| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09123664B2 |
Stackable molded microelectronic packages
A microelectronic package has a microelectronic element and conductive posts or masses projecting above a surface of the substrate. Conductive elements at a surface of the substrate opposite therefrom are electrically interconnected with the microelectronic element. An encapsulant overlies at least a portion of the microelectronic element and may be in contact with the conductive posts or masses. The encapsulant may have openings permitting electrical connections with the conductive posts or masses. The openings may partially expose conductive masses joined to posts, fully expose top surfaces of posts and partially expose edge surfaces of posts, or may partially expose top surfaces of posts. |
| US09123662B2 |
Reducing defects in patterning processes
A method includes forming a mask layer forming a first photo resist over the mask layer, performing a first patterning step on the first photo resist, and performing a first etching step on the mask layer using the first photo resist as an etching mask. The first photo resist is then removed. The method further includes forming a particle-fixing layer on a top surface and sidewalls of the mask layer, forming a second photo resist over the particle-fixing layer and the mask layer, performing a second patterning step on the second photo resist, and performing a second etching step on the particle-fixing layer and the mask layer using the second photo resist as an etching mask. The particle-fixing layer is etched through. A target layer underlying the mask layer is etched using the mask layer as an etching mask. |
| US09123661B2 |
Silicon containing confinement ring for plasma processing apparatus and method of forming thereof
A method of forming a silicon containing confinement ring for a plasma processing apparatus useful for processing a semiconductor substrate comprises inserting silicon containing vanes into grooves formed in a grooved surface of an annular carbon template wherein the grooved surface of the annular carbon template includes an upwardly projecting step at an inner perimeter thereof wherein each groove extends from the inner perimeter to an outer perimeter of the grooved surface. The step of the grooved surface and a projection at an end of each silicon containing vane is surrounded with an annular carbon member wherein the annular carbon member covers an upper surface of each silicon containing vane in each respective groove. Silicon containing material is deposited on the annular carbon template, the annular carbon member, and exposed portions of each silicon containing vane thereby forming a silicon containing shell of a predetermined thickness. A portion of the silicon containing shell is removed and the annular carbon template and the annular carbon member are removed from the silicon containing shell leaving a silicon containing confinement ring wherein the silicon containing vanes are supported by the silicon containing shell of the silicon containing confinement ring. |
| US09123657B2 |
Method of fabricating semiconductor devices
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. The method may include forming an interlayer insulating layer on a structure with a cell region and a peripheral circuit region, forming a first mask layer on the interlayer insulating layer, forming trenches in the first mask layer exposing the interlayer insulating layer by patterning the first mask layer on the peripheral circuit region, and forming key mask patterns in the trenches. An etch selectivity of the first mask patterns with respect to the interlayer insulating layer may be greater than that of the key mask patterns with respect to the interlayer insulating layer. |
| US09123655B2 |
Methods of forming layer patterns of a semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a layer pattern of a semiconductor device, the method including forming an anti-reflective coating (ARC) layer on an etching object layer such that the ARC layer includes a polymer having an imide group; forming a photoresist pattern on the ARC layer; wet etching portions of the ARC layer exposed by the photoresist pattern to form an ARC layer pattern; and etching the etching object layer using the photoresist pattern as an etch mask to form the layer pattern. |
| US09123654B2 |
Trilayer SIT process with transfer layer for FINFET patterning
Improved sidewall image transfer (SIT) techniques are provided. In one aspect, a SIT method includes the following steps. An oxide layer is formed on a substrate. A transfer layer is formed on a side of the oxide layer opposite the substrate. A mandrel layer is formed on a side of the transfer layer opposite the oxide layer. The mandrel layer is patterned to form at least one mandrel. Sidewall spacers are formed on opposite sides of the at least one mandrel. The at least one mandrel is removed, wherein the transfer layer covers and protects the substrate during removal of the at least one mandrel. The transfer layer is etched using the sidewall spacers as a hardmask to form a patterned transfer layer. The oxide layer and the sidewall spacers are removed from the substrate. The substrate is etched using the patterned transfer layer as a hardmask. |
| US09123653B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, method of manufacturing the same, and electronic apparatus
A solid state imaging device that includes a substrate having oppositely facing first and second surfaces and a photoelectric conversion unit layer having a light incident side facing away from the substrate. The substrate includes a first photoelectric conversion unit and a second photoelectric conversion and the photoelectric conversion layer includes a third photoelectric conversion unit. |
| US09123652B2 |
Multi-level autolimitating etching method
A method for producing patterns includes inclined flanks from a face of a substrate. A protective mask is formed covering at least two masked areas of the face of the substrate and defining at least one intermediate space. An inclined flank is plasma etched from each masked area, wherein the etching forms continuous passivation layer on the inclined flanks producing autolimitation of the etching when the inclined flanks join each other. The etching is carried out in a chamber and includes the introduction into the chamber of a gas additional to the plasma. The additional gas includes molecules of a chemical species participating in the formation of the passivation layer, the quantity of gas in the chamber being controlled so that the chamber contains a quantity of molecules of the species sufficient to form the passivation layer continuously. |
| US09123651B2 |
Dense oxide coated component of a plasma processing chamber and method of manufacture thereof
A method of forming a dense oxide coating on an aluminum component of semiconductor processing equipment comprises cold spraying a layer of pure aluminum on a surface of the aluminum component to a predetermined thickness. A dense oxide coating is then formed on the layer of pure aluminum using a plasma electrolytic oxidation process, wherein the plasma electrolytic oxidation process causes the layer of pure aluminum to undergo microplasmic discharges, thus forming the dense oxide coating on the layer of pure aluminum on the surface of the aluminum component. |
| US09123650B2 |
Plasma confinement rings including RF absorbing material for reducing polymer deposition
Plasma confinement rings are adapted to reach sufficiently high temperatures on plasma-exposed surfaces of the rings to substantially reduce polymer deposition on those surfaces. The plasma confinement rings include an RF lossy material effective to enhance heating at portions of the rings. A low-emissivity material can be provided on a portion of the plasma confinement ring assembly to enhance heating effects. |
| US09123649B1 |
Fit-to-pitch overlay measurement targets
Various target configurations are disclosed. A target may include multiple lines spaced equally apart according to a pitch distance. The target may also include a first mark having at least one edge parallel to the lines, wherein the edge is configured to have at least one of: a periodically repetitive edge pattern having an amplitude that is a multiple of the pitch, a length that is a multiple of the pitch, or a thickness that is a multiple of the pitch. The target may further include a second mark having at least one edge parallel to the plurality of lines, wherein the edge is configured to have at least one of: a periodically repetitive edge pattern having a second amplitude that is a multiple of the pitch, a length that is a multiple of the pitch, or a thickness that is a multiple of the pitch. |
| US09123647B2 |
Curable composition
Provided are a curable composition, a light emitting diode, a liquid crystal display, and a lighting apparatus. The curable composition may have excellent processibility and workability, and excellent crack resistance, hardness, thermal resistance, transparency and adhesiveness after curing. The composition has neither whitening after being applied nor surface stickiness. The composition may be useful as an adhesive or encapsulating material of an optical semiconductor device such as an LED, a CCD or a photocoupler. |
| US09123646B2 |
Light-emitting device
A light-emitting device includes a light-emitting element, and a sealing material for sealing the light-emitting element. The sealing material includes a first layer including a radical polymerizable resin and a second layer including a non-radical polymerizable resin, the first layer being in contact with the light-emitting element and the second layer covering an upper surface of the first layer. |
| US09123643B2 |
Chip-on-wafer structures and methods for forming the same
A package component includes a substrate, wherein the substrate has a front surface and a back surface over the front surface. A through-via penetrates through the substrate. A conductive feature is disposed over the back surface of the substrate and electrically coupled to the through-via. A first dielectric pattern forms a ring covering edge portions of the conductive feature. An Under-Bump-Metallurgy (UBM) is disposed over and in contact with a center portion of the conductive feature. A polymer contacts a sidewall of the substrate. A second dielectric pattern is disposed over and aligned to the polymer. The first and the second dielectric patterns are formed of a same dielectric material, and are disposed at substantially a same level. |
| US09123639B2 |
Power semiconductor module
A power semiconductor module available under environments of high temperature has enhanced heat resistance of silicone gel filled up in a case. A power semiconductor module comprises a power semiconductor element, an insulating substrate mounted with the power semiconductor element, a resin case containing the power semiconductor element and the insulating substrate, a silicone gel injected into the resin case, and a sheet composed of a silicone rubber or silicone resin, disposed between the resin case and the silicone gel within the resin case. |
| US09123634B2 |
Method for making semiconductor device and semiconductor device made thereby
Disclosed is a method for yield enhancement of making a semiconductor device. The method for yield enhancement of making a semiconductor device comprises the steps of: providing the semiconductor device comprising an epitaxial layer including a defect; forming a dielectric layer on the epitaxial layer; detecting and identifying a location of the defect; and etching the dielectric layer and leaving a part of the dielectric layer to cover an area substantially corresponding to the detected defect. The semiconductor device made by the method is also disclosed. |
| US09123619B2 |
Method for inhibiting the electric crosstalk of back illuminated CMOS image sensor
The present invention discloses a method for inhibiting the electric crosstalk of back illuminated CMOS image sensor. This invention comprises, two ion implanting layers are implanted at the different area of the backside of the pixel unit after the thickness of the backside of CMOS image sensor is reduced. The ion concentrations implanted into the two layers are controlled to decrease progressively from top to bottom. An electric field is formed from top to bottom inside the epitaxial layer. The said electric field absorbs the incident light which arrives at the substrate region outside of the space charge of the photodiode. It reduces the electron diffuses in different pixels. Consequently, it reduces the electric crosstalk of pixels, improves the manufacture process and improve the image quality of the of CMOS image sensor. |
| US09123612B2 |
Semiconductor structure and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, an imaging pixel array disposed on a first region of the substrate, a first isolation disposed in the first region, a periphery circuitry disposed on a second region of the substrate, and a second isolation disposed in the second region. The imaging pixel array has a plurality of imaging pixels configured to capture image data. The periphery circuitry has a transistor configured to receive and process the image data. The first isolation has a first depth and a first protrusion projected from a surface of the substrate. The second isolation has a second depth and a second protrusion projected from the surface of the substrate. The first protrusion has a substantially same height as the second protrusion. The first depth is different from the second depth. |
| US09123611B1 |
Method for passively compensating for temperature coefficient of gain in silicon photomultipliers and similar devices
A method for designing a completely passive bias compensation circuit to stabilize the gain of multiple pixel avalanche photo detector devices. The method includes determining circuitry design and component values to achieve a desired precision of gain stability. The method can be used with any temperature sensitive device with a nominally linear coefficient of voltage dependent parameter that must be stabilized. The circuitry design includes a negative temperature coefficient resistor in thermal contact with the photomultiplier device to provide a varying resistance and a second fixed resistor to form a voltage divider that can be chosen to set the desired slope and intercept for the characteristic with a specific voltage source value. The addition of a third resistor to the divider network provides a solution set for a set of SiPM devices that requires only a single stabilized voltage source value. |
| US09123609B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, manufacturing method of solid-state imaging device and electronic apparatus
A solid-state imaging device includes: a photoelectric conversion device; a wire grid polarizer provided on the photoelectric conversion device; and a conductive film electrically connecting conductive layers provided in the photoelectric conversion device to the wire grid polarizer. |
| US09123604B2 |
Image sensor with doped semiconductor region for reducing image noise
A backside illuminated image sensor includes a semiconductor layer having a back-side surface and a front-side surface. The semiconductor layer includes a pixel array region including a plurality of photodiodes configured to receive image light through the back-side surface of the semiconductor layer. The semiconductor layer also includes a peripheral circuit region including peripheral circuit elements for operating the plurality of photodiodes that borders the pixel array region. The peripheral circuit elements emit photons. The peripheral circuit region also includes a doped semiconductor region positioned to absorb the photons emitted by the peripheral circuit elements to prevent the plurality of photodiodes from receiving the photons. |
| US09123600B2 |
Microelectronic package with consolidated chip structures
A chip package has multiple chips that may be arranged side-by-side or in a staggered, stair step arrangement. The contacts of the chips are connected to interconnect pads carried on the chips themselves or on a redistribution substrate. The interconnect pads desirably are arranged in a relatively narrow interconnect zone, such that the interconnect pads can be readily wire-bonded or otherwise connected to a package substrate. |
| US09123598B2 |
Method of fabricating array substrate of liquid crystal display device
An array substrate of a liquid crystal display device and a method of fabricating the array substrate. A gate electrode of a thin film transistor of the array substrate is formed. The gate electrode has an edge region surrounding an interior region of the gate electrode and the edge region of the gate electrode is thicker than the interior region of the gate electrode. A semiconductor layer is formed over the gate electrode. A source electrode and a drain electrode of the thin film transistor are formed that define a channel region in the semiconductor layer. The channel region is located over the interior region of the gate electrode. Additionally, the gate electrode may be formed with a half-tone mask that results in the edge region of the gate electrode being thicker than the interior region of the gate electrode. |
| US09123597B2 |
Thin film transistor array substrate and method of manufacturing the same
A TFT array substrate includes a semiconductive oxide layer disposed on an insulating substrate and including a channel portion, a gate electrode overlapping the semiconductive oxide layer, a gate insulating layer interposed between the semiconductive oxide layer and the gate electrode, and a passivation layer disposed on the semiconductive oxide layer and the gate electrode. At least one of the gate insulating layer and the passivation layer includes an oxynitride layer, and the oxynitride layer has a higher concentration of oxygen than that of nitrogen in a location of the oxynitride layer closer to the semiconductive oxide layer. |
| US09123595B2 |
Method for fabricating a semiconductor device by bonding a layer to a support with curvature
The object of the invention is to provide a method for fabricating a semiconductor device having a peeled layer bonded to a base material with curvature. Particularly, the object is to provide a method for fabricating a display with curvature, more specifically, a light emitting device having an OLED bonded to a base material with curvature. An external force is applied to a support originally having curvature and elasticity, and the support is bonded to a peeled layer formed over a substrate. Then, when the substrate is peeled, the support returns into the original shape by the restoring force, and the peeled layer as well is curved along the shape of the support. Finally, a transfer object originally having curvature is bonded to the peeled layer, and then a device with a desired curvature is completed. |
| US09123592B1 |
Array substrate and method for manufacturing the same, display apparatus
An array substrate is disclosed. The array substrate comprises a substrate, a plurality of common electrodes formed on the substrate, a plurality of gate signal lines formed above the common electrodes, and a plurality of common electrode signal line units corresponding to the plurality of common electrodes, respectively. The plurality of common electrode signal line units are formed on the corresponding common electrodes, respectively. Each of the common electrode signal line units comprises a first common electrode signal line perpendicular to the gate signal line and a second common electrode signal line parallel to the gate signal line. The first and second common electrode signal lines are made of metal and cross with each other and are electrically connected to each other. Two adjacent common electrode signal line units are electrically connected by a bridge line. The present disclosure also relates to a method for manufacturing the array substrate and a display apparatus. |
| US09123588B2 |
Thin-film transistor circuit substrate and method of manufacturing the same
According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a thin-film transistor circuit substrate including forming an oxide semiconductor thin film above an insulative substrate, forming a gate insulation film and a gate electrode which are stacked on a first region of the oxide semiconductor thin film, and exposing from the gate insulation film a second region and a third region of the oxide semiconductor thin film, the second region and the third region being located on both sides of the first region of the oxide semiconductor thin film, forming an interlayer insulation film of silicon nitride including dangling bonds of silicon, the interlayer insulation film covering the second region and the third region of the oxide semiconductor thin film, the gate insulation film and the gate electrode, and forming a source electrode and a drain electrode. |
| US09123587B2 |
Thin-film transistor substrate and display
An embodiment of the invention provides a thin-film transistor substrate including: a substrate; a gate electrode disposed on the substrate; a gate insulating layer disposed on the substrate and covering the gate electrode; an active layer disposed on the gate insulating layer and above the gate electrode; an etching stop layer disposed on the active layer; a source electrode disposed on the etching stop layer and electrically connecting the active layer; a first insulating layer disposed on the etching stop layer and covering the source electrode; and a transparent electrode including a drain electrode and a pixel electrode connected thereto, wherein the drain electrode passes through the first insulating layer and the etching stop layer and directly contacts the active layer to electrically connect the active layer, and the pixel electrode is disposed the first insulating layer. |
| US09123586B2 |
Array substrate, method for fabricating the same and display device
Disclosed are an array substrate, a method for fabricating the same and a display device. The array substrate comprises: a substrate, a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer as well as an active layer, and a source/drain metal layer formed on the substrate, the source/drain metal layer is configured for forming a source electrode, a drain electrode and a channel region, wherein a region of the S/D metal layer for forming the channel region is at a lower height than other region of the S/D metal layer for forming the source electrode and the drain electrode. |
| US09123582B2 |
Methods of in-situ measurements of wafer bow
Various embodiments describe a method of quantifying bow in a wafer. In one embodiment, the method includes measuring a first plurality of distances from a first sensor to a first surface of the wafer to calculate the bow in the wafer. The first sensor is positioned outside of a set of process modules of the plasma processing system. A determination is made whether the calculated bow of the wafer is within a pre-determined range. If the calculated bow of the wafer is within the pre-determined range, the wafer is moved into a process module of the set of process modules for processing and a recipe for processing the wafer is adjusted based on the calculated bow of the wafer. If the calculated bow of the wafer is outside the pre-determined range, the wafer is removed from the plasma processing system. Other methods are described as well. |
| US09123576B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed, which can improve device characteristics by increasing a process margin between an active region and a storage node contact. The semiconductor device includes an active region, a device isolation film formed to have a lower height than the active region, and exposing an upper part of the active region, and a barrier pattern formed at a sidewall of the exposed active region of an upper part of the device isolation film. |
| US09123572B2 |
Anti-fuse memory cell
An anti-fuse memory cell having a variable thickness gate oxide. The variable thickness gate oxide is formed by depositing a first oxide over a channel region of the anti-fuse memory cell, removing the first oxide in a thin oxide area of the channel region, and then thermally growing a second oxide in the thin oxide area. The remaining first oxide defines a thick oxide area of the channel region. The second oxide growth occurs under the remaining first oxide, but at a rate less than thermal oxide growth in the thin oxide area. This results in a combined thickness of the first oxide and the second oxide in the thick oxide area being greater than second oxide in the thin oxide area. |
| US09123566B2 |
Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor device comprising silicon and germanium and method for manufacturing thereof
Disclosed are complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) devices and methods of manufacturing such CMOS devices. In some embodiments, an example CMOS device may include a substrate, and a buffer layer formed on the substrate, where the buffer layer comprises Si1-xGex, where x is less than 0.5. The example CMOS device may further include one or more pMOS channel layer elements, where each pMOS channel layer element comprises Si1-yGey, and where y is greater than x. The example CMOS device may still further include one or more nMOS channel layer elements, where each nMOS channel layer element comprises Si1-zGez, and where z is less than x. In some embodiments, the example CMOS device may be a fin field-effect transistor (FinFET) CMOS device and may further include a first fin structure including the pMOS channel layer element(s) and a second fin structure including the nMOS channel layer element(s). |
| US09123564B2 |
Semiconductor device with conformal doping and method of making
A semiconductor arrangement is provided. The semiconductor arrangement includes a first semiconductor device. The first semiconductor device includes a first active region having a first doped region and a second doped region over the first doped region. The second doped region includes a first bottom portion and a first sidewall. The first bottom portion includes a first bottom portion inner surface, a first bottom portion outer surface, a first bottom portion height and a first bottom portion width. The first sidewall includes a first sidewall inner surface, a first sidewall outer surface, a first sidewall width and a first sidewall height, the first sidewall height greater than the first bottom portion height. A method of making a semiconductor device is also provided. |
| US09123563B2 |
Method of forming contact structure of gate structure
A method of forming a contact structure of a gate structure is provided. In the method, an oxidation layer and a first sidewall layer disposed between a first metal gate and a second metal gate are etched to expose an underlying silicon substrate. A silicide portion defined by a contact profile is deposited in the exposed portion of the silicon substrate. A second sidewall layer substantially covers the first sidewall layer and at least partially covering the silicide portion is formed after depositing the silicide portion. A metal glue layer is deposited around the first metal gate and the second metal gate defining a trench above the silicide portion. A metal plug is deposited within the trench. |
| US09123561B2 |
Superjunction semiconductor device
A superjunction semiconductor device is disclosed in which the trade-off relationship between breakdown voltage characteristics and voltage drop characteristics is considerably improved, and it is possible to greatly improve the charge resistance of an element peripheral portion and long-term breakdown voltage reliability. It includes parallel pn layers of n-type drift regions and p-type partition regions in superjunction structure. PN layers are depleted when off-state voltage is applied. Repeating pitch of the second parallel pn layer in a ring-like element peripheral portion encircling the element active portion is smaller than repeating pitch of the first parallel pn layer in the element active portion. Element peripheral portion includes low concentration n-type region on the surface of the second parallel pn layer. The depth of p-type partition region of an outer peripheral portion in the element peripheral portion is smaller than the depth of p-type partition region of an inner peripheral portion. |
| US09123553B2 |
Method and system for bonding 3D semiconductor device
A method and system and for fabricating 3D (three-dimensional) SIC (stacked integrated chip) semiconductor devices. The system includes a vacuum chamber, a vacuum-environment treatment chamber, and a bonding chamber, though in some embodiments the same physical enclosure may serve more than one of these functions. A vacuum-environment treatment source in communication with the vacuum-environment treatment chamber provides a selected one or more of a hydrogen (H2)-based thermal anneal, an H2-based plasma treatment, or an ammonia (NH3)-based plasma treatment. In another embodiment, a method includes placing a semiconductor chip in a vacuum environment, performing a selected vacuum-environment treatment, and bonding the chip to a base wafer. A plurality of chips formed as dice on a semiconductor wafer may, of course, be simultaneously treated and bonded in this way as well, either before or after dicing. |
| US09123547B2 |
Stacked semiconductor device and method of forming the same
A stacked semiconductor device includes a first substrate. A multilayer interconnect is disposed over the first substrate. Metal sections are disposed over the multilayer interconnect. First bonding features are over the metal sections. A second substrate has a front surface. A cavity extends from the front surface into a depth D in the second substrate. The cavity has an interior surface. A stop layer is disposed over the interior surface of the cavity. A movable structure is disposed over the front surface of the second substrate and suspending over the cavity. The movable structure includes a dielectric membrane, metal units over the dielectric membrane and a cap dielectric layer over the metal units. Second bonding features are over the cap dielectric layer and bonded to the first bonding features. The second bonding features extend through the cap dielectric layer and electrically coupled to the metal units. |
| US09123546B2 |
Multi-layer semiconductor device structures with different channel materials
Systems and methods are provided for fabricating a semiconductor device structure. An example semiconductor device structure includes a first device layer and a second device layer formed on a first device layer. The first device layer is formed on a substrate and includes a first channel structure configured to conduct a first current, the first channel structure including a first material capable of sustaining a first processing temperature. The second device layer includes a second channel structure configured to conduct a second current, the second channel structure including a second material capable of sustaining a second processing temperature, the second processing temperature being equal to or lower than the first processing temperature. |
| US09123541B2 |
Highly etch-resistant polymer block for use in block copolymers for directed self-assembly
Compositions for directed self-assembly (DSA) patterning techniques are provided. Methods for directed self-assembly are also provided in which a DSA composition comprising a block copolymer is applied to a substrate and then self-assembled to form the desired pattern. The block copolymer includes at least two blocks of differing etch rates, so that one block (e.g., polymethylmethacrylate) is selectively removed during etching. Because the slower etching block (e.g., polystyrene) is modified with an additive to further slow the etch rate of that block, more of the slow etching block remains behind to fully transfer the pattern to underlying layers. |
| US09123537B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device including forming trench pattern in a mask film
Provided is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device in which a via hole and a trench are formed in a low dielectric constant film using a hard mask film having at least three layers. In a process of forming the hard mask film having at least three layers, the hard mask film formed of an insulating material and the hard mask film formed of a metal material, amorphous silicon or polycrystalline silicon are alternately laminated. |
| US09123533B2 |
Method and system for in-situ etch and regrowth in gallium nitride based devices
A method of regrowing material includes providing a III-nitride structure including a masking layer and patterning the masking layer to form an etch mask. The method also includes removing, using an in-situ etch, a portion of the III-nitride structure to expose a regrowth region and regrowing a III-nitride material in the regrowth region. |
| US09123532B2 |
Low-k dielectric damage repair by vapor-phase chemical exposure
A method for repairing and lowering the dielectric constant of low-k dielectric layers used in semiconductor fabrication is provided. In one implementation, a method of repairing a damaged low-k dielectric layer comprising exposing the porous low-k dielectric layer to a vinyl silane containing compound and optionally exposing the porous low-k dielectric layer to an ultraviolet (UV) cure process. |
| US09123527B2 |
Apparatus and methods for pulsed photo-excited deposition and etch
Embodiments of the invention provide methods for processing a substrate within a processing chamber. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a precursor gas mixture into the processing chamber, the precursor gas mixture comprising a deposition precursor gas and an etch precursor gas, subjecting the precursor gas mixture to a thermal energy from a heat source to deposit a material layer on a surface of the substrate, wherein the thermal energy is below the minimum required for pyrolysis of the etch precursor gas, and after the material layer is formed on the surface of the substrate, subjecting the precursor gas mixture to a photon energy from a radiation source, the photon energy having a wavelength and a power level selected to promote photolytic dissociation of the etch precursor gas over the deposition precursor gas and etch a portion of the material layer from the surface of the substrate. |
| US09123523B2 |
Excitation of reagent molecules withn a rf confined ion guide or ion trap to perform ion molecule, ion radical or ion-ion interaction experiments
A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an RF ion guide or ion trap and a device arranged and adapted to supply a reagent gas within the RF ion guide or ion trap. The mass spectrometer further comprises a photo-ionization device and a control system arranged and adapted: (i) to cause first ions to fragment or dissociate within the RF ion guide or ion trap to form second ions and neutral molecules; and (ii) to cause the photo-ionization device to photo-ionize and/or photo-excite the reagent gas to form reagent ions, excited species or radical species. The reagent ions, excited species or radical species interact with at least some of the neutral molecules located within the RF ion guide or ion trap to form analyte ions. |
| US09123520B2 |
Method for selective detection of explosives in mass spectrometer or ion mobility spectrometer at parts-per-quadrillion level
A method for selective detection of volatile and non-volatile explosives in a mass spectrometer or ion mobility spectrometer at a parts-per-quadrillion level without preconcentration is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of ionizing a carrier gas with an ionization source to form reactant ions or reactant adduct ions comprising nitrate ions (NO3−); selectively reacting the reactant ions or reactant adduct ions with at least one volatile or non-volatile explosive analyte at a carrier gas pressure of at least about 100 Ton in a reaction region disposed between the ionization source and an ion detector, the reaction region having a length which provides a residence time (tr) for reactant ions therein of at least about 0.10 seconds, wherein the selective reaction yields product ions comprising reactant ions or reactant adduct ions that are selectively bound to the at least one explosive analyte when present therein; and detecting product ions with the ion detector to determine presence or absence of the at least one explosive analyte. |
| US09123516B2 |
Multipole segments aligned in an offset manner in a mass spectrometer
This mass spectrometer is provided with an ion guide (37) having a multipole rod electrode (1), a power source unit (5) for applying voltage to the multipole rod electrode, and a control unit for controlling the power source unit, said mass spectrometer being characterised by the multipole rod electrode having a rod electrode divided into a plurality of segmented rods (2A-1, 2A-2, 2B-1, 2B-2, 2C-1, 2C-2, 2D-1, 2D-2) at mutually different positions in the axial direction. Thus enabled is low-cost, high-throughput analysis. |
| US09123514B2 |
In situ generation of ozone for mass spectrometers
In some embodiments, a mass spectrometer capable of performing OzID is disclosed that can provide ozone in situ within an evacuated chamber of the spectrometer, e.g., within a collision cell or within the vacuum chamber of the mass spectrometer. In some embodiments, a corona discharge generated within the evacuated chamber can be employed to convert an ozone precursor delivered to the chamber into ozone. |
| US09123513B2 |
Method for mass analysis
A method and system for analyzing a sample for an iterative information dependent acquisition cycle is disclosed, the method comprising performing an initial survey mass spectrum to generate a spectral peak list from the initial survey mass spectrum, applying threshold criteria to the spectral peak list to generate a threshold spectral peak list, performing a dependent MS/MS on the threshold peak list to obtain a plurality of mass spectra, and based on the plurality of mass spectra, determining exclusion criteria for a plurality of subsequent surveys. For each subsequent scan, the exclusion criteria are applied to generate a precursor list. The subsequent mass spectra for precursors that are common to previous IDA cycles are summed with spectra for the plurality of mass spectra from previous IDA cycles to obtain summed mass spectra. |
| US09123510B2 |
Method for controlling in-plane uniformity of substrate processed by plasma-assisted process
A method for controlling in-plane uniformity of a substrate processed by plasma-assisted process in a reactor, includes: supplying a principal gas to a reaction space, and discharging radially the principal gas from the reaction space through an annular duct; and supplying an secondary gas to the reaction space from an area in close proximity to an outer periphery of a susceptor, outside an outer circumference of the substrate as viewed from above, so as to flow at least partially in an inward direction passing the outer circumference of the substrate, reversing the direction of the secondary gas to flow toward the annular duct in a vicinity of the outer circumference of the substrate, and discharging radially the secondary gas together with the principal gas from the reaction space through the annular duct. |
| US09123509B2 |
Techniques for plasma processing a substrate
Techniques for plasma processing a substrate are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized with a method comprising introducing a feed gas proximate to a plasma source, where the feed gas may comprise a first and second species, where the first and second species have different ionization energies; providing a multi-level RF power waveform to the plasma source, where the multi-level RF power waveform has at least a first power level during a first pulse duration and a second power level during a second pulse duration, where the second power level may be different from the first power level; ionizing the first species of the feed gas during the first pulse duration; ionizing the second species during the second pulse duration; and providing a bias to the substrate during the first pulse duration. |
| US09123504B2 |
Semiconductor inspection device and semiconductor inspection method using the same
Provided are a semiconductor inspection device and a semiconductor inspection method such that in a specimen image in a single field of view obtained by an electron microscope, it is possible to suppress variations in the edge position measurement error attributable to the materials and structures of the lower layers of measured patterns by a first method, wherein the area in the field of view obtained by electron beam scanning is divided into a plurality of regions on the basis of information regarding the structures and materials of the object to be observed and the electron beam scanning conditions are changed for individual regions (805, 806), a second method, wherein, the image processing conditions are changed for individual regions resulting from division of the obtained images, or a third method, wherein the edge detection conditions are changed for individual regions resulting from the division within the edge inspection regions of the obtained images. |
| US09123500B2 |
Automated ion beam idle
An improved method and apparatus for shutting down and restoring an ion beam in an ion beam system. Preferred embodiments provide a system for improved power control of a focused ion beam source, which utilizes an automatic detection of when a charged particle beam system is idle (the beam itself is not in use) and then automatically reducing the beam current to a degree where little or no ion milling occurs at any aperture plane in the ion column. Preferred embodiments include a controller operable to modify voltage to an extractor electrode and/or to reduce voltage to a source electrode when idle state of an ion source of the charged particle beam system is detected. |
| US09123496B2 |
Molded case circuit breaker with large capacity
A molded case circuit breaker comprises: a plurality of stationary contact arms; a plurality of movable contact arms each having a plurality of contact arm pieces; a switching mechanism providing a driving force to move the movable contact arms to a closing position or an opening position; a driving shaft configured to provide a driving force for simultaneously rotating the movable contact arms; a link configured to transmit a driving force; a holder configured to rotate the movable contact arms; an upper arc barrier configured to prevent arcs from moving to a rear side from an upper side of the movable contact arms; and a torsion spring having one end portion contacting upper surface of the movable contact arms on the opening position, so as to provide an elastic force to the movable contact arms such that the movable contact arms are rotated to the closing position. |
| US09123491B2 |
Gas insulated switchgear
A gas insulated switchgear includes: an enclosure; a stationary contact arm fixedly installed within the enclosure; a movable contact arm installed to be moved within the enclosure such that it is brought into contact with or separated from the stationary contact arm; a cam reciprocating between closing and opening positions to move the movable contact arm; and an actuator moving the cam, wherein the cam includes first and second cam surfaces, and when the cam moves to an opening position by the actuator, movement acceleration of the movable contact arm by the first cam surface is greater than movement acceleration by the second cam surface and a movement distance of the movable contact arm by the first cam surface is smaller than a movement distance by the second cam surface. |
| US09123490B2 |
Vacuum switch tube
A vacuum switch tube has a housing which has two insulating housing regions arranged and configured symmetrically in respect of a center plane. Each of the two insulating housings contains a plurality of insulating housing parts. Shielding elements extend into the interior of the vacuum switch tube and are arranged between neighboring insulating housing parts and between insulating housing parts and neighboring additional housing parts. The shielding elements have improved dielectric properties and a simultaneously material-saving structure. Accordingly, the geometrical dimensions of the shielding elements are determined in dependence on a connected voltage and possible critical field strength between neighboring shields. |
| US09123488B2 |
Safety shutter of vacuum circuit breaker
The present invention relates to a safety shutter of a vacuum circuit breaker, and more particularly, to a safety shutter of a vacuum circuit breaker which is mounted on a cradle of a drawable type vacuum circuit breaker and opened or closed when a main body is retracted or pulled out to protect the safety of users from a charging part. |
| US09123485B2 |
Keyboard design
Embodiments of a backlit keyboard assembly are described. A keycap assembly is mounted into a case web having intersecting ribs. A flange, which can be angled, is on the bottom perimeter of the keycap and a correspondingly shaped flange is on each rib of the case web. An overlap of the keycap flange and the case web flanges prevents direct sighting of the backlight light source and also provides a more evenly distributed halo around the keycap, thereby improving both aesthetics and functionality by providing better light control and contrast. |
| US09123482B2 |
Contact slide unit for a switching unit
A contact slide unit is disclosed for a switching unit, in particular for a circuit breaker, having a contact slide, in which a switching piece can be guided, and a contact slide guide apparatus, in which the contact slide is guided. In at least one embodiment, a linear contact is provided between the contact slide and the contact slide guide apparatus. |
| US09123480B2 |
Drive for a switching device
A drive for a switching device having a contact system with a fixed contact and a moving contact, includes a force initiation element for initiating a drive force, an actuator for actuating the moving contact to close or open the contact system and a transmission disposed between the force initiation element and the actuator. The transmission allows both transferring the contact system from the closed to the open state and transferring the contact system from the open to the closed state to be triggered by a drive force in the same direction, making the drive cost-effective and compact. |
| US09123476B2 |
Tab lead and method of producing the same
A tab lead including a first insulating film made of resin is adhered to one of surfaces of a part of a region of a metal plate in a length direction of the metal plate and a second insulating film made of resin is adhered to the other surface of the part of the region. Both end portions of the first insulating film and both end portions of the second insulating film are integrally welded to each other. First protruding portions protruding outward in a thickness direction of the first insulating film are formed at regions of the first insulating film corresponding to both widthwise side edges of the metal plate and vicinities thereof. Second protruding portions protruding outward in a thickness direction of the second insulating film are formed at regions of the second insulating film corresponding to both widthwise side edges of the metal plate and vicinities thereof. |
| US09123471B2 |
Biaxially stretched polypropylene film, metallized film and film capacitor
A biaxially stretched polypropylene film includes protrusions on both surfaces, in which the biaxially stretched polypropylene film has a thickness t1 of 1 μm to 3 μm, has a tensile strength in the machine direction of 120 MPa to 250 MPa, has a tensile strength in the transverse direction of 250 MPa to 400 MPa, has a minimum protrusion height Pmin of 100 nm or greater and a maximum protrusion height Pmax of 1,600 nm or smaller for either surface, and satisfies all of Formulae (1) to (3) when one of the surfaces is surface A and the other is surface B: 0.5≦Pa250-450/Pa≦1.0 (1), 0.5≦Pb450-1600/Pb≦1.0 (2), and 600≦Pa+Pb≦1,200 (3). |
| US09123469B2 |
Laminated ceramic electronic component and manufacturing method therefor
In a method of forming a plating layer for an external terminal electrode by applying, for example, copper plating to an end surface of a component main body with respective ends of internal electrodes exposed, and then applying a heat treatment at a temperature of about 1000° C. or more in order to improve the adhesion strength and moisture resistance of the external terminal electrode, the plating layer may be partially melted to decrease the bonding strength of the plating layer. In the step of applying a heat treatment at a temperature of about 1000° C. or more to a component main body with plating layers formed thereon, the average rate of temperature increase from room temperature to the temperature of about 1000° C. or more is set to about 100° C./minute or more. This average rate of temperature increase maintains a moderate eutectic state in the plating layer and ensures a sufficient bonding strength of the plating layer. |
