new task to be placed with the plurality of tasks is labeled with a new unique creation stamp of the plurality of unique creation stamps. The one of the list of dismissal rules holds a minimal valid creation (MVC) stamp, which is updated when a dismissal action for the one of the list of dismissal rules is executed. The dismissal action acts to dismiss a selection of tasks over time due to continuous dispatch.
US09052942B1 Storage object deletion job management
Methods and apparatus for storage object deletion job management are disclosed. A storage medium stores program instructions that when executed on a processor, identify, during a particular deletion execution iteration, a particular deletion job object stored at a multi-tenant storage service, wherein the particular deletion job object indicates a collection of storage objects that are eligible for deletion from the storage service in accordance with specified deletion criteria. The instructions determine, based on a job validity criterion, whether deletion operations corresponding to the particular deletion job object of the one or more deletion job objects are to be scheduled. If the job object is validated, the instructions initiate a deletion operation for storage objects indicated in the particular deletion job object.
US09052940B2 System for customized virtual machine for a target hypervisor by copying image file from a library, and increase file and partition size prior to booting
A method for customizing virtual machines includes retrieving a virtual machine image file from a library of virtual machine image files. A target virtual machine image file is created by making a copy of the retrieved virtual machine image file. A file size of the target virtual machine image file is increased. A partition size of a primary partition of the target virtual machine image file is increases. The target virtual machine image file is booted after the partition size of the primary partition thereof has been increased.
US09052939B2 Data compliance management associated with cloud migration events
A compliance tool can verify compliance with jurisdictional transfer and storage requirements for data migration into or within a cloud. The compliance tool can monitor and check data transfers and storage to determine if the data transfer and/or storage will cross jurisdictional boundaries. If the transfers or storage crosses jurisdictional boundaries, the compliance tool can identify the transfer and storage requirements of any jurisdictions involved with the transfer and/or storage. The compliance tool can verify that the data transfers complies with the identified transfer and storage requirements. If the data transfer and/or storage does not comply with the identified transfer and storage requirements, the compliance tool can terminate the data transfer and/or storage, modify the data transfer and/or storage, and/or modify the data, itself, to comply with the identified transfer and storage requirements.
US09052937B2 Managing storage commands according to input-output priorities and dependencies
Input/output operations (IOs) are issued to a storage system using request queues that are each maintained for a resource targeted by the IOs. When an IO is requested, the target resource for the IO is first identified. If a request queue is maintained for the target resource, the IO is added to the request queue and the IO is issued to the storage system as the target resource becomes available. The availability of the target resource may be determined through periodic checks or by monitoring completions of IOs issued out of the request queue.
US09052936B1 Method and system for communicating to a storage controller in a virtualization environment
A system for communicating to a storage controller in a virtualization environment, including a plurality of nodes, wherein the plurality of nodes implements a virtualization environment, and a node comprises a hypervisor and multiple user virtual machines; a plurality of storage devices that are accessed by the virtual machine; and a storage controller implemented as a service virtual machine on the node to manage access by the multiple user virtual machines to the plurality of storage devices, wherein a networking protocol is used to communicate between the multiple user virtual machines and the storage controller.
US09052925B2 Device, method, and graphical user interface for managing concurrently open software applications
A method includes displaying a first application view. A first input is detected, and an application view selection mode is entered for selecting one of concurrently open applications for display in a corresponding application view. An initial group of open application icons in a first predefined area and at least a portion of the first application view adjacent to the first predefined area are concurrently displayed. The initial group of open application icons corresponds to at least some of the concurrently open applications. A gesture is detected on a respective open application icon in the first predefined area, and a respective application view for a corresponding application is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the concurrently open applications. The open application icons in the first predefined area cease to be displayed, and the application view selection mode is exited.
US09052922B1 Systems and methods for providing mobile browser access to mobile device functionalities
A content handler application that may be provided on a mobile device to provide extensions to a web based application. The content handler may provide the web application access features such as the camera, GPS, A/V input and output, file system and secure uploads. The content handler may be a certified application for use on the mobile device and calls applications to access the features of the mobile device. The web applications may be updated without concern for the content handler. Because the user experience and business logic are contained in the web application they are unaffected by the certification and multi-platform issues as this is limited to only the content handler.
US09052921B2 Universal serial bus network interface controller and operation mode switching method
A universal serial bus (USB) network interface controller and an operation mode switching method thereof are provided. The USB network interface controller determines an access point network band of a wireless network access point with which the USB network interface controller intends to connect, and switches from a first USB operation mode to a second USB operation mode to transmit data with a host so that an operation frequency of the USB network interface controller falls outside the access point network band. Afterwards, the USB network interface controller adjusts an operation network band to be the same as the access point network band, and exchanges information with the wireless network access point.
US09052920B2 Electronic devices and methods for switching between dual operating systems
A method for switching between dual operating systems for an electronic device installed with at least two operating systems is provided. The method includes the steps of: activating and operating a first operating system, wherein the first operating system initializes at least one peripheral device; switching to and activating a second operating system; preventing the first operating system from issuing a setting command to the peripheral device when the first operating system is switched to the second operating system; and enabling the second operating system to obtain the control right of the peripheral device to initialize the peripheral device.
US09052918B2 Management of multiple software images with shared memory blocks
A data processing entity that includes a mass memory with a plurality of memory locations for storing memory blocks. Each of a plurality of software images includes a plurality of memory blocks with corresponding image addresses within the software image. The memory blocks of software images stored in boot locations of a current software image are relocated. The boot blocks of the current software image are stored into the corresponding boot locations. The data processing entity is booted from the boot blocks of the current software image in the corresponding boot locations, thereby loading the access function. Each request to access a selected memory block of the current software image is served by the access function, with the access function accessing the selected memory block in the associated memory location provided by the control structure.
US09052914B2 Bundling of web application code for optimized delivery
Application code for deployment to a client over a data link is optimized to minimize download time by supplying only the application code with a particular object that is required by the object. In a web application that includes multiple pages, the HTML and JAVASCRIPT are scanned to identify code resources called by a particular web page. When all called resources are identified, they are extracted and concatenated into a single resource file. When the page is downloaded to the client, the import file is included with the page. The import file may be cached so that it need only be downloaded once, rather than being downloaded every time the page is requested. The invention is suitable for use with other interpreted scripting languages.
US09052910B2 Efficiency of short loop instruction fetch
A design structure provides instruction fetching within a processor instruction unit, utilizing a loop buffer, one or more virtual loop buffers, and/or an instruction buffer. During instruction fetch, modified instruction buffers coupled to an instruction cache (I-cache) temporarily store instructions from a single branch, backwards short loop. The modified instruction buffers may be a loop buffer, one or more virtual loop buffers, and/or an instruction buffer. Instructions are stored in the modified instruction buffers for the length of the loop cycle. The instruction fetch within the instruction unit of a processor retrieves the instructions for the short loop from the modified buffers during the loop cycle, rather than from the instruction cache.
US09052908B2 Web application development framework
Techniques, systems, apparatus and computer-program products are disclosed for developing a web-hosted shared database system with improved user interface and reduced programming. In one aspect, using a web application development framework includes declaratively specifying a web application's pages using page configurations. The framework can automatically coordinate page state with the state of a database server and an applications server, so that the specified page is first rendered and then one or more portions of the page can be updated in response to a server data change, Also, programs that are executed when a request is issued are declaratively specified using program configurations. Either or both of the page configurations and the program configurations can be implemented by access to a unified application state virtual database. Further, the unified application state virtual database can include the persistent database of the application and transient memory-based data, such as session and page data.
US09052905B2 Minimizing power consumption for fixed-frequency processing unit operation
A mechanism is provided for minimizing power consumption for operation of a fixed-frequency processing unit. A number of timeslots are counted in a time window where throttling is engaged to the fixed-frequency processing unit. The number of timeslots where throttling is engaged is divided by a total number of timeslots within the time window, thereby producing a performance loss (PLOSS) value. A determination is made as to whether determining whether the (PLOSS) value associated with the fixed-frequency processing unit is greater than an allowed performance loss (APLOSS) value. Responsive to the PLOSS value being less than or equal to the APLOSS value, a decrease in voltage supplied to the fixed-frequency processing unit is initiated.
US09052899B2 Idle power reduction for memory subsystems
Embodiments of the invention describe systems and processes directed towards reducing memory subsystem idle power consumption. Embodiments of the invention enable low power states for various components of a memory subsystem under certain operating conditions, and exiting said low power states under certain operating conditions.Embodiments of the invention may comprise of logic, modules or any combination thereof, to detect operating conditions in a computing system. Some of these operating conditions may include, but are not limited to, a memory controller being empty of transactions directed towards its respective memory unit(s), a processor core executing a processor low-power mode, and a processor socket (operatively coupling the processing core and the memory unit) executing an idle mode. In response to detecting said operating conditions, embodiments of the invention may execute a low-power idle state for the memory unit(s) and various components of the memory subsystem.
US09052894B2 API to replace a keyboard with custom controls
A method and system for display a user interface object. A user interface object for receiving user input to the application program is determined and the user interface object is displayed on the display. A first set of characteristics of the user interface object is control in accordance with the application program. The first set of characteristics include appearance of the user interface object and user interactions with the application program via the user interface object. A second set of characteristics of the user interface different form the first set of characteristics are controlled in accordance with the control program. The second set of characteristics include the display state of the user interface object.
US09052888B2 Vectorization in an optimizing compiler
An optimizing compiler includes a vectorization mechanism that optimizes a computer program by substituting code that includes one or more vector instructions (vectorized code) for one or more scalar instructions. The cost of the vectorized code is compared to the cost of the code with only scalar instructions. When the cost of the vectorized code is less than the cost of the code with only scalar instructions, the vectorization mechanism determines whether the vectorized code will likely result in processor stalls. If not, the vectorization mechanism substitutes the vectorized code for the code with only scalar instructions. When the vectorized code will likely result in processor stalls, the vectorization mechanism does not substitute the vectorized code, and the code with only scalar instructions remains in the computer program.
US09052873B2 Electronic apparatus
Provided is an electronic device that is user-friendly in both hand-held use and table-placed use, and furthermore is highly reliable with respect to external impact. The electronic device includes a main body part and a support member. The support member connected by the connection part are attached to a pivot shaft that is disposed on the rear surface side of the main body part, such that the support member can pivot from a position at which the connection part protrudes outward beyond an outer edge of the main body part in a plan view from the front surface side of the main body part. At least a portion of the support member is at the same position as or a position more rearward than the portion of the main body part that protrudes the most rearward.
US09052870B2 System and frame for mounting a device above a printed circuit board in an electronic device
The disclosure describes a system and a frame for mounting a display device above a printed circuit board (PCB) in within a housing of an electronic device. The system comprises: a frame section formed to be located on the PCB about a surface device on a surface of the PCB, the frame section comprises a plurality of connected bars, one of the plurality of bars having a depression in its top surface to allow a connector of the display device to fit against the frame section, the frame section being securable to the PCB such that at least a part of the surface device is surrounded by the frame section.
US09052867B2 Feedback mechanism
A feedback application may be executing on a data processing system to transmit a screen update to at least two computers. The feedback application receives an indication of completion from a first computer, in response to transmitting the screen update. The feedback application updates a completion gauge to indicate a partial completion among participants, in response to receiving the indication of completion from the first computer. The feedback application receives a second indication of completion from a second computer, in response to transmitting the screen update. The feedback application updates the completion gauge to indicate a completion among participants, in response to receiving the indication of completion from the second computer.
US09052866B2 Method, apparatus and computer-readable medium for image registration and display
A method, an apparatus, and a computer-readable medium for image registration and display are provided. In the method, a registration request is respectively sent to each of the electronic apparatuses to control the electronic apparatus to capture a local image and return the captured local image to the master apparatus. Next, an image registration is performed on the local images to obtain registration information among the local images. Then, a relative location between the master apparatus and each electronic apparatus is estimated according to the registration information. Finally, at least one frame to be displayed are oriented according to the estimated relative locations and sent to the electronic apparatuses for display.
US09052864B1 Method and apparatus for processing a page description language document
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with encoding and processing page description language (PDL) documents using a light-weight data interchange format are described. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a communication logic configured to receive a request for a page description language (PDL) document. The PDL document is encoded in accordance with a lightweight data interchange format that includes (i) content of the page, and (ii) an arrangement of the content within the page. The apparatus includes a processing logic configured to retrieve the PDL document from a data store and to interpret the PDL document to generate a rasterized document that defines a layout of the page to be printed. The layout of the page as defined by the rasterized document is consistent with the arrangement of the content within the page as specified by the PDL document encoded with the lightweight data interchange format.
US09052858B2 Printing system, printing server and information processing device
A information processing device includes: a job generating part for generating the print job in response to a user instruction; and a job transmitting part for separating job information and header information showing settings of the print job and sending the separated header information to a print server. The print server includes: an initial determination part for making an initial determination to determine a printing rule applied to the print job based on the header information and sending a result of the initial determination to the information processing device; and a job controlling part for continuing a process on the print job in response to receiving a continue instruction from the information processing device, and suspending the process on the print job in response to receiving a suspend instruction from said information processing device.
