最新美国发明专利第2015-08-04期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US09099479B2	Carrier structures for microelectronic elements A microelectronic unit can include a carrier structure having a front surface, a rear surface remote from the front surface, and a recess having an opening at the front surface and an inner surface located below the front surface of the carrier structure. The microelectronic unit can also include a microelectronic element having a top surface adjacent the inner surface, a bottom surface remote from the top surface, and a plurality of contacts at the top surface. The microelectronic unit can also include terminals electrically connected with the contacts of the microelectronic element. The terminals can be electrically insulated from the carrier structure. The microelectronic unit can also include a dielectric region contacting at least the bottom surface of the microelectronic element. The dielectric region can define a planar surface located coplanar with or above the front surface of the carrier structure.
US09099477B2	Three-dimensional integrated circuit having stabilization structure for power supply voltage, and method for manufacturing same The three-dimensional integrated circuit has a first semiconductor chip and a second semiconductor chip stacked on the first semiconductor chip, wherein each of the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip is provided with a power supply wiring layer which has a wiring pattern structure for stably supplying a power supply voltage to an internal circuit of the semiconductor chip, and a ground wiring layer in succession, and one of the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip further includes a second ground wiring layer or a second power supply wiring layer on a surface facing to the other semiconductor chip.
US09099476B2	Semiconductor having a high aspect ratio via The present disclosure provides various embodiments of a via structure and method of manufacturing same. In an example, a via structure includes a via having via sidewall surfaces defined by a semiconductor substrate. The via sidewall surfaces have a first portion and a second portion. A conductive layer is disposed in the via on the first portion of the via sidewall surfaces, and a dielectric layer is disposed on the second portion of the via sidewall surfaces. The dielectric layer is disposed between the second portion of the via sidewall surfaces and the conductive layer. In an example, the dielectric layer is an oxide layer.
US09099471B2	Semiconductor device channels A semiconductor device and a method of manufacture are provided. The semiconductor device includes one or more layers having channels adapted to carry signals or deliver power. The semiconductor device may include a signal channel and a power channel. The power channel may include power channel cross-sectional portions. A first conductor in the power channel may have a first cross-sectional area. A second conductor in the signal channel may have a second cross-sectional area. The second cross-sectional area may be smaller than the first cross-sectional area. The method of manufacture includes establishing a signal conductor layer including a signal channel and a power channel, introducing a first conductor in the power channel having a first cross-sectional area, and introducing a second conductor in the signal channel having a second cross-sectional area where the second cross-sectional area is smaller than the first cross-sectional area.
US09099470B2	Method of forming patterns for semiconductor device Provided is a method of forming patterns for a semiconductor device in which fine patterns and large-width patterns are formed simultaneously and adjacent to each other. In the method, a first layer is formed on a substrate so as to cover a first region and a second region which are included in the substrate. Both a blocking pattern covering a portion of the first layer in the first region and a low-density large-width pattern covering a portion of the first layer in the second region are simultaneously formed. A plurality of sacrificial mask patterns are formed on the first layer and the blocking pattern in the first region. A plurality of spacers covering exposed sidewalls of the plurality of sacrificial mask patterns are formed. The plurality of sacrificial mask patterns are removed. The first layer in the first and second regions are simultaneously etched by using the plurality of spacers and the blocking pattern as etch masks in the first region and using the low-density large-width pattern as an etch mask in the second region.
US09099467B2	E-fuse structure design in electrical programmable redundancy for embedded memory circuit An electrical fuse and a method of forming the same are presented. A first-layer conductive line is formed over a base material. A via is formed over the first-layer conductive line. The via preferably comprises a barrier layer and a conductive material. A second-layer conductive line is formed over the via. A first external pad is formed coupling to the first-layer conductive line. A second external pad is formed coupling to the second-layer conductive line. The via, the first conductive line and the second conductive line are adapted to be an electrical fuse. The electrical fuse can be burned out by applying a current. The vertical structure of the preferred embodiment is suitable to be formed in any layer.
US09099461B2	Method of manufacturing scaled equivalent oxide thickness gate stacks in semiconductor devices and related design structure A method of forming a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes: forming a dielectric region on a substrate; annealing the dielectric region in an environment including ammonia (NH3); monitoring a nitrogen peak of at least one of the substrate and the dielectric region during the annealing; and adjusting a parameter of the environment based on the monitoring of the nitrogen peak.
US09099459B2	Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of the same According to one embodiment a method is provided including positioning and bonding a plurality of first semiconductor chips in a coplanar relation on a first substrate, laminating at least a plurality of second semiconductor chips on the first semiconductor chips, cutting the first substrate for separation into a discrete chip lamination, aligning an electrode pad provided on a surface of the discrete lamination with an electrode pad on a second substrate, and temporarily connecting the electrode pads on the lamination and the second substrate in an opposing relation to the first substrate, providing electrical connection between the electrode pads by a reflow process, flowing a liquid resin from the side of the first substrate towards the second substrate to seal the chip lamination and spaces between the chip lamination and the first and second substrate, and cutting the chip lamination to form a discrete device.
US09099458B2	Construction of reliable stacked via in electronic substrates—vertical stiffness control method A stacked via structure for reducing vertical stiffness includes: a plurality of stacked vias, each via disposed on a disc-like structure. The disc-like structure includes a platted through hole landing supporting the plurality of stacked vias. The platted through hole landing includes an etched pattern.
US09099457B2	Semiconductor with through-substrate interconnect Semiconductor devices are described that have a metal interconnect extending vertically through a portion of the device to the back side of a semiconductor substrate. A top region of the metal interconnect is located vertically below a horizontal plane containing a metal routing layer. Method of fabricating the semiconductor device can include etching a via into a semiconductor substrate, filling the via with a metal material, forming a metal routing layer subsequent to filling the via, and removing a portion of a bottom of the semiconductor substrate to expose a bottom region of the metal filled via.
US09099456B2	Package of electronic device including connecting bump, system including the same and method for fabricating the same A package of an electronic device, a system including the same and a method for fabricating the same are provided. The package of the electronic device includes a substrate, a step difference layer and a connecting bump. The substrate allows a connecting contact part to be exposed on a surface thereof. The step difference layer covers the substrate so as to leave the connecting contact part exposed. The connecting bump is connected to the connecting contact part so that one end part of the connecting bump is extended on the step difference layer, and has a sloped upper surface formed by a step difference formed by the step difference layer.
US09099455B2	Semiconductor device and method of forming conductive posts embedded in photosensitive encapsulant A semiconductor package includes a post carrier having a base plate and plurality of conductive posts. A photosensitive encapsulant is deposited over the base plate of the post carrier and around the conductive posts. The photosensitive encapsulant is etched to expose a portion of the base plate of the post carrier. A semiconductor die is mounted to the base plate of the post carrier within the etched portions of the photosensitive encapsulant. A second encapsulant is deposited over the semiconductor die. A first circuit build-up layer is formed over the second encapsulant. The first circuit build-up layer is electrically connected to the conductive posts. The base plate of the post carrier is removed and a second circuit build-up layer is formed over the semiconductor die and the photosensitive encapsulant opposite the first circuit build-up layer. The second circuit build-up layer is electrically connected to the conductive posts.
US09099452B2	Semiconductor package with low profile switch node integrated heat spreader In one implementation, a semiconductor package includes a patterned conductive carrier including partially etched segments. The semiconductor package also includes a control FET having a control drain attached to a first partially etched segment of the patterned conductive carrier. In addition, the semiconductor package includes a sync FET having a sync source and a sync gate attached to respective second and third partially etched segments of the patterned conductive carrier. The semiconductor package further includes a heat spreading conductive plate situated over a control source of the control FET and over a sync drain of the sync FET so as to couple the control source and the sync drain to a switch node segment of the patterned conductive carrier.
US09099448B2	Three-dimensional system-level packaging methods and structures A 3D system-level packaging method includes providing a packaging substrate, forming a glue layer on the substrate, and attaching a first chip layer at an opposite side of a functional surface of the first chip layer on the packaging substrate through the glue layer. The method also includes forming a first sealant layer on the packaging substrate at a same side attached with the first chip layer and exposing bonding pads of the first chip layer. The method also includes forming first vias in the first sealant layer, forming first vertical metal wiring in the first vias, and forming a first horizontal wiring layer on the sealant layer interconnecting the first chip layer and the first vertical metal wiring. Further, the method includes forming a plurality of package layers on the first sealant layer, and each of the plurality of package layers includes a chip layer, a sealant layer covering the chip layer, and vertical metal wiring and a horizontal wiring layer interconnecting adjacent package layers.
US09099444B2	3D integrated circuit package with through-mold first level interconnects 3D integrated circuit packages with through-mold first level interconnects and methods to form such packages are described. For example, a semiconductor package includes a substrate. A bottom semiconductor die has an active side with a surface area. The bottom semiconductor die is coupled to the substrate with the active side distal from the substrate. A top semiconductor die has an active side with a surface area larger than the surface area of the bottom semiconductor die. The top semiconductor die is coupled to the substrate with the active side proximate to the substrate. The active side of the bottom semiconductor die is facing and conductively coupled to the active side of the top semiconductor die. The top semiconductor die is conductively coupled to the substrate by first level interconnects that bypass the bottom semiconductor die.
US09099443B2	Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes a semiconductor substrate that includes a first region and a second region having a thickness that is less than a thickness of the first region, a first metal film having a same film thickness provided in each of a first through hole, and a second through hole, the first through hole penetrating the semiconductor substrate from the second surface to the first surface in the first region, and the second through hole penetrating the semiconductor substrate from the second surface to the first surface in the second region. A second metal film is formed on the first metal films and is provided inside the first through hole, and inside and outside of the second through hole. A thickness of the second metal film located outside the second through hole is greater than a thickness of the second metal film located outside the first through hole, and heights of upper surfaces of the second metal film in the first and second regions are the same.
US09099439B2	Semiconductor device with silicide cap A semiconductor device includes a substrate, an epi-layer, an etch stop layer, an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer, a silicide layer cap and a contact plug. The substrate has a first portion and a second portion neighboring to the first portion. The etch stop layer is disposed on the second portion. The ILD layer is disposed on the etch stop layer. The silicide cap is disposed on the epi-layer. The contact plug is disposed on the silicide cap and surrounded by the ILD layer.
US09099430B2	ZrO-based high K dielectric stack for logic decoupling capacitor or embedded DRAM A zirconium oxide based dielectric material is used in the formation of decoupling capacitors employed in microelectronic logic circuits. In some embodiments, the zirconium oxide based dielectric is doped. In some embodiments, the dopant includes at least one of aluminum, silicon, or yttrium. In some embodiments, the zirconium oxide based dielectric is formed as a nanolaminate of zirconium oxide and a dopant metal oxide.
US09099415B2	Organic light-emitting display device An organic light-emitting display device including a thin film transistor (TFT) on a substrate; an organic light emitting diode (OLED) electrically connected to the TFT, the OLED including a pixel electrode, an organic layer, and an opposite electrode; a pixel defining layer (PDL) on the pixel electrode, the PDL including an opening that exposes at least one portion of the pixel electrode; and a light scattering layer between the pixel electrode and the organic layer.
US09099411B2	Metal-induced crystallization of continuous semiconductor thin films controlled by a diffusion barrier A device and a method of forming a continuous polycrystalline Ge film having crystalline Ge islands is provided that includes depositing an amorphous Ge (a-Ge) layer on a substrate, oxidizing the top surface of the a-Ge layer to form a GeOx layer, depositing a seed layer of Al on the GeOx layer and catalyzing the Al seed layer, where Ge mass transport is generated from the underlying a-Ge layer to the Al seed layer through the GeOx layer by thermal annealing, where a continuous polycrystalline Ge film having crystalline Ge islands is formed on the Al seed layer.
US09099409B2	Organic electroluminescent display device, electronic apparatus including the same, and method for producing organic electroluminescent display device An organic EL display device includes an organic EL section including an organic layer held between a first electrode and a second electrode, one of the two electrodes serving as a reflective electrode, and the other serving as a translucent electrode; a blue pixel portion including a blue color filter configured to mainly transmit a light component in a blue wavelength region of light emitted from the organic EL section; a green pixel portion including a green color filter configured to mainly transmit a light component in a green wavelength region of the light emitted from the organic EL section; and a red pixel portion including a wavelength conversion layer configured to absorb at least one of the light component in the blue wavelength region and the light component in the green wavelength region of the light emitted from the organic EL section and emit light in a red wavelength region.
US09099406B2	Organic electroluminescence display device, and electronic system An organic electroluminescence display device includes: a light emission region including a plurality of pixels on a drive substrate, wherein each of the pixels includes, in order from a side close to the drive substrate, a first electrode, a functional layer, and a second electrode, the first electrode is provided for each of the pixels, and the functional layer includes at least an organic electroluminescence layer; a print pattern layer included in the functional layer and formed individually for each of the pixels; and a protrusion provided on the drive substrate and protruding further than any layer provided between the print pattern layer and the drive substrate.
US09099397B1	Fabrication of self aligned base contacts for bipolar transistors A transistor includes a first emitter layer area, a second emitter layer area, wherein the second emitter layer area is separate from the first emitter layer area, a first metal formed on the first emitter layer area, a second metal formed on the second emitter layer area, a base, and a base metal formed on the base and on the second metal. The first emitter layer area is an emitter of the transistor and the first metal provides an emitter contact. The base metal on the base and on the second metal provides a base contact.
US09099395B2	Semiconductor device It is an object to provide a transistor having a new multigate structure in which operating characteristics and reliability are improved. In a transistor having a multigate structure, which includes two gate electrodes electrically connected to each other and a semiconductor layer including two channel regions connected in series formed between a source region and a drain region, and a high concentration impurity region is formed between the two channel regions; the channel length of the channel region adjacent to the source region is longer than the channel length of the channel region adjacent to the drain region.
US09099394B2	Non-volatile memory structure employing high-k gate dielectric and metal gate A high dielectric constant (high-k) gate dielectric for a field effect transistor (FET) and a high-k tunnel dielectric for a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) device are simultaneously formed on a semiconductor substrate. A stack of at least one conductive material layer, a control gate dielectric layer, and a disposable material layer is subsequently deposited and lithographically patterned. A planarization dielectric layer is deposited and patterned, and disposable material portions are removed. A remaining portion of the control gate dielectric layer is preserved in the NVRAM device region, but is removed in the FET region. A conductive material is deposited in gate cavities to provide a control gate for the NVRAM device and a gate portion for the FET. Alternately, the control gate dielectric layer may replaced with a high-k control gate dielectric in the NVRAM device region.
US09099385B2	Vertical 1T-1R memory cells, memory arrays and methods of forming the same Vertical 1T-1R memory cells, memory arrays of vertical 1T-1R memory calls, and methods of forming such memory cells and memory arrays are described. The memory cells each include a vertical transistor and a resistivity-switching element coupled in series with and disposed above or below the vertical transistor. The vertical transistor includes a controlling electrode coupled to a word line that is above or below the vertical transistor. The controlling electrode is disposed on a sidewall of the vertical transistor. Each vertical transistor includes a first terminal coupled to a bit line, a second terminal comprising the controlling electrode coupled to a word line, and a third terminal coupled to the resistivity-switching element.
US09099378B2	Schottky barrier diode and method of manufacturing the same A schottky barrier diode may include a first n− type epitaxial layer disposed on a first surface of an n+ type silicon carbide substrate, a first p+ region disposed in the first n− type epitaxial layer, a second n type epitaxial layer disposed on the first n− type epitaxial layer and the first p+ region, a second p+ region disposed in the second n type epitaxial layer, a schottky electrode disposed on the second n type epitaxial layer and the second p+ region, and an ohmic electrode disposed on a second surface of the n+ type silicon carbide substrate, wherein the first p+ region and the second p+ region may be in contact with each other.
US09099377B2	Micropipe-free silicon carbide and related method of manufacture Micropipe-free, single crystal, silicon carbide (SiC) and related methods of manufacture are disclosed. The SiC is grown by placing a source material and seed material on a seed holder in a reaction crucible of the sublimation system, wherein constituent components of the sublimation system including the source material, reaction crucible, and seed holder are substantially free from unintentional impurities. By controlling growth temperature, growth pressure, SiC sublimation flux and composition, and a temperature gradient between the source material and the seed material or the SiC crystal growing on the seed material during the PVT process, micropipe-inducing process instabilities are eliminated and micropipe-free SiC crystal is grown on the seed material.
US09099372B2	Complementary metal oxide semiconductor image sensor and operating method thereof The inventive concept relates to a CMOS image sensor and an operating method of the CMOS image sensor. The operating method according to an embodiment of the inventive concept includes generating photoelectrons at a photo sensor element during a first time; generating photoelectrons at the photo sensor element during a second time shorter than the first time; and sensing the photoelectrons generated at the photo sensor element. A gate voltage of a transfer transistor connected to the photo sensor element is set differently at the first time and the second time. With an embodiment of the inventive concept, a dynamic range of the CMOS image sensor increases.
US09099370B2	Solid-state imaging element and imaging device A solid-state image sensor includes a dispersing element array which is arranged to face a photosensitive cell array and which includes a plurality of high-refractive-index transparent portions, a low-refractive-index transparent layer that fills a gap between the high-refractive-index transparent portions, and pairs of dispersing elements arranged to face multiple unit blocks of the photosensitive cell array. Each pair of dispersing elements is comprised of: a first dispersing element which includes one of the high-refractive-index transparent portions and which splits incoming light into two light rays representing first and second color components, respectively; and a second dispersing element which includes another one of the high-refractive-index transparent portions and which splits the incoming light into two light rays representing third and fourth color components, respectively.
US09099367B2	Image sensor and image processing device including the same An image sensor includes a pixel array and a calibration circuit. The pixel array includes a plurality of pixels each of which includes a photoelectric conversion device configured to absorb incident light and generate a photocharge, a transfer transistor configured to transfer the photocharge from the photoelectric conversion device to a floating diffusion node, and a reset transistor configured to reset the floating diffusion node. The calibration circuit is connected to the reset transistor of each pixel, and is configured to apply a different voltage to each pixel and adjust an amount of photocharge generated by the photoelectric conversion device in each pixel.
US09099366B2	Photosite with pinned photodiode A photosite is formed in a semiconductor substrate and includes a photodiode confined in a direction orthogonal to the surface of the substrate. The photodiode includes a semiconductor zone for storing charge that is formed in an upper semiconductor region having a first conductivity type and includes a main well of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type and laterally pinned in a first direction parallel to the surface of the substrate. The photodiode further includes an additional semiconductor zone including an additional well having the second conductivity type that is buried under and makes contact with the main well.
US09099364B1	MPS-C2 semiconductor device having shorter supporting posts Disclosed is a MPS-C2 (Metal Post Soldering Chip Connection) semiconductor device having shorter supporting posts. Bonding pads are reentrant from a wafer-level packaging (WLP) layer formed on the active surface. A patterned UBM metal layer includes a plurality of UBM pads disposed on the bonding pads and at least a UBM island disposed on the WLP layer. The island area of the UBM island on the WLP layer is at least four times larger than the unit area of the UBM pads. A plurality of I/O pillars are one-to-one disposed on the UBM pads by plating and a plurality of supporting pillars are many-to-one disposed on the UBM island by one plating process. The unit footprint of the supporting pillars on the UBM island is smaller than the unit footprint of the I/O pillars on the UBM pads so as to compensate the height difference between the top jointing surfaces of the supporting pillars and the I/O pillars.
US09099361B2	Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same An active matrix display device having a pixel structure in which pixel electrodes, gate wirings and source wirings are suitably arranged in the pixel portions to realize a high numerical aperture without increasing the number of masks or the number of steps. The device comprises a gate electrode and a source wiring on an insulating surface, a first insulating layer on the gate electrode and on the source wiring, a semiconductor layer on the first insulating film, a second insulating layer on the semiconductor film, a gate wiring connected to the gate electrode on the second insulating layer, a connection electrode for connecting the source wiring and the semiconductor layer together, and a pixel electrode connected to the semiconductor layer.
US09099357B2	Display device and method of manufacturing display device A display device includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix. Each of the plurality of pixels includes a transistor and a pixel electrode arranged above the transistor through a first protective film and a second protective film. Among the plurality of pixels, the pixel electrodes of two pixels adjacent in a column direction are connected to corresponding source electrodes of the two pixels through second and third contact holes respectively. The second and third contact holes are formed in the first protective film within a first contact hole that is formed in the second protective film.
US09099356B2	Array substrate with hollowed common electrode above data line and manufacturing method thereof and display device Embodiments of the present invention provide an array substrate, comprising: a base substrate; a gate line and a data line formed on the base substrate, the gate line and the data line crossing with each other to define a pixel region; a thin film transistor and a pixel electrode, disposed in the pixel region; a strip-like common electrode, disposed above the pixel electrode and the data line, the common electrode comprising a first common electrode which covers above the data line and has a width greater than that of the data line; and a second common electrode, disposed above the pixel electrode; an insulating layer, disposed between the common electrode and the pixel electrode as well as between the common electrode and the data line, wherein a region of the first common electrode corresponding to the data line is hollowed out.
US09099355B2	Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same A display device includes a main body, a support stand, and a display portion. The display portion includes a pixel having a TFT and a capacitor. The capacitor includes a capacitor electrode on an insulating surface, an insulating film on the capacitor electrode, and a pixel electrode of the TFT on the insulating film.
US09099353B2	Method and system for determining overlap process windows in semiconductors by inspection techniques The formation of overlap areas in sophisticated semiconductor devices is a critical aspect which may not be efficiently evaluated on the basis of conventional measurement and design strategies. For this reason, the present disclosure provides measurement techniques and systems in which overlying device patterns are transformed into the same material layer, thereby forming a combined pattern which is accessible by well-established defect inspection techniques. Upon geometrically modulating some of these combined patterns, a systematic evaluation of overlap process windows may be accomplished.
US09099348B2	Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same A semiconductor device includes: vertical channel layers; a pipe channel layer configured to connect lower ends of the vertical channel layers; and a pipe gate surrounding the pipe channel layer and including a first region, which is in contact with the pipe channel layer and includes a first-type impurity, and remaining second regions including a second-type impurity different from the first type impurity.
US09099347B2	Three-dimensional semiconductor memory devices and method of fabricating the same Provided are three-dimensional semiconductor memory devices and methods of fabricating the same. The device may include an electrode structure extending in a first direction and including electrodes and insulating patterns which are alternately and repeatedly stacked on a substrate, and vertical active patterns penetrating the electrode structure. At least an uppermost electrode of the electrodes is divided into a plurality of physically isolated segments arranged in the first direction. The segments of the uppermost electrode are electrically connected to each other.
US09099346B2	Techniques providing high-k dielectric metal gate CMOS A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first dummy gate on a substrate, performing a doping process to the substrate, thereby forming a source and a drain at sides of the first dummy gate, performing a first high temperature annealing to activate the source and drain, forming an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) material on the substrate, removing the first dummy gate to create an ILD trench, forming a first high-k dielectric layer within the ILD trench, forming a first dummy cap portion within the ILD trench over the first high-k dielectric layer, performing a second high-temperature annealing to reduce defects in the first high-k dielectric layer, and thereafter, replacing the first dummy cap portion with a first metal gate electrode.
US09099343B2	Semiconductor devices Provided are semiconductor devices and methods of fabricating the same. In methods of forming the same, an etch stop pattern and a separate spacer can be formed on a sidewall of a bit line contact, wherein the etch stop pattern and the separate spacer each comprise material having an etch selectivity relative to an oxide. A storage node contact plug hole can be formed so that the etch stop pattern and the separate spacer form a portion of a sidewall of the storage node contact plug hole spaced apart from the bit line contact. The storage node contact plug hole can be cleaned to remove a natural oxide formed in the storage node contact plug hole. Related devices are also disclosed.
US09099337B2	Integrated circuits having negative channel metal oxide semiconductor and positive channel metal oxide semiconductor An integrated circuit includes an NMOS and a PMOS disposed over a substrate. The NMOS transistor includes a first gate dielectric structure over the substrate, a first work function metallic layer over the first gate dielectric structure, a conductive layer over the first work function metallic layer, and a silicide layer over the conductive layer. The PMOS transistor includes a second gate dielectric structure over the substrate, and a second work function metallic layer over the first gate dielectric structure. The PMOS transistor is devoid of any silicide material on the second work function metallic layer.
US09099335B2	Analog circuit with improved layout for mismatch optimization Embodiments include a semiconductor device comprising: a substrate; a first transistor formed on the substrate; and a second transistor formed on the substrate, wherein a common region of the semiconductor device forms (i) a drain region of the first transistor, and (ii) a source region of the second transistor, and wherein a gate region of the first transistor is electrically coupled to a gate region of the second transistor.
US09099329B2	In nanowire, device using the same and method of manufacturing in nanowire There is provided an In nanowire including a substrate, an indium thin film formed on the substrate, an insulating film formed on the indium thin film and having at least one through hole through formation of a pattern, and an In nanowire vertically protruded from the indium thin film through the at least one through hole.
US09099328B2	Complementary spin device having a gate, a source, a first and second drain electrode A complementary device including a gate electrode, a channel, a source electrode connected to the gate electrode and the channel, and a first drain electrode and a second drain electrode connected to the gate electrode and the channel is provided. The first/second drain electrode is formed so that, in accordance with a voltage applied to the gate electrode, electron spins injected into the source electrode are moved from the source electrode to the first/second drain electrode through the channel while rotating in a first/second direction. Directions of the electron spins that reach the first drain electrode and the second drain electrode are opposite to each other.
US09099326B2	Stack-type semiconductor package Provided is a stack-type semiconductor package comprising a first semiconductor package with a first package substrate and a logic chip mounted thereon, a second semiconductor package including a second package substrate disposed on the first semiconductor package and first and second memory chips stacked on the second package substrate, and connection pads disposed between the first and second package substrates to connect the first and second semiconductor packages electrically to each other. The first package substrate has first and second edges that are substantially perpendicular to each other. The first package substrate may include first DQ connection pads electrically connected to the first memory chip, and second DQ connection pads electrically connected to the second memory chip. The first DQ connection pads may be arranged adjacent to the first edge and the second DQ connection pads may be arranged adjacent to the second edge.
US09099324B2	Semiconductor device with trench isolation A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a trench isolation. The trench isolation is located in the semiconductor substrate, and includes an epitaxial layer and a dielectric material. The epitaxial layer is in a trench of the semiconductor and is peripherally enclosed thereby, in which the epitaxial layer is formed by performing etch and epitaxy processes. The etch and epitaxy process includes etching out a portion of a sidewall of the trench and a portion of a bottom surface of the trench and forming the epitaxial layer conformal to the remaining portion of the sidewall and the remaining portion of the bottom surface. The dielectric material is peripherally enclosed by the epitaxial layer.
US09099322B2	Process for manufacturing a semiconductor power device comprising charge-balance column structures and respective device Process for manufacturing a semiconductor power device, wherein a trench is formed in a semiconductor body having a first conductivity type; the trench is annealed for shaping purpose; and the trench is filled with semiconductor material via epitaxial growth so as to obtain a first column having a second conductivity type. The epitaxial growth is performed by supplying a gas containing silicon and a gas containing dopant ions of the second conductivity type in presence of a halogenide gas and occurs with uniform distribution of the dopant ions. The flow of the gas containing dopant ions is varied according to a linear ramp during the epitaxial growth; in particular, in the case of selective growth of the semiconductor material in the presence of a hard mask, the flow decreases; in the case of non-selective growth, in the absence of hard mask, the flow increases.
US09099318B2	Semiconductor chip having different pad width to UBM width ratios and method of manufacturing the same A semiconductor chip includes a substrate, a circuit formed over the substrate, a plurality of conductive pads formed over the substrate, and a plurality of bump structures each formed over a corresponding one of the plurality of conductive pads. The plurality of conductive pads includes a first conductive pad having a first pad width and a second conductive pad having a second pad width larger than the first pad width. The first conductive pad is electrically coupled to the circuit, and the second conductive pad is positioned at a corner region of the semiconductor chip and is free from being electrically coupled to the circuit. The first conductive pad is positioned closer to a geometric center of the semiconductor chip than the second conductive pad.
US09099315B2	Mounting structure and mounting structure manufacturing method A mounting structure which reduces the mechanical stress added to a low-κ material due to warping caused by the difference in thermal expansion coefficients between a chip and a chip support during mounting. This mounting structure includes: a low-κ layer formed on top a semiconductor substrate; an electrode layer formed on the low-κ layer; a protective layer formed the low-κ layer and the electrode layer and having an opening reaching the electrode layer; a first solder layer filling the opening and formed on the electrode layer inside; a second solder layer formed on the first solder layer and having an elastic modulus smaller than the first solder layer; and a support layer connected to the second solder layer and supporting the semiconductor substrate. The protective layer has a greater elastic modulus and a smaller thermal expansion coefficient than an underfill layer formed between the protective layer and the support layer.
US09099314B2	Pitch multiplication spacers and methods of forming the same Spacers in a pitch multiplication process are formed without performing a spacer etch. Rather, the mandrels are formed over a substrate and then the sides of the mandrels are reacted, e.g., in an oxidization, nitridation, or silicidation step, to form a material that can be selectively removed relative to the unreacted portions of the mandrel. The unreacted portions are selectively removed to leave a pattern of free-standing spacers. The free-standing spacers can serve as a mask for subsequent processing steps, such as etching the substrate.
US09099313B2	Embedded package and method of manufacturing the same An embedded package in which active elements, such as semiconductor chips, are embedded within a package substrate. The semiconductor chips, embedded within a dielectric layer, are coupled with circuit wires to ensure electrical and signal continuity. When connections between the semiconductor chip and the package substrate are performed in different directions, there is a reduction in overall interconnection area, connection reliability is improved, leakage currents are reduced, and higher device yields can be realized.
US09099311B2	Double stepped semiconductor substrate A method for forming a double step surface on a semiconductor substrate includes, with an etching process used in a Metal-Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) process, forming a rough surface on a region of a semiconductor substrate. The method further includes, with an annealing process used in the MOCVD process, forming double stepped surface on the region of the semiconductor substrate.
US09099299B2	Hard mask removal method A method of removing a hard mask used for patterning gate stacks including patterning gate stacks on a substrate, wherein the hard mask is deposited over the gate stacks. The method further includes depositing a dielectric layer on the substrate after the gate stacks are patterned and planarizing a first portion of the dielectric layer. The method further includes removing a second portion of the dielectric layer and the hard mask by using an etching gas and etching the remaining dielectric layer by using a wet etching chemistry.
US09099296B2	Stacked microelectronic assembly with TSVS formed in stages with plural active chips A microelectronic assembly is provided in which first and second electrically conductive pads exposed at front surfaces of first and second microelectronic elements, respectively, are juxtaposed, each of the microelectronic elements embodying active semiconductor devices. An electrically conductive element may extend within a first opening extending from a rear surface of the first microelectronic element towards the front surface thereof, within a second opening extending from the first opening towards the front surface of the first microelectronic element, and within a third opening extending through at least one of the first and second pads to contact the first and second pads. Interior surfaces of the first and second openings may extend in first and second directions relative to the front surface of the first microelectronic element, respectively, to define a substantial angle.
US09099294B1	Molded leadframe substrate semiconductor package A process for forming an optical package comprises at least partially encasing a first leadframe strip in a first mold compound thereby forming a molded leadframe strip, mounting at least one optical semiconductor device on the molded leadframe strip, at least partially encasing the molded leadframe strip, and singulating the molded leadframe strip to form discrete packages for optical applications. An apparatus for forming an optical package comprises means for at least partially encasing a first leadframe strip in a first mold compound thereby forming a molded leadframe strip, means for mounting at least one optical semiconductor device on the at least one molded leadframe strip, means for at least partially encasing the molded leadframe strip, and means for singulating the molded leadframe strip to form discrete and grid array packages.
US09099288B2	Data independent acquisition of product ion spectra and reference spectra library matching Systems and methods are used to store an electronic record of all product ion spectra of all detectable compounds of a sample. A plurality of product ion scans are performed on a tandem mass spectrometer one or more times in a single sample analysis across a mass range using a plurality of mass selection windows. All sample product ion spectra of all detectable compounds for each mass selection window are produced. All sample product ion spectra for each mass selection window are received from the tandem mass spectrometer using a processor. All sample product ion spectra for each mass selection window are stored as an electronic record of all detectable compounds of the sample using the processor. The electronic record is used to characterize compounds known at the time the electronic record is stored or to characterize compounds that became known after the electronic record was stored.
US09099284B2	Method and system for autotuning of RF match A reactive correction to chamber impedance changes without the need to change the process recipe is disclosed. The reactive correction may be done automatically and repeatedly during processing. A control of RF power application to a plasma processing chamber is performed, so as to minimize reflected power and efficiently apply the RF power to the plasma. Autotuning of the RF power application is enabled without modifying a qualified process recipe. The autotuning can be applied using frequency matching and RF matching network tuning.