| US09123466B2 |
Wireless power transfer systems containing foil-type transmitter and receiver coils
Wireless power transfer systems include at least one foil-type transmitter/receiver coil with a plurality of turns, which is configured to reduce eddy current losses therein when energized to conduct an alternating current that supports inductive power transfer including coil-to-coil power electrical transfer, inductive heating, etc. The plurality of turns includes at least an outermost turn with a first arcuate-shaped corner having a concave inner surface, which faces an immediately adjacent one of the plurality of turns. The immediately adjacent one of the plurality of turns may also have a second arcuate-shaped corner with a concave inner surface facing an innermost one of the plurality of turns. The first arcuate-shaped corner may have a non-uniform radius of curvature and/or an innermost one of the plurality of turns may have an arcuate-shaped corner, which is a mirror image of the first arcuate-shaped corner when the coil is view in transverse cross-section. |
| US09123461B2 |
Reconfiguring tape wound cores for inductors
A tape wound inductor core device, inductors including same and methods of manufacture. Tape wound material may be cut and/or shaped into “pucks” that have an exterior surface made up of or defined substantially by the edge surfaces of the layers of the constituent conductive material, with all or most of the broad surfaces disposed inwardly, thereby reducing eddy currents and associated losses. Various puck configurations, inductor arrangements and fabrication techniques are disclosed. |
| US09123452B2 |
Differential signaling cable, transmission cable assembly using same, and production method for differential signaling cable
A differential signaling cable according to the present invention comprises: a pair of signal conductors provided in parallel; an insulator which covers the periphery of the pair of signal conductors in a batch; and a shield conductor provided on the outer periphery of the insulator, in which an interval between the pair of signal conductors is specified so that even-mode impedance becomes 1.5 to 1.9 times odd-mode impedance. |
| US09123449B2 |
Infusion system configurations
Infusion system configurations and assemblies facilitate routing of infusion circuit tubing lines. Tubing lines are routed into and out from compartments of a shielding assembly for the infusion system, at locations which prevent kinking and/or crushing of the lines, and/or provide for ease in assembling the circuit. A plurality of the lines may be held together by a support frame to form a disposable infusion circuit subassembly, that can further facilitate routing of the lines. |
| US09123448B2 |
Method for treating a cladding containing sintered calcium hydride
A method for treating a cladding within which there is a sintered material composed wholly or partly of sintered calcium hydride, the method comprising a step during which the sintered material is contacted with a reaction mixture comprising steam, carbon dioxide, and a chemically inert gas, the contacting being carried out for a duration allowing the sintered calcium hydride to be converted into a calcium carbonate powder.The treatment method provided by the invention results in a chemically inert waste, a limitation on the volume of wastes obtained, while allowing the removal or even recovery of these wastes by appropriate processing streams. |
| US09123446B1 |
Method and apparatus for memory speed characterization
Aspects of the disclosure provide an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a memory array, a ring oscillator and a speed determination circuit. The memory array is defined by a plurality of memory cells that are based on a memory cell design. The ring oscillator has a plurality of inversion stages formed of a plurality of modified memory cells based on the memory cell design. The speed determination circuit is configured to determine a speed of the ring oscillator. |
| US09123445B2 |
Storage control system with data management mechanism and method of operation thereof
A method of operation of a storage control system includes: determining a bit error rate of a page; calculating a slope based on the bit error rate; and adjusting a threshold voltage for the page based on the slope for reading a memory device. |
| US09123439B2 |
SRAM write-assisted operation with VDD-to-VCS level shifting
An electronic circuit and a method for driving data writes to an SRAM bit cell in an electronic circuit. The electronic circuit translates a first write signal in a lower voltage domain to a second write signal in a higher voltage domain. Based, at least in part, on the second write signal, the electronic circuit controls a discharge of a voltage of a data write line to a ground voltage level. The electronic circuit provides a negative voltage boost to the data write line after the voltage of the data write line has been discharged to reach or exceed a threshold value relative to the ground voltage level. |
| US09123438B2 |
Configurable delay circuit and method of clock buffering
A configurable delay circuit and a method of clock buffering. One embodiment of the configurable delay circuit includes: (1) a first delay stage electrically couplable in series to a second delay stage, the first delay stage and the second delay stage each having an input port electrically coupled to a signal source, and (2) a delay path select circuit electrically coupled between the first delay stage and the second delay stage, and operable to select between a delay path including the first delay stage and another delay path including the first delay stage and the second delay stage. |
| US09123434B2 |
Semiconductor device verifying signal supplied from outside
A method for accessing a semiconductor device having a memory array, includes receiving a chip select signal, receiving a command signal and an address signal, receiving a verification signal, calculating an error signal based on the address signal, the command signal, and the verification signal, generating an internal chip select signal based on the received chip select signal if the error signal indicates no error, and generating an external alert signal if the error signal indicates an error. |
| US09123433B2 |
Memory component with pattern register circuitry to provide data patterns for calibration
A memory component includes a memory core comprising dynamic random access memory (DRAM) storage cells and a first circuit to receive external commands. The external commands include a read command that specifies transmitting data accessed from the memory core. The memory component also includes a second circuit to transmit data onto an external bus in response to a read command and pattern register circuitry operable during calibration to provide at least a first data pattern and a second data pattern. During the calibration, a selected one of the first data pattern and the second data pattern is transmitted by the second circuit onto the external bus in response to a read command received during the calibration. |
| US09123430B2 |
Differential current sense amplifier and method for non-volatile memory
The selected bit line in a non-volatile memory carries a cell conduction current to be measured and also a leakage current or noise due to weak coupling with neighboring array structures. In a first phase, a sense amplifier senses the bit line current by discharging a capacitor with the combined current (cell conduction current plus the leakage current) over a predetermined time. In a second phase, the cell conduction current is minimized and significantly the leakage current in the selected bit line is used to recharge in tandem the capacitor in a time same as the predetermined time, effectively subtracting the component of the leakage current measured in the first sensing phase. The resultant voltage drop on the capacitor over the two sensing phases provides a measure of the cell conduction current alone, thereby avoiding reading errors due to the leakage current present in the selected bit line. |
| US09123428B2 |
E-fuse array circuit
An e-fuse array circuit includes: an e-fuse transistor of a vertical gate type configured to have a gate for receiving a voltage of a program gate line and have one between a drain terminal and a source terminal floating; and a selection transistor of a buried gate type configured to have a gate for receiving a voltage of a word line gate line and electrically connect/disconnect the other one between the drain terminal and the source terminal with a bit line. |
| US09123426B2 |
Semiconductor device including fuse array
The semiconductor device includes a control signal driver, a control signal latch unit, an internal driver and a buffer. The control signal driver drives a control signal in response to a fuse reset signal, a fuse set signal and a fuse data. The control signal latch unit is suitable for latching the control signal. The internal driver drives an internal node in response to the control signal, an address signal and a write strobe signal. The buffer buffers a signal of the internal node to generate the redundancy signal. |
| US09123420B2 |
3D non-volatile storage with transistor decoding structure
Disclosed herein are 3D stacked memory devices having WL select gates. The 3D stacked memory device could have NAND strings. The WL select gates may be located adjacent to a word line hookup area of a word line plate. The word line plate may be driven by a word line plate driver and may have many word lines. The WL select gates may select individual word lines or groups of word lines. Therefore, smaller units that the entire block may be selected. This may reduce capacitive loading. The WL select gates may include thin film transistors. 3D decoding may be provided in a 3D stacked memory device using the WL select gates. |
| US09123419B2 |
Complementary reference method for high reliability trap-type non-volatile memory
Methods of complementary pairing of memory cells are described. These methods include two physical memory cells in a complementary pair, a complementary pair of reference cells for each erase block, and a physical complementary pair storing multiple data bits. |
| US09123418B2 |
NAND flash memory unit and NAND flash memory array
A NAND flash memory unit is described, including a string of memory cells connected in series, S/D regions coupled to two terminals of the string, at least one select transistor couple between a terminal of the string and an S/D region, and at least one erase transistor couple between the at least one select transistor and an S/D region. The select transistor is for selecting the string of memory cells. The erase transistor is for reducing Vt-shift of the select transistor. |
| US09123416B2 |
Non-volatile phase-change resistive memory
A method for implementing a system containing at least one memory device including a plurality of non-volatile memory cells each including a phase-change material configured to change state reversibly between at least an amorphous state and a crystalline state having different electrical resistances. The method includes steps of manufacturing the memory cells, including the formation of a layer of a phase-change material having an original amorphous state at the end of the steps of manufacturing the memory cells. The method for implementing the embedded system includes, after the steps of manufacturing the memory cells, at least the following steps: (i) pre-programming the memory device consisting of an electrical recrystallization of a selection of memory cells from their original amorphous state; and (ii) assembling the pre-programmed memory device in the system during which the device is subjected to a temperature of between 240° C. and 300° C. |
| US09123415B2 |
Methods of operating a phase change memory cell
A PCRAM cell has a gradated or layered resistivity bottom electrode with higher resistivity closer to a phase change material, to provide partial heating near the interface between the cell and the bottom electrode, preventing separation of the amorphous GST region from the bottom electrode, and reducing the programming current requirements. The bottom electrode can also be tapered to have a smaller cross-sectional area at the top of the bottom electrode than at the bottom of the bottom electrode. |
| US09123412B2 |
Resistance change memory
According to one embodiment, a resistance change memory includes the following configuration. A first inverter includes first input and first output terminals and first and second voltage terminals. A second inverter includes second input and second output terminals and third and fourth voltage terminals. The second input terminal is connected to the first output terminal. The second output terminal is connected to the first input terminal. First and second transistors are connected to the first and second output terminals, respectively. Third and fourth transistors are connected to the first and third voltage terminals, respectively. A fifth transistor is connected between the first voltage terminal and the first memory cell. A sixth transistor is connected to the third voltage terminal. A controller turns on the first and second transistors, after turning off the fifth and sixth transistors. |
| US09123411B2 |
Memory device, method of controlling memory device, and memory system
A memory device according to an embodiment comprises a data processing circuit that includes: a data write pre-processing circuit that processes input data to generate first intermediate data; a data write processing circuit that sequentially sets a voltage difference between a selected row line and a selected global bit line based on the first intermediate data; a data read processing circuit that detects a current flowing in the selected global bit line or a voltage of the selected global bit line and sequentially generates second intermediate data from a result of that detection; and a data read post-processing circuit that processes the second intermediate data to generate output data, the data write pre-processing circuit and the data read post-processing circuit having a correcting function that corrects a difference that may occur between the input data and the output data. |
| US09123408B2 |
Low latency synchronization scheme for mesochronous DDR system
In one embodiment, a memory interface comprises a cleanup phase-locked loop (PLL) configured to receive a reference clock signal, and to generate a clean clock signal based on the reference clock signal. The memory interface also comprises a synchronization circuit configured to receive data, a data clock signal, and the clean clock signal, wherein the synchronization circuit is further configured to sample the data using the data clock signal, and to synchronize the sampled data with the clean clock signal. |
| US09123405B2 |
Multiple device apparatus, systems, and methods
Apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed that operate to generate a clock signal in a die in a stack and to receive the clock signal in another die in the stack. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. |
| US09123403B2 |
Semiconductor memory apparatus including a plurality of banks and semiconductor integrated circuit including the same
A semiconductor memory apparatus includes: a memory cell area including a plurality of banks each having a plurality of octet banks corresponding to a first group and a plurality of octet banks corresponding to a second group; and a control unit configured to generate a plurality of control signals to input a data signal to any one octet bank of the first group and any one octet bank of the second group with a predetermined margin. |
| US09123398B2 |
Semiconductor memory circuit and data processing using the same
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory circuit enabling stable data transmission in a high frequency operation and a data processing system using the same. The data processing system includes a semiconductor memory circuit configured to output data, corresponding to a read command, in response to an external strobe signal, and a controller configured to provide the semiconductor memory circuit with the read command and the strobe signal related to the read command. |
| US09123397B2 |
Circuit arrangement and method for operating a circuit arrangement
A circuit arrangement comprising a plurality of electronic components; a plurality of first access lines and second access lines, wherein each electronic component is coupled with at least one first access line and second access lines, the second access lines comprising at least two bit-lines; an access controller controlling access to at least one of the electronic components via the at least one first access line and the second access lines; and a first group of switches, wherein each switch comprises at least one control terminal and at least two controlled terminals. Each switch of the first group is connected to one of the at least two bit-lines via its control terminal and in a path between one first access line and a sense amplifier via its controlled terminals, and adjacent switches are connected via their control terminals to different bit-lines of the at least two bit-lines. |
| US09123393B2 |
Discrete three-dimensional vertical memory
The present invention discloses a discrete three-dimensional vertical memory (3D-MV). It comprises at least a 3D-array die and at least a voltage-generator die. The 3D-array die comprises a plurality of vertical memory strings. At least a voltage-generator component for the 3D-array die is located on the voltage-generator die instead of the 3D-array die. The 3D-array die and the voltage-generator die have substantially different back-end-of-line (BEOL) structures. |
| US09123391B2 |
Semiconductor storage device
A semiconductor storage device 1 according to an aspect includes a first memory area 11—1 and a second memory area 11—2. Memory cells MC_m_n and bit lines BL1, BL2_, . . . . , BLm_are disposed in a boundary area 18 between the first and second memory areas 11—1 and 11—2. The memory cells MC_m_n disposed in the boundary area 18 includes memory cells into which no data is written, and a line 56 is formed in a place that overlaps memory cells disposed in the boundary area 18 when the boundary area 18 is viewed from the top. As a result, it is possible to increase the integration density of a memory cell array and provide a line in the memory cell array. |
| US09123388B2 |
Disk drive including a noise reduction unit and method of reducing noise by using the disk drive
A disk drive that includes a noise reduction unit, and a method of reducing noise by using the disk drive. The disk drive includes a main chassis; a tray operatively coupled to the main chassis such that the tray is slidable relative to the main chassis, the tray including a disk accommodation portion configured to accommodate a storage medium such that the storage medium is rotatable relative to the disk accommodation portion; and a noise reduction unit configured to reduce a pressure concentration on an end portion of the storage medium as the storage medium rotates to reduce noise. |
| US09123386B2 |
Data storage system and a method for measuring a change in a spacing between a head and a storage medium of a data storage system
A method for measuring a change in a spacing between a head and a storage medium of a data storage system. The method includes obtaining a first readback signal from the storage medium using the head at a first spacing between the head and the storage medium, determining a first power spectrum density over a frequency range from the obtained first readback signal, obtaining a second readback signal from the storage medium using the head at a second spacing between the head and the storage medium, determining a second power spectrum density over the frequency range from the obtained second readback signal, and providing a measurement indicative of the change in the spacing based on the determined first power spectrum density and the determined second power spectrum density. A data storage system is also provided. |
| US09123384B2 |
Requirement relaxation for multiple readers in presence of large skew angle range
A readback signal from a first reader and a readback signal from a second reader are received, the first reader and the second reader configured to read two-dimensional data from at least one track of a recording media. A quality metric of the second reader is measured based on the readback signal. It is determined if the quality metric for the second reader is above a threshold. If the quality metric is above the threshold, the first reader and the second reader are used to read the data. |
| US09123380B2 |
Systems, methods, and computer program products for automated real-time execution of live inserts of repurposed stored content distribution, and multiple aspect ratio automated simulcast production
A system, method, and computer program product for producing a show. In an embodiment, the invention is directed to a production system having a first production path, a second production path, and a control system that causes the first production path to generate a show in a first aspect ratio (4:3), and that causes the second production path to generate the same show in a second aspect ratio (16:9). In another embodiment, the invention is directed to producing a show from live material and from archived material. This aspect of the invention operates by producing a first show comprising a plurality of stories, segmenting the first show, and storing the show segments in an archive. Then, the invention produces a second show using live portions as well as show segments retrieved from the archive. The invention is also directed to a media manager that interacts with a server. In some cases, the server is integrated with the production system. The media manager automatically assigns channels/ports of the server when accessing material stored in the server. |
| US09123378B2 |
Library apparatus and control method thereof
A library apparatus includes a housing that has a magazine loading opening, the magazine storing a plurality of cartridges; a reader that reads an identifier provided on each cartridge stored in the magazine, the reader reading the identifiers while the magazine is being inserted through the magazine loading opening and pulled to a preset loading completion position; a transportation mechanism that is movable, the transportation mechanism including a removal mechanism that selectively removes one of the cartridges, and a connection member to be connected to the magazine inserted; and a controller that controls the transportation mechanism, wherein the transportation mechanism transports the removed cartridge to a cartridge processing unit, wherein the controller controls the transportation mechanism to stand by on the magazine loading opening side when the magazine is not loaded, and pull the magazine to the loading completion position when the controller detects that the magazine is inserted. |
| US09123375B2 |
System of receiving prerecorded media discs from users
A system of receiving prerecorded media discs from users is disclosed. The system may include a control system having a processor capable of accessing a library associating a native bar code with the content of a prerecorded media disc and receiving the identification of a native bar code of a media disc from an optical disc identification system. The system may also include a user interface system having a buy-back activator and being adapted to receive a media disc from a user, where the user interface is capable of communicating a buy-back price to the user. An optical disc identification system may include a disc holder, a light source, a sensor capable of capturing a digital image of the hub of a media disc including a native bar code, and an image processor capable of reading the native bar code from a digital image. |
| US09123372B2 |
Clearance sensor and circuitry using adjustable channel parameters
A transducer is configured to interact with a magnetic storage medium, a first channel comprises a first sensor and first circuitry configured to adjust a plurality of first channel parameters, and a second channel comprises a second sensor and second circuitry configured to adjust a plurality of second channel parameters. The first and second channel parameters are independently adjustable by the first and second circuitry, respectively. A detector is coupled to the first and second channels, and configured to detect a head-medium interface event. |
| US09123368B2 |
Data storage device with HGSA offset compensation
A data storage device may be configured at least with an actuating assembly that has a head-gimbal suspension assembly (HGSA), first pivot point, and second pivot point. The head-gimbal assembly can be constructed and operated with at least first and second transducers aligned along a longitudinal axis of the head-gimbal suspension assembly. A controller may be adopted to manipulate the head-gimbal suspension assembly about at least one of the pivot points in response to a head-gimbal suspension assembly offset misalignment to compensate for such an offset. |
| US09123365B1 |
Reader structure
An apparatus disclosed herein comprises a reader structure having a sensor stack and a bottom shield having a first end and a second end on opposite sides of the bottom shield in a cross-track direction, wherein the first end is formed by intersection of arcs. In one implementation, the apparatus disclosed herein the sensor has a bottom shield having a bullet shape with a first end along a cross-track direction being rectangular and a second end along the cross-track direction being formed by an intersection of arcs. |
| US09123363B2 |
Crystalline magnetic layer to amorphous substrate bonding
Various methods for attaching a crystalline write pole onto an amorphous substrate and the resulting structures are described in detail herein. Further, the resulting structure may have a magnetic moment exceeding 2.4 Tesla. Still further, methods for depositing an epitaxial crystalline write pole on a crystalline seed or template material to ensure that the phase of the write pole is consistent with the high moment phase of the template material are also described in detail herein. |
| US09123362B1 |
Methods for assembling an electrically assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) head
Systems and methods for mounting and aligning a laser in an electrically assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) assembly are described. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a submount assembly for a laser diode of an EAMR head, the submount assembly including a submount including a block shape including a first surface including a plurality of first conductive pads and a second surface including a second conductive pad, a laser including a main emitter and at least one alignment emitter, the laser having a block shape having a first surface including a plurality of first conductive pads attached to the first pads of the submount, and a slider including a top surface having a conductive pad configured to be attached to the second pad of the submount, wherein the at least one alignment emitter is configured to align the laser and the slider for attachment. |
| US09123355B1 |
HAMR channel to preamp interface
A circuit may be configured to reduce the power consumption and extend the life of a near field transducer of a heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) device by pulsing a laser. The current that drives the laser may be of a frequency and magnitude so as to approximate the value of a continuous current in a continuous, non-pulsed laser. A system on chip (SOC), which may include a HAMR channel, can generate a laser data signal that may be synchronous with, and offset from, a write signal by a certain period of time, and may calculate certain parameters such as peak current and pulse width that may be applied to the signals in a preamp. The preamp signals can be used to program data to a disc medium. |
| US09123354B2 |
Magnetic tape medium with magnetically encoded servo band bursts
A magnetic tape medium includes at least one servo band along a longitudinal extension of the tape medium which at least one servo band comprises servo patterns organized in servo frames for supporting to determine positional information. At least one of the servo frames includes a first burst comprising at least two servo stripes inclined at a first angle with respect to a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal extension of the tape medium, followed by a second burst including at least two servo stripes inclined at a second angle with respect to a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal extension of the tape medium, which second angle is different from the first angle. At least one of the stripes of the first burst has a first magnetic polarity and at least one of the stripes of the second burst has a second magnetic polarity different from the first magnetic polarity. |
| US09123349B2 |
Methods and apparatus to provide speech privacy
Methods and apparatus to provide speech privacy are disclosed. An example method includes forming a sampling block based on a first received audio sample, the sampling block representing speech of a user, creating, with a processor, a mask based on the sampling block, the mask to reduce the intelligibility of the speech of the user, wherein the mask is created by converting the sampling block from a time domain to a frequency domain to form a frequency domain sampling block, identifying a first peak within the frequency domain sampling block, demodulating the frequency domain sampling block at the first peak to form a first envelope of the sampling block, distorting the first envelope to form a first distorted envelope, and emitting an acoustic representation of the mask via a speaker. |
| US09123346B2 |
Method of providing dynamic speech processing services during variable network connectivity
A user device provides dynamic speech processing services during variable network connectivity with a network server. The user device includes a connection determiner that monitors a level of network connectivity between the user device and the network server, a simplified speech processor that processes speech data and is initiated based on a determination by the connection determiner that the level of network connectivity between the user device and the network server is impaired, a memory that stores processed speech data processed by the simplified speech processor, and a transmitter configured to transmit the stored processed speech data. The connection determiner determines when the level of network connectivity between the user device and the network server is no longer impaired. |
| US09123344B2 |
Devices and systems for remote control
Remote controllers and systems thereof are disclosed. The remote controller remotely operates a receiving host, in which the receiving host provides voice input and speech recognition functions. The remote controller comprises a first input unit and a second input unit for generating a voice input request and a speech recognition request. The generated voice input and speech recognition requests are then sent to the receiving host, thereby forcing the receiving host to perform the voice input and speech recognition functions. |
| US09123340B2 |
Detecting the end of a user question
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for classifying voice inputs. The methods, systems, and apparatus include actions of providing an answer to a first voice input from a user and receiving visual or audio data corresponding to a second voice input. Further actions include classifying the second voice input as a follow on request to the first voice input or as deliberation on the answer, based on the visual data or the audio data. Additionally, the actions include determining whether to provide a response to the second voice input based on the classification of the second voice input. |
| US09123338B1 |
Background audio identification for speech disambiguation
Implementations relate to techniques for providing context-dependent search results. A computer-implemented method includes receiving an audio stream at a computing device during a time interval, the audio stream comprising user speech data and background audio, separating the audio stream into a first substream that includes the user speech data and a second substream that includes the background audio, identifying concepts related to the background audio, generating a set of terms related to the identified concepts, influencing a speech recognizer based on at least one of the terms related to the background audio, and obtaining a recognized version of the user speech data using the speech recognizer. |
| US09123337B2 |
Indexing digitized speech with words represented in the digitized speech
Indexing digitized speech with words represented in the digitized speech, with a multimodal digital audio editor operating on a multimodal device supporting modes of user interaction, the modes of user interaction including a voice mode and one or more non-voice modes, the multimodal digital audio editor operatively coupled to an ASR engine, including providing by the multimodal digital audio editor to the ASR engine digitized speech for recognition; receiving in the multimodal digital audio editor from the ASR engine recognized user speech including a recognized word, also including information indicating where, in the digitized speech, representation of the recognized word begins; and inserting by the multimodal digital audio editor the recognized word, in association with the information indicating where, in the digitized speech, representation of the recognized word begins, into a speech recognition grammar, the speech recognition grammar voice enabling user interface commands of the multimodal digital audio editor. |
| US09123335B2 |
System apparatus circuit method and associated computer executable code for natural language understanding and semantic content discovery
Disclosed are systems, apparatuses, circuits and methods for extrapolating meaning from vocalized speech or otherwise obtained text. Speech of a speaking user is sampled and digitized, the digitized speech is converted into a text stream, the text stream derived from speech or otherwise obtained is analyzed syntactically and semantically, a knowledgebase in the specific context domain of the text stream is utilized to construct one or more semantic/syntactic domain specific query analysis constrains/rule-sets, and a “Domain Specific Knowledgebase Query” (DSKQ) or set of queries is built at least partially based on the domain specific query analysis constrains/rule-sets. |
| US09123329B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating sideband residual signal
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and an apparatus for generating a sideband residual signal. The method includes: comparing energy of a first signal input by a first sound channel with energy of a second signal input by a second sound channel; if the energy of the first signal is greater than the energy of the second signal, generating a sideband residual signal by allocating a monophonic quantization error to the first signal; and if the energy of the first signal is smaller than the energy of the second signal, generating a sideband residual signal by allocating a monophonic quantization error to the second signal. By using the method and apparatus provided in the embodiments of the present invention, it can be avoided that a monophonic quantization error has a greater impact on a signal whose energy is smaller. |
| US09123328B2 |
Apparatus and method for audio frame loss recovery
A method and apparatus provides for frame loss recovery following a loss of a frame in an audio codec. The lost frame is identified. Estimated linear predictive coefficients of a previous transform frame are generated based on a decoded audio of the previous transform frame. An estimated residual of the previous transform frame is generated based on the estimated linear predicative coefficients and the decoded audio. A pitch delay is determined from frame error recovery parameters received with the previous transform frame. An extended residual is generated based on the pitch delay and the estimated residual. A first synthesized signal is generated based on the extended residual and the linear predicative coefficients. A decoded audio output of at least the lost frame is generated based on the first synthesized signal. The frame error recovery parameters are generated by an encoder. |
| US09123325B2 |
Active vibration noise control device
An active vibration noise control device cancels vibration noise by making plural speakers generate control sounds. The active vibration noise control device selects one or more speakers which output the control sounds, from plural speakers, based on a relationship between (1) a first phase difference which corresponds to a difference between phase characteristics of the vibration noise from a vibration noise source to an evaluation point and phase characteristics of the vibration noise from the vibration noise source to a pseudo evaluation point and (2) a second phase difference for each of the plural speakers corresponding to a difference between phase characteristics of the control sound from the speaker to the evaluation point and phase characteristics of the control sound from the speaker to the pseudo evaluation point. Therefore, it stably decreases the vibration noise at the pseudo evaluation point independently of a frequency band of the vibration noise. |
| US09123323B2 |
Method and structure for inducing acoustic signals and attenuating acoustic signals
At least embodiment is directed to an earpiece comprising a housing; and a field responsive fluid, where the field responsive fluid is in the housing, where the housing is part of the earpiece, and where the earpiece is configured to vary a field to vary an acoustical property of the field responsive fluid. |
| US09123320B2 |
Frequency-dependent ANR reference sound compression
An active noise reduction (ANR) circuit includes a digital feed-forward ANR pathway coupled to a feed-forward microphone, to detect environmental sounds in an environment external to a casing, and to a first acoustic driver to output sounds within the casing. The digital feed-forward ANR pathway applies a plurality of filters using a first set of coefficients to convert signals from the feed-forward microphone to feed-forward anti-noise sounds to reduce environmental sounds within the casing. In response to a stimulus, the digital feed-forward ANR pathway applies the plurality of filters using a second set of coefficients, which reduce the degree of feed-forward ANR to enable human speech sounds in the environment external to the casing to be conveyed from the feed-forward microphone to the acoustic driver with less reduction than provided by the first plurality of filters. |
| US09123319B2 |
Vocal processing with accompaniment music input
Systems, including methods and apparatus, for generating audio effects based on accompaniment audio produced by live or pre-recorded accompaniment instruments, in combination with melody audio produced by a singer. Audible broadcast of the accompaniment audio may be delayed by a predetermined time, such as the time required to determine chord information contained in the accompaniment signal. As a result, audio effects that require the chord information may be substantially synchronized with the audible broadcast of the accompaniment audio. The present teachings may be especially suitable for use in karaoke systems, to correct and add sound effects to a singer's voice that sings along with a pre-recorded accompaniment track. |
| US09123317B2 |
Using music to motivate a user during exercise
A method for motivating physical performance through music includes the acts of presenting a musical rendition to a user while concurrently receiving workout information. The workout information includes one or both of a current performance level of the user or a current geographical characteristic being traversed by the user. The method further includes modifying the musical rendition based on one or both of the current performance level of the user or the current geographical characteristic being traversed by the user. |
| US09123313B2 |
Apparatus for preventing a foot pedal assembly from moving away from a seat and method of use
Apparatus for preventing a foot pedal assembly from moving away from a seat includes a mat having a top surface and an opposite bottom surface. The mat is shaped and dimensioned to receive the foot pedal assembly and to receive the seat. One of hook and loop material is disposed on the top surface of the mat, the one of hook and loop material positioned, shaped, and dimensioned to removably connect to the foot pedal assembly. The other of hook and loop material is disposable on the bottom surface of the foot pedal assembly, so that the foot pedal assembly can be removably connected to the mat. |
| US09123311B2 |
Adaptable ligature for the mouthpieces of wind instruments
The present invention relates to a ligature for single-reed wind instruments that comprises a main multidirectional pivot system allowing the reed to vibrate freely while providing all possibilities of clamping force both to minimal contact and to extreme fit, and which adapts to table angle thereby optimizing the relationship between fitting and sound quality. |
| US09123305B2 |
Electro-optical apparatus and electronics device
Pairs of a TFT and a pixel electrode, the number of which is (m×n), are provided. The TFT has a gate electrode connected to a scanning line, a source electrode connected to a data line, and a drain electrode connected to the pixel electrode. The pixel electrodes are arrayed in a matrix of m rows and n columns. Each of the pixel electrodes on any column is alternately electrically connected to either of two adjacent data lines via the TFT. |
| US09123304B2 |
Method for driving liquid crystal display device
An object is to suppress deterioration of a displayed image even when a refresh rate is reduced in displaying a still image. A liquid crystal display device includes a pixel transistor electrically connected to a pixel electrode, and a capacitor having one electrode electrically connected to the pixel electrode and the other electrode electrically connected to a capacitor line. The pixel transistor is turned on and a voltage based on an image signal is supplied to the pixel electrode, and then, the pixel transistor is turned off so that a holding period during which the pixel electrode holds the voltage based on the image signal starts. A holding signal corresponding to change of the voltage based on the image signal in the pixel electrode in the holding period is supplied to the capacitor line so that a potential of the pixel electrode is constant. |
| US09123300B2 |
Electrophoretic display with software recognizing first and second operating formats
Electrophoretic displays (EPDs) and methods for controlling EPDs are disclosed herein. An embodiment of an EPD includes a first operating format, wherein pixels on at least one area of the EPD are driven individually. The EPD has a second operating format, wherein a plurality of pixels constituting at least one area of the EPD are driven simultaneously. Both the first operating format and the second operating format are performable simultaneously on the EPD. |
| US09123296B2 |
Organic light emitting display device and display panel thereof
Disclosed are an organic light emitting display device and a display panel thereof, which are capable of performing a recovery driving for recovering a threshold voltage of a driving transistor to be within a range of compensation for the threshold voltage if the threshold voltage of the driving transistor deviates from the range of the compensation for the threshold voltage as a driving time of the driving transistor of a pixel increases. |
| US09123291B2 |
Pixel circuit, driving method thereof and pixel array structure
Disclosed are a pixel circuit, a driving method thereof and a pixel array structure. The pixel circuit comprises a load controlling module(101), a load module(102), a gray scale selection module(103), a driving module(104) and a light-emitting device(105). The load controlling module(101) outputs an analog data signal through a first node and a second node under the control of a first scan signal (scan1). The load module(102) is connected with a first power supply terminal(VSS), the driving module(104), the first node(A1) and the second node(A2), respectively, and stores the analog data signal in the load module(102) and provides the driving module(104) with the analog data signal under the control of signals from the first node and the second node. The gray scale selection module(103) transmits a digital data signal to a third node(A3) located in the gray scale selection module(103) under the control of a second scan signal (scan2). The driving module(104) drives the light-emitting device(105) under the control of the signals from the second node and the third node. A first terminal of the light-emitting device(105) is connected with a second power supply terminal(VDD), a second terminal thereof is connected with the driving module(104). The pixel circuit is capable of reducing a charging time of an OLED pixel circuit. |
| US09123289B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display device with reference voltage lines and method of operation in an organic light emitting diode display device
An OLED display device that includes multiple reference voltage lines. One reference voltage line provides a reference voltage to red, green and blue sub-pixels. Another reference voltage line provides a different reference voltage to white sub-pixels. The reference voltages can be controlled independently of each other to control brightness of the display device. |
| US09123284B2 |
Display device having backlight
A display device in which the image quality is improved by control of the peak luminance. A plurality of instantaneous luminances are expressed by performing signal writing to each pixel plural times within one frame period. The gray level is expressed by controlling time integration levels of the plurality of instantaneous luminances. Moreover, the time integration level is increased as the level of gray level data of the pixel is higher, and the time integration level is increased as the average value of gray level data of an image to be displayed is smaller. |
| US09123277B2 |
Apparatus and method for displaying screen according to intensity of brightness of ambient light
Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for display of a screen according to brightness intensity of ambient light. One or more characteristic values configuring display data is set to be higher than a preset color characteristic value when measured brightness intensity of ambient light is higher than preset brightness intensity of ambient light, and one of the set color characteristic values is converted to a contrast characteristic value and is displayed. Therefore, even when brightness intensity of ambient light is high, the user can accurately view a screen. |
| US09123273B2 |
Method and system for enabling rendering of electronic media content via a secure ad hoc network configuration utilizing a handheld wireless communication device
A handheld wireless communication device (HWCD) establishes an ad hoc network comprising interconnected networks for a user. The HWCD gains access to content on a first device and controls communication of the content from the first device via the HWCD to a second device. The HWCD enables the second device to consume the content. The content may be streamed from the first device via the HWCD to the second device. The first device is a service provider network device or other network device. The access may be authenticated and/or secure. Secure access to the content is extended from the first device to the second device. The ad hoc network is configured and/or reconfigured until communication is complete. The HWCD comprises multiple wireless interfaces. The ad hoc network comprises a PAN, WLAN, WAN and/or cellular network. The HWCD may hand-off among base stations during communication of the content. |
| US09123271B2 |
Apparatus and method for establishing a network connection in a portable terminal