US09052856B2 Image forming apparatus, job execution system, and job execution method
An image forming apparatus includes: a receiving portion that receives an authentication print job sent by a user; a comparison portion that compares identification information received through the user's input with identification information included in image data; a job execution portion that executes the authentication print job in the case where the comparison between the received identification information and the identification information included in the image data has succeeded; and a password storage portion that stores identification information in the case where the authentication print job is in the process of being received in order to enable the comparison made by the comparison portion with respect to the authentication print job that is being received.
US09052853B2 Client device using a web browser to control a periphery device via a printer
A device control system has a terminal 3 with a web browser 31, and a printer 5 that controls a connected device. The terminal 3 calls an object that controls a device and is instantiated by the device API 33 to support the device, and sends a request to the printer 5, by the web application 32; and the printer 5 executes a device control script 502 that controls the device, receives requests sent through the device API 33, and controls the device.
US09052847B2 Image forming apparatus, information processing system, control method, and recording medium in accordance with a control command from a device driver
An image forming apparatus receives a scan command from a device driver with which an information processing apparatus is provided, and discriminates whether a control protocol of the scan command can utilize an authentication function when the authentication function is enabled in the image forming apparatus. When it is discriminated that the control protocol of the scan command cannot utilize the authentication function, the image forming apparatus displays an authentication information input screen, conducts authentication processing using authentication information that was input according to manipulation of the input screen, and executes scan processing of an image in accordance with the scan command when authentication is successful.
US09052846B1 Charge pump with a wide input supply range
Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a voltage generator, and more particularly, to systems, devices and methods of configuring a charge pump system by incorporating an auxiliary charge pump to generate an intermediate voltage that is used to boost up a primary charge pump according to a level of an input supply voltage. The intermediate voltage has a higher level than that of the input supply voltage, and is provided to boost up the primary charge pump when the input supply voltage is determined to be lower than a threshold voltage. Such a charge pump based voltage generator is compatible to a wide input supply range, capable of sustaining a large output load and effectively reduces the chip estate.
US09052844B2 Computer-implemented method of arranging text items in a predefined order
A computer-implemented method of and a device, such as a base station for a headset, for arranging text items in a predefined order, comprising storing, in the memory of a peripheral device, a collection of multiple text items arranged in multiple sets of text items and in multiple groups of text items; storing a respective code item with a respective group of text items; and storing a sort key that has values that designate a predefined order of the text items in each set. The sort key is appended to the text items and comprises at least one character with a value within the Private Use range of the Unicode format.
US09052843B2 Card and host device
A host device is configured to read and write information from and into a card and to supply a supply voltage that belongs to a first voltage range or a second voltage range which is lower than the first voltage range, and issues a voltage identification command to the card. The voltage identification command includes a voltage range identification section, an error detection section, and a check pattern section. The voltage range identification section includes information indicating which one of the first voltage range and the second voltage range the supply voltage belongs. The error detection section has a pattern configured to enable the card which has received the voltage identification command to detect errors in the voltage identification command. The check pattern section has a preset pattern.
US09052841B2 Electronic device and data transfer method
According to one embodiment, an electronic device including, a communication module configured to transfer data, a controller configured to transmit data to the second electronic device through the communication module, and configured to temporarily hold the data in a receiving buffer of the second electronic device, and a data controller configured to receive free space information of the receiving buffer of the second electronic device from the second electronic device through the communication module, and configured to prepare data, which is transmitted to each mobile medium from the communication module through the second electronic device, based on the received free space information.
US09052829B2 Methods and structure for improved I/O shipping in a clustered storage system
Methods and structure for improved shipping of I/O requests among multiple storage controllers of a clustered storage system. Minimal processing of a received I/O request is performed in a first controller to determine whether the I/O request is directed to a logical volume that is owned by the first controller or to a logical volume owned by another controller. For requests to logical volumes owned by another controller, the original I/O request is modified to indicate the target device address of the other controller. The first controller then ships the request to the other controller and configures DMA capabilities of the first controller to exchange data associated with the shipped request between the other controller and memory of the host system.
US09052826B2 Selecting storage locations for storing data based on storage location attributes and data usage statistics
Techniques for selecting physical storage locations for storing data are provided. A technique involves determining usage statistics associated with a logical block in a file system, selecting a physical storage location, of a plurality of physical storage locations, to assign to the logical block based on (a) at least one attribute associated with the first physical storage location, and (b) the usage statistics associated with the logical block, and causing the logical block to be assigned to the first physical storage location.
US09052825B2 System software interfaces for space-optimized block devices
Interfaces to storage devices that employ storage space optimization technologies, such as thin provisioning, are configured to enable the benefits gained from such technologies to be sustained. Such an interface may be provided in a hypervisor of a virtualized computer system to enable the hypervisor to discover features of a logical unit number (LUN), such as whether or not the LUN is thinly provisioned, and also in a virtual machine (VM) of the virtualized computer system to enable the VM to discover features of a virtual disk, such as whether or not the virtual disk is thinly provisioned. The discovery of these features enables the hypervisor or the VM to instruct the underlying storage device to carry out certain operations such as an operation to deallocate blocks previously allocated to a logical block device, so that the storage device can continue to benefit from storage space optimization technologies implemented therein.
US09052822B2 Portable electronic device, and control method and control program for the same
An object of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device of which operability is improved while maintaining a security function, and to provide a control method and a control program for the portable electronic device. In a case in which a function setting operation key is operated, a function limiting unit displays a screen for requesting password (for example, a personal identification number, a password, etc.) on a display unit, and limits utilization of a function assigned to the function setting operation key (for example, a variety of setting, an address book function, an electronic mail function, etc.).
US09052821B2 Method for adjusting soft keyboard layout and mobile terminal
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method for adjusting soft keyboard layout. The method includes: displaying an option for adjusting a soft keyboard layout; receiving information that a user selects the option for adjusting the soft keyboard layout, and after receiving the information that the user selects the option for adjusting the soft keyboard layout, displaying a soft keyboard adjustment interface on a touch screen, and receiving an adjustment scheme input by the user; and modifying the soft keyboard layout according to the adjustment scheme. In this way, a requirement of a user for adjusting a keyboard according to personal preference is satisfied.
US09052820B2 Multi-application environment
This document describes techniques and apparatuses enabling a multi-application environment. In some embodiments, these techniques and apparatuses enable multi-application environments having combinations of immersive interfaces, windows-based interfaces, and a desktop treated as an immersive interface.
US09052819B2 Intelligent gesture-based user's instantaneous interaction and task requirements recognition system and method
Methods and apparatus for determining an intended gesture-based input command from an incomplete gesture-based input command that is supplied to a gesture-based touch screen display that includes at least a touch sensitive region includes receiving an incomplete gesture-based input command on the touch sensitive region of the gesture-based touch screen device, the incomplete gesture-based input command including a gesture profile and a gesture direction. Gesture signals that include data representative of the gesture profile and the gesture direction are generated in response to the input command. The gesture signals are processed in a processor to predict the intended gesture-based input command. The intended gesture-based command is retrieved, with the processor, from an electronically stored standard gesture library.
US09052817B2 Mode sensitive processing of touch data
Embodiments of the present invention provide for a hardware or software utility layer operating at a multi-touch enabled device that can perform application aware processing of touch data. More specifically, various applications executing at the device can send to the utility layer definitions of the types of touch data they require from the multi-touch enabled display. The utility layer can then process incoming touch data in relation to these definitions and send back to the applications result data in a format requested by the applications. Thus, the computational load associated with processing of touch data can be decreased. Also, in certain cases, applications can obtain more accurate data than available in prior systems.
US09052815B2 Touch sensing device and apparatus and touch sensing method
A touch sensing device is provided. The touch sensing device includes a multiplexer and a control unit, and is electrically connected to a touch panel. The touch panel includes a plurality of first-direction electrodes; a plurality of second-direction electrodes; and a dielectric layer, for generating at least one electric field change corresponding to at least one touch point in response to the at least one touch point. The at least one electric field change is generated at an overlapping region of the first-direction and second-direction electrodes. The multiplexer is electrically connected to the touch panel via the first-direction and second-direction electrodes, and selectively performs voltage driving or voltage sensing for the first-direction and second-direction changes a control signal to be transmitted to the multiplexer and receives a sense signal from the multiplexer.
US09052814B2 Device, method, and graphical user interface for zooming in on a touch-screen display
In accordance with some embodiments, a computer-implemented method for use in conjunction with a device with a touch screen display is disclosed. In the method, at least a first portion of an electronic document is displayed at a first magnification. A gesture is detected on or near the touch screen display corresponding to a command to zoom in by a user-specified amount. In response to detecting the gesture, decreasing portions of the electronic document are displayed at increasing magnifications. If, upon detecting termination of the gesture, the magnification exceeds a predefined magnification, a respective portion of the electronic document is displayed at the predefined magnification.
US09052812B1 System for exportable graphical designs with interactive linked comments between design and playback environments
Various methods and systems for collaborating on the specification of an interactive graphical design are provided. An exemplary system comprises a graphical design environment. The system also comprises a note interface in the graphical design environment that displays a note field for accepting a text string from the user. The system also comprises a design player that renders the design. The system also comprises a discussion interface that: (i) is displayed in the design player consistently with the design; (ii) displays the text string from the user as a note; and (iii) accepts a comment from a second user regarding the note. The system also comprises a data store accessible to the graphical design environment and the design player. The comment is displayed in the graphical design environment after being accepted in the discussion interface.
US09052810B2 Methods and apparatus to manage zones of a multi-zone media playback system
Methods and apparatus to manage zones of a multi-zone media playback system are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a user interface; a controller to configure one or more zone groups each associated with one or more media playback devices; a detector to monitor the user interface for a drag of an icon representative of a first one of the zone groups on the user interface from a first position to a second position; and a configuration implementer to change a configuration of the one or more zone groups in response to a detected drag of the icon.
US09052809B2 Systems and methods for situational application development and deployment with patient event monitoring
Systems and methods for clinical event processing with situational awareness to dynamically facilitate a clinician's workflow are provided. An example clinical event processing and situational awareness system includes a clinical event processor including a clinical event processing engine and a routing engine to receive information regarding a clinical event from an event source and to process the information regarding the clinical event to determine a clinical situation based on the clinical event. The system also includes an event handler to enrich the processed information regarding the clinical event by adding a clinical context to the processed information from a data source. The system further includes a dispatcher to notify a user and launch an anticipated application for the user to facilitate a situational aware clinical workflow based on the enriched, processed information regarding the clinical event.
US09052805B2 System and method for controlling multiple lasers using a graphical user interface
A computer-implemented method for controlling a plurality of electromagnetic energy sources is disclosed. Instructions are executed on a processor to display on a computer-human interface display device a user interface region. The user interface region includes a pie-graph configured to display a total output power of the plurality of the electromagnetic energy sources. The pie-graph includes a radius that indicates the total output power and a plurality of sectors that indicate percentages of the total output power contributed by each of the plurality of the electromagnetic energy sources. An input is received via the user interface region, where the input is an interaction with the pie-graph that changes one of the radius or a sector of the plurality of the sectors. A power output of one or more of the electromagnetic energy sources is adjusted based on the input.
US09052804B1 Object occlusion to initiate a visual search
Methods and devices for initiating a search of an object are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes receiving video data recorded by a camera on a wearable computing device, where the video data comprises at least a first frame and a second frame. The method further includes, based on the video data, detecting an area in the first frame that is at least partially bounded by a pointing device and, based on the video data, detecting in the second frame that the area is at least partially occluded by the pointing device. The method still further includes initiating a search on the area.
US09052797B2 Navigation system for a 3D virtual scene
A navigation system for navigating a three-dimensional (3D) scene that includes a model or object with which a user can interact. The system accommodates and helps both novice and advanced users. To do this, the system provides a set of mini navigation wheels for experienced users that include all of the function of the larger wheels in pie shaped wedges and that acts as a cursor.
US09052787B2 Method of manufacturing touch sensing apparatus
A method for manufacturing a touch sensing apparatus includes repeatedly forming a plurality of electrode patterns on a first sub-substrate unwound from a first roller; repeatedly forming a plurality of interconnection patterns on a second sub-substrate unwound by a second roller; forming an array of touch sensing substrates by adhering the first sub-substrate to the second sub-substrate; forming a plurality of via holes through which the plurality of electrode patterns are electrically connected to the plurality of interconnection patterns; and cutting the array of touch sensing substrates into a plurality of touch sensing substrates, each touch sensing substrate including one of the electrode patterns and one of the interconnection patterns.
US09052785B2 Position detecting device, display apparatus, and portable apparatus
A position detecting device is disclosed for use with a position indicator. The position detecting device includes a coil substrate, a magnetic path material, and a shield material. A coil for generating an alternating magnetic field for electromagnetic coupling with the position indicator is disposed on the coil substrate. The magnetic path material is composed of a material having such permeability as not to disturb direct current magnetic flux but to form a magnetic path for the alternating magnetic field generated by the coil, and having predetermined electrical resistance for suppressing flow of an eddy current in order to enhance the material's performance as a magnetic path. The shield material is a non-magnetic substance that does not disturb the direct current magnetic flux due to the direct current magnetic field and that has electrical conductivity for generating an eddy current based on the alternating magnetic field.