US09099283B2	Charged particle beam apparatus A signal processing unit (21) of a charged particle microscope calculates a degradation function (H (s)) of an image, on the basis of detection signals (11) obtained by scanning a charged particle beam (2) at two types of scanning speeds, a scanning speed within the bandwidths of a detector (12) and an amplifying circuit at a subsequent stage of the detector, and another scanning speed exceeding the upper limit of the bandwidths. Then, the signal processing unit creates a one-dimensional correction filter for recovering image quality, from an inverse function (H−1 (s)) of the degradation function, and applies the one-dimensional correction filter to the detection signal recorded at the scanning speed exceeding the upper limit of the bandwidths of the detector and the amplifying circuit at a subsequent stage of the detector, or to a two-dimensional image based on the detection signal.
US09099282B2	Focusing a charged particle imaging system A charged particle beam focusing apparatus includes a charged particle beam generator configured to project simultaneously at least one non-astigmatic charged particle beam and at least one astigmatic charged particle beam onto locations on a surface of a specimen, thereby causing released electrons to be emitted from the locations. The apparatus also includes an imaging detector configured to receive the released electrons from the locations and to form images of the locations from the released electrons. A processor analyzes the image produced by the at least one non-astigmatic charged particle beam and in response thereto adjusts a focus of the at least one non-astigmatic charged particle beam.
US09099280B2	X-ray tube and method of controlling X-ray focal spot using the same An X-ray tube is provided. The X-ray tube includes a cathode electrode which is disposed in one end of a vacuum container and includes an emitter emitting an electron; a gate electrode which is disposed in the vacuum container to be adjacent to the cathode electrode; an anode electrode which is disposed in the vacuum container of the other end of a direction in which the vacuum container extends and inclines with respect to the cathode electrode; and a focusing electrode which is disposed in the vacuum container along an inner circumference surface of the vacuum container between the gate electrode and the anode electrode. The focusing electrode has an opening of which a plan cross section has a maximum width and a minimum width different from each other.
US09099278B2	Protective enclosure for an ion gun, device for depositing materials through vacuum evaporation comprising such a protective enclosure and method for depositing materials The present invention relates to a protective enclosure for an ion gun and to a device for depositing materials through vacuum evaporation comprising such an enclosure and methods of using each. According to the invention, the protective enclosure comprises a side wall intended to surround said ion gun, and an open upper end, said protective enclosure having a longitudinal axis, a truncated tube shape on its open upper end resulting from an inclined surface relative to said longitudinal axis, and having a lower part and an upper part.
US09099275B2	Ion generation device and electrical apparatus An ion generation device includes: a high voltage generation circuit; and an ion generation element. The high voltage generation circuit includes: a capacitor; a high voltage transformer; a switching element; and a pulse signal generation portion which generates a pulse signal for controlling the turning on and off of the switching element. The pulse signal generation portion adjusts a pulse width of an on-period such that the pulse width of the on-period of the pulse signal is substantially equal to a time obtained by multiplying the reciprocal of an output voltage frequency at the time of a forward operation of the high voltage transformer by one-fourth.
US09099267B2	Hybrid circuit breaker having a switch with return on closure A hybrid circuit breaker for use in the field of medium and high-voltage hybrid circuit breakers comprising an arc-control device (110), a vacuum switch (20) and a single mechanical control apparatus for controlling the opening and closing of the vacuum switch (20) with the control apparatus comprising a control rod (31) for controlling the movement of a movable contact (22) relative to a stationary contact with the movable contact secured to a movable control rod (32), via a holding system including a flexible toroidal helical spring (38) placed in a groove of the movable contact and in a groove located in the movable control rod and further comprising an energy accumulation system including a spring (34) for causing the flexible toroidal helical spring (38) to release the movable control rod from the movable contact and cause the movable contact to make contact with the stationary contact.
US09099265B2	High-voltage disconnection knife for outdoor use with air insulation A high-voltage disconnection knife insulated by air for external use in high-voltage electrical transmission and distribution networks, the disconnection knife includes two copper arms for the disconnection or contact, mounted in a parallel relation to each other, a front and rear contact base, a turning support in the vicinity of the rear base such that the arms turn at one of its ends about an axis perpendicular to them, a central copper block for distribution of the current flowing through the copper arms; the distance between the arms is defined by the set of stainless steel axes, the copper block and the turning mechanism. At the ends of the disconnection arms an aluminum spring of with transverse section of gradually reduced thickness is connected to the external surface, said spring being fixed to the ends of the arms by means of a pair of stainless steel axes. The front and rear L-shaped bases are formed by the bending of a copper sill with rounded edges to define an area of contact.
US09099263B2	Universal load switch A universal load switch includes convex fixed terminal contacts and convex movable contacts selectively connectable electrically to the terminal contacts. Snap blades forcibly move the movable contacts toward and away from each of the terminal contacts.
US09099262B2	Vehicle push button switch In a vehicle push button switch, movement of a push button is guided by multiple guide portions and backlash of the push button during a push operation thereof is thereby prevented, and operations of the push button are not hindered even when water attached to an outer surface of a bar-shaped portion of the push button freezes. The case is provided with a plurality of guide portions spaced away from each other in a peripheral direction of the bar-shaped portion to guide a plurality of sections of the bar-shaped portion that are located in the peripheral direction, and an ice scraping rib protrudes from an outer surface of the bar-shaped portion. The ice scraping rib scraps away a frozen ice portion formed by freezing of water attached to the outer surface of the bar-shaped portion between the plurality of guide portions, in response to movement of the bar-shaped portion.
US09099261B2	Keyswitch A keyswitch includes a casing, a key cap and a support device rotatably disposed between the key cap and the casing. One of the casing and the key cap has a first magnetic area and the support device has a second magnetic area corresponding to the first magnetic area. When the key cap is not pressed, a magnetic attraction force between the first and second magnetic areas keeps the key cap at a non-pressed position. When the key cap is pressed by an external force such that the second magnetic area moves away from the first magnetic area, the key cap moves from the non-pressed position toward the pressed position. When the external force is removed, the second magnetic area moves toward the first magnetic area due to the magnetic attraction force such that the key cap moves from the pressed position toward the non-pressed position.
US09099257B2	Moving element for a low voltage switching device and switching device comprising this moving element The present invention relates to a moving element for a low voltage switching device and to a switching device comprising this moving element. The moving element according to the invention comprises for each pole a housing unit suitable to receive an elastic element which interacts with an electrical contact. This latter comprises a first contact portion susceptible to contact a further electrical contact and a second portion connectable to a conductive element of the switching device. The electrical contact comprises a pin shaped portion positioned rotating in a seat defined on the housing unit so as to configure a mutual rotation axis of the electrical contact with respect to the housing unit.
US09099252B2	Apparatus and associated methods An electrode, the electrode including a conducting layer configured to act, in use, as a charge collector to provide an electrical path for generated and/or stored charge through the conducting layer; a barrier layer, the barrier layer configured to cover a portion of a surface of said conducting layer such that, when the electrode is in contact with an electrolyte, the electrolyte is prevented from substantially contacting and corroding the conducting layer at the covered portion; and an active electrode element configured for use in generation and/or storing charge, the active electrode element positioned in a non-covered portion in electrical contact with the conducting layer to prevent the electrolyte from substantially contacting and corroding the conducting layer in the non-covered portion and to also be exposed to said electrolyte to allow for the generation and/or storage of charge and provide the generated/stored charge to the conducting layer.
US09099247B1	Multilayer ceramic capacitor A multilayer ceramic capacitor includes a body including a multilayer unit with ceramic dielectric layers and conductive layers alternately stacked on each other. The body includes a thickness-direction inner layer section including the multilayer unit and thickness-direction first and second outer layer sections that sandwich the thickness-direction inner layer section therebetween. A dimension of the thickness-direction second outer layer section is greater than a dimension of the thickness-direction first outer layer section. A width of a second outermost conductive layer closest to a second principal surface of the body is smaller than a width of a central conductive layer closest to a center of the multilayer unit in the thickness direction. The thickness-direction second outer layer section includes an outer portion which defines the second principal surface and an inner portion disposed between the thickness-direction inner layer section and the outer portion, and a boundary portion disposed between the outer portion and the inner portion has a larger Si content than the outer portion.
US09099244B2	Multilayer ceramic capacitor and method for manufacturing multilayer ceramic capacitor A multilayer ceramic capacitor includes a multilayer body including a plurality of laminated dielectric layers and a plurality of internal electrodes arranged along interfaces between the dielectric layers, and a plurality of external electrodes located on an outer surface of the multilayer body and electrically connected to the internal electrodes. A main component of the internal electrodes is Ni, and the internal electrodes also contain Sn.
US09099242B2	Laminated chip electronic component, board for mounting the same, and packing unit thereof A laminated chip electronic component includes: a ceramic body including internal electrodes and dielectric layers; external electrodes formed to cover both end portions of the ceramic body in a length direction; an active layer in which the internal electrodes are disposed in an opposing manner, while having the dielectric layers interposed therebetween, to form capacitance; and upper and lower cover layers formed on upper and lower portions of the active layer in a thickness direction, the lower cover layer having a thickness greater than that of the upper cover layer.
US09099240B2	Multilayered ceramic capacitor and board for mounting the same A multilayered ceramic capacitor includes a ceramic body in which a plurality of dielectric layers having an average thickness of 0.2 to 2.0 μm are stacked; an active layer including a plurality of first and second internal electrodes alternately exposed to both end surfaces of the ceramic body, having the dielectric layer interposed therebetween, to form capacitance; an upper cover layer formed above the active layer; a lower cover layer formed below the active layer and thicker than the upper cover layer; and first and second external electrodes covering both end surfaces of the ceramic body, wherein the dielectric layer is configured of dielectric grains, and when an average thickness of the dielectric layer is defined as td, an average thickness of the first and second internal electrodes is defined as te, and an average grain size of the dielectric grains is defined as Da, Da≦td/3 and 0.2 μm
US09099238B2	High voltage insulation system and a high voltage inductive device comprising such an insulation system An insulation system for a winding structure. The insulation system includes an innermost barrier pair arranged to cover a majority of the winding structure in the axial direction of the winding structure inside and outside the barrier structure relative the curvature of winding turns of windings of the winding structure, wherein at least one barrier of the innermost barrier pair defines a first flow path allowing flow of a dielectric fluid mainly in a first axial direction between the winding structure and the at least one barrier when the insulation system is in a assembled state; and a first outer barrier arranged radially inwards or radially outwards relative each barrier of the innermost barrier pair, wherein the first outer barrier defines a second flow path, parallel to the first flow path, allowing flow of a dielectric fluid mainly in a second axial direction opposite the first axial direction.
US09099232B2	Magnetic device and power converter employing the same A magnetic device and power converter employing the same. In one embodiment, the magnetic device includes a first L-core segment including a first leg and a second leg extending therefrom, and an opposing second L-core segment including a first leg and a second leg extending therefrom. The magnetic device also includes a winding formed around at least one of the first leg and the second leg of the first L-core segment or the second L-core segment.
US09099227B2	Method of forming conductive films with micro-wires A pattern of conductive micro-wires as in a conductive pattern can be prepared using photo-lithography, or imprint technology. A photocurable composition is cured to form a pattern of photocured micro-channels. A conductive composition comprising metal nano-particles is added to the photocured micro-channels and excess conductive composition outside the photocured micro-channels is removed. The conductive composition in the photocured micro-channels is then dried at a temperature of less than 60° C. The dried conductive composition in the photocured micro-channels is treated with hydrogen chloride vapor to form conductive micro-wires in the photocured micro-channels at a temperature of less than 60° C. The outer surface of the conductive micro-wires is then polished in the presence of water, to form a micro-wire pattern.
US09099222B2	Patterned films and methods Methods of patterning films that enable visual identification of patterned films and the patterned regions on them, while still achieving minimally discernible optical differences between the patterned and unpatterned regions in devices incorporating the patterned films. Such methods can exhibit wide successful manufacturing operating windows and the patterned films are useful in electronic applications.
US09099216B2	Optical fiber and power line composite cable The present invention relates to an optical fiber and power line composite cable comprising a cable core comprising at least one power line unit including a conductor and an insulator surrounding the conductor and at least one optical fiber unit including an optical fiber and a tube accommodating the optical fiber, a protective metal layer surrounding the cable core, and having corrugations including corrugation peaks and corrugation valleys that are alternately formed and an outer coating layer surrounding the protective metal layer, wherein a relation shown by the following formula is satisfied Di
US09099215B2	Method of manufacturing non-firing type electrode A method of manufacturing a non-firing type electrode comprising steps of: (A) applying a conductive paste on a substrate; (B) heating the applied conductive paste at 50 to 350° C. to form an electrode; and (C) pressing the electrode at 10 to 1000 kN/m2 of plane surface pressure or at 5 to 300 kN/m of linear pressure.
US09099214B2	Controlling microparticles through a light field having controllable intensity and periodicity of maxima thereof A method includes providing a capability to control divergence of a coherent light beam having an axially symmetrical distribution of intensity thereof through an optical divergence controller, and directing an output of the optical divergence controller related to the controlled divergence of the coherent light beam onto a glass prism. The glass prism includes a planar shape onto which a pyramidal structure is formed. The method also includes controlling a distance between maxima of an output light field of the glass prism and intensity thereof through controlling the divergence of the coherent light beam through the optical divergence controller and/or varying a distance between the optical divergence controller and the glass prism, and utilizing the output light field of the glass prism in controlling microparticles in a microtechnology or a nanotechnology application.
US09099211B2	Prompt gamma-ray detection apparatus for analyzing chemical materials using femtosecond pulse laser-induced neutrons Disclosed herein is a prompt gamma-ray detection apparatus for analyzing chemical materials using femtosecond pulse laser-induced neutrons, which can be effectively used in the nondestructive inspection of various materials, such as metals, coal, cement, radioactive materials and the like as well as explosives and chemical materials, and which can provide better measurement results for the analysis of basic materials, and a method of measuring prompt gamma-rays using the apparatus. The prompt gamma-ray detection apparatus is advantageous because it can non-destructively analyze the elements in a chemical sample using a femtosecond pulse laser-induced neutron generator that solves the problems of an atomic reactor for research or a radioactive isotope as a neutron radiation source.
US09099201B2	Multiple bitcells tracking scheme semiconductor memory array A memory array includes a memory segment having at least one memory bank. The at least one memory bank includes an array of memory cells, and wherein at least two first read tracking cells are disposed in a read tracking column of the at least one memory bank. The memory array further includes a read tracking circuit coupled to the at least two first read tracking cells. Outputs of the at least two first read tracking cells are connected to a tracking bit connection line (TBCL). A tracking circuit connected to the TBCL is configured to output a tracking-cells output signal to generate a global tracking result signal to a memory control circuitry. The memory control circuitry is configured to reset a memory clock based on the global tracking result signal.
US09099198B2	Semiconductor memory apparatus A semiconductor memory apparatus includes a memory block to include memory cells to hold data; a precharge control unit to control precharging the memory cells; a row decoder to output a row selection signal identifying a row address of the memory cells; an integral circuit to integrate a signal level of the row selection signal for a same row address, and to have an integral characteristic where an integral value of the signal level becomes a predetermined value when the row selection signal for the same row address is consecutively output for a predetermined number of times; and a determination unit to determine whether the integral value of the integral circuit becomes the predetermined value or greater. The precharge control unit turns off precharging the memory cells when the integral value of the integral circuit becomes the predetermined value or greater.
US09099197B2	Semiconductor integrated circuit with thick gate oxide word line driving circuit A semiconductor integrated circuit according to one aspect of the present invention may includes a plurality of driving circuits to drive a respective plurality of word lines with either a first voltage supplied from a first power supply or a second voltage supplied from a second power supply in accordance with a control signal, and a plurality of gate transistors in each of which a gate is connected to one of the plurality of word lines, and a connection state between a storage node and a bit line is changed based on the voltage provided to the word line connected to the gate. In the semiconductor integrated circuit, a gate oxide film of each of the plurality of gate transistors is thinner than a gate oxide film of each of transistors constituting the plurality of driving circuits.
US09099196B2	Semiconductor memory device and method of operating the same A method of operating a semiconductor memory device is disclosed. The method may include receiving an access command, applying a first voltage to a selected word line of the semiconductor memory device for a period of time in response to receiving the access command, applying a second voltage to word lines adjacent to the selected word line before and after the period of time, and applying a third voltage to the word lines adjacent to the selected word line for the period of time, a voltage level of the third voltage greater than the second voltage. The applying the third voltage may occur when the semiconductor memory device is operated at a temperature below the predetermined temperature.
US09099185B2	Using different programming modes to store data to a memory cell Method and apparatus for managing data in a memory, such as a flash memory array. In accordance with some embodiments, a memory cell is provided with a plurality of available programming states to accommodate multi-level cell (MLC) programming. A control circuit stores a single bit logical value to the memory cell using single level cell (SLC) programming to provide a first read margin between first and second available programming states. The control circuit subsequently stores a single bit logical value to the memory cell using virtual multi-level cell (VMLC) programming to provide a larger, second read margin between the first available programming state and a third available programming state.
US09099181B2	Non-volatile static ram cell circuit and timing method A non-volatile static random access memory cell and includes a bistable regenerative circuit coupled to first and second transistors and to first and second non-volatile memory cells. Methods of use include directly transferring a complementary data bit between the non-volatile memory cell and the bistable regenerative circuit. Alternatively, complementary data from the bistable regenerative circuit may be regenerated by a sense amplifier and a second bistable regenerative circuit before being transferred to non-volatile memory cells in a column of memory cells. The bistable regenerative circuit may be reset to ground potential. Applications using the non-volatile SRAM cell with direct read out from the bistable regenerative circuit include a non-volatile flip-flop or non-volatile multiplexer.
US09099179B2	Thermodynamic bit formed of two memristors A thermodynamic bit apparatus, method and system. A thermodynamic bit is a device that returns a true or false state with a probability that depends on its internal state, which can be controlled via the application of positive feedback. A thermodynamic bit can include two or more memristors connected in series. A forward bias can be applied to the thermodynamic bit to read the state of the thermodynamic bit. A negative feedback can be applied to the thermodynamic bit during application of a forward bias to the thermodynamic bit. Also, a reverse bias can be applied to the thermodynamic bit to refresh or reinforce the state of the thermodynamic bit.
US09099178B2	Resistive random access memory with electric-field strengthened layer and manufacturing method thereof This invention belongs to the technical field of memories and specifically relates to a resistive random access memory structure with an electric-field strengthened layer and a manufacturing method thereof. The resistive random access memory in the present invention can include a top electrode, a bottom electrode and a composite layer which is placed between the top electrode and the bottom electrode and have a first resistive switching layer and a second resistive switching and electric-field strengthened layer; the second resistive switching and electric-field strengthened layer cab be adjacent to the first resistive switching layer and have a dielectric constant lower than that of the first resistive switching layer. The electric-field distribution in the RRAM unit is adjustable.
US09099168B2	Method for extending word-line pulses An integrated circuit includes a positive power supply node, a current tracking circuit, and a current mirroring circuit including a plurality of current paths coupled in parallel. The currents of the plurality of current paths mirror a current of the current tracking circuit. The current mirroring circuit is configured to turn off the plurality of current paths one-by-one in response to a reduction in a positive power supply voltage on the positive power supply node. The integrated circuit further includes a charging node receiving a summation current of the plurality of current paths, wherein a voltage on the charging node is configured to increase through a charging of the summation current.
US09099163B1	Hard disk drive (HDD) mounting system for shock and vibration A disk drive assembly including a disk drive enclosure, a damping assembly including a first mounting sheet having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, at least one elastomeric cushion attached to the second side of the first mounting sheet, wherein the first side of the first mounting sheet of the damping assembly contacts a surface of the disk drive enclosure.
US09099162B2	Media and drive validation in tape libraries A method for validating media and drives. The method includes receiving a validation request for a data storage tape in a library and, with the tape loaded into a predefined gold drive in the tape library, performing a statistical analysis on the tape to determine an operating parameter such as a measure of read margin for the tape in the predefined gold drive. The method includes validating the tape when the operating parameter compares favorably with a threshold limit defined for the operating parameter for the tape library. The method includes, when the operating parameter fails to compare well with the threshold limit, running a performance test on a drive qualified tape from the library loaded into the predefined gold drive and, when the drive qualified tape passes the test, identifying the tape as degraded. The method includes, when the drive qualified tape fails the test, re-qualifying the gold drive.
US09099161B2	Media-editing application with multiple resolution modes For a media-editing application, some embodiments provide a method for creating a media presentation that combines several media clips. During an editing process to define a particular media project, the method receives a first set of edits to the particular media project while the media-editing application is in a first resolution mode that uses content stored at a first resolution to generate the particular media project. The method receives a selection of a user interface tool to modify the resolution mode. The method switches to a second resolution mode that uses content stored at a second resolution to generate the particular media project without interrupting the editing process. After switching to the second resolution mode, the method receives a second set of edits to the same particular media project during the same editing process to define the particular media project.
US09099157B1	Systems and methods for adjacent track interference based re-writing Systems and method relating generally to data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for confirming data validity. In one case, a system is disclosed that includes an adjacent track interference confirmation circuit. The adjacent track interference confirmation circuit is operable to receive an indication of an adjacent track interference; determine a causal connection between the adjacent track interference and a mis-alignment of a read head and a track on a storage medium from which a data set corresponding to the indication of the adjacent track interference is derived; and provide a re-write signal where even after reduction of the mis-alignment the indication of adjacent track interference repeats.
US09099154B2	Information recording/reproducing apparatus Module compressing/encoding plural images for recording, or an image recording apparatus or image recording system including the module. At least two first and second image input module types capture an image of frames from a video signal source, and convert into digital image data for output; an image input arbitration module arbitrates to place digital image data provided by the first type before digital image data provided by the second type. The first type image input module is provided with a real-time image. The apparatus or system further includes: a memory module temporarily storing the real-time image by a processing time for the arbitration module to process digital image data provided by the second type of image input module, an image encoding module compressing and encoding the digital image data, and changing a processing speed to perform a process of compression and encoding more in real time.
US09099153B2	Storage device with a cover supporting portion A disk drive assembly having a base, a cover, a post extending from the base toward the cover, and a latch movably mounted on the post such that the post extends there through, wherein the post comprises a cover supporting portion configured to support the cover, and prevent the cover from compressing the latch and causing the latch from contacting both the cover and the base simultaneously when a load is applied to a portion of the cover above the latch.
US09099150B2	Method and apparatus for phase coherent stretching of media clips on an editing timeline Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a method and apparatus for phase coherent stretching of audio clips on an editing timeline. The method comprising receiving a selection of a plurality of audio clips for stretching; determining a stretch ratio for the selection of audio clips based on a selection and repositioning one of a clip head or a clip tail of a selected one of the audio clips for stretching; and stretching each audio clip of the selection of audio clips by the stretch ratio, wherein during stretching, each selected audio clip remains synchronized with all other audio clips selected for stretching, by repositioning both of the clip head and the clip tail of each selected audio clip relative to the editing timeline, except for one clip head or clip tail which is not repositioned.
US09099148B2	Magnetic Z-directional clutch Systems and methods are described for providing a magnetic clutch to limit Z-directional motion of a mass (e.g., a carriage for transporting a robotic mechanism in context of a storage library). According to embodiments, the mass is suspended by cabling, and its Z-directional movement is controlled by a Z-drive assembly. The Z-drive assembly includes a drive gear made of a magnetic or conductive material, and the drive gear is in magnetic communication with a biasing magnet. Embodiments configured the biasing magnet with a particular magnetic moment and a position relative to the drive gear, so that the spinning of the drive gear induces magnetic currents that tend to counteract the motion of the gear. For example, in the event of power loss to the Z-drive assembly, magnetic clutching is used to limit or prevent motion of the mass under the force of gravity.
US09099142B2	Radially dependent thermal heat resist layer The embodiments disclose a data storage device including a thickness gradient heat sink layer deposited over a heat sink layer deposited over a substrate, a thickness gradient non-magnetic thermal resist layer deposited over the thickness gradient heat sink layer, and a magnetic layer deposited over the thickness gradient non-magnetic thermal resist layer.
US09099138B2	Optical devices including layers that wrap the near field transducer (NFT) A device having an air bearing surface (ABS), the device including a near field transducer (NFT), the NFT having at least a portion thereof at the ABS; a first wrap layer, the first wrap layer surrounding at least a portion of the NFT, the first wrap layer having a thickness of not greater than about 30 nanometers (nm), and the first wrap layer being made of a material that has a refractive index (n) that is not greater than 2.0; a second wrap layer, the second wrap layer surrounding at least a portion of the first wrap layer, the second wrap layer having a thickness that is not greater than 100 nm, and the second wrap layer being made of a material that has a refractive index (n) that is at least about 1.9; and a top cladding layer surrounding at least a portion of the second wrap layer, the top cladding layer being made of a material that has a refractive index (n) that is not greater than 2.0.
US09099136B2	Method and system for hard disk drive throughput optimization using position error signaling Systems and methods are provided for throughput optimization of a hard disk drive (HDD) using position error signaling (PES) that includes determining a PES for a HDD mounted in a chassis based on a dynamic disturbance. The method also includes calculating a critical parameter of the PES. The method further includes indicating a mechanical design modification of the HDD or the chassis if the critical parameter of the PES exceeds a pre-defined threshold.
US09099135B1	Determining track density capability in a storage device Methods including determining a distribution of a position error signal (PES) of a magnetoresistive head by obtaining PES data from a servo controller associated with the magnetoresistive head; determining an encroachment function of a storage disc; and determining a track density of the storage disc by considering both the PES distribution and the encroachment function.
US09099130B2	Plasmonic waveguide with an angled, elongated portion An apparatus includes an input region having a high-refractive-index material and an input surface configured to receive light emitted from a laser. An output surface of the apparatus is configured to deliver energy to a recording medium. The apparatus includes a plasmonic waveguide having a first elongated portion at an angle to the input surface and configured to receive the light through the input region. In response to receiving the light, surface plasmons are excited and guided to an end of the first elongated portion. The plasmonic waveguide includes a second elongated portion coupled to the end of the first elongated portion and configured to guide the surface plasmons to the output surface.
US09099126B2	System and method of forming spacer structures using ultra narrow magnetic head fabrication A magnetic head, according to one embodiment, includes a sensor structure extending from an air bearing surface end thereof in a stripe height direction, the sensor structure having sidewalls on opposite sides thereof, the sidewalls extending between a top and a bottom of the sensor structure, the sidewalls extending in the stripe height direction, wherein a spacing between the sidewalls in a track width direction along the top of the sensor structure is about constant therealong in the stripe height direction.
US09099125B1	Current-perpendicular-to-the-plane (CPP) magnetoresistive (MR) sensor structure with stacked sensors for minimization of the effect of head skew A two-dimensional magnetic recording (TDMR) multi-sensor read head has three stacked sensors separated by magnetic shields. The lower sensor is the primary sensor that is always aligned with the target track. The middle sensor is spaced laterally from the lower sensor a distance substantially equal to the track pitch (TP). The upper sensor is aligned with the lower sensor. The spacing D between the lower and upper sensors is selected to be related to TP and a maximum skew angle, where the skew angle is the angle between a line orthogonal to the sensor and the data track that varies with radial position of the head. The read head is connected to circuitry that selects two of the three sensors to be the active sensors depending on the radial position of the head and thus the skew angle of the head.
US09099119B2	Magnetic read sensor using spin hall effect A magnetic sensor utilizing the spin Hall effect to polarize electrons for use in measuring a magnetic field. The sensor eliminates the need for a pinned layer structure or antiferromagnetic layer (AFM layer), thereby reducing gap thickness for increased data density. The sensor includes a non-magnetic, electrically conductive layer that is configured to accumulate electrons predominantly of one spin at a side thereof when a current flows there-through. A magnetic free layer is located adjacent to the side of the non-magnetic, electrically conductive layer. A change in the direction of magnetization in the free layer relative to the orientation of the spin polarized electrons causes a change in voltage output of the sensor.
US09099109B2	Magnetic stack with different areal extents on an air bearing surface A data reader may be configured at least with a magnetic stack that has a first magnetic layer separated from a second magnetic layer by a non-magnetic spacer layer. The first magnetic layer may have an areal extent on an air bearing surface (ABS) that differs from the second magnetic layer while the second magnetic layer can be configured with a first plurality of linear sidewalls that are each angled with respect to a second plurality of linear sidewalls of the first magnetic layer.
US09099106B2	Multilayer structure sheet and method for manufacturing same, and optical information recording medium and method for manufacturing optical information recording medium using multilayer structure sheet A multilayer structure sheet for manufacturing an optical information recording medium having a multilayer structure with a plurality of recording layers is disclosed. The multilayer structure sheet comprises at least one unit structure in which a pressure sensitive adhesive layer, a recording layer, a recording layer support layer having a glass transition temperature higher than that of the pressure sensitive adhesive layer, and a recording layer are laid one on top of another in this order, and a release sheet is attached to an outside of an outermost pressure sensitive adhesive layer.
US09099105B1	Disk-shaped information recording medium, disk cartridge and information recording and reproducing apparatus An information recording medium of the present exemplified embodiment is configured by laminating a substrate having a predetermined thickness and a substrate having a predetermined thickness to each other. A film forming region including a recording region, a clamp region and a rib are formed on one surface of the information recording medium. A film forming region including a recording region, a clamp region and a rib are formed on the other surface of the information recording medium. On both surfaces, the components are formed in the order of the rib, the clamp region and the film forming region toward an outer peripheral side from an inner peripheral side.
US09099103B1	Heat assisted magnetic recording withinterlaced high-power heated and low-power heated tracks A method, system and apparatus are described for increasing areal density and track density for a data storage system. Media with high magneto-crystalline anisotropy is heated locally during writing, utilizing heating methods such as heat-assisted magnetic recording, energy assisted magnetic recording, thermally assisted recording. In an aspect, high-power heated tracks of a magnetic recording layer are heated and written, and then low-power heated tracks are heated and written. The high-power heated tracks and the low-power heated tracks are interlaced, such that a low-power heated track is situated between two high-power heated tracks. In an aspect, media rewriting speed is increased. In an aspect, the high-power heated tracks and low-power heated tracks are written to at substantially the same data rate and linear density. In an aspect, any erasure of any portion of the high-power heated tracks from heating the low-power heated tracks is avoided, or minimized.
US09099096B2	Source separation by independent component analysis with moving constraint Methods and apparatus for signal processing are disclosed. Source separation can be performed to extract moving source signals from mixtures of source signals by way of independent component analysis. Source motion is modeled by direct to reverberant ratio in the separation process, and independent component analysis techniques described herein use multivariate probability density functions to preserve the alignment of frequency bins in the source separation process.
US09099095B2	Apparatus and method of processing a received voice signal in a mobile terminal An apparatus and a method thereof, processes a voice signal of a mobile terminal in a mobile communication system. The apparatus to process a received-voice signal received through a wireless channel in a mobile terminal includes a digital signal processing unit to generate an encoded packet and frame type information defining a characteristic of the encoded packet by performing voice encoding on an audible signal input from a microphone. The apparatus also includes a received-voice controlling unit to determine a noise level in consideration of the frame type information and a level of the audible signal, and to control at least one of a tone and a volume of a received voice by the determined noise level.
US09099092B2	Speaker and call characteristic sensitive open voice search Techniques disclosed herein include systems and methods for open-domain voice-enabled searching that is speaker sensitive. Techniques include using speech information, speaker information, and information associated with a spoken query to enhance open voice search results. This includes integrating a textual index with a voice index to support the entire search cycle. Given a voice query, the system can execute two matching processes simultaneously. This can include a text matching process based on the output of speech recognition, as well as a voice matching process based on characteristics of a caller or user voicing a query. Characteristics of the caller can include output of voice feature extraction and metadata about the call. The system clusters callers according to these characteristics. The system can use specific voice and text clusters to modify speech recognition results, as well as modifying search results.
US09099089B2	Identifying corresponding regions of content A content alignment service may generate content synchronization information to facilitate the synchronous presentation of audio content and textual content. In some embodiments, a region of the textual content whose correspondence to the audio content is uncertain may be analyzed to determine whether the region of textual content corresponds to one or more words that are audibly presented in the audio content, or whether the region of textual content is a mismatch with respect to the audio content. In some embodiments, words in the textual content that correspond to words in the audio content are synchronously presented, while mismatched words in the textual content may be skipped to maintain synchronous presentation. Accordingly, in one example application, an audiobook is synchronized with an electronic book, so that as the electronic book is displayed, corresponding words of the audiobook are audibly presented.