An apparatus and method for establishing a network connection in a portable terminal. The apparatus includes a controller, an image acquisition unit, and a code image analyzer. The controller establishes a network connection with a peripheral terminal using network information acquired through a code image. The image acquisition unit captures the code image generated by the peripheral terminal. The code image analyzer analyzes the code image acquired by the image acquisition unit and acquires the network information of the peripheral terminal. The code image includes at least any one of network information of the peripheral terminal, code image generation information, and information on an automatic execution program to be automatically executed after code image recognition. |
| US09123270B1 |
Decorative attachment for vehicle rear-view mirror
A decorative device and/or band for removable attachment to a rear-view mirror is presented herein. Particularly, the band includes an at least partially flexible and resilient mounting component which is removably disposable in an engaged relation around an outer periphery of the vehicle mirror housing. Further, in certain embodiments, the mounting component includes an at least partially closed-loop and/or oval configuration with two oppositely disposed first and second longitudinal portions thereof which at least partially engage opposite upper and lower peripheral surfaces of the vehicle mirror housing. A display panel which in includes indicia (e.g., text, graphics, artwork, logos, etc.) displayed thereon extends outwardly from (e.g., upwardly, downwardly or to one or more sides) at least a portion of the mounting component. |
| US09123268B2 |
Controller, operation method, and storage medium
A stick-type controller 21 comprises an acceleration sensor 61 that obtains acceleration values generated in respective directions of the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis, LEDs 64 that emit light corresponding to the acceleration values on the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis obtained by the acceleration sensor 61, and a CPU 63 that controls the light emission of the LEDs 64. Further, if the acceleration values obtained by the acceleration sensor 61 are not a value that can be regarded as 0 on at least one axis among the three axes of the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis of the stick-type controller 21, the CPU 63 causes the LEDs 64 to emit light in a color corresponding to the axis or axes on which an acceleration value other than a value that can be regarded as 0 was obtained. |
| US09123263B2 |
Modular changeable inserts for signs
A modular sign inserts system that comprises a back panel onto which at least two insert panels are adjacently arranged is provided. Each insert panel has a front side and a back side wherein the back side is placed onto the back panel and the front side displays information. The system further comprises at least one partition to be removably placed between two adjacent insert panels wherein the back side of the insert panels is removably connected to the back panel. The system can also be provided with a plurality of connectors attached to the back side for connecting the insert panels to the back panel. |
| US09123262B1 |
Corrugated signage
A corrugated display sign with a main body having an inner surface and an outer surface, with the body including a first portion and a second portion. The sign further includes at least one or more formers, and in some embodiments two or more formers, secured to the first portion of the inner surface of the main body, with the formers each including a tab section that secures the former to the main body, a front body portion with a wing portion, and a back body portion with a wing portion. Further, the second portion of the main body is folded around the first portion and the formers, so as to create an elongated elliptical shape for the sign. The display sign is capable of being erected from a knockdown configuration to an erected configuration by folding the former body portions and the wing, and folding the second portion of the main body around the first portion and the formers. |
| US09123255B2 |
Computing method and system with detached sensor in a window environment
One embodiment includes a computer-implemented method using a window environment of a display, with a detached imaging sensor, to enable a user to learn. Another embodiment includes a computer-implemented system helping a user learn using a detached imaging sensor. In yet another embodiment, a computer-implemented system monitors automatically more than once a user's behavior while the user is working on materials. Through monitoring the user's volitional or involuntary behavior, the system determines whether to change what is to be presented by the display. The change could include providing rewards, punishments, and stimulation; or changing the materials. The system can also react by asking the user a question. Based on the user's response, the system may change to more appropriate materials, or different presentation styles. |
| US09123253B2 |
Parking assistance apparatus and parking assistance method thereof
Disclosed herein are a parking assistance apparatus and a parking assistance method thereof. The parking assistance apparatus includes a sensing unit sensing at least one of forward and backward access distances to a current surrounding object, a controller performing an electronic parking brake operation and including predetermined forward and backward access distance ranges to a reference surrounding object, a first judgment unit judging whether or not at least one access distance deviates from at least one access distance range, a display unit displaying the at least one access distance and the at least one access distance range, if the first judgment unit judges that the at least one access distance deviates from the at least one access distance range, and a steering driving unit driving an electronic steering driving apparatus until the at least one access distance enters the at least one access distance range. |
| US09123252B2 |
Drive assist apparatus
A drive assist apparatus includes: a dead zone recognition unit that recognizes a dead zone not visible to a driver in an advancement direction of a host vehicle; a moving body information setting unit that sets, as information relating to a moving body that may jump out from the dead zone, moving body information including at least an assumed speed of the moving body; a speed region calculation unit that calculates, on the basis of the moving body information set by the moving body information setting unit, a speed region of the host vehicle, the speed region being a region in which the host vehicle may contact the moving body if the host vehicle advances in the advancement direction; and a target speed calculation unit that calculates a target speed of the host vehicle on the basis of the speed region. |
| US09123249B2 |
Absolute acceleration sensor for use within moving vehicles
A communication system for a vehicle includes a vehicle speed sensor configured to emit a periodic function with a parameter correlated to the speed of the vehicle, an acceleration monitoring system, a braking system engagement detector to detect a braking status of the vehicle, an alerting device capable of signaling other drivers of a deceleration condition of the vehicle, and a control device. The acceleration monitoring system is configured to compute the acceleration of the vehicle from variations in the parameter of the periodic function of the vehicle speed sensor and to output a deceleration status of the vehicle. The control device is coupled to the acceleration monitoring system, the braking system engagement detector, and the alerting device, wherein the acceleration monitoring system sends signals to the control device and the control device operates the alerting device in a manner dependent on the deceleration status of the vehicle. |
| US09123247B2 |
Surrounding area monitoring apparatus for vehicle
A surrounding area monitoring apparatus for vehicle includes an infrared camera mounted on a vehicle for capturing images of surrounding area around the vehicle, a unit for generating and displaying images based on image data captured by the camera, and a controller for calibrating output of the camera with respect to a relation between pixels, based on image data produced by imaging a surface of a shutter that opens and closes an aperture introducing a light to the camera, The controller estimates whether a temperature of the camera is stable, based on an operation state of the vehicle, and determines a possibility that a driver is looking at the unit, based on a behavior of the vehicle. When the temperature of the camera is estimated stable and the possibility that the driver is looking at the unit is determined to be low, the means for calibrating executes the calibration. |
| US09123246B2 |
Parking guidance system and method based on vehicle human occupancy
A system and methods that account for vehicle human occupancy in parking management systems. Human throughput to an event is optimized by utilizing a smart parking guidance system based on the human occupancy of the vehicles to be parked. |
| US09123245B2 |
Vehicular information systems and methods
Disclosed is a method and system that receives sensor information from each of a plurality of sensors. Each sensor in the plurality is associated with a vehicle. The sensor information includes location coordinates of each vehicle in the plurality. The sensor information associated with each vehicle in the plurality then is translated to parking statistics information. In one embodiment, the translation is based on an aggregate of sensor information corresponding to the plurality of vehicles. The system then communicates parking statistics information to the vehicle. |
| US09123244B2 |
Vehicle tracking of personal devices with response system
A method for tracking an object through a system onboard a motor vehicle is provided. The method includes detecting a wireless device, determining a position of the wireless device, recognizing the position of the wireless device relative to the vehicle, analyzing the position of the wireless device with respect to a predefined conditional statement and activating an alert according to the satisfying of the predefined conditional statement. |
| US09123243B2 |
Vehicle control device
Disclosed is a vehicle control device capable of reducing calculation time while securing precision of a traveling plan in an arbitrary section. The vehicle control device controls a vehicle along a traveling plan calculated in accordance with a traveling path to a destination of the vehicle. The vehicle control device includes a traveling path setting unit which sets the traveling path from the current position of the vehicle to the destination, a traveling path division unit which divides the traveling path into a first section and a second section, and a traveling plan calculation unit which calculates a first traveling plan according to the first section and a second traveling plan according to the second section. The traveling plan calculation unit coarsens calculation granularity in the second traveling plan compared to calculation granularity in the first traveling plan. |
| US09123240B1 |
System and method for laser emitter for traffic preemption
A laser emitter for a traffic control preemption system, the laser emitter comprising a laser emitting diode or array configured to emit a laser beam, one or more optics coupled to the laser emitting diode and configured to shape the laser beam, and a control module configured to trigger emission of the laser beam at a predetermined frequency and for a predetermined duration in accordance with one or more requirements of the traffic control preemption system. |
| US09123234B2 |
Mobile terminal
A mobile terminal is disclosed. The mobile terminal can transmit/receive information or a signal to/from a cooking apparatus, improve user convenience, remotely monitor a state of the cooking apparatus, and receive a control command with respect to the cooking apparatus. |
| US09123230B2 |
Sewer backup alarm
This system will alert an occupant of a backup in the sewer or septic system and could be used in a residential or commercial structure. The system is affixed to a sewer waste line and includes a float device and a wireless alert device. When a backup occurs, the float will lift and break the magnetic connection between a magnet connected to the float and a sensor on the wireless alert device. This, in turn, will cause a chime or other alarm device to activate inside the structure, alerting the occupant of a backup. The alarm will enable the occupant to turn off or not use any items which use running water until the problem is resolved. |
| US09123228B2 |
Security alarm systems and methods for collecting and utilizing condition data
A security alarm system having a plurality of features. Among other features, the security alarm system includes a plurality of secondary sensors, which refers to sensors that sense conditions outside of the location. These sensors can provide data pertaining to conditions outside of the location, and may include radiation sensors, insect sensors, earthquake sensors, water level sensors, rain sensors and the like. Data can be obtained from a network of such sensors at various remote locations for purposes of forecasting, analyzing, planning, warning and the like. |
| US09123225B2 |
Robust alarm system with auxiliary processing sub-system
An alarm system includes two subsystems: a security subsystem that performs critical alarm condition monitoring and reporting; and an auxiliary subsystem that allows execution of other non-critical software components. The security subsystem may monitor the performance of the auxiliary subsystem, and maintain the performance by resetting and/or otherwise controlling the execution of software and use of hardware at the auxiliary subsystem, providing increased overall reliability of the security system, without compromising its ability to monitor security conditions at an associated premises. |
| US09123220B2 |
Passive microwave system and method for protecting a structure from fire threats
An automatic fire suppression system used to provide protection of window glass and other structural elements in aircraft terminals which are exposed to exterior fires caused by natural, accidental, or intentional events comprises a directional passive microwave receiver, a central processor for processing received microwave signals over time and comparing the received signals over time with thermal event signatures stored in memory to selectively actuate a sprinkler system for protecting the window glass in the vicinity of an identified fire event. The memory may further store a model of the aircraft terminal, and the processor utilizes a fire dynamics simulator to simulate a thermal event at the terminal. A related fire suppression process involves the detection of incipient fires through an array of exterior passive microwave heat sensor fire detectors connected to an electronic control processor which identify zones such as 30 to 100 linear foot zones of exterior glass surface and automatically initiates an array of quenching sprinkler heads applying water to the exposed surfaces of glass and other structural elements in response to detection of an identified fire event by its signature. |
| US09123219B2 |
Wireless fire system based on open standard wireless protocols
A wireless fire detection monitoring system comprises a control unit which includes a wireless transceiver and control software to implement a wireless multi-hop communications protocol. A network of battery powered monitoring devices is provided for monitoring alarm conditions. Each monitoring device includes software to implement the wireless communication protocol with one of, the control unit and at least one other child member of the plurality, or, at least two other members of the plurality where a selected device communicates with at least one child device and at least one parent device. The wireless multi-hop communications protocol comprises a time division multiple access communications protocol with the monitoring devices being time synchronized and the control unit and the monitoring devices are adapted to communicate compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard. |
| US09123218B2 |
Fire control panel with a display unit for displaying system information
A fire control panel in which an address map window (30), in which terminal device control switches (31) each indicating an address number (AD) of a terminal device are arranged in a matrix shape, is displayed on a display/operation unit (2). In addition, each of the terminal device control switches (31) corresponding to a status stored in a terminal database (DB) is displayed in a display mode that differs depending on each status. Accordingly, it is possible to grasp status information on a large number of terminal devices at a glance through one screen. |
| US09123217B2 |
Methods of automatically recording patching changes at passive patch panels and network equipment
Methods of executing patching connection changes in a patching field are provided in which an electronic work order is received on a display located at the patching field, the electronic work order specifying the patching connection change. A technician may perform the patching connection change. Then, an electronic message may be sent from the patching field indicating that the patching change has been completed. |
| US09123216B2 |
Detection of objects by electronic glove
An electronic glove communicates with an electronic device and has a positioning unit, a microcontroller, and an indicating component. The indicating component may be a heating component or a visual indicating component. The positioning unit detects coordinates of the electronic glove and the electronic device sends its own coordinates wirelessly to the electronic glove. The microcontroller calculates a distance between the electronic device and the electronic glove. The microcontroller controls the indicating component to generate different signals (of either heat or light) according to any change in the distance, to guide a user to move towards the precise location of the electronic device. |
| US09123210B2 |
Gaming method and system having animated character for player information delivery
A console is described, having display means, and game control means arranged to control images displayed on the display means, the game control means being arranged to play a game in which one or more symbols are randomly selected as a combination of symbols and displayed on the display means. If a winning combination results, the machine awards a prize. In some circumstances, the console will display an animated character to communicate information to the player. The character is independent of and appears asynchronously with respect to the game being played and is arranged to appear super imposed over any game screen currently displayed at the time the character is displayed. |
| US09123201B2 |
Wagering game leaderboards
Leaderboards that aggregate data from across different wagering games (e.g., online wagering games and casino based wagering games) can create a game independent spirit of competition and recognition. Wagering game data of a plurality of players across different wagering games can be aggregated together. The plurality of players are ranked based, at least in part, on the wagering game data aggregated across the different wagering games. A leaderboard is updated based, at least in part, on the ranking of the plurality of players. |
| US09123200B2 |
Remote gaming using game recommender system and generic mobile gaming device
A mobile gaming device may be a player's own personal tablet, smartphone, PDA, etc., with an application program installed via the internet for carrying out a remote gaming session. All gaming functions are carried out by a stationary gaming terminal communicating with the mobile device, such as by using WiFi. The mobile device operates as a user interface. While the player is playing one game on the mobile device, the venue's system recommends other games to the player via the player's tablet either based on the player's past gaming history, if the player used a player tracking card, or based on real time game play, if the player is anonymous. Upon the player selecting a different game, the system automatically transfers communications to a different gaming terminal and transfers the player's credits. The gaming terminals may be gaming machines, where each gaming machine carries out a different game. |
| US09123198B2 |
Gaming system and a method of gaming
A bonus game controller is disclosed for use with a plurality of gaming machines in networked relationship with the bonus game controller. The bonus game controller comprises a trigger determiner arranged to determine whether a bonus trigger signal has occurred at a gaming device. The bonus game controller is arranged to implement a first bonus game when a bonus trigger signal occurs at a gaming device, and also comprises a bonus prize allocator arranged to allocate a bonus prize to the gaming device based on an outcome of the first bonus game and based on one or more respective outcomes of at least one other subsequent bonus game implemented within a qualification period. A gaming system including a plurality of gaming devices and a game controller is also disclosed. A corresponding method is also disclosed. |
| US09123196B1 |
Rotating sandwich dispenser assembly
A rotating sandwich dispenser assembly includes a housing that is positionable on a support surface. A processor is coupled to the housing. A bread dispenser is coupled to the housing. The bread dispenser is operationally coupled to the processor so the bread dispenser may dispense bread. An ingredient dispenser is rotatably coupled to the housing. The ingredient dispenser is operationally coupled to the processor so the ingredient dispenser may selectively dispense sandwich ingredients onto the loaf of bread. A conveyor belt is movably coupled to the housing. The conveyor belt is operationally coupled to the processor so the conveyor belt receives the loaf of bread from the bread dispenser. The conveyor belt may transport the loaf of bread to the ingredient dispenser. A control panel is coupled to the housing. The control panel is operationally coupled to the processor so the control panel may selectively actuate the processor. |
| US09123187B2 |
Vehicle data recording device
A vehicle data recording device wherein the housing is connected to a first supporting limb and a second supporting limb of the supporting bracket in such a way that it can pivot about a pivoting axis, wherein the pivoting axis is arranged above a housing central axis with respect to the height of the housing, and wherein the smallest distance between the pivoting axis and a mounting plate, connecting the supporting limb, of the supporting bracket is larger than the largest distance between the pivoting axis and a rear-side housing wall of the housing, with the result that the supporting bracket can be pivoted through an angle of 180° over a housing rear side, between a first position in a region underneath a housing lower side and a second position in a region above the housing upper side. |
| US09123186B2 |
Remote control of associated vehicle devices
Methods and systems for a vehicle control system to control user access to vehicle tasks, functions and/or operations based on rights and privileges set forth in user accounts. |
| US09123178B2 |
Updating map tiles
The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a computer-implemented method for updating map tiles. The method includes receiving updates to features in geospatial information that describes a map. The map is represented by multiple tiles. The method further includes rerendering at least one tile from the tiles based on the update to generate an individual rerendered instance of the tile. The method further includes storing a tile version identifier and an association between the tile version identifier and the individual rerendered instance of the tile. The method further includes providing the tile version identifier, instructions for using the tile version identifier to send a request for the individual rerendered instance of the tile, instructions for replacing an existing instance of the tile with the individual rerendered instance of the tile, and instructions for ceasing overlaying of a temporary display object on the map. |
| US09123177B2 |
Three dimensional processing circuit and processing method
A three dimensional processing circuit and processing method is disclosed. In the present invention, a key depth is obtained to change an OSD location by analyzing the key image information in the 3D image. Therefore, the disadvantages of the conventional 3D processing circuit and processing method are fixed so as to decrease fatigue of user's eyes. |
| US09123176B2 |
System and method for performing three-dimensional motion by two-dimensional character
A system and method for allowing a 2D character to perform a 3D motion having x-axis, y-axis and z-axis information is provided. In the present invention, 3D human motion data entered is analyzed to obtain motion information of angles, coordinates and depths of all human body parts in the 3D motion data. By matching a sprite with the 3D motion, an image of each body part of the 2D character is capable switching to a reasonable image for a particular angle according to angle information of the 3D motion data, and adjusting a size or deforming the image of each body part of the 2D character according to the depth and angle information of the 3D motion data. Therefore, the 2D character is allowed to achieve visual performance effects of frontal performance, sideways performance, turning performance or rear performance having depth information as a 3D character. |
| US09123175B1 |
Pose space simplicial interpolation
An animation rig is displayed in a plurality of reference poses. The animation rig has a pose deformation in each pose. A refinement deformation for each reference pose is received. Each refinement deformation is mapped to a respective point in n-dimensional space. A complex is built in the n-dimensional space. The complex includes a mesh of simplices, each corner of each simplex associated with one of the deformations. |
| US09123173B2 |
Method for rasterizing non-rectangular tile groups in a raster stage of a graphics pipeline
In a raster stage of a graphics pipeline, a method for rasterizing non-rectangular tile groups. The method includes receiving a graphics primitive for rasterization in a raster stage of a graphics processor. The graphics primitive is rasterized at a first level by generating a non-rectangular footprint comprising a set of pixels related to the graphics primitive. The graphics primitive is then rasterized at a second level by accessing the set of pixels and determining covered pixels out of the set of pixels. The raster stage subsequently outputs the covered pixels for rendering operations in a subsequent stage of the graphics processor. |
| US09123172B2 |
Systems and methods for producing visual representations of objects
A system for producing a visual representation of an object includes a structure for at least partially circumscribing the object, a plurality of still cameras mounted in fixed relation to each other, and at least one computer processor. The one or more computer processors trigger the plurality of still cameras to capture a plurality of still images of the object, create the visual representation of the object by, at least in part, arranging at least some of the plurality of still images in an order, and transmit a digital file that includes the visual representation of the object to a storage medium accessible by a user device. The visual representation of the object is user manipulable to permit presenting the visual representation in more than one way. |
| US09123171B1 |
Enhancing the coupled zone of a stereoscopic display
Systems and methods for calibrating a three dimensional (3D) stereoscopic display system may include rendering a virtual object on a display of a 3D stereoscopic display system that may include a substantially horizontal display. The virtual object may be geometrically similar to a physical object placed at a location on the display. At least one dimension of the virtual object may be adjusted in response to user input. The adjustment may be such that the at least one dimension of the virtual object is approximately the same as a corresponding at least one dimension of the physical object. |
| US09123168B2 |
Output ordering of domain coordinates for tessellation
Systems and methods for a tessellation are described. For tessellation, a tessellation unit may divide a domain into a plurality of portions, where at least one portion is a contiguous portion. The tessellation unit may output domain coordinates of primitives along diagonal strips within the contiguous portion to increase the likelihood that patch coordinates that correspond to the domain coordinates are stored in a reuse buffer. |
| US09123166B2 |
Method of connecting meshes
A method of connecting three-dimensional structured meshes to form a conformal mesh, for solutions of flow problems, including: forming an interface by overlaying surfaces of two structured meshes; defining an interface set of mesh points in the interface; merging mesh points in the interface set that are within a predetermined distance of each other and projecting mesh points of one mesh in the interface that are within a predetermined distance of a line of the other mesh; generating an interface layer in the form of an unstructured mesh; and inserting a node at the center of each hexahedra, and producing an unstructured layer of cells between the two structured meshes by joining the nodes to the mesh points of the interface layer. |
| US09123165B2 |
Systems and methods for 3D data based navigation using a watershed method
Systems and methods for 3D data based navigation using a watershed method are provided. In at least one embodiment, a method for segmenting three-dimensional frames of data comprises acquiring at least one frame from at least one sensor, wherein the at least one frame provides a three-dimensional description of an environment containing the at least one sensor; and identifying a surface in the at least one frame. The method further comprises computing at least one residual map for the at least one frame based on the orthogonal distance from data points on the surface to at least one polynomial surface fitted to the surface; and segmenting the at least one residual map by performing a watershed algorithm on the residual map. |
| US09123161B2 |
System and method for summarizing data on an unstructured grid
A system and method for summarizing data corresponding to properties of interest on an unstructured grid that includes active cells and inactive cells on an output surface. An exemplary method comprises identifying an aggregation direction through a region of interest of the unstructured grid and identifying at least one active cell along the aggregation direction. The exemplary method comprises assigning an aggregated value for the at least one property of interest to a face of the output surface on a line along the aggregation direction based at least in part on the data corresponding to the at least one property of interest for the at least one active cell. The exemplary method further comprises filling the at least one data hole by identifying at least one face associated with an inactive cell on the line along the aggregation direction and assigning it an aggregated value. |
| US09123159B2 |
Interactive geo-positioning of imagery
An interactive user-friendly incremental calibration technique that provides immediate feedback to the user when aligning a point on a 3D model to a point on a 2D image. A can drag-and-drop points on a 3D model to points on a 2D image. As the user drags the correspondences, the application updates current estimates of where the camera would need to be to match the correspondences. The 2D and 3D images can be overlayed on each other and are sufficiently transparent for visual alignment. The user can fade between the 2D/3D views providing immediate feedback as to the improvements in alignment. The user can begin with a rough estimate of camera orientation and then progress to more granular parameters such as estimates for focal length, etc., to arrive at the desired alignment. While one parameter is adjustable, other parameters are fixed allowing for user adjustment of one parameter at a time. |
| US09123157B2 |
Multi-instance, multi-user virtual reality spaces
A multi-instance, multi-user animation platform includes a plurality of modeled parallel dimensions in a computer memory. Each of the parallel dimensions may be an independent model of a physical, three-dimensional space having corresponding features such that the parallel dimensions are recognizable as counterparts to each other. Avatars are located within corresponding ones of the parallel dimensions so as to prevent over-population of any one of the parallel dimensions by avatars. Avatars are animated within different ones of the parallel dimensions using input from respective users to provide virtual-reality data. A common space is modeled in the computer memory configured in relation to the plurality of parallel instances so that an object located inside the common space is visible from viewpoints located inside each of the plurality of parallel instances. Remote clients may output an animated display of a corresponding one of the parallel dimensions and avatars therein. |
| US09123154B2 |
Distributed element rendering
A method is provided for distributed element rendering with particular application for feature films and other demanding content creation using scenes of high complexity requiring global illumination. A persistent centralized scheduler receives shading queries that are added to a request queue, determines an assignment of the request queue to hardware resources based on a resource map, and processes the request queue according to the assignment to render frames of one or more scenes. The resource map may be built by the scheduler and indicates local scene geometry cached for each of the hardware resources. By generating a full set of camera rays at each hardware resource, global illumination shading and other rendering can proceed independently against local geometry caches for high parallelism. Redundant computations are reduced through the scheduler, which may cache frequently requested rendering results including tessellation, shading, and level of detail. |
| US09123150B2 |
Image processing apparatus, color adjustment system, and non-transitory computer readable medium
An image processing apparatus includes an image information transmitting unit, a color information acquiring unit, a gradation characteristic determination unit, and a change instruction output unit. The image information transmitting unit transmits, to a display device, pieces of information corresponding to color measurement images. The color information acquiring unit acquires pieces of color information of images displayed on the display device on the basis of the transmitted pieces of information. The gradation characteristic determination unit determines, on the basis of the acquired pieces of color information, whether or not a setting of color adjustment that is performed in the display device satisfies a predetermined gradation characteristic. The change instruction output unit outputs an instruction to change the setting of color adjustment in the case where the gradation characteristic determination unit determines that the setting of color adjustment does not satisfy the predetermined gradation characteristic. |
| US09123147B2 |
Imaging apparatus for display of maxillary and mandibular arches
A method for displaying teeth of a patient, generates a three-dimensional model of the patient's teeth and displays the generated three-dimensional model. A displayed image shows a cross-sectional view of the teeth according to the position of a cutting plane extending through the three-dimensional model. The relative position of the cutting plane is adjustable according to an operator instruction. The orientation of the displayed cross-sectional view is determined by the position of the cutting plane. |
| US09123144B2 |
Computing 3D shape parameters for face animation
A three-dimensional shape parameter computation system and method for computing three-dimensional human head shape parameters from two-dimensional facial feature points. A series of images containing a user's face is captured. Embodiments of the system and method deduce the 3D parameters of the user's head by examining a series of captured images of the user over time and in a variety of head poses and facial expressions, and then computing an average. An energy function is constructed over a batch of frames containing 2D face feature points obtained from the captured images, and the energy function is minimized to solve for the head shape parameters valid for the batch of frames. Head pose parameters and facial expression and animation parameters can vary over each captured image in the batch of frames. In some embodiments this minimization is performed using a modified Gauss-Newton minimization technique using a single iteration. |
| US09123137B2 |
Motion vector computing device and motion vector computing method
A motion vector computing device according to one embodiment includes: a difference computing unit that computes inter-frame temporal difference value It, uses horizontal direction inter-pixel difference value Ix and vertical direction inter-pixel difference value Iy in a same frame, the current frame signal and the different frame signals when the pixel moves for a small-time, a variance matrix generating unit computes the variances of the gradient in the horizontal direction, in the vertical direction and in the temporal direction of the luminance value on the basis of the difference values Ix, Iy and It, a coefficient computing unit computes a coefficient of a flat plane formula by calculating a formula for giving a minimum with regard to the square error of the flat plane formula approximating the distribution of luminance gradients of the pixel and a vector computing unit computes the motion vector uses the coefficient. |
| US09123136B2 |
Real time processing of video frames
A method and system for real time processing of a sequence of video frames. A current frame in the sequence and at least one frame in the sequence occurring prior to the current frame is analyzed. Each frame includes a two-dimensional array of pixels. The sequence of video frames is received in synchronization with a recording of the video frames in real time. The analyzing includes performing a background subtraction on the at least one frame, which determines a background image and a static region mask associated with a static region consisting of a contiguous distribution of pixels in the current frame. The static region mask identifies each pixel in the static region upon the static region mask being superimposed on the current frame. A determination is made that a persistence requirement, a non-persistence duration requirement, and a persistence duration requirement have been satisfied. |
| US09123132B2 |
Image processing method, image display system, and computer program
A moving object display region where a moving object is displayed and a background display region are extracted based on a difference image of frame images. Blurring processing such as averaging processing is performed on an image in the background display region. Processing for further sharpening an image, such as contrast enhancement, is performed on an image in the moving object display region. |
| US09123126B2 |
Method for enhancing local contrast of an image
A method for enhancing local contrast of an image. The method comprises receiving a component of an image, computing a wavelets decomposition of the received component into wavelet coefficients, determining at least three subsets of wavelets coefficients based on a first threshold, a second threshold and computed wavelet coefficients, modifying the determined at least three subsets by applying at least a sharpening transformation on wavelet coefficients of at least one subset in said at least three subsets, recombining the at least three subsets into final wavelet coefficients, and reconstructing a new component based on the final wavelet coefficients. |
| US09123124B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
This image processing apparatus performs image processing on an image including image data with a negative value, and is provided with: a transformation unit that performs a nonlinear transformation processing on the image including image data with a negative value to transform the image into an image that does not include image data with a negative value; an image processing unit that performs predetermined image processing on the image that does not include image data with a negative value; and an inverse transformation unit that performs an inverse transformation processing of the nonlinear transformation processing on the image, having been subjected to the image processing, which does not include image data with a negative value so as to inversely transform the image into an image, having been subjected to the image processing, which includes image data with a negative value. |
| US09123123B2 |
Pattern processing device, pattern processing method, and pattern processing program
A pattern processing device includes: an input unit to input an input image containing a plurality of pattern elements; an extraction unit that calculates edge intensities of pixels from the input image so as to extract edge pixels; an evaluation unit that obtains evaluation values for determining whether the pixels are foreground pixels or background pixels, based on comparison result between first thresholds set corresponding to the edge pixels and pixel values of pixels contained in vicinity regions of the edge pixels; a binarization determining unit that determines whether the pixels are the foreground pixels or the background pixels by comparing the evaluation values with a predetermined second threshold, and a coupling component extraction unit that extracts pixel coupling components obtained by coupling the pixels adjacent in any direction among the pixels determined to be the foreground pixels. |
| US09123122B2 |
Removing an object support from imaging data
A method and system for removing an object support from imaging data such as CT imaging data are provided. The automatic or semi-automatic removal process comprises identifying and locating the top edge of the object support in sagittal imaging plane data, and then removing the object support from transverse or volumetric imaging data. |
| US09123120B2 |
Progressive decision for cellular process selection
A computerized image guided biological cellular process progressive selection method receives at least one state cell image. A state cell region recognition is performed using the state cell image to generate state cell region output. A state cell measurement is performed using the state cell region to generate at least one state cell feature output. A state cell decision is performed using the state cell feature to generate state cell selection decision output. The selected cell is progressively selected in at least one follow-on states by its image guided state cell selection method. The method further includes at least one additional image acquired in a later frame of same state and state cell feature includes temporal features of growth patterns. |
| US09123115B2 |
Depth estimation based on global motion and optical flow
This disclosure describes techniques for estimating a depth of image objects for a two-dimensional (2D) view of a video presentation. For example, an initial indication of depth (e.g., an optical flow) may be determined for a 2D view. The initial indication of depth may be used to estimate global motion, e.g., motion of an observer (e.g., camera), of the 2D view. The initial indication of depth may be modified based on the estimation of global motion to create a global motion-adjusted indication of depth. The global motion-adjusted depth indication may be used to create a depth map for the 2D view, which may be used to generate an alternative view of the video presentation that may be used to display a three-dimensional (3D) video presentation. |
| US09123114B2 |
System and processor implemented method for improved image quality and enhancement based on quantum properties
A method and system for generating an image utilizing entangled quantum particle pairs comprising at least one processor; at least one source of entangled quantum particles having first and second channels, the first and second channel s outputting first and second pairs of entangled quantum particles, respectively, a first beam splitter operatively connected to the first channel; the first beam splitter configured to split the first pairs of entangled particles for entry into first and second spatial detectors; at least one focusing device operatively connected to the second channel configured to direct the second pairs of entangled quantum particles towards a distant target; each of the first and second spatial detectors detecting one particle of the first pairs of entangled quantum particles; the at least one processor operating to record the detection of entangled quantum particles by the first and second spatial detectors and create image data for display. |
| US09123109B2 |
Image processing device and method
The present invention relates to an image processing device and method which enable encoding efficiency in intra prediction to be improved.In the event that the optimal intra prediction mode is mode 0, adjacent pixels to be used for prediction of the current block are pixels A0, A1, A2, and A3. According to these pixels and a 6-tap FIR filter, pixels a−0.5, a+0.5, and so on with ½ pixel precision are generated, and further, pixels a−0.75, a−0.25, a+0.25, and a+0.75 with ¼ pixel precision are generated by linear interpolation. Subsequently, the optimal shift amount is determined with a value of −0.75 through +0.75 that is phase difference between an integer pixel and generated fractional pixel precision serving as a candidate of the shift amount in the horizontal direction. The present invention may be applied to an image encoding device which performs encoding using the H.264/AVC system, for example. |
| US09123108B2 |
Image processing device, radiographic image capture system, image processing method, and image processing storage medium
An image processing device includes a tomographic image generating section that acquires generates tomographic images, a display processing section that displays a second radiographic image, and detection section. If a region of interest is specified on the second radiographic image, the detection section performs image analysis by comparing the region of interest with corresponding regions that are regions in the tomographic images corresponding to the region of interest, and detects a tomographic image including a corresponding region that is similar to the region of interest. If a position of interest is specified on the second radiographic image, the detection section performs image analysis by comparing the position of interest with corresponding positions that are positions in the tomographic images corresponding to the position of interest, and detects a tomographic image including a corresponding position that is similar to the position of interest. |
| US09123107B2 |
Image-based analysis of implantable medical device positioning
In general, aspects of this disclosure describe example techniques which may be used to identify lead migration or estimate dissemination of electrical stimulation therapy through tissue of a patient. For example, an image processing device may receive a selection of a segment in a first image of patient implanted with one or more leads. The image processing device may reconstruct the selected segment in the first image with a corresponding segment in a second image. With the reconstructed segment, a user or the image processing device may be able to identify lead migration or estimate dissemination of electrical stimulation therapy through tissue of the patient. |
| US09123103B2 |
Method and apparatus for image denoising with three-dimensional block-matching
A method for denoising images by block-matching three-dimensional (BM3D) method is disclosed in the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention are used to improve the quality of captured images. Instead of using the same noise variance to denoise all patches of an image, each patch is processed based on a particular assessed noise variance. The assessed noise variance of one reference patch is determined based on noise variance associated with the patch set or based on content characteristics associated with the patch set. The patch set is obtained by block-matching to find similar patches of the reference patch. Noise reduction in frequency domain is applied to the patch set according to the assessed noise variance of the reference patch. The determining of the assessed noise variance can be performed in spatial domain or in frequency domain. |