US09052783B2 Information processing apparatus
An information processing apparatus includes a display unit located on a front surface of a case. The information processing apparatus also includes a sensing unit located on a side surface of the case facing away from the display unit.
US09052779B2 Display and method of determining a position of an object applied to a three-dimensional interactive display
A display includes a backlight source, display panel, first light source, and controller. The display panel includes a sensor array for sensing first reflection light generated from an object reflecting first detection light. The first detection light is generated by the backlight source for locating a coordinate of a projection point of the object on the display panel. The first light source is disposed in a first side of the display panel, for repeatedly transmitting second detection light of different transmitting angles to the object at different time to generate a second reflection light. The second reflection light is sensed by the sensor array. The controller is for performing a corresponding operation according to a transmitting angle of the first light source and the coordinate of the projection point when brightness value of the reflective light is substantially greater than a predict value.
US09052777B2 Optical elements with alternating reflective lens facets
An optical element for a light based touch surface including a concatenated plurality of segments, wherein each segment is paired with a respective light emitter, each segment including an undulating series of pairs of reflective or refractive facets, wherein a first facet in each pair is oriented so as to collimate light emitted from a first light emitter associated with the segment and a second facet in each pair is oriented so as to collimate light emitted from a second light emitter associated with the segment, and wherein the first light emitter associated with the segment is the light emitter paired with the segment and the second light emitter associated with the segment is the light emitter paired with a neighboring segment.
US09052776B2 Optical touch module and optical touch component structure
An optical touch component structure includes multiple optical touch modules and multiple L-shaped connection boards, which are assembled to form a frame body. Each optical touch module includes an LED circuit board and a control circuit board. The L-shaped connection boards are respectively connected to two ends of the control circuit boards. At least one first and second connector are disposed on correspondingly overlapping sections of the LED circuit board and the control circuit board and vertically mated with each other. Two outermost ends of the control circuit boards have two third connectors horizontally mated with fourth connectors of the L-shaped connection boards. A space exists between the LED circuit board and the control circuit board and between the LED circuit board and the L-shaped connection board. Electronic components are disposed in the space and an extension section of a filter member extends into the space.
US09052770B2 Touchscreen display device and related method
A display device includes a display element. The display device may include a touch substrate overlapping the display element and may overlap an external object when the external object provides a touch to the display device. The display device may include a first angle sensor disposed at a first corner of the touch substrate for determining a first touch angle related to the touch. The display device may include a second angle sensor disposed at a second corner of the touch substrate for determining a second touch angle related to the touch. The display device may include a force sensor disposed at the first corner of the touch substrate for determining a distance related to the touch. The display device may include a computation part configured to determine a touch coordinate associated with the touch based on the first touch angle, the second touch angle, and the distance.
US09052766B2 Mesh sensor design for reduced visibility in touch screen devices
An input device having a plurality of low-visibility sensor electrodes and method for fabricating the same are provided. In one embodiment, an input device includes a plurality of sensor electrodes disposed over a display device. A first sensor electrode of the plurality of sensor electrodes includes a conductive mesh having a first periodicity defined by intersections of conductive traces forming the mesh. A terminal portion of one of the conductive traces terminating at an edge of the first sensor electrode has an orientation that is different than an orientation of a corresponding portion of the mesh defining the first periodicity. An end of the terminal portion proximate the edge laying over a subpixel has the same color as a subpixel of the display device which the end would lay over if the end had the same orientation as the corresponding portion of the mesh defining the first periodicity.
US09052761B2 Methods and devices for user touch operation
A user touch operation mode adaptive method and device are provided, so as to solve the problem of incorrect identification of a user touch operation mode due to different user habits. The technical solution includes: receiving a touch action, and obtaining a touch range value of the touch action according to a touch press coordinate and a touch uplift coordinate of the touch action; and comparing the touch range value of the touch action with a range threshold that is set according to user operation habit for discriminating a touch click mode from a touch slide mode, in which if the touch range value is greater than the range threshold, the touch action is in the touch slide mode, and if the touch range value is not greater than the range threshold, the touch action is in the touch click mode.
US09052756B2 Electromagnetic writing unit and electromagnetic handwriting pen for concurrently providing ink writing and electromagnetic writing functions
An electromagnetic handwriting pen includes a casing unit, an ink writing unit and an electromagnetic writing unit. The ink writing unit is disposed inside the casing unit and includes an ink pen core having a pen nib. The electromagnetic writing unit is disposed inside the casing unit and includes a circuit substrate far away from the pen nib, an electricity conducting element adjacent to the circuit substrate, an elastic element insulatively disposed between the circuit substrate and the electricity conducting element, and a magnetic structure adjacent to the pen nib and electrically connected to the circuit substrate. The circuit substrate has at least two electrode portions adjacent to and facing the electricity conducting element. Whereby, when the electricity conducting element is moved to concurrently contact the at least two electrode portions, the at least two electrode portions are electrically connected with each other through the electricity conducting element.
US09052754B2 Computer mouse oriented to disabled people or with movement disorders
The preferred embodiment of the invention describes a pointing device comprising a cabinet divided in two housings screwed together. Below the upper housing, a flexible, hard-use film contains all button symbols printed thereon and aligned with the housing upper side holes and tact switch actuators.A high-relief surface defines the visible surface of depressed buttons surrounded by restraining circular walls which arise from said high-relief surface.All buttons are placed in a bas-relief surface to avoid undesired or unintended pressings. Moreover, the fact that they are in a depressed surface help people with limb movement disorders to avoid the involuntary movement of their fingers beyond the limits of the depressed buttons, which act as restraining areas, thus avoiding to click, press or hold an undesired button.
US09052752B2 System and method for providing roll compensation
The embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a method and apparatus for providing roll compensation in a control device, the method and apparatus including acquiring rotational data and linear data indicative of movement of the control device, applying roll compensation to the acquired data, and removing a roll compensation error from the roll compensated data. Inertial sensors such as gyroscope sensors and accelerometer sensor(s) may be used to acquire the rotational and linear data.
US09052751B2 Visual laser touchpad for mobile telephone and method
Portable electronic communication equipment, e.g., a mobile phone, includes a projector that is integrated into the mobile phone to project images, a camera senses views, including a view of projected images and of changes made to the projected image, e.g., by inserting an object, such as a finger, stylus, etc., into the projected image. The character of the changes, e.g., where a change occurs in an image, can be used as an input to the mobile phone. A method of using a portable communication device includes transmitting and receiving communications via a radio, projecting an image onto a surface, using a camera of the portable communication device to sense views including a view of a projected image by the projector, and detecting a change in the sensed view of the projected image to provide an input to the portable communication device.
US09052749B2 Apparatus and method for projector navigation in a handheld projector
A method and apparatus for navigating a projected image. The method includes projecting, by a projector, an image on a surface, the projected image comprising a first portion of a virtual image. The method also includes determining a movement of the projector, and in response to the movement of the projector, changing the projected image by projecting a second portion of the virtual image different from the first portion.
US09052748B2 System and method for inputting text into electronic devices
The present invention relates generally to a system and method for the reordering of text predictions. More particularly, the system and method reorders the text predictions based on modified probability values, wherein the probability values are modified according to the likelihood that a given text prediction will occur in the text inputted by a user.
US09052744B2 Method and apparatus for controlling user interface of electronic device using virtual plane
Provided is a method and apparatus for controlling a user interface (UI) of an electronic device by using a specific region of a virtual plane. In the method, the virtual plane is initialized according to spatial coordinates of two or more images detected by using locations of the images displayed in an image display unit of a first image capture device and an image display unit of a second image capture device. Furthermore, the location of a marker is determined and is indicated by a specific image on the virtual plane. Furthermore, a screen pointer corresponding to the marker is displayed at a position where the marker is located in an image display unit corresponding to the virtual plane. Furthermore, a menu of the electronic device is selected which is pointed to by the screen pointer while moving the marker. Accordingly, a user can conveniently control the UI of the electronic device by performing a simple operation.
US09052741B2 Method in a mobile terminal for judging a contact between an operating member and touchpad
A mobile phone 100 having a capacitive touchpad unit 102 includes a touch sensor circuit 121 that outputs measurement values each indicating a capacitance of the touchpad unit 102, a computing unit 111a that computes a sensor output value based on each measurement output from the touch sensor circuit 121, a calibration coefficient updating unit 111a3 that updates the sensor output value by updating a calibration coefficient so as to be equal to a predetermined reference value, a judging unit 118 that detects a contact based on the sensor output values, and a judgment threshold switching unit 133 that causes the judging unit 118 to use a provisional contact-judging unit for a time period starting when the update occurs during the time that the user's face is in contact with the touchpad unit 102 and ending when it is judged that the touch to the touchpad unit 102 is released.
US09052739B2 Method and apparatus for virtualizing hardware dongle over a wireless connection
In a computer system configured to handle I/O signals received by the computer system from input devices and/or output signals output by the computer system, a virtual attachment module includes logic for selecting such that program code for coupling can alter the operating system's selection of I/O devices used for particular I/O device operations, coupling to a wireless I/O device at least for determining whether the wireless I/O device is available, and causing redirection of I/O signals destined to a default I/O device to be to the wireless I/O device, if the program code for coupling determines that the wireless I/O device is available. A virtual connection module could be used to intercept system messages indicating a wireless device is present and connected, determine whether the wireless device is present and/or connected, and determine which intercepted messages to forward, drop, delay or reformulate.
US09052738B2 Active control method and system of pedal effort for accelerator
An active control method and system of varying a pedal effort for an accelerator through which the pedal effort for an accelerator is actively varied based on the locations of the accelerator.
US09052737B2 Rotary control
A rotary control (100, 500, 700) provides improved running-torque through a running-torque stack up assembly (140). The running-torque stack up assembly (140) may be implemented in a modular approach (500, 700) independent of a shaft (130) and switch housing, or may be implemented to incorporate the shaft (100) and switch housing. The running-torque stack up assembly (140) is formed of a spring (114), a stationary disk (112), and a rotating disk (108) having sliding top and bottom surfaces provided through either pads (106, 110) or an overmolded coating (710).
US09052736B2 Control system with displaceable knob
Control system intended for the choice and the selection of functions in a vehicle, the system comprising a case, a lever extending along a main axis from a first end, mounted pivoting about a pivot axis to a second end provided with an actuation knob, the lever being able to turn about the main axis, and an elastic return device of the lever into a neutral position comprising an action surface in the form of a truncated cone of revolution, the axis of which is the main axis and, on a pivoting of the lever, the active zone is displaced along a generatrix of the cone moving towards the vertex, the elastic means being more biased than in a neutral position.
US09052734B2 Device to synchronize dual throttle levers for watercraft
The present invention provides a synchronizing assembly for locking to a dual throttle control assembly having a first control lever and a second control lever, for selectively choosing between independent and simultaneous manipulation of the first and second control levers. The synchronizing assembly has a first housing for releasably connecting to the first control lever, a second housing for releasably connecting to the second control lever and a synchronizing device moveable from a first position to a second position wherein when in the first position the synchronizing device is not connected to the second housing and when in the second position a portion of the synchronizing device is connected to the second housing so that movement of one of the first housing or the second housing moves the other.
US09052733B2 Maximum power point tracker
A method is provided for determining a value for an electrical output of a converter of renewable energy. The method comprises obtaining a signal representing the electrical output of the converter wherein that electrical output has an initial value. The method further comprises applying a pulse signal to the signal representing the electrical output, wherein the pulse signal comprises a positive portion and a negative portion. The method further comprises obtaining a measurement of electrical power produced by the converter during application of the pulse signal, removing the pulse signal and then obtaining a measurement of electrical power produced by the converter in the absence of the pulse signal. An error value is determined from the obtained electrical power measurements and that error value is applied to the initial value to obtain a target value for the electrical output of the converter.
US09052732B2 Aggregator, monitor, and manager of distributed micro-generators
A system includes a processor and a non-transitory data storage device that contains instructions. When executed by the processor, the instructions include an aggregator of distributed micro-generator energy sources capable of delivering an energy source to a power grid; a monitor of the distributed micro-generator energy sources, wherein the monitor communicates micro-generator energy usage data with a wholesale power producer and a microgenerator asset owner; and a portfolio optimizer of the distributed micro-generator energy sources, wherein the portfolio optimizer facilitates commercialization of the distributed micro-generator energy sources, wherein the monitor tracks and reports micro-generator energy source use by a wholesale power producer; and wherein assigning a specific one of the micro-generator energy sources to a wholesale power producer causes energy to be delivered to a wholesale power market via a wholesale power grid.
US09052729B2 Current control for output device biasing stage
Circuits and methods to control current through a device biasing an output device in case the supply voltage is not higher than the output voltage are disclosed. The circuits and methods are applicable to e.g. LDOs, amplifiers, or buffers. A control loop detects if the supply voltage is not higher than the output voltage and regulates the drain-source voltage of the biasing device. The disclosure reduces power consumption in a driver stage in case the supply voltage is not higher than the output voltage.