US09099088B2	Utterance state detection device and utterance state detection method An utterance state detection device includes an user voice stream data input unit that gets user voice stream data of an user, a frequency element extraction unit that extracts high frequency elements by frequency-analyzing the user voice stream data, a fluctuation degree calculation unit that calculates a fluctuation degree of the high frequency elements thus extracted every unit time, a statistic calculation unit that calculates a statistic every certain interval based on a plurality of the fluctuation degrees in a certain period of time, and an utterance state detection unit that detects an utterance state of a specified user based on the statistic obtained from user voice stream data of the specified user.
US09099085B2	Voice authentication systems and methods A method for configuring a voice authentication system employing at least one authentication engine comprises utilizing the at least one authentication engine to systematically compare a plurality of impostor voice sample against a voice sample of a legitimate person to derive respective authentication scores. The resultant authentication scores are analyzed to determine a measure of confidence for the voice authentication system.
US09099082B2	Apparatus for correcting error in speech recognition An apparatus for correcting errors in speech recognition is provided. The apparatus includes a feature vector extracting unit extracting feature vectors from a received speech. A speech recognizing unit recognizes the received speech as a word sequence on the basis of the extracted feature vectors. A phoneme weighted finite state transducer (WFST)-based converting unit converts the recognized word sequence recognized by the speech recognizing unit into a phoneme WFST. A speech recognition error correcting unit corrects errors in the converted phoneme WFST. The speech recognition error correcting unit includes a WFST synthesizing unit modeling a phoneme WFST transferred from the phoneme WFST-based converting unit as pronunciation variation on the basis of a Kullback-Leibler (KL) distance matrix.
US09099078B2	Upmixer, method and computer program for upmixing a downmix audio signal An upmixer for upmixing a downmix audio signal into an upmixed audio signal describing one or more upmixed audio channels includes a parameter applier configured to apply upmixing parameters to upmix the downmix audio signal in order to obtain the upmixed audio signal. The parameter applier is configured to apply a phase shift to the downmix audio signal to obtain a phase-shifted version of the downmix audio signal, while leaving a decorrelated signal unmodified by the phase shift. The parameter applier is further configured to combine the phase-shifted version of the downmix audio signal with the decorrelated signal to obtain the upmixed audio signal.
US09099073B2	Packaging of acoustic volume increasing materials for loudspeaker devices There is provided an acoustic element (102) for placement in a sound path (120) of a loudspeaker device (100), the acoustic element (102) comprising a container (104) and an acoustic volume increasing material (106) located in the container (104). In an embodiment, the container (104) comprises wall portions with different physical characteristics. In other embodiments, the walls of the container (104) are made of the same material.
US09099072B2	Cymbal silencer A cymbal silencer reduces a percussive sound of a cymbal by abutting the cymbal silencer against the cymbal. The cymbal silencer includes a frame having an inner part, a connecting part and an outer part, and a first elastic member. The inner part has an insertion hole into which a bar-shaped rod for fixing the cymbal is inserted. One side of the connecting part is connected to the inner part and extends toward a direction away from the insertion hole. The outer part is connected to the other side of the connecting part and is disposed at a position further away from the insertion hole than the one side of the connecting part. The outer part corresponds to the bow portion of the cymbal. The first elastic member is installed on one surface side of the outer part of the frame and is composed of the first elastic material.
US09099068B2	Optoelectronic pickup for musical instruments An optoelectronic pickup for a musical instrument includes at least one light source which directs light to impinge a sound generating element of the musical instrument in at least one photoreceiver located to detect the reflected light, so as to generate an electrical signal that is responsive to sound generating element movement.
US09099063B2	Work station and hanging system for stringed instruments A stringed instrument work station and hanging system 10 includes a low profile cabinet 12 configured with a slide-out drawer 14 that is shaped to support a guitar or other type of stringed instrument when repairing, adjusting, or otherwise working on the instrument. The drawer includes longitudinal walls or rails for spanning between the drawer end walls (46) for not only holding tools and spare parts for the stringed instruments, but also for supporting the body portion of the stringed instrument when the instrument is positioned on the opened drawer. Various neck supports (78) and (80) are utilized with the drawer (14) for supporting the neck of the stringed instrument when being serviced. The neck supports (78) and (80) can be positioned at various locations across the drawer (14).
US09099062B2	Keyboard musical instrument, method of controlling actuator in the keyboard musical instrument, and non-transitory recording medium storing program for controlling the actuator A keyboard musical instrument including: a key; a hammer; an actuator configured to drive at least one of the key and the hammer in a movement direction in which the at least one of the key and the hammer moves in a key depression stroke; a hammer detector configured to detect a hammer-motion related value that relates to a motion of the hammer; a trajectory generator configured to generate a target trajectory of the at least one of the key and the hammer based on automatic performance information that defines a motion target value of the at least one of the key and the hammer; a feedback-value generator configured to generate a feedback value based on the hammer-motion related value in automatic performance detected by the hammer detector; and a controller configured to servo-control the actuator based on the generated target trajectory and the generated feedback value.
US09099061B1	Drum stand The drum stand includes a stand main body, a drum support, and an attachment that attaches the drum support to the stand main body. The drum support is composed of a first arm and two second arms that open and close with respect to the first arm. The first and second arms all extend obliquely and linearly from near the upper end of a post toward a bottom surface of a snare drum.
US09099060B2	Magnetic return pedal for percussion instruments The present invention provides methods and systems for a musical percussion instrument foot pedal that uses a pair of high gauss rated magnets, one under the foot pedal and one on the base below the foot pedal the magnets aligned for magnetic repulsion. The magnetic repulsion between the magnets return the pedal to its original position after having been depressed. An inclined magnet support on the base may allow stacking magnets, raising and lowering the height of the base magnet, or sliding the base magnet into greater and lesser alignment with the pedal magnet. The present invention also contains a pair of side plate assemblies that contain magnets on opposing ends and are aligned for magnetic repulsion in for aiding cam movement.
US09099059B2	Image display device, image display method, information processing device, information processing method, and information storing medium To provide an image display device capable of carrying out a data reading process in advance on data of a plurality of images in an order according to the likelihood of becoming a display target. There is provided an image display device for displaying on a display device (2) an image in accordance with a position change instruction issued by a user to change a position in an image sequence comprising a plurality of images, the image display device holds information about a display image position which is a position in the image sequence, of an image to be displayed next and determined according to an image being displayed on the display device (2) and the position change instruction; reads, with respect to respective images in a plurality of positions in the image sequence, the positions being determined according to the display image position, data of the respective images from an image data storage unit in an order determined according to content of the position change instruction, the image data storage unit storing data of the plurality of images; and displays an image in accordance with the position change instruction by a user, based on the read image data.
US09099058B2	Method for browsing within a content displayable by browsing commands, browsing device and associated program A method for browsing in a visual content such as a document or a list. The content is available on a terminal having a browsing command. Part of the content is displayed on a display of the terminal. The browsing commands enable the contents displayed on the screen to be made to scroll in the direction specified by the command introduced. The displayed part is duplicated into two identical images when one end of the content situated in the direction of movement specified by the browsing command is displayed on the means for displaying. A first image remains still and a second image moves in the direction of movement specified by the browsing command so long as the command is active. In this way, the user sees that the command has indeed been taken into account and notes visually that the end of the visual content has been reached.
US09099046B2	Apparatus for providing light source modulation in dual modulator displays Dual modulator displays are disclosed incorporating a phosphorescent plate interposed in the optical path between a light source modulation layer and a display modulation layer. Spatially modulated light output from the light source modulation layer impinges on the phosphorescent plate and excites corresponding regions of the phosphorescent plate which in turn emit light having different spectral characteristics than the light output from the light source modulation layer. Light emitted from the phosphorescent plate is received and further modulated by the display modulation layer to provide the ultimate display output.
US09099045B2	Backlight apparatus, backlight controlling method and liquid crystal display apparatus Disclosed herein is a backlight apparatus for controlling a backlight wherein light emitting devices for emitting light of red, green and blue and a switching device for switching on or off light emission of the light emitting devices are provided for each of a plurality of divisional regions formed by division of a lighting region such that the light emission luminance can be varied for each of the regions, the backlight apparatus including: light emission luminance control means; current value storage means; and current control means.
US09099043B2	Light source apparatus, electronic device, and control methods therefor A light source device including: a boost-type conversion unit configured to convert an input AC voltage into a DC voltage; a detection unit configured to detect a voltage value of the input AC voltage; and a control unit configured to control the brightness of a light source unit on the basis of an input image signal. The control unit changes the timing of brightness change of the light source unit according to a voltage value detected by the detection unit.
US09099042B2	Display apparatus A high luminance display apparatus is provided. When a spectral radiance of a backlight at a time point of factory shipment is less than a spectral radiance of external light, a CPU generates a correction matrix for performing color correction so that color produced by external light, i.e., color produced by reflection light of external light by a half mirror conforms to color produced by only irradiation light of the backlight, transmits the generated correction matrix to a video image signal processing section as parameter information, and causes execution of color correction based on the parameter information. The CPU generates a correction matrix based on a spectral radiance of external light detected by a second spectral radiance sensor, a spectral radiance of the backlight detected at the time point of factory shipment, and spectral transmittance of a color filter as well as a color-matching function.
US09099040B2	Scan driver and organic light emitting display using the same Embodiments may provide a scan driver including a plurality of stages for simultaneously outputting first scan signals in a simultaneous driving period and for progressively outputting second scan signals in a progressive driving period, wherein each of the stages includes a first signal processing unit coupled to an input terminal, a first clock terminal, a third clock terminal, an auxiliary terminal, a first power source terminal, and a second power source terminal to output a first output signal and a second output signal, and a second signal processing unit coupled to a second clock terminal and the first power source terminal to receive the first output signal and the second output signal and to output a first scan signal and a second scan signal to an output terminal.
US09099038B2	Pixel circuit, display panel, display unit, and electronic system A pixel circuit includes: a writing circuit that samples a voltage of a signal line; and a driving circuit that generates from the signal line a current that depends on an output of the writing circuit, and delivers the current to a light-emitting device of a current-drive type.
US09099036B2	Active-matrix-type light-emitting device, electronic apparatus, and pixel driving method for active-matrix-type light-emitting device An active-matrix-type light-emitting device includes: a pixel circuit including a light-emitting element, a driving transistor that drives the light-emitting element, a holding capacitor whose one end is connected to the driving transistor and which stores electric charges corresponding to written data, at least a control transistor that controls an operation associated with writing of data into the holding capacitor, and an emission control transistor; a first scanning line for controlling ON/OFF of the control transistor and a second scanning line for controlling ON/OFF of the emission control transistor; a data line through which the written data is transmitted to the pixel circuit; and a scanning line driving circuit which drives the first and second scanning lines and in which a current drive capability associated with the second scanning line is set to be lower than a current drive capability associated with the first scanning line.
US09099031B2	Layout synchronization Methods, program products, and systems for layout synchronization are described. A first device can share with a second device a layout designed according to display properties of the first device, even if display properties of the second device differ from those of the first device. The layout can be synchronized between the devices, where each device can adapt the layout in a manner specific to the display properties of the device. Two-dimensional views of same data can have a consistent appearance on multiple devices each having distinct display properties.
US09099024B2	Gray color balance tools for editing images Some embodiments provide a method that provides a graphical user interface (GUI) for color balancing an image. The method provides a display area for displaying the image. The method provides several color balance modes. The method provides a user interface (UI) control associated with a color balance mode in the several color balance modes. The UI control performs a color balance operation on the image by (1) identifying a color cast in the image and (2) modifying pixels in the image based on the pixels' luminance values in order to reduce the color cast in the image.
US09099022B2	Information processing apparatus, screen display method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium An apparatus, which comprises an OS having a first and second execution environment, and executes a first application which runs on the first execution environment, and a second application which runs on the second execution environment, the apparatus comprises: a unit which receives, when a screen of a first display style on a screen corresponding to the first execution environment is displayed on a display, a running instruction of the second application to be displayed in a second display style; a unit which determines whether the apparatus comprises a plurality of displays; and a unit which displays, when the apparatus comprises the plurality of displays, without changing a display style of a screen displayed on a display in the first display style, a screen of the second application on another display in the second display style.
US09099021B2	Display screen and terminal device using same A display screen, terminal device using same and method for controlling same are described. The display screen includes a display panel portion configured to display an image based on inputted image data; a transparent fixing component, which is located above the display panel portion, configured to protect the display panel portion; and a camera unit provided on a first area of the display panel portion. By way of the above configuration, a user looks directly at the display screen during a video call or video chat. In this way, the user looks directly at the camera component which takes a video of the user, so that the users participating in the video call feel they are achieving eye contact, thus enhancing the experience of video calls and chats.
US09099019B2	Image display device, image display system, and method for analyzing the emotional state of a user The present invention relates to an image display device, to an image display system, to a method for analyzing the emotional state of user, wherein information on a user response to a scene containing content is analyzed so as to provide a user with information on the emotional state of the user for the scene or to selectively provide information added for each scene of the content, thereby rendering an interactive service. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the method for analyzing the emotional state of a user comprises the steps of: outputting a scene comprising content having identification information; receiving information on a user response to the scene; determining the emotional state of the user for the scene on the basis of the information on the user response; and storing the determined emotional state in association with the identification information.
US09099013B2	Method for representing musical scales and electronic musical device The present invention relates to a method for representing musical scales by means of tiles, including pentatonic scales (arbitrary scales with five notes per octave), heptatonic scales (arbitrary scales with seven notes per octave). Major blues and Minor blues scales (specific scales with six notes per octave), and to an electronic musical device with an interface that uses this representation. More specifically, the device uses a multi-touch interface with or without strings which allows the musician to concentrate on the melodic line only, making it easier to improvise and perform music composed in one of said scales. The representation differs from the traditional interfaces on string instruments (such as a guitar) in that only the notes of a given scale (with five, six or seven notes per octave) can be played.
US09099012B2	Adjustment of altitude measurements This disclosure describes novel systems, methods and software for determining a position of a tracked object, which might be a fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft, some other flying object, a vehicle (e.g., an automobile, a tactical military vehicle, etc.), a person, and/or the like. More particularly, in an aspect of this disclosure, a measured altitude for an aircraft is adjusted based on a correction factor, which is determined by comparing a measured altitude at reference point with a known reference elevation for the same reference point. This can provide enhanced accuracy and/or precision in recorded altitude measurements, which allows for more faithful presentation of altitude data, for example in post-mission debriefings, simulations and the like.
US09099011B2	Learning tool and method of recording, reviewing, and analyzing face-to-face human interaction Two parties have three distinct viewpoints of their relationship, from which assumptions emerge and working hypotheses about how to manage their relationship. The system, device, and method described herein include using computer system mediated learning tool for understanding face-to-face human interactions. The process includes using the learning tool in reviewing an audio-video recording of a face-to-face interaction with one or more persons, whereby one or more of the participants use the learning tool to privately describe their separate viewpoints of the interaction. The participants use the learning tool to receive immediate feedback for analysis, to compare viewpoints, to examine how the viewpoints are arrived, and to explore the viewpoints' consequences for the participants' relationship.
US09099008B2	Motion platform for use with a video simulation system A motion platform for use with a video simulation system is described. The platform is configured to provide simultaneous roll-axis and yaw-axis motion about a pivot point for simulating a aircraft environment. Additionally, the motion platform is configured to achieve motion using a single linear actuator, and thus is provided at a significantly reduced cost compared to conventional motion platforms. Other benefits of the motion platform include improved power efficiency, reduced weight for increased portability, and reduced maintenance due to only one linear actuator driving the system.
US09099006B2	Context-aware threat response arbitration A method for prioritizing potential threats identified by vehicle active safety systems. The method includes providing context information including map information, vehicle position information, traffic assessment information, road condition information, weather condition information, and vehicle state information. The method calculates a system context value for each active safety system using the context information. Each active safety system provides a system threat level value, a system braking value, a system steering value, and a system throttle value. The method calculates an overall threat level value using all of the system context values and all of the system threat level values. The method then provides a braking request value to vehicle brakes based on all of the system braking values, a throttle request value to a vehicle throttle based on all of the system throttle values, and a steering request value to vehicle steering based on all of the system steering values.
US09099004B2	Object differentiation warning system A vehicle object warning system and method that differentiates between expected and unexpected objects. A sensor detects a set of objects external to the vehicle upon the occurrence of different triggering conditions. A controller determines locations of the sets of objects detected by the sensor. Further, the controller can store the locations of a set of objects in a memory as well as determine if the location of an object is not stored in the memory. An alarm provides a different type of warning if the controller determines that the location of an object is not stored in the memory.
US09099000B2	Vehicle telematics communication for providing mobile device alerts A method of providing a mobile device alert to a vehicle operator, where the method may provide an alert in the event that a mobile phone or other such device is not detected. In an exemplary embodiment, the method detects operation of a vehicle, such as when the ignition is started. Then, the method attempts detection of a mobile phone or other such wireless device associated with an operator of the vehicle. If the method determines that the attempted detection failed, then an alert is presented within the vehicle to help prevent the vehicle operator from leaving in the vehicle without his or her mobile device.
US09098997B2	Flight trajectory prediction with application of environmental conditions Systems and methods for generating a predicted flight trajectory using a combination of aircraft state data, flight information, environmental information, historical data or derived flight information from aircraft messaging which can be used for the transmission of environmental data. The generated trajectory prediction is assigned a level of confidence based on fidelity, merit or accuracy. The level of predicted accuracy is based on the number of and sources of the specific information, time, distance or flight phase. The predicted trajectory includes pseudo-waypoints at flight transitions not readily available in the flight information and also includes the environmental conditions at all waypoint (including pseudo-waypoint) locations.
US09098996B2	Methods and systems for integrating runway status and layout A method for combining static runway information with runway status information for a selected runway is described. The method includes retrieving, with a processing device, static runway information for the selected runway from at least one database, retrieving, with the processing device, runway status information for the selected runway from at least one source of dynamic runway status information, generating, through a program executing on the processing device, a depiction of the selected runway on at least one display device, and generating for display proximate the runway depiction, through the execution of the program, a plurality of contextual symbology associated with the runway, the symbology based on the retrieved static runway information and the retrieved dynamic runway status information.
US09098995B2	Determining real-time delay of transport A delay of a scheduled transport which runs along a route according to a timetable is determined The route comprises at least one leg. Determining the delay is based on a detailed reference schedule indicating arbitrary time-stamped reference positions of a transport that is on time. A request is received for the transport's delay by a user device located on the transport. The request indicates at least the current position of the transport. The transport's delay is calculated on the basis of the current position indicated in the request, a time-stamp and the corresponding time-stamped reference position of the detailed reference schedule. The calculated delay is returned to the user device. The calculated delay is stored into a logbook. In response to a request not indicating the current position of the transport, the delay is returned on the basis of the logbook.
US09098989B2	Evaluation of scattered-light signals in an optical hazard alarm and output both of a weighted smoke density signal and also of a weighted dust/steam density signal A method evaluates two scattered-light signals in a hazard alarm operating in accordance with the scattered light principle. The particles to be detected are irradiated with light in a first wavelength range and with light in a second wavelength range. The light scattered by the particles is converted into a first and second non-normalized scattered light signal. The two scattered light signals are normalized in relation to one another such that their amplitude curve approximately coincides for larger particles such as dust and steam. The two normalized scattered light signals are transformed into a polar angle and a distance as polar coordinates of a polar coordinate system. Finally a respective smoke density signal and a respective dust/steam density signal is formed from a current distance value, wherein for this purpose the respective current distance values, depending on a current polar angle value, are weighted in opposition to one another.
US09098986B2	Indicator light interpretation device and method for indicator lights of an electronic device An indicator light interpretation device and method for indicator lights of an electronic device are provided. The indicator light interpretation device in one example embodiment includes a storage system configured to store one or more device images of an electronic device and a processing system coupled to the storage system, with the processing system configured to process the one or more device images, with the one or more device images including one or more indicator lights, identify the electronic device from the one or more device images, identify one or more indicator lights in the one or more device images, and generate indicated information for the electronic device from the one or more indicator lights.
US09098983B2	Single-item-access drawer A single-item-access (SIA) sub-drawer is disclosed that has a body with a compartment and a lid that is selectably securable in a closed position that encloses the compartment. The SIA sub-drawer includes a lid latch configured to secure and selectably release the lid and a sub-drawer latch configured to engage and selectably release a retention hook to secure the SIA sub-drawer to a dispensing cabinet. The SIA sub-drawer also includes a processor configured to cause the lid latch to release the lid upon receipt of a lid release signal and to cause the sub-drawer latch to release the retention hook upon receipt of a sub-drawer release signal.
US09098982B2	Systems, methods, and devices for playing wagering games with symbol clumps and non-uniform weighting of reel positions Gaming devices, gaming systems, methods of conducting wagering games, and computer programs for executing wagering games are disclosed. A gaming system is disclosed which includes one or more processors and one or more memory devices storing instructions that, when executed by at least one of the processors, cause the gaming system to: receive a wager to play a wagering game with symbol-bearing reels, each of which has distinct reel positions populated by various symbols, at least one reel bearing a symbol clump; and, display via a display device a randomly determined outcome of the wagering game. Each wagering-game outcome includes predetermined symbols occupying distinct array positions in a displayed array. Each reel position has a weighted probability of occupying an array position in the array. The weighted probabilities are configured such that the symbol clump, when part of a wagering-game outcome, can only land in its entirety in the array.
US09098979B2	Scanning-printing integrated machine for lottery ticket printing and cashing The invention discloses a scanning-printing integrated machine for lottery ticket printing and cashing, comprising a first passage connected with an external paper inlet, a second passage connected with a paper house, a third passage connected with a paper outlet, and a control device, wherein a paper outlet of the first passage and a paper outlet of the second passage meet together at the third passage, at least one pair of delivery rollers is arranged in the first passage, a first printing mechanism and a paper cutting mechanism are arranged in the second passage, a scanning mechanism and a second printing mechanism for printing mark information on a medium are in sequence arranged in the third passage, wherein the control device judges the validity of the medium according to medium images collected by the scanning mechanism, and controls the printing operation of the second printing mechanism according to the judgment result. The scanning-printing integrated machine of the invention can not only achieve printing and cashing of the lottery tickets, but also detect the integrality of the printed contents.
US09098977B2	Gaming machine having free game, wherein the number of free game to be added is added during free game The present invention provides a gaming machine employing a free game system which provides an enhanced game element. The gaming machine determines the number of adding free game based on a game number lottery table under the condition that a first symbol is rearranged in the symbol display unit in the free game, and adds a preset number of free game under the condition that a second symbol is rearranged in the symbol display unit in the free game.
US09098975B2	Gameplay-altering portable wagering media Portable wagering media may be utilized to alter play of wagering games.
US09098971B2	System and method for providing a bonus game on a bingo based game The gaming system that includes a server, a Class II gaming machine communicatively coupled to the server, and a processor. The processor is programmed to, upon an input of a wager by a player operating the Class II gaming machine, provide a bingo based game on the Class II gaming machine, the bingo based game including gaming content that includes at least one bingo game card, determine that a triggering event has occurred during play of the bingo based game, and based on the triggering event, providing the player with at least one free bingo card in a bingo based bonus game.
US09098966B2	Methods and apparatus for providing communications services at a gaming machine In a first aspect, a method is provided that includes the steps of (1) providing an auxiliary unit adapted to allow a gaming machine to be retrofitted to provide communications services; and (2) retrofitting a non-communications-enabled gaming machine with the auxiliary unit so that the non-communications enabled gaming machine is adapted to provide communications services based on game play at the non-communications-enabled gaming machine. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US09098963B2	Foreign body detecting A method of operating a sensor 112 having a first transmit plate 114, a second receive plate 115 and a dielectric material between the two plates 114, 115. The method comprises the steps of: applying an alternating across the transmit and receive plates 114, 115, thereby to create an alternating electric field, which applied voltage results in a current Iz flowing through the two plates 114, 115; producing a voltage signal corresponding to the resultant current Iz; determining the average value of the product of the corresponding voltage signal and a reference voltage signal Vref3; and adjusting the phase of the reference voltage Vref3 until a null condition is achieved, at which condition the average value is approximately zero. A sensor 112 is also disclosed.
US09098956B2	Dynamic uploading protocol A dynamic uploading protocol comprises an input interface configured to receive a manifest comprising a plurality of events which may be uploaded; wherein the manifest additionally comprises sensor information relating to each of the plurality of events. The system for a dynamic uploading protocol additionally comprises a processor configured to determine whether to upload additional information about each event, wherein determining whether to upload additional information about each event is based at least in part on the sensor information and contextual information. The system for a dynamic uploading protocol additionally comprises an output interface configured to request the additional information. The system for a dynamic uploading protocol additionally comprises a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.
US09098955B2	System and method for indicating fuel efficiency of flexible fuel vehicle A method and a system for indicating a fuel efficiency in a vehicle is provided that includes a density sensor configured to measure the density of a fuel mixture stored in a fuel tank. In addition, a controller is configured to derive the mix ratio related to the fuel mixture via the density measured by the density sensor and change a reference value of a fuel calculation logic based on the mix ratio. In addition, the controller is configured to determine the fuel efficiency based on the changed reference value.
US09098947B2	Image processing apparatus and image processing system An image processing apparatus includes a synthesizing unit which synthesizes a drawn image drawn on a displayed image on a display device with the displayed image; a content data receiving unit which receives content data; a content data conversion unit which converts the received content data to image data; an external snapshot generation unit which generates an external snapshot to be displayed on the display unit based on the converted image data and stores the external snapshot in a storage unit; and a display control unit which displays the synthesized image by the synthesizing unit on the display device and also displays an object corresponding to the external snapshot in a selectable manner so that the external snapshot is displayed on the display device when the object is selected.
US09098945B2	Modeling anisotropic surface reflectance with microfacet synthesis Described is a search technology in which spatially varying anisotropic reflectance is modeled using image data captured from a single view. Reflectance at each point is represented using a microfacet-based Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF). Modeling processes the image data, which provides a partial normal distribution function (NDF) for each surface point. The NDF at each selected point is completed by texture synthesis using similar, overlapping partial NDFs from other points. Also described is a scanning device that illuminates a sample surface from a two-dimensional set of light directions using a linear array of LEDs moved over a flat sample.
US09098939B2	System and method of generating light maps A method and system for generating light maps for use with an out the window, or a night vision goggles display utilizes inputs from a variety of different geographical and structural data sources. These data sources are then used to determine the locations of structures, roads, and areas of interest within a selected land area. Realistic light maps can then be created quickly and automatically.
US09098937B2	Electronic device and method for simulating three-dimensional model of workpiece In a method for simulating a three-dimensional (3D) model of a workpiece using an electronic device, the method meshes a 3D model using triangles, and outputs a first sequence of triangles of the 3D model. The method further normalizes vertexes of each of the triangles in the first triangle sequence, and obtains a meshed model of the workpiece. A 2D image of the workpiece is divided and a second sequence of triangles of the divided 2D image is obtained. The method further traverses the second sequence of triangles and obtains a pixel set and vertex coordinates of each of the triangles in the second sequence, and electronically pastes each of the triangles in the second sequence to a corresponding position in the meshed 3D model. The pasted 3D model is displayed on a display device.
US09098935B2	Image displaying apparatus, image displaying method, and computer readable medium for displaying an image of a mammary gland structure without overlaps thereof Three-dimensional data is associated with a first imaging area including a left breast of a subject to be examined and a second imaging area including a right breast of the subject. An image displaying apparatus includes a specifying unit that specifies a nipple position of the left breast on the basis of positional information of pressure plates from the three-dimensional data. The image displaying apparatus also includes a generating unit that generates, by a maximum intensity projection, four projection images from the three-dimensional data. Two of the projection images respectively correspond to a plurality of divided areas of the left breast in the first imaging area divided on the basis of the specified nipple position. Two of the projection images respectively correspond to a plurality of divided areas of the right breast in the second imaging area. The four projection images are simultaneously displayed.
US09098927B2	Image processing apparatus for diagnostic imaging and method thereof An image processing apparatus for diagnostic imaging,which allows easy verification of a spatial position on an arbitrary cross section is provided. An image processing apparatus 1 includes a basic position calculating unit 2 configured to calculate a position of a basic cross section from an image data, an auxiliary position calculating unit 3 configured to calculate a position of an auxiliary cross section, a generating unit 4 configured to generate a basic cross-sectional image using the image data and the position of the basic cross section and generate an auxiliary cross-sectional image using the image data and the position of the auxiliary cross section, a relationship calculating unit 5 configured to calculate information on a positional relationship indicating the relative positional relationship between the position of the basic cross section and the position of the auxiliary cross section, and a combining unit 6 configured to combine the information on the positional relationship with the basic cross-sectional image or the auxiliary cross-sectional image respectively, and a display unit 9 configured to display the combined image.
US09098925B2	Techniques for optimizing stencil buffers One embodiment sets forth a method for associating each stencil value included in a stencil buffer with multiple fragments. Components within a graphics processing pipeline use a set of stencil masks to partition the bits of each stencil value. Each stencil mask selects a different subset of bits, and each fragment is strategically associated with both a stencil value and a stencil mask. Before performing stencil actions associated with a fragment, the raster operations unit performs stencil mask operations on the operands. No fragments are associated with both the same stencil mask and the same stencil value. Consequently, no fragments are associated with the same stencil bits included in the stencil buffer. Advantageously, by reducing the number of stencil bits associated with each fragment, certain classes of software applications may reduce the wasted memory associated with stencil buffers in which each stencil value is associated with a single fragment.
US09098924B2	Techniques for optimizing stencil buffers One embodiment sets forth a method for associating each stencil value included in a stencil buffer with multiple fragments. Components within a graphics processing pipeline use a set of stencil masks to partition the bits of each stencil value. Each stencil mask selects a different subset of bits, and each fragment is strategically associated with both a stencil value and a stencil mask. Before performing stencil actions associated with a fragment, the raster operations unit performs stencil mask operations on the operands. No fragments are associated with both the same stencil mask and the same stencil value. Consequently, no fragments are associated with the same stencil bits included in the stencil buffer. Advantageously, by reducing the number of stencil bits associated with each fragment, certain classes of software applications may reduce the wasted memory associated with stencil buffers in which each stencil value is associated with a single fragment.
US09098923B2	Detection of long shots in sports video A method of identifying long shots of sports video comprising receiving a video frame comprising a plurality of pixels, classifying each of the plurality of pixels as a candidate field pixel or a candidate non-field pixel, determining whether at least a predefined percentage of the plurality of pixels are candidate field pixels, calculating a first standard deviation, the first standard deviation being the standard deviation of the hues of all candidate field pixels, and classifying the video frame as a long shot of sports video when at least the predefined percentage of the plurality of pixels are candidate field pixels and the first standard deviation is equal to or lower than a predefined maximum standard deviation value.
US09098921B2	Image processor and image processing method Disclosed herein is an image processor including: a random number sequence generation section adapted to generate a random number sequence; a random number-superimposed luminance variable generation section adapted to generate a random number-superimposed luminance variable by superimposing the random number sequence on a luminance variable; and a random number-superimposed image signal generation section adapted to generate a random number-superimposed image signal by superimposing the random number-superimposed luminance variable on an image signal.
US09098916B2	Bit-accurate film grain simulation method based on pre-computed transformed coefficients Creation of a Bit-accurate film grain pattern for blending in an image block occurs by first establishing a set of bit-accurate transformed coefficients. The set of bit-accurate transformed coefficients undergo frequency filtering and a subsequent bit-accurate inverse transformation to yield the film grain pattern. The film grain pattern can then undergo blending with an image block to restore the look of film to the image.
US09098913B2	Prediction of successful grasps by end of arm tooling Given an image and an aligned depth map of an object, the invention predicts the 3D location, 3D orientation and opening width or area of contact for an end of arm tooling (EOAT) without requiring a physical model.
US09098910B2	Method for generating video data stream The invention relates to a method for generating video stream data relating to different fields of vision from a camera having a sensor which records high resolution images in a distorted manner. According to the invention, image corrections are performed for separate fields of vision, and a total video stream is output from the differently corrected image data.
US09098899B2	Determining the specific orientation of an object The present invention relates to the determination of the specific orientation of an object. In order to provide enhanced positioning information of an object to a user, a medical imaging system and a method for operating of a medical imaging system are proposed wherein 2D image data (14) of an object is acquired (12) with an imaging system, wherein the object is provided with at least three markers visible in the 2D image; and wherein (16) the markers are detected in the 2D image; and wherein the spatial positioning and rotation angle (20) of the object in relation to the system geometry is identified (18) on behalf of the markers; and wherein an object-indicator (24) is displayed (22) indicating the spatial positioning and rotation angle of the object.
US09098891B2	Adaptive sampling for semiconductor inspection recipe creation, defect review, and metrology Methods and systems for adaptive sampling for semiconductor inspection recipe creation, defect review, and metrology are provided. The embodiments provide image processing and pattern recognition algorithms and an adaptive sampling method for extracting critical areas from SEM image patches for use in a wafer inspection system when design data for a semiconductor chip is not available. The embodiments also provide image processing and pattern recognition algorithms for efficiently discovering critical defects and significant deviations in the normal manufacturing process, using the output from a wafer inspection system and an adaptive sampling method to select wafer locations to be examined on a high resolution review or metrology tool.