| US09123102B2 |
Image processing apparatus, imaging apparatus, image processing method, and computer readable medium storing instructions for performing image correction
There is provided an image processing apparatus including a representative pixel calculation unit configured to select some pixels in an input image as representative pixels, a representative pixel update unit configured to update pixel values of the representative pixels, and a corrected image generation unit configured to set pixel values for pixels other than the representative pixels by applying the updated pixel values of the representative pixels. The representative pixel update unit is configured to, based on pixels around a position of the representative pixels in a smoothed image generated based on the input image as reference pixels, execute pixel value correction of the representative pixels by applying the pixel values of the reference pixels. |
| US09123101B2 |
Automatic quantification of asymmetry
An apparatus detects asymmetry in an object, such as a brain. The apparatus includes a processor programmed to fit a three-dimensional image of the object to a preselected shape, such as a standard brain atlas. The processor projects the three-dimensional image of the object to a two-dimensional surface image. The processor compares corresponding mirror image symmetric voxel pairs on the left and right sides of the surface image. The processor generates at least one of an asymmetry map and an asymmetry index based on the deviations in the pixel pairs. The processor can also mask, before the comparison, pixels of the surface image which are asymmetric in a normal brain. |
| US09123096B2 |
Information processing apparatus and control method thereof
In an information processing apparatus, an ROI acquisition unit acquires a position of an ROI in an object. A position/orientation acquisition unit acquires a position and orientation of a tomographic image acquired by an ultrasonic probe. A processing-target region acquisition unit acquires a processing-target region defined based on the position of the ROI. A calculation unit calculates a cross area between the processing-target region and the tomographic image based on the position and orientation of the tomographic image. A display control unit displays the tomographic image and an outline image indicating an approximate outline of a portion to be examined, and also displays information indicating the cross region on the outline image. |
| US09123089B2 |
Signaling and uses of windowing information for images
Techniques and tools for signaling and using image tiling information (such as syntax elements relating index tables and header size), signaling and using windowing information (such as techniques for using windowing parameters when rotating, cropping or flipping images), and signaling and using alpha channel information are described. |
| US09123086B1 |
Automatically generating event objects from images
A mobile data analysis system is provided that enables mobile device location tracking, secure messaging, and real-time sharing of intelligence information, among other features. In one embodiment, a method and apparatus is provided for creating data objects from one or more digital images captured by a mobile device. A computing device receives a first digital image file comprising first image metadata, wherein the first image metadata includes one or more image properties each having an image property value. The computing device transforms one or more of the image property values of the one or more image properties into one or more particular values. The computing device populates one or more data object property values of a data object with the one or more particular values. The computing device stores the data object in a data repository. |
| US09123084B2 |
Graphical application integration with MPEG objects
System and methods are provided to cache encoded graphical objects that may be subsequently combined with other encoded video data to form a data stream decodable by a client device according to a format specification. Paint instructions relating to a graphical object are sent from a layout engine to a rendering library. A shim intercepts these instructions and determines whether the graphical object already has been rendered and encoded. If so, a cached copy of the object is transmitted to the client device. If not, the shim transparently passes the instructions to the rendering library, and the object is rendered, encoded, and cached. Hash values are used for efficiency. Methods are disclosed to detect and cache animations, and to cut and splice cached objects into encoded video data. |
| US09123083B2 |
Blood glucose monitoring system
A system and method is described that enables a health care provider to monitor and manage a health condition of a patient. The system includes a health care provider apparatus operated by a health care provider and a remotely programmable patient apparatus that is operated by a patient. The health care provider develops a script program using the health care provider apparatus and then sends the script program to a remotely programmable patient apparatus through a communication network such as the World Wide Web. The script program is a computer-executable patient protocol that provides information to the patient about the patient's health condition and that interactively monitors the patient health condition by asking the patient questions and by receiving answers to those questions. The answers to these health related questions are then forwarded as patient data from the remotely programmable patient apparatus to the health care provider apparatus through the communication network. The patient data may also include information supplied by a physiological monitoring device such as a blood glucose monitor that is connected to the remotely programmable patient apparatus. When the patient data arrives at the health care provider apparatus, the patient data is processed for further management of the patient's health condition by the health care provider, such as forwarding another script program to the remotely programmable patient apparatus. |
| US09123076B2 |
Customizable macro-based order entry protocol and system
The present technology is related to employing a template/macro-based order entry system. An initial order data message contains a macro that establishes the initial parameters for an order and a unique ID is associated with the template. Subsequent, and potentially smaller sized data messages contain the unique ID as well as relevant order details for placing an order. Of course, the technology described herein envisions a much broader concept of reducing message sizes to help improve overall latency and is not limited to order entry. |
| US09123075B2 |
Used automobile transaction facilitation for a specific used automobile
A system, methods, and apparatus for performing used automobile transactions are disclosed. In an example embodiment, automobile market data representative of current automobile market characteristics is stored. The automobile market data may include pricing and consumer interest information received from consumers, dealers, and manufacturers. A consumer seller or manufacturer off-lease seller may provide a request for a response regarding a specific used automobile with a specific a vehicle identification number. Automobile market data may be provided to a used automobile buyer based on the request. Bids to purchase the specific used automobile may be requested from used automobile buyers based on the request. Buyer bids may be provided to the consumer seller or manufacturer off-lease seller with prices and a delivery options. The consumer seller or manufacturer off-lease seller may select a bid to sell the specific used automobile based on the bid. |
| US09123072B2 |
Network-based marketplace service for facilitating purchases of services and products
An apparatus for facilitating purchases of services includes an application server providing a network service and maintaining a service offer database that comprises a plurality of service offer information records respectively associated with a plurality of service offers. The plurality of service offers include at least one service offer for a bundled set of services. Each information record comprises an indication of a primary service, a purchase price, a payment amount for a primary service, and compensation information for receiving payment for the primary service. Upon being accessed by user operating a client system, the network service is operable to receive an indication of a service offer being selected for purchase by the user, receive purchase information from the user specifying a funding source, and issue a request to the funding source for funds corresponding to the purchase price included in the information record associated with the selected service offer. |
| US09123070B2 |
Dynamic array presentation and multiple selection of digitally stored objects and corresponding link tokens for simultaneous presentation
A system and method for the multiple selection of digitally stored objects and the link-tokens of each selected object for simultaneous presentation and examination of the selected objects with their associated linked objects and information, including organized array presentation for graphical thumbnails that represent the selected objects, as well as sub-framing, which allows intelligent partitioning of information associated with an object. |
| US09123059B2 |
Merchandising product with auto-dial cellular communication
A method and a device for making a wireless cellular communication using a merchandising product with a marketing message. A merchant delivers a merchandising product to a user. The merchandising device contains an electronic module that comprises memory that stores multimedia and an identifier such as telephone number. The electronic module contains the components necessary to play the multimedia, including one or more audio output devices and optionally a video screen. The electronic module also contains the components necessary to connect to a wireless network and to place a cellular communication using the wireless network to the identifier. The electronic module is activated by a switch. Upon activation, the electronic module plays the multimedia on the one or more audio output devices and, optionally, the video screen. While the multimedia is playing, the module connects to a wireless network. Upon the conclusion of playing the multimedia, the module makes a wireless communication with the stored identifier number with no further action on the part of the user. |
| US09123055B2 |
Generating and displaying customer commitment framework data
Systems and methods for generating and displaying customer commitment framework data. Exemplary methods for determining the shareability of online content may include obtaining, via a digital intelligence system, customer experience data regarding any of a product, a brand, and customer responses for a first entity, as well as periodically calculating, via the digital intelligence system, customer commitment framework data from the customer experience data, and generating a customer commitment dashboard that comprises a graphical representation of the customer commitment framework data. |
| US09123054B1 |
Method and system for maintaining privacy in scoring of consumer spending behavior
A method for maintaining consumer privacy in behavioral scoring includes a first computing system and a second computing system. The first computing system disguises consumer characteristics and maps disguised consumer characteristics to unencrypted account identifiers, and then transmits the data to the second computing system. The second computing system encrypts the account identifiers upon receipt, and maps the encrypted account identifiers to anonymous transaction data. The second computing system uses the transaction data to calculate consumer behavioral scores, and then generates a scoring algorithm that uses disguised consumer characteristics to calculate consumer behavior scores based on the calculated consumer behavioral scores and corresponding disguised consumer characteristics. The generated algorithm is then returned to the first computing system, with the second computing system not receiving any unencrypted account identifiers, any undisguised consumer characteristics, or any personally identifiable information. |
| US09123053B2 |
Analyzing reading metrics to generate action information
Data reports are received from a plurality of clients including action reports and timing reports. Action reports describe actions performed by users of the clients at location within an eBook. Timing reports describe reading speeds of users of the clients. The data reports are analyzed to identify an action that is performed by the users of the clients at a location within the eBook frequently relative to other actions. Action information is generated for automatically performing the identified action at the location within the eBook. The action information is transmitted to a client. The client is configured to automatically perform the action at the location within the eBook. The reading location of a user of the client is determined based on the timing reports. |
| US09123050B2 |
Apparatus for providing content according to user's interest in content and method for providing content according to user's interest in content
An apparatus for providing content based on user's interest and a method for providing content based on user's interest are provided. The apparatus for providing content generates content differently according to the user's interest in content and outputs the generated content. Accordingly, more specialized content are provided to a user interested in the currently displayed content. |
| US09123045B2 |
Predictive geolocation based receipt retrieval for post transaction activity
In general, embodiments of the invention are directed to a system, method, or computer program product for providing a user with a predictive geo-location based receipt retrieval for post transaction action. Consumers receive e-receipts after handling a transaction with a merchant in many ways. These receipts can be stored and managed with considerably ease over physical receipts. Consumers may use these receipts after making a purchase for post transaction actions such as product return, product refund, warranty services, and/or the like. The present invention may be used to retrieve the receipts based on the consumer's geographic location, predicting a post transaction action scenario. |
| US09123044B2 |
Generation systems and methods for transaction identifiers having biometric keys associated therewith
A system for generating transaction settlement identifiers includes an arrangement configured to receive a biometric sample from a customer and an arrangement configured to use the biometric sample to select the transaction settlement identifier from a pool of predetermined transaction settlements. A mapping arrangement configured to map the selected financial transaction settlement identifier to an identifier of the customer also may be included. |
| US09123038B2 |
Methods for discovering and paying debts owed by a group
Ranking payment requests includes a peer-to-peer payment system that employs a server configured for receiving a payment request from a requester computing device; receiving location data of the requester network device; receiving a request for a ranking of payment requests; searching social network information of the payor for occurrences of the requester of the payment request; receiving location data of the payor network device, the location data comprising a location of the payor computing device and a location history of the payor computing device; searching a transaction history of the payor; ranking the payment requests based at least in part on one or more of the location of the requester, a strength of social network connections to the payor for each of the payment requesters, and number of previous transactions between the payor and the requester; and providing the ranking of the payment requests to the payor. |
| US09123037B2 |
Financial transaction terminal
The system provides a two device solution for transaction processing, a merchant facing device (MFD) and a cardholder (customer) facing device CFD. What this means is that one device always faces the checkout representative of the merchant (the merchant facing device) and the other faces the consumer (the cardholder facing device). The CFD includes a payment/card reader (such as a swipe style reader, a near field communication (NFC) or RFID reader, or some other contactless means) and a numeric key pad (i.e. PIN pad) where the consumer can, when required, allow the card to be read (e.g. by swipe, insert, or wave the card) and enter an authorization PIN (personal identification number). |
| US09123034B2 |
Methods and systems for electronic payment for parking using autonomous position sensing
A method/system of wireless payment of parking fees for a vehicle, applicable to both open street and closed garage parking, wherein the user and checker experiences are enhanced relative to the prior art by a number of means, including: autonomous sensing of the user's/vehicle's location and allowing the user to correct the indicated location if required; enabling a handset to automatically sense the ID of the vehicle in which it is located; enabling rapid and facile enforcement by providing the Checker with information about the location, parking session status and other attributes of parked vehicles and displaying the information on a portable terminal in a manner facilitating rapid validation; and further facilitating the identification of vehicles with expired sessions by a method/system of RF interrogation involving RF tags located in/on the vehicles and the checking terminal querying the RF tags. |
| US09123031B2 |
Attendance tracking via device presence
Attendance tracking via mobile devices may be provided. Once a meeting begins, a plurality of mobile devices present at the meeting may be identified. An attendance report for a plurality of attendees at the meeting may be provided based on the presence of each of the identified plurality of mobile devices. |
| US09123028B2 |
Computer implemented methods and apparatus for controlling the inclusion of edited information in an information feed
Disclosed are systems, apparatus, methods and computer-readable media for controlling the inclusion of edited information in an information feed to be displayed on a display device. In some implementations, a message associated with a user is received and stored on one or more storage mediums. A request to edit the message is received, and it is determined whether the message is in an editable state. When the message is in the editable state, an edited message is generated and stored on the one or more storage mediums. When the message is not in the editable state, information is generated indicating that the request to edit the message is denied. |
| US09123025B2 |
Detection and prevention of spam in tagging systems
A method for detection of spam in a tagging system can include assigning negative points to each tag in the tagging system responsive to the tag matching at least one spam filter criteria, assigning trust points to a tagger responsive to the tagger's behavior matching at least one tagger filter criteria, wherein the at least one tagger filter criteria depends upon tags assigned by the tagger that are assigned negative points, and restricting a tagging functionality of the tagging system for a tagger if a first predefined threshold of negative trust points is exceeded. |
| US09123022B2 |
Systems and methods for analyzing entity profiles
Embodiments of the subject invention comprise a computer based system and methods to collect and compare the attributes of a group of entities using data representing topic data of the entity and interaction data between entities. Embodiments of the invention comprise using minimally invasive means to automatically collect and model both an entity's attributes such as their knowledge/work/interest as well as model the social interactions of the entity together with a means to identify opportunities to influence changes in the entity attributes. Minimally invasive means to collect and model attributes include semantic analysis and topic modeling techniques. Means to model social interactions include social network analysis techniques that can incorporate location data of the entity. Embodiments of the invention further provide a sharable index of the attributes of the entities and the group of entities. |
| US09123021B2 |
Searching linked content using an external search system
A message is delivered to an external indexing service when a link is located within a given communication. The message includes a request to index content contained within the link to ensure that the link is indexed. When a keyword search query is performed within the communication system, both a local index and an external index associated with the external indexing service are queried. Results from the query are merged and surfaced. |
| US09123020B2 |
Modeling, monitoring, and managing system dimensions for a service assurance system
A user interface accepts a model of a proposed system solution for a service assurance system. A Dimensioning Engine receives the solution and determines dimensions for the solution. The dimensions specify any of: a quantity of CPUs, a rating for the quantity of CPUs, an amount of disk storage, a memory requirement, or a CPU processing parameter. A Dimensioning Model Manager stores data from equipment and product vendors to determine the solution by taking into account specific characteristics of an equipment or a product to be used in the service assurance system. A Dimensioning Monitor (DM) monitors the model of the solution against events occurring in the service assurance system. The DM transmits an alert if the service assurance system underperforms or overperforms with reference to the model. The DM determines changes to the model into line with a current set of operational conditions, or updates the dimensions. |
| US09123019B1 |
Method, web browser and system for co-browsing online content
A method, web browser, and system for co-browsing online content is disclosed. Embodiments enable a co-browsing session between web browsers running on different computer systems using a respective peer proxy server on each computer system. A primary peer proxy server running on a first computer system communicates directly with a web server, while communications from other peer proxy servers running on other computer systems are directed through the primary peer proxy server. The primary peer proxy server accesses online content from the web server for presentation using a web browser running on the first computer system, where the online content is presented simultaneously with modified online content presented using web browsers running on the other computer systems. The online content and the modified online content may be synchronized based upon a web server response associated with a browser event communicated to the web server. |
| US09123018B2 |
System and method for identifying one or more objects hung from a display peg
Systems and methods for identifying one or more objects hung from a display peg are described herein. The system may include a display peg comprising a first and second electrically conductive terminal. An object comprising a resistive element having a preselected resistance may be hung from the display peg such that the resistive element is in electrical communication with the terminals. A source may be configured to provide a current that flows from the first terminal through the resistive element to the second terminal. An electronic device may be configured to detect the current flowing from the second terminal. The system may be configured to identify the type of object depending on the pre-selected resistance of the resistive element. |
| US09123016B2 |
Method and apparatus pertaining to the use of group RFID tag information
A plurality of radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags for corresponding items are read as a group to provide corresponding group information. This group information is used to determine whether at least some of the corresponding items are loose inventory. If desired, a confidence rating as corresponds to this determination can be determined and even displayed. These teachings can then provide for assigning a physical location within a given facility to each of at least some of these items based upon that determination. And again, if desired, a corresponding confidence rating can be determined and displayed as appropriate. |
| US09123013B2 |
Container conveying carriage and conveying system including a container conveying carriage
A container conveying carriage includes a supporting section which supports a container, a container transfer device which transfers the container, and an item supply device which supplies an item stored in the container. The carriage can travel along a traveling path. Also, the container transfer device transfers the container between the supporting section and a container transfer point outside the carriage. Moreover, the item supply device takes out the item from the container and supplies the item to an item supply point outside the carriage. |
| US09123011B2 |
System, method, and article of manufacture for a merger and acquisition knowledgebase
A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for managing a merger or an acquisition. A plurality of statistics are tracked relating to a merger or an acquisition for reporting purposes. Further, a plurality of decisions are stored relating to the merger or acquisition. Such decisions may be accessed by a plurality of users involved in the merger or acquisition. In addition, a plurality of items associated with the merger or acquisition are inputted into a database. Each item is associated with at least one of the users. The users may be search for the items in the database. |
| US09123009B1 |
Equitable shift rotation and efficient assignment mechanisms for contact center agents
Systems and methods are provided for facilitating equitable assignment of rotating shifts to agents in a contact center. In one embodiment, points are allocated to agents indicating their frequency of receiving undesirable shift assignments. Based on the previously allocated points, future undesirable shifts are assigned to agents. The point allocation scheme accommodates various exceptions scheduling periodic rotating shifts, such as skipping assignment of an agent from an upcoming undesirable shift, agents leaving, swapping a shift, and agents being added. In another embodiments, agents are assigned to rotating shifts using constructs of a cycle and a rotation template, which facilitates assigning agents to a work schedule with a calendar in a repetitious manner, and where certain shifts are non-rotational in nature and other shifts are rotational in nature. |
| US09123007B1 |
Detecting feature conflicts in a vendor account configuration
Disclosed are various embodiments of a method and system for detecting feature conflicts in a vendor account configuration. A request to modify an account configuration for an account holder is obtained. The configuration describes at least one feature provided to the account holder by a hosted service provider. A determination is made as to whether the requested modification complies with at least one vendor feature rule. If the modification complies with the at least one vendor feature rule, the configuration is modified as requested. |
| US09123001B2 |
Trust rating metric for future event prediction of an outcome
In at least one embodiment, a trust rating system and method provide a precise and accurate, structured (yet adaptable and flexible), quantifying way of expressing historical trustworthiness so the user or decision maker can make more informed decisions on the data or information being evaluated. |
| US09122999B2 |
Image-based inventory control system
Inventory control systems for monitoring the removal and replacement of objects are described. An exemplary system includes at least one storage drawer, each storage drawer includes at least one storage location for storing objects, and configured to move in a first direction allowing increasing access to storage locations of the drawer, and a second direction allowing decreasing access to storage locations of the drawer. An image sensing device is provided to form at least one first image of the storage locations when a respective storage drawer moves in the second direction. The system includes a data processor configured to receive information representing images of the storage locations generated by the image sensing device, and determine an inventory condition of the objects stored in the respective storage drawer according to the at least one first image. |
| US09122995B2 |
Classification of stream-based data using machine learning
The described implementations relate to data classification. One implementation includes identifying one or more likely classifications for an incoming data item using an algorithm. The implementation can also include providing the one or more identified classifications to a user. A selection of an individual identified classification for the incoming data item can be received from the user. The algorithm can be refined to reflect the selection by the user. |
| US09122992B2 |
Predicting web page
For predicting web pages, a calculation module predicts a web page from a current context and displays the predicted web page. |
| US09122988B2 |
Ontology-driven complex event processing
Described embodiments relate generally to ontology-driven complex event processing (CEP). When implemented as a computer (105), the computer (105) enables, in communication with a network, user generation and transformation of an event definition into an ontology-based event definition. A computer-implemented transformer component (140) receives the ontology-based event definition, generates event processing instructions and transmits the event processing instructions to a CEP server (150) over the network. The CEP server (150) then observes a plurality of structured messages containing event data and determines whether the event data satisfy all conditions of the event definition and sends an event message responsive to determining that all event definition conditions are satisfied. The described techniques allow an arbitrary high-throughput CEP to be used. A user, unaware of the normally difficult and heterogeneous CEP interfaces, can easily construct requests for event alerts using the described interface and a domain ontology that is appropriate for the user's interest. |
| US09122987B2 |
Method for predicting future travel time using geospatial inference
Future travel times of a target vehicle traveling on a route from a starting point to a destination are predicted by first acquiring, by a probe vehicle, real-time probe data to alternative links from the starting point to the destination. Then, the future travel time for each link is predicted using a set of regression functions. |
| US09122985B2 |
Programmatic access to terminologies expressed in hierarchical form
The described implementations relate to expressing terminologies in a hierarchical form. One implementation can receive a terminology that can include concept-code pairs. For example, each of the concept-code pairs can include a concept and a code that is assigned to the concept by the terminology. The implementation can map the concepts to levels of a hierarchical ontology, and associate some of the concepts across different levels of the hierarchical ontology. The implementation can also provide programmatic access to the concept-code pairs of the terminology via the hierarchical ontology. |
| US09122984B2 |
Distributed network architecture for introducing dynamic content into a synthetic environment
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to computer-based simulations and synthetic environment generation, and more particularly, to a system, a computer-readable medium, a method and an apparatus for generating synthetic environments in a distributed architecture to, among other things, introduce dynamic content. |
| US09122980B2 |
Information processing device and method extracting a contour from image of combined pixel data object and vector data object
An information processing device includes an identifying unit, a generation unit, and a contour extraction unit. The identifying unit identifies a first object expressed by pixel data and a second object expressed by vector data from target image data including drawing information for each object. The generation unit performs rasterization based on first drawing information indicating the drawing information of the first object and second drawing information indicating the drawing information of the second object to generate combined image data, into which the first object and the second object are combined. The contour extraction unit extracts a contour from the combined image data. |
| US09122978B2 |
Image processing device and method, and non-transitory computer readable medium
An image processing device includes an accepting unit, and a conversion information generating unit. The accepting unit accepts items of read data in a device-dependent color space that are generated by reading color patches, items of reference data in a device-independent color space of the color patches, and items of specific color component data each indicating a specific color component in a corresponding one of the color patches. The conversion information generating unit generates conversion information reflecting the presence or amount of a specific color component included in each color patch as information for converting input data in the device-dependent color space to output data in the device-independent color space, on the basis of the items of read data, the items of reference data, and the items of specific color component data. |
| US09122973B2 |
Data transmission apparatus, method for controlling data transmission apparatus, and storage medium
When a print screen for transmitting a print job to a printing apparatus is displayed, an information processing apparatus transmits a disable command of disabling a power saving mode to the printing apparatus. The printing apparatus receiving the disable command temporarily disables the power saving mode. |
| US09122971B2 |
Label for enabling verification of an object
A label for enabling verification of an object includes a scannable region that enables determination of auto-acquired unique spatial orientation of the scannable region with respect to a reference thereby enabling determination of a spatial orientation of the label with respect to the reference. The label is applied onto the object and a change in the spatial orientation of the label indicates tampering of the label, thereby enabling verification of the object. Further, a method for detecting tampering of an object includes providing label on the object. The label has at least a portion which is scannable region with a plurality of patterns and is associated with an external reference point. Further, the method includes determining a first and a second spatial orientations of the label based on computation between the patterns and the reference point, and generating an alert on noticing a change between first and second spatial orientations. |
| US09122964B2 |
Batteryless stored value card with display
A stored value card such as a transit card, college meal plan card, other card such as a credit card, coupon redemption card or rewards/awards card has within it an integrated thin film flexible display and has RFID and security capabilities. In a preferred embodiment of a transit card or stored value card in accordance with the present invention, the display shows a remaining balance on the card. Still other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description, simply by illustrating a preferable embodiments and implementations. |
| US09122961B2 |
Printed image inspecting apparatus and printed image inspecting method
A mask generating unit generates a show-through area mask in accordance with inverted front printed image data, obtained by inverting front printed image data in a horizontal direction, and back printed image data. Then, a determining unit inspects a show-through area of the back inspecting image data corresponding to the show-through area mask with a show-through inspection threshold. Consequently, an area where the show-through exists with high possibility is inspected with the looser show-through inspection threshold. This achieves suppression of determination error due to the show-through. On the other hand, an area where no show-through exists with high possibility is inspected with a tight normal inspection threshold. This achieves accurate determination of printing error. As a result, accurate printing inspection is obtainable even to web paper with the show-through. |
| US09122960B2 |
Patch size adaptation for image enhancement
Systems and methods are provided for providing patch size adaptation for patch-based image enhancement operations. In one embodiment, an image manipulation application receives an input image. The image manipulation application compares a value for an attribute of at least one input patch of the input image to a threshold value. Based on comparing the value for the to the threshold value, the image manipulation application adjusts a first patch size of the input patch to a second patch size that improves performance of a patch-based image enhancement operation as compared to the first patch size. The image manipulation application performs the patch-based image enhancement operation based on one or more input patches of the input image having the second patch size. |
| US09122959B2 |
Method and apparatus for automated delineation of structure shape for image guided treatment planning
Disclosed herein are techniques for performing automated structure delineation on image data using trained landmark detectors and a shape refinement tool. The landmark detectors can be trained to detect a landmark in the image data based on image features that are indicative of intensity variations over a plurality of windows of the image data points. A machine-learning algorithm can be used to train the landmark detectors. The landmarks in the image data that are detected by the trained landmark detects can be used to initialize an iterative shape refinement to thereby compute a refined shape estimate for a structure of interest such as a prostate. |
| US09122957B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and non-transitory computer readable medium
An image processing apparatus includes a first acquiring unit that acquires an image to be processed; a setting unit that sets multiple partial image areas in the image to be processed; a second acquiring unit that acquires a first classification result indicating a possibility that an object of a specific kind is included in each of the multiple partial image areas; and a generating unit that generates a second classification result indicating a possibility that the object of the specific kind is included in the image to be processed on the basis of the first classification result of each of the multiple partial image areas. |
| US09122954B2 |
Performing a histogram using an array of addressable registers
Parallel processing of an image using an array of addressable registers. Image features are extracted from the image. The image features are storable as data. According to respective values of a sorting key derived from a parameter of the data, the image features are sorted into N buckets. Using an array of M addressable registers, where M is less than N, the data are summed within the buckets to perform a histogram of the image features, according to values of a histogram key derived from said a parameter of the data. |
| US09122946B2 |
Systems, methods, and media for capturing scene images and depth geometry and generating a compensation image
In some embodiments, systems for capturing scene images and depth geometry are provided, comprising a projector, an optical sensor, and a digital processing device. The projector is capable of being defocused with respect to a scene and projects light having a shifting periodic illumination pattern on the scene. The optical sensor has a plurality of pixels and detects a portion of the radiance of at least one image of the scene at each of the pixels. The digital processing device is capable of being coupled to the optical sensor and obtains a temporal radiance profile from the radiance over a time period for each of the pixels, determines an amount of projection defocus at each of the of pixels using the temporal radiance profile, and, at each of the pixels, computes a depth to the scene at the pixel using the amount of projection defocus at the pixel. |
| US09122945B2 |
Method and apparatus for three-dimensional tracking of infra-red beacons
A method for processing data includes identifying a time signature of an infra-red (IR) beacon. Image data associated with the IR beacon is identified using the time signature. |
| US09122944B2 |
Paper medium identifying device and identifying method
A paper medium identifying device and an identifying method. The paper medium identifying device comprises an image data obtaining unit, a faulty wire detecting unit, an image dividing unit, a standard template data storage unit, a comprehensive analyzing unit, a new template generating unit and a judging unit. The paper medium identifying device divides the standard template into new sub-templates by dividing the template from a faulty wire position as margin, and then matches the sub-templates with a papery medium image which being identified so as to avoid the influence of faulty wires on the template match identification and improve the acceptance rate of the papery medium identifying device. |
| US09122943B1 |
Identifying rendering differences between label rendering engines
Various embodiments provide a method for randomly selecting a region on a map for testing and a map of the region can be generated using multiple map rendering engines. A screenshot of each of the generated maps can be obtained and text associated with map labels, such as street, city, and attraction names, can be recognized using an optical character recognition (OCR) engine. At this point, the recognized text from each rendering engine can then be compared to identify at least one error or inconsistency. In at least one embodiment, categories of errors that need most attention in the specific geographic areas can be identified and a human quality assurance tester can isolate these instances and narrow down the same to identify the rendering or data problem. |
| US09122938B2 |
Apparatus and method for offsetting transmission leakage signal of RFID reader using injection locked oscillator (ILO)
A transmission leakage signal offset apparatus of a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader is disclosed. The transmission leakage signal offset apparatus may include a signal divider to divide a received signal of the RFID reader, the received signal including a transmission leakage signal, and to transmit the divided received signal to a signal combiner and an injection locked oscillator (ILO); a signal synchronizer to synchronize a phase of the ILO with a phase of the transmission leakage signal; a phase controller to control a phase difference between the received signal of the RFID reader and an output signal of the ILO; and a signal combiner to combine the received signal of the RFID reader and the output signal of the ILO, between which the phase difference is controlled. |
| US09122937B2 |
Tamper-resistant housing assembly
A tamper-resistant housing assembly may include an internal housing that is wrapped in a flex circuit. The flex circuit can cover an outside surface of the internal housing and can carry a conductive electrical trace. The electrical trace can define a continuous electrical path from a first contact pad to a second contact pad, such that piercing the an outer surface of the housing through to the inner surface of the housing interrupts the continuous electrical path. |
| US09122933B2 |
After market driving assistance system
The system comprises a sensing system and a speed detection system to monitor and gather information associated with a driver, a vehicle being operated by the driver, a monitored area proximate to the vehicle. The system further comprises a display module located within the interior of the vehicle and a controller in communication with the speed detection system, the sensing system and the display module. Upon receiving the gathered information from the sensing system, the controller utilizes the gathered information to detect the presence and the proximity of an object in the monitored zone of the vehicle and the speed of the vehicle. Upon detecting said object in the monitored zone of the vehicle, the controller determines the appropriateness of providing a warning to a driver of the vehicle regarding said object. The appropriateness of providing the warning is determined as a function of the proximity of said object to the vehicle and a speed of the vehicle. Upon determining that the warning is appropriate, the controller displays the warning to the driver through the display module. |
| US09122920B1 |
Digital manifold gauge with integral pressure-temperature algorithms and rotatable display means
A digital manifold gauge having a gauge assembly with a display, one or more selectors, and a circuit board wherein the gauge assembly is rotatably disposed within a gauge housing and adapted to rotate to provide a plurality of viewing positions for the user. The circuit board is in electrical communication with a sensor port and the sensor port is adapted to receive a sensor transducer, such as a pressure transducer. The gauge includes internal software and logic for data processing and manipulation. The gauge includes a software algorithm adapted to convert pressure data transmitted to the circuit board from the pressure transducer into temperature data. The temperature and pressure data can be displayed on the display in real time and the gauge can also provide graphing and charting of the pressure-temperature relationship. The gauge is compatible with a variety of refrigerants and other fluids flowing through HVAC systems. |
| US09122917B2 |
Recognizing gestures captured by video
Motions and gestures can be detected using a video capture element of a computing device even when the video capture element is not able to accurately capture the motion. Information about the background in the image information can be determined, and the way in which that background information is occluded can be used to determine the motion. In at least some embodiments, edges are detected in the video information. Images of foreground objects can then be isolated from edges of background images by comparing histograms of multiple frames of video. The remaining data is indicative of a direction and speed of motion, which can be used to infer a determined gesture even though that gesture was not visible in the captured video information. |
| US09122911B2 |
System, method and computer program for verifying a signatory of a document
Systems and method for verifying a user signing a document are disclosed. In particular, certain disclosed embodiments relate to verifying that a user signing a document corresponds to a previously authenticated user, the user having been previously authenticated using a source of machine-readable identity data. The verifying may be made by receiving, from the source of machine-readable identity data, first digital image data indicative of a first image of the previously authenticated user and first identity data, and receiving from a camera, a captured second image comprising second digital image data that corresponds to the user. Responsive to the first image and the second image being determined to represent the same user, verification data is generated and associated with the document. |
| US09122906B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, program, and recording medium for detection of epidermis pattern
An epidermis pattern detection unit detects epidermis patterns in an epidermis image captured from the epidermis of skin by an epidermis image capturing unit. An acquired element analysis unit analyzes uniformity of shapes of the epidermis patterns in the epidermis image. A texture evaluation unit evaluates a texture state of the skin based on the uniformity of shapes of the epidermis patterns. The present technology, for example, may be applied to systems that evaluate the texture state of the skin. |