US09052728B2 Start-up circuit and method thereof
Methods and circuits related to power regulator start-up are disclosed. In one embodiment, a start-up circuit can include: (i) a delay circuit having a resistor and a capacitor, where the capacitor is coupled between ground and a common node; and (ii) a control chip that receives a reference voltage, and includes an input pin coupled to an input source, an output pin supplying power for a device, and a multiplexed pin coupled to the resistor at the common node to receive an enable signal. The start-up circuit outputs an electrical signal at the output pin based on a comparison of a voltage at the multiplexed pin against the reference voltage, and after a delay time determined by the capacitor and the reference voltage. The voltage at the multiplexed pin can increase continuously with a rising slope determined by input current flowing through the multiplexed pin during a start-up process.
US09052725B1 Apparatus and method for controlling power supplied to circuits based on time delay to produce data
An apparatus and method for controlling power supplied to data generating circuits based on performance, such as time delay associated with generating data. The apparatus includes a plurality of data generating circuits configured to generate data at respective outputs in response to a first signal; a plurality of timing circuits configured to generate a plurality of second signals related to time delays between the first signal initiating the generation of the data and an appearance of the data at the respective outputs of the data generating circuits; a power supply circuit configured to generate a voltage for supplying power to the data generating circuits; a power controller configured to control the voltage generated by the power supply circuit based on the plurality of second signals; and a serial data transfer circuit configured to serial transfer the plurality of second signals from the respective timing circuits to the power controller.
US09052723B2 Pressure control valve apparatus having a flow-guiding device
A pressure control valve unit (10) for a fluid with at least one inlet area (P) and first and second outlet areas (A, T) which can be connected for fluid flow with one another by two mutually coupled seat valves (23, 24). An incoming fluid flow, from the inlet area (P) to the first and second outlet areas (A, T), can be adjusted by way of the first seat valve (23), and a fluid outflow, between the first and second outlet areas (A,T), can be adjusted by way of the second seat valve (24). In this case, a flow-guiding device (26) is arranged, upstream from the first seat valve (23) in the inlet area (P), and imposes a specific flow characteristic upon the inflowing fluid in the area of the first seat valve (23).
US09052714B2 Computer-implemented method and system for controlling operation of an autonomous driverless vehicle in response to obstacle detection
A computer-implemented method and system for controlling operation of an autonomous driverless vehicle in response to detection of a hazard in the path of the vehicle.
US09052713B2 Method for operating a vehicle during coasting
A method for controlling a vehicle, including determining a speed curve on a coasting route, in order to let the vehicle on the coasting route coast from an actual speed to a setpoint speed, detecting an additional vehicle approaching the vehicle from behind on the coasting route, and raising the speed of the vehicle compared to the determined speed behavior on the coasting route, in order to produce a predetermined threshold distance from the additional vehicle.
US09052708B2 Systems and methods for improved device commissioning and decommissioning
The embodiments described herein include a system and a method. In one embodiment, a system includes a commissioning system configured to operatively couple a field device to a control system. The system further includes a decommissioning system configured to operatively uncouple the field device from the control system. The system additionally includes a graphical user interface (GUI) configured to use the commissioning system, the decommissioning system, or a combination thereof, to operatively couple the field device to the control system, operatively uncouple the field device to the control system, or a combination thereof, by using a plurality of field device states comprising a mismatched state and a commissioned state, wherein the commissioning system is configured to transition the field device from the mismatched state into the commissioned state if the field device is determined to be in the mismatched state.
US09052701B1 Disk drive measuring a resonance mode by injecting sinusoids into a servo control system
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk comprising a plurality of servo tracks defined by servo sectors recorded around the circumference of the disk at a servo sampling frequency, and a servo control system operable to actuate a head over the disk by generating a control signal applied to an actuator. A first sinusoid is injected into the servo control system and a first DC component (dc1) is measured in the control signal. A second sinusoid is injected into the servo control system and a second DC component (dc2) is measured in the control signal, wherein the second sinusoid comprises a phase offset from the first sinusoid. A resonance mode of the servo control system is measured based on dc1 and dc2.
US09052699B2 Method of manufacturing piezoelectric vibration reed, piezoelectric vibration reed, piezoelectric vibrator, oscillator, electronic instrument, and radio time piece
A method of manufacturing a piezoelectric vibration reed is provided. The piezoelectric vibration reed includes a pair of vibrating arm portions and a base portion. The pair of vibrating arm portions is disposed in parallel to each other. The base portion is configured to integrally support proximal end portions of the pair of vibrating arm portions in a longitudinal direction of the vibrating arm portions. The method of manufacturing the piezoelectric vibration reed forms a slit-shaped notched portion at a crotch portion located between the proximal end portions of the pair of vibrating arm portions.
US09052696B2 Control device for a timepiece
A control device for a timepiece, the device including a primary crown adapted to be rotated and pulled, having at least two axial positions, and also including a secondary crown arranged coaxially with respect to the primary crown, the primary crown including a crown head and a control rod fixed rigidly to the crown head and adapted to be coupled to or decoupled from a winding rod of a movement of the timepiece in order to control functions of the timepiece, and the secondary crown including a crown body. The control device distinguishes in that the secondary crown is adapted be rotated and pulled, has at least two axial positions, and includes a kinematic link adapted to control at least one additional function of the timepiece, the primary crown and secondary crown being actuatable independently of one another. The invention also includes a timepiece having such a control device.
US09052690B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit configured to transfer a formed image that is formed by an image forming portion to sheet, a first carrying path configured to guide the sheet in a set direction, a fixing unit configured to fix the formed image to the sheet that is guided by the first carrying path, a second carrying path configured to guide the sheet that is fixed by the fixing unit in a set direction, a communicating unit configured to communicate between the first carrying path and the second carrying path, a first air flowing unit configured to flow air from the first carrying path to the second carrying path, an ejection unit configured to vent the air in the second carrying path to outside.
US09052683B2 Unit frame having grip part
An image forming unit includes a cartridge and a unit frame. The cartridge has a cartridge-grip. The unit frame is configured to accommodate the cartridge. The unit frame includes a first plate, a second plate, a first beam, and a second beam. The first plate has a through hole. The first beam extends between the first plate and the second plate. The first beam includes a frame-grip disposed between an upper end of the first beam and a lower end of the first beam. The second beam extends between the first plate and the second plate. When the cartridge is accommodated in the unit frame, a distance between the lower end of the first beam and an upper end of the frame-grip is smaller than a distance between the lower end of the first beam and an upper end of the cartridge-grip.
US09052682B2 Image forming apparatus
When an opening and closing member is being closed, urging force which a first engaged portion of the opening and closing member receives in a direction opposite to a direction to close the opening and closing member is larger than urging force which a second engaged portion of the opening and closing member receives, and a distance in which the first engaged portion moves until the first engaged portion engages with a first engaging portion is shorter than a distance in which the second engaged portion moves until the second engaged portion engages with a second engaging portion while the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion are caused to engage with the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion, respectively, by closing the opening and closing member from an opened state of the opening and closing member.
US09052681B2 Static eliminating device and image forming apparatus
A static eliminating device includes: a housing; a substrate mounted to the housing; a light-emitting part mounted on a mounting surface of the substrate; a partition member connected to the housing to cover the substrate and the light-emitting part and face a portion of the housing to which the substrate and the light-emitting part are mounted so that an opening facing the surface of the image carrier is formed in a light-emitting region across which light is delivered from the light-emitting part to the surface of the image carrier; and a restricting protrusion abutting at a distal end thereof against the partition member to support the partition member and restricting the position of the partition member to ensure the formation of the opening. A distal side portion of the restricting protrusion located within the light-emitting region has a tapered shape narrowing with approach toward the partition member.
US09052678B2 Cleaning device, process cartridge and image forming apparatus
A cleaning device includes a fixing portion provided on a frame, a cleaning member, and an accommodating portion. The cleaning member includes a blade portion contacted to an image bearing member (drum) and a supporting member. The supporting member includes one end portion where the blade portion is provided, another end portion including a portion-to-be-fixed for being fixed at the fixing portion, and a bent portion between the one end portion and the other end portion in a side remote from a surface of the drum toward an outside with respect to a line connecting the portion-to-be-fixed and a contact portion where the blade portion is contacted to the drum. The portion-to-be-fixed is provided downstream of the contact portion with respect to movement direction of the drum. Between the frame and the other end portion, a gap for permitting elastic deformation of the other end portion is provided.
US09052677B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus sequentially transfers toner images formed on a plurality of photosensitive drums onto an intermediate transfer member or a transfer material to form an image. The image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt provided with electrical conductivity, and a power supply for applying a voltage to a current supply member contacting the intermediate transfer belt to pass a current from the current supply member to the plurality of photosensitive drums via the intermediate transfer belt, thus generating electric discharge on the upstream side of each of primary transfer sections.
US09052669B2 Lubricant applicator, image forming apparatus, and process cartridge
A lubricant applicator includes a block of lubricant, a supply member contactable against the block of lubricant to scrape the block of lubricant, and a lubricant gauge including a first electrode and a second electrode. The lubricant gauge is electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode to detect whether an amount of lubricant remaining is less than a threshold value based on establishment of electrical continuity between the first electrode and the second electrode. One of the first electrode and the second electrode includes a projection projecting toward the other one of the first electrode and the second electrode.
US09052664B2 Recording material determination apparatus and image forming apparatus
A recording material determination apparatus includes a first detection unit configured to detect a characteristic corresponding to a surface condition of a recording material based on a captured image of a surface of the recording material, a second detection unit configured to detect a characteristic corresponding to a grammage of the recording material based on an ultrasonic wave detected via the recording material by irradiating the recording material with an ultrasonic wave, and a conveyance unit configured to convey the recording material. The first detection unit and the second detection unit are located opposite each other with respect to the conveyance unit.
US09052660B2 Image forming apparatus detecting occurrence of jam
An image forming apparatus includes a timing roller for conveying paper in the image forming apparatus, a first motor receiving supply of electric power from a power source for driving the timing roller, a second motor receiving supply of electric power from the power source, a sensor for detecting whether a jam occurs at the conveyance roller, a drive relay for cutting off supply of electric power from the power source to the first and second motors, if occurrence of a jam is detected, and a control circuit for controlling an operating state of the second motor such that regenerative power produced at the first motor due to rotation of the conveyance roller is supplied to the second motor, if occurrence of a jam is detected.
US09052659B2 Reflective optical sensor and image forming device incorporating the same
A reflective optical sensor includes a light emitting element to irradiate a target object with a light beam, a light receiving element to receive the light beam reflected by the surface of the target object, a circuit board on which the light emitting element and light receiving element are mounted, a cover element supported on the circuit board to surround the light emitting element and light receiving element, and a light shielding wall provided in the cover element to be a partition between the light emitting element and light receiving element to prevent a part of the light beam from the light emitting element from leaking to the light receiving element. A layer in a certain thickness is formed on the surface of the circuit board along either or both sides of the light shielding wall.
US09052648B2 Image forming apparatus
An image apparatus includes: a first housing including an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording material; a second housing including a heating unit for heating the formed image; a conveying unit, provided across the first and second housings, that conveys the recording material to a side of the heating unit using a no-end belt; a conveying unit including a first fixed unit disposed on a side of the second housing and a second fixed unit disposed on a side of the first housing; a first fixing unit positioning the first fixed unit to the heating unit, and fixing the first fixed unit to restrict directions other than a rotating direction of the conveying unit around the first fixed unit; a second fixing unit rotating the conveying unit around the first fixed unit, and fixing the second fixed unit to the first housing.
US09052645B2 Polyarylatecarbonate intermediate transfer members
An intermediate transfer member that includes polyarylatecarbonate, an optional polysiloxane, and an optional conductive filler component.
US09052642B2 Image forming apparatus having cleaning unit including waste developer box
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit including a plurality of photoconductor drums arranged in tandem; a conveyor belt arranged opposite to the photoconductor drums and configured to convey a recording sheet; and a cleaning unit including a cleaning member positioned in contact with the conveyor belt and configured to collect substance adhering to the conveyor belt, and a receptacle configured to store the substance collected by the cleaning member. The cleaning member is arranged on the same side as the image forming unit with respect to the conveyor belt and upstream from the image forming unit as viewed in a sheet conveyance direction along which the recording sheet is conveyed on the conveyor belt, and the image forming unit and the cleaning unit are pulled out together from a main body of the image forming apparatus toward an upstream side of the sheet conveyance direction.
US09052638B2 Cartridge and image forming apparatus with seal member for sealing a toner feeding opening
A cartridge includes: a toner accommodating frame including a toner feeding opening communicating with a toner feeding chamber and a toner filling port; a rotatable member; and a toner seal member. The toner seal member includes a first fixed portion and a second fixed portion which are fixed on the toner accommodating frame at an edge of the toner feeding opening along a longitudinal direction of the toner feeding opening, and includes a third fixed portion fixed on the rotatable member. With rotation of the rotatable member, the first fixed portion of the toner seal member is peeled off from a fixing portion to open the toner feeding opening. The toner is filled into said toner accommodating frame through the toner filling port such that the toner is first filled into a recess defined by said toner seal member.