US09098888B1	Collaborative text detection and recognition Various embodiments provide methods and systems for identifying text in an image by applying suitable text detection parameters in text detection. The suitable text detection parameters can be determined based on parameter metric feedback from one or more text identification subtasks, such as text detection, text recognition, preprocessing, character set mapping, pattern matching and validation. In some embodiments, the image can be defined into one or more image regions by performing glyph detection on the image. Text detection parameters applying to each of the one or more image regions can be adjusted based on measured one or more parameter metrics in the respective image region.
US09098887B2	Image compression method and apparatus for encoding pixel data of frame into interleaved bit-stream, and related image decompression method and apparatus An image compression method includes at least the following steps: receiving a plurality of pixels of a frame, wherein pixel data of each pixel has a plurality of color channel data corresponding to a plurality of different color channels, respectively; encoding the pixel data of each pixel and generating bit-streams corresponding to the plurality of color channel data of the pixel, wherein the bit-streams corresponding to the plurality of color channel data of the pixel are separated; packing bit-streams of a same color channel data of different pixels into color channel bit-stream segments, wherein each of the bit-stream segments has a same predetermined size; and concatenating color channel bit-stream segments of the different color channels into a final bit-stream. Alternatively, color channel bit-stream segments of the same pixel are concatenated into a concatenated bit-stream portion, and concatenated bit-stream portions of different pixels are concatenated into a final bit-stream.
US09098885B2	Camera calibration and automatic adjustment of images Techniques and apparatus for automatic upright adjustment of digital images. An automatic upright adjustment technique is described that may provide an automated approach for straightening up slanted features in an input image to improve its perceptual quality. This correction may be referred to as upright adjustment. A set of criteria based on human perception may be used in the upright adjustment. A reprojection technique that implements an optimization framework is described that yields an optimal homography for adjustment based on the criteria and adjusts the image according to new camera parameters generated by the optimization. An optimization-based camera calibration technique is described that simultaneously estimates vanishing lines and points as well as camera parameters for an image; the calibration technique may, for example, be used to generate estimates of camera parameters and vanishing points and lines that are input to the reprojection technique.
US09098880B2	Method for optimizing power consumption in planned projects Automatically accesses, from a database, the rate of power consumption of each object on a displayed list and automatically calculating the power consumption of each object over a planned period time of use of the object. Then, during actual use, the actual power consumption of each object on the list is automatically tracked over the planned period of time of use and the difference between the planned and actual power consumption of each object on the list is automatically calculated. The difference for each object on the list is displayed so that the user may take action interactively.
US09098878B2	Stratified composite portfolios of investment securities A stratified composite portfolio can be formed by selecting a group of investment securities, stratifying them according to attributes that correlate to a specific asset risk, and assigning relative portfolio weights to the components based on their stratified positions. The attributes are selected from a universe of possible values. Further positive and negative biases can be applied at any arbitrary point or stratified position, including to individual assets, groups of arbitrarily selected assets, or arbitrary stratification positions.
US09098877B2	System and method for displaying and analyzing financial correlation data A method for displaying a matrix of correlations or other statistical measures of co-movement associated with a plurality of financial instruments, portfolios, indices, or asset classes is disclosed. The method includes: converting the matrix of correlations or other co-movement measures into a probability transition matrix; defining a corresponding abstract distance measurement between any two of the plurality of financial instruments, portfolios, indices, or asset classes based on the probability transition matrix; assigning coordinates in a Euclidean space to each of the plurality of financial instruments, portfolios, indices, or asset classes, wherein a Euclidean distance between any two financial instruments, portfolios, indices, or asset classes in the Euclidean space corresponds to the corresponding abstract distance measurement; and displaying on a display device the plurality of financial instruments, portfolios, indices, or asset classes based on more significant dimensions of the Euclidean space.
US09098875B2	Financial-service structured content manager A financial-service system that manages content objects includes a chronicles platform with a chronicle associated with a loan request. A content manager determines a set of content objects to be associated with the chronicle and generates a bucket for each content object of the set of content objects. Each bucket is associated with a name and is configured to receive an associated content object. The chronicle is populated with the generated buckets. An interface that detects a user action and that thereafter receives or generates a content object, which is detected by the content manager and associated with a bucket. The content manager causes the bucket to receive the content object and presents representations of the buckets to a user. Representations of one or more buckets that have received a content object differ from representations of one or more other buckets that have not received a content object.
US09098871B2	Method and system for automatically managing an electronic shopping list A computer-implemented method is disclosed herein. The method includes the step of receiving, with a processing device of a commerce server, one or more shopping list signals from an electronic computing device to establish a shopping list of a plurality of items offered for sale in a retail store. The method also includes the step of receiving, with the processing device, one or more signals from an augmented reality device worn by a consumer as the consumer shops in the retail store. The method also includes the step of determining, with the processing device, that an item from the shopping list has been placed in a shopping container from the one or more signals received from the augmented reality device. The method also includes the step of modifying, with the processing device, the shopping list in response to said determining step.
US09098870B2	Internet-accessible real estate marketing street view system and method Video drive-by data provides a street level view of a neighborhood surrounding a selected geographic location. A video and data server farm incorporates a video storage server that stores video image files containing video drive-by data corresponding to a geographic location, a database server that processes a data query received from a user over the Internet corresponding to a geographic location of interest, and an image processing server. In operation, the database server identifies video image files stored in the video storage server that correspond to the geographic location of interest contained in the data query and transfers the video image files over a pre-processing network to the image processing server. The image processing server converts the video drive-by data to post-processed video data corresponding to a desired image format and transfers the post-processed video data via a post-processing network to the Internet in response to the query.
US09098869B2	Dynamic payment methods and devices Systems and methods according to these exemplary embodiments provide techniques for facilitating the selection of a billing gateway (120, 504) by an end user device (10, 20, 30) when an end user (10, 20, 30) orders content for the end user device or another device as desired.
US09098868B1	Coordinating advertisements at multiple playback devices A system and method for coordinating advertisements on multiple playback devices during playback of heterogeneous content are provided. In general, a virtual group of playback devices or users of the playback devices is formed and managed by a virtual group (VG) control function. In operation, the VG control function operates to coordinate advertisement slots in heterogeneous content being played by the playback devices and provide targeted advertisements to the playback devices for insertion into the coordinated advertisement slots. The targeted advertisements may be, for example, targeted advertisements for each user or playback device, targeted advertisements for subsets of the users or playback devices in the virtual group, targeted advertisements for the virtual group, targeted complementary advertisements for subsets of users or playback devices in the virtual group, or targeted complementary advertisements for the virtual group.
US09098867B2	Apparatus and method for managing marketing A method that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, the steps of transmitting media content to a group of set top boxes for presentation with an overlay superimposed onto the media content, receiving a first comment from a first set top box of the group of set top boxes where the first comment is presentable with the overlay and the media content by the group of set top boxes, determining a first advertisement based on the first comment, and transmitting the first advertisement to the first set top box for presentation with the overlay and the media content. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09098866B1	Dynamic personalization profile The present invention generally relates to utilization of at least two known location addresses yielding accurate determination of a user's mode of operations and/or preferences. In one embodiment, the present invention utilizes proximity and/or vector between a current location address and a known home or work address to determine preferences that dynamically change based on the current location and inter-relationship between the current location and at least one other known location address.
US09098865B2	Ultrasonic near-field communication Systems and methods for near-field communications with a mobile device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for near-field communication may comprise: detecting, by a source device located at a point-of-sale, the proximity of a receiving device; encoding purchase data on an audio signal with one or more ultrasonic frequencies; and transmitting the encoded purchase data to the receiving device, wherein the encoded purchase data is transmitted using a speaker of the source device.
US09098864B2	Game asset linked to operations performed outside the game Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for executing game operations. One method includes an operation for receiving a request from a player to acquire a first game asset to be utilized in the game, the first game asset being associated with a token usable in the real world outside the game. After assigning the first game asset to the player in the game, the player is rewarded in the game with a second asset in response to the request. Further, the method includes an operation for detecting a commercial operation executed outside the game by the player with the token, and the player is rewarded in the game with a third asset in response to the detecting.
US09098860B2	Rating and novelty decay Application servers and methods of operating the same are provided for generating a personalized recommendation of items to a first user. An updated rating value N(t) of an initial rating value N(0) is determined for each rated item based on an age of each rating. The updated rating value N(t) is based on a difference between the value of the initial rating N(0) and a neutral rating value R, and on a predetermined half-life of the ratings. The updated rating value N(t) converges towards the neutral rating value R with an increase in the age t for each rating.
US09098859B2	Bringing achievements to an offline world An achievement system tracks users' offline activities and awards achievements to users for participation in particular offline activities. The achievements that are awarded for particular activities and/or to particular users may be sponsored by merchants, who may compensate an achievement system provider for the opportunity to sponsor the achievements. To award users achievements, the users' offline activities are tracked. When a user participates in an offline activity for which achievements are available, the user is awarded an achievement. The achievement may be stored in an achievement profile for the user. In some embodiments, achievements earned by users may be converted into other benefits and alternative awards.
US09098849B2	Cash payment for remote transactions Methods coordinate payment for a remote transaction with a first party. An identification of the first party is received at a host system. Acknowledgment of receipt of a cash payment from a second party is received. The cash payment is associated with the identification of the first party. A money transfer corresponding to the cash payment to the control of the first party is executed with a request for the first party to perform on previously agreed terms of the remote transaction.
US09098848B2	Safety cover design for financial transaction device The present invention is a safety covering design for financial transaction device, simply constructing specific solid connection between boards by the pressure formed after assembly. The pressure is formed with assembly and constructing connection of units, so illegally penetration can be easily detected, because the pressure is released by disassembly as well as the connection between boards is removed. Thus, the financial transaction device of the present invention is not easy being penetrated without alarm.
US09098847B2	Gaming system and method for providing a game including roaming wild symbols In various embodiments, the present disclosure relates generally to gaming systems and methods for providing one or more games employing roaming wild symbols.
US09098846B2	Contactless automated teller machine In general, apparatuses, methods and computer program products for receiving a contactless transmission from an external apparatus to an automated teller machine (ATM) are disclosed. An ATM machine is provided that has been equipped with a contactless interface for interacting with an external apparatus such as a debit/credit card, mobile device, and/or contactless transmission equipped stickers.
US09098844B2	Mobile electronic wallet Association of personal, financial, and/or business-related identification information with a mobile communication device (MCD) is provided for herein. For example, an MCD can be associated with a financial account and can further include an identification component that verifies an identity of a user of the MCD. Identity can be verified by biometric analysis (e.g., finger/thumb print scan), username and password, optical feature scan, or a combination thereof or of like mechanisms, for instance. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter provides a mechanism to verify identification of a user of an MCD and incorporate user ID into remote data exchange, including remote financial transactions, with one or more networked devices.
US09098836B2	Rich email attachment presentation One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for providing a rich email experience for an email with an attachment. Intention metadata that is associated with an attachment to an email is identified, where the intention metadata indicates a sender intention for the attachment. The intention metadata may be identified prior to sending the email and included with the email, or identified after receipt of the email. Further, the intention metadata is applied to the attachment so that the attachment is presented in a rich format to the recipient that reflects the sender intention for the attachment, such as highlighting portions, and/or presenting images, for example, in a desired sequence.
US09098834B2	Task management using electronic mail A mail server based approach to task management. In an embodiment, a first user sends a task assignment email indicating a task sought to be assigned, a list of assignees and a list of recipients. The mail server forwards the email message to all the recipients, while maintaining information of a current status of the task. The assignees may send status updates and the current status is accordingly updated. The status information on the server can be accessed by various users.
US09098822B1	Optimization of packaging sizes Various embodiments are provided for determining optimum sizes of packaging in a packaging suite employed in a materials handling facility. The packaging may be used, for example, in the shipping of items from the materials handling facility to various destinations. The sizes of the packaging in the packaging suite are determined based at least upon a cost associated with the packaging, packaging materials and shipping costs of the packaging when applied to a shipment history of the materials handling facility.
US09098819B1	Identifying social network accounts belonging to the same user A system and method for determining matching pairs between social networks is disclosed. The system comprises a matching module that includes an account retrieval engine, candidate pairing module, a match determination module, a social network engine, a personalizing engine and a graphical user interface engine. The candidate pairing module generates candidate pairs of accounts from different social networks that may represent the same user. The match pairing module generates scores for the pairs. The match determination module determines a subset of the pairs that most likely represent the same users.
US09098817B2	Method for real-time control of energy storage units to reduce electricity cost A method for controlling an energy storage unit having a model which tracks each charging instances includes, for each charging event, capturing energy charged into the energy storage unit and an unit energy price of the charging source(s) at the time of charging; updating a unit price of total energy stored in the storage unit at each time-step; during a discharging event, updating the unit price of energy in the storage unit on a selected cost model; comparing the unit price of energy in the storage unit with other generation sources in the microgrid and a utility tariff; selecting a lowest cost combination from generation, storage, and grid and using the lowest cost combination to supply a load; and if a controller decides to use stored energy at any time, sending a discharge command to the energy storage unit.
US09098815B2	Presentation of an interactive user interface Examples of a user interface are described that may include a master risk landscape map that includes nodes representing risks and links representing correlations between the risks. The visual appearance of the nodes and links may provide information about their characteristics, such as risk likelihood, risks severity, risk detectability, and/or strength of interconnectivity. The user may be able to interact with the master risk landscape map to drill down to further detail while simultaneously removing less relevant information as desired, thereby potentially allowing the user to focus on the most relevant information.
US09098812B2	Faster minimum error rate training for weighted linear models The claimed subject matter provides systems and/or methods for training feature weights in a statistical machine translation model. The system can include components that obtain lists of translation hypotheses and associated feature values, set a current point in the multidimensional feature weight space to an initial value, chooses a line in the feature weight space that passes through the current point, and resets the current point to optimize the feature weights with respect to the line. The system can further include components that set the current point to be a best point attained, reduce the list of translation hypotheses based on a determination that a particular hypothesis has never been touched in optimizing the feature weights from at least one of an initial staring point or a randomly selected restarting point, and output the point ascertained to be the best point in the feature weight space.
US09098811B2	Spiking neuron network apparatus and methods Apparatus and methods for heterosynaptic plasticity in a spiking neural network having multiple neurons configured to process sensory input. In one exemplary approach, a heterosynaptic plasticity mechanism is configured to select alternate plasticity rules when performing neuronal updates. The selection mechanism is adapted based on recent post-synaptic activity of neighboring neurons. When neighbor activity is low, a regular STDP update rule is effectuated. When neighbor activity is high, an alternate STDP update rule, configured to reduce probability of post-synaptic spike generation by the neuron associated with the update, is used. The heterosynaptic mechanism impedes that neuron to respond to (or learn) features within the sensory input that have been detected by neighboring neurons, thereby forcing the neuron to learn a different feature or feature set. The heterosynaptic methodology advantageously introduces competition among neighboring neurons, in order to increase receptive field diversity and improve feature detection capabilities of the network.
US09098810B1	Recommending changes to variables of a data set to impact a desired outcome of the data set Methods for analyzing and rendering business intelligence data allow for efficient scalability as datasets grow in size. Human intervention is minimized by augmented decision making ability in selecting what aspects of large datasets should be focused on to drive key business outcomes. Variable value combinations that are predominant drivers of key observations are automatically determined from several competing variable value combinations. The identified variable value combinations can then be then used to predict future trends underlying the business intelligence data. In another embodiment, an observed outcome is decomposed into multiple contributing drivers and the impact of each of the contributing drivers can be analyzed and numerically quantified—as a static snapshot or as a time-varying evolution. Similarly, differences in observations between two groups can be decomposed into multiple contributing sub-groups for each of the groups and pairwise differences among sub-groups can be quantified and analyzed.
US09098806B2	Personalized controls for a semantic system utilizing a central and a local semantic network A method, machine readable storage medium, and system for providing personalized semantic controls for semantic systems. A semantic network may be set up with initial configuration. A business application user interface, including semantic controls, may be coupled to the semantic network to interact with the semantic network. Semantic objects and relations may be defined in the semantic network for business terminology. A user request for business data may be received. The semantic network may update the objects and relations for business terminology based on the request. The business application user interface may provide for personalized semantic controls based on the updated objects and relations.
US09098801B2	Time series classifying memory, systems and methods A time series classifying memory includes an enumerated group of synapses. Each synapse of the group has a junction including pre-synaptic emitters communicating with post synaptic receptors. A single pathway is input to each synapse of the group, and when innervated, stimulates the junctions. Each successive synapse has successively more post synaptic receptors according to a fixed ratio. At each junction, quanta of neurotransmitter emitted from the emitters bind with available receptors. When all the receptors at a junction have been bound, the junction goes refractory. The synapse adjacent to the last junction to go refractory is marked. During a training mode the mark is a Long Term Potentiation (LTP) mark. During a live mode the mark is a Short Term Potentiation (STP) mark. The input is classified upon successful correlation of the LTP mark with the STP mark. A clock operable with synaptic matrix models this process.
US09098799B2	Tooling for implementing business processes using web services Business processes are implemented using a collection component for storing system knowledge comprising usage history and user input relative to activities within community of users, where the system knowledge comprises at least a folksonomy. At least one of a user client component interacts with the data collection component to enable a corresponding user to contribute user-derived information to the folksonomy and a monitoring component monitors activities associated with the community of users and interacts with the data collection component to contribute usage information to the system knowledge. Still further, a composition design application interacts with a user to build and/or modify processes built using services, wherein the composition design application recommends candidate services that can implement aspects of the business processes based upon information derived from the system knowledge.
US09098798B2	Methods and apparatus for prediction and modification of behavior in networks In exemplary implementations of this invention, mobile application (app) installations by users of one or more networks are predicted. Using network data gathered by smartphones, multiple “candidate” graphs (including a call log graph) are calculated. The “candidate” graphs are weighted by an optimization vector and then summed to calculate a composite graph. The composite graph is used to predict the conditional probabilities that the respective users will install an app, depending in part on whether the user's neighbors have previously installed the app. Exogenous factors, such as the app's quality, may be taken into account by creating a virtual candidate graph. The conditional probabilities may be used to select a subset of the users. Signals may be sent to the subset of users, including to recommend an app. Also, the probability of successful “trend ignition” may be predicted from network data.
US09098793B2	Data processing apparatus, recording apparatus and control method of the data processing apparatus A data processing apparatus includes a processing unit that distinguishes a command of a first command system including commands designating attributes of a printing form and a command of a second command system including commands designating attributes that are not defined in the first command system. When a recording instruction including an instruction designating the printing form by a command of the first command system and data arranged in accordance with the printing form designated by the command of the first command system are input, the processing unit arranges the data included in the recording instruction in accordance with a printing form designated by the command of the second command system to generate recording data.
US09098791B2	Tag integrated circuit module apparatus and method of fabricating tag integrated circuit module apparatus Provided is a tag integrated circuit (IC) module apparatus and a method of fabricating tag IC module apparatus. The tag IC module apparatus may include an n-turn loop coil, n denoting a natural number, connected in series with a tag IC, and a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed below the tag IC and patterned with the n-turn loop coil.
US09098788B2	Optimization of the processing speed of an electromagnetic transponder A method for setting the clock frequency of a processing unit of an electromagnetic transponder, wherein a ratio between data, representative of a voltage across an oscillating circuit of the transponder and obtained for two values of the resistive load, is compared with one to decide whether to increase or decrease the clock frequency of the processing unit.
US09098787B2	Device, module and method for shared antenna operation in a RFID technology based communication environment In general, the present invention relates to a systems, apparatuses and methods. The system comprises in principle a mobile terminal device and at least one smart memory module. The smart memory module comprises a RFID technology based communications circuitry. The mobile terminal device comprises an antenna circuitry, a RFID technology based communications circuitry, a smart memory module interface, and a radio frequency signal switch. The antenna circuitry is arranged to transmit and receive data carrying radio frequency (RF) signals to/from any counterpart device being equipped with a corresponding counterpart interface. The smart memory module interface is arranged to interface with at least one smart memory module when the smart memory module is present at the smart memory module interface. The radio frequency signal switch is operatively connected to the antenna circuitry. The radio frequency signal switch is further adapted to switch the antenna circuitry to be operatively connected with one of the RFID technology based communications circuitry of the terminal device and the RFID technology based communications circuitry of the smart memory module. Means for generating a switching signal are provided in order to control operation of the radio frequency signal switch. The switching signal is generated on the basis of at least criteria whether the smart memory module is present at the smart memory module interface.
US09098779B2	Recording control device, control method, and program A host computer is connected to a printer that prints text according to settings specifying a text printing format. Using a function of a driver setup program, the host computer acquires a file set including an MOT file (recording device settings data) and a corresponding INF file (control device settings data) that are configured to produce the same or substantially the same printout as a printer with different printing format specifications, and configures settings stored in a registry that is referenced by a printer driver based on the acquired INF file. Using a function of a firmware setup program, the host computer generates or updates settings based on the MOT file.
US09098775B2	Multi-class identifier, method, and computer-readable recording medium A multi-class identifier identifies a kind of an imager, and identifies in detail with respect to a specified kind of a group. The multi-class identifier includes: an identification fault counter providing the image for test that includes any of class labels to the kind identifiers so that the kind identifiers individually identify the kind of the provided image, and counting, for a combination of arbitrary number of kinds among the plurality of kinds, the number of times of incorrect determination in the arbitrary number of kinds that belongs to the combination; a grouping processor, for a group of the combination for which count result is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, adding a group label corresponding to the group to the image for learning that includes the class label corresponding to any of the arbitrary number of kinds that belongs to the group.
US09098772B2	Rapid detection In accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, a detecting engine for detecting targets/materials in hyperspectral scenes is disclosed. The detecting engine combines data partitioning and dimensionality reduction to reduce the number of computations needed to identify in which pixels in a hyperspectral scene a given material is present. Computation reduction (in some instances, by two fold) greatly impacts the speed of and power consumed by the detecting engine making the engine suitable for hyperspectral imaging of large scenes, processing using many filters per pixel, or missions requiring testing large numbers of reference spectra to see which are present in a scene.
US09098771B2	Methods and systems for estimation of document skew in an image Aspects of the present invention are related to systems and methods for determining a skew angle associated with a document image. According to a first aspect of the present invention, a rotation vector may be estimated for at least one layer in a vertical-edge buffer and a horizontal-edge buffer. According to a second aspect of the present invention, a rotation vector may be estimated directly from the vertical-edge buffer and the horizontal-edge buffer using a fixed-sized, progressively constrained histogram.
US09098770B2	Image processing device and image processing method, and program An image processing device for recognizing an object corresponding to a registered image registered beforehand from an imaged image, comprising: an obtaining unit configured to obtain the imaged image; a recognizing unit configured to recognize an object corresponding to the registered image from the imaged image; and a detecting unit configured to detect, based on a registered image corresponding to an object recognized from the imaged image thereof, an area where another object is overlapped with the object corresponding to the registered image thereof.
US09098769B2	Method and a device for objects counting A method and a device for objects counting in image processing includes acquiring the depth image of any one frame; detecting objects according to the depth image; associating the identical object in different frames to form a trajectory; and determining the number of objects according to the number of trajectories. The devices include an acquisition module for acquiring the depth image of any one frame; a detection module for detecting objects according to the depth image; an association module for associating the identical object in different frames to form a trajectory; a determining module for determining the number of objects according to the number of trajectories. The objects are detected according to the depth image. The identical object in different frames is associated to form a trajectory and the number of objects is determined according to the number of trajectories.
US09098768B2	Character detection apparatus, character detection method, and computer-readable storage medium A character detection apparatus is provided that detects, from an image including a first image representing a character and a second image representing a translucent object, the character. The character detection apparatus includes a calculating portion that, for each of blocks obtained by dividing an overlapping region in which the first image is overlapped by the second image, calculates a frequency of appearance of pixels for each of gradations of a property, and a detection portion that detects the character from the overlapping region based on the frequency for each of the gradations.
US09098767B2	System and method for determining the informative zone of an image A system and a method are disclosed that determine the informative zone of an image. A system and method include receiving image data representative of an image, determining the non-redundant regions of the image based on analysis of patterns of the image data, and determining an area of the image that encompasses the non-redundant regions of the image as the informative zone of the image.
US09098756B2	Biometric authentication device and adjustment method for position of hand of user in biometric authentication device A biometric authentication device determining whether or not a user is to be authenticated, by matching biological information of a finger of the user and biological information of a palm thereof against biological information of a finger of a registered user and biological information of a palm thereof, the biometric authentication device includes, a first sensor configured to generate a first biological image in which the biological information of the finger of the user is captured; a second sensor configured to generate a second biological image in which the biological information of the palm of the user is captured; a guiding member configured to regulate a position of the finger of the user; an object area detection unit configured to detect a first object area in which the biological information of the finger is captured on the first biological image; and a position determination unit configured to determine.
US09098755B2	Biometrics authentication apparatus, biometrics authentication system, and biometrics authentication method A biometrics authentication apparatus acquires biometric information by a biometric information acquisition section and acquires first registered information and second registered information by a registered information acquisition section. The biometrics authentication apparatus generates a comparison score from the first registered information and the biometric information, compares the comparison score and a threshold, and outputs an authentication result, by an authentication section. The biometrics authentication apparatus generates a comparison score for each of combinations of two of the biometric information by which success in authentication is obtained, the first registered information, and the second registered information, evaluates the comparison score, and generates an evaluation result, by a comparison evaluation section. When the biometric information may be good second registered information, the biometrics authentication apparatus treats the biometric information as new second registered information by a replacement section.
US09098752B2	Vehicle path assessment A number of variations include a vehicle path assessment system.
US09098750B2	Gradient estimation apparatus, gradient estimation method, and gradient estimation program A gradient estimation apparatus includes a feature point extracting unit configured to extract feature points on an image captured by an imaging unit, an object detecting unit configured to detect image regions indicating objects from the image captured by the imaging unit, and a gradient calculating unit configured to calculate a gradient of the road surface on which the objects are located, based on the coordinates of the feature points extracted by the feature point extracting unit in the image regions indicating the objects detected by the object detecting unit and the amounts of movements of the coordinates of the feature points over a predetermined time.
US09098749B2	Dictionary design for computationally efficient video anomaly detection via sparse reconstruction techniques Methods, systems, and processor-readable media for pruning a training dictionary for use in detecting anomalous events from surveillance video. Training samples can be received, which correspond to normal events. A dictionary can then be constructed, which includes two or more classes of normal events from the training samples. Sparse codes are then generated for selected training samples with respect to the dictionary derived from the two or more classes of normal events. The size of the dictionary can then be reduced by removing redundant dictionary columns from the dictionary via analysis of the sparse codes. The dictionary is then optimized to yield a low reconstruction error and a high-interclass discriminability.
US09098747B1	Systems and methods for identifying locations of infrastructure assets using aerial imagery Embodiments include a computer-implemented method for identifying locations of infrastructure assets. The method including identifying a location of a first infrastructure asset and a location of a second infrastructure asset, identifying a region of interest extending at least partially between the locations of the first and second infrastructure assets, obtaining an aerial image of the region of interest, determining that the aerial image of the region of interest comprises a third infrastructure asset, determining a location of the third infrastructure asset based at least in part on the aerial image, and storing the location of the secondary infrastructure asset in an infrastructure asset datastore.
US09098745B2	Sampling position-fixing system In the case of collecting samples, it is difficult to select a representative point of a target area. Thus, the samples are collected from certain positions, resulting in generation of variations of data. The target area is specified on an image to extract features from the target area. Further, clustering is performed for the features on a feature space to obtain representative features, and the obtained representative features are extracted as sampling points.
US09098743B2	Fundus image processing apparatus, fundus image processing method, and recording medium A fundus image processing apparatus that processes a fundus image of an examinee's eye, the fundus image processing apparatus includes: a processor; and a memory storing computer readable instructions, when executed by the processor, causing the fundus image processing apparatus to: identify the optic disc included in the fundus image; identify a blood vessel included in the fundus image; calculate an upper diameter ratio which is a diameter ratio of those of the identified blood vessels that are positioned in a region above a height of the optic disc; calculate a lower diameter ratio which is a diameter ratio of those of the identified blood vessels that are positioned in a region under the height of the optic disc; and calculate an arteriovenous diameter ratio in the fundus of the examinee's eye based on the upper diameter ratio and the lower diameter ratio.
US09098741B1	Discriminitive learning for object detection Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for object detection are disclosed. Methods can include, for each of a plurality of locations in one or more positive images, image filters are identified, each image filter representing visual features of a location in a positive image (e.g., an image that includes a particular object). Positive location feature scores and negative location feature scores are determined for locations within images. A positive location feature score is based on a similarity between the image filter and feature values for a positive image. A negative location feature score is determined based on a similarity between the image filter and feature values for a negative image. A distinctive location is identified based on the positive and negative location feature scores, and distinguishing feature values for identifying the particular object are identified for the distinctive location.
US09098738B2	System and method for contamination monitoring A system for contamination monitoring includes a tracking component, a material identification component, a procedural component, and a notification component. The tracking component tracks an individual and one or more objects in a work area using a three-dimensional tracking system. The material identification component identifies a material of the one or more objects based on a captured image. The procedural component determines that an object of the one or more objects is contaminated based on tracked locations of the one or more objects and the individual. The notification component provides a notification of the contamination.
US09098732B2	Methods and systems for analyzing and visualizing spray patterns Computer-implemented systems and methods predict behavior of sprays based on receiving a selection of one or more variables affecting spray. Relative amounts of the droplets forming the spray are grouped into various droplet size classes, where each droplet size class represents a range of droplet sizes. The relative amounts of the spray in the classes is visually depicted on a computer display according to a distribution of droplets, a volume of spray falling within the droplet size classes, a chart depicting relative amounts of the spray as a function of droplet size, or according to a spray quality based on environmental factors.
US09098731B1	Optical polling platform methods, apparatuses and media An image associated with a poll may be acquired via a camera. One or more symbols indicating responses may be found by analyzing the image. The responses specified by the symbols may be determined and saved. The responses may also be displayed to the operator and/or to the respondents.
US09098730B2	System and method for preserving electronically stored information A system and method for collection of electronically stored information (ESI) from Windows based desktops and laptops is disclosed that are under the control of remote custodians. The system and method include an external persistent memory storage device and a software application tool that is loaded onto the persistent memory storage device. The external persistent memory storage device is connected to the computer system hosting the persistent memory storage device to be examined, for example, by way of a USB or Ethernet port. Once connected to the computer system hosting the persistent memory storage device to be examined, a Quick Start program, which, when opened, allows the required processing to be methodically performed. Documentation is provided for completing information regarding the chain of custody of the external persistent memory storage device. The documentation may be imprinted on a security receptacle for receiving the external persistent memory storage device. The security receptacle is configured to protect the persistent memory storage device from electrostatic discharge and to indicate if the bag or container was tampered with after it was sealed.
US09098729B2	Method and apparatus for detecting device intrusion to a network interface terminal A network interface terminal (“NIT”) able to provide network service includes an intrusion shrapnel, elastic element, intrusion plate, and bolt is disclosed. The intrusion shrapnel, in one embodiment, has a cylindrical body with an opening through center of the cylindrical body. First and second discs are attached to each end of the cylindrical body. The elastic element, such as a spring, is situated between the first disc and a frame applying a force pulling the intrusion shrapnel in a disengaging direction. The intrusion plate which is electrically coupled to a PCB is situated adjacent to the second disc. The bolt having a helical ridge thread passes through the open of the cylindrical body and makes the second disc to electrically contact with the intrusion plate.
US09098726B2	Scalable and secure application resource management and access control for multicore operating systems An architecture for multi-core and many-core processor systems includes a set of resource managers having a hierarchy of at least one level. The resource managers act as trusted proxies for the operating system (OS) kernel to manage resources for applications. The application may include a trusted secure specification defining resource and access privileges of the associated application.
US09098725B2	Cryptographic accumulators for authenticated hash tables In one exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes a memory storing data and a processor performing operations. The apparatus generates or maintains an accumulation tree for the stored data—an ordered tree structure with a root node, leaf nodes and internal nodes. Each leaf node corresponds to a portion of the data. A depth of the tree remains constant. A bound on a degree of each internal node is a function of a number of leaf nodes of a subtree rooted at the internal node. Each node of the tree has an accumulation value. Accumulation values of the root and internal nodes are determined by hierarchically employing an accumulator over the accumulation values of the nodes lying one level below the node in question. The accumulation value of the root node is a digest for the tree.
US09098720B2	Location aware shared spaces In one embodiment, a geo-social networking system maintains a data store of shared space, wherein each shared space comprises one or more content objects, a location, and one or more privacy settings. The geo-social networking system allows a user read-access to a shared space based on privacy settings associated with the shared space. The geo-social networking system allows a user write-access to a shared space if the user is at the location associated with the shared space.