| US09122904B2 |
Method for optimization of quantitative video-microscopy and associated system
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method for determining an amount of a plurality of molecular species in a sample, each molecular specie being indicated by a dye. According to one embodiment, the amount of a plurality of molecular species is determined by acquiring a plurality of images of the sample, determining an amount of each molecular specie, as indicated by a respective dye, for each pixel at each corresponding pixel location in the plurality of images, and refining the amount of a plurality of molecular species at one or more pixel locations in the plurality of images. Associated systems and computer program products are also provided. |
| US09122902B2 |
Biometric authentication device, biometric information processing device, biometric authentication system, biometric authentication server, biometric authentication client, and biometric authentication device controlling method
A fingerprint image obtaining unit 1 obtains a fingerprint image of multiple fingers. A vein image obtaining unit 3 obtains a palm vein image. An authentication information DB 6 stores reference vein characteristic information, and a reference direction of a predetermined finger in a reference palm vein image for which the reference vein characteristic information is obtained. A reference obtaining unit 20 detects a longitudinal direction of a predetermined finger based on the fingerprint image. A position correcting unit 40 corrects the palm vein image based on the longitudinal direction of the predetermined finger, and the reference direction of the predetermined finger. A vein characteristic information extracting unit 4 obtains vein characteristic information from a corrected palm vein image. A verification processing unit 32 matches the vein characteristic information obtained with the reference vein characteristic information for authentication. |
| US09122901B2 |
Surface sensor
The invention relates to a sensor for detection of properties and structures of an organic tissue and its surface, e.g. a fingerprint sensor comprising a chosen number of sensor electrodes at chosen positions for coupling to a finger tissue and its surface having a size less or comparable to the size of the structures, characteristics or properties of the finger tissue or surface, and a processing unit including electronic circuitry connected to said electrodes for detection of the voltage at, or the current flow in the electrodes, thereby providing for detection and collection of information of related capacitance, impedance, electromagnetic field, fingerprint, tissue aliveness or other biometric, physical, physiological, thermal or optical or characteristics or properties of the tissue or its surface positioned over the electrodes, the processing unit being mounted on one side of a substrate and the electrodes being embedded in said substrate, the substrate including through going first, second and third conductive paths between said sensor electrodes and said measurement circuitry. The substrate is made from a polymer material such as Polyimide, implemented as a rigid or a flexible multi layer build-up substrate, said first, second, and third conductive paths are constituted by through going substrate sections of a chosen size and material. |
| US09122900B2 |
Biometric authentication device and computer readable, non-transitory medium
A biometric authentication device includes a biometric sensor that obtains an image of a biometric authentication portion of a user without contacting, a distance sensor that obtains a distance between the biometric sensor and the biometric authentication portion, and a guidance image display unit that shows a guidance image for guiding the biometric authentication portion to a distance that is appropriate for the biometric sensor to obtain the biometric authentication portion, the guidance image changing continuously or in stages according to the distance obtained by the distance sensor. |
| US09122899B2 |
Card connector with improved heat-dissipation, retention, and ESD protection features
A card connector for use with a card comprising electronic circuitry and a card reader device comprising electronic circuitry which can communicate with the card. The card connector is configured to receive the card when the card is inserted into the card reader. The card connector has a connector body and an attached cover. The connector body includes a plurality of electronic contacts that engage the card circuitry and operationally link the card to the card reader device. The cover includes one or more retaining springs which engage the card to secure the card and draw heat from the card. The cover also has a lip or tongue and grounding tabs which provide electrostatic discharge protection. |
| US09122896B2 |
Adder
A circuit in which a storage function and an arithmetic function are combined is proposed by using a transistor with low off-state current for forming a storage element. When the transistor with low off-state current is used, electric charge can be held, for example, in a node or the like between a source or a drain of the transistor with low off-state current and a gate of another transistor. Thus, the node or the like between one of the source or the drain of the transistor with low off-state current and the gate of the another transistor can be used as a storage element. In addition, leakage current accompanied by the operation of an adder can be reduced considerably. Accordingly, a signal processing circuit consuming less power can be formed. |
| US09122890B2 |
Secure mechanism to switch between different domains of operation in a data processor
A data processing apparatus including processing circuitry having a secure domain and a further different secure domain and a data store for storing data and instructions. The data store includes a plurality of regions each corresponding to a domain, and at least one secure region for storing sensitive data accessible by the data processing circuitry operating in the secure domain and not accessible by the data processing circuitry operating in the further different secure domain and a less secure region for storing less sensitive data. The processing circuitry is configured to verify that a region of the data store storing the program instruction corresponds to a current domain of operation of the processing circuitry and, if not, to verify whether the program instruction includes a guard instruction and, if so, to switch to the domain corresponding to the region of the data store storing the program instruction. |
| US09122889B2 |
Managing access to class objects in a system utilizing a role-based access control framework
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method and technique for managing access to application-based objects in a system utilizing a role-based access control framework is disclosed. The method includes: determining, for each object class of an application, a privilege needed for invoking a privileged operation associated with the object class; creating a privilege shell for a user running the application; setting the determined privilege on the privilege shell; associating an authorization to the privilege shell; and invoking the privilege shell to run the application by the user. |
| US09122884B2 |
Accessing information during a teleconferencing event
A method for accessing information during a teleconferencing event. The method includes identifying a reference to a document transmitted by a telecommunication device participating in a teleconferencing event and identifying a name of the referenced document. The method includes determining, by a computer, an identity of a user of the participating telecommunication device. The method further includes determining the user has permission to access the identified document and, in response, transmitting the identified document to the participating telecommunication device. |
| US09122883B2 |
Security system and method for controlling interactions between components of a computer system
The embodiments of the present invention relate to controlling interactions between one or more components of a computer system, where each component is assigned a fixed security level and all currently active and newly requested interactions between components of the system are monitored. |
| US09122877B2 |
System and method for malware and network reputation correlation
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving a reputation value based on a hash of a file making a network connection and on a network address of a remote end of the network connection. The network connection may be blocked if the reputation value indicates the hash or the network address is associated with malicious activity. In more specific embodiments, the method may also include sending a query to a threat analysis host to request the reputation value. Additionally or alternatively the reputation value may be based on query patterns in particular embodiments. In yet more specific embodiments, the network connection may be an inbound connection and/or an outbound connection, and the reputation value may be based on a file reputation associated with the hash and a connection reputation associated with the network address of the remote end of the network connection. |
| US09122876B2 |
Methods for firmware signature
A method for installing embedded firmware is provided. The method includes generating one or more firmware file instances and generating one or more digital certificate instances that are separate instances from the firmware file instances. The method includes associating the one or more digital certificate instances with the one or more firmware file instances to facilitate updating signature-unaware modules with signature-aware firmware or to facilitate updating signature-aware modules with signature-unaware firmware. |
| US09122872B1 |
System and method for treatment of malware using antivirus driver
Disclosed are systems, methods and computer program products for treatment of malware using an antivirus driver. In one aspect, an example method includes performing, by an antivirus software, an antivirus scan of the computer; detecting, by the antivirus software, a malicious object on the computer; formulating at least one task for treatment of the detected malicious object; configuring and activating on the computer an antivirus driver of the antivirus software to execute the at least one formulated task for treatment of the detected malicious object; and rebooting the computer by the antivirus software, whereby upon rebooting of the computer the antivirus driver is loaded by the operating system of the computer to execute the at least one task for treatment of the detected malicious object. |
| US09122871B2 |
Method and device for managing an array of keys, with protection against an active spy device, computer program product and storage means corresponding thereto
There is proposed a method of managing an array of keys by a device, each key pressed short-circuiting a row and a column of the array. During at least part of a time slot lying between two successive iterations of a sweep phase, the device performs a first protection mechanism, including reading a logic value on at least one row or column, and detecting an attempted illicit sweep as a function of the logic value read, and/or a second protection mechanism, including writing an arbitrary logic value, equal to or different from the predetermined logic value, on at least one row or column, so as to prevent an attempted illicit sweep. |
| US09122870B2 |
Methods and apparatus for validating communications in an open architecture system
A system, methods, and apparatus for validating communications in an open architecture system are disclosed. In an example embodiment, a method includes selecting transactional information to transmit from a server to a communicatively coupled client device based on a request from the client device, selecting presentation information corresponding to the transactional information to transmit from the server to the client device, transmitting at least one message including the presentation and transactional information from the server to the client device, determining a prediction as to how the client device will render the transactional information based on the presentation information, receiving a response message from the client, and responsive to information in the response message not matching the prediction, providing an indication there is a malicious application affecting communications between the server and the client device. |
| US09122864B2 |
Method and apparatus for transitive program verification
A method, apparatus and program storage device for program verification in an information handling system in which an application program runs on an operating system having a signature verification function for verifying a digital signature of the application program. Upon loading of the application program, the signature verification function of the operating system verifies the digital signature of the application program and, if the digital signature is verified, initiates execution of the application program. Upon initiation of execution of the application program, a verification testing function associated with the application program tests the signature verification function of the operating system by presenting to it a sequence of test digital signatures in a specified pattern of true and false signatures. If its test of the signature verification function of the operating system is successful, the application program initiates normal execution. Otherwise, the application program terminates without initiating normal execution. |
| US09122859B1 |
Browser based event information delivery mechanism using application resident on removable storage device
At a client, a first application is executed to identify event information with respect to events that occur at the client, including events associated with execution of one or more other applications resident on the client. The first application communicates with a second application, also executing on the client, to transmit the event information to a communications network, wherein the second application and not the first application is in communication with the communications network. In some embodiments, the second application is a browser application. Optionally, the first application installs a browser loadable object in the browser application, and the browser loadable object registers callback information with the first application. Later, the first application uses the callback information to communicate a network request to the browser loadable object. |
| US09122858B2 |
Accessing multiple client domains using a single application
Methods, computer systems, and computer-readable storage media for using a single application on a mobile device to access a plurality of client domain sites are provided. The single application on the mobile device receives from a user of the mobile device a set of authorization credentials. Based on the set of authorization credentials, the single application receives a first client domain uniform resource locator from a third-party directory service. The first client domain uniform resource locator is used to access a client gateway service; the client gateway service provides a secure access point to a number of different service solutions hosted by a client. Upon the user inputting a set of authentication credentials, the user is able to access information from one or more of the different service solutions. |
| US09122856B2 |
Updates of biometric access systems
Methods are disclosed for performing an update to a biometric access system. An instruction is received at a handheld device defining the update. An encoded signal is generated from the instruction to be transmitted to a biometric terminal from the handheld device. An acknowledgment is received from the biometric terminal at the handheld device that the encoded signal has been received and acted upon. Update information is transmitted from the handheld device over a network to a server to record the update. |
| US09122855B2 |
System for obfuscating identity
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to compositions, apparatus, systems, kits, and methods, including but not limited to, feedback and cooperative methods and systems for obfuscating target biological material identifiers in an environment. In an embodiment, a method may include receiving a first input associated with a first possible dataset. The first possible data set may include data representative of one or more environmental biological material identifiers. The method may further include determining data representative of one or more second obfuscating components for one or more target biological material identifiers based on the first possible data set. The method may further include directing one or more controller units to instruct one or more dispensing units to dispense the one or more second obfuscating components to an environment. |
| US09122849B2 |
Secure authentication using memory cards
Embodiments of a method are provided for personalizing a memory card. The method comprises receiving one or more credentials. The method further comprises authenticating the one or more credentials. The method further comprises reserving a memory segment in the memory card based on the authentication, wherein one or more memory segments in the memory card are vacant. The method furthermore comprises writing the one or more credentials on to the memory segment. |
| US09122846B2 |
Document verification with distributed calendar infrastructure
Transformations of digital records are used as lowest level inputs to a tree data structure having a root in a core system and having nodes computed as digital combinations of child node values. Signature vectors are associated with the digital records and have parameters that enable recomputation upward through the tree data structure to either a current calendar value or onward to a composite calendar value that is a function of calendar values in a calendar, which comprises a set of computed calendar values, such that the calendar values have a time correspondence. Recomputation yields the same value only if a candidate digital record is an exact version of the original digital record included in the original computation of the value, indicating authentication of the candidate digital record. The authentication process as such is independent of any trust authority that issues cryptographic keys. |
| US09122843B2 |
Software license reconciliation facility
A method is presented for monitoring software product usage in a data processing system. The method may include installing an instance of a software product on a target entity of a data processing system. A usage condition applicable to the instance may be identified. Reconciliation information may be generated upon installation of the instance. This reconciliation information may correlate the usage condition with the instance to facilitate later determining compliance of the software product with applicable usage conditions. |
| US09122841B2 |
Providing remote application logs for cloud applications
Applications and their application components are deployed on a cloud platform. The application components generate application logs on the underlying cloud runtime infrastructure of the cloud platform. In one aspect, the application logs may be stored on a network storage on the cloud platform. In another aspect, the application logs may be stored on the cloud runtime infrastructure. The cloud platform provides a service that exposes an interface to remotely provide the stored application logs. The exposed interface is instantiated to process remote requests for application logs for a specified application component. The remote requests are sent from a client. The requested application logs are retrieved based on the implementation of the interface. The application logs are provided to the client. |
| US09122839B2 |
Layout modification method and system
A method comprises providing a non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium storing a partial netlist of at least a portion of a previously taped-out integrated circuit (IC) layout, representing a set of photomasks for fabricating an IC having the IC layout such that the IC meets a first specification value. A computer identifies a proper subset of a plurality of first devices in the IC layout, such that replacement of the proper subset of the first devices by second devices in a revised IC layout satisfies a second specification value different from the first specification value. At least one layout mask is generated and stored in at least one non-transitory machine readable storage medium, accessible by a tool for forming at least one additional photomask, such that the set of photomasks and the at least one additional photomask are usable to fabricate an IC according to the revised IC layout. |
| US09122838B2 |
Triple-pattern lithography layout decomposition
Provided is a method for evaluating and decomposing a semiconductor device level for triple pattern lithography in semiconductor manufacturing. The method includes generating a conflict graph and simplifying the conflict graph using various methods to produce a simplified conflict graph which can either be further simplified or evaluated for decomposition validity. The disclosure also provides for applying decomposition validity rules to a simplified conflict graph to determine if the conflict graph represents a semiconductor device layer that is decomposable into three masks. Methods of the disclosure are carried out by a computer and instructions for carrying out the method may be stored on a computer readable storage medium. |
| US09122834B1 |
Method of using continuous parameter value updates to realize rapid Pcell evaluation
A system, method, and computer program product for using continuous parameter value updates to rapidly evaluate parameterized cells in a design tool. Embodiments display parameters and corresponding parameter values of parameterized cells in a circuit design in a GUI, adjust parameter values according to user input, evaluate the parameterized cell, and present results of the evaluating in the GUI during the displaying. Parameters influence circuit layout, circuit schematics, or simulation settings. Parameter values include current, minimum, maximum, and increment values. Parameterized cells may be individual cell instances, submaster cells, or master cells. Embodiments integrate validation tools and detect design rule check violations, assertion violations, invalid parameter values, and evaluation errors, and responsively generate user error alerts and selectively disallow further adjusting. Embodiments generate test circuits, each using a parameter value from a permutation of the adjusted parameter values. |
| US09122832B2 |
Methods for controlling microloading variation in semiconductor wafer layout and fabrication
Problematic open areas are identified in a semiconductor wafer layout. The problematic open areas have a size variation relative to one or more neighboring open areas of the layout sufficient to cause adverse microloading variation. In one embodiment, the adverse microloading variation is controlled by shifting a number of layout features to interdict the problematic open areas. In another embodiment, the adverse microloading variation is controlled by defining and placing a number of dummy layout features to shield actual layout features that neighbor the problematic open areas. In another embodiment, the adverse microloading variation is controlled by utilizing sacrificial layout features which are actually fabricated on the wafer temporarily to eliminate microloading variation, and which are subsequently removed from the wafer to leave behind the desired permanent structures. |
| US09122829B2 |
Stress migration mitigation
A computer-implemented method of configuring a semiconductor device includes identifying an interconnect having an interconnect path length greater than a stress-induced void formation characteristic length of the semiconductor device, and placing, with a processor, a conductive structure adjacent the interconnect to define a pair of segments of the interconnect. Each segment has a length no greater than the stress-induced void formation characteristic length of the interconnect, and the conductive structure is selected from the group consisting of a decoy via connected to the interconnect, a floating tile disposed along the interconnect, a tab that laterally extends outward from the interconnect, and a jumper from a first metal layer in which the interconnect is disposed to a second metal layer. |
| US09122827B2 |
MEMS modeling system and method
A system and method for modeling microelectromechanical devices is disclosed. An embodiment includes separating the microelectromechanical design into separate regions and modeling the separate regions separately. Parametric parameters or parametric equations may be utilized in the separate models. The separate models may be integrated into a MEMS device model. The MEMS device model may be tested and calibrated, and then may be used to model new designs for microelectromechanical devices. |
| US09122822B2 |
Three-dimensional fluid simulation method
A three-dimensional fluid simulation method is disclosed wherein: a first mesh of a flow domain non-uniformly split with respect to each of three degrees of freedom is defined; a second mesh uniformly sprit with respect to only one of the three degrees of freedom but non-uniformly with respect to other two degrees is defined; an object model is set in the first mesh and a motion equation is formed and calculated to obtain fluid velocity; based on the fluid velocity, flow imbalance is computed for each cell; based on the flow imbalance, fluid pressure correction equation is formed; the flow imbalance is mapped onto the second mesh and the fluid pressure correction is computed; the fluid pressure correction is mapped onto the first mesh; and until the flow imbalance and motion equations are converged the computation is repeated. |
| US09122821B2 |
Method and system for simulation of automated processes
Systems, methods, and computer readable mediums. A method includes receiving a three dimensional model for a simulation that includes a first material portion that extends between first and second material handling elements. The method includes simulating motion of the first and second material handling elements and simulating an interaction between the first material portion and the first and second material handling elements. The method includes maintaining a constraint between the first and second material handling elements according to the first material portion, dynamically updating the model and displaying the simulation, and storing the model. A method for fluid simulation is also discussed. |
| US09122816B2 |
High performance system that includes reconfigurable protocol tables within an ASIC wherein a first protocol block implements an inter-ASIC communications protocol and a second block implements an intra-ASIC function
A high performance computing system is provided with an ASIC that communicates with another device in the system according to a protocol defined by the other device. The ASIC is coupled to a reconfigurable protocol table, in the form of a high speed content-addressable memory (“CAM”). The CAM includes instructions to control the execution of the protocol by the ASIC. The CAM may include instructions to control the ASIC in the event that unanticipated signals or other errors are encountered while executing the protocol. Internal ASIC state data may be routed to the CAM to permit the ASIC to generate a reasonable response to errors either in the design or fabrication of the ASIC or the device with which it is communicating. |
| US09122807B2 |
Interfacing a switch array
An interface circuit for a switch array having an array of switches, each closeable to couple a row conductor of a plurality of row conductors to a column conductor of one or more column conductors, comprises a current generator and a current detector. The current generator has a plurality of row interface ports for coupling to different ones of the row conductors and is arranged to generate a switch array current for coupling to the row interface ports, the switch array current having a different one of a plurality of different switch array current magnitudes for different ones of the row interface ports, and generate one or more reference currents each having a different reference current magnitude. The current detector has one or more column interface ports for coupling to the one or more column conductors and is arranged to detect the switch array current flowing at any one of the one or more column interface ports, and generate a row indication indicative of which of the row conductors a closed one of the switches is coupled to by determining which one of the switch array current magnitudes the detected switch array current has by comparing the detected switch array current with the one or more reference currents. |
| US09122805B2 |
Resilient mock object creation for unit testing
Embodiments of the invention provide a method, system and computer program product for fault alerting in mock object supported unit testing. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for fault alerting in mock object supported unit testing is provided. The method includes creating in memory of a computing system an instance a mock object proxying for an object under test by test code and proxying by method name an invocation of a method in the object under test to the mock object. The method also includes determining whether or not a method exists in memory for the mock object corresponding to the method name. Finally, the method includes invoking an exception handler for the mock object outputting error text indicating a non-presence of a method associated with the method name responsive to a method by the method name not existing in the memory for the mock object, but otherwise invoking a method that exists in the memory of the mock object corresponding to the method name. |
| US09122804B2 |
Logic validation and deployment
A method of implementing and validating business logic may include translating the business logic into an executable routine, and providing the executable routine to a logic interpreter. The logic interpreter may be configured to receive inputs from the user interface during live use, process the inputs according to the executable routine to generate a result set, and provide the result set to a database for storage. The method may also include receiving a test harness comprising a plurality of input sets and a corresponding plurality of expected result sets, and processing each of the plurality of input sets according to the executable routine to generate a plurality of result sets. The method may additionally include generating an automatic determination as to whether the executable routine should be deployed for live use based on the plurality of result sets and the plurality of expected result sets. |
| US09122802B2 |
Interconnect, bus system with interconnect and bus system operating method
Provided are an interconnect, a bus system with interconnect, and bus system operating method. The bus system includes a master, slaves access by the master, and an interconnect. The interconnect connects the master with the slaves in response to selection bits identified in a master address provided by the master. |
| US09122801B2 |
Test planning with order coverage requirements
A method, apparatus and computer-implemented method, the method comprising: receiving a combinatorial testing model comprising an attribute collection, the attribute collection comprising a predetermined number of initial attributes, one or more possible values for each of the initial attributes, a coverage requirement, and an order coverage requirement for the initial attributes, the order coverage requirement related to predetermined relative order in which the attribute values are to be applied; and providing two or more tests in which each of the initial attributes is assigned a value from the possible values, wherein the tests satisfy the order coverage requirement for the at least two attributes. |
| US09122800B1 |
System and method of non-intrusive measurement of memory access profiles of threads in a multi-core processor
A method of non-intrusively measuring a memory profile of a thread under test comprises executing a detection thread in parallel with the thread under test, the thread under test executed on a first core of a multi-core processor and the detection thread executed on a second core of the multi-core processor; generating a pattern of cache miss memory reads on the detection thread in order to access a memory shared by the first core and the second core; periodically obtaining read times in the detection thread indicating the amount of time taken to complete the cache miss memory reads generated on the detection thread; and determining the memory profile of the thread under test based on the obtained read times of the detection thread. |
| US09122799B1 |
System, method, and computer program for software testing project design and execution utilizing a mockup
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for software testing project design and execution utilizing a mockup. In use, at least one software testing project to design is identified. Additionally, at least one mockup of the at least one software testing project is generated. Further, one or more testable items associated with the at least one mockup are defined. In addition, one or more test cases associated with the at least one mockup are generated. Furthermore, the one or more test cases are linked to the one or more testable items. Moreover, the at least one mockup including the one or more test cases linked to the one or more testable items is displayed. In one embodiment, a status of the one or more test cases may be updated according to a test execution within the at least one software testing project. Furthermore, at least one defect may be linked to every mockup that showed one or more errors within and/or outside a defined testable item. |
| US09122797B2 |
Deterministic remote interface unit emulator
Devices systems and methods are provided for providing a deterministic remote interface unit (RIU) based on a finite state machine. The RIU emulator uses a sequence controller that is configured to receive a synchronization input and to execute a fixed list of unconditional commands in an invariable order of execution based solely upon the synchronization input. The RIU emulator also uses pre-defined or pre-certified data structures that are specific to one or more interface devices to successfully execute the at least one unconditional command of the plurality when encountered in the invariable order. As such, peripheral devices may be added, removed or updated without recertification by merely inserting pre-certified data structures into memory or deleting them. |
| US09122796B2 |
Recreating timing issues during program debug
A method for debugging a program having a plurality of threads includes identifying, for each thread, a target point at which the program terminated and a staging point previously executed in the thread. The method further includes executing each thread from the staging point to the target point and determining, for each thread, a staging time based upon the executing of each thread from the staging point to the target point. The method further includes executing each thread from its staging point based on the staging time of the thread so that the plurality of threads will reach the crash location at approximately the same time such that the program threads execute in a similar pattern to the execution that caused the crash. |
| US09122794B2 |
System and method for debugging domain specific languages
Systems and methods for debugging domain specific languages are provided. In accordance with an embodiment, one such system can comprise a web which includes a virtual machine, a debug execution machine, and a domain specific language (DSL)-specific tool interface. The web server is configured to compile DSL code received from a developer computer. During compilation the DSL code is instrumented to include debugging information received from the developer computer. The web server is also configured to execute, by the virtual machine, the instrumented code. During execution the instrumented code communicates with the debug execution machine such that a state of the debug execution machine mirrors a state of the virtual machine. |
| US09122793B2 |
Distributed debugging of an application in a distributed computing environment
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program product for distributed debugging of an application in a distributed computing environment are provided. Embodiments include a first debug module on a first host receiving a set breakpoint message from a management debug module of a management system. In response to receiving the set breakpoint message, the first debug module sets a breakpoint for executing a first service on the first host, for the application. Upon hitting the breakpoint while executing the first service for the application, the first debug module sends a breakpoint condition of the first service to the management debug module. In response to receiving the breakpoint condition, the management debug module sends to a second debug module of a second host, an instruction to pause execution of the second service of the second host. |
| US09122787B2 |
Method and apparatus to utilize large capacity disk drives
A method of utilizing storage in a storage system comprises prioritizing a plurality of storage areas in the storage system for data recovery with different priorities; and performing data recovery of the storage system at an occurrence of a failure involving one or more of the storage areas in the storage system based on the priorities. Data recovery for one storage area having a higher priority is to occur before data recovery for another storage area having a lower priority in the storage system. In various embodiments, the prioritization is achieved by monitoring the access characteristics, or the priority is specified by the host or management computer based on the usage and/or importance of data stored in the storage system, or the priority is determined by the storage system based on the area assignment/release (i.e., usage) of thin provisioned volumes. |
| US09122781B2 |
Computer application maturity illustration system with recovery exercise date display and analytics
An application maturity illustration system is provided. Such a system may determine a maturity of a computer application, and display same. The determination may include determining an inventory score, an operational status, a management score reflective of a ratio of an actual management value to a desired management value, a risk score and a future score for the computer application. The future score may be reflective of a projected relative importance of the computer application. The processor may operate to display a GUI that includes inventory score, operational status score, management score, risk score and the future score in a horizontal row. The vertical column may be located either along the top most portion of the GUI with respect to a user viewing the GUI or at the bottom most portion of the GUI with respect to a user viewing the GUI. The GUI may also be configured to display a recovery exercise date region. The recovery exercise date region may be color-coded. |
| US09122776B2 |
Enhanced electronic health record graphical user interface system
An enhanced electronic health record system. A user device having a display accesses electronic health records and clinic note templates stored on digital storage segments. A template selection screen is presented on the display of the user device. The template selection screen has at least two view modes. One view mode is a grid view, in which icon representations of various clinic note templates are displayed, each icon representation having a number of secondary icons providing additional functionality and information to the user. Also available is a list view, which also contains a vertical listing of available clinic note templates, each list element also having secondary icons. Upon selection of a template, the user is presented with a formatted clinic note. Additional functionality is available to the user to aid in the efficient capture of information. |
| US09122775B2 |
Medical data acquisition and provision
A computer-implemented method includes determining a user account associated with a vehicle occupant. The method also includes detecting the presence of at least one active monitoring device. The method further includes determining an association between the active monitoring device and the user account and periodically downloading device information from the active monitoring device to a vehicle computing system. Finally, the method includes storing downloaded device information in association with the user account. |
| US09122770B2 |
System and method for creating, managing, and reusing schema type definitions in services oriented architecture services, grouped in the form of libraries
A computer-implemented system and method for creating, managing, and reusing schema type definitions in SOA services, grouped in the form of libraries are disclosed. The method in an example embodiment includes: grouping a plurality of Extensible Mark-up Language (XML) schema (XSD) types, each XSD type defined in an individual XSD file; using a processor to bundle the plurality of individual XSD types into a type library, the type library including a type information file to register the individual XSD types in the type library, the type library further including a type dependencies file to register dependencies between the individual XSD types in the same or different type library; importing types from a different type library, when defining derived types or aggregated types; generating Java artifacts from the XSD types; and associating the Java artifacts with corresponding XSD types in the type information file of the type library. |
| US09122769B2 |
Method and system for processing information of a stream of information
The invention is directed to a computer-implemented process for processing information related to entities and said entities being contained in a stream of information, the entities being stored in resource directories of a system, each resource directory containing entities and being annotated with a version number modified with the addition of at least one new entity. The process comprises the steps of: retrieving a stream of information from different information sources; processing segments of information from the stream of information in accordance with entities of said resource directories; storing the segments of information with an annotation indicating which version of said resource directories was used for processing said information segment; updating at least one of the said resource directories with at least one new entity and updating the version number of said at least one resource directory; and—reprocessing the stored segments of information containing the annotation indicating said segments of information were processed with a previous version of the at least one resource directory. |
| US09122768B2 |
System and method of retrieving and presenting partial (skipped) document content
A method and mobile communications device for retrieving and presenting partial skipped content are provided. A display of a mobile communication device provides content of a first segment and a further segment of an electronic document received at the mobile communication device. Content between the first segment and the further segment is skipped content which has not been received. On the display, an indication of the skipped content is provided, the indication including a selectable client control for retrieving at least a portion of the skipped content. |
| US09122766B2 |
Replacement time based caching for providing server-hosted content
A system is provided in which two sets of content are cached in a corresponding two caches—a current cache and a next cache. A client renders content in the current cache and uses the next cache to define the expiration for the content in the current cache as well as provide the replacement content when the current content expires. When a client application renders the content in the current cache, the application checks whether the expiration for the current cache has been reached according to the expiration defined by the content in the next cache (which is not being rendered). If the expiration has been reached, the content in the next cache is moved to the current cache and rendered. New content can then be downloaded to fill the next cache and define the expiration for the content formerly in the next cache but now in the current cache. |
| US09122765B1 |
Efficient overcommitment of main-memory based virtual database system to disk
A computer system includes an SSD as swap space for a database management system that comprises a primary database engine and at least one clone database engine. A queued database transaction is sent to the clone database engine for pre-processing while the primary database engine is processing a current database transaction and if data needed to process the queued database transaction is not currently cached in the computer system, the clone database engine fetches the data and caches it into a buffer accessible by the primary database engine. When the primary database engine is ready to process the queued database transaction, it will be able to access the needed data without accessing the SSD, thereby avoiding delays resulting from accessing the SSD. |
| US09122762B2 |
Method and system to maintain a web page
A system to permit a user-friendly approach to determine and access the portions of a program code associated with respective web page components is described. In one example embodiment, the system comprises an option detector and a mapping module. The option detector may be configured to detect an instruction to augment HTML markup of a web page with mapping, where the mapping associated with correlation between web page components and corresponding portions of program code. The mapping module may be configured to generate the mapping and to augment the HTML markup of the web page with the mapping. |
| US09122760B2 |
User preference correlation for web-based selection
A database of user preference information is extracted and compiled from multiple websites by web-crawling robots without cooperation or specific participation by users. Users who interact with a website are frequently required to register and create a login or userID name that uniquely identifies them. Thereafter, when an individual rates an item, it is often recorded and published under their userID name such that other users can see how a specific individual rated the item. Although there is no requirement that a specific user register on different websites utilizing the identical userID, it is extremely common that this practice occurs and the use of identical userIDs on multiple sites is used herein to expand preference analysis beyond a single site. Once the database exists, users can request or be passively offered suggestions that result from preference associations across multiple websites as performed by a preference analysis and suggestion function. |
| US09122758B1 |
Collaborative browsing and chat sessions
Techniques for initiating a shared electronic browsing session for a plurality of users are described herein. A computing device may initiate the session and associate browsing and chat activity of the users with the session to enable at least one of real-time, joint browsing and chat or asynchronous browsing and chat. Further, the computing device may determine a social graph for one of the users based on the session and may recommend items to the user based on content browsing and chat activities of users included in the social graph. |
| US09122756B2 |
On-line social search
Example methods, apparatuses, or articles of manufacture are disclosed that may be implemented using one or more computing devices to facilitate or otherwise support one or more processes or operations in connection with performing information searches, such as, for example, domain-specific on-line searches using social survey-type queries. |
| US09122751B2 |
Method of tagging instant messaging (IM) conversations for easy information sharing