US09052636B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member which bears an electrostatic latent image, a development device which includes a developer bearing member conveying developer, a developing container containing the developer, and a stirring member stirring the developer inside the developing container. In addition, a first detecting portion detects information regarding humidity of the developer, a second detecting portion is disposed at a different position from the first detecting portion and detects information regarding humidity of the developer, and a controller starts image forming after driving the stirring member for a predetermined period after receiving an image forming signal. The controller controls to extend the predetermined period when a difference between the detecting result from the first detecting portion and the second detecting portion is larger than a predetermined value.
US09052632B2 High-voltage power supply for image forming apparatus
A high-voltage power supply for an image forming apparatus compares a detected output voltage generated by dividing a high-voltage output by a voltage dividing circuit with a control value to feedback control the high-voltage output and outputs a voltage that is to be applied to a member involved in image formation. The high-voltage power supply includes a printed circuit board on which a resistor connected to a high-voltage output side of the voltage dividing circuit is mounted. A slit including a first portion and a second portion is formed in the printed circuit board. The first portion extends across a straight line connecting terminals of the resistor. The second portion continues from the first portion and extends in a direction receding from one of the terminals of the resistor.
US09052627B2 Toner for electrostatic charge image development, electrostatic charge image developer, toner cartridge, process cartridge and image forming device
A toner for electrostatic charge image development has toner mother particles including a release agent, a colorant, and a binder resin including a crystalline resin, and an external additive to the toner mother particles including at least metatitanic acid and at least one selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide and fluoropolymer particles, and the addition weight ratio of the metatitanic acid to the at least one selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide and fluoropolymer particles is from 1:0.08 to 1:8.30 is provided.
US09052622B2 Electrostatic image developing toner, electrostatic image developer, toner cartridge, process cartridge, image forming apparatus and image forming method
An electrostatic image developing toner including: a toner particle containing a coloring agent and a binder resin; and an external additive on the toner particle, wherein the external additive contains a silica particle, a primary particle of the silica particle has an average particle diameter of from 70 nm to 400 nm, a particle size distribution index of the primary particle of from 1.0 to 1.9, and an average circularity of from 0.5 to 0.9.
US09052619B2 Cross-linked overcoat layer
Embodiments pertain to a novel imaging member, namely, an imaging member or photoreceptor comprising an overcoat layer which comprises a soluble filler that improves low surface energy and wear. The soluble filler is a silicone poly(ethylene glycol) ester which improves low surface energy and wear without negatively impacting electrical properties of the overcoat layer.
US09052617B2 Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) multilayer defect compensation and EUV masks
Methods and structures for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography are disclosed. A method includes determining a phase error correction for a defect in an EUV mask, determining an amplitude error correction for the EUV mask based on both the defect in the EUV mask and the phase error correction, and modifying the EUV mask with the determined phase error correction and the determined amplitude error correction.
US09052616B2 Dual containment system having coaxial flexible tubes for transporting a fluid through a “rolling loop” cable duct
Disclosed are systems and methods for a fluid transportation system having a first flexible tube with an inner wall. The fluid transportation system also has a second flexible tube with an outer wall. The second tube is located inside the first tube and a standoff is located between the inner wall of the first tube and the outer wall of the second tube. The first flexible tube is configured to transport a first fluid and the second flexible tube is configured to transport a second fluid. The first and second flexible tubes are configured such that the first fluid isolates the second fluid from an ambient environment, and the first fluid can be monitored for leakage.
US09052612B2 Support structure, lithographic apparatus and method
A support structure for supporting an exchangeable object in a lithographic exposure apparatus includes a first support structure part and a second support structure part, the first support structure part being arranged to support the object, and the second support structure part being arranged to, at least in part, support the first support structure part. At least one of the first support structure part and the second support structure part has an open-box structure. The first support structure part and the second support structure part are configured to be attached to one another in such a way that the first support structure part and the second support structure together form a closed-box structure.
US09052611B2 Microlithographic projection exposure apparatus illumination optics
Optics, such as, for example, microlithographic projection exposure apparatus illumination optics, as well as related systems, methods, components and devices are disclosed.
US09052603B2 Pattern forming process
A pattern is formed by coating a chemically amplified resist composition comprising a resin having a dissolution rate in an organic solvent developer that lowers under the action of acid onto a processable substrate, prebaking, exposing the resist film, PEB, developing in an organic solvent developer to form a negative pattern, coating a solution comprising Si, Ti, Zr, Hf or Al, prebaking, and dry etching to effect image reversal for converting the negative pattern into a positive pattern.
US09052602B2 Developer for photosensitive resist material and patterning process
An aqueous solution containing 0.1-20 wt % of a cyclic ammonium hydroxide is a useful developer for photosensitive resist materials. A resist pattern is formed by applying a chemically amplified positive resist composition onto a substrate to form a resist film, exposing the resist film to high-energy radiation, and developing the exposed resist film in a cyclic ammonium hydroxide-containing aqueous solution.
US09052598B2 Compositions of neutral layer for directed self assembly block copolymers and processes thereof
The present invention relates to novel processes for using the neutral layer compositions for aligning microdomains of directed self-assembling block copolymers (BCP). The processes are useful for fabrication of electronic devices. The novel processes comprise a step of forming a coating of the neutral layer from the neutral layer composition, wherein the neutral layer composition comprises at least one random copolymer having at least one unit of structure (1), at least one unit of structure (2) and at least one unit of structure (3) where R1 is selected from the group consisting of a C1-C8 alkyl, C1-C8 fluoroalkyl moiety, C1-C8 partially fluorinated alkyl, C4-C8 cycloalkyl, C4-C8 cyclofluoroalkyl, C4-C8 partially fluorinated cycloalkyl, and a C2-C8 hydroxyalkyl; R2, R3 and R5 are independently selected from a group consisting of H, C1-C4 alkyl, CF3 and F; R4 is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C8 alkyl, C1-C8 partially fluorinated alkyl and C1-C8 fluoroalkyl, n ranges from 1 to 5, R6 is selected from the group consisting of H, F, C1-C8 alkyl and a C1-C8 fluoroalkyl and m ranges from 1 to 3.
US09052597B2 Methods and fabrication tools for fabricating optical devices
An embodiment of the present invention relates to a method of fabricating an optical device, the method comprising the steps of: depositing a photoresist layer on a carrier, said photoresist layer containing at least one optical component, determining the position of the at least one optical component inside the photoresist layer before exposing the photoresist layer to a first radiation, said first radiation being capable of transforming the photoresist layer from an unmodified state to a modified state, elaborating a device pattern based on the position of the at least one optical component, and fabricating the elaborated device pattern by locally exposing the photoresist layer to the first radiation and locally transforming the photoresist layer from the unmodified state to the modified state.
US09052594B2 Positive photosensitive composition and method of forming pattern using the same
A positive photosensitive composition includes: a resin (A) whose dissolution rate in an alkaline developing solution increases by the action of an acid, the resin (A) containing an acid decomposable repeating unit represented by a general formula (I) and an acid nondecomposable repeating unit represented by a general formula (II); and a compound (B) capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with one of active rays and radiations: wherein Xa1 represents one of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a cyano group, and a halogen atom, A1 represents one of a single bond and a divalent connecting group, ALG represents an acid leaving hydrocarbon group, Xa2 represents one of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a cyano group, and a halogen atom, A2 represents one of a single bond and a divalent connecting group, and ACG represents an acid nonleaving hydrocarbon group.
US09052593B2 Resist composition and patterning process
A polymer is obtained from copolymerization of a unit having a carboxyl and/or phenolic hydroxyl group substituted with an acid labile group with a hydroxyphenyl methacrylate unit having one acyl, acyloxy or alkoxycarbonyl group. The polymer is useful as a base resin in a positive resist composition. The resist composition comprising the polymer is improved in contrast of alkali dissolution rate before and after exposure, acid diffusion control, resolution, and profile and edge roughness of a pattern after exposure.
US09052592B2 Resist composition and resist pattern forming method
A resist composition contains a high-molecular weight compound which has a partial structure represented by a general formula (a0-r-1) and has a constituent unit represented by a general formula (a0-1). In the formula (a0-r-1), Y1 represents a divalent linking group; each of R2 and R3 represents a group having 0 to 20 carbon atoms, which is not a fluorine atom, and either R2 or R3 may form a ring with Y1; m represents an integer of 1 or more; and Mm+ represents an m-valent organic cation. In the formula (a0-1), R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or a halogenated alkyl group; Ya01 represents a single bond or a divalent linking group; X01 represents a sulfur atom or an oxygen atom; and Ra01 represents an optionally substituted cyclic group, chain alkyl group or chain alkenyl group.
US09052589B2 Polymer comprising end groups containing photoacid generator, photoresist comprising the polymer, and method of making a device
A polymer comprises the polymerized product of unsaturated monomers comprising an acid-deprotectable monomer, a base-soluble monomer, a lactone-containing monomer, a photoacid-generating monomer, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing monomers, with a chain transfer agent of Formula (I); wherein in Formula (I), Z is a y valent C1-20 organic group, L is a heteroatom or a single bond, A1 and A2 are each independently ester containing or non-ester containing and are fluorinated or non-fluorinated, and are independently C1-40 alkylene, C3-40 cycloalkylene, C6-40 arylene, or C7-40 aralkylene, and A1 contains a nitrile, ester, or aryl substituent group alpha to the point of attachment with sulfur, X1 is a single bond, —O—, —S—, —C(═O)—O—, —O—C(═O)—, —O—C(═O)—O—, —C(═O)—NR—, —NR—C(═O)—, —NR—C(═O)—NR—, —S(═O)2—O—, —O—S(═O)2—O—, —NR—S(═O)2—, or —S(═O)2—NR, wherein R is H, C1-10 alkyl, C3-10 cycloalkyl or C6-10 aryl, Y− is an anionic group, G+ is a metallic or non-metallic cation, and y is an integer of 1 to 6. A photoresist composition comprising the polymer, a coated substrate, comprising a layer of the photoresist composition, and a method of forming an electronic device from the photoresist, are also disclosed.
US09052587B2 Conductive pattern formation method, conductive pattern-bearing substrate, and touch panel sensor
A conductive pattern formation method of the present invention includes a first exposure step of radiating active light in a patterned manner to a photosensitive layer including a photosensitive resin layer provided on a substrate and a conductive film provided on a surface of the photosensitive resin layer on a side opposite to the substrate; a second exposure step of radiating active light, in the presence of oxygen, to some or all of the portions of the photosensitive layer not exposed at least in the first exposure step; and a development step of developing the photosensitive layer to form a conductive pattern following the second exposure step.
US09052582B2 Illumination device and image display apparatus
An illumination device includes: an excitation light source that emits excitation light having a first wavelength; a fluorescent substance that, when irradiated with the excitation light, emits light having a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength and transmits a part of the excitation light, and thereby multiplexes and emits the transmitted excitation light having the first wavelength and the emitted excitation light having the second wavelength; and a driving unit that moves an irradiation position of the excitation light in the fluorescent substance with the passage of time.
US09052579B1 Remote control of projection and camera system
A device includes a projection and camera system to create an augmented reality environment in which images are projected onto a scene and user movement within the scene is captured. The projection and camera system have a camera to image scattered IR light from the scene and compute time of flight values used in depth mapping of objects in the room. The system also has a projector to project the images onto the scene. The system controls the camera and projector mounted in a moveable head of a lamp with a motor mounted elsewhere in the lamp. In one implementation, the motor is mounted in the base of a table lamp.
US09052578B2 Laser projection device
A laser projection device includes three laser chips, a spectroscope arranged on light paths of laser beams emitted from the three laser chips, and a lens mounted between the laser chips and the spectroscope. The lens includes a main body and a bending part bent from the main body. The main body is on the light paths of two of the laser chips. The bending part is on the light path of another laser chip. The laser beams emitted from the corresponding two laser chips are refracted by the main part of the lens. The laser beams emitted from the corresponding another laser chip are refracted by the bending part. The laser beams emitted from the laser chips are converged by the lens to reach the spectroscope and then reflected by the spectroscope to be mixed together.
US09052571B1 Wide-area aerial camera systems
A system for capturing aerial images, the system comprising at least one camera unit, the camera unit comprising at least one overview camera, a plurality of detail cameras, and a frame for holding the cameras, each detail camera having a longer focal length than the at least one overview camera, each detail camera mounted at a different angle laterally so that the fields of view of the detail cameras overlap to form an extended lateral field of view.
US09052569B2 Optical instrument, and control method for optical instrument
An optical instrument comprising a focusing lens provided inside a lens barrel, a ring member that is arranged to rotate with respect to a lens barrel, and to slide to a first position and a second position, a focusing mode setting section, provided on a camera body, for setting focusing mode, and a control section for, when the ring member has been slid to the first position, carrying out focusing in a focusing mode that was set in the focusing mode setting section, and when the ring member has been slid to the second position, stopping focusing the focusing mode that was set in the focusing mode setting section, and performing focusing of the focusing lens to a distance corresponding to an absolute position of the ring member.