US09098716B2	Authentication system for instruction processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, authentication control method, and authentication control program An authentication system for an instruction processing apparatus includes first and second authentication portions each for performing user authentication at the time of using the instruction processing apparatus, and a controller which makes the first authentication portion execute the user authentication and switches from the first authentication portion to the second authentication portion when the user authentication by the first authentication portion cannot be established.
US09098712B2	Encrypting operating system A method of and system for encrypting and decrypting data on a computer system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system comprises an encrypting operating system (EOS), which is a modified UNIX operating system. The EOS is configured to use a symmetric encryption algorithm and an encryption key to encrypt data transferred from physical memory to secondary devices, such as disks, swap devices, network file systems, network buffers, pseudo file systems, or any other structures external to the physical memory and on which can data can be stored. The EOS further uses the symmetric encryption algorithm and the encryption key to decrypt data transferred from the secondary devices back to physical memory. In other embodiments, the EOS adds an extra layer of security by also encrypting the directory structure used to locate the encrypted data. In a further embodiment a user or process is authenticated and its credentials checked before a file can be accessed, using a key management facility that controls access to one or more keys for encrypting and decrypting data.
US09098710B2	Setting default security features for use with web applications and extensions According to one general aspect, a computer-implemented method for implementing default security features for web applications and browser extensions includes receiving a request to include a web application or a web browser extension in a digital marketplace. A determination is made if the web application or the web browser extension conforms to default security features, wherein the default security features include a prohibition against running in-line script on web pages. The web application or the browser extension is included in the digital marketplace if the web application or the browser extension conforms to the default security features.
US09098708B2	Mobile application security score calculation The security or other attributes of mobile applications may be assessed and assigned a security score. In one implementation, a device may obtain information relating to the mobile applications, and may determine, for each of the mobile applications, a number of security scores. Each of the security scores may define a level of risk for a security category relating to a mobile application. The device may further combine the security scores, for each of the mobile applications, to obtain, for each of the mobile applications, a final security score.
US09098699B1	Smart television data sharing to provide security A technique shares smart television data among subscribing organizations to provide security. The technique involves collecting, by an electronic server apparatus, data elements from multiple smart television devices. The technique further involves performing, by the electronic server apparatus, a set of risk analysis operations to generate risk scores corresponding to the multiple smart television devices. Each risk score (e.g., a numerical value) indicates an amount of risk (e.g., a probability) that a respective smart television device is malicious. The technique further involves providing, by the electronic server apparatus, an ordered list of the multiple smart television devices, the ordered list ranking the multiple television devices based on the risk scores. Information from the ordered list is well suited for use by an anti-fraud service in which subscriber organizations are informed of the information and use the information to identify and stop fraudulent activity in the future.
US09098686B2	Social authentication In one embodiment, a method includes providing for presentation to a user a number of content objects. Some of the content objects are socially relevant to the user and some of the content objects are socially irrelevant to the user. The method also includes receiving input indicating a selection of one of the content objects by the user; determining whether the content object selected by the user is socially relevant to the user; authenticating the user if the content object selected by the user is socially relevant to the user; and declining to authenticate the user if the content object selected by the user is socially irrelevant to the user.
US09098683B2	Filter for a distributed network A filter for a distributed network may include receiving index requests from indexing nodes over a network and providing over the network index responses to the indexing nodes in response to the index requests. The index responses may instruct a receiving indexing node to index or not index a specified file. The method may be implemented in software and executed on a computer.
US09098679B2	Raw sound data organizer A raw sound data organizer includes a processing unit configured to extract and convert an input into a digital format, and a display unit connected to the processing unit. The processing unit is configured to convert the input into a sequence of digital data and display the sequence of digital data in a form of a multi-dimensional color representation through the display unit. A raw sound data organizing method is also provided.
US09098678B2	Streaming video authentication One or more devices transmit, to a user device, an application for secure mobile streaming, and receive, from the user device, a registration request for the application. The registration request includes a user ID and a unique device identifier (UDID) for the user device. The one or more devices initiate a validation procedure for the user ID or UDID. When the user ID or UDID is validated, the one or more devices generate a device-token for the user device. The device-token includes a hash value based on information in the registration request and an expiration date for the device-token. The one or more devices send the device-token to the user device via a private network. The device-token is required to permit the user device to receive a secure content stream via a public network.
US09098677B2	System and method for automated clock wind back recovery A method and system for automated clock wind-back recovery are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises requesting a license to access an application and storing a time anchor, the time anchor comprising a recent system time observation. Clock modification is detected, wherein detecting clock modification comprises comparing a license expiration date to a current system time. The time anchor is compared to a trusted time authority value, the trusted time authority value comprising the current system time and a tolerance. The time anchor is updated, clock modification is corrected, and access to the application is retrieved.
US09098673B2	Structural optimization for vehicle crashworthiness Optimum gauges of components in a vehicle side structure that meet minimum roof crush test requirement and side impact crashworthiness analysis (SICE) requirements with minimal mass are identified using a global optimization algorithm. A grouping of iterations, wherein each iteration contains input components of varying thicknesses, is simulated using the roof crush and SICE models. A self adaptive evolution optimization algorithm is used to generate additional groupings of iterations based on intermediate optimum results of a previous grouping. The additional groupings are simulated one or more times to identify a global optimum thickness of components in a vehicle side structure.
US09098669B1	Boundary latch and logic placement to satisfy timing constraints Boundary timing in the design of an integrated circuit is facilitated by designating a subset of boundary latches in the circuit, and applying placement constraints to the boundary latches. Global placement is performed while maintaining the boundary latch placement constraints, and a timing driven placement is performed after implementing timing assertions. Boundary latches are designated using a depth-first search to identify the first latches along interconnection paths with the PI/PO, and filtering out ineligible latches according to designer rules. A latch can be filtered out if it is in a large cluster of latches driven by a primary input or driving a primary output, if it drives too many POs, or is a feed-through latch. Constraints include movebounds, preplacement, or attractive forces between boundary latches and other boundary fixed objects, i.e., a fixed gate or a PI/PO.
US09098664B2	Integrated circuit optimization A device may identify signal channels for connecting circuit blocks, where each circuit block is associated with a block implementation area corresponding to a substrate. The device may assign a channel priority to each of the signal channels based on at least one channel criteria. The device may allocate a channel implementation area, corresponding to the substrate, for each of a plurality of signal channels, based on the channel priority assigned to the signal channel and based on the block implementation areas. The device may generate an integrated circuit design comprising the channel implementation area allocated for each of the plurality of signal channels.
US09098657B2	Contact surface definition creation involving low order and quadratic finite elements in a numerical simulation of an impact event Methods and systems for creating a contact surface definition involving lower order and quadratic finite elements (QFE) in a FEA model used for numerically simulating an impact event are disclosed. FEA model is organized by one or more groups of finite elements. Each group represents one of the product's parts and is identified by a part ID. Further, the FEA model is configured with one or more contact surface definitions for detecting contacts amongst the parts due to the impact event. For each determined group that is determined to contain QFE, a new group is created. The new group is associated with a unique part ID. Contact segments for the new group are then generated in accordance with a set of predefined rules for subdividing one or more geometric shapes associated with the QFE. Contact surface definitions are updated by replacing each determined group with the new group.
US09098652B2	Partitioning and parallel processing of a virtual prototype simulation of a hardware design A method including accessing a first virtual prototype configured to perform a first simulation of a hardware design, identifying checkpoints within the first virtual prototype, each checkpoint including a storage state and/or behavioral state, and determining breakpoints for dividing execution of a second virtual prototype into a series of execution segments, where the second virtual prototype is configured to perform a second simulation of the hardware design, the second virtual prototype includes virtual models representing a separate portion of the hardware design, each virtual model representing a same portion of the hardware design as a corresponding virtual model of the first virtual prototype. The method may include mapping the storage state and/or behavioral state of each checkpoint to a respective execution segment, executing the second simulation while collecting respective data regarding execution of each execution segment, where two or more execution segments are executed concurrently, and aggregating the respective data.
US09098651B2	Computer-readable recoding medium in which thermal fluid simulation program is stored, thermal fluid simulating device, and method for thermal fluid simulation A prior simulation of a velocity field and a temperature field is carried out, and snapshot data of the velocity field and that of the temperature field are collected during the prior simulation. Then principal component analysis on the collected snapshot data obtains velocity-field and temperature field dimension transformation matrixes, on the based on which the analysis models of the velocity field and temperature field having respective first degrees of freedom are converted into reduced degree-of-freedom models. Consequently, a simulation of the velocity field and the temperature field is carried out using models having respective reduced degrees of freedom (i.e., second degrees of freedom).
US09098646B2	Printed circuit board design system and method A printed circuit board (PCB) design system and method allows for PCB layouts that can be manufactured using a PCB manufacturing technology selected from multiple PCB manufacturing technologies with minimal or no modification to the PCB layout. In accordance with the exemplary embodiment, the PCB layout is designed to meet all design rules of a High Density Interconnect (HDI) manufacturing technology while minimizing requirements for layout changes when the PCB is manufactured using an Interstitial Via Hole (IVH) manufacturing technology. An IVH PCB includes a plurality of vias positioned within reserved via areas that form connections between at least some conductive elements on the board layers. The conductive elements and the plurality of vias form a layout such that a majority of reserved via areas, of all of the reserved via areas on the printed circuit board, are adequate to accommodate mechanically drilled vias manufactured with the HDI manufacturing technology.
US09098641B1	Configurable bus A configurable bus includes a plurality of bus segments. The configurable bus also includes two or more pluralities of input/output (I/O) ports. Each bus segment is coupled to at least one of the pluralities of I/O ports. Also coupled to the bus segments is a cross-couple unit that is configurable to selectively couple any of the bus segments together.
US09098639B2	Media processing apparatus and controlling method thereof A media processing apparatus is provided. The media processing apparatus includes an interface unit which is connected to each of a plurality of terminal devices through a communication interface including a video channel, an audio channel, and a data channel, a processor which receives a control signal from a first terminal device having control rights, a control unit which notifies the first terminal device if there is an access attempt from at least one of a second terminal device and transfers the control rights to the second terminal device if a message to permit the transfer of the control rights is received from the first terminal device. Accordingly, control rights may be transferred and shared in a reasonable manner.
US09098638B2	System and method for automatic test level generation A system and method for generating a specific level of software testing of algorithms and applications. A test plan, including input parameter values, expected output parameter values, and dataset size, is entered. The test plan is then executed, and results of the test are scored in accordance with predetermined software testing level definitions, yielding one of a predetermined possible testing levels achieved by the tested software.
US09098636B2	White-box testing systems and/or methods in web applications Certain example embodiments relate to white-box testing techniques, e.g., for graphical user interfaces (GUIs). Responsive to a first parameter received from a test suite executer, test bootstrap code included in an application is executed, where the application and the test suite executer run in the same browser. A test case to be run on the application and a test case executer to execute the test case are retrieved by the executed test bootstrap code. The retrieved test case is executed in a same context of the browser as the application. Results from executing the test case are stored.
US09098632B2	Computer program testing Systems, methods and computer-executable instructions for testing computer programs are provided. A computer program (application under test—AUT) is analyzed and data records are created for each user interface object of each screen of the AUT. The data records form a dataset which may be copied and edited to define a series of test functions to be performed on the AUT. Corresponding test code is provided to perform the test functions, the test code referencing the data records of the dataset.
US09098631B2	Methods, devices, systems, and non-transitory machine-readable medium for performing an automated calibration for testing of a computer software application The present invention enables an automated testing of computer software applications for efficiently determining the quality and/or performance characteristics of the computer software applications and assists testing designers when determining software application scalability and performance under load. Embodiments of the present invention may be implemented to, for example, determine how many test servers are required to test computer software applications for correct function under the load of many concurrently active users, and periodically test and/or monitor computer software applications for quality control and/or other purposes. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention may be implemented to, for example calibrate a set of one or more test servers for testing a computer software application.
US09098629B2	System and method for reversibility categories and characteristics of computer application functions Disclosed embodiments provide a system, machine-readable medium, and a method that may test computer application functions. A system provides for testing a computer application function by analyzing a testing characteristic of the computer application function information. Based on the analysis of the testing characteristic, the computer application function may be activated for testing in any one of a plurality of test environments. The test environment is selected according to the testing characteristic that indicates the effects that the testing of the selected computer application has on the test environment. This allows users to select a test environment based on the effects that it has on a test system.
US09098625B2	Viral trace Tracing of the interaction of third party processes on resources used by a program under trace is performed. A viral tag is associated with the program under trace. When the program “touches” a portion of memory, the memory manager associates the viral tag with the memory locations in this portion of memory. When subsequent processes “touch” the tagged memory locations, they acquire the viral tag and then spread it to other memory locations that these subsequent processes touch. The viral tag may be slightly modified so as to identify it as being based on the original viral tag but having been acquired by another process. Each time the viral tag is spread to another program, the viral tag may be slightly modified to indicate that the viral tag is now associated with another entity although is still associated with the original viral tag.
US09098624B1	Deep type parsing A method for accessing variables in an application is described. The method includes accessing application source code and parsing the application source code to identify a set of variables. For each variable from the set of variables, the method can include determining a variable type of the variable. In response to determining that the variable type is a complex variable, the method can include parsing the complex variable, which can include repeating the method for each variable of the complex variable. In response to determining that the variable is associated with a database, the method can include resolving a variable name and determining whether the variable exists in a data dictionary associated with the database. The method can further include determining metadata associated with the variable based, at least in part, on the variable type. The variable type and metadata of the variable can then be presented to a user.
US09098617B1	Data analytics lifecycle automation An initial data analytic plan for analyzing a given data set associated with a given data problem is defined. At least a portion of original data in the given data set is conditioned to generate conditioned data. At least one model is selected to analyze at least one of the original data and the conditioned data. The at least one selected model is executed on at least one of a portion of the original data and a portion of the conditioned data. Results of the model execution are communicated to at least one entity, the results comprising a refined data analytic plan for analyzing the given data set. One or more computing resources are provisioned to implement the refined data analytic plan. The defining, conditioning, selecting, executing, communicating and provisioning steps are performed on one or more processing elements associated with a computing system and automate a data analytics lifecycle.
US09098613B2	Logging of application messages The processing application includes numerous jobs for performing processing operations on computing objects. Whereas previous systems log job information on a per job basis, the apparatus and method includes generating application messages. These application messages are generated based on events in the operation of the application and the messages include predefined event information. The application messages are processing and filtered by a central logging device, which may be in response to customization properties. From this central logging device the filtered messages are centrally stored in an application log database, thereby providing a central depository and formatting of previously incongruent job-specific logging data.
US09098604B2	System and method for monitoring clinician responsiveness to alarms A method of monitoring clinician responsiveness to alarms generated by patient monitors. The method includes the steps of: receiving an alarm event from a patient monitor at a central monitor, determining an alarm initiation time for the alarm events, receiving at the central monitor an acknowledgement of the alarm event by a clinician, calculating an event response time as the time between the alarm initiation time and the acknowledgement of the alarm event by the clinician, determining a total number of alarm events, determining event response times for each of the total number of alarm events, and computing a responsiveness score based on the event response time for each of the total number of alarm events.
US09098599B1	Query suggestions for a document based on user history Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for presenting search query suggestions. In an aspect, content of a resource that is determined to be responsive to a search query is received, and a candidate set of search query suggestions for the search query is suggested based, in part, on search history data associated with the search query. A final set of search query suggestions based on the search history data and the content of the resource and provided for display on a client device.
US09098595B2	Adaptive navigation functionality in a web-based data-entry grid Techniques for facilitating navigation in a web-based data entry grid. In one set of embodiments, when a user navigates into a cell of the data entry grid, the user's web browser can wait for a predetermined time period before accessing an application server to retrieve input control information for the cell. If the user enters a command to navigate away from the cell before the predetermined time period has passed, the server access can be avoided, and thus the navigation event can be processed immediately. If no navigation command is received from the user before the predetermined time period has passed, the input control information can be retrieved from the application server and rendered.
US09098589B1	Geographic annotation of electronic resources Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for geographic annotation of electronic resources. In one aspect, a method includes generating a spatial index for a plurality of resources from a plurality of distinct publishers, including, for each resource of the plurality of resources: receiving a plurality of location data points for the resource, each location data point corresponding to one of a plurality of requests for the resource, and assigning each location data point for the resource to a spatial cluster of a plurality of spatial clusters, each spatial cluster corresponding to a particular geographic region. The spatial index is stored. The spatial index is used to identify a plurality of address locations for resources assigned to a spatial cluster corresponding to a first geographic region in response to a request from a requester to identify resources associated with the first geographic region.
US09098581B2	Method for finding text reading order in a document Example methods for finding a text reading order in a document are described in which text zones are determined, the text zones are clustered using semantic measure and correlation and a reading order is found within each of the clusters.
US09098578B2	Interactive search monitoring in a virtual machine environment A method and system for providing up-to-date monitoring results in a virtual machine environment are described. A host controller may receive requests to execute a plurality of searches pertaining to a plurality of objects in a virtual machine system. The host controller may execute the plurality of searches and provides the results to one or more requestors. The host controller may monitor data associated with the plurality of objects to detect a change in plurality of objects. The host controller may re-execute searches impacted by the change and may refrain from re-executing searches which are not impacted by the change.
US09098575B2	Preference-guided semantic processing Techniques for specifying user preferences in a semantic network. The techniques include receiving, using at least one processor, a plurality of first-order user preferences for at least one concept in a semantic network, wherein the plurality of first-order user preferences are indicative of a user's preferences among children of attributes of the at least one concept in the semantic network; receiving, using the at least one processor, at least one second-order user preference for the at least one concept in the semantic network, wherein the at least one second-order user preference is indicative of the user's preferences among attributes of the at least one concept; and performing at least one semantic processing act by using the semantic network, the plurality of first-order user preferences, and the at least one second-order user preference.
US09098573B2	System, method and computer program for preparing data for analysis A method of preparing data for analysis, comprising the steps of receiving an initial data set including a plurality of records, each of the plurality of records including an identifier attribute and an associative attribute that identifies a further one or more records; receiving the further one or more records identified by the associative attribute in each of the plurality of records; and associating the further one or more records with the initial data set to form a final data set.
US09098570B2	Systems and methods for paragraph-based document searching A computerized method of searching a collection of electronic documents may include comparing search terms to sets of paragraph terms associated with paragraphs in the documents. Search terms and paragraph terms may be standardized, prior to the comparison. The method may also include generating paragraph scores for the paragraphs using term weight values associated with paragraph terms that match search terms, generating paragraph scores for the paragraphs, and using the paragraph scores to generate overall document scores. The method may also include using the overall document scores to determine a set of search results and providing the search results to a display.
US09098567B2	Method and apparatus for dynamic update of document rank score Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and apparatus for calculating a document rank score of documents in the dynamic World Wide Web (web) environment where documents are continuously added and deleted. The method and apparatus use partial updates to recalculate a document rank score of documents in view of a change, and dynamic updates that reflect a change occurring during calculation of the document rank score.
US09098566B2	Method and system for presenting RDF data as a set of relational views Disclosed is an approach for presenting RDF data as a set of relational views. By presenting the RDF data as relational views, this permits integrated access to the RDF-based data from existing relational database tools, such as by asserting SQL queries against the relational views. One or more classes are identified within the RDF data, wherein a relational view of the set of the relational views maps properties relating to a particular class.
US09098563B2	Comparing versions of a hierarchical object A hierarchical object is exported from a first electronic system to a second electronic system, where the hierarchical object is modifiable at each of the first and second electronic systems, and where a baseline version of the hierarchical object is created. A first version of the hierarchical object at the first electronic system is compared against the baseline version, to form a first data structure identifying any changes between the first version of the hierarchical object and the baseline version. A second data structure is received identifying changes between a second version of the hierarchical object at the second electronic system and the baseline version. A visualization based on the first and second data structures is provided.
US09098557B2	Application accelerator A method includes providing an application accelerator to an IMS region controller, which is coupled to an IMS data language interpreter (DL/I) interface. The IMS DL/I interface provides standard data access paths to a user application launched in an IMS environment. The application accelerator is configured to make alternate data access paths available to the user application in addition to the standard data access paths provided by the IMS environment. The method further includes intercepting an IMS DL/I call made by the user application and determining whether the intercepted call should be processed by the IMS DL/I interface or by an I/O engine of the application accelerator.
US09098553B2	System and method for remote activity detection A system and method is disclosed for a remote activity detection process using an analysis of data streams of an entity such as an end user and/or a customer. In an embodiment, the detection process uses the data stream analysis to evaluate an entity's potential involvement in an activity based on individual measures for the entity such as comparison of the entity's data stream to the entity's peers, comparison of the entity's data stream to historical information for the entity, and/or comparison of the entity's data stream to data streams for a known second entity involved in the activity. The detection process may also use other information available which may impact the data points in a data stream, such as premises attributes associated with an entity, demographic attributes for the entity, financial attributes for the entity, and system alerts.
US09098550B2	Systems and methods for performing data analysis for model proposals In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises receiving a query. A data store stores data as a plurality of data sets. Each data set comprises a plurality of fields and a plurality of data elements. Each field is associated with a portion of data elements. The query identifies selected data sets and selected properties of the selected data sets. For each selected property, the data elements of the selected data sets associated with each selected property are determined. A first rating of the determined data elements of the selected data sets is determined based on a type of combination of a pair of selected data sets. For the selected data set pairs, a second rating of the pair is determined based on the first ratings for the selected properties. A model of a combination of the selected data sets is generated based on the second rating.
US09098539B2	System, method and computer program product for enabling access to a resource of a multi-tenant on-demand database service utilizing a token In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for enabling access to a resource of a multi-tenant on-demand database service utilizing a token. These mechanisms and methods for enabling access to a resource of a multi-tenant on-demand database service utilizing a token can be utilized to prevent identification of a user attempting to access the resource, and thus unwanted use of the user's identity.
US09098536B1	Mirrored database upgrade using state machine A process for upgrading a mirrored shared-nothing database system comprises a sequence of short well-defined idempotent steps, and at least one non-idempotent step involving transforming a master catalog. The upgrade process is managed and controlled by a state machine that has a persistent memory running on the master node. In the event of a failure or crash during an idempotent step, the process stops the database in the current state and repeats the step. If a failure or crash occurs during a non-idempotent step, the upgrade process is rolled back to the beginning and repeated.
US09098530B2	Scalable rendering of large spatial databases Aspects of the invention provide a service for data management and integration across a wide range of applications. Clustered computers may be arranged in a cloud-type configuration for storing and handling large amounts of user data under the control of a front-end management server. Communities of distributed users may collaborate on the data across multiple enterprises. Very large tabular data files are uploaded to the storage facilities. The data files are maintained as tables, and a composite table of related information is created and maintained in response to user queries. Different ways of visualizing the data are provided. Depending on the amount of information that can be displayed, features in a spatial index may the thinned for presentation. Spatial and structured queries are processing and results are intersected to obtain information for display.
US09098529B1	Determining content for delivery based on imagery Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for determining content items for delivery to users based on imagery. One example method includes determining a location of a user or a location associated with a query submitted by the user, identifying imagery associated with the determined location, and determining one or more content items for delivery to the user based at least in part on the imagery.
US09098526B1	System and method for wireless device access to external storage To meet the needs for storing larger volume personal information for user of wireless device, it is desire to provide extra storage space to the wireless device such as for cell phone or personal assistant device (PDA) etc due to the limited storage space that the wireless device has. Instant application disclosed a system and method for the wireless device to efficiently and effectively use remotely located storage space provided by a server for storing message or multimedia data such as videos, digital music, digital photo/picture.
US09098524B2	System and method of font compression using selectable entropy encoding A request for a font file including a first font table and a second font table is received. A first entropy encoder is selected, based on characteristics of the first font table, front among a plurality of entropy encoders. A second entropy encoder is selected, based on characteristics of the second font table, front among the plurality of entropy encoders. The first entropy encoder is applied to the first font table. The second entropy encoder is applied to the second font table. Compressed data corresponding to the first and second font tables are combined to generate a compressed font file. The compressed font file is transmitted.
US09098520B2	Apparatus and methods for restoring data objects The subject matter discloses a method for handling a data object. The method comprises the steps of storing a pointer to a physical location of the data object in a first data repository; associating, in the first data repository, the pointer with a logical location of the data object; receiving an event indicating a blocking of a user access to the data object; retrieving the pointer from the first data repository as a result of the receiving of the event; accessing the physical location by using the retrieved pointer; and copying the data object from the physical location to a second data repository, thereby enabling the restoring of said data object.
US09098518B2	Resource sharing method and system A resource sharing method for a resource sharing system for a plurality of edge peers that individually store a resource and a plurality of super peers that manage the plurality of edge peers or resource information including a name of the resource that includes at least one key word is provided. In the resource sharing system, the super peers distribute and manage resource information of the edge peers according to a key word. Therefore, if a resource is requested using part of a name of a resource desired by a certain edge peer, the super peer searches for resources including the resource desired by the edge peer. Therefore, a user of an edge peer may acquire a desired resource even using part of a name of a desired resource.
US09098512B2	Method and device for generating a presentation A computer-implemented method of generating a presentation including a plurality of slides, the method comprising: storing a first slide and a second slide, each slide having one or more content elements; selecting, based on the one or more content elements of the first slide or the second slide or both, a slide transition from a set of slide transitions, each slide transition in the set of slide transitions defining how display of one slide changes to display of another slide; displaying the first slide; and, subsequently changing display of the first slide to display of the second slide in accordance with the selected slide transition. An electronic device and computer program product are also provided.
US09098503B1	Subselection of portions of an image review sequence using spatial or other selectors An image review system presents an image to a reviewer and records reviewer feedback, including reviewer position indicators relating to portions of the image and reviewer commentary data, which can be audio, visual, textual, etc. The reviewer position indicators and reviewer commentary data each have a time component, corresponding to when the reviewer indicated a position on the image and when the reviewer provided the commentary, respectively. During playback, the viewer can select a subset of the image of interest and get a playback of the reviewer commentary data that corresponds to the times represented by the reviewer position indicators that fall within the selected subset of the image. The reviewer position indicators can be collectively indicated by a heat map that, when laid over the image, indicates which portions of the image are commented on and how much time is spent there.
US09098501B2	Generating content snippets using a tokenspace repository A search engine server system receives from a client system a search query and identifies a set of documents in accordance with the search query. A content snippet corresponding to content in a respective document of the identified set of documents is generated, the content snippet associated with at least one query term of the one or more query terms in the search query. A response to the search query is returned to the client system, the response including information identifying at least the respective document and including the content snippet. Generating the content snippet includes performing a first decompression operation on first token identifiers, from a compressed document repository, to provide a set of second token identifiers, and performing a second decompression operation on the set of second token identifiers to recover uncompressed content comprising a portion of the respective document.
US09098497B1	Methods and systems for building a search service application A method for building an application is disclosed and includes receiving a request to build a search service application for a first object, where the object is associated with attributes and each attribute is associated with a value, receiving a first indication selecting an end-user input field that corresponds to a first attribute associated with the first object, and receiving a second indication selecting a search result output field that corresponds to an attribute associated with the first object. The method also includes selecting a code template from a plurality of code templates in a code library that comprises programming code for creating a search model of a search service application. Using the selected code template, the search model representing the search service application is generated based on the end-user input and the search result output fields.
US09098492B2	Knowledge repository A knowledge storage system is described. A specific embodiment is a computer system comprising a knowledge base of general knowledge in structured form which can be added to and queried by untrained users. Various embodiments include the facility for remote computers to access the knowledge stored in the system, natural language questions to be answered, profile screens giving general knowledge about an object in the system, and methods for distinguishing between reliable and unreliable facts.
US09098483B2	Systems and methods to provide dynamic local members associated with an add-in for a spreadsheet application According to some embodiments, a system, method, means, and/or computer program code are provided to facilitate use of a spreadsheet application to access information stored in a multidimensional data source. Some embodiments include determining, at an add-in module, that a local member is to be attached to an attachment element of a report generated based on the multidimensional data source. The add-in module may receive a refresh indication from the spreadsheet application and dynamically update a reference in a spreadsheet cell based on a change associated with the attachment element.
US09098481B2	Increasing accuracy in determining purpose of fields in forms An arrangement for increasing the accuracy in determining the purpose of fields in electronic forms is disclosed in which a form mapping mechanism describes the layout of a form, for example, by identifying the location of objects on a form—such as text-entry fields, drop-down menus and the like that are used to record user data—and further by specifying the purpose of those objects to a form filling client. Form mapping enables the form filling client to locate and understand the purpose of fields in a form so that it may automatically fill out forms for users in an accurate and reliable manner. Illustrative examples include a form mapping that utilizes hidden tags to describe a form layout, a form mapping service provided to a form filling client over a network, and a user interface that enables form mapping creation through user action.
US09098477B2	Method and apparatus for automatically optimizing the loading of images in a cloud-based proxy service A request for a web page is received at a proxy server. The request originates from a client network application of a client device. The requested web page includes multiple references to multiple images. The proxy server retrieves the requested web page. The proxy server modifies code of the retrieved web page such that the client network application will not, for each one of those images, initially request those images when parsing the page. The proxy server also adds code to the retrieved web page that, when executed by the client network application, causes at least two of the images to be requested with a single request. The proxy server transmits the modified web page to the client device.
US09098475B2	Apparatus and method for generating reusable composite components during dynamic document construction A method for creating reusable composite components from interpreted pages of rendered document during dynamic document construction involves first obtaining a list of document components from the page and identifying any non-cached components. The individual reusable document components (RDCs) are cached having been rendered to their respective bounding box dimensions. These RDCs are then permuted into combinations of RDCs and each composite RDC is cached rendered relative to each other in a bounding box of sufficient size to adequately contain the combination. Then, combining RDCs to form composite reusable underlays RULs and caching the composite RULs rendered to full-page size. Any portion of each RDC of each composite RUL falling outside the boundary of RULs full-page size is clipped. If a method renders pages having a combination of reusable components and non-cached components, the first step assesses the page for the possibility of having an underlay-overlay pair. Then a cache of RULs is searched for underlays having the needed RDCs. If the correct RUL is not found in cache then generating a RUL from the page's RDCs and caching the new RUL rendered to full-page size. A full-page size overlay is rendered having the non-cached components. Lastly, given the overlay and given the correct underlay is found in cache then retrieving the underlay and rendering the page therefrom.
US09098472B2	Visual cues based on file type The subject disclosure relates to providing more effective visual cues for distinguishing between files based upon file types. Given that users typically browse and select files based upon their file types, and further that various collections of files often share identical or similar naming conventions, the subject disclosure provides a useful mechanism to reduce the need for close inspection of file names in order to locate desired files. In particular, various file types can be assigned to a set of groups and each group can be associated with a particular color. Thus, visual representations (e.g., icons or tabs) of the various files can be presented with a color-coded element to serve as the visual cue.
US09098465B1	Hosting architecture with configuration modified functionality for components by utilizing hardware latches to prevent further modifications based on a trust level associated with the components A service provider can maintain one or more host computing devices which may be utilized as bare metal instances by one or more customers of the service provider. Illustratively, each host computing device includes hardware components that are configured in a manner to allow the service provider to implement one or more processes upon a power cycle of the host computing device and prior to access of the host computing device resources by customers. In one aspect, a hosting platform includes components arranged in a manner to limit modifications to software or firmware on hardware components. In another aspect, the hosting platform can implement management functions for establishing control plane functions between the host computing device and the service provider that is independent of the customer. Additionally, the management functions can also be utilized to present different hardware or software attributes of the host computing device.
US09098462B1	Communications via shared memory A first processing core selects a first memory address of a first memory area based on a last written buffer that identifies a last written memory address. The first memory area is a portion of a shared memory, and the first processing core has sole write access to the first memory area among a plurality of processing cores that use the shared memory. Data is written to the first memory address of the first memory area. After writing the data to the first memory address, the last written buffer is updated to designate the first memory address as the last written memory address of the first memory area. A second processing core of the plurality of processing cores is operable to access the data by accessing the last written buffer and determining, based on the last written buffer, that the data is stored at the first memory address.
US09098461B2	Live snapshots of multiple virtual disks A system and method are disclosed for servicing requests to create live snapshots of a plurality of virtual disks in a virtualized environment. In accordance with one example, a computer system issues one or more commands to create a first snapshot of a first virtual disk of a virtual machine and a second snapshot of a second virtual disk of the virtual machine while the virtual machine is running. The computer system determines that the creating of the second snapshot failed and, in response, destroys the first snapshot.