A method, system and computer program product for selecting and tagging content within an instant messaging (IM) session. The content is selected utilizing a contextual pointer, tagged with a subject and/or key words, then assigned a uniform resource locator (URL), and stored as an IM transcript. A search system allows the IM transcript and/or selected content to be indexed according to the tag, title, and word(s)/phrase(s) selected within the content. The IM transcript is retrieved from a location within the network via the assigned URL. IM users may assign accessibility privileges to the URL of the IM transcript, allowing selected content to be shared via a community and/or corporate network. Private access privileges may be assigned to offer full IM transcript protection. |
| US09122749B2 |
Internet based system and method for wagering on an artist
This invention relates generally to the field of applications for Internet based websites. Moreover, it pertains specifically to a system and method for wagering on an artist. In the preferred embodiment, system participants use an electronic exchange to place wagers related to the popularity profile of an artist. |
| US09122747B2 |
Method, computer system, and computer program for searching document data using search keyword
Techniques provide for searching pieces of document data using a search keyword. The technique includes: calculating, as a first vector, respective first scores at which or respective probabilities that each of the pieces of document data belongs to clusters or classes; calculating, as a second vector, respective second scores at which or respective probabilities that the search keyword or a relevant keyword associated with the search keyword belongs to the clusters or the classes; calculating an inner product of each of the first vectors and the second vector, the calculated inner product being a third score of the corresponding piece of document data regarding the search keyword; and acquiring a correlation value from document data containing each keyword in a classification keyword set and document data with the third score that is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold or is included in a predetermined high-ranking proportion. |
| US09122743B2 |
Enhanced search query modification
Methods, programs products and systems are provided for presenting retrieved search engine results text items to a user on a display device through a graphical user interface configured to associate displayed text items with a search term modification action. Selecting a displayed text item through a graphical user interface component cursor routine automatically instigates modifying of the search term through the associated modification action with the selected text item to generate a modified search term and causes a search engine component to search the modified search term and retrieve new search results similarly presented, enabling additional automatic iterations of search term modifying, searching and result presenting. Modifying a search term may occur automatically or through a selection from a generated list of revising actions, and presenting search results text items may include ordering and presenting a list of result text items relative to an occurrence frequency. |
| US09122741B1 |
Systems and methods for reducing database index contention and generating unique database identifiers
Described herein are system and methods for mitigating index contention issues in databases. The database server may generate additional storage locations to prevent overloading one or more current storage locations. A variety of database conditions may be used to trigger an increase or decrease in storage locations. In one embodiment, more storage locations may be generated when the amount of data records waiting to be written at a storage location exceeds or equals a threshold amount. Likewise, the database server may reduce the amount of current storage locations when the amount of data records is less than a threshold amount. The record identifiers may incorporate a location reference for their designated storage location. The reference may be a string that includes numbers, letters, or a combination thereof. |
| US09122740B2 |
Bulk traversal of large data structures
A PDM system, method, and computer program product for traversing a large data structure including corresponding runtime objects. A method includes receiving traversal parameters including a plurality of unique object identifiers (UIDs) corresponding to objects in a data structure. The method includes receiving input objects, including input runtime objects, and closure rule clauses. The method includes configuring runtime objects, from the objects in the data structure, according to the traversal parameters, and storing the runtime objects in a temporary table. The method includes traversing the data structure and temporary table using the closure rules to produce traversed objects, and serializing and storing the traversed objects. |
| US09122739B1 |
Evaluating proposed storage solutions
Described herein is a system and method for dynamically managing service-level objectives (SLOs) for workloads of a cluster storage system. Proposed states/solutions of the cluster may be produced and evaluated to select one that achieves the SLOs for each workload. A planner engine may produce a state tree comprising nodes, each node representing a proposed state/solution. New nodes may be added to the state tree based on new solution types that are permitted, or nodes may be removed based on a received time constraint for executing a proposed solution or a client certification of a solution. The planner engine may call an evaluation engine to evaluate proposed states, the evaluation engine using an evaluation function that considers SLO, cost, and optimization goal characteristics to produce a single evaluation value for each proposed state. The planner engine may call a modeler engine that is trained using machine learning techniques. |
| US09122738B2 |
Selection of rows and values from indexes with updates
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for selection of rows and values from indexes with updates. In general, rows of an index may be associated with validity flags that indicate whether a row has been updated with an update inserted in a delta index; one scheme for value identifiers may be used for an index and another scheme for one or more delta indexes where all of the indexes are, to at least some extent, compressed according to dictionary-based compression; and multiple delta indexes may be used in alternation such that one delta index may accept updates while another is being updated. The delta indexes may also have validity flags and all updates, such as modifications of values, deletion of records, and inserting of new records may be handled as updates accepted by one or more delta indexes. |
| US09122737B2 |
Method to control the temperature of a high powered computing component through a liquid cooled heatsink responsive to an increase in the thermal value
Methods, systems, and products are provided for monitoring the temperature of a high powered computing component. The high powered computing component has a thermal sensor and the high powered computing component in thermal communication with a liquid cooled heatsink. Embodiments include determining, by a thermal monitoring module, a temperature of the thermal sensor; determining, by the thermal monitoring module, a temperature of the heatsink; determining, by the thermal monitoring module, a power delivered to the high powered computing component; and calculating, by the thermal monitoring module, a thermal value in dependence upon the temperature of the thermal sensor, the temperature of the heatsink, and the power delivered to the high powered computing component. |
| US09122736B2 |
Calculating a thermal value to control the flow of liquid through the liquid cooled heatsink which is in thermal communication with the high powered computing component
Methods, systems, and products are provided for monitoring the temperature of a high powered computing component. The high powered computing component has a thermal sensor and the high powered computing component in thermal communication with a liquid cooled heatsink. Embodiments include determining, by a thermal monitoring module, a temperature of the thermal sensor; determining, by the thermal monitoring module, a temperature of the heatsink; determining, by the thermal monitoring module, a power delivered to the high powered computing component; and calculating, by the thermal monitoring module, a thermal value in dependence upon the temperature of the thermal sensor, the temperature of the heatsink, and the power delivered to the high powered computing component. |
| US09122732B2 |
Data comparison system
A data comparison system is described. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store a compare data structure containing multiple data item pairs, each pair including a legacy data item of a legacy dataset and a corresponding new data item of a new dataset, and a tolerance associated with each data item pair. The processor may receive the compare data structure and the associated tolerances. The processor may call a compare data subroutine to compare each data item pair in accordance with the associated tolerance if the data items are fields. Otherwise, the processor may recursively call the compare data subroutine for each record the data items until the data item are fields. The processor may then compare data items in accordance with the associated tolerance. |
| US09122731B2 |
Displaying search results
Website search results obtained from searching multiple electronic information stores may be displayed transparently without distinguishing the electronic information store. The search may be performed by a web host and may include receiving at least one search term that then is compared with first electronic information within a first electronic information store to determine whether matches exist, where the first electronic information includes content provided by an internal source. The search term also is compared with second electronic information within a second electronic information store to determine whether matches exist, where the second electronic information includes content provided by an external source. Results are displayed based on matches that are determined to exist with the first electronic information and the second electronic information. The results are combined in a single list of results. |
| US09122729B2 |
Chain-of-custody for archived data
A method that builds a chain-of-custody for archived data is disclosed to ensure the integrity and reliability of the archived data. In one implementation, by using a certified Time Stamp Authority (TSA), an indelible record of each time the archived data is touched (e.g. created, stored, retrieved, accessed, tested, moved, or transformed) is generated to build verifiable links between events to ensure the custody of the data can be audited and verified that it has remained intact throughout its lifetime. The chain-of-custody, in combination with the storage architecture that ensures archive data has not changed through various software and hardware means (e.g., multiple hash signatures to ensure integrity, timestamp authorities to pinpoint each time the archived data was touched, location information to pinpoint physical location, and coordinated chain of custody on multiple replicas of the digital artifact) validates that the archived data has not changed since it was archived. |
| US09122727B1 |
Identification of related search queries that represent different information requests
Methods, systems and apparatus are described herein that include obtaining a respective ordered list of search result documents for each query in a plurality of queries. Non-overlap scores between search result documents within a first grouping in the ordered lists for a given query and remaining queries in the plurality of queries are then calculated. One or more remaining queries are then selected as candidate queries using the non-overlap scores. Overlap scores between search result documents within a second grouping in the ordered lists for the given query and the candidate queries are then calculated. One or more of the candidate queries are selected as related queries for the given query using the overlap scores. The related queries are then associated with the given query. |
| US09122722B2 |
Transforming queries in a multi-tenant database system
In a method, system, and computer-readable medium having instructions for optimizing a query in a database system, a query request is received with a query predicate to filter data returned in response to the query request and the query predicate has a formula, the query request is transformed to a transformed query request by preprocessing the formula in the query predicate, and the query request is optimized using the transformed query request. |
| US09122717B2 |
System and method of detecting cache inconsistencies
A system and method of detecting cache inconsistencies among distributed data centers is described. Key-based sampling captures a complete history of a key for comparing cache values across data centers. In one phase of a cache inconsistency detection algorithm, a log of operations performed on a sampled key is compared in reverse chronological order for inconsistent cache values. In another phase, a log of operations performed on a candidate key having inconsistent cache values as identified in the previous phase is evaluated in near real time in forward chronological order for inconsistent cache values. In a confirmation phase, a real time comparison of actual cache values stored in the data centers is performed on the candidate keys identified by both the previous phases as having inconsistent cache values. An alert is issued that identifies the data centers in which the inconsistent cache values were reported. |
| US09122715B2 |
Detecting changes in end-user transaction performance and availability caused by changes in transaction server configuration
A method, apparatus, and computer program product for automatically detecting changes in end-user transaction performance and availability caused by a transaction server configuration change. When a configuration change to an element in a distributed computing system is proposed, a set of instrumented synthetic transactions in the distributed computer system is initiated. Access to managed resources by the synthetic transactions is tracked to produce a list of utilized resources for the transaction. The utilized resources are then categorized according to criteria including associating the utilized resources with respective transactions. The initiating, tracking, and categorizing steps are repeated after a proposed configuration change using a selected subset of the set of transactions. The effect of the proposed configuration change is then displayed for the selected subset of the set of transactions. |
| US09122714B2 |
Transparent checkpointing and process migration in a distributed system
A distributed system for creating a checkpoint for a plurality of processes running on the distributed system. The distributed system includes a plurality of compute nodes with an operating system executing on each compute node. A checkpoint library resides at the user level on each of the compute nodes, and the checkpoint library is transparent to the operating system residing on the same compute node and to the other compute nodes. Each checkpoint library uses a windowed messaging logging protocol for checkpointing of the distributed system. Processes participating in a distributed computation on the distributed system may be migrated from one compute node to another compute node in the distributed system by re-mapping of hardware addresses using the checkpoint library. |
| US09122703B1 |
Hierarchical category index navigational system
A map-based search application for map-based category navigation includes geographic data, category data, and categorized data comprising at least one item, wherein each item is associated with each of the geographic data and the category data. Accordingly, a user is enabled to search for categorized data that satisfies at least one condition related to the geographic data and at least one condition related to the category data. The invention further comprises a display for displaying a list of results from a search, wherein the list comprises the at least one item. |
| US09122692B1 |
Systems and methods for reducing file-system fragmentation when restoring block-level backups utilizing an identification module, an optimization module, and a restore module
A method for reducing file-system fragmentation when restoring block-level backups may include (1) identifying a block-level backup stored on a backup storage device, (2) determining, by analyzing metadata contained within the block-level backup, that data contained within the block-level backup was physically arranged in a non-optimized manner on the volume from which the block-level backup was originally created due to file-system fragmentation, (3) identifying a request to restore the block-level backup to a target storage device in a block-by-block manner, (4) determining an optimized physical layout within a file system on the target storage device for the data contained within the block-level backup, and then (5) restoring the block-level backup to the target storage device block-by-block in accordance with the determined optimized physical layout in order to reduce the file-system fragmentation identified in the block-level backup. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US09122683B1 |
System and method of linking media content information
Systems and methods of linking media content information are provided. A particular method of linking media content information includes receiving data including first descriptive information associated with an electronic version of particular media content. The method also includes searching a database, based on the first descriptive information, to identify second descriptive information. The second descriptive information is associated with a physical media product and the physical media product stores the particular media content. Additionally, the method includes storing a data record in memory relating the electronic version of the particular media content to the second descriptive information. |
| US09122680B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
An information processing apparatus includes a category classifying unit configured to classify a document into one or more categories, a word extracting unit configured to extract one or more words from the document, a word score calculating unit configured to calculate a word score for each of the one or more words extracted from the document on the basis of an appearance frequency of the word in each of the one or more categories, the word score serving as an index of interest of the word, a sentence-for-computation extracting unit configured to extract one or more sentences from the document, and a sentence score calculating unit configured to calculate a sentence score for each of the extracted one or more sentences on the basis of the word score calculated by the word score calculating unit, the sentence score serving as an index of interest of the sentence. |
| US09122675B1 |
Processing natural language grammar
Creating and processing a natural language grammar set of data based on an input text string are disclosed. The method may include tagging the input text string, and examining, via a processor, the input text string for at least one first set of substitutions based on content of the input text string. The method may also include determining whether the input text string is a substring of a previously tagged input text string by comparing the input text string to a previously tagged input text string, such that the substring determination operation determines whether the input text string is wholly included in the previously tagged input text string. |
| US09122669B2 |
Flat schema integrated document oriented templates
A method and system includes a server that provides a business management service to multiple independent customers. A template repository provides predefined templates, and a configuration storage stores customer changes to the predefined templates that represent customized templates. A user interface facilitates selection of customized templates as a function of scope of work for fine tuning. |
| US09122668B1 |
Methods and a computing device for configuring a waterfall chart
A computing device (e.g., a processor executing instructions on the computing device) receives an input (e.g., from a user or from a data stream) into a cell of a table (e.g., a cell of a spreadsheet, worksheet, or workbook). If the input is a sum (e.g., a formula whose result is the sum of previous cells), then the computing device renders a total column representing the sum on a waterfall chart (e.g., on a user interface rendered on an electronic display). Otherwise, if the input is a static value (e.g., an integer or decimal number), then the computing device renders a change column representing the static value. |
| US09122667B2 |
Partially customized document generation
A document generation system for generating a customized document using predetermined elements of document content selected by rules operating on input information, is configured to generate a partially customized document by evaluating some of the rules to select some of the predetermined elements, and associating other of the rules and corresponding predetermined elements with the partially customized document for later use in generating a further customized document. |
| US09122664B2 |
Method for automatically creating transforms
Techniques are provided for automatically creating and using a transform to generate a document in a target format. The techniques include obtaining a source document, wherein the source document is in a structured format and wherein the source document comprises structured information from a domain-specific representation, creating a transform, wherein creating the transform comprises creating a specially-tagged version of the source document in the structured format, using a target application to create an output document in a target format with one or more corresponding tags, and applying an algorithm to automatically generate a transform, and using the transform to generate a version of the source document in a target format. Techniques are also provided for generating a database of one or more transforms. |
| US09122663B2 |
Utilizing reference/ID linking in XML wrapper code generation
Utilizing reference/identification (ID) linking in extensible markup language (XML) wrapper code generation in a data processing system. A code generator receives a type document and reference/ID constraints document and accesses the reference/ID constraints document to translate between XML structures and object structures. |
| US09122660B2 |
Presentation overlays to modify presentations of packaged files
Various embodiments described herein provide one or more systems, methods, software, and data structures for the presentation of files packaged within a page description language document, such as a Portable Document format (“PDF”) document. Some embodiments include a packaged file presentation shell that may be instantiated within a user interface of a page description language reader application and then modified by a presentation overlay. Such as presentation overlay typically includes at least one standardized graphical element, which, when applied to the packaged file presentation shell, overrides respective standardized graphical element properties and presentation nodes. |
| US09122656B2 |
Interactive blocking for performing arts scripts
One or more embodiments present blocking information associated with a manuscript to a user. In one embodiment, a determination is made that at least one line from a digital representation of a manuscript has been selected. Another determination is made that the line is associated with a set of blocking information. The set of blocking information is presented on a digital representation of a stage. |
| US09122654B2 |
Method and system for deriving and matching local formatting in an electronic document
Determining and applying format attributes associated with content in an electronic document that is cut or copied from an electronic document and pasted into the same or different electronic document. The determination may be based on the format attributes of the content within a region of an electronic document containing the cut or copied content and the format attributes of a region of content that includes the location where the cut or copied text may be pasted. Local formatting may be associated with the source region of content and the destination region of content. Direct, or emphasis formatting, may be associated with content that has been cut or copied. |
| US09122652B2 |
Cascading failover of blade servers in a data center
Cascading failover of blade servers in a data center that includes transferring by a system management server a data processing workload from a failing blade server to an initial replacement blade server, with the data processing workload characterized by data processing resource requirements and the initial replacement blade server having data processing resources that do not match the data processing resource requirements; and transferring the data processing workload from the initial replacement blade server to a subsequent replacement blade server, where the subsequent replacement blade server has data processing resources that better match the data processing resource requirements than do the data processing resources of the initial replacement blade server, including transferring the workload to the subsequent replacement blade server only if the data processing cost of the transfer of the workload to the subsequent replacement blade is less than the value of a transfer cost threshold. |
| US09122649B2 |
Handling cross-platform system call with shared page cache in hybrid system
A method and computing system for handling a page fault while executing a cross-platform system call with a shared page cache. A first kernel running in a first computer system receives a request for a faulted page associated with raw data from a second kernel running in a second computer system. In response to the request for the faulted page: (i) a first validity flag is updated to denote that the faulted page is unavailable to the first computer system in a first copy of the shared page cache and (ii) the faulted page is transmitted to the second kernel for insertion of the faulted page in a second copy of the shared page cache and for updating a second validity flag to denote that the faulted page is available to the second computer system in the second copy of the shared page cache. |
| US09122645B1 |
Method and system for tagging within virtual groups
A system and method are provided for tagging images or albums shared by a group of users. More specifically, a virtual group is defined, where each user in the virtual group has an associated image collection. The image collection of each user, or a select portion thereof, is made available to the other users in the virtual group. A number of group tags forming a tag vocabulary are defined for the virtual group, and the users in the virtual group are enabled to tag their own images, images shared by other users in the virtual group, or both using the group tags. Using the group tags, the images shared within the virtual group can be efficiently sorted, searched, and organized. Permissions may be defined to control access to and visibility of the group tags. |
| US09122637B1 |
Systems and methods for enhancing electronic discovery searches
A computer-implemented method for enhancing electronic discovery searches may include (1) receiving a search query for at least one instance of a user being identified within a backup image of a volume of data, the search query being conducted for electronic discovery, (2) identifying metadata associated with the backup image specifying at least one action performed by the user on a computing system while the volume of data was mounted for use on the computing system, (3) performing the search query on the backup image and receiving a result of the search query in response to performing the search query, (4) enhancing the result of the search query with contextual information relating to the search query based on the metadata, the contextual information facilitating further electronic discovery, and (5) providing the enhanced result of the search query. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US09122633B2 |
Case secure computer architecture
Two computing subsystems are disclosed, one a control subsystem, the other a user subsystem, each using engines with augmented conventional instruction sets, together with hardware and/or firmware, to compartmentalize execution of user programs to insure their behavior does not exceed defined bounds. Programs hidden in data cannot execute. User programs cannot alter the control program that manages the overall system. |
| US09122632B2 |
Programmable power performance optimization for graphics cores
Methods and apparatus relating to programmable power performance optimization for graphics cores are described. In one embodiment, the first frame of a scene is analyzed. It is then determined whether to optimize one or more operations, to be performed on one or more frames of the scene, based on the second frame of the scene and an idle status of one or more subsystems of a processor. And, one or more optimization operations are performed on a third frame of the scene based on the determination of whether to optimize the one or more operations. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed. |
| US09122626B2 |
Linearly related threshold voltage offsets
Threshold voltage offsets for threshold voltages are determined. The threshold voltage offsets may be linearly related by a non-zero slope. The threshold voltages are shifted using their respective threshold voltage offsets. The threshold voltages that are shifted by their respective threshold voltage offsets are used to read data from multi-level memory cells. |
| US09122625B1 |
Error correcting code encoder supporting multiple code rates and throughput speeds for data storage systems
Embodiments of ECC encoders supporting multiple code rates and throughput speeds for data storage systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, an encoder can provide for flexible and scalable encoding, particularly when quasi-cyclic low-density parity-check code (QC-LDPC) encoding is used. The encoder can be scaled in size based on, for example, the desired encoding throughput and/or computational cycle duration. The encoder can thus be used to support multiple code rates and throughput speeds. Accordingly, encoding speed and efficiency and system performance is improved. |
| US09122622B1 |
Configurable input/output controller system
In one embodiment, a controller system comprises a plurality of remote interface modules and a control module. Each remote interface module is configured to be coupled to a corresponding controlled system for receiving first input signals therefrom, providing first output signals thereto, and generating first data signals based on the first input signals. The control module is coupled to the remote interface modules to receive the first data signals from the remote interface modules, and provide second data signals to the remote interface modules. The control module is configured to receive second input signals from a host computer and to provide second output signals to the host computer. The control module is configurable to selectively generate the second data signals and the second output signals based on the first data signals, the second input signals, and configuration equations. |
| US09122616B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing dynamic configuration
A method for performing dynamic configuration includes: freezing a bus between a portion of a dynamic configurable cache and at least one of a plurality of cores/processors by pending a request from the at least one of the cores/processors to the portion of the dynamic configurable cache during a bus freeze period, wherein the plurality of cores/processors are allowed to access the dynamic configurable cache and the at least one of the plurality of cores/processors is allowed to access the portion of the dynamic configurable cache; and adjusting a size of the portion of the dynamic configurable cache, wherein the portion of the dynamic configurable cache is capable of caching/storing information for the at least one of the plurality of cores/processors. An associated apparatus is also provided. In particular, the apparatus includes the plurality of cores/processors, the dynamic configurable cache, and a dynamic configurable cache controller, and can operate according to the method. |
| US09122614B1 |
Modular block-allocator for data storage systems
A modular block allocator receives a cleaner message requesting dirty buffers associated with an inode be cleaned. The modular block allocator provides at least one bucket cache comprising a plurality of buckets, wherein each bucket represents a plurality of free data blocks. The dirty buffers are cleaned by allocating the data blocks of one of the buckets to the dirty buffers. The allocated data blocks are mapped to a stripe set and when the stripe set is full, the stripe set is sent to a storage system. In one embodiment of the invention, a modular block allocator includes a front end module and a back end module communicating with each other via an application programming interface (API). The front end module contains write allocation policies that define how blocks are laid out on disk. The back end module creates data structures for execution of the policies. |
| US09122610B2 |
OS friendly microprocessor architecture
The present invention is a microprocessor architecture for efficiently running an operating system. The improved architecture provides higher performance, improved operating system efficiency, enhanced security, and reduced power consumption. |
| US09122607B1 |
Hotspot detection and caching for storage devices
A counting module counts a number of accesses to a first region of a storage medium during each of a first period and a second period. A count comparing module compares the number of accesses during the first period and the second period and determines whether the number of accesses during the second period is greater or less than the number of accesses during the first period by a predetermined amount. The region defining module splits the first region into two or more regions if the number of accesses during the second period is greater than the number of accesses during the first period by the predetermined amount, and merges the first region into a second region if the number of accesses during the second period is less than the number of accesses during the first period by the predetermined amount. |
| US09122604B2 |
External settings that reconfigure the error handling behavior of a distributed PCIe switch
Method for performing an operation to maintain data integrity in a parallel computing system, the operation comprising providing a lookup table specifying a plurality of predefined destinations for data packets, receiving a first data packet comprising a destination address specifying a first destination, wherein the first data packet has an error of a first type, identifying, from the lookup table, an entry specifying a second destination for data packets having errors of the first type, and sending the first data packet to the second destination. |
| US09122602B1 |
Root cause detection service
Systems and methods are provided for mapping dependencies between system components and for analyzing and acting on possible root causes for anomalies experienced by the system components. Aspects of the present disclosure may present for display information associated with the dependency maps and ranked lists of possible root causes of anomalies. Ranking comprises determination of which operating parameters of related system components, when anomalous, will have the greatest effect on the operation of monitored system components. When possible root causes are ranked, notifications may be issued to alert administrators or other systems of the anomaly and the likely root causes. |
| US09122593B2 |
Restoring virtualized GCU state information
Method and apparatus for managing a memory, such as but not limited to a flash memory. In accordance with some embodiments, initial state information is stored which identifies an actual state of a garbage collection unit (GCU) of a memory during a normal operational mode. During a restoration mode after a memory power cycle event, a virtualized state of the GCU is determined responsive to the initial state information and to data read from the GCU. The memory is transitioned from the restoration mode to the normal operational mode once the virtualized state for the GCU is determined. |
| US09122590B1 |
Flash memory read performance
This disclosure describes techniques for reducing the number of data transmissions required to read an amount of data from multi-level-cell (MLC) flash memory. These techniques effectively increase the speed at which MLC flash memory can be read. This disclosure also describes techniques for reducing the amount of hardware and processing resources of a flash controller to read an amount of data. These techniques effectively increase the speed at which flash memory can be read by the flash controller without modifying conventional flash memories. |
| US09122583B2 |
Memory controller and memory storage device and data writing method
A data writing method for a memory storage device having physical unit unions is provided, wherein each of the physical unit unions includes upper physical units and lower physical units. The method includes partitioning the physical unit unions into a storage area including a data area and a spare area; configuring logical units for mapping to the physical unit unions of the data area; and receiving update data from a host system. The method also includes: selecting several physical unit unions from the spare area as buffer physical unit unions; writing the update data only to a part of each of the buffer physical unit unions; and moving the update data from buffer physical unit unions to the storage area by using a copy procedure. Therefore, the time of performing a write command can be shorten and the lifespan of the memory storage device can be prolonged effectively. |
| US09122582B2 |
File system for maintaining data versions in solid state memory
One or more embodiments are directed to managing data in a solid state memory supporting data versioning. A file system reserves a plurality of logical pages from a solid state memory. Each logical page in the plurality of logical pages is associated with a plurality of physical pages in the solid state memory. Each logical page in the plurality of logical pages is assigned to one group in a plurality of groups. A request is sent to a flash translation layer for an operation to be performed by the flash translation layer on a group in the plurality of groups. |
| US09122576B2 |
Fuzzy counters for NVS to reduce lock contention
A system for data management in a computing storage environment includes a processor device, operable in the computing storage environment, that divides a plurality of counters tracking write and discard storage operations through Non Volatile Storage (NVS) space into first, accurate, and second, fuzzy, groups where the first, accurate, group is one of incremented and decremented per each write and discard storage operation, while the second, fuzzy, group is one of incremented and decremented on a more infrequent basis as compared to the first, accurate group. |
| US09122569B2 |
Parking assist system and parking assist method
A parking assist system includes: an actuator that drives a back door of a vehicle; an opening degree control unit that controls an opening degree of the back door by controlling the actuator; a storage device that stores an allowable opening degree of the back door at a park position of the vehicle in association with the park position; and a position information acquisition unit that acquires position information of the vehicle. When a position of the vehicle corresponds to the park position stored in the storage device, the opening degree control unit limits the opening degree of the back door on the basis of the allowable opening degree of the back door, stored in the storage device in association with the park position. |
| US09122568B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory array including memory blocks stacked in a plurality of layers over a substrate, first lines coupling word lines of memory blocks arranged in even-numbered layers, and second lines coupling word lines of memory blocks arranged in odd-numbered layers. |
| US09122566B2 |
Robotic material handling system
An autonomous robotic transport system has been developed in which the individual robot vehicles are able to move in multiple directions, such as vertically as well as around curves. Through the use of a unique rail system, the vehicle is able to move around corners and turns without the need for expensive modifications. This eliminates the need for various differentials or multiple electric motors to provide the difference between inner and outer wheels in a turn. Moreover, a number of switches have been developed that allow the vehicles to move not only vertically but also horizontally as well as transition between vertical and horizontal movement. A technique for operating the robotic vehicles is also described. |
| US09122563B2 |
Computing minimal polynomials
Described is a technology, such as implemented in a computational software program, by which a minimal polynomial is efficiently determined for a radical expression over the ring Z of integer numbers or the ring Q of rational numbers. The levels of the radical are grouped into a level permutation group that is used to find a level permutation set. An annihilation polynomial is found based upon the level permutation set. The annihilation polynomial is factored, and a selection mechanism selects the minimal polynomial based upon the annihilation polynomial's factors. |
| US09122562B1 |
Software container recommendation service
A technology is described for a software container recommendation service. An example method may include collecting utilization metrics for an application hosted on a computing instance. The utilization metrics may be a measure of computing resources used by the application. The utilization metrics may be analyzed to determine a level of computing resources for the computing instance used by the application. A software container configuration for the application may be determined based at least in part on the utilization metrics when analysis of the utilization metrics indicates an underutilization of computing resources by the application. The specifications of the software container configuration may then be provided to a customer. |
| US09122560B2 |
System and method of optimization for mobile apps
A network device provides an agent application to a user device. The network device receives, from the user device, device information that relates to performance of one or more applications residing on the user device. The network device provides, to a device associated with a registered developer account, a portion of the device information that is associated with a particular application. The network device receives, from the device associated with the registered developer account, optimized device configuration settings for the particular application on the user device. The network device stores the optimized configuration settings for the particular application and sends, to the user device, the optimized configuration settings for the particular application. |
| US09122559B2 |
Extensible dependency management framework and method
The present invention provides an extensible dependency management framework and method. Specifically, the present invention provides dependency management handler(s) and dispatcher(s) (e.g., revalidation and/or refactoring). The handlers are created and registered by users of the framework. When a change to a resource is detected, a notification is received by a dispatcher from an external caller. Upon receipt, the dispatcher will query an index to identify dependents, and then call a dependency management handler associated with the changed resource to obtain and implement updates for the dependents. In so doing, a list of the dependents will be provided to the dependency management handler. |
| US09122556B2 |
Dynamic update of applications as code is checked-in
Software accesses a code database and determines that a specified percentage of the code in the code database for an application has been updated. The software then accesses an application database and obtains the application as currently deployed. The software obtains one or more application specifications from the application database, based at least in part on a scan of the application. And the software obtains one or more code-module specifications from the code database, based at least in part on the one or more application specifications. The software then determines that an update can be made to the application as currently deployed, based at least in part on code-module dependencies identified in the one or more application specifications and updated code modules for the application in the code database. And the software creates a new version of the application using the updated code modules and deploys the new version. |
| US09122553B2 |
Synchronous bus download of TV software update
TV software can be updated by receiving updated from a USB drive or wirelessly, in either case preferably over a synchronous bus for speedier data transfer. |
| US09122552B2 |
Hybrid cloud infrastructures
Methods and apparatus for implementing hybrid-cloud computing networks are disclosed. An example computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a computing device, a request to provision a user application. The method further includes identifying an application blueprint corresponding with the request and identifying at least one computing resource corresponding with the request. The method still further includes identifying a network blueprint that includes the at least one computing resource, provisioning a computing network in accordance with the identified network blueprint and provisioning the at least one computing resource in the provisioned computing network. The method also includes, installing the user application in the provisioned at least one computing resource in accordance with the application blueprint. |
| US09122550B2 |
Method and device for program installation
A method for installing an application program is disclosed. The method includes detecting a system platform, and detecting preprocessing software required by the application program according to the system platform and a compilation script and accordingly generating a relationship file and a log file, wherein the log file includes an acquisition method for the preprocessing software. |
| US09122546B1 |
Rapid processing of event notifications
An improved technique of identifying particular events for alerting within an ENMS involves tagging each incoming event notification as having high priority or normal priority according to a set of rules. Those event notifications tagged as having a normal priority are sent directly to a reporting database, while those tagged as having a high priority are sent directly to an alert evaluation module which is configured to generate an alert as a result of an alert evaluation operation performed on an event notification. In order to comply with reporting requirements, however, the improved technique further involves generating a copy of the event notifications tagged as high priority and sending the copies to the reporting database. |
| US09122544B2 |
Information processing apparatus, resource providing apparatus, and information processing system
There is provided an information processing apparatus which the communication unit receives a usage request of a resource described in a first format from a program providing apparatus, the conversion unit identifies a resource providing apparatus having the resource as indicated and converts the usage request described in the first format into the usage request described in a second format that can be interpreted by the resource providing apparatus identified, the communication unit transmits the usage request described in the second format to the resource providing apparatus and receives a processing result of the usage request described in the second format from the resource providing apparatus, the conversion unit converts the processing result described in the second format into the processing result described in the first format, and the program execution unit performs an operation according to the processing result described in the first format. |