US09052561B2 Electrochromic device
Provided is an electrochromic device including: two substrates opposed to each other; an electrode and a conductive reflection layer interposed between the two substrates; a first electrochromic coating layer interposed between the electrode and the conductive reflection layer; and an electrolyte layer interposed between the first electrochromic coating layer and the conductive reflection layer, whereby uniform discoloration and decolorization can be performed, the efficiency of power consumption can be enhanced, and a durability of the device and the speed of a decolorization reaction can be improved.
US09052557B2 Pixel array, pixel structure, and driving method of a pixel structure
A pixel array, a pixel structure, and a driving method of a pixel structure are provided. The pixel structure includes a first scan line, a second scan line, a first common electrode line, a data line, a first active device, a second device, a first pixel electrode, and a second pixel electrode. The data line is intersected with the first scan line and the second scan line. The first active device is driven by the first scan line and connected to the data line. The second active device is driven by the second scan line and connected to the first common electrode line. The first pixel electrode is electrically connected to the data line through the first active device. The second pixel electrode is electrically connected to the data line through the first active device and electrically connected to the first common electrode line through the second active device.
US09052556B2 Display device
A display device includes a substrate, a display region, a peripheral region, an insulating layer which is disposed on a gate signal line and a conductor, a conductive layer which is disposed on the insulating layer and crosses a plurality of gate signal lines and the conductor in the peripheral region, a first semiconductor film which is disposed between the insulating layer and the conductive layer, and a second semiconductor film which is disposed between the insulating layer and the conductive layer and which is separated from the first semiconductor film. The conductive layer is connected to the plurality of gate signal lines via a plurality of diodes, and the plurality of gate signal lines are arranged in the display region and the peripheral region. A length of the conductor differs from a length of the gate signal line in the display region and the peripheral region.
US09052552B2 Liquid crystal display device
In one embodiment, a first substrate is provided with first and second main pixel electrodes electrically connected each other extending along a first direction, respectively. A second substrate includes first to third main common electrodes electrically connected each other extending along the first direction, respectively. The first main pixel electrode is arranged between the first and second main common electrodes, and the second main pixel electrode is arranged between the second and third main common electrodes. Four inter-electrode distances are formed. One of the four inter-electrode distances is set to an optimal inter-electrode distance, and one of the four inter-electrode distances is different from at least one of the other three inter-electrode distances. Herein, the optimal inter-electrode distance is defined as follows: in a range of voltage which is applied between the electrodes, more than 90% of a peak transmissivity is obtained by the optimal inter-electrode distance.
US09052551B2 Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
There is provided a high quality liquid crystal panel having a thickness with high accuracy, which is designed, without using a particulate spacer, within a free range in accordance with characteristics of a used liquid crystal and a driving method, and is also provided a method of fabricating the same. The shape of a spacer for keeping a substrate interval constant is made such that it is a columnar shape, a radius R of curvature is 2 μm or less, a height H is 0.5 μm to 10 μm, a diameter is 20 μm or less, and an angle α is 65° to 115°. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the lowering of an opening rate and the lowering of light leakage due to orientation disturbance.
US09052550B2 Thin film transistor liquid crystal display
A thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT LCD), including a TFT array substrate, a color filter substrate and a post spacer disposed between the TFT array substrate and the color filter substrate. The TFT array substrate includes a gate line, a data line, and a TFT disposed in a pixel area defined by the gate line and the data line crossing with each other, and the TFT comprises a source/drain electrode. The post spacer is located in a region at least partially surrounded by the source/drain electrode, the data line and the gate line.
US09052548B2 Photo-curable composition, optical anistropic film and its preparation method
The present invention relates to a photo-curable composition that can provide a film, etc. showing excellent optical anisotropy even without need for separately forming a liquid crystal layer and an alignment layer, an optical anisotropic film using the same, and its preparation method. The photo-curable composition comprises a photo-alignable polymer, a noncrosslinkable liquid crystal compound and a photo-curable binder.
US09052545B2 Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a reflection plate; a light guide plate over the reflection plate; a light-emitting diode (LED) assembly including LEDs arranged along a side surface of the light guide plate, an LED flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) having LEDs mounted on its surface. The FPCB includes a bar and a leg portion extending from the body. The bar and the leg portion are integrated into a single body. The leg portion extends from the bar to a circuit for controlling the LEDs. A metallic bar is attached to bar of the LED FPCB to provide rigidity to the FPCB as well as cool the FPCB.
US09052543B2 Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes: a liquid crystal panel; a plurality of lamps disposed under the liquid crystal panel, supplying light to the liquid crystal panel; a diffusion plate disposed above the lamps and diffusing light emitted from the lamps; a diffusion sheet disposed on the diffusion plate and including a plurality of reflection patterns formed on a region of a rear surface adjacent to the lamps and including reflection beads reflecting a portion of light from the diffusion plate, wherein the respective reflection patterns of the diffusion sheet are formed to extend in a direction parallel to a lengthwise direction of the lamps.
US09052541B2 LCD module and LCD device
A liquid crystal display (LCD) module includes a middle frame, a backplane and a light source heat sink. The light source heat sink is fixed to the backplane. The middle frame includes a horizontal wall and a vertical wall. The light source heat sink includes a vertical wall. The middle frame vertically corresponds to the light source heat sink. The vertical wall of the middle frame and the vertical wall of the light source heat sink are correspondingly configured with interoperable fastening structures. The middle frame and the light source heat sink are positioned in the vertical direction through the interoperable fastening structures to increase twisting resistance of the middle frame.
US09052540B2 Array substrate and liquid crystal display panel
The present invention provides an array substrate and a liquid crystal display panel. Wherein, in the array substrate, each pixel unit comprises a first pixel electrode, a second pixel electrode, and a third pixel electrode. And each pixel unit comprises a first control circuit and a second control circuit. The first control circuit affects the first pixel electrode, so that the first pixel electrode is under the state of displaying the image corresponding to the black screen in the 3D display mode. The second control circuit affects the second pixel electrode and the third pixel electrode to change the voltage difference between the second pixel electrode and the third pixel electrode. By the above way, the present invention can minimize the color difference in wide viewing angle, improve the opening ratio in the 2D display mode, and reduce the crosstalk of the two eyes signal in the 3D display mode. Furthermore, it can reduce the amount of the data drivers and reduce the costs.
US09052539B2 Liquid crystal display device, compensation circuit and TFT voltage shutdown method thereof
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device, compensation circuit and TFT voltage shutdown method. The compensation circuit includes first capacitor, first resistor, second resistor and operational amplifier; wherein first terminal of first capacitor connected to receiving terminal of gate driver of LCD for receiving shutdown voltage to shutdown TFT; first terminal of first resistor connected to second terminal of first capacitor; first terminal of second resistor connected to second terminal of first resistor and second terminal of second resistor connected to output terminal of operational amplifier; positive input terminal of operational amplifier receiving an externally supplied shutdown voltage for gate driver, and negative input terminal of operational amplifier connected to second terminal of first resistor; wherein connection between first capacitor and receiving terminal of gate drive independent from connection between output terminal of operational amplifier and receiving terminal of gate driver.
US09052536B2 Display case door with transparent LCD panel
An improved display case door assembly for a product storage device. The display case door assembly includes a transparent unit comprising a front panel, a rear panel, and a transparent LCD panel positioned between the front panel and the rear panel. The transparent LCD panel is configured to present visual media content. The display case door assembly further includes a lighting element configured to provide lighting for the transparent LCD panel and for products within the product storage device and a light guide configured to selectively direct light emitted from the lighting element toward the transparent LCD panel and the products within the product storage device.
US09052535B1 Electro-refractive photonic device
The various technologies presented herein relate to phase shifting light to facilitate any of light switching, modulation, amplification, etc. Structures are presented where a second layer is juxtaposed between a first layer and a third layer with respective doping facilitating formation of p-n junctions at the interface between the first layer and the second layer, and between the second layer and the third layer. Application of a bias causes a carrier concentration change to occur at the p-n junctions which causes a shift in the effective refractive index per incremental change in an applied bias voltage. The effective refractive index enhancement can occur in both reverse bias and forward bias. The structure can be incorporated into a waveguide, an optical resonator, a vertical junction device, a horizontal junction device, a Mach-Zehnder interferometer, a tuneable optical filter, etc.
US09052534B2 Optical analog-to-digital converter, method of constructing the same, optical signal demodulator, and optical modulator-demodulator
An optical A/D converter according to the present invention includes an optical splitter that splits an analog input signal light into plurals, a plurality of Mach-Zehnder interferometers to which each of the signal lights split by the optical splitter is input, and plurality of optical/electrical conversion unit that convert each signal lights output from each Mach-Zehnder interferometer into a digital electrical signal, in which each Mach-Zehnder interferometer includes optical intensity-to-phase conversion unit that optically convert intensity of the input signal light into an amount of phase shift and the amount of phase shift differs for each Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Then, it is possible to provide a high speed and low power consuming optical demodulation circuit.
US09052518B2 Slant lens interlacing with linearly arranged sets of lenses
An optical product that includes a transparent lens sheet, which has a first side with a plurality of side-by-side sets of linearly arranged lenses. Each of the sets of lenses is at a slant angle in the range of 10 to 46 degrees from a vertical or a horizontal axis of the lens sheet. The product includes an image layer that includes pixels from a number of digital images. The pixels are arranged in a pattern of pixel locations providing non-orthogonal interlacing of the digital images relative to each of the sets of the linearly arranged lenses. The pattern of pixel locations aligns a number of the pixels from each of the digital images to be parallel to a line extending through a center of the linearly arranged lenses in each set. Each of the linearly arranged lenses may have a round base, a hexagonal base, or a square base.
US09052515B2 Lens panel, method for manufacturing the same and 3D display device
According to embodiments of the present invention, there are provided a lens panel, a method for manufacturing the same and a 3D display device. The lens panel comprises: a first transparent substrate; a second transparent substrate, disposed opposite to the first transparent substrate; positive electrodes and negative electrodes, which are in a strip shape, and disposed on a side of the first transparent substrate opposed to the second transparent substrate parallel to each other and alternately; a second transparent liquid and a first transparent liquid filled between the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate in this order from the second transparent substrate to the first transparent substrate, the first transparent liquid and the second transparent liquid being immiscible, and reflectance of the first transparent liquid being larger than reflectance of the second transparent liquid.
US09052513B2 Laser scan unit for an imaging device
A system and method for reducing scan line jitter caused by facet cut variation in scan systems employing a plurality of laser sources and a sensor for generating the timing for the laser sources. The system includes a controller for determining a unique time delay for each facet of the rotating mirror, and controlling the laser sources so that video provided by each laser source is delayed in a scan line by the unique time delay corresponding to the facet of the rotating mirror used in creating the scan line.
US09052512B2 Diffractive optical element and measuring apparatus
A diffractive optical element includes first and second diffractive optical parts to generate diffracted lights two-dimensionally with respect to incident light. The diffracted lights generated by inputting the incident light to the first diffractive optical part are input to the second diffractive optical part in order to generate the diffracted lights from the second diffractive optical part, wherein θ1≧θ2 and k1≧k2 stand or, θ1≦θ2 and k1≦k2 stand among θ1 and θ2 denote diffraction angles of the first and second diffractive optical parts, and k1 and k2 denote numbers of light spots of the diffracted lights generated by the first and second diffractive optical parts.
US09052511B1 Method and apparatus for resonant rotational oscillator
A method and apparatus for resonant rotational oscillator have been disclosed. In one version a moving coil is mounted on a rotating member. By using a magnetic assembly and the moving coil the rotating member is made to rotate.
US09052510B2 Micromechanical component and manufacturing method for a micromechanical component
A micromechanical component has a holding device and an adjustable component, which is adjustable with respect to the holding device at least from a first position into a second position, and which is connected via at least one spring to the holding device. The micromechanical component also includes at least one silicide-containing line segment situated on the at least one spring.
US09052508B2 Microscope system
A microscope system that performs structured illumination includes a light source configured to emit illumination light, an objective lens that irradiates a specimen with the illumination light, a phase-modulation spatial light modulator that has a two-dimensional pixel structure, that is arranged at the pupil conjugate position of the objective lens on an illumination light path between the light source and the objective lens, and that is configured to modulate a phase of the illumination light for each pixel so as to form a fringe illumination pattern on the specimen on the basis of an optical parameter of at least one of the light source and the objective lens.
US09052506B2 Virtual image display device and manufacturing method of virtual image display device
In a virtual image display device, direction adjustment of an image optical axis, i.e., angle adjustment of a direction of eyes of an observer can be performed by providing a cushion member or adjusting an amount of shift between an image display unit and a projection system, and thereby, strain on eyes of an observer in use may be reduced. Even when the virtual image display device is used over a long period, for example, stress on the observer may be suppressed.