US09098460B2	Matrix calculation method, program, and system A matrix calculation system for calculating funny matrix multiplication (FMM) of a matrix A and a matrix B, including: sequentially calculating a permutation of indices {ai} in which values are arranged in a non-decreasing order with respect to each i-th row where i=1 to the number of rows of the matrix A; storing a value, which is greater than expected as a value of a matrix, for C[i, j] with respect to each j-th column where j=1 to the number of columns of the matrix A in the i-th row; sequentially calculating a permutation of indices {bj} in which values are arranged in a non-decreasing order with respect to each j-th column where j=1 to the number of columns of the matrix B; and setting the values of C[i, j], which are i and j components of the matrix C.
US09098459B2	Activity filtering based on trust ratings of network The filtering of activities generated by nodes of a network while interacting with a device may be performed by evaluating the desirability of the activities (e.g., a spam or not-spam determination of email messages sent by the node) and assigning a trust rating to the node. However, nodes are often identified by network address, and an operator of a node sending undesirable activities may reassign the network address of the node in order to avoid heavy filtering. Instead, nodes may be identified as being controlled by a network entity (e.g., an autonomous system identified in a border gateway protocol routing table.) The network entity is assigned a network entity trust rating based on the trust ratings of the nodes controlled thereby, and an appropriate level of activity filtering based on the network entity trust rating may be selected for subsequent activities received from all nodes controlled by the network entity.
US09098458B1	Method and apparatus for profiling and identifying the source of a signal A method and apparatus for profiling and identifying the source of a signal is provided. A first method includes receiving a signal produced by a known source and creating a matrix of wavelet coefficients corresponding to a wavelet transform of the signal. The method also includes profiling the signal according to an output of a wavelet transform utilizing a particular base function and a particular scale set. A second method includes performing a wavelet transform having a particular profile on a received signal and determining the presence of a particular signal-producing entity as a function of wavelet coefficients exceeding a threshold. An apparatus includes a receiver configured to receive a signal and a processor coupled to the receiver, such that the processor is configured to perform wavelet transforms on the signals. A database is coupled to the processor and configured to store wavelet transform profiles.
US09098457B2	Visualizing disaster recovery plan execution for the cloud Embodiments visualize the execution of a disaster recovery plan. During a transfer of computing nodes from a source site to a target site, a map user interface (UI) is displayed. The map UI includes a first region corresponding to the geographic location of the source site and a second region corresponding to the geographic location of the target site. An animated progress indicator representing termination of computing nodes at the source site is displayed in the first region. Simultaneously, another animated progress indicator representing initiation of computing nodes at the target site, and further representing a reverse animation of the other animated progress indicator, is displayed in the second region.
US09098456B2	System and method for reducing latency time with cloud services A system and method for reducing service latency includes dividing an information technology service for a customer into an infrastructure management service and a data management service. Data associated with the information technology service is stored in a backup memory. A set of infrastructure images related to the information technology service is stored at a cloud service provider. The infrastructure images are updated with software updates and hardware updates, as needed, and the data associated with the information technology service is updated through backup and restore mechanisms. The set of infrastructure images that have been updated with data with latest updates are started for recovery, continuity, testing, etc.
US09098455B2	Systems and methods of event driven recovery management Systems and methods of event driven recovery management are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of providing event driven recovery management includes continually copying one or more data blocks that are generated from a computing device, associating at least one event marker with the copies of the one or more data blocks, and allowing access to the copies of the one or more data blocks according to the at least one event marker in order to provide event driven recovery. For purposes of this disclosure, an event marker, a book mark, an application consistency point, and/or a business event are interchangeably used, depending on the context.
US09098449B2	FFT accelerator An FFT operation is performed by dividing n time-domain input points into a plurality of groups of m points, performing a plurality of constant-geometry butterfly operations on each of the groups of m points, and finally performing at least one in-place butterfly operation on the group of n points.
US09098444B2	Cooperative data recovery in a storage stack In one embodiment, a method of coordinating data recovery in a storage stack with a hierarchy of layers includes, upon an input/output (I/O) request from a layer of the stack, issuing a help response to recover the data from a higher layer in hierarchy order. The method further includes processing the help response, at the higher layer, by issuing a return code of success or further help response to an even higher layer.
US09098442B2	Secure object having protected region, integrity tree, and unprotected region A method and structure for a secure object, as tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium. The secure object includes a cryptographically protected region containing at least one of code and data, an initial integrity tree that protects an integrity of contents of the cryptographically protected region; and an unprotected region that includes a loader, an esm (enter secure mode) instruction, and one or more communication buffers.
US09098440B2	Secure compact flash Methods and apparatus are provided, such as a memory card with a processor and nonvolatile memory coupled thereto. The nonvolatile memory has a secure area configured to store a user password and a serial number in encrypted form. The card is configured to grant access to the secure area when the card receives a password that matches the stored user password and the card is coupled to a system having the serial number.
US09098438B2	Synchronized voltage scaling and device calibration A method is provided for scaling voltage in an integrated circuit. A calibration operation is performed on a functional module on the integrated circuit periodically at a rate T1. At least one parameter on the integrated circuit in monitored to determine when a performance threshold is reached. A change is initiated to an operating voltage for a portion of the integrated circuit in response to reaching the threshold. The rate of performing calibration operation is increased to a higher rate T2 for a window of time W in response to initiating the change in operating voltage, after which the rate of performing calibration is returned to the rate T1.
US09098437B2	Cross-environment communication framework A mobile computing device with a mobile operating system and desktop operating system running concurrently and independently on a shared kernel without virtualization. The mobile operating system provides a user experience for the mobile computing device that suits the mobile environment. The desktop operating system provides a full desktop user experience when the mobile computing device is docked to a secondary terminal environment. Applications of the desktop operating system communicate with applications and services of the mobile operating system through a cross-environment communication framework. The cross-environment communication framework may include interfaces to remotable objects allowing processes in the mobile operating system and processes in the desktop operating system to share memory in a thread-safe manner. The mobile computing device may be a smartphone running the Android mobile operating system and a full desktop Linux distribution on a modified Android kernel.
US09098435B1	Finite impulse response filter with parallel input A filter and method for finite impulse response filtering an input signal is described. In one embodiment, the filter includes an input circuit configured to receive input samples in parallel, where the parallel input samples correspond to sequential samples of the input signal. In another embodiment, the filter includes a coefficient memory configured to store filter response coefficients and output a subset of those coefficients corresponding to a selected decimation factor.
US09098422B2	System and method for management of cache configuration Systems and methods for managing cache configurations are disclosed. In accordance with a method, a system management control module may receive access rights of a host to a logical storage unit and may also receive a desired caching policy for caching data associated with the logical storage unit and the host. The system management control module may determine an allowable caching policy indicator for the logical storage unit. The allowable caching policy indicator may indicate whether caching is permitted for data associated with input/output operations between the host and the logical storage unit. The system management control module may further set a caching policy for data associated with input/output operations between the host and the logical storage unit, based on at least one of the desired caching policy and the allowable caching policy indicator. The system management control module may also communicate the caching policy to the host.
US09098421B2	Shingled media write operation A method or system comprises determining an end data track of a write operation in response to a request for the write operation in a shingled media storage device, saving data from an adjacent track following the end data track to a cache, performing the write operation.
US09098420B2	Method and apparatus for synchronizing a cache An approach is provided for segmenting a cache into one or more cache segments and synchronizing the cache segments. An cache platform causes, at least in part, a segmentation of at least one cache into one or more cache segments. The cache platform further determines that at least one cache segment of the one or more cache segments is invalid. The cache platform also causes, at least in part, a synchronization of the at least one cache segment. The approach allows for a dynamic optimization of the synchronization of the cache segments based on one or more characteristics associated with the devices and/or the connection associated with the cache synchronization.
US09098419B1	Techniques for efficient mass storage layout optimization A data storage system can automatically improve the layout of data blocks on a mass storage subsystem by collecting optimization information during both read and write activities, then processing the optimization information to limit the impact of optimization activities on the system's response to client requests. Processing read-path optimization information and write-path optimization information through shared rate-limiting logic simplifies system administration and promotes phased implementation, which can reduce the difficulty of developing a self-optimizing storage server.
US09098418B2	Coordinated prefetching based on training in hierarchically cached processors Processors and methods for coordinating prefetch units at multiple cache levels. A single, unified training mechanism is utilized for training on streams generated by a processor core. Prefetch requests are sent from the core to lower level caches, and a packet is sent with each prefetch request. The packet identifies the stream ID of the prefetch request and includes relevant training information for the particular stream ID. The lower level caches generate prefetch requests based on the received training information.
US09098414B2	Multi-core processor system, computer product, and control method A multi-core processor system includes shared memory shared by cores of a multi-core processor; first cache memories respectively for each of the cores; a second cache memory between the shared memory and the first cache memories, and storing shared data shared by the cores and referred to by at least threads executed by the multi-core processor; a reading unit that reads a value of a given variable from the shared memory; a determining unit that based on a read request for the given variable, determines whether the given variable is shared data or non-shared data that is referred to by only one thread; and a transferring unit that, when the given variable is determined as non-shared data, transfers without using the second cache memory, the value of the given variable to a first cache memory of a core that is a request origin of the read request.
US09098410B2	Cross-decoding for non-volatile storage Cross-decoding assists decoding of an otherwise uncorrectable error when decoding a desired page of a multi-level-cell technology flash memory. A solid-state disk (SSD) controller adjusts space allocated to redundancy respectively within various pages (e.g. upper, middle, and lower pages) such that the respective pages have respective effective Bit Error Rates (BER)s, optionally including cross-decoding, that approach one another. Alternatively the controller adjusts the allocation to equalize decoding time (or alternatively access time), optionally including decoding time (accessing time) accrued as a result of cross-decoding when there is an otherwise uncorrectable error. The adjusting is via (a) respective ratios between allocation for ECC redundancy and user data space, and/or (b) respective coding rates and/or coding techniques for each of the various pages. Alternatively the controller adjusts the allocation to maximize total usable capacity by allocating to redundancy and data for the various pages, assuming that cross-decoding is to be used.
US09098407B2	Methods for automatically retrieving electronic media content items from a server based upon a reading list and facilitating presentation of media objects of the electronic media content items in sequences not constrained by an original order thereof A method for use with an electronic reading device comprising automatically fetching electronic media content and automatically and dynamically sequencing portions of the electronic media content for display on an electronic reading device. Optionally, the electronic media content can be automatically and dynamically divided into the portions that are then sequenced. Optionally, the electronic media content can be re-sequenced to reflect user preferences and needs. Various methods for recognizing and altering the display of the electronic reading device quickly and efficiently are disclosed.
US09098404B2	Storage array, storage system, and data access method A storage array, a storage system, and a data access method. A data access method of a storage device includes: transferring data input from a user interface chip to a non-volatile storage device through a peripheral component interconnect express (PCIE) link, where the user interface chip and the non-volatile storage device are connected to the PCIE link, and the non-volatile storage device includes a memory and a non-volatile storage medium; writing the data to the memory of the non-volatile storage device; and writing the data written in the memory of the non-volatile storage device to the non-volatile storage medium. The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure are advantageous for reducing occupation of PCIE links due to data access and improving system performance.
US09098401B2	Fast secure erasure schemes for non-volatile memory A method includes, in a memory with multiple analog memory cells, storing one or more data pages in respective groups of the memory cells using a first programming configuration having a first storage speed. Upon receiving a request to securely erase a data page from the memory, one or more of the memory cells in a group that stores the data page are re-programmed using a second programming configuration having a second storage speed that is faster than the first storage speed.
US09098400B2	Dynamic tuning of internal parameters for solid-state disk based on workload access patterns A system and method for tuning a solid state disk memory includes computing a metric representing a usage trend of a solid state disk memory. Whether one or more parameters need to be adjusted to provide a change in performance is determined. The parameter is adjusted in accordance with the metric to impact the performance of running workloads. These steps are repeated after an elapsed time interval.
US09098399B2	Electronic system with storage management mechanism and method of operation thereof A method of operation of an electronic system includes: forming a superblock by organizing an erase block according to a wear attribute; detecting a trigger count of the wear attribute of the superblock; updating a metadata table with the trigger count; and triggering a recycling event of the superblock based on the metadata table.
US09098394B2	Information display apparatus, information display method, and storage medium storing program for displaying information An information display method, includes inputting a designated point in each of the series of image data items of the image file, which is sequentially designated as the analysis target point by a user's manipulation, every time each of the series of image data items of the image file is sequentially displayed on the display screen, displaying each of the series of designated points, which are sequentially input, at each input position, sequentially displaying each of the series of image data items stored in the designated image file along with each of the series of designated points while each of the series of designated points is displayed, and displaying a designated point after a change in a display mode different from that of a designated point before the change, every time a transition direction of each of the series of designated points changes.
US09098392B1	Systems and methods for changing fencing modes in clusters A computer-implemented method for changing fencing modes in clusters may include (1) identifying a cluster of nodes configured with a fencing mode for resolving split-brain scenarios within the cluster, (2) identifying a request to reconfigure the cluster of nodes with a new fencing mode, (3) transmitting the request to each node in the cluster of nodes, (4) in response to the request, for each node in the cluster of nodes, testing the operability of the new fencing mode from the node, (5) receiving a message from the node indicating the success of the test; and, after receiving the message indicating the success of the test from every node within the cluster of nodes, and (6) reconfiguring each node within the cluster of nodes to use the new fencing mode. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US09098388B2	Apparatus and method for recording an image for a vehicle using on board diagnostic information An apparatus and method for recording an image from a vehicle using On Board Diagnostic (OBD) information are provided. A vehicle state information acquirer receives state information about a devices loaded on the vehicle and an OBD terminal provided in the vehicle. A sensor unit senses movement of the vehicle. An image input unit captures images related to vehicle driving. A controller senses a value that is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold received from the sensor unit or receives vehicle state information related to an occurrence of an event is received from the OBD terminal, starts capturing the images through the image input unit, and controls storing of the captured images with the vehicle state information. A memory that stores the captured images with the vehicle state information.
US09098387B1	System and method for providing a customized user experience based on a spend frequency of a user One aspect of the disclosure relates to providing a customized user experience based on a spend frequency of a user in an online game. The users may be segmented based on a spend frequency associated with the user. A spend frequency may comprise an amount of purchases made by a user in a predetermined time period. The purchases made by the user in the online game may comprise purchases of virtual items made with virtual currency, purchases of real goods made with virtual currency, purchases of virtual items made with real currency, purchases of real goods made with real currency, a combination thereof, and/or other types of purchases.
US09098385B2	Content managing apparatus, content managing method, content managing program, and integrated circuit A content managing apparatus includes: an obtaining unit which obtains (i) a first content item held by a first user, (ii) a metadata item that indicates attribute information for classifying the first content item, and (iii) information on a sharing state, between the first user and a second user who is a user other than the first user, of a second content item having a metadata item identical to the metadata item held by the first content item; a degree of interest calculating unit which calculates a degree of interest that is an index indicating an interest of the second user on the metadata item; and a managing unit which manages the first content item based on the degree of interest of the second user.
US09098383B1	Consolidated crossbar that supports a multitude of traffic types One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a crossbar unit that is coupled to a plurality of client subsystems. The crossbar unit is configured to transmit data packets between the client subsystems and includes a high-bandwidth channel and a narrow-bandwidth channel. The high-bandwidth channel is used for transmitting large data packets, while the narrow-bandwidth is used for transmitting smaller data packets. The transmission of data packets may be prioritized based on the source and destination clients as well as the type of data being transmitted. Further, the crossbar unit includes a buffer mechanism for buffering data packets received from source clients until those data packets can be received by the destination clients.
US09098379B2	Computing reusable image components to minimize network bandwidth usage Methods and arrangements for facilitating virtual appliance image delivery. Virtual appliance image templates are stored at a caching location, based on a historical request pattern. A request is received for a virtual appliance image and there is provided, to a second location, a virtual appliance image responsive to the received request. A difference is determined between the requested virtual appliance image and stored virtual appliance image templates.
US09098374B2	Version control for software configurable aircraft systems A software version control system and method includes installing a software configurable component on an aircraft, automatically setting a listen switch of the software configurable component to an on state upon installation of the software configurable component in a new installation location, listening for a software version from a configuration manager on a communication bus, turning off the listen switch if a software version of the software configurable component matches the software version of the configuration manager, and downloading an updated software version to the software configurable component if the software version of the software configurable component does not match the software version of the configuration manager.
US09098369B1	Application installation using in-video programming A method for delivering and installing applications on media devices includes receiving a video file includes a video at a processor remote from the media devices; associating, at the processor, an in-video programming element with the video; receiving application access data for a mobile application; associating the application access data with the in-video programming element; receiving a request for displaying the on a first media device; providing the video and the in-video programming element to the first media device; receiving a signal to install the mobile application; and executing a mobile media device application installation process to install the mobile application.
US09098367B2	Self-configuring vehicle console application store The present disclosure is directed to an application store on board a vehicle. The application store contains, in one configuration, a plurality of applications for installation on an on board computer of the vehicle, with the applications provided to the vehicle operator being provided to the operator being based on predetermined types of information related to the vehicle, its state, operation, and/or configuration, vehicle location, vehicle type, make, model, and/or year of manufacture, and/or occupant(s) and/or occupant(s) of other vehicles.
US09098360B2	Program, information processing apparatus, and event processing method A storage unit stores rule information that includes information indicating a plurality of operations based on event data. A computing unit searches the rule information to find information indicating a first operation, information indicating an operation of a condition determination that is executable regardless of the result of the first operation, and information indicating a second operation that is associated with the condition determination and uses the result of the first operation. The computing unit generates control information for controlling the execution order of the operations such that the first operation is executed in accordance with the result of the condition determination and such that the second operation is executed after the first operation. When the event data is input, the computing unit executes an operation corresponding to the input event data, based on the control information.
US09098357B2	Method and apparatus for activity management across multiple devices A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to synchronize multiple devices. In regards to a method, an indication is received that a view of a task is presented by a first device. The method causes state information to be provided to a second device to permit the second device to be synchronized with the first device and to present a different view of the task than that presented by the first device. The method also receives information relating to a change in state of the task that is provided by one of the devices while a first view of the task is presented thereupon. Further, the method causes updated state information to be provided to another one of the devices to cause the other device to remain synchronized and to update a second view of the task, different than the first view of the task, that is presented.
US09098355B2	Method and apparatus for substituting compiler built-in helper functions with machine instructions An executable program compiled according to a source instruction set architecture (source ISA) is loaded for execution by a target instruction set architecture (target ISA)-based hardware execution unit, wherein the source and target ISA's are different. The loading includes mapping a compiler built-in helper function in the executable program to a target ISA machine instruction. The loaded program is then executed. As part of the execution, the helper function is replaced with the target ISA machine instruction to which the helper function was mapped, and the target ISA machine instruction is executed rather than the helper function.
US09098351B2	Energy-aware job scheduling for cluster environments A job scheduler can select a processor core operating frequency for a node in a cluster to perform a job based on energy usage and performance data. After a job request is received, an energy aware job scheduler accesses data that specifies energy usage and job performance metrics that correspond to the requested job and a plurality of processor core operating frequencies. A first of the plurality of processor core operating frequencies is selected that satisfies an energy usage criterion for performing the job based, at least in part, on the data that specifies energy usage and job performance metrics that correspond to the job. The job is assigned to be performed by a node in the cluster at the selected first of the plurality of processor core operating frequencies.
US09098345B2	System and method for portable and flexible deployment of servers A system of portable and flexible deployment of dedicated and virtual servers comprises a plurality of geographically-dispersed data centers comprising a plurality of dedicated servers, a plurality of hosts operable to host a plurality of virtual servers, a management workstation operable to capture dedicated and virtual server images, an image repository operable to store the captured server images, and an intra-data center networking infrastructure enabling communication within the data center. An integrated management system is operable to control and manage deployment of server images to dedicated and virtual servers located in a user-specified data center, and an inter-data center networking infrastructure enables communication between the plurality of data centers.
US09098342B2	Extracting overlay invariants network for capacity planning and resource optimization A method and system determines capacity needs of components in a distributed computer system. In the method and system, a pair-wise invariant network is determined from collected flow intensity measurements. The network includes at least two separate and unconnected pair-wise invariant subnetworks, each of the subnetworks including two of the flow intensity measurements connected by a pairwise invariant, each of the pair-wise invariants characterizing a constant relationship between their two connected flow intensity measurements. At least one overlay invariant is determined from the pair-wise invariant network and from the collected flow intensity measurements using a minimal redundancy least regression process. The capacity needs of the components are determined using the pair-wise and overlay invariants.
US09098336B2	Multi-thread processor and its hardware thread scheduling method A multi-thread processor includes a plurality of hardware threads each of which generates an independent instruction flow, a first thread scheduler that outputs a first thread selection signal, the first thread selection signal designating a hardware thread to be executed in a next execution cycle among the plurality of hardware threads according to a priority rank, the priority rank being established in advance for each of the plurality of hardware threads, a first selector that selects one of the plurality of hardware threads according to the first thread selection signal and outputs an instruction generated by the selected hardware thread, and an execution pipeline that executes an instruction output from the first selector. Whenever the hardware thread is executed in the execution pipeline, the first scheduler updates the priority rank for the executed hardware thread and outputs the first thread selection signal in accordance with the updated priority rank.
US09098334B2	Special values in oracle clusterware resource profiles A method and computer-readable storage representing resources in a cluster by a plurality of attribute-value pairs that together are part of a “resource profile,” in which each attribute-value pair defines all, or a portion of, a management policy that applies to the resource. A clusterware manager configures a resource according to the resource profile, and follows a resource profile syntax that specifies a runtime value for the resource in which an actual value is substituted at runtime.
US09098329B1	Managing workflows Systems and methods are disclosed that facilitate the selection of virtual machine instances to implement each action associated with a specified workflow. Workflows are configured and defined as a series of actions or processes that have various requirements. For each action in a specified workflow, a workflow management component can select virtual machine resources that are best suited to implement the specific action in accordance with the requirements of the action.
US09098328B2	Systems and methods for event stream processing Disclosed are systems and methods for processing events in an event stream using a map-update application. The events may be embodied as a key-attribute pair. An event is processed by one or more instances implementing either a map or an update function. A map function receives an input event from the event stream and publishes one or more events to the event stream. An update function receives an event and updates a corresponding slate and publishes zero or more events. Systems and methods are also disclosed herein for implementing a map-update application in a multithreaded architecture and for handling overloading of a particular thread or node. Systems and methods for providing access to slates updated according to update operations are also disclosed.
US09098327B2	Method and apparatus for implementing a transactional store system using a helper thread A method, apparatus, and computer readable article of manufacture for executing a transaction by a processor apparatus that includes a plurality of hardware threads. The method includes the steps of: executing, by the processor apparatus using the plurality of hardware threads, a main software thread for executing the transaction and a helper software thread for executing a barrier function; and deciding, by the processor apparatus, whether or not the barrier function is required to be executed when the main software thread encounters a transactional load or store operation that requires the main software thread to read or write data.
US09098322B2	Managing a server template A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium may comprise instructions for managing a server template stored thereon. When executed by at least one processor, the instructions may be configured to cause at least one computing system to at least convert the server template to a corresponding virtual machine, manage the corresponding virtual machine, and convert the corresponding virtual machine back into a template format.
US09098315B1	Generic web service adaptor for performing web service operations for multiple web service providers Approaches for extracting data from data sources using a generic web service adaptor that implements a web services processing framework. Metadata stored in the database is read to identify specified named entities from a plurality of web service providers. Application protocol interface (API) semantics and configurations are retrieved from the metadata. Metadata objects for the specified named entities are fetched. Web services operation API signatures of the metadata objects are validated by comparing with predefined web services operation API signatures stored in the metadata. Web services operations for the specified named entities of the web service providers comprising the data sources are performed to obtain returned result objects. The returned result objects are serialized to XML using the same framework as used by the source web service. An adaptor may be configured to support the plurality of web service providers based on configurations.
US09098312B2	Methods for dynamically generating an application interface for a modeled entity and devices thereof This technology generates a plurality of instances of things each including a dynamically generated interface structure and services associated with and properties of the corresponding one of the things. The services associated with and the properties of one of the plurality of instances of things for a selected one of the plurality of instances of things are retrieved and provided. A service definition for a selected one of the services is retrieved and provided based on the retrieved and provided services associated with and properties for the selected one of the plurality of instances of things. A requested consumption call for the selected one of the services is executed based on the retrieved service definition. A defined result set for the executed consumption call is provided in the dynamically generated interface structure associated with the requested one of the plurality of instances of things.
US09098307B2	Rearrangement of algebraic expressions based on operand ranking schemes A system and method for rearranging algebraic expressions occurring in program code based on a scheme of ranking operands. The system scans program code to identify an algebraic expression specified by the program code. The expression includes binary operations, scalar operands and at least one array operand. The system operates on the algebraic expression to obtain a final expression by: computing a rank for each of the operands; and performing algebraic transformations on selected subexpressions of the algebraic expression so that in the final expression operands are combined in the order of their rank. The ranking scheme may be designed to force scalars to be combined before arrays, and/or, to force constants to be combined first, loop invariants second, and variants last. In some embodiments, the ranking scheme is a vector ranking scheme including two or more components (such as invariance rank, dimensional rank and data-size rank).
US09098304B2	Device enumeration support method for computing devices that does not natively support device enumeration Device enumeration support techniques are described for busses that do not natively support enumeration. In one or more embodiments, an intermediate controller of a computing device is configured to interconnect and manage various hardware devices associated with the computing device. The intermediate controller may detect connection and disconnection of hardware devices in association with one or more communication busses employed by the computing device. In response to such detection, the intermediate controller may send appropriate notifications to an operating system to alert the operating system when hardware devices come and go. This enables the operating system to enumerate and denumerate hardware devices within a device configuration and power management system implemented by the operating system that facilitates interaction with the hardware devices through corresponding representations.
US09098301B2	Electronic device and booting method The present invention provides an electronic device including a write-once-then-read-only register, a chipset, a read-only memory, a flash memory and a central processor. The write-once-then-read-only register is arranged to store a determination value. The chipset is arranged to produce a CPU reset signal. The read-only memory is implemented in the chipset, and has a first memory block which corresponds to a predetermined address and is used to store a first instruction. The flash memory is coupled to the chipset, and has a second memory block which corresponds to the predetermined address and is used to store a second instruction. The central processor is arranged to determine the location of the predetermined address according to the CPU reset signal and the determination value.
US09098299B2	Run time incremental compilation of script code Scripts are incrementally compiled at runtime to generate executable code. The incremental compilation generates executable code corresponding to a basic block of the script. The executable code for a basic block of script is generated for a set of types of variables of the basic block resulting from execution of the script in response to a request. The generated executable code is stored and executed for subsequent requests if these requests result in the same types of variables for the basic block. The incremental compilation of the script is performed in a lazy fashion, such that executable code is not generated for combinations of types of variables of the script code that are not obtained from requests received at runtime. The script may dynamically generate portions of a web page that is returned in response to a request for execution of the script.
US09098297B2	Hardware accelerator for an object-oriented programming language An apparatus and method are provided including a hardware accelerator capable of being interfaced with a processor for accelerating the execution of an application written utilizing an object-oriented programming language. Such object-oriented programming language may include Java and/or C++.
US09098296B2	Method for reducing memory latency in processor A method for reducing memory latency in a processor includes identifying an independent instruction (or cache miss instruction) and corresponding dependent instructions from a re-circulating issue window (RIW) when a cache miss is encountered. The cache miss instruction and corresponding dependent instructions are moved to a re-circulating issue buffer (RIB) and moved back to the RIW from the RIB for processing when the cache miss is resolved.
US09098295B2	Predicting a result for an actual instruction when processing vector instructions The described embodiments provide a processor that executes vector instructions. In the described embodiments, while dispatching instructions at runtime, the processor encounters an Actual instruction. Upon determining that a result of the Actual instruction is predictable, the processor dispatches a prediction micro-operation associated with the Actual instruction, wherein the prediction micro-operation generates a predicted result vector for the Actual instruction. The processor then executes the prediction micro-operation to generate the predicted result vector. In the described embodiments, when executing the prediction micro-operation to generate the predicted result vector, if the predicate vector is received, for each element of the predicted result vector for which the predicate vector is active, otherwise, for each element of the predicted result vector, generating the predicted result vector comprises setting the element of the predicted result vector to true.
US09098293B2	Method for just-in-time compilation and execution of code blocks within discrete event simulations A method for a discrete event simulation model of a system utilizing a just-in-time compilation for one or more code blocks associated with an event in one or more discrete event simulation models is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of determining the event in a discrete event simulation model according to a kind of event, retrieving the code block associated with the event, compiling the code block into an object file using a compiler, linking the object file with a predetermined function in a simulation library, compiling the object file and the predetermined function into a customized dynamic link library, loading the customized dynamic link library (DLL) within a discrete event simulation program execution and linking the customized DLL to a simulation program. The method allows user entered logic to be executed in high speed by integrating a just-in-time compiler embedded into the simulation model to allow dynamic generation of high speed code blocks within one or more simulations.
US09098292B1	Automatic generation of an optimized arrangement for a model and optimized code based on the model A device receives a model that includes blocks and lines provided between the blocks, and identifies first candidate boundaries for the model. Each of the first candidate boundaries defines a group of blocks. The device generates an intermediate representation (IR) of the model, performs an optimization of the IR to generate an optimized IR, and identifies second candidate boundaries for the model based on the optimized IR. Each of the second candidate boundaries defines a group of blocks, and the first and second candidate boundaries define a set of candidate boundaries. The device reduces the set of candidate boundaries, to a reduced set of boundaries, based on code efficiency metrics or metrics associated with a hardware platform. The device generates code for the model based on the reduced set of boundaries, and outputs the code.
US09098291B1	Transforming modeling environment code/model into a non-modeling environment format A device receives code in a modeling environment format, receives a model in the modeling environment format, and receives relationships information associated with one or more relationships between the code and the model. The device combines the code, the model, and the relationships information to generate an output file in a non-modeling environment format, and outputs or stores the output file.
US09098290B2	Method and apparatus for facilitating diagnostic logging for software components One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates diagnostic logging for software components. During operation, the system receives program code for a software component that was generated from an object model, where a key attribute has been specified for the object model. During execution of the program code, the system detects when an instance of the key attribute for the object model is accessed, and attaches state associated with the instance to a thread context in the runtime environment. The system then appends this state to a log during a logging operation to facilitate discovering and analyzing program faults.
US09098283B2	Switched-mode power supply unit, method of operation and use of a switched-mode power supply unit in a computer A switched-mode power supply unit for a computer includes at least one switching element that switches a charging current to charge a storage element, at least one secondary output circuit that provides an output voltage (Vout+), at least one controllable oscillator circuit that provides a switching clock, and at least one control circuit that determines a switch-off time for the at least one switching element, wherein, in operation of the switched-mode power supply unit, a mean oscillator clock of the oscillator circuit is controlled in dependence on a controlled variable (Vcontrol) specifying the output voltage or power of the secondary output circuit such that the mean oscillator clock rises monotonously with the output power and a switch-on time for the at least one switching element is determined in dependence on the mean oscillator clock and a random deviation.
US09098279B2	Methods and systems for data interchange between a network-connected thermostat and cloud-based management server Aspects of the present invention provide energy conserving communications for networked thermostats powered, in part, by batteries. A thermostat communication server stores a thermostat battery-level to determine what data should be sent to the thermostat. The thermostat communication server classifies types of data to be transmitted to the thermostat according to a data priority ranging from a low-priority to a high-priority data type. If the battery-level associated with the battery on the thermostat is at a low battery-level, the thermostat communication server may only transmit data classified under a high-priority data type. This conserves the power used by the thermostat, allows the battery on the thermostat time to recharge and perform other functions. If the battery-level of the thermostat is at a high level, the thermostat communication server may transmit a range of data to the thermostat classified from a low-priority type to a high-priority data type.
US09098274B2	Methods and apparatuses to improve turbo performance for events handling Embodiments of an apparatus for improving performance for events handling are presented. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a number of processing elements and task routing logic. If at least one of the processing elements is in a turbo mode, the task routing logic selects a processing element for executing a task based at least on a comparison of performance losses.
US09098270B1	Device and method of establishing sleep mode architecture for NVSRAMs A device is configured to establish first and second device power domains. Isolation circuits isolate signals from passing between circuits in the first device power domain and circuits in the second device power domain. During a transition between power domains, an n-bit value is stored in a particular storage location, and compared to a particular n-bit value. Isolation between the first and second device power domains is removed when the n-bit value stored in the particular storage location matches the particular n-bit value.
US09098269B2	System and method to ensure resource access safety with immutable object types A language extension that advances safety in system programming in that an entire type may be declared to be immutable in the case in which all instances of that type are immutable. The immutable type declaration automatically causes any instances of that type to be treated as immutable, and automatically causes all directly or indirectly reachable members (e.g., fields, methods, properties) of the instance to also be treated as immutable. Furthermore, any construction time reference that allows for field assignment of the instance is not permitted to survive beyond the point at which the instance becomes accessible to its creator. Accordingly, this instance, and any other instance of that same type, will be immutable from the very time of construction. The ability to classify all such instances as immutable is beneficial as the immutable characteristic permits actions that normally would not be allowed due to resource access safety.