| US09122542B1 |
Location based reminders
A computer-implemented user alert method includes identifying a task for a user, associating a location with the task, monitoring a location of a mobile device associated with the user, and notifying the user about the task when the mobile device comes within a defined proximity of the associated location. |
| US09122539B2 |
Methods and systems for forming an adjusted perform range
One or more regions of COBOL source code having an entry point are identified. A PERFORM instruction associated with the entry point to analyze is selected. A PERFORM range for the selected PERFORM instruction is determined. An instruction that changes control flow in execution of the COBOL source code subsequent to the selected PERFORM instruction is identified. Flow-affected code resulting from the instruction is determined. An adjusted PERFORM range for the selected PERFORM instruction is formed. |
| US09122537B2 |
Balancing server load according to availability of physical resources based on the detection of out-of-sequence packets
According to one embodiment, availability information describing virtual machines running on physical machines is accessed. The availability information associates each virtual machine with a physical resource used by the virtual machine. Use by the virtual machines is determined from the availability information. Availability of the physical resources is determined according to the use. Server load is balanced according to the availability of the physical resources. According to another embodiment, the following is performed until a load is accommodated: selecting a server having a load that is less than an expansion threshold; loading the server until the expansion threshold is reached; selecting a next server having a load that is less than a next expansion threshold; and loading the next server until the next expansion threshold is reached. Load of a low load server is determined to be below a contraction threshold, and the low load server is drained. |
| US09122536B2 |
Automating application provisioning for heterogeneous datacenter environments
Disclosed are methods and systems to automate the provisioning and deployment of application instances within a heterogeneous data center. In one embodiment, the application provisioning is performed based upon a blueprint and deployment model defining requirements of the provisioned application. In another embodiment, the totality of available resources for provisioning is divided into different segments. When resources are requested and assigned to an incoming provisioning request, the resource pool may be refreshed or augmented as defined by thresholds or forecasting of user needs. The resource pool may be refreshed by recapturing allocated resources that are no longer in use or by configuring resources taken from the reserve. Further, when reserve resources are not available or are below a minimum reserve threshold, capacity planning actions may be initiated or advised. |
| US09122535B2 |
Optimizing distributed data analytics for shared storage
Methods, systems, and computer executable instructions for performing distributed data analytics are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a method of performing a distributed data analytics job includes collecting application-specific information in a processing node assigned to perform a task to identify data necessary to perform the task. The method also includes requesting a chunk of the necessary data from a storage server based on location information indicating one or more locations of the data chunk and prioritizing the request relative to other data requests associated with the job. The method also includes receiving the data chunk from the storage server in response to the request and storing the data chunk in a memory cache of the processing node which uses a same file system as the storage server. |
| US09122531B2 |
Resource configuration for a network data processing system
A method for managing a service is disclosed. A program system running on a computer system in a network data processing system identifies the service on the computer system and a set of resources used by the service. The program system collects information about the service and the set of resources used by the service. The program system uses the information collected to identify a change to a configuration for the service which will increase performance of the service. The program system then makes the identified change to the configuration for the service. |
| US09122528B2 |
Energy conservation and hardware usage management for data centers
A power management and data center resource monitoring mechanism is provided for selecting new processing elements in a data center. When a condition is detected for selecting new processing elements, one or more processing elements are selected as the new processing elements based on at least a temperature parameter and a usage history parameter of at least some of the processing elements in the data center. Workload is consolidated onto the new processing elements to conserve energy. |
| US09122527B2 |
Resource allocation for migration within a multi-tiered system
A method and system for intelligent tiering is provided. The method includes receiving a request for enabling a tiering process with respect to data. The computer processor retrieves a migration list indicating migration engines associated with the data. Additionally, an entity list of migration entities is retrieved and each migration entity is compared to associated policy conditions. In response, it is determined if matches exist between the migration entities and the associated policy conditions and a consolidated entity list is generated. |
| US09122524B2 |
Identifying and throttling tasks based on task interactivity
The described implementations relate to processing of electronic data. One implementation is manifest as a system that can include logic and at least one processing device configured to execute the logic. The logic can be configured to receive a first task request to execute a first task that uses a resource when performed. The first task can have an associated first level of interactivity. The logic can also be configured to receive a second task request to execute a second task that also uses the resource when performed. The second task can have an associated second level of interactivity. The logic can also be configured to selectively throttle the first task and the second task based upon the first level of interactivity and the second level of interactivity. |
| US09122523B2 |
Automatic pipelining framework for heterogeneous parallel computing systems
Systems and methods for automatic generation of software pipelines for heterogeneous parallel systems (AHP) include pipelining a program with one or more tasks on a parallel computing platform with one or more processing units and partitioning the program into pipeline stages, wherein each pipeline stage contains one or more tasks. The one or more tasks in the pipeline stages are scheduled onto the one or more processing units, and execution times of the one or more tasks in the pipeline stages are estimated. The above steps are repeated until a specified termination criterion is reached. |
| US09122521B2 |
Enabling multiple operating systems to run concurrently using barrier task priority
The invention relates to a method of enabling multiple operating systems to run concurrently on the same computer, the method comprising: scheduling a plurality of tasks for execution by at least first and second operating systems, wherein each task has one of a plurality of priorities; setting the priority of each operating system in accordance with the priority of the next task scheduled for execution by the respective operating system; and providing a common program arranged to compare the priorities of all operating systems and to pass control to the operating system having the highest priority. Accordingly, the invention resides in the idea that different operating systems can be run more efficiently on a single CPU by changing the priority of each operating system over time. In other words, each operating system has a flexible priority. |
| US09122517B2 |
Fused multiply-adder with booth-encoding
A fused multiply-adder is disclosed. The fused multiply-adder includes a Booth encoder, a fraction multiplier, a carry corrector, and an adder. The Booth encoder initially encodes a first operand. The fraction multiplier multiplies the Booth-encoded first operand by a second operand to produce partial products, and then reduces the partial products into a set of redundant sum and carry vectors. The carry corrector then generates a carry correction factor for correcting the carry vectors. The adder adds the redundant sum and carry vectors and the carry correction factor to a third operand to yield a final result. |
| US09122515B2 |
Completion notification for a storage device
A method for providing notification of completion of a computing task includes providing access to an information handling resource for a first information handling system, registering the first information handling system with a first completion queue, submitting commands from the first information handling system to a first submission queue, providing access to the information handling resource for second first information handling system, registering the second information handling system with the first completion queue, and submitting commands from the second information handling system to a second submission queue. Upon execution of commands in the first submission queue and the second submission queue, an entry in is created a first completion queue. Upon the creation of an entry in the first completion queue, an interrupt is selectively sent to the first information handling resource and to the second information handling resource. |
| US09122505B1 |
System and method for handling I/O timeout deadlines in virtualized systems
Method for avoiding Guest I/O timeout, including generating a request to an I/O device in a Guest Operating System (GOS) running inside a VM; setting a VM timeout deadline; in a hypervisor, setting a supervisory timeout deadline for the I/O device to respond that is shorter than the VM timeout deadline; if no response is received before expiration of the supervisory timeout deadline, pausing the GOS; freezing system time of the GOS; activating a handler for the I/O device response in the hypervisor; upon receipt of the response prior to the supervisory timeout deadline, forwarding the response to the GOS, unpausing the GOS, unfreezing the system time of the GOS; upon receipt of the response after the supervisory timeout deadline, and after the GOS is unpaused by the hypervisor, the Guest OS receives the response from the hardware device; and if no response is received, the GOS is kept paused. |
| US09122504B2 |
Apparatus and method for encryption in virtualized environment using auxiliary medium
An apparatus and method for encryption in a virtualized environment using an auxiliary medium. The apparatus for encryption in a virtualized environment using an auxiliary medium includes a hypervisor unit for acquiring data for encryption from an auxiliary medium, and encrypting and providing protection target data of an application program using the data for encryption in response to an encryption request from the application program. A hypercall unit provides a virtualization interface between the application program and the hypervisor unit. |
| US09122502B2 |
Configurator with embedded firmware for offline instrument user settings implementation
A system for the customization of user settings on a target instrument includes a configuration module configured for the customization of user settings on a target instrument, and a representation module communicably coupled to the configuration module. The representation module includes a duplicate of firmware from the target instrument. A method of production of a system for the customization of user settings on a target instrument, includes configuring a configuration module for the customization of user settings on a target instrument, communicably coupling the configuration module to a representation module; and disposing a duplicate of firmware from the target instrument in the representation module. |
| US09122501B1 |
System and method for managing multiple bios default configurations
A plurality of BIOS default configurations may be is stored in a BIOS of the computer system. A particular BIOS default configuration may be selected from the plurality of BIOS default configurations based at least in part on a server identification (ID) of the computer system or a user command. The computer system is initialized with the particular BIOS default configuration. |
| US09122500B2 |
Method for preconfiguring an appliance, and method for starting up the appliance
A method for preconfiguring an appliance having a configuration memory configured to have information written to it when the appliance is in a deactivated state, wherein the appliance is configured to make contact with at least one further appliance during operation, includes capturing a data record from the appliance, wherein the data record contains at least identification data from the appliance. The method further includes determining a piece of configuration information from the appliance by using the data record and at least one data record from the at least one further appliance, and writing the configuration information to the configuration memory of the appliance in order to preconfigure the appliance. |
| US09122499B2 |
Real time examination of conditions of physical machines using augmented reality in smarter data center
A system for facilitating examination of conditions across physical machines using augmented reality generates an overlay of information about application structure across physical systems, such as physical systems located within a data center. Additionally, the system for facilitating examination of application structure across physical machines using augmented reality overlays this information about application structure using imaging captured through a camera, such as a camera associated with a tablet type or smart phone type computing device. |
| US09122498B2 |
Firmware code loading method, memory controller and memory storage apparatus
A firmware code loading method for loading a firmware code from a rewritable non-volatile memory module of a memory storage apparatus is provided. The method includes: obtaining a storage address for storing a first portion firmware code copy corresponding to a first portion of the firmware code in a first memory part; and obtaining a storage address for storing a second portion firmware code copy corresponding to a second portion of the firmware code in a second memory part. The method further includes: using a parallel mode or a interleave mode to load the first portion firmware code copy and the second portion firmware code copy respectively from the first memory part and the second memory part into a buffer memory. Accordingly, the method can effectively shorten the time of loading the firmware code. |
| US09122497B2 |
Validating translations of externalized content for inclusion in an application
An approach is provided for validating translated files for inclusion in an application being developed. Content in a natural language is translated into another language and received as a first translation in a first translated file. Based on an error condition indicated by simulations of loading and presenting the first translation in a user interface of the application, a syntax error that causes the error condition is determined. The syntax error can include a lack of a match between a key and exactly one value, a missing key, or a mismatch of placeholders in the first translated file. Responsive to a receipt of a second translation of the content that includes the correction of the syntax error, and based on simulations of loading and presenting the second translation in the interface not indicating the error condition, the second translation is presented at runtime without causing the application to stop running. |
| US09122496B1 |
Integrated help system using linked data for distributed systems
An approach is provided for providing cross product contextual help consolidating cross product contextual help. The approach is responsive to receiving a help request. The help request pertains to a first software product installed on the information handling system. The first software product interacts with a second software product that is also installed on the information handling system. The approach retrieves a first help contents from the first software product and a value from the second software product. The value is retrieved from the second software product using interfaces that were registered in a registry and uses linked data. Help information is presented to a user with the help information pertaining to the first application and including the first help contents retrieved from the first application and the value retrieved from the second application. |
| US09122493B2 |
Retrieving boot instructions from nonvolatile memory
Systems and processes for booting a device can be implemented by detecting a reset signal associated with the device and retrieving a predetermined page of data from a nonvolatile memory location into a register associated with the nonvolatile memory. The nonvolatile memory may be designed and implemented such that each page of data is retrieved from the nonvolatile memory as a unit, and the page of data includes instructions for use in booting the device. A command to read data stored in the register is received, and the command can include an address identifying a location of one or more instructions within the register. In response, the one or more instructions are retrieved from the register for execution by a processor. |
| US09122491B2 |
Detecting serialization scheme used in software applications
Technology is disclosed for determining a serialization scheme used in serializing a software object by an application (“the technology”). A source application can serialize the object using multiple serialization schemes. In order for another application to deserialize the object serialized by the source application, the application may have to know the serialization scheme used in serializing the object. The technology can analyze an intermediate code, e.g., bytecode, of the source application to determine the serialization scheme used by the source application. The technology compares a portion of the code of the source application that serializes the objects with multiple serialization scheme templates having code for known serialization schemes and determines the serialization scheme used by the source application based on a matching serialization scheme template. After the serialization scheme is identified, the application can reconstruct the object from the serialized object using the identified serialization scheme. |
| US09122490B2 |
Code dependency calculation
Generation of a dependency graph for code that includes code portions such as resources or functions or both. For some or all of the nodes, the dependency is calculated by determining that the given node, a depending node, depends on an affecting node. The dependency is recorded so as to be associated with the node. Furthermore, the dependency calculation method is recorded so as to be associated with the dependency. The code may perhaps include portions within two different domains, in which the mechanism for calculating dependencies may differ. In some cases, the dependency graph may be constructed in stages, and perhaps additional properties may be associated with the node, and metadata of the properties may also be recorded. |
| US09122489B1 |
Extended language precompiler
A system is provided that is adapted to process source code. In one implementation, and extended language precompiler is provided that processes source code according to user-definable parameters which permits a number of actions to be performed with respect to the code prior to compilation. In one example, the precompiler may insert, replace, analyze or substitute code within the original source code, and produce output source code that can be compiled by a compiler. |
| US09122485B2 |
Predicting a result of a dependency-checking instruction when processing vector instructions
The described embodiments include a processor that executes a vector instruction. In the described embodiments, while dispatching instructions at runtime, the processor encounters a dependency-checking instruction. Upon determining that a result of the dependency-checking instruction is predictable, the processor dispatches a prediction micro-operation associated with the dependency-checking instruction, wherein the prediction micro-operation generates a predicted result vector for the dependency-checking 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 a 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, the processor sets the element to zero. |
| US09122483B2 |
Adaptive voltage scaling method, chip, and system
Embodiments of the present invention provide an adaptive voltage scaling method, chip, and device. An aging effect-related state parameter in a chip is obtained at a first voltage adjustment time point. The first voltage adjustment time point is one of multiple voltage adjustment time points set for the chip. An aging compensation voltage corresponding to the first voltage adjustment time point is determined according to the state parameter. A minimum operating voltage of the chip is compensated for according to the aging compensation voltage, so as to adjust an operating voltage of the chip. |
| US09122479B2 |
Network processor and energy saving method thereof
A network processor includes a transceiver circuit, a network data processing unit, and a clock signal control unit. The transceiver circuit transmits and receives a network signal, compares a voltage level of the network signal with a threshold value, outputs a comparison result, and operates under a first clock signal. The network data processing unit is coupled to the transceiver circuit to process the network signal, and operates under a second clock signal different from the first clock signal. The clock signal control unit disables supply of the second clock signal to the network data processing unit when the voltage level is smaller than the threshold value, and enables supply of the second clock signal to the network data processing unit when the voltage level is not smaller than the threshold value. An energy saving method for a network processor is also disclosed. |
| US09122478B2 |
Power supply and associated methodology of sequential shutdown an information processing system by utilizing a virtualization management function of the power supply
A first power supply is configured to feed power to a computer. The power supply includes a virtual machine management unit configured to transmit an instruction to any one of a second virtual host that is executed on the computer and a fourth virtual machine that is run in the second virtual host. Here, the fourth virtual machine is configured to control a virtualization management system including virtual hosts different from the second virtual host. |
| US09122477B2 |
Execution of a perform frame management function instruction
Optimizations are provided for frame management operations, including a clear operation and/or a set storage key operation, requested by pageable guests. The operations are performed, absent host intervention, on frames not resident in host memory. The operations may be specified in an instruction issued by the pageable guests. |
| US09122473B2 |
Program generating device, program generating program, and program generating method
A terminal device that is this program generating device generates program area specifying information that specifies the placement area of an operating program executed by a remote control device. Also, on the basis of the program area specifying information and a program counter value of the remote control device, the terminal device appends a program specifying process that specifies the operating program executed by the remote control device to a measuring program that measures the execution state of the operating program. As a result, there is generated a measuring program that measures changes in the operating state of software in real time while reducing the effect on the operation of the software. |
| US09122468B2 |
Host apparatus connected to image forming apparatus and power save mode control method thereof
A method of controlling a power save mode of an image forming apparatus connected to a host apparatus, the method includes: requesting information on a power mode of the image forming apparatus; transmitting the power mode information and information on an entering time for a power save mode of the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus; and displaying the entering time for the power save mode of the image forming apparatus on a basis of the entering time information. |
| US09122467B2 |
Providing additional current capacity to a processor for a turbo mode
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a primary voltage regulator to couple a regulated voltage to a processor via a supply line. This regulator includes a multi-phase controller to provide the regulated voltage in multiple phases and to provide a maximum current output sufficient to meet a thermal design power (TDP) of the processor. In addition, an auxiliary voltage regulator may be configured to provide an excess current to the processor via the supply line for a time limited duration, e.g., based on the supply line state. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09122462B2 |
System with rack-mounted AC fans
A computer system includes a chassis, one or more hard disk drives coupled to the chassis, and one or more air passages under at least one of the hard disk drives. The air passages include one or more air inlets and one or more air outlets. The inlets direct at least a portion of the air downwardly into the passages. The passages allow air to move from the air inlets to the air outlets. |
| US09122461B2 |
Method and system for iteratively partitioning and validating program trees into environments at visibility space granularity
Partitioning continuation based runtime programs. Embodiments may include differentiating activities of a continuation based runtime program between public children activities and implementation children activities. The continuation based runtime program is partitioned into visibility spaces. The visibility spaces have boundaries based on implementation children activities. The continuation based runtime program is partially processes at a visibility space granularity. |
| US09122460B2 |
Application development using middleware platform
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for application development using middleware. A developer can launch a development request from a client or local network to a remote development server, thereby invoking a set of frameworks and other tools to carry out a desired application build. The development request can specify the type or configuration of the desired application, such as, for example, email, spreadsheet, media playback, or other applications, along with parameters such as target operating systems. The user can assemble desired code from libraries stored in the virtualized middleware framework, and debug the application build against a set of data sources aggregated by the development server. A developer can therefore leverage rapid application development tools at the middleware, without a necessity to invest in local development tools or separately build or locate test data sources. |
| US09122459B2 |
Fixing mechanism and related electronic device
A detachable fixing mechanism includes a supporter, a contacting component, a fixing component, a track component and an ejecting component. An electronic component is hold be the supporter. The supporter includes a base, a rear wall and two lateral walls. The rear wall and the lateral walls are disposed on three sides of the base. The contacting is connected to an upper edge of the lateral wall, so as to buckle the electronic component with the base. The fixing component is movably disposed on the lateral wall. The fixing component includes a constraint portion to resiliently pass through a hole on the lateral wall. The track component is disposed on the lateral wall of the supporter. The ejecting component is slidably disposed between the track component and the supporter. A second part of the ejecting component inserts into the supporter to contact against the rear end of the electronic component. |
| US09122455B2 |
Information handling system housing lid with synchronized motion provided by unequal gears
An information handling system converts from a closed position to a tablet position by rotating a lid with a display 360 degrees about a hinge having motion translated between lid and housing portions through first and second engage gears of different diameters. The hinge has first and second axles held in a spaced and substantially parallel orientation by a support with first and second gears having a gear ratio of substantially 2.54 to 1. Overall system thickness is reduced by having a lid portion gear with a diameter of substantially the thickness of the lid portion and a housing portion gear with a diameter of substantially the thickness of the housing portion. |
| US09122451B2 |
Capacitive proximity sensor configuration including a speaker grille
Embodiments of a capacitive sensor configuration for proximity detection by a playback device are provided. The playback device may include a capacitive proximity sensor configured to detect physical movement in a first direction, and a speaker grille on a surface of the playback device oriented at a relative angle to the capacitive proximity sensor. The capacitive proximity sensor includes a first metal electrode coupled to the speaker grille such that the capacitive proximity sensor may be further configured to detect physical movement in a second direction that is substantially at the relative angle to the first direction. The playback device may be configured to determine based on a detection of physical movement by the capacitive proximity sensor, a physical approach of an entity towards the playback device from one or more of the first direction and the second direction. |
| US09122447B2 |
Expansion dock and portable electronic system therewith
The present invention discloses an expansion dock including a base, a socket, an expansion platform and a driving mechanism. The socket is installed on a side of the base and pivoted to the base. A portable electronic device can be inserted into the socket. The expansion platform is installed inside the base and protrudable from the side of the base. The driving mechanism drives the expansion platform to protrude from the side of the base as the portable electronic device is inserted into the socket and pivoted to a predetermined angle relative to the base. |
| US09122444B2 |
Network accessible projectors that display multiple client screens at once
Systems and methods are provided for provisioning, via a projector, client software for accessing the projector from a network. The projector includes a light emitting unit that projects visible light representing image information onto a screen, a network interface, and a control unit. The control unit provides client software to network devices that enables the network devices to interact with the projector, receives input via the network interface from the client software operating on multiple network devices, processes the input from the client software to generate image information for the light emitting unit, and provides the generated image information to the light emitting unit for projection onto the screen. |
| US09122442B2 |
Systems and methods for scaling visualizations
A system for scaling visualizations may include a human machine interface (HMI) configured to display a visualization on a screen, a secondary display device configured to display a scaled visualization such that the scaled visualization is determined based at least in part on the visualization, and a controller. The controller may be configured to receive an indication that the secondary display device has been coupled to the HMI, present two or more scaling mode options on the screen or the secondary display device, receive an input that corresponds to one of the scaling modes, generate the scaled visualization by applying a scaling factor to the visualization, wherein the scaling factor is based at least in part on the input, and facilitate sending the scaled visualization to the secondary display device. |
| US09122440B2 |
User feedback to indicate transitions between open and closed states
A dual screen user device and methods for generating user feedback to indicate transitional states of the device are disclosed. Feedback is provided to a user of the device concerning transitional states or changes in status of the device, such as whether the device is open or closed, whether a peripheral device has been connected to or disconnected from the device and whether the device has been powered up or down. In a preferred embodiment, one or more vibrators are used to generate vibration and/or audible signals to the user to indicate to the user the particular change in status of the device as it occurs. |
| US09122439B2 |
System and method for efficient buffer management for banked shared memory designs
A system and method for efficient buffer management for banked shared memory designs are provided. In one embodiment, a controller within the switch is configured to manage the buffering of the shared memory banks by allocating full address sets to write sources. Each full address set that is allocated to a write source includes a number of memory addresses, wherein each memory address is associated with a different shared memory bank. A size of the full address set can be based on a determined number of buffer access contenders. |
| US09122438B2 |
Communication system, information processing system, image forming apparatus and portable information terminal device
An image forming apparatus includes a first wireless communication unit that receives data from a mobile phone, and a reader-writer that transmits an address of the first wireless communication unit to the mobile phone. The mobile phone includes a contact/non-contact IC card that receives the address, and a second wireless communication unit that transmits image data to the first wireless communication unit utilizing the address. When communication is made between the mobile phone and the image forming apparatus, the address of the first wireless communication unit is transmitted to the contact/non-contact IC card through the reader-writer, and the second wireless communication unit transmits data to the first wireless communication unit utilizing the address. |
| US09122430B1 |
Portable prompting aid for the developmentally disabled
An aid for developmentally disabled individuals takes the form of a mobile terminal having software capable of creating graphical schedules, graphical countdown timers, and graphical choice selections. A caregiver may dynamically program and save schedules which present a graphical sequence of events to the disabled individual to assist the disabled individual in adjusting to the changing events of the day. Likewise, the countdown timer may assist the individual in preparing for an upcoming transition in environment or activity. Still further, the graphical choice selections may help a nonverbal individual express themselves to a caregiver. |
| US09122429B1 |
System, method, and computer-readable storage medium for transmitting a map and an image of a device
A system, method, and computer-readable storage medium including receiving, from an external device, a request for a map of a plurality of maps, the map illustrating a layout of a portion of a building, the map indicating a physical location of each of a plurality of devices within the portion of the building, transmitting, to the external device, the map, receiving, from the external device, a request for information of a device of the plurality of the devices, transmitting, to the external device, the information of the device, receiving, from the external device, a request for an image of the device, and transmitting, to the external device, the image of the device. |
| US09122427B2 |
Device management apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method for replacement device
A device management system includes a determining unit that acquires from a storage unit information relating to a setting of a first device and information relating to a setting of a second device, compares the acquired information, and determines whether the setting of the second device satisfies the setting of the first device; a selecting unit that is used when the determining unit determines that the setting of the second device does not satisfy the setting of the first device and is configured to select at least one device that is capable of satisfying the setting of the first device based on information relating to a setting of the at least one device stored in the storage unit; and an applying unit that applies to the at least one device selected by the selecting unit a setting value set up for the setting of the first device. |
| US09122425B2 |
Apparatus and method for writing data to recording medium
A distance calculating unit calculates a distance from a current position on a tape to the end of the tape. A command processing unit receives a write command. If the distance is small, a determining unit sets a usable capacity of a buffer to be equal to a maximum capacity of the buffer. If the distance is large, the determining unit sets the usable capacity of the buffer according to the distance. If a capacity for data indicated by the write command is less than or equal to a difference between the usable capacity and current usage of the buffer, a buffer managing unit stores the data in the buffer. When the command processing unit receives a write FM command, the buffer managing unit reads the data from the buffer, updates the current usage, and a channel input/output unit writes the data to the tape. |
| US09122422B2 |
Representing models in systems development lifecycle (SDLC) tools using a network of internet resources
In the present solution, as set of SDLC resources can be established, where each is separately addressable through a unique URL and is able to be managed through a simple set of operations. For example, a set of RESTful operations (GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE) can be used for the operations. Database management technologies can be leveraged for storing and indexing resources, but the underlying database schema for the solution can operate on a resource level, which results in the resources being stored as-is. Thus, storage (even when database based) of resources for the solution can be considered an Internet server exposing a space of URL addressable objects. Because the solution leverages Internet technologies and standards, it is scalable, standards based, extensible, and traceable. |
| US09122417B1 |
Network attached storage (NAS) protection meter and methods for alerting users of the state of protection of a NAS
A network attached storage device may include at least one storage device, a network connection coupling the at least one storage device to a network and a processor coupled to the at least one storage device and to the network connection. The processor may be configured to monitor a plurality of operating parameters of the network attached storage; determine a state of a network attached storage based on at least two of the monitored plurality of operating parameters of the network attached storage; determine a current level of protection from among a predetermined plurality of levels of protection based on the determined state of the network attached storage, and provide an indication of the determined level of protection afforded by the network attached storage. |
| US09122415B2 |
Storage system using real data storage area dynamic allocation method
The present invention aims at preventing the access performance of a distributed memory system by accessing via cross-over ownership a track mapping information formed as a hierarchical memory. In the process of assigning a real data storage area to a virtual volume, at first, a page from a pool is assigned, and thereafter, a track is assigned from said page. The page is composed of multiple tracks into which track data assigned at host write operation timings are stored sequentially from the top. A mapping information of the virtual volume and the page is stored in a control information page that differs from the track data, and the mapping information is stored in the control information page which could only be accessed by a microprocessor having the ownership of the virtual volume. |
| US09122410B2 |
Storage system comprising function for changing data storage mode using logical volume pair
A storage system writes a data element stored in a primary volume to a secondary volume constituting a volume pair with the primary volume in accordance with a selected storage mode, which is a data storage mode selected from a plurality of types of data storage modes. This storage system is provided with a function for switching the above-mentioned selected storage mode from a currently selected data storage mode to a different type of data storage mode. |
| US09122409B2 |
Method and system for volume based snapshot restore
Method and system is provided to perform a plurality of checks before performing a volume based snapshot restore (“VBSR”) operation. The checks may be performed by an application executed at a computing system that interfaces with a storage system. The application may determine if there are any inconsistent LUNS and foreign mapped LUNs. The application may also determine if there are any new LUNs or any new snapshots since the snapshot, which is the basis of the restore operation was created. The application may further determine if there are any backup relationships with respect to a volume that is being restored. The application takes the information and provides a report to a user. The report allows a user to ascertain the consequences of proceeding with the VBSR operation. |
| US09122401B2 |
Efficient enforcement of command execution order in solid state drives
A method in a storage device includes receiving from a host storage commands for execution in a non-volatile memory of the storage device. At least a subset of the storage commands are to be executed in accordance with an order-of-arrival in which the storage commands in the subset are received. The received storage commands are executed in the non-volatile memory in accordance with internal scheduling criteria of the storage device, which permit deviations from the order-of-arrival, but such that execution of the storage commands in the subset reflects the order-of-arrival to the host. |
| US09122399B2 |
Storage system and storage control method
A storage system includes: a storage device including a recording medium that stores data and a device controller that executes addition processing involving a change of state of the data with respect to the data; and a storage controller that controls input and output of data for the storage device. The storage controller transmits, to the storage device, determination information that can be utilized by the device controller for determining whether or not to execute the addition processing along with input-output processing relating to input-output target data. The device controller controls execution of the addition processing with respect to the input-output target data based on the determination information transmitted from the storage controller. |
| US09122394B2 |
Method and apparatus for area-efficient graphical user interface
A GUI screen image is a standard screen image, and displays a first combined GUI area, which is a combination of a GUI of the directional keys and a GUI of a joystick, and a second combined GUI area, which is a combination of a GUI of the four-type operation buttons and a GUI of a joystick, at the lower left and at the lower right on the screen image, respectively. Depending on an area in the first combined GUI area or in the second combined GUI area to which a user newly touches, which of the combined GUI to be used is determined and a screen image is switched, and if a finger or a thumb detaches, the screen image switches back. |
| US09122393B2 |
Predictive sensitized keypad
Devices and methods are disclosed which relate to improving the efficiency of text input by generating a dynamic virtual keyboard. Disclosed examples display a soft keyboard on a touchscreen of a text-entry device. The touchscreen works with the soft keyboard as a form of text input. Keyboard logic on the text-entry device is programmed to change the sensitivity of the footprint of keys surrounding a predicted key or keys, based upon the prior entry. The keyboard logic assigns a prediction value to each key based on a statistical probability that the key will be entered next. The touchscreen displays a dynamic virtual keyboard based on these prediction values. Enhancements include reducing the sensitivity of the footprint of keys relative to their prediction value. For instance, if a key is very unlikely to be the next intended key pressed, the footprint of the key will only respond to a key press of greater force than a key which is likely to be entered next. |
| US09122392B2 |
Mobile terminal, display device and controlling method thereof
A mobile terminal including a sensor unit configured to sense an orientation direction of a housing of the mobile terminal, a first display unit configured to display a first screen image, an interface unit configured to be connected to an external display device having a second display unit, and a controller configured to interface with the external display device to display a monitor window including a second screen image corresponding to the first screen image on the external display device, and to control the monitor window to be displayed on the second display unit according to the sensed orientation direction of the housing. |
| US09122388B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling touch screen using timeline bar, recording medium with program for the same recorded therein, and user terminal having the same
A method for controlling a touch screen using a timeline bar is provided. The method includes detecting a first dragging that starts from a bar on a timeline, zooming in the timeline according to a distance between the timeline and a final touch point of the first dragging, and shifting the bar on the zoomed-in timeline by a second dragging. Thus, it is possible to more precisely control the content even on a small touch screen just like on a large touch screen. In addition, the timeline blockage caused by the finger tip may be prevented, so the user may control the content more intuitively in the desired level. |
| US09122385B2 |
Input method and input apparatus
There is provided an apparatus including a circuitry configured to initiate an operation command in response to a first moving operation of a first operator on a first operation surface provided on a first surface of a housing body, wherein the first surface is provided on a substantially opposite side of the housing body from a second surface on which a display is provided, and wherein the display is configured to display a result of the initiated operation command. |
| US09122380B2 |
Updating assets rendered in a virtual world environment based on detected user interactions in another world
A virtual world controller receives an identifier of a detected interaction by a user within another world, separate from a particular virtual world environment accessible by the user, from a device that detects and reports user interactions within the other world. The virtual world controller identifies at least one particular trigger tag name assigned to the identifier of the detected interaction from among a plurality of separate detectable user interactions in a trigger tag database. The virtual world controller identifies at least one particular asset class from among a plurality of asset classes specified with the particular trigger tag name within a particular trigger asset coupling from among at least one trigger asset coupling in a trigger asset coupling database. The virtual world controller accesses at least one particular asset assigned to the at least one particular asset class in an asset class database. The virtual world controller renders the at least one particular asset within the particular virtual world environment in a virtual location within the particular virtual world triggered by the particular trigger asset coupling. |
