| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09125007B2 |
Near field communications (NFC) coil with embedded wireless antenna
Described herein are techniques related to near field coupling and WLAN dual-band operations. For example, a WLAN dual-band utilizes the