US09098266B1	Data layer service availability Disclosed are various embodiments for a token management application. A data block tokenization call to a data layer service fails when a data store is unavailable. The token management application issues a temporary data token to the service calling the data layer service. The token management application completes the data block tokenization call on behalf of the service to obtain a valid data token. The valid data token is then communicated to services having the temporary data token.
US09098262B2	Efficient arithimetic logic units A processor may include a conditional arithmetic logic unit and a main arithmetic logic unit. The conditional arithmetic logic unit may perform a first arithmetic logic operation to generate a first result, and output the result. The main arithmetic logic unit may select input buses among a plurality of data buses that carry the first result from the conditional arithmetic logic unit, perform a second arithmetic logic operation on data provided by the selected input buses to generate a second result, and write the second result in a storage component.
US09098257B2	Information handling system server architecture for improved management communication An information handling system server chassis manages plural server resources disposed on sleds in chassis slots with a power supply control board that allocates power from one or more power supplies to the slots. The power supply control board interfaces with an external network and includes one or more network interface cards that provide an Ethernet interface with power distribution boards disposed on sleds in the slots. The power distribution boards manage application of power to server resources and communication by the power supply control board through the Ethernet interface to manage functions at the server resources.
US09098251B2	Server mechanism and disk drive module thereof A server mechanism includes a server and a disk drive module including a fixing frame fixed to an extraction opening of the server, a rail sheet, a disk drive movably disposed through the fixing frame, a sliding sheet disposed at the disk drive and having a sliding slot, a sliding block, and a first elastic member. The rail sheet is disposed at the fixing frame and has an installation rail, an incurved rail, a longitudinal rail, and a detaching rail. The incurved rail has a recess. The sliding block is slidably disposed in the sliding slot and has a guide rod for moving along the installation rail, the incurved rail, or the detaching rail with movement of the disk drive. The first elastic member is for driving the guide rod to be fixed in the recess and for driving the guide rod from the longitudinal rail to the detaching rail.
US09098249B2	Toolless hot swappable storage module A toolless hot-swappable storage module system includes a base plate for mounting within a computer enclosure and a toolless hot-swappable storage module. The storage module includes a sled that is removably coupled to the base plate. The storage module further includes a printed circuit board (PCB) that is disposed on the sled. The PCB includes a plurality of storage media connectors, a PCB signal and power connectors. The storage module also includes a support frame disposed on the PCB. The support frame includes a plurality of support members that are disposed perpendicular to the PCB. Each support member has a first edge and a second edge and includes a plurality of dividers disposed in parallel rows. The support frame also includes a sidewall that is disposed across the first edge of the support members.
US09098248B2	Information processing apparatus, program, and control method An information processing apparatus includes a display, a touch panel, a sensor, and a controller. The display has a screen. The touch panel is configured to detect contact. The sensor is configured to detect an inclination. The controller is configured to determine whether contact is detected by the touch panel, and control display of an image displayed on the screen based on the inclination detected by the sensor in a period of time from detection of contact by the touch panel to release of the contact.
US09098247B2	Touch panel and manufacturing method thereof The present invention relates to a touch panel. The touch panel includes a display unit, a polarizer disposed on top of the display unit and having at least one edge extending beyond the display unit, multiple upper sensing series disposed on the polarizer, multiple upper peripheral circuits disposed on a peripheral region of the polarizer, each being electrically connected to a corresponding one of the upper sensing series, and a protective layer covering on the upper peripheral circuits.
US09098245B2	Portable electronic device An electronic device having a main body, an expanded element, a support element, and a latch device is disclosed. The main body has a first surface and a second surface, wherein the second surface has a first accommodating slot and a second accommodating slot. The expanded element detachably connects to the first accommodating slot and the expanded element has at least one expanded function. The support element is accommodated in the second accommodating slot and has a folded state and a support state. The latch device having a first latch element for engaging with the expanded element and a second latch element for engaging with the support element is movably connecting to the main body. When the latch device moves to a first position, the engagement with the expanded element is released. When the latch device moves to a second position, the engagement with the support element is released.
US09098243B2	Display device and method for adjusting observation distances thereof A method for adjusting an observation distances between an user and a display device is provided. When the display device determines that the user is squinting and determines a distance value between the user and the display device is larger than a predetermined value, the display device controls a driving unit to drive a display unit of the display device to move toward to the user. A display device is also provided.
US09098235B2	Voice communication arrangement for minimizing communication delay caused by audio signal processing in OS A voice communication arrangement having a voice communication program installed in a computer loaded with a versatile OS thereon includes a voice data input/output function for passing through the OS voice data produced from voice sound captured by a microphone of the arrangement or received from another voice communication device, when connected to the arrangement, without being processed by the OS as audio data.
US09098232B2	Audio control apparatus and system An audio control apparatus is adapted for use with an external portable electronic device having display functionality, and includes a data storage device, an operation controller operable to access and process audio data stored in the data storage device, and to output information of the audio data, a user control device operable by a user to control operation of the operation controller, and a function expanding interface coupled to the operation controller and configured to transmit the information of the audio data for reception and subsequent display by the external portable electronic device.
US09098231B2	Apparatus and method for displaying image characteristics of a second display on a first display An image transform apparatus for displaying image characteristics of a second display on a first display includes a first transform unit, for transforming a first image signal of the first display to a first output signal according to a second gamma value associated with the second display; a second transform unit, for transforming the first output signal to a second output signal according to a transform gain function associated with the first display and the second display; and a third transform unit, for transforming the second output signal to a second image signal according to a first gamma value associated with the first display.
US09098228B2	Determining content rendering capabilities for web browser optimization In a method for determining content rendering capabilities of one or more web browsers, a computer receives an indication of an event affecting one or more content rendering capabilities of a first web browser of one or more web browsers. The computer, in response to receiving the indication of the event affecting the one or more content rendering capabilities of the first web browser, determines the one or more content rendering capabilities of the first web browser. The computer updates a data file responsive to the determination of the one or more content rendering capabilities of the first web browser.
US09098225B2	Print processing method and printing system A server constituted by a plurality of processors which process page description language data receives a print instruction from a client, and decides the number of layers into which a page is to be segmented based on render instructions included in the page description language data. The server decides the number of processors which perform parallel processing of the generation of print data from the page description language data based on the decided number of layers. The server generates print data equal in number to the number of layers based on which the number of processors is decided. An output device requests the server to transmit print data. The server transmits print data in accordance with the request from the output device. Upon receiving the print data from the server, the output device processes the print data and outputs it onto a sheet.
US09098221B2	Image forming apparatus, control method therefor, and storage medium storing control program therefor An image forming apparatus that facilitates management of information security policy even for an extended application installed from exterior. A scanning unit scans an original to generate image data of the original. A printing unit prints an image based on image data. A management unit manages applications dynamically installed. At least one of the applications executes a job using at least one of the scanning unit and the printing unit. A setting unit sets an operation mode for the image forming apparatus, based on security settings that are received from an external apparatus. A determination unit determines whether each of the applications supports the security settings. A control unit restricts an operation of an application that the determination unit determines that the application does not support the security settings.
US09098219B2	Printing system, image forming apparatus, method of controlling the same, and storage medium An image forming apparatus capable of being connected to a network via a print server updates media data in response to a modification operation for modification of the media data, and starts a recording of the updating of the media data when the print server is in a power saving state. Then, the print server transmits to the print server, in a case where the updating of the media data has been recorded when a notification that the print server returned from the power saving state is received, the updated media data.
US09098218B2	System for authenticating communications between a non-cloud ready networked printer and a cloud-based servise through a virtual printer interface device A virtual printer interface node enables a non-cloud-ready printer to communicate with a cloud-based service, residing on an internet. The virtual printer interface node includes a housing; a communication interface to provide communication directly to the network router; and a microcontroller operatively connected to the communication interface. The microcontroller converts commands, received through the communication interface, from the cloud-based service, residing on the internet, to native protocols of the non-cloud-ready networked printer and communicates the converted native protocols to the non-cloud-ready networked printer.
US09098215B2	Migration between model elements of different types in a modeling environment Migration between model elements of different model element types in a model provided within a modeling environment is described herein. A model element of a first model element type is identified to be migrated to a model element of a second model element type. The model element of the first model element type is then migrated to the model element of the second model element type. The migrating migrates one or more relationships that exist between the model element of the first model element type and a related model element to one or more relationships between the model element of the second model element type and the related model element. The migrating also preserves properties of diagrammatic representations of the model element being migrated in diagrams of the model.
US09098214B1	Managing virtual machine migration Systems and method for the management of migrations of virtual machine instances are provided. A migration manager monitors the resource usage of a virtual machine instance over time in order to create a migration profile. When migration of a virtual machine instance is desired, the migration manager schedules the migration to occur such that the migration conforms to the migration profile.
US09098212B2	Computer system with storage apparatuses including physical and virtual logical storage areas and control method of the computer system To create one pool by using a plurality of storage apparatuses and to provide virtual volumes common to each of the storage apparatuses to the server. The respective logical volumes 220 which the plurality of storage apparatuses 10 (i) to (3) comprise are mutually connected. The respective logical volumes are managed in the one pool 230. The virtual volumes 240 are created by utilizing the storage area in the pool. Each of the storage apparatuses shares at least part of the management information related to the page assignment for the virtual volumes with the other storage apparatuses.
US09098211B1	System and method of non-disruptive data migration between a full storage array and one or more virtual arrays Non-disruptive data migration from a source array to a destination array entails generating a virtual array spanning at least one destination array for receiving a copy of all data at the source array. The virtual array has at least as many virtual ports as physical source ports of the source array and at least as many logical units (LUNs) as the source array. Each source array LUN corresponds to a virtual array LUN and equals the storage capacity of that corresponding LUN. Each virtual port has a virtual port address. All data resident in the LUNs of the source array are copied to corresponding LUNs in the virtual array. A name server database is reconfigured to associate port names of the physical source ports with the virtual port addresses of the virtual ports such that the virtual array appears to a host as the source array.
US09098207B2	Transforming logical data objected for storage includes identifying multiple write request to the same logical object and grouping transformed data chunks There is provided a system capable of transformation of logical data objects for storage and method of operating thereof. The method comprises: a) identifying among a plurality of requests addressed to the storage device two or more “write” requests addressed to the same logical data object; b) deriving data chunks corresponding to identified “write” requests and transforming the derived data chunks; c) grouping the transformed data chunks in accordance with the order the requests have been received and in accordance with a predefined criteria; d) generating a grouped “write” request to the storage device; and e) providing mapping in a manner facilitating one-to-one relationship between the data in the obtained data chunks and the data to be read from the transformed logical object. The method further comprises obtaining an acknowledging response from the storage device; multiplying the obtained acknowledging response, and sending respective acknowledgements to each source which initiated respective “write” request.
US09098205B2	Data randomization in 3-D memory In a nonvolatile memory array, such as a three-dimensional array of charge-storage memory cells, data is randomized so that data of different strings along the same bit line are randomized using different keys and portions of data along neighboring word lines are randomized using different keys. Keys may be rotated so that data of a particular word line is randomized according to different keys in different strings.
US09098203B1	Multi-input memory command prioritization Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and system for prioritizing memory commands. A priority determination engine determines a priority of a memory access command based on a plurality of inputs related to characteristics of the memory access command and a plurality of inputs related to a state of the memory. An access scheduler selects an order in which to issues the memory commands based at least on the priority. The priority determination is determined such that bandwidth utilization is improved.
US09098196B2	Touch system inadvertent input elimination In one aspect a method is provided that includes: detecting touch input at a first touch point on a touch screen; detecting touch input at a second touch point on the touch screen within a predetermined time of detecting said touch input at the first touch point, the second touch point being within a predefined proximity to the first touch point; and performing an action to eliminate touch input detected at the second touch point on the touch screen. Other aspects are described.
US09098184B2	Information processing apparatus, information processing method and medium for storing information processing program An information processing apparatus includes a processor which executes a process including receiving position information of a plurality of touch points on a screen, displaying a plurality of operation areas to be touched on the screen, calculating a length of a stroke including the touch points on a basis of the position information received in the receiving, measuring a time period for drawing the stroke including the touch points on a basis of the position information received in the receiving, setting a threshold value on a basis of relationship information, and comparing one of the time period measured in the measuring and the length of the stroke calculated in the calculating with the threshold value set in the setting to determine whether the position information received in the receiving is input by a handwriting or by a touch operation on the operation areas in accordance with a comparison result.
US09098183B2	Drag and drop application launches of user interface objects Example embodiments relate to drag and drop application launches within a user interface (UI). In example embodiments, a command is received by which a UI object currently displayed in a window of a first application is dragged from the window and dropped onto a home screen of an operating system. A second application suitable for displaying an object type of the UI object is then identified. Finally, the second application is launched in a new window in response to the drop of the UI object on the home screen, such that the new window displays the UI object.
US09098182B2	Device, method, and graphical user interface for copying user interface objects between content regions An electronic device displays a user interface object in a first content region on a touch-sensitive display. The device detects a first finger input on the user interface object. While detecting the first finger input, the device detects a second finger input on the touch-sensitive display. When the first finger input is an M-finger contact, wherein M is an integer, in response to detecting the second finger input, the device selects a second content region and displays a copy of the user interface object in the second content region. After detecting the second finger input, the device detects termination of the first finger input while the copy of the user interface object is displayed in the second content region. In response to detecting termination of the first finger input, the device maintains display of the copy of the user interface object in the second content region.
US09098181B2	Information processing apparatus Provided is an information processing apparatus configured to: display on a screen a display target range, which is a part of a display region including display elements arranged therein; and move the display target range in the display region in accordance with a direction of a scroll instruction when the scroll instruction is received from a user in a state in which the display target range is displayed, in which a movement amount of the display target range in accordance with the scroll instruction is changed based on a position of the display target range in the display region.
US09098179B2	Method and system for inserting a content object for use on an interactive surface A method of enhancing features in a computing environment wherein a software application comprising compiled source code is executed, the method comprising inserting at least one content object into a canvas page of the software application. Each content object comprises code defining functionality attributed to the content object. The content object code is executed in response to interaction with the content object thereby to supplement host software application functionality with the attributed functionality.
US09098177B2	Apparatus and methods for facilitating context handoff between devices in a cloud based wireless personal area network An apparatus obtains application state information for another device and displays a login screen on a display that provides information for at least one application running on the other device. The information displayed may be an icon corresponding to an application running on the other device. The application state information may include an application identifier, a content identifier and a pointer to a location at which a given content is accessed by the application. An apparatus includes a display, application state monitor logic, operative to obtain application state information for another device, and login screen configuration logic, operatively coupled to the display. The login screen configuration logic is operative to configure a login screen on the display to provide information for at least one application running on the other device, based on the application state information for the other device obtained by the application state monitor logic.
US09098175B1	Geo-location on a diagrammatic map A location system and method receives a location to be displayed on a diagrammatic map, determines the relative position of the location to nearby map features on the diagrammatic map and using that relative position, displays the location on the diagrammatic map.
US09098170B2	System, method, and user interface for controlling the display of images on a mobile device Embodiments of a system, method, and user interface for controlling the display of images to users of mobile devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a set of options to manipulate, navigate, and/or view images, common among multiple applications executable on a mobile device, is provided to users. Images may also be saved on a memory store on the mobile device.
US09098166B2	Graduated visual and manipulative translucency for windows Methods and systems for providing graphical user interfaces are described. Overlaid, information-bearing windows whose contents remain unchanged for a predetermined period of time become translucent. The translucency can be graduated so that, over time, if the window's contents remain unchanged, the window becomes more translucent. In addition to visual translucency, windows also have a manipulative translucent quality. Upon reaching a certain level of visual translucency, user input in the region of the window is interpreted as an operation on the underlying objects rather than the contents of the overlaying window.
US09098165B2	Sponsored story creation using inferential targeting A method includes monitoring an activity stream to identify actions that match stored sponsored story specifications, for providing one or more sponsored stories to a viewing user. The sponsored story specifications include a visual specification for the sponsored story, and matched sponsored stories are ranked for a viewing user. Users can set privacy preferences related to sponsored stories. The ranking and privacy settings contribute to which sponsored stories are provided for display to the viewing user.
US09098161B2	Display device integrated with touch screen panel and method of driving the same A display device integrated with a touch screen panel, and a method of driving the same, can prevent parasitic capacitance that would otherwise increase the load during a touch operation, lower the accuracy of touch sensing, or make touch sensing impossible. The display device includes data lines, gate lines, and a plurality of electrodes spaced apart from each other. A common voltage is applied to the electrodes in a display driving mode and a touch drive signal is applied to one or more of the electrodes in a touch driving mode. A data voltage is applied to the data lines in the display driving mode. A scan signal is supplied sequentially to the gate lines in the display driving mode and the touch drive signal or a signal corresponding to the touch drive signal is applied to one or more of the gate lines in the touch driving mode.
US09098158B2	System and method for retrieving information from an information carrier by means of a capacitive touch screen The present invention relates to a method comprising providing one or more information carrier(s) with a dielectric and/or conductive pattern and a detection device having a capacitive touch screen and inducing an interaction between the information carrier and the touch screen, wherein the interaction is based on a difference in the dielectric coefficient and/or the conductivity of the pattern and generates a touch signal and wherein the interaction is induced by relative motion between the information carrier and the touch screen. The invention further relates to a system comprising an information carrier comprising a dielectric and/or conductive pattern which encodes information and a detection device having a touch screen; the detection device is able to decode the information upon interaction between the information carrier and the touch screen, wherein the interaction is caused by a difference in the dielectric coefficient and/or the conductivity of the pattern.
US09098157B2	Touch sensing apparatus There is provided a touch sensing apparatus including: a panel unit including a plurality of driving electrodes and a plurality of sensing electrodes; a driving circuit unit applying one of a driving signal and a scanning signal having a frequency different from that of the driving signal, to each of the plurality of driving electrodes; a sensing circuit unit measuring a change in capacitance of a plurality of node capacitors generated in intersections of the plurality of driving electrodes and the plurality of sensing electrodes; and a calculation unit determining a touch based on a change in the capacitance, wherein when the scanning signal is applied to the plurality of driving electrodes, the calculation unit calculates capacitance deviations in the plurality of node capacitors from the deviations of changes in the capacitance generated by the plurality of node capacitors.
US09098156B2	Touch sensing device A touch sensing device includes a touch sensing trace layout, a comparator and a variable capacitor unit. The touch sensing trace layout performs a sensing operation according to at least one first driving signal in a sensing state. An input of the comparator is electrically coupled to the touch sensing trace layout for receiving a sensing signal outputted by the touch sensing trace layout. The variable capacitor unit is selectively coupled to one of the inputs of the comparator, for correspondingly performing potential compensation to the sensing signal received by the input of the comparator according to at least one second driving signal.
US09098151B2	Input device According to one embodiment of the present invention, an input device comprises: a first main electrode extending in a first direction; and a plurality of first branching electrodes which extend in a second direction from the first main electrode, and which have mutually different surface areas depending on their position; and the surface areas of the first branching electrodes either progressively broaden or decrease in the first direction.
US09098150B2	Position sensing systems for use in touch screens and prismatic film used therein A dual light-source position detecting system for use in touch screens is provided that utilizes parallax to determine the position of an interposing object, and a prismatic film that is brightly retroreflective over a broad entrance angle to enhance to accuracy of the parallax determination of position. The position detecting system includes at least one camera positioned to receive light radiation traversing a detection area and that generates a signal representative of an image; two spaced-apart sources of light radiation, which may be LEDs, or IR emitters positioned adjacent to the camera for outputting light radiation that overlaps over at least a portion of a detection area, and a prismatic film positioned along a periphery of at least a portion of the detection area that retroreflects the light radiation from the two sources to the camera.
US09098146B2	Multi-touch sensing apparatus using rear view camera of array type A multi-touch sensing apparatus using a rear view camera of an array type is provided. The multi-touch sensing apparatus may include a display panel to display an image, a sensing light source to emit light to sense a touch image which is generated by an object and displayed on a back side of the display panel, and a camera to divide and sense the touch image. The camera may be arranged in an edge of a lower side of the multi-touch sensing apparatus, or a mirror to reflect the touch image may be included in the multi-touch sensing apparatus.
US09098145B2	Touch-screen liquid crystal display with cooperating photosensitive TFT and capacitor for touch The present disclosure discloses a touch-screen liquid crystal display, comprising: an array substrate, a counter substrate provided opposite to the array substrate, spacers and liquid crystal between the array substrate and the counter substrate, an induction read-out circuit and a scanning circuit; the counter substrate is provided thereon with an upper electrode plate, and the array substrate is provided thereon with a lower electrode plate; the upper electrode plate and the lower electrode plate form an induction capacitor; the array substrate comprises a touch unit provided within a pixel region; the drain electrode of the photosensitive TFT is connected to the lower electrode plate, and the drain electrode of the photosensitive TFT is also connected to the scanning circuit; and an output-signal line of the touch unit is connected to the induction read-out circuit.
US09098143B2	Optical touch-sensitive device and method of detection of touch Methods and devices for detecting touch, e.g. by a finger touching a touch-sensitive surface of the device, are disclosed. In particular, detection of touch can be by influencing, by touch, propagation of light within the touch-sensitive device and detecting a resulting change of light arriving to at least one detector device of the touch-sensitive device. Three paths for light can intersect (or at least substantially intersect) at a primary zone of intersection. Thus, three coordinates for a touch at the touch-surface may be provided, and a redundancy of coordinates may be provided for a touch.
US09098136B2	Organic light emitting display device An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device includes a substrate, a pixel unit formed over the substrate and including a plurality of sub-pixels, and a non-pixel unit immediately neighboring the pixel unit. The pixel unit has an octagonal shape.
US09098135B2	Tablet terminal and recording medium A tablet terminal receives a triggering indication to enable a detection result of eye gaze, and sets a target area in which the presence of a target object is assumed on a screen of a touch panel using a detection position of eye gaze. The tablet terminal further displays a partial image displayed in the target area out of an image displayed on the screen in an aiming area in which a touch operation to the target area is received in place of the target area, and records a correspondence relation between coordinates of the aiming area and coordinates of the target area. When a touch operation is received within the aiming area, the tablet terminal converts the coordinates of the aiming area in which the touch operation is received into the coordinates projected to the target area using the correspondence relation recorded, and then outputs the converted coordinates.
US09098134B2	Liquid crystal display device and method of manufacturing the same An LCD device includes a plurality of gate lines and data lines cross-arranged on a lower substrate to define a plurality of pixels, a pixel electrode disposed in each of the pixels, a plurality of common electrode blocks pattern-formed that generate an electric field with the pixel electrode and sensing a touch of a user, a plurality of sensing lines, a plurality of pad parts arranged to be separated from each other at predetermined intervals along a corresponding sensing line, and having a line width thicker than the sensing line, and a contact part disposed between a corresponding pad part and a corresponding common electrode block, and electrically connecting a corresponding sensing line and the common electrode block. When the sensing lines are electrically connected to one of the common electrode blocks, the sensing lines are electrically insulated from the other common electrode blocks.
US09098132B2	Line on glass type liquid crystal display device and method of fabricating the same In a Line On Glass (LOG) type Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) device and a method of fabricating the same, LOGs and Outer Lead Bonding (OLB) lines are designed in a parallel structure, and a structure of contact holes within Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC) pads and bumpers of Integrated Circuits (ICs) changes, so as to prevent a broken fault due to corrosion and scratch, resulting in improvement of quality of an image displayed on the LCD device.
US09098127B2	Electronic device including touch-sensitive display and method of controlling same A method includes displaying a plurality of display elements on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device; displaying a selection tool on the touch-sensitive display; in response to detecting a first gesture, selecting a first portion of the plurality of display elements, the first portion comprising at least one display element; and in response to detecting a second gesture, moving the selection tool without selecting the display elements; and in response to detecting a third gesture, selecting a second portion of the plurality of the plurality of display elements, the second portion being non-contiguous with the first portion.
US09098126B2	User interface A method comprising in which electricity and/or information signals is/are passed between an accessory device or power supply and an apparatus through a cable comprising one or more electric or optical wires. Mechanical manipulation of the cable by a user is detected. Responsive to detecting of manipulation of the cable, controlling operation is caused in an apparatus that is in operational connection with the cable to enable the user to control the apparatus by manipulation of the cable.
US09098123B2	Moving trajectory generation method A moving trajectory generation method includes the following steps of: sensing a movement of a writing device in the air by a moving trajectory sensing module so as to generate a moving trajectory and then generate a moving trajectory signal; generating a virtual projection plane and a trajectory projection plane by a trajectory reconstruction unit of a trajectory reconstruction module according to the moving trajectory signal; calculating an angle between the virtual projection plane and the trajectory projection plane, and generating a transformation matrix according to the angle; transforming the virtual projection plane to the trajectory projection plane according to the transformation matrix; and projecting the moving trajectory to the trajectory projection plane so as to obtain a two-dimensional trajectory signal.
US09098115B2	Physical object for intuitive navigation in a three-dimensional space A computer-implemented method for manipulating graphics objects within a display viewed by an end-user is disclosed. The method involves: receiving motion information generated in response to the end-user moving an object that is external to the display; determining at least one zone of motion in which the end-user moves the object; determining a first motion type associated with the movement of the object within the at least one zone of motion; and based on the at least one zone of motion and the first motion type, determining at least one change to a viewpoint associated with one or more graphics objects displayed to the end-user within the display. The at least one change to the viewpoint causes an alteration in how the one or more graphics objects are displayed to the end-user within the display.
US09098112B2	Eye tracking enabling 3D viewing on conventional 2D display The exemplary illustrative non-limiting technology herein enables 3D viewing on conventional 2D displays such as home television sets by tracking a person's viewpoint. Detecting a player's viewpoint movement to change the viewing of the displayed object gives the illusion that the object is physically present in three-dimensional space. Viewpoint movement detection can provide collision-related game logic benefits such as allowing a player to dodge projectiles, giving a game character an ability to “see” the player when not behind line-of-sight obstacles, and other advantages.
US09098110B2	Head rotation tracking from depth-based center of mass The rotation of a user's head may be determined as a function of depth values from a depth image. In accordance with some embodiments, an area of pixels from a depth image containing a user's head is identified as a head region. The depth values for pixels in the head region are used to calculate a center of depth-mass for the user's head. The rotation of the user's head may be determined based on the center of depth-mass for the user's head.
US09098109B2	Adaptive device behavior in response to user interaction A manifestation of user frustration associated with an action currently being performed by an apparatus is detected. The action is modified so as to alleviate the user frustration. The apparatus determines whether the modification to the action results in alleviating the user frustration, and may store data that causes the modification to the action to be subsequently performed.
US09098095B2	Cooler bypass assembly A cooler bypass apparatus housing has a first fluid passageway connecting a first inlet and a first outlet port, and a second fluid passageway connecting a second inlet port and outlet port. A transverse passageway extends between the first and second fluid passageway. A first valve is disposed in the transverse passageway for one-way fluid flow from the first to the second passageway. A second valve and a thermal actuator coupled to the second valve are disposed in the second passageway. The thermal actuator moves the second valve to fluid flow blocking or fluid flow allowing positions dependent upon fluid temperature.
US09098094B2	Seal support system pressure tracking value A pressure regulation tracking valve for maintaining the pressure of a gas relative to that of a process fluid includes a device, responsive to change in the pressure of the process fluid, for changing the pressure of the gas by substantially the same amount. The valve further includes a device for accommodating a pressure transfer medium for transferring the pressure of the process fluid to the gas pressure changing device. As a result, contact between the process fluid and the gas pressure changing device is avoided.
US09098092B2	Balanced valve cartridge A pressure reducing valve including a balanced valve cartridge. The balanced valve cartridge has a retainer including a central bore. A valve seat and a valve plug are disposed within the central bore and cooperate to open and close the valve. A cap closes one end of the central bore, the cap including a blind bore for receiving a portion of the valve plug. Downstream fluid pressure is transmitted into the blind bore through a hollow portion of the valve plug, thus balancing the valve plug within the retainer.
US09098091B2	Pressure reducer for a device for enriching a liquid with carbon dioxide A pressure reducer includes a housing with an axially displaceable biased control body in order to close a connection between an inlet and an expansion chamber, where the housing is equipped with an axially displaceable biased actuating piston in order to displace the control body against the spring load of the control body as a function of the pressure in the expansion chamber and to open the connection, the housing being made of plastic, and the pressure reducer includes a separately made insert, where the insert is fixed between the inlet and the expansion chamber in the plastic housing and said insert has a guide bore, which is connected to the inlet and supports the control body, and a connecting bore, which adjoins the guide bore and which opens into the expansion chamber, where the insert forms an annular shoulder surface between the connecting bore and the guide bore, said shoulder surface interacting as a seating surface with the seal on the control body.
US09098083B1	Event sensor An automatic timing measurement system provides a measure of time of passage of a watercraft through a prescribed course. Inertial or other estimates augmented by GPS speed/position measurements are used to track the position of a the watercraft. Position estimates are used to allow the locations of prescribed courses to be mapped and memorized. The passage of a watercraft through mapped courses may be detected for the purpose of measuring and reporting time of passage of the watercraft past key points in the course, and for modifying the behavior of the speed control portion of the apparatus if necessary. A measure of accuracy of driver steering can be provided along with the ability to automatically steer the watercraft through the course. GPS speed control is augmented with a secondary velocity measurement device that measures speed over water resulting in an optional user selectable real-time compensation for water current.
US09098082B2	Device and method for supplying gas while dividing to chamber from gas supplying facility equipped with flow controller The invention supplies a quantity Q of gas while dividing at flow rate ratio Q1/Q2 from a gas supply facility equipped with a flow controller. A total quantity Q=Q1+Q2 of gas is supplied into a chamber at flow rate Q1 and Q2 through shower plates fixed to ends of branch supply lines by providing open/close valves with a plurality of branch supply lines GL1 and GL2, respectively, to supply the specified quantity of gas from the gas supply facility, and by utilizing bypass line BL1 on the downstream side of the open/close valve OV1 and branched from GL1, bypass line BL2 on the downstream side of the open/close valve OV2 and branched from GL2, pressure type division quantity controller connected to the bypass line BL1 and the bypass line BL2, a sensor measuring pressure inside branch supply line GL1, and another sensor measuring pressure inside branch supply line GL2.
US09098078B2	Control algorithm based on modeling a controlled object An embedded nonlinear cooperative pulse-controller (ENCPC) is characterized in that its control algorithm module comprises a comparison module, an identification control unit, a dynamic control unit, a steady-state control unit and a cooperative control unit. The comparison module generates control errors. The identification control unit identifies the model parameters, the time constant and the delay time. The dynamic control unit rapidly reduces the control errors, improves the rise time and decreases the overshoot of the control system. The steady-state control unit further eliminates the control errors in a steady change process and improves the control precision. The cooperative control unit coordinates and generates the final control output signal. The control algorithm module of the ENCPC enables that the ENCPC can quickly and stably eliminate the control errors with short rise time, small overshoot and short settling time.
US09098074B2	Safety-related control unit and method for controlling an automated installation A safety-related control unit for controlling an automated installation in accordance with an application program containing control instructions. The safety-related control unit has first and second processors for executing at least some of the control instructions by processing a plurality of first and second program variables, respectively. The first processor also determines a first test value for at least one of the first program variables in accordance with an instantaneous value present for this first program variable at a first defined instance of time. The second processor determines a second test value for the at least one of the first program variables. The second test value corresponds to the first test value. The safety-related control unit also has a data memory for storing the instantaneous value, the first test value and the second test value in order to facilitate a quick restart of the control unit after an unexpected interrupt.
US09098069B2	Display device, corresponding systems, and methods for orienting output on a display A display system includes a display and a control circuit operable with the display. The display is configured to provide visual output having a presentation orientation. When user input is received, the control circuit can alter the presentation orientation from an initial orientation in response to user input. When non-user events or device events are detected, the control circuit can revert the presentation orientation to the initial orientation in response to the non-user event or device event. Where the presentation orientation has a user input configuration associated therewith, the user input configuration can either be altered with the presentation orientation or retained in an initial disposition.
US09098066B2	Dual holography 3D display device The present disclosure relates to a dual holography three dimensional display device. The present disclosure suggests thin flat type holography 3D display device comprises: a left-eye display panel for representing a left-eye 3D image; and a right-eye display panel disposed at one side of the left-eye display panel for representing a right-eye 3D image. By combining the left-eye holography display panel with the right-eye holography display panel, it is possible to suggest high quality and high speed processed holography 3D images/video without expensive high speed processing display panel.