| US09122371B2 |
Displaying an icon based upon user input
Disclosed is an apparatus, system, and method for a computing device to display an icon based upon user input. The computing device may receive user input and generate an icon based upon a checksum function of the user input. The computing device may display the icon to a user on a display device. |
| US09122370B2 |
Unlocking a touchscreen device
A method for unlocking a touch screen device includes providing a touch screen device in an idle mode. An area or region displayed on a screen of the device in the idle mode is contacted or activated to reveal at least one application icon associated with an active/unlocked state of the device. The region is moved, expanded or dragged to an edge of the device to change a state of the device to an active/unlocked mode and activate the revealed application. |
| US09122367B2 |
Navigation system for a 3D virtual scene
A navigation system for navigating a three-dimensional (3D) scene that includes a model or object with which a user can interact. The system accommodates and helps both novice and advanced users. To do this, the system provides a rewind function where view waypoints are stored as navigation occurs and the user can move the view back to one of the rewind points. |
| US09122362B2 |
Touch panels and display devices having touch panels
A display device including a touch panel arranged on a display panel, the touch panel including at least one phase retardation layer, a polarization plate arranged on the at least one phase retardation layer, a touch sensing structure including at least one sensing pattern arranged directly on at least one of at least one face of the phase retardation layer and at least one face of the polarization plate, an adhesion layer arranged on the polarization plate and a window arranged on the adhesion layer. |
| US09122357B2 |
Touch panel, display panel, and display unit
A touch panel, a display panel, and a display unit achieving prevention of erroneous detection caused by external noise, are provided. The touch panel includes: a plurality of detection scan electrodes extending in a first direction; and a plurality of detection electrodes facing the plurality of detection scan electrodes and extending in a second direction which intersects the first direction. A ratio of fringe capacitance to total capacitance between one or more selected detection scan electrodes and a first detection electrode is different from a ratio of fringe capacitance to total capacitance between the one or more selected detection scan electrodes and a second detection electrode. The one or more selected detection scan electrodes are selected, in a desired unit, from the plurality of detection scan electrodes, to be supplied with a selection pulse, and each of the first and the second detection electrodes is selected from the plurality of detection electrodes. |
| US09122356B2 |
Virtual periphery display buttons
An input device for use with an information handling system is disclosed. The input device may include a display device having a viewing area defined by a perimeter, a graphic user interface configured to display a virtual button within the viewing area adjacent the perimeter, a frame adjacent the perimeter of the viewing area, and a proximity sensing element associated with the frame and located outside the viewing area of the display device. The proximity sensing element may be configured to sense a user selecting the virtual button displayed by the graphic user interface. |
| US09122354B2 |
Detecting wave gestures near an illuminated surface
A method for wave gesture detection performed by a touch processor in an optical touch detection system is provided. The method includes receiving a sequence of images of an illuminated surface comprised in the optical touch detection system, wherein the images are captured by a camera comprised in the optical touch detection system, detecting a wave gesture performed in front of the illuminated surface by analyzing the sequence of images, and outputting an indication that a wave gesture has been detected. |
| US09122349B1 |
Image sensor panel and method for capturing graphical information using same
The present disclosure provides an image sensor panel and a method for capturing graphical information using the image sensor panel. In one aspect, the image sensor panel includes a substrate and a sensor array on the substrate, the sensor array including a plurality of photosensitive pixels. The substrate includes a first region defined by the sensor array and a second region other than the first region. The second region is optically transparent and has an area greater than that of the first region. |
| US09122348B2 |
Touch panel
An embodiment of the present invention provides a touch panel that enable data sensing with multi-gray scale and an electronic device. At least a first pixel including a first photosensor portion detecting light with a first color, a second pixel including a second photosensor portion detecting light with a second color, a first A/D converter performing A/D conversion on an output signal of the first photosensor portion, and a second A/D converter performing A/D conversion on an output signal of the second photosensor portion are included. The voltage resolution of the first A/D converter and the voltage resolution of the second A/D converter are different. |
| US09122346B2 |
Methods for input-output calibration and image rendering
One of the embodiments of the invention provides an input-output calibration method performed by a processing unit connected to an output device and an input device. The output device and the input device correspond to an output device coordinate system and an input device coordinate system, respectively. The processing unit first derives M calibration points' coordinates in the input device coordinate system by using the input device to sense a viewer specifying the M calibration points' positions, wherein M is a positive integer. Then, the processing unit uses the M calibration points' coordinates in the output device coordinate system and coordinates in the input device coordinate system to derive the relationship between the output device coordinate system and the input device coordinate system. |
| US09122343B2 |
Facilitating operation of controls displayed in a display surface independently of the size of the display surface
A method, computer program product and system for facilitating operation of controls displayed in a display surface independently of the size of the display surface. The system includes a touchscreen which displays a screen on the display surface and which inputs an operation point operated by a user on the display surface, and a conversion unit that defines a point which is in a predetermined positional relationship with an operation point operated by the user on the touchscreen as an operation point to be operated. In response to input of an operation on an edge of the display surface, the conversion unit may define as the operation point to be operated a point that is positioned in a center area of the display surface except its edges and that is in a predetermined positional relationship with the operation point at which the edge of the display surface was operated. |
| US09122340B2 |
Mobile terminal and method of controlling the same
A mobile terminal including a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one other terminal; a body provided with a front surface, a rear surface and a lateral surface; a display unit disposed on at least the front surface and configured to display screen information; a squeeze sensing unit configured to sense a pressure applied to the body to detect a squeeze operation; and a controller configured to receive a control command for controlling a preset first operation of the mobile terminal, perform the first preset operation based on receiving only the control command and not detecting the squeeze operation, and perform a second preset operation different than the first preset operation based on receiving both the received control command and the detected squeeze operation. |
| US09122339B2 |
Touch display circuit and driving method thereof, array substrate and display apparatus
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a field of display manufacture, particularly provide a touch display circuit and a driving method thereof, an array substrate and a display apparatus, which may reduce manufacture processes in a production phase of a touch display product and save cost, and may also enhance an aperture ratio of the product and increase an additional value. The touch display circuit comprises a touch unit and a display unit; the touch unit is connected with a data line, a first scan line, a second scan line, a signal acquiring line and a first signal control line; the display unit is connected with the data line, the first scan line, the second scan line and a second signal control line; the embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to the field of manufacturing a display. |
| US09122336B1 |
Conductive electrode structure
A conductive electrode structure includes a substrate layer; at least one adhesion layer formed on the substrate layer for forming a circuit pattern; a conductive electrode layer formed on the adhesion layer for forming a conducting circuit corresponding to the circuit pattern; a first blackened layer formed on the conductive electrode layer corresponding to the circuit pattern and manufactured with an easily etched material; and a weatherproof layer formed on the first blackened layer and manufactured with an etch-resistant material. The weatherproof layer has a thickness smaller than the first blackened layer. The first blackened layer has a dark color for absorbing and stopping light from entering into the conductive electrode layer, and accordingly forms a shielding surface that prevents the conductive electrode layer from being directly visually perceived by a user. The conductive electrode structure also avoids side etching of the conductive electrode layer to ensure increased yield rate. |
| US09122335B2 |
Dynamic bezel for a mobile device
An article, device and method may detect a touch of a human hand on an interactive area of a user interface display of a mobile device. A non-interactive area may be displayed on the user interface display in at least a location of the touch of the human hand. |
| US09122334B1 |
Touchscreen input device with identifier
When a touchscreen input device is in proximity with a first computing device, the touchscreen input device can send an identifier to the first computing device. The touchscreen input device can be used with the first computing device to define an action that can be performed on other computing devices. The first computing device can send the identifier of the touchscreen input device and an indication of the defined action to a server. When a touchscreen input device is in proximity with a second computing device, the touchscreen input device can send the identifier to the second computing device. The second computing device can send the identifier to the server. The server can send the second computing device an indication that the defined action can be performed on the second computing device. |
| US09122333B2 |
Detecting and handling unintentional touching of a touch screen
A processor-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product detects and handles an unintentional touching of a touch screen in order to prevent unintentional inputs to the touch screen. An unintentional touching of touch screen, as determined by one or more predefined events, causes a predetermined region of the touch screen to be disabled. |
| US09122329B2 |
Image displaying apparatus, image controlling apparatus, image forming apparatus, image controlling method, and computer-readable medium
An image displaying apparatus includes an image display that displays an image, and a controller that determines an image and controls the image display to display the determined image. The image display includes a display that displays all or part of information content as a whole image or a partial image in a predetermined area, and when displaying the partial image, additionally displays a positional image indicating where the partial image is positioned within the whole image, and a position detector that detects the position where a contacting object contacts the display. The controller includes a scroll determining unit that determines whether or not to scroll the displayed partial image according to change in the detected position, and a positional image determining unit that determines where to display the positional image according to the detected position. |
| US09122321B2 |
Collaboration environment using see through displays
A see-through, near-eye, mixed reality display device and system for collaboration amongst various users of other such devices and personal audio/visual devices of more limited capabilities. One or more wearers of a see through head mounted display apparatus define a collaboration environment. For the collaboration environment, a selection of collaboration data and the scope of the environment are determined. Virtual representations of the collaboration data in the field of view of the wearer, and other device users are rendered. Persons in the wearer's field of view to be included in collaboration environment and who are entitled to share information in the collaboration environment are defined by the wearer. If allowed, input from other users in the collaboration environment on the virtual object may be received and allowed to manipulate a change in the virtual object. |
| US09122319B2 |
Flexible display apparatus and controlling method thereof
A flexible display apparatus is provided. The flexible display apparatus includes a display configured to display content on a screen, a sensor configured to detect bending of the display from a first form to a second form, and a controller configured to reconstruct the content based on the bending and to display the reconstructed content in a first screen generated in one region of the display when it is determined that the display is restored to the first form. |
| US09122317B2 |
Electronic device and screen display method
According to an aspect, an electronic device includes a display unit, an operation unit, and a control unit. The display unit displays a screen corresponding to an application during execution thereof. The operation unit is operated in order to input a character. When an operation for a character input is performed through the operation unit while the screen corresponding to the application is displayed on the display unit, the control unit displays an input character on the display unit while maintaining a state in which the screen corresponding to the application before the character is input is displayed. |
| US09122316B2 |
Enabling data entry based on differentiated input objects
Methods and apparatus for facilitating virtual input in devices that differentiates input objects are provided. Various methods for automatically configuring component settings and features of such devices are described. Changes in the component settings of the device and the corresponding operational characteristics of the device that triggered said changes may be grouped into profiles and selected by users. The component settings may include useful assisting features such as additional lighting provide by a LED and illuminated visual guides of the virtual input interface projected by a laser or LED. The characteristics of such assisting features may be modified dynamically in response to changes in the state of a reference object. |
| US09122314B2 |
Key mechanism with spring keycap
Key-input mechanisms are disclosed. An example mechanism includes an arced, resilient keycap, the arc of the keycap having a first central arc angle when un-pressed. The keycap is configured to, when pressed, deform so as to have a second central arc angle, the first central arc angle being greater than the second central arc angle. The keycap is further configured to, when released after being pressed, return to its un-pressed shape having the first central arc angle. The key input mechanism further includes a switch disposed under the keycap. The switch is configured to, when the keycap is pressed, electrically couple two or more circuit traces to indicate a keystroke for the key input mechanism. The switch is further configured to, when the keycap is released, electrically decouple the two or more circuit traces to indicate that the keystroke for the key input mechanism is complete. |
| US09122313B2 |
Viewpoint change on a display device based on movement of the device
Embodiments of the disclosed technology comprise a handheld display device with built-in accelerometer and, in some embodiments, compass. The display of a human figure is changed based on a change in viewpoint/orientation of the device. That is, upon detecting a change in viewpoint (e.g., viewing angle, tilt, roll, or pitch of the device), the image of the person changes. This may be used with a still picture of a person, such as for the sale of clothing, or in conjunction with moving images, such as for a sports or exercise instructional video. |
| US09122312B2 |
System and method for interacting with a computing device
One or more computing devices may detect the presence of a user, determine default communication mode for communicating with the user, use the default communication mode to elicit a communicative gesture from the user, receive a signal identifying at least one communicative gesture from the user, and convert the identified communicative gestures into a command. The default communication mode may be based on the identity of the user. Alternatively, the default communication mode can be determined by using a first mode of communication to prompt the user to make a mode-selection gesture, and if a mode-selection gesture is detected from the user within a threshold period of time, setting the first mode of communication as the default communication mode. Otherwise, if no mode-selection gesture is detected within a threshold period of time, using an alternative mode of communication to prompt the user to make a mode-selection gesture. |
| US09122310B2 |
Input device and method for protecting input information from exposure
An input device and method for protecting input information from exposure, in which the time of input of information is determined using a tactile output to protect the input information from being exposed. The input device for protecting input information from exposure includes a user-input module for receiving predetermined input information from a user, a control module for setting the information inputted in association with a tactile signal among the input information as user-input information, and a tactile-output-generation module for generating and providing the tactile signal to the user-input module under the control of the control module. |
| US09122307B2 |
Advanced remote control of host application using motion and voice commands
A head mounted microdisplay (HMD) device that uses hand, body, head movement or gesture and voice commands to control interaction with a local processor or host computer. The local processor overlays information, such as onto an operating system desktop or application program menu, indicating the motion, gesture, and/or voice input needed to activate an associated action. |
| US09122305B2 |
Display device having touch sensors and method for transmitting touch coordinate data thereof
A display device having touch sensors includes a display panel having a touch screen, a Tx driving circuit supplying a touch driving pulse to Tx electrode lines of the touch screen, an Rx driving circuit which samples voltages of the touch sensors received through Rx electrode lines of the touch screen due to the supply of the touch driving pulse and outputs touch raw data from the voltages of the touch sensors, and a touch controller which obtains a plurality of touch groups based on the touch raw data, sets a transmission format of an effective touch group, on which a touch operation is performed, among the plurality of touch groups to a variable touch coordinate packet, and transmits the variable touch coordinate packet to an external host system. |
| US09122300B2 |
Rotary operation device
A rotary operation device that can prevent misassembly of a rotary operation member and a rotational force transmission member, has a rotary operation member, a rotation detector, and a rotational force transmission member. The rotary operation member has a first gear and the rotational force transmission member has a second gear and a transmission axis. One of the rotary operation member and the rotational force transmission member has a first interference portion that interferes with the other member in a position misaligned from a proper engagement position where the first gear and the second gear are engaged in a proper phase relationship. The other member comprises a second interference member that interferes with the first interference portion in a position misaligned from the proper engagement position and an escape portion that receives the first interference portion in the proper engagement position to allow assembly with the one member. |
| US09122296B2 |
Adaptive DC-link voltage controlled LC coupling hybrid active power filters for reactive power compensation
An adaptive dc-link voltage controlled LC coupling hybrid active power filter (LC-HAPF) for reactive power compensation includes: two dc capacitors to provide dc-link voltage; a three-phase voltage source inverter to convert dc-link voltage into compensating voltages; three coupling LC circuits to convert compensating voltages into currents; and an adaptive dc voltage controller with reactive power compensation control algorithm. The control algorithm includes: first, calculating required minimum dc-link voltage in each phase with respect to loading reactive power; three-phase required minimum dc-link voltage will be maximum one among their minimum values; compare it with predetermined voltage levels to determine final reference dc-link voltage. A dc-link voltage feedback P/PI controller outputs dc voltage reference compensating currents. An instantaneous power compensation controller outputs reactive reference compensating currents. The final reference compensating currents will be sum of them. A PWM circuit provides LC-HAPF adaptive dc-link voltage control and dynamic reactive power compensation. |
| US09122295B2 |
Power supply apparatus with reducing voltage overshooting
A voltage generating unit generates a standard output voltage and sends to a voltage output side. A voltage detection unit detects a voltage of the voltage output side and informs a voltage gain control unit. When the voltage of the voltage output side is decreasing due to a dynamic load, the voltage gain control unit is configured to control the voltage generating unit to increase a gain of a voltage generated by the voltage generating unit, and the voltage generated by the voltage generating unit is lower than the standard output voltage. Then, the voltage gain control unit is configured to control the voltage generating unit to decrease the gain of the voltage generated by the voltage generating unit, and the voltage generated by the voltage generating unit is equal to the standard output voltage. |
| US09122291B2 |
Adaptive voltage scalers (AVSs), systems, and related methods
Adaptive voltage scalers (AVSs), systems, and related methods are disclosed. The AVSs are configured to adaptively adjust voltage levels powering a functional circuit(s) based on target operating frequencies and delay variation conditions to avoid or reduce voltage margin. In one embodiment, the AVS includes an AVS database. The AVS database can be configured to store voltage levels for various operating frequencies of a functional circuit(s) to avoid or reduce voltage margin. The AVS database allows rapid voltage level decisions. The voltage levels stored in the AVS database may be initial, minimum, learned, populated, explored, backed out, temperature-based, and/or age-based voltage levels according to disclosed embodiments to further avoid or reduce voltage margin. An AVS module may be a software-based module that consults the AVS database to make voltage level decisions. Providing the AVS module as a software-based module may allow flexibility in configuring the AVS module and/or the AVS database. |
| US09122287B2 |
Dual frequency control of buck-boost regulator with a pass through band
Dual frequency control of first and second pairs of switches of a buck-boost regulator with pass through band is disclosed. In buck and boost modes respectively a first pair of the switches is operated at high frequency and a second pair of the switches is operated at low frequency. In pass through mode, both pairs of switches are operated at low frequency. Dual frequency control and operation of the pairs of switches enables current sharing between positive and negative power leads in buck, boost and pass-through modes. |
| US09122285B2 |
Virtual thermostat system and method
A virtual thermostat system and method are provided. The method accepts commands via a virtual thermostat interface for establishing temperature set points for a plurality of zones. Energy consumption information is also accepted from a plurality of energy consumption units. Each unit consumes energy at an associated peak power to supply a controlled temperature medium to a corresponding zone. The method also accepts temperature measurements for each zone. Then, consumption commands are sent to each energy consumption unit in response to associated zone temperature set points, while insuring that a combined peak power of the energy consumption units is less than a maximum peak power threshold. In one aspect, the virtual thermostat accepts temperature measurements from a plurality of physical thermostats, each associated with an energy consumption unit. Then, consumption commands are relayed to the energy consumption units via associated physical thermostats. |
| US09122283B2 |
Battery power management in a thermostat with a wireless transceiver
A thermostat includes a controller configured to control the thermostat, a power supply sensor connected to the controller for sensing a thermostat power source, a wireless transceiver connected to the controller for receiving control information from a remote device and for transmitting information to the remote device, and a battery level indicator for determining a remaining power capacity of the battery. The controller sets a time schedule for enabling the wireless transceiver when the power supply sensor detects that the thermostat power source is a battery. The time schedule is changed to increase a time period between when the wireless transceiver is enabled as the remaining power capacity of the battery decreases. |
| US09122279B2 |
Method of combining trackless vehicle and device thereof
Disclosed are a method of combining a trackless vehicle and a device thereof, the method including receiving running information about automobiles from a plurality of terminals, searching for terminals each having provided running information that satisfies a predetermined standard based on a similarity in the running information, and providing combining information to the searched terminals, so that energy consumption is reduced when compared to running in the form of an independent trackless vehicle and an automobile user is able to move to a desired destination. |
| US09122276B2 |
Wearable wireless remote control device for use with a materials handling vehicle
A supplemental remote control system for a materials handling vehicle includes a wireless remote control device that is useable by an operator interacting with the materials handling vehicle. Actuation of a travel control on the remote control device causes a wireless transmitter on the device to transmit a travel request to the vehicle. The remote control system further includes a receiver for receiving transmissions from the wireless transmitter at the vehicle and a controller at the vehicle in communication with the receiver for implementing the travel request. The wireless remote control device further includes an input component, wherein actuation of the input component causes the wireless transmitter to wirelessly transmit a second type of request to the receiver on the vehicle requesting the controller to implement a second vehicle function other than to advance the vehicle. |
| US09122275B2 |
Robot and control method thereof
A robot and method of controlling the same are provided. The robot includes a hand and an arm, a grip sensor unit configured to enable the hand to sense an object, a grip control unit configured to determine whether the hand grips the object from gripping information obtained from the grip sensor unit, select an object-based coordinate to control the hand and the arm based on a motion of the object or an independent coordinate to independently control the hand and the arm according to a result of the determination, and control the hand and the arm based on the selected coordinate, and a coordinate transformation unit configured to calculate a position and a direction of a virtual object based on the object-based coordinate, and deliver information about the position and the direction of the virtual object calculated to the grip control unit. |
| US09122267B2 |
Interference checking device and numerical control apparatus
An interference checking device includes a contour shape analyzing unit that extracts a contour shape of a tool cross section and a tool length by analyzing a two-dimensional image of a rotating tool, a rotation center analyzing unit that obtains a rotation center of the rotating tool by analyzing the contour shape, a three-dimensional-rotation-shape generating unit that generates a three-dimensional shape of the rotating tool on the basis of the contour shape, the tool length, and the rotation center, and an interference check processing unit that checks whether the rotating tool and a component other than the rotating tool interfere with each other when numerical control machining is performed on a workpiece by using the rotating tool, by using the three-dimensional shape, in which the three-dimensional-rotation-shape generating unit generates the three-dimensional shape by using a left-side contour shape. |
| US09122264B2 |
Detection of inductive communication for programmable logic controller diagnosis
Inductive commutation is detected for programmable logic controller (PLC) diagnosis. By detecting the inductive commutation, the need for any delay may be determined. Where the load is not inductive, the diagnostic may be performed with little or no delay. |
| US09122263B2 |
Control device for a motor vehicle having an input equipped for processing signals of different types of sensors
A control device (42) for use in a motor vehicle includes at least one input that has an input port (12), at least one input channel (20, 38), and an input circuitry (43) and receives signals from a sensor (10, 34) via the input port (12) and sends the signals via the input circuitry (43) to the input channel (20, 38). The input port (12) is connected to a defined voltage via a resistor. The input circuitry (43) has a pull-up switch (44) that can be actuated by the control device (42), which controls connection of the input port (12) to a high voltage, and a pull-down switch (46) that can be actuated by the control device (42), which controls connection of the input port (12) to a low voltage. A method adapts the control device (42) to the sensor (10, 34), which is connected to the control device (42). |
| US09122250B2 |
GPS features and functionality in an athletic watch system
Athletic performance monitoring systems include GPS data to enhance various features of the workout as well as the post-workout data analysis. Such features include using output from multiple sensors to determine the most accurate data available for providing distance measurements for individual segments of a route. The most accurate data for each route segment, from whatever source, then is used to provide the overall route distance and as the basis for making other calculations, such as pace, calorie burn, etc. Another feature relates to the ability to both input and output geographically tagged messages while moving along a route during an athletic performance. |
| US09122249B2 |
Multi-segment wearable accessory
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to facilitate the use of a multi-segment wearable accessory. In this regard, methods, apparatus and computer program products are provided for controlling and, in some instances, interacting with a multi-segment wearable accessory. In particular, a method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided that receive touch input via at least first and second segments of a multi-segment wearable accessory and determine that the touch input associated with the second segment is moving relative to the touch input associated with the first segment. A presentation of content displayed at least partially by the first segment may be modified based upon movement of the touch input associated with the second segment, such as in an expand operation, in which content is displayed on a second segment, or a collapse operation, in which content is removed from the second segment following an expand operation. |
| US09122246B2 |
Mechanism for securing a balance spring stud to a balance bridge and sprung balance regulating device including such a mechanism
The regulating device includes an inertial balance (7) including a balance staff arranged to be pivotally mounted in the timepiece, a balance bridge (9) and a bearing (11) carried by the balance bridge and arranged to hold one end of the balance staff, a balance spring (1) including an inner end integral with the balance and an outer end (1a) integral with a stud (3; 103), and a mechanism for securing the stud (3; 103) including a housing (17) for receiving the stud and which is formed in a stud holder (5) pivoted on the balance bridge (9), the securing mechanism further including an elastic arm (15; 115) arranged to pivot concentrically to the balance staff between a first position where the elastic arm immobilizes the stud (3; 103) and a second position where the elastic arm is disengaged from the stud to allow the stud to be inserted into or removed from the housing. |
| US09122240B2 |
Image forming apparatus having mechanism for allowing photosensitive drum and developing roller to contact during insertion of cartridge-mounted drawer
A cartridge has a first frame supporting a photosensitive member and a second frame supporting a developer carrying member. The first and second frames can take either a contact position where the two members are in contact with each other or a separated position where the two members are separated. A supporting member supporting the cartridge is movable between a mount position in a housing and a pull-out position outside the housing. When the supporting member is held in the pull-out position, the first and second frames are retrained in the separated position. The cartridge is supported on the supporting member to be movable between a first position where image formation is disabled and a second position where image formation is enabled. The cartridge is moved from the first position to the second position attendant to the movements of the supporting member from the pull-out position to the mount position. |
| US09122239B2 |
Image forming apparatus including positioning member and detachable process unit
An image forming apparatus includes a process unit, an exhaust path, and a positioning member movable between (i) a positioning position for positioning the process unit and (ii) a releasing position for releasing the process unit, the positioning member having an air path, the air path and the exhaust path being connected in a case where the positioning member is in the positioning position, and the air path and the exhaust path being disconnected in a case where the positioning member is in the releasing position. |
| US09122237B2 |
Process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
A process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The cartridge also includes a developing frame supporting the developing roller. A force receiving member is provided, with the force receiving member including a spacing force receiving portion movable relative to the developing frame to move between a first position and a second position in which the spacing force receiving portion is retracted from the first position toward an inside of the developing frame. |
| US09122233B2 |
Image forming device including mechanism for moving developer cartridge
An image forming device includes a main body, developer cartridges, a drawer, and an ejecting mechanism. The drawer is movable relative to the main body. The developer cartridges are juxtaposed in a predetermined direction and detachably attached to the drawer. Each developer cartridge includes a developing roller whose rotational axis extends in an axial direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction. The ejecting mechanism moves at least one developer cartridge from an attached position in a moving direction relative to the drawer. The moving direction intersects the predetermined direction and is orthogonal to the axial direction. The ejecting mechanism includes an operating part and an actuating part. The actuating part moves the at least one developer cartridge from the attached position in the moving direction in response to the operating part receiving an operating force. |
| US09122227B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: a body frame having an opening, a cartridge being configured to be removably mounted to the body frame through the opening; and a cover configured to open and close the opening, wherein the cover includes a metallic reinforcement plate that is configured to face the cartridge mounted to the body frame when the cover is closed, and wherein the reinforcement plate includes a first recess part configured to receive therein a part of the cartridge mounted to the body frame when the cover is closed. |
| US09122224B2 |
Image forming apparatus and power supply device
A power supply device includes a first switch section that can disconnect a 24-V power supply from a commercial alternating-current (AC) power supply and that operates with the voltage of 3.3 V, and a second switch section that can disconnect a voltage detection circuit from the commercial AC power supply and that operates with the voltage of 3.3 V. When a power saving mode is on, the 24-V power supply and the voltage detection circuit are disconnected from the commercial AC power supply by using the first and second switch sections, whereby the power supply device can be used in areas where different supply voltages are used, and at the same time reduction in power consumption in the power saving mode is achieved. |
| US09122221B2 |
Sheet feeding cassette, sheet feeding device, and image forming apparatus
A sheet feeding cassette according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a sheet feeding cassette that displaces a bottom plate loaded thereon with a sheet to a sheet feeding position by rotating a lift plate that abuts on a rear face of the bottom plate. The bottom plate is made of resin, and a wire is wired on the rear face of the bottom plate. |
| US09122220B2 |
Printing apparatus, printing method, and storage medium which control printing based on detection of a mark by a sensor
A printing apparatus includes a controller that, upon receipt of a printing suspension instruction during printing on a print medium by a printing device, causes a conveyor to stop a conveyance of the print medium from an upstream side to a downstream side after printing a mark on the print medium, causes the conveyor to convey the print medium from the downstream side to the upstream side, then to stop the conveyance of the print medium after a sensor detects the mark printed on the print medium, and upon receipt of a printing restart instruction, causes the conveyor to convey the print medium from a returned position where the print medium is stopped to the downstream side and controls a timing of a printing based on a detection of the mark by the sensor. |
| US09122217B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image noise prediction method
In an image forming apparatus, a sensor section which the printed sheets fed from an image forming section pass through or by in a first direction one by one, irradiates each of the passing printed sheets with light elongated in a second direction different, thereby sensing densities of the each of passing printed sheets, on a pixel basis. Further, a control section integrates densities of respectively corresponding line portions in respective non-image areas of sheets of the printed sheets, based on the densities obtained by the sensor section, each of the line portion extending substantially in the first direction and including pixels on substantially a same position in the second direction, thereby obtaining integrated density values, and predicts, based on the obtained integrated density values, that a noise will occur on a printed sheet to be made by the image forming section later on. |
| US09122216B2 |
Image forming apparatus, host apparatus, server, and method of performing image forming job thereof
An image forming apparatus includes a storage unit, an interface unit which is connected to a host apparatus and at least one of other image forming apparatuses, an image forming unit which prints image data received through the interface unit, and a controller which, if image data is received when the image forming apparatus is in a normal mode, controls the image forming unit to perform an image forming job using the image data, and if the image data is received when the image forming apparatus is in a power saving mode, controls the interface unit to transmit the image data to another image forming apparatus so that the another image forming apparatus performs an image forming job. |
| US09122214B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
Provided is a fixing device including a fixing member that fixes a toner image onto a recording material, a pressurizing member that forms a pressurizing portion, in cooperation with the fixing member, through which the recording material holding a non-fixed toner image passes, a heating member that includes a heat generating portion having a predetermined pattern shape and being energized to generate heat, and heats the fixing member, a supporting member that supports the heating member along an inner circumferential surface of the fixing member, and a thermal diffusion member that faces the supporting member with interposing the heating member, and diffuses heat from the heating member and conducts the heat to the fixing member. |
| US09122212B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus including same
A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body, an opposed member opposing the fixing rotary body to form a nipping portion, and a heater to heat the fixing rotary body. The heater includes heat generators arranged in a width direction of a recording medium and separately supplied with power. When an unfixed image on the medium has an image area and a non-image area, power supplied to each of the heat generators is controlled so that, of the heat generators, a first heat generator corresponding to the image area becomes a higher temperature and second heat generators corresponding to the non-image area becomes a lower temperature. When the second heat generators are adjacent to each other, power supplied to one of the second heat generators closer to the image area is set to be greater than power supplied to another of the second heat generators farther from the image area. |
| US09122205B2 |
Printing apparatus and method using electrohydrodynamics
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging member having a surface, a development component that is not in physical contact with the imaging member, and a power source for generating an electric field between the imaging member surface and the development component. An ink is electrohydrodynamically transferred from the development component to the imaging member surface when the electric field is generated. |
| US09122196B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is characterized by including a first developing device configured to develop an electrostatic latent image using a developer, a second developing device configured to develop an electrostatic latent image using a developer, a common driving source unit configured to commonly drive the first developing device and the second developing device, and an execution unit configured, in a case where only the first developing device is a new developing device, to execute a predetermined initialization operation to drive the first developing device and a toner discharge operation to discharge toner from the second developing device during the initialization operation. |
| US09122192B2 |
Detection device, developing device and image forming apparatus
A detection device configured to detect a charge amount of toner on a developer carrier includes an assembly with a quartz oscillator and having a first surface and a second surface that are provided in the quartz oscillator. The first surface has a recess and a projection formed in a direction in which the quartz oscillator vibrates. In addition, a capacitor is connected to the assembly, a first measurement unit measures a potential difference between two ends of the capacitor, and a second measurement unit measures a frequency of the quartz oscillator. In a case where an alternating-current power is applied to the assembly, the direction in which the quartz oscillator vibrates is parallel to the first surface. |
| US09122191B2 |
Image forming apparatus and developing unit for use in image forming apparatus
A photosensitive drum extends in an axial direction. An irradiating unit includes a first reacting portion and a second reacting portion spaced from each other in the axial direction. A moving member includes a first acting portion and a second acting portion spaced from each other in the axial direction. The first acting portion and the second acting portion of the moving member act on the first reacting portion and the second reacting portion respectively, in response to attachment of the developing unit to a main body, such that the irradiating unit moves from the retracted position to the proximate position with respect to the photosensitive drum, and cancel the actions on the first reacting portion and the second reacting portion respectively, in response to removal of the developing unit from the main body, such that the irradiating unit moves from the proximate position to the retracted position. |
| US09122190B2 |
Image forming apparatus capable of adjusting laser beams emitted from a plurality of light sources, and method of controlling image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus which makes it possible to grasp such settings of a phase and a main scanning magnification of laser beams as reduce occurrence of moire, by visually checking a plurality of pattern images. Pattern images are formed using a laser beam irradiated from a reference light source and a laser beam irradiated from an adjustment target light source for which each of different phase values is set as a phase setting value. A phase relationship between the phases of the laser beams is adjusted based on the pattern images. Pattern images are formed using a laser beam irradiated from the adjustment target light source for which each of different magnification values is set as a magnification setting value. The magnification of the laser beams is adjusted based on these pattern images. |
| US09122188B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus including: a photosensitive member driving unit configured to rotate the photosensitive member; a charge unit having an opening portion and configured to charge the surface of the photosensitive member; a shield member movable between a closed position for closing the opening portion and an open position for opening the opening portion; a shield member driving unit configured to move the shield member between the closed position and the open position; and a control unit configured to control the photosensitive member driving unit to rotate the photosensitive member in a state in which the shield member is situated at the open position, and to prevent the photosensitive member from rotating in a state in which the shield member is situated at the closed position. |