US09052502B2 Corrective alignment optics for optical device
Exemplary methods, systems and components enable an enhanced direct-viewing optical device to make customized adjustments that accommodate various optical aberrations of a current user. In some instances a real-time adjustment of the transformable optical elements is based on known corrective optical parameters associated with a current user. In some implementations a control module may process currently updated wavefront measurements as a basis for determining appropriate real-time adjustment of the transformable optical elements to produce a specified change in optical wavefront at an exit pupil of the direct-viewing device. Possible transformable optical elements may have refractive and/or reflective and/or diffractive and/or transmissive characteristics that are adjusted based on current performance viewing factors for a given field of view of the direct-viewing device. Some embodiments enable dynamic repositioning and/or transformation of corrective optical elements based on a detected shift of a tracked gaze direction of a current user of the direct-viewing device.
US09052485B2 Optical interconnect assembly
An optical assembly includes a substrate with a first row of apertures and a second row of apertures. A first optical die includes a first plurality of optical transducer elements and is mounted on the substrate such that an optical signal interface of each transducer element is aligned with an aperture of the first row of optical apertures. A second optical die includes a second plurality of optical transducer elements and is mounted on the substrate such that an optical signal interface of each of the second plurality of optical transducer elements is aligned with an aperture of the second row of optical apertures. A connector configured to mate with the optical assembly supports a plurality of optical fibers. A terminal end of each optical fiber protrudes from the connector and extends into one of the apertures when the connector is coupled with the optical assembly.
US09052483B2 Communication module assembly with heat sink and methods of manufacture
A communication assembly can include: a module device; a cage having a body defining a first open end that is configured to receive the module device therethrough and the body defining one or more first receiver members between the first end and a second end opposite of the first end, the one or more first receiver members having a first part of fastening system (e.g., two-part fastening system); and a heat sink adapted to be received into the cage so as to be thermally coupled with the module device, the heat sink having a body defining one or more second receiver members configured to receive the one or more first receiver members, the one or more second receiver members having a second part of the fastening system that couples with the first part of the fastening system.
US09052480B2 Alignment pin and optical communication system
An alignment pin for an optical communication system comprises: a first portion (31) extending along a direction in a receiving hole of a printed circuit board, a second portion (32) extending along this direction in a receiving through hole of an optical coupling device, a third portion (33) extending along this direction in a receiving hole of an external optical component. The pin comprises an abutting surface (35) placed in contact with a parallel complementary surface (36) of the optical coupling device.
US09052477B2 Optical transceiver with inner fiber set within tray securing thermal path from electronic device to housing
An optical transceiver with inner fibers to couple optical parts installed therein is disclosed. The optical transceiver of an embodiment includes a tray for arranging the inner fibers. The tray, which may be made of metal plate, includes a primary plane in contact with the electronic parts, the contact plane in contact with the housing, and the turn connecting the planes. The tray has a U-shaped cross section with a space surrounded by both planes, the turn, and the housing, where the inner fibers are secured in the space.
US09052476B2 Wafer-level packaged optical subassembly and transceiver module having same
A wafer-level packaged optical subassembly includes: a substrate element, the substrate element including a top layer and a base layer being bonded with the top layer; a top window cover being bonded with the top layer of the substrate element; and a plurality of active optoelectronic elements disposed within the substrate element. At least one primary cavity is defined in the substrate element by the top layer and the base layer, and configured for accommodating the active optoelectronic elements. A plurality of peripheral cavities are defined around the at least one primary cavity as alignment features for external opto-mechanical parts.
US09052470B2 Expanded beam optical fibre connector
A method of fabricating an optical connector. The connector may include a housing, a channel within the housing for receiving an end of an optical fiber, a ferrule, and an optical fiber stub. The connector also has a lens for projecting and/or receiving an expanded beam. A sleeve may surround the ferrule and presents an open end for receiving a termination ferrule of an optical fiber inserted into the channel. The ferrule may be secured by a ring within the channel.
US09052468B2 Fiber optic adapter mount
A fiber optic adapter mount is disclosed. The fiber optic adapter mount has a receiving area for receiving an adapter, a retention feature and a mounting feature. The retention feature is configured to releasably retain the adapter in the receiving area. The mounting feature is for mounting the adapter mount to a surface.
US09052466B2 Female optical receiving device and method
The present document describes a female optical receiving device for connecting a first optical fiber to a second optical fiber. The first optical fiber is substantially centered within a proximal portion of a guidewire tubing. The female optical receiving device comprises a first ferrule or tubing having a longitudinal axis and an inside diameter adapted to an outside diameter of the guidewire tubing, and a second ferrule or tubing having a longitudinal axis and an inside diameter adapted to an outside diameter of the second optical fiber. The longitudinal axis of the first ferrule or tubing is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the second ferrule or tubing.
US09052463B2 Coupling of a laser source to an optical data distributing device
A computer system has an optical data distributing device for transmitting and distributing optical signals. A laser source generates light for forming the optical signals, and an optical fiber with a graded index of refraction couples the light from the laser source to the optical data distributing device. A lens is disposed to image light generated by the laser source into an input end of the optical fiber. The magnification of the lens is selected as a function of a ratio of a numerical aperture and diameter of the laser source divided by a ratio of a numerical aperture and diameter of the optical fiber.
US09052462B2 Area array waveguide power splitter
A method for constructing an area array waveguide power splitter includes preparing a reflective layer on a substrate and forming a core of an area array waveguide layer and alignment features for an optical fiber input and a plurality of optical fiber outputs atop the reflective layer, wherein the core of the area array waveguide layer and the alignment features are formed concurrently. The method also includes applying a reflective layer to the top and side surfaces of the core of the area array waveguide layer and exposing an input and exposing a plurality of outputs in the reflective layer.
US09052454B2 Spectral band-pass filter having high selectivity and controlled polarization
According to one aspect, the invention relates a spectral band-pass filter, which is optimized for the transmission of an incident wave at at least a first given central wavelength λ0, and which includes: a metal grating having a thickness (t) greater than approximately λ0/50 and including at least a first set of substantially identical, parallel slots having a width (W) less than around λ0/10, and being spaced apart periodically or quasi-periodically according to a first period that is less than said first central wavelength, a layer of dielectric material having a thickness (h) and a given refractive index (ng), which is coupled to the metal grating to form a waveguide for the waves diffracted by the grating, said first period of the grating being designed such that only orders 0 and ±1 of a wave having normal incidence and a wavelength λ0 are diffracted in the layer of dielectric material, the assembly of the dielectric layer and grating being suspended, during use, in a fluid having a refractive index of close to 1.
US09052449B2 Light emitting device, manufacturing method thereof, and optical transceiver
The light emitting device includes an active layer formed on a semiconductor substrate for emitting light, a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type electrically connected to one end of the active layer, a semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type electrically connected to the other end of the active layer, first and second electrodes, a feedback mechanism for laser oscillation, and a waveguide for guiding the light emitted from the active layer, in which the active layer is made of a semiconductor having an affinity with a silicon CMOS process, and the semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type and the semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type, and the waveguide are each made of silicon as a part of the semiconductor substrate.
US09052447B2 Optical device with echelle grating and wavefront tailoring
An optical de-MUX includes a sub-wavelength grating that magnifies an input optical signal. In particular, along a direction perpendicular to a propagation direction of the optical signal, the sub-wavelength grating has a spatially varying effective index of refraction that is larger at a center of the sub-wavelength grating than at an edge of the sub-wavelength grating. Moreover, the optical de-MUX includes an optical device that images and diffracts the optical signal using a reflective geometry, and which provides different diffraction orders to output ports. For example, the optical device may include an echelle grating.
US09052446B2 Self-aligned chip carrier and package structure thereof
The disclosure relates to a chip carrier, suitable for being inserted into a corresponding substrate. The light emitting/receiving chip mounted on the chip carrier is disposed within the corresponding substrate and aligned to the waveguide embedded in the corresponding substrate with an appropriate distance.
US09052441B2 Prism sheet and liquid crystal display having the same
Disclosed is a dual layer prism sheet including two patterned prism sheets adhered to each other with an adhesive layer interposed therebetween. The adhesive layer includes a polymeric adhesive and a lubricant. A liquid crystal display including the dual layer prism sheet is also disclosed. Each pattern on the prism sheet is arranged to make a predetermined angle with a liquid crystal panel.
US09052433B2 Multicore optical fiber (variants)
The invention relates to optical fiber communications. A multicore optical fiber comprises at least two light-guiding cores made of doped fused silica with refractive indices nc1, nc2, nck, each light-guiding core of the at least two light-guiding cores being surrounded by a respective arbitrarily shaped inner reflecting cladding made of fused silica or doped fused silica with refractive indices nc11, nc12, nclk, which are less than the refractive indices nc1, nc2, nck of respective light-guiding cores; a continuous or intermittent barrier region made of fused silica and having an arbitrary cross-sectional shape, the barrier region being formed in the space between the inner reflecting claddings and an outer cladding of fused silica with refractive index n0, the barrier region having refractive index nb, which is less than the refractive index of each of the inner reflecting claddings; and an external protective coating. In another embodiment the barrier region can be formed of through holes in fused silica or doped fused silica.
US09052429B2 Backlight module and liquid crystal display device using the same
A backlight module comprises a backplate assembly and a light guide unit. The backplate assembly comprises a first backplate unit and a second backplate unit. The first backplate unit comprises a first backplate body and a plurality of first upper hooks. The first upper hooks are formed on a front side of the first backplate body. The second backplate unit comprises a second a backplate body and a plurality of first notches. The first lateral notches are formed on a back side of the second backplate body. The first upper hooks are respectively engaged with the first notches to form a complete backplate assembly. The first backplate unit is separated from the second backplate unit due to the expansion value of the light guide unit when the light guide unit expands in a horizontal direction by heat.
US09052422B2 Method and device for producing a microlens
This invention relates to a method for producing a microlens with a carrier wafer, in which a lens in one opening of the carrier wafer is molded into the carrier wafer by stamping of the lens and to a corresponding device for executing the method and to a microlens which has been produced using the method. Furthermore the invention relates to a device for producing a microlens as well as a microlens.
US09052417B2 LED array lighting assembly
A lighting assembly including a plurality of LED light sources and a light-guide assembly with a plurality of light guides each having a proximal end terminating in a recess and a distal end, a mating cap coupled to the proximal end of the plurality of light guides and aligning each recess with a corresponding LED light source in the plurality of LED light sources, and a light-emitting lens with a receiving surface coupled to the distal end of each of the plurality of light guides and able to transfer light emitted from the distal end of each of the plurality of light guides into the light-emitting lens and a curved light-emitting surface opposite the receiving surface, the light-emitting surface able to emit light from within the light-emitting lens, the light within the light emitting lens being a blend of light emitted from two of the plurality of light guides.
US09052416B2 Ultra-high efficacy semiconductor light emitting devices
A semiconductor light emitting apparatus includes an elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube that comprises an elongated wavelength conversion tube wall having wavelength conversion material such as phosphor dispersed therein uniformly or non-uniformly. The tube need not be cylindrical. A semiconductor light emitting device is oriented to emit light inside the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube to impinge upon the elongated wavelength conversion tube wall and the wavelength conversion material dispersed therein.
US09052412B2 Determining an orientation angle of a survey sensor
Measurement data acquired by at least one sensor in a cable structure towed through a body of water is received. A torsional vibration noise component in the measurement data is estimated. The torsional vibration noise component is used to estimate a rotation angle of the at least one survey sensor with respect to a reference coordinate system of the cable structure.
US09052409B2 Monte Carlo method for laplace inversion of NMR data
Methods and related systems are described for extracting information about a system of nuclear spins including: performing a plurality of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) measurements on the system of nuclear spins; acquiring NMR data from each of the plurality of NMR measurements; performing data inversion using an random-sampler to generate an ensemble of spectra so as to extract information about the system of nuclear spins; and analyzing the performed random-sampler inversion results to extract information about the system of nuclear spins.
US09052407B2 Seismic velocity model updating and imaging with elastic wave imaging
Method for building a seismic imaging velocity model, particularly at the boundary of a geo-body, and to perform imaging, by taking into account the elastic reflection and scattering information in the seismic data. More illumination of the base and flanks (or in general, the boundary) of the geo-body is provided from (a) inside of the geo-body (502), with elastically converted waves at the geo-body boundary used (via elastic RTM flooding); and (b) from outside the geo-body (503), by utilizing prism waves with elastic RTM to handle the phase correctly in the model building step. The increased illumination and correct elastic phase are used for geo-body boundary determination. Elastic RTM is then applied (505), along with the elastically derived imaging velocity model, to maximize the use of elastic energy in the imaging step, and to obtain the correct image with the correct phase.
US09052406B2 Processing azimuthal measurement data
A method of processing azimuthal measurement data includes: receiving a plurality of data values generated by a rotating measurement tool, the measurement tool including at least one measurement sensor and configured to rotate and measure a signal at each of a plurality of azimuthal orientations; associating each received data value with an azimuthal orientation; selecting one or more data values that provide sufficient information regarding a measured signal, each of the selected data values having an associated azimuthal orientation; disregarding azimuthal orientations associated with one or more data values that provide insufficient information regarding a measured signal; and fitting only the selected data values to a sinusoidal curve.
US09052402B2 Detector element, radiation detector and medical device containing the detector elements, and method for producing a detector element
A detector element is disclosed with a semi-conductive converter element and metal contacts arranged thereon for at least one anode and at least one cathode, wherein at least one of the metal contacts comprises a contact layer made from a contact material based on precious metal and ruthenium as its mixed component. Moreover, an embodiment of the invention concerns a radiation detector with the detector element with a ruthenium-containing contact layer and, optionally, with an evaluation unit to read out a detector signal, as well as a medical device with the radiation detector. Furthermore, a method for the production of a detector element is described which includes the installation step of a contact material of at least one of the metal contacts on the converter element, wherein the contact material includes a precious metal base with ruthenium as its mixed component.
US09052401B2 Radiation image detection device and radiation imaging system
A radiation imaging system comprises a radiation source and a radiation image detection device. The radiation image detection device has a solid state detector and a wavelength converting layer arranged in this order from a radiation-incident side. The wavelength converting layer detects radiation passed through the solid state detector and converts the radiation into visible light. The solid state detector detects the visible light and produces image data. The wavelength converting layer is a phosphor layer, being a single layer, in which at least first phosphor particles having a first average particle diameter and second phosphor particles having a second average particle diameter are dispersed in a binder. The second average particle diameter is smaller than the first average particle diameter. The weight of the first phosphor particles per unit thickness of the wavelength converting layer decreases with increasing distance from the solid state detector.
US09052400B2 Radiation detection apparatus and imaging system
A radiation detection apparatus comprising a sensor panel in which a plurality of sensors for detecting light are arranged, and a scintillator layer containing scintillator particles for converting an incident radiation into light, and an adhesive resin which has an adherence property and bonds the scintillator particles, wherein the scintillator layer is adhered to the sensor panel by the adhesive resin, a modulus of elasticity in tensile of the adhesive resin is higher than 0.7 GPa and lower than 3.5 GPa, and a volume ratio of the adhesive resin to the scintillator particles is not lower than 1% and not higher than 5%.
US09052398B2 Liquid mixture used to test and validate test devices
The invention relates to a liquid mixture used to test and validate test devices for inspecting objects or persons, said mixture containing glycerol and comprising a mixture of glycerol, ethanol and water.
US09052395B2 Resonant modulation for low power range imaging cameras
An amplitude modulated continuous wave range imaging device has a signaling device configured to emit an intensity modulated illumination signal. An image sensor is configured to capture a plurality of images of a reflection of the modulated illumination signal. The captured images include intensity and/or phase components for a plurality of pixels of the image sensor. Each pixel includes a first modulation terminal having a first capacitive component. A first driver is configured to charge a first set of modulation terminals of the plurality of pixels. A second driver is configured to charge a second set of modulation terminals of the plurality of pixels. A charge transfer circuit is connected between the first set of modulation terminals and the second set of modulation terminals. The charge transfer circuit is configured to transfer charge between the first set of modulation terminals and the second set of modulation terminals.
US09052394B2 Method and apparatus for detecting buried objects
An object detection system (24) is disclosed having a transducer (40, 40′) for detecting buried objects (26). The transducer is encapsulated within a robust, electromagnetically transparent construction (42).
US09052391B2 Backup velocity estimation utilizing traction device speed
A velocity estimation method and system is disclosed. The method may include receiving a location signal indicative of a location of the machine and estimating the velocity of the machine based on a change in the location of the machine over a period of time. The method may further include determining a loss of the location signal, detecting a traction device speed of the machine, and selectively estimating the velocity of the machine based on the traction device speed when the location signal is determined to be lost.
US09052389B2 Method and receiver for receiving and processing altBOC-modulated satellite navigation signals
AltBOC-modulated satellite navigation signals transmitted in the two partial bands E5a and E5b of the so-called E5 frequency band are received using a common antenna (19) and thereafter are processed separately in an analog manner in the HF front-end in two physically different incoming signal paths for the two partial bands and then digitized and coherently summed to form a complete digital E5 band signal, which is fed to a digital signal processor, in which code acquisition and code tracking are performed using PRN reference code sequences produced in the receiver and tracking of the carrier phase is performed and raw data for the final navigation calculation are determined therefrom. From the PRN reference code sequences produced in the receiver, a PRN code calibration signal is produced, which is up-converted to the carrier frequency and then coupled into the HF front-end as a pseudo satellite navigation signal by means of a directional coupler (20) directly after the antenna, which pseudo satellite navigation signal is also tracked in the digital signal processor as an addition signal, which makes it possible to calibrate the HF front-end for the two partial bands during the normal satellite navigation signal reception.For application with Galileo satellite navigation receivers.
US09052388B2 Method and apparatus of GNSS receiver heading determination
The present invention relates to processing information generated by GNSS receivers received signals such as GPS, GLONASS, etc. GNSS receivers can determine their position in space. The receivers are capable of determining both coordinates and velocity of their spatial movement. When a receiver is used in any machine control systems, velocity vector heading (in other words, velocity vector orientation) should be determined along with velocity vector's absolute value. Angle, determining velocity vector orientation, is calculated based on velocity vector projections which are computed in navigation receivers. The accuracy of velocity vector orientation calculated based on velocity vector projections strongly enough depends on velocity vector's absolute value. To enhance the accuracy, a method of smoothing primary estimates of velocity vector orientation angles using a modified Kalman filter has been proposed. The bandwidth of this filter is varied depending on current estimates of velocity vector's absolute value which were calculated based on the same velocity vector projections.
US09052385B2 Sun tracking device and solar cell system
A sun tracking device comprises a light sensing module, a processing module, a control module, and a driving module. The light sensing module includes eight light sensors, a pole fixing portion, and a pole. The eight light sensors each have a light sensing surface. The pole fixing portion has a fixing surface. The eight light sensing surfaces and the fixing surface cooperatively form a 3×3 grid, and the fixing surface is in the middle of the grid. The pole extends from the fixing surface. The processing module is configured for determining the direction of the sun, and calculating a rotating direction and angle of the light sensing module. The control module is configured for sending out a rotating instruction. The driving module is configured for driving the light sensing module to rotate so that the sunlight perpendicularly shines onto the light sensing surface.
US09052377B2 Satellite-based SAR services
A satellite-based SAR system having a space segment with a plurality of satellites and a ground segment with one or a plurality of ground stations is provided. A satellite receives a position report from an emergency transmitter in its service area and forwards it to a ground station. The ground segment stores the position of the emergency transmitter, received with the last position report, in a management system for emergency transmitters. The emergency transmitter sends position reports to the satellite such that the reception of position reports at the satellite is coordinated such that at any time only position reports arrive which differ with regard to their signal parameters such that simultaneous reception is possible. A rescue operation is initiated for the emergency transmitter if no deactivation message has been received from the emergency transmitter and no position report is received from the emergency transmitter within a specified period.
US09052373B2 Method and device for determining a magnetic resonance system activation sequence
A method and control a sequence determination device for determining a magnetic resonance system-activation sequence are provided. The magnetic resonance system-activation sequence includes a multichannel pulse having a plurality of individual HF pulses to be emitted in a parallel manner by the magnetic resonance system by way of different independent high-frequency transmit channels. A multichannel pulse is calculated based on a predefined MR excitation quality using an HF pulse optimization method, and an HF pulse length is optimized with respect to an HF energy parameter.
US09052370B2 Detection processing for NQR system
A system that uses the nuclear quadrupole resonant effect to detect the presence of materials of interest, such as may be excited by radio frequency fields generated within a portal. Transmitted chirp signals may be processed using matching filtering and other signal processing to accurately detect the presence of such materials.
US09052368B2 Negative peak voltage detection for enhanced FuelGauge empty voltage prediction
Negative peak voltage detection for battery end of life estimations in fuel gauging is disclosed. Battery powered devices such cell phones and laptop computers create some noise in the form of negative excursions from the average output voltage of the battery which can cause the battery powered device to stop functioning. By negative peak detection relative to the average battery voltage, the end of life or discharged voltage condition can be altered in response to the negative peaks to obtain the maximum battery life without risk of the device inadvertently shutting down. Average output voltage of the battery may be taken as an estimated open circuit voltage or some other battery voltage. Various embodiments are disclosed.
US09052367B2 MRI RF coil control signals modulated onto the RF coil clock signal
According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a control unit and a coil unit. The control unit generates a first clock signal, generates a data signal to indicate an operating condition, modulates the first clock signal by the data signal to obtain a modulated signal, generates a clock transmission signal including the modulated signal, and emits the clock transmission signal. The coil unit converts the clock transmission signal into an electric signal, detects the modulated signal from the clock transmission signal, generates a second clock signal synchronous with the first clock signal from the modulated signal, detects an MR signal generated in a subject, digitizes, synchronously with the second clock signal, the MR signal, detects the data signal from the detected modulated signal by using of the second clock signal, controls the operating condition of the coil unit to be the operating condition indicated by the data signal.
US09052365B2 Method for testing leakage current of electric compressor
According to the present invention, after a predetermined voltage is applied to a coil in a state in which the inside of an electric compressor is filled with dielectric liquid and the coil of a motor is immersed in the dielectric liquid, in a first test process, a test product in which a current value when a first predetermined time T1 elapses I1 is less than or equal to a first reference current value is determined as an acceptable product, in a second test process, among the test products in which the current value is greater than the first reference current value in the first test process, a test product in which a current value I2 when a second predetermined time T2 longer than the first predetermined time elapses is less than or equal to a second reference current value is determined as an acceptable product, a test product in which the current value is greater than the second reference current value is determined as a disqualified product, and the first reference current value is a predictive reference current value that allows a test product which is to be determined as a disqualified product in the second test process to be determined as a disqualified product in the first test process, and allows some test products which are to be determined as an acceptable product in the second test process to be determined as a disqualified product in the first test process.
US09052364B2 Apparatus for diagnosing relay contact of electric vehicle and method thereof
Disclosed are an apparatus for diagnosing a relay contact of an electric vehicle and a method thereof. The method includes measuring a first voltage input from a high-voltage battery to an inverter; comparing the first voltage with a second voltage output through the high-voltage battery; identifying a detection time point of the first voltage when the first voltage is greater than the second voltage; and determining whether a high-voltage relay, which intermits an output voltage of the high-voltage battery, is malfunctioned based on the identified detection time point.
US09052362B2 Scan test port capture/shift signals maintaining/transitioning sequence and idle states
Operating a state machine includes enabling operation of the state machine upon receiving a signal indicating a change from operation of a test access port to a scan test port. The process maintains the state machine in an IDLE 1 state while receiving a scan test port capture signal and transitions the state machine to an IDLE 2 state when receiving a scan test port shift signal. The process then transitions the state machine to a SEQUENCE 1 state, then to a SEQUENCE 2 state, and then to a SEQUENCE 3 state when receiving sequential scan test port capture signals. The state machine then transitions to an UNLOCK TAP state and then back to the IDLE 1 state when receiving sequential scan test port shift signals on the test mode select/capture select lead.
US09052361B2 Wired-or fail flag in serial stimulus, expected/mask data test circuitry
A scan test architecture facilitates low power testing of semiconductor circuits by selectively dividing the serial scan paths into shorter sections. Multiplexers between the sections control connecting the sections into longer or shorted paths. Select and enable signals control the operation of the scan path sections. The output of each scan path passes through a multiplexer to compare circuits on the semiconductor substrate. The compare circuits also receive expected data and mask data. The compare circuits provide a fail flag output from the semiconductor substrate.
US09052356B2 Embedded photon emission calibration (EPEC)
A semiconductor device structure is embedded within a semiconductor chip that calibrates a photon-emission luminosity scale by running multiple known currents through the device. The method comprises embedding at least one photon emission device in an integrated circuit having at least one functional device. A control current is applied to the at least one photon emission device. The photon emission intensity produced by the at least one photon emission device is captured. The current density of the at least one photon emission device is calculated. A test current is applied to the at least one functional device. The photon emission intensity produced by the at least one functional device is captured. The current density of the at least one functional device is estimated based on a comparison with the calculated current density of the at least one photon emission device.
US09052355B2 Wafer prober integrated with full-wafer contactor
Methods and apparatus for testing unsingulated integrated circuits on a wafer include adapting a wafer prober for use with full-wafer-contacter disposed on the wafer. Some embodiments include placing wafer on a chuck of the prober, aligning the wafer to a full-wafer contacter incorporated in the wafer prober, removably attaching the wafer to the full wafer contacter, separating the wafer from the chuck, and making electrical contact to one or more integrated circuits of the wafer by making physical contact with a surface of the full-wafer contacter that faces away from the wafer.
US09052352B2 Fuse circuit and testing method of the same
A fuse circuit includes a data line, a plurality of fuse cells selectively programmed and electrically connected with the data line in response to respective selection signals, a dummy fuse cell electrically connected with the data line in response to a test signal, and a sense amplifier configured to sense a data of the data line. The fuse circuit includes a plurality of fuses, reduces the area thereof, and easily detects whether a sense amplifier operates properly or not in the fuse circuit.