US09098064B2	Image forming apparatus with a movable tag reader for sensing tags at various locations An image forming apparatus including a wireless tag reader is described. The wireless tag reader is configured to be located in a first position to read wireless tags associated with consumables when the consumables are inserted into, stationary in, or removed from the image forming apparatus, and in a second position to read wireless tags outside of the image forming apparatus.
US09098062B2	Process cartridge and image forming apparatus A process cartridge for an image forming apparatus includes a developing roller, including a shaft member and an elastic layer therearound, for developing operation while contacting an image bearing member with a peripheral speed difference; a toner supplying roller contactable to the developing roller; a regulating member, contactable to the developing roller, wherein a length of the regulating member is shorter than that of the developing roller; and a cleaning blade, contactable to the image bearing member. The developing roller has a region capable of carrying the toner regulated by the regulating member and a region, outside thereof, both of which regions are contactable to the image bearing member, wherein the cleaning blade extends over the regions when the cleaning blade is contacted to the image bearing member. The shaft member has an outer diameter in a region outside a first contact region between the regulating member and the developing roller, and an outer diameter in a second contact region between the toner supplying roller and the developing roller wherein the former outer diameter is smaller than the latter outer diameter.
US09098061B2	Image forming apparatus having front cover and top cover An image forming apparatus includes process units arranged in a predetermined direction to form a process-unit row, each having a photosensitive body and a developer container; a casing accommodating the process units and having a cover opening and closing an opening formed at one side in the predetermined direction, and an exposure member exposing the photosensitive body, and having a laser source, a deflector, and an optical element, and the exposure member is arranged facing the developer container of each process unit in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction. The process units are detachable from the casing, through the opening of the casing, and the developer container of one process unit arranged at one end of the process-unit row has a protruding portion protruding toward the exposure member to overlap with the exposure member in the orthogonal direction.
US09098057B2	Electrode and image forming apparatus An electrode for an image forming apparatus, the electrode including: an elastically deformable spring portion including a wire which is spirally wound and formed in a tube shape; an electrical contact portion provided continuously to the spring portion at one side in an axial direction of the spring portion, including the wire which is wound at least twice, and formed in an annular shape, where a center axis of the annular shape extends in an intersecting direction which intersects with the axial direction of the spring portion; and an extending portion provided continuously to the electrical contact portion and extending at least in the intersecting direction.
US09098056B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member unit, a development device, a developer collection mechanism and a unit support tray. The developer collection mechanism is arranged on a downstream side in a first direction where the development device and the image carrying member unit are fitted into the main body of the image forming apparatus and the toner discharge portion of the image carrying member unit is coupled to the developer collection mechanism. The unit support tray is provided such that the unit support tray can be moved horizontally in the first direction and a second direction where the development device and the image carrying member unit are removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus; the unit support tray is moved in the first or second direction such that the toner discharge portion and the developer collection mechanism are coupled or the coupling is cancelled.
US09098052B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a transfer member configured to transfer a toner image formed on the image bearing member onto a recording material, and a contact-and-separation unit configured to move the transfer member to a contact position where the transfer member contacts the image bearing member and a spacing position where the transfer member is separated from the image bearing member. A control portion controls a driving unit when the transfer member is moved from the contact position to the spacing position by using a phase range and a rotational direction of a cam of the contact-and-separation unit, in which a distance between an outer circumference at an abutted portion of a supporting member and a rotation center of the cam continuously increases with rotation of the cam.
US09098051B2	Collection device and image forming apparatus A collection device including: an accommodation part configured to accommodate therein collected adhering substance; and a detection part configured to detect an amount of the adhering substance in the accommodation part and including, a moving member configured to move from a first position to a second position, the accommodation part being capable of accommodating therein the adhering substance when the moving member is arranged at the first position and being full of the adhering substance when the moving member is in the second position, and a restraining member configured to restrain the moving member from moving from the first position to the second position when the moving member is arranged at the first position, and restrain the moving member from moving from the second position to the first position when the moving member is arranged at the second position.
US09098045B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive drum; a transfer roller configured to form a nip portion; and a sheet guide that is configured to guide a recording sheet. The sheet guide comprises: a conductor configured to face the recording sheet, and insulating ribs that are arranged corresponding to a printing area of the recording sheet in a width direction and are configured to protrude from the conductor to guide the recording sheet. The conductor comprises: a central portion, and a pair of end portions and are configured to protrude towards the recording sheet from a virtual plane extending from the central portion in the width direction. Protrusion amounts of the end portions with respect to the central portion are smaller than a protrusion amount of each rib from the central portion of the conductor.
US09098042B2	Recording material detection apparatus and image forming apparatus A recording material detection apparatus having a detecting device configured to detect a surface state of a recording material on the basis of reflected light from a surface of the recording material includes a reference surface to be irradiated with light from a light source, the detecting device includes a light-shielding portion configured to control conditions for detecting information relating to the surface state of the recording material on the basis of the reflected surface from the reference surface, and cover a portion of the reference panel other than the reference surface so as to prevent the light from the light source from being reflected from the portion of the reference panel other than the reference surface and being received by the light-receiving unit.
US09098041B2	Image forming apparatus for detecting patch image including a plurality of regions An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of developing units configured to develop latent images formed on a plurality of photosensitive members by exposure units; an image carrier, on which the developed images formed on the plurality of photosensitive members are transferred; a sensor configured to irradiate the image carrier with light, and detect an amount of reflected light; and a patch detection unit configured to detect a position of a patch image, formed on the image carrier, based on the amount of reflected light detected by the sensor. The patch image has a first region and a second region formed on the same photosensitive member, the second region is formed to be adjacent to the first region, and a density of the second region is lower than that of the first region.
US09098039B1	Roller-shaped rotator, fixing device, and image forming apparatus A roller-shaped rotator includes an endless belt and a roller-shaped base member. The roller-shaped base member is formed by winding a thin plate material plural times through elastic deformation into a roller shape. The roller-shaped base member is inserted into the endless belt, and brought into press contact with an inner peripheral surface of the belt by an elastic repulsive force due to the deformation. The roller-shaped base member is supported at both end portions in an axial direction so as to be rotatable about an axis of the roller-shaped base member.
US09098038B2	Image forming apparatus, fixing device, image forming method, and computer readable medium An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device, a number-of-revolutions determining unit, and a stopping unit. The fixing device includes a toner image forming unit that forms a toner image, a fixing member that fixes toner to a recording medium, a pressure member that conveys the recording medium, a driving unit that rotates the pressure member to allow the fixing member to perform slave rotation, and a number-of-revolutions sensing unit that senses the number of revolutions of the fixing member. The number-of-revolutions determining unit determines, based on the number of revolutions of the fixing member sensed by the number-of-revolutions sensing unit, the number of revolutions of the driving unit. The stopping unit stops the driving unit when the number of revolutions determined by the number-of-revolutions determining unit is not equal to a specific number of revolutions.
US09098036B1	Fixing device, image forming apparatus including fixing device A fixing device includes a primary winding, a fixing portion, a secondary winding, and a magnetic core body. The primary winding is configured to receive a supply of AC current from an AC power source. The fixing portion includes a heat source that generates heat when an electric current is supplied to the heat source, the fixing portion being configured to execute a fixing process onto a sheet with a toner image formed on the sheet, at a predetermined fixing temperature by using the heat from the heat source. The secondary winding is electrically connected to the heat source. The primary winding and the secondary winding are wound around the magnetic core body. The magnetic core body is made of a predetermined material whose permeability is lowered when a temperature thereof becomes equal to or higher than the predetermined fixing temperature upon receiving the heat from the heat source.
US09098034B2	Heater and image heating device including the same In order to suppress excessive temperature rise at a non-sheet-passing region while suppressing the deterioration of fixability in case of heating small size sheets, a heater includes a first heat-generation line and a second heat-generation line, which are independently controllable, wherein the first heat-generation line is configured so that a plurality of heat-generation resistors having positive resistance-temperature characteristics is electrically connected in parallel to each other between a first electro-conductive element and a second electro-conductive element, and the heat-generation resistors are adjusted so that a heat-generation amount per unit length of the first heat-generation line in a lengthwise direction of the heater decreases from a recording material conveyance reference towards a end portion in the lengthwise direction, and an image heating device having the heater.
US09098031B2	Narrow media throughput control using temperature feedback A printer is provided having a fuser assembly having a belt, a heater to heat the belt, a backup roll positioned to engage the belt thereby defining a fusing nip with the belt, a main temperature sensor associated with the heat transfer member, the first temperature sensor associated with the backup roll for sensing a temperature of a portion of the backup roll, the second temperature sensor associated with a distal end region of the heat transfer member for sensing the temperature of the distal end region. A controller is coupled to the fuser assembly for controlling a throughput of the printer based on at least one of the backup roll temperature and the temperature at the distal end region of the heater.
US09098029B2	Fixing device including a plurality of coils, coil drivers, and a drive circuit A fixing device which heats a heating object through induction heating by using a plurality of coils includes a plurality of coil drivers that drive the plurality of coils respectively, a drive circuit that controls ON/OFF states of a plurality of switching elements simultaneously to control the drive of the plurality of coil drivers, a control unit that controls a voltage supplied to each of the plurality of coils in accordance with the control of the ON/OFF states of the plurality of switching elements by the drive circuit, and a plurality of voltage control circuits that individually change the voltages supplied to the plurality of coils in accordance with the voltage control of the control unit.
US09098028B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes an image forming part to form a developer image on a recording medium, a fuser part that includes a fuser member and a heat application member to fix the developer image on the recording medium, a heat application control part to control the heat application member so that a temperature of the fuser member falls within a target temperature range that has been set, a temperature setting part to set a first target temperature range and a second target temperature range. The first target temperature range is a target temperature range for a first fusion that is performed on a first surface of the recording medium, and the second target temperature range is another target temperature range, which is lower than the first target temperature range, for a second fusion that is performed on the first surface of the recording medium.
US09098027B2	Image heating apparatus with movable rubbing member rubbing a heating rotating body In an image heating apparatus in which a heating rotating body heats a recording material bearing an image and a rubbing member rubs the heating rotating body to eliminate gloss streaks, an image failure, such as gloss unevenness, does not occur on normal plain paper and coated paper, and a toner gloss on the coated paper can be enhanced. A longitudinal temperature difference of a heating rotating body 91 is controlled within a predetermined temperature, so that the surface of the heating rotating body can be uniformly roughed. Consequently, an image failure due to scuffs on the surface of the heating rotating body and gloss unevenness due to unevenness of roughness of the surface of the heating rotating body are prevented, and thus a good fixed image can be obtained.
US09098024B2	Cooling device and image forming apparatus including same A cooling device including at least two cooling members to cool a recording medium passing thereover, a coolant circulation unit to circulate a coolant, and tubing that connects the coolant circulation unit to the cooling members and through which the coolant circulates. Each of the cooling members includes a heat-absorbing surface that directly contacts the recording medium or indirectly contacts the recording medium via a thermal transmission member, an internal channel provided within each of the cooling members through which the coolant circulates, and a channel inlet and outlet formed at downstream and upstream ends of each of the cooling members in a direction of conveyance of the recording medium, respectively. One of an interval and a thermal insulator is provided between the cooling members.
US09098020B2	Image forming apparatus with cleaning current control An image forming apparatus includes transferring current to the transfer portion; a cleaning blade, provided downstream of a transfer portion and upstream of an image forming station with respect to a rotational moving direction of an intermediary transfer member, for removing toner from the intermediary transfer member; an executing portion for executing an operation in a cleaning mode for removing the toner by the cleaning blade, in which a cleaning current is applied to a transfer portion in a direction opposite to that of an image transferring current to shift the toner from the transfer roller onto the intermediary transfer member; and a controller for setting the cleaning current, in which the set cleaning current is lower when a cumulative number of fed recording materials from the execution of the previous cleaning mode is larger.
US09098017B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus has a developing device and a controller. The developing device includes a stirring member, rotatable at a first speed or at a second speed lower than the first speed, which varies, according to its speed, the amount of developer discharged out of the developing device. The controller drives the stirring member to rotate at the second speed, then switches the rotation speed of the stirring member to a third speed higher than the second speed but lower than the first speed, and then drives the stirring member to rotate at the third speed for a first period. The third speed is set higher the lower the fluidity of the developer.
US09098012B2	Electrophotographic image forming apparatus and process cartridge An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member (drum); a developer carrying member; a cleaning blade for cleaning the drum; a developer seal member of a peripheral surface seal type, provided at an end portion of the developer carrying member, for preventing leakage of the developer; and a developer retaining member provided at an end portion of the cleaning blade. With respect to a longitudinal direction of the drum, the developer seal member is disposed in a region where the cleaning blade is provided, an inside end position of the retaining member is located at the same position as or inside an inside end position of the developer seal member, and an outside end position of the retaining member is located at the same position as or outside an outside end position of the developer seal member.
US09098010B2	Development device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus is provided which includes a development device that has no developer supply member and with which the decrease in density at a back end of a solid image and occurrence of ghosting are suppressed. A development roller having dielectric portions scattered on a surface thereof is provided and components are configured so that the position of the dielectric portions in a triboelectric series is on the same polarity side, relative to a regulating blade, as the normal charge polarity of the toner.
US09098009B2	Developing device A developing device including a housing, a developing roller, a seal member arranged between the housing and each end of the developing roller, and a layer thickness regulation blade including a blade main body, and a blade rubber part protruding from a surface of the blade main body and contacting the developing roller, wherein an end surface of the blade rubber part in an axial direction of the developing roller is in contact with an inner surface of the seal member in the axial direction, and wherein the blade rubber part has an inclined surface at each end thereof in the axial direction, the inclined surface extending toward an upstream side in a rotating direction of the developing roller while extending toward an outer side in the axial direction so as to extend to the seal member.
US09098008B2	Blowing device and image forming apparatus A blowing device includes a blower and an air duct including an inlet, an outlet, and a body. The outlet faces a longitudinal portion of an oblong target structure toward which air is blown. The outlet allows air to be discharged in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction in which the longitudinal portion extends. The inlet has an opening and the outlet has an oblong opening, and the opening of the inlet and the opening of the outlet having different shapes. The body has a passage space formed therein. Plural restraining portions that restrain airflow are disposed at different positions in the passage space in the direction of airflow. A most downstream one of the restraining portions is formed so as to at least partially cover the passage space with an air-permeable member having plural air passage portions that are distributed the air-permeable member.
US09098005B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member configured to bear an electrostatic latent image, a plurality of development devices including a developer bearing member configured to bear a developer for developing the electrostatic latent image, a rotatable development device supporting member configured to support the plurality of development devices. The developer bearing member is configured to execute development while contacting the image bearing member at a development position via the developer, rotating in the same direction as rotating direction of the image bearing member at the development position, and rotating at a speed faster than a surface speed of the image bearing member.
US09098000B2	Process of making a three-dimensional structure on a support structure The present disclosure relates to polymer particles comprising a polymer matrix having a coating of an inorganic semimetal oxide or metal oxide, wherein the polymer matrix has at least one first functional group A and at least one second functional group B, both functional groups A and B being able to enter into at least one covalent bond with one another, functional group A being selected from the group consisting of an azide group, C —C double bond, C —C triple bond, aldehyde group, ketone group, imine group, thioketone group and thiol group, and functional group B being selected from the group consisting of a C —C double bond, C —C triple bond, C —N triple bond, diene group, thiol group and amine group.
US09097999B2	Polyester, pigment composition, and toner Provided is a pigment dispersant for improving the dispersibility of an azo pigment for a water-insoluble solvent. More specifically, provided is a polyester, including at least one unit represented by one of the following formula (1) and the following formula (2): in the formula (1) and the formula (2): R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a phenyl group; R2 to R6 each represent a hydrogen atom, a COOR7 group, or a CONR8R9 group, provided that at least one of the R2 to R6 represents the COOR7 group or the CONR8R9 group; and the R7 to R9 each represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms.
US09097998B2	Toner A toner is provided which is superior in the long-term storage stability and has high low-temperature fixing properties. In a DSC curve as measured with a differential scanning calorimeter, the toner has a glass transition temperature of not less than 50° C. and not more than 60° C.; and the toner has, in regard to a resin composition contained therein, a difference of not less than 0.060 W/g in heat flow between a point on the curve at a temperature of 40° C. and a baseline in the range exceeding the glass transition temperature; and in viscoelastic characteristics measured at a frequency of 6.28 rad/sec, the toner has a storage elastic modulus (G′40) at a temperature of 40° C. of not less than 7.0×108 Pa and not more than 2.0×109 Pa, and a storage elastic modulus (G′70) at a temperature of 70° C. of not less than 1.0×105 Pa and not more than 1.0×107 Pa.
US09097997B2	Magnetic toner A magnetic toner is provided that exhibits an excellent electrostatic offset resistance both initially and after long-term use. The magnetic toner contains: magnetic toner particles containing a binder resin and a magnetic body; and inorganic fine particles present on the surface of the magnetic toner particles, wherein the inorganic fine particles present on the surface of the magnetic toner particles contain a prescribed metal oxide fine particle in a prescribed proportion; the magnetic toner has prescribed numerical value ranges for a coverage ratio A of the magnetic toner particle surface covered by the inorganic fine particles and for a coverage ratio B by the inorganic fine particles that are fixed to the magnetic toner particle surface; the magnetic toner particle contains a crystalline polyester; and measurement of the magnetic toner with a differential scanning calorimeter provides a characteristic differential scanning calorimetric curve.
US09097995B2	Electronic devices comprising structured organic films An electronic device comprising a structured organic film with an added functionality comprising a plurality of segments and a plurality of linkers arranged as a covalent organic framework, wherein the structured organic film may be a multi-segment thick structured organic film.
US09097991B2	Exposure apparatus, method of controlling the same and method of manufacturing device An exposure apparatus exposes a resist on a substrate to light via an optical system. The exposure apparatus includes: a table configured to position the substrate at an exposure position upon holding the substrate; an obtaining unit configured to obtain a distance from an alignment mark formed on the substrate to a resist surface, and a tilt of the resist surface; and a control unit configured to calculate a correction value for correcting a shift in exposure position, that occurs upon tilt correction of the table, so as to reduce the tilt of the resist surface, using the distance and the tilt, and control a position of the table in accordance with the correction value.
US09097987B2	Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method A lithographic projection apparatus includes a support structure configured to hold a patterning device, the patterning device configured to pattern a beam of radiation according to a desired pattern; a substrate table configured to hold a substrate; a projection system configured to project the patterned beam onto a target portion of the substrate; a liquid supply system configured to provide liquid to a space between the projection system and the substrate; and a shutter configured to isolate the space from the substrate or a space to be occupied by a substrate.
US09097984B2	Microlithography projection objective Microlithography projection objectives for imaging into an image plane a pattern arranged in an object plane are described with respect to suppressing false light in such projection objectives.
US09097980B2	Transmission box for reticle POD A transmission box using AMHS for transferring reticle pod is provided, wherein an OHT (Overhead Hoist Transfer) system is disposed on the transmission box to perform mechanical transferring of the reticle pod for greatly reducing risks of damaging reticles caused by operators when transferring, streamlining the allocation of operators, and thus decreasing the time needed for process to complete.
US09097979B2	Block copolymer-based mask structures for the growth of nanopatterned polymer brushes Block copolymer-based mask structures for the growth of patterned polymer brushes via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) are provided. Also provided are methods of making the mask structures and methods of using the mask structures to grow patterned polymer brushes. The mask structures comprise a substrate having a surface, a neutral layer comprising a crosslinked copolymer film disposed on the surface of the substrate and a domain-forming block copolymer film disposed on the crosslinked copolymer film. The crosslinked copolymer film comprises crosslinked random copolymer chains having pendant alkyl halide functional groups that are capable of acting as ATRP initiating sites.
US09097978B2	Method and apparatus to characterize photolithography lens quality Provided is a method of characterizing photolithography lens quality. The method includes selecting an overlay pattern having a first feature with a first pitch and a second feature with a second pitch different than the first pitch, performing a photolithography simulation to determine a sensitivity coefficient associated with the overlay pattern, and providing a photomask having the overlay pattern thereon. The method also includes exposing, with a photolithography tool, a wafer with the photomask to form the overlay pattern on the wafer, measuring a relative pattern placement error of the overlay pattern formed on the wafer, and calculating a quality indicator for a lens in the photolithography tool using the relative pattern placement error and the sensitivity coefficient.
US09097977B2	Process sequence for reducing pattern roughness and deformity A method for patterning a substrate with reduced defectivity is described. Once a pattern is formed in a layer of radiation-sensitive material using lithographic techniques, the pattern formed on the substrate is post-treated. The post-treating of the pattern in the layer of radiation-sensitive material is performed to reduce a roughness of the pattern. The post-treating includes performing a treatment process on the pattern to alter a solubility of an exposed surface of the pattern, wherein the treatment process involves performing a first chemical treatment of the pattern using a liquid-phase chemical solution containing a first surfactant, or exposing said pattern to second EM radiation different than said first EM radiation. Following the treatment process, the post-treating includes hard baking the pattern, and performing a second chemical treatment of the pattern using a vapor-phase chemical solution to reduce the roughness.
US09097975B2	Double patterning by PTD and NTD process A method of manufacturing using a double patterning method is provided. The double patterning method uses a first developer and a second developer that are different. For example, the first developer may be a positive tone developer for a positive photoresist while the second developer may be a negative tone developer for the positive photoresist. Photoresists having a photoactive compound are also provided that may be useful in double patterning methods. The resulting double patterning results, wherein a dimension of a variable first dense pattern is larger than a dimension of a variable second dense pattern.
US09097974B2	Method for preparing a relief printing form A relief printing form is prepared from a photosensitive element. An in-situ mask is formed and disposed above a photopolymerizable layer of the photosensitive element, the element is exposed to actinic radiation through the in-situ mask in an environment having an inert gas and a concentration of oxygen between about 30,000 ppm and about 7500 ppm to form at least a polymerized portion and an unpolymerized portion of the layer, and the exposed element is processed by treating with at least one washout solution selected from solvent solution, aqueous solution, semi-aqueous solution, or water.
US09097973B2	Method of forming pattern and developer for use in the method Provided is a method of forming a pattern, including (a) forming a chemically amplified resist composition into a film, (b) exposing the film to light, and (c) developing the exposed film with a developer containing an organic solvent, wherein the developer contains an alcohol compound (X) at a content of 0 to less than 500 ppm based on the total mass of the developer.
US09097965B2	Image projection device, image projection method, and image display device An image projection device includes beam generation means that emits a plurality of beams in one direction such that the plurality of beams are superimposed each other, a convergence angle of each beam being different from each other; and scanning means that scans projection surface with the beams emitted from beam generation means.
US09097964B2	Device and method for stereoscopic image printing A method for stereoscopic image printing according to one aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter includes acquiring information on distribution of parallax of a multi-viewpoint image with two or more viewpoints; determining, based on the information on the distribution of parallax, a number of viewpoints of a stereoscopic image which is printed on a lenticular lens sheet; generating, if the number of viewpoints of the multi-viewpoint image is smaller than the determined number of viewpoints, a shortfall viewpoint image based on the inputted multi-viewpoint image; and printing a stereoscopic image which is made of the multi-viewpoint image and the generated viewpoint image.
US09097963B2	Camera mounting assembly A camera mounting assembly includes a base member or plate for holding a camera and a side member or plate. In an exemplary embodiment, lower slots on the base plate or side slots on the side plate are gripped by a vertical support's quick-release mechanism to mount the camera in a landscape or portrait orientation, respectively, the camera being generally centered and evenly balanced over the support in either case. The side member is detachably fastened to the base member, which modular construction permits separately timed purchase of the base member and side member as allowed by the user's budget and further permits breakdown of the assembly for ease of transport. The side member may be generally L-shaped with a lower arm length less than the side arm length, which also facilitates transport. Other components may be detachably added such as a hand grip facilitating freehand shooting with the camera.
US09097962B2	Extendible L-plate for camera equipment A two-piece extendable L-plate provides clearance between a camera and a quick-release receiver securing the camera to a support permitting a camera having cables connected to the side of the camera's body to be secured in either a landscape or a portrait orientation.
US09097961B2	Focusing system, interchangeable lens, and image-capturing device A focusing system includes a first drive unit for driving a first focus lens along the optical axis, a second drive unit for driving a second focus lens along the optical axis, a determining unit for periodically detecting a focus state of a subject image formed via the optical system and determining a focus position of the optical system based on the detected result, and a control unit for controlling the first and second drive units according to a result of determining the focus position of the optical system by the determining unit. The control unit controls the second drive unit to drive the second focus lens independently of the first focus lens, in the focus operation.
US09097955B2	Optical unit and its manufacturing method Provided is an optical unit comprising a shake detecting sensor which is less likely to unnecessarily vibrate even with the optical unit being designed to have a thinner profile. At a first step in the assembly of an optical unit provided with a shake correction mechanism, a module cover is mounted on a fixed body with a spring member therebetween and a movable module driving mechanism is provided between the module cover and the fixed body. At a second step, an image-capturing unit is inserted into the interior of the module cover by way of a fixed-body-side opening portion and a module-cover-side opening portion, and at a third step, a holding member is attached to a module cover.
US09097950B2	Liquid crystal display panel and apparatus having the liquid crystal display panel The present invention provides a liquid crystal display panel. An Nth set of scan lines is disposed between two neighboring row of pixels. Each set of the scan lines comprises an upper scan line and a lower scan line. Gate electrodes of the thin film transistors in the neighboring row of pixels are alternatively coupled to the upper scan line and the lower scan line sequentially. An Nth data line is disposed between a 2N-1th column of pixels and a 2Nth column of pixels. The Nth data line is coupled to source electrodes of the thin film transistors of the neighboring 2N-1th column of pixels and 2Nth column of pixels.
US09097949B2	Pixel structure and liquid crystal display structure using the same A pixel structure including a substrate, a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer is provided. A signal line and a pixel electrode are disposed on the substrate. The first dielectric layer covers the signal line and has a first capacitance. The second dielectric layer is disposed on the substrate, and covers the pixel electrode. The second dielectric layer has a second capacitance larger than the first capacitance.
US09097948B2	Liquid crystal display device At a corner of a TFT substrate in which sealants are coated overlapping each other, a phenomenon that the width of the sealants is increased and protrude to the display region is prevented. An organic passivation film is formed as far as the outside of the display region. A groove-like organic passivation film removed portion is formed surrounding the display region. Since the sealants are coated overlapping each other at the corner, when a TFT substrate and a counter substrate are superposed at a predetermined gap, the width of the groove-like organic passivation film removed portion is made larger at the corner than the side in order to prevent the sealant from extending. Since an excessive sealant is absorbed in the groove-like organic passivation film removing portion of a larger width at the corner, the sealant can be prevented from protruding to the inside of the display region.
US09097946B2	Display panel A display panel includes a display area, a non-display area, a plurality of signal pads and a passive covering layer. The non-display area is adjacent to the display area. The signal pads are disposed within the non-display area. The passive covering layer is disposed on the display area and extends to cover at least a portion of the non-display area. The passive covering layer has a first thickness within the display area. The passive covering layer has a second thickness within the non-display area. The first thickness is greater than the second thickness.
US09097943B2	Liquid crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal layer having a twisted helical structure when an electric field is not generated A liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrate facing each other, a pixel electrode and a common electrode on an inner surface of the first substrate and generating an electric field substantially parallel to the first substrate, a first alignment layer on the inner surface of the first substrate and homeotropically aligned, a first polarizer on an outer surface of the first substrate and having a first polarization axis, a second alignment layer on an inner surface of the second substrate and homogeneously aligned, a second polarizer on an outer surface of the second substrate and having a second polarization axis perpendicular to the first polarization axis, and a liquid crystal layer between the first and second alignment layers.
US09097942B2	Display device, and electronic device and ornamental product incorporating same Disclosed is a display device for use of a surface display of an arbitrary shape, including a plural number of display element units, each made up of a circuit that forms a single stage of a scanning circuit and a pixel circuit connected to an output of the scanning circuit, are arranged in a unicursal fashion on a display substrate.
US09097937B2	Liquid crystal display panel and liquid crystal display A liquid crystal display panel and a liquid crystal display are disclosed. The liquid crystal display panel comprises: a first substrate and a second substrate, disposed opposite to each other to form a cell, as well as a liquid crystal layer between the two substrates. On the first substrate, there is formed with a first common electrode and a pixel electrode, arranged at an interval; on the second substrate, there is formed with a set of layers, the set of layers comprising: a second common electrode, and a dielectric layer covering one side of the second common electrode facing the first substrate; and the structure of the set of layers is different at a position directly opposite to the first common electrode from that at a position directly opposite to the pixel electrode.
US09097933B2	Polarizer and liquid crystal display including the same A polarizer includes a reflective polarizer main body and an Rth compensation layer. The reflective polarizer main body includes a repetitively laminated structure, the repetitively laminated structure including two layers of different refractive indices repetitively disposed on one another. The Rth phase compensation layer is disposed at one side of the reflective polarizer main body. The Rth phase compensation layer is configured to compensate for a phase difference in an Rth direction.
US09097931B2	Color filter substrate and liquid crystal display The disclosed technology discloses a color filter substrate comprising a base substrate, a black matrix, a color filter layer and a common electrode layer; wherein the color filter layer has post projection(s) formed therewith. The post projections function as post spacers to support and maintain the cell gap of a liquid crystal cell between the array substrate and color filter substrate.
US09097924B2	Display device A display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a plurality of pixel units, a driving unit, and column insulation structure. The first substrate has a display area and a non-display area outside of the display area. The pixel units are formed at the display area of the first substrate and configured to receive an output signal. Formed at the non-display area of the first substrate, the driving unit includes first and second conductive layers, and first and second insulation layers which are alternately arranged. The connecting layer is connected between the first and second conductive layers via the through-holes formed at the first and second insulation layers. The column insulation structure corresponds to the connecting layer and is formed between the first and second substrates.
US09097920B2	Display device A display device includes a substrate having a display region with signal lines within the display region connected to respective terminals in a terminal group outside the display region via terminal wires, and an IC driver having bumps facing and connected to the terminals via an isotropic conductive film. The terminal wires have first, second, third and fourth terminal wires, and the terminals have a first terminal connected to the first terminal wire, a second terminal connected to the second terminal wire, a third terminal connected to the third terminal wire, and a fourth terminal connected to the fourth terminal wire. The first terminal and the second terminal are staggered with respect to each other, the second terminal and the third terminal are staggered with respect to each other, and the third terminal and the fourth terminal are staggered with respect to each other.
US09097919B2	Display device A display device includes a display panel, a first film-like printed circuit board including a first terminal portion, the first film-like printed circuit board extending from one side of the display panel in a direction away from the display panel, a touch panel provided so as to be opposed to the display panel, and a second film-like printed circuit board including a second terminal portion, the second film-like printed circuit board extending from one side of the touch panel in the direction away from the display panel, the one side of the touch panel corresponding to a side parallel with and adjacent to the one side of the display panel. The first terminal portion and the second terminal portion are provided so that a connecting direction of the first or second terminal portions is different from a connecting direction of the second or first terminal portions.
US09097918B2	Mask for curing frame sealant and liquid crystal display panel manufacturing method A mask for curing frame sealant and a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel manufacturing method are provided in the present invention. A gradient shading region is formed in a joining area between a shading region and a transparent region, such that the gradient shading region is integrally formed. When the mask is utilized for exposure, the irradiation transmittance in the gradient shading region is smaller than the irradiation transmittance in the transparent region, but the irradiation transmittance in the gradient shading region is higher than the irradiation transmittance in the shading region. The pre-polymerization reaction of the irradiated monomers occurrence can be avoided in the present invention, and the pre-tilt angles in the liquid crystal layer are kept to be all the same during the alignment process.
US09097914B2	Biomedical devices containing internal wetting agents This invention includes a wettable biomedical device containing a high molecular weight hydrophilic polymer and a hydroxyl-functionalized silicone-containing monomer.
US09097911B2	Microscope illumination The invention relates to a microscope illumination that includes a laser light source that emits a light beam, beam-guiding optical elements for generating an illumination beam path that includes pupil and field planes, and a homogenizing arrangement for forming a luminous field having a homogenized intensity and configured to be directed onto a sample.
US09097906B2	Optical element An optical element includes a substrate including a first surface and metal structure group including a plurality of metal structures, the metal structures being arranged on the first surface in a two-dimensionally isolated manner. Light is incident on the metal structure group in an oblique manner with respect to the normal of the first surface from the metal-structure-group side or the substrate side, so that a polarization state of light that passes through the metal structure group and a polarization state of light that is reflected by the metal structure group differ from each other in accordance with a wavelength range.
US09097905B2	Polarized lens A thin and lightweight polarized lens has a laminated structure having a polarized film provided in a sandwiched manner. A glass lens is provided on a front side of the polarized film and a resin lens is provided on a back side of the polarized film, and the resin lens on the back side has a thickness of a range from 0.05 mm to 0.50 mm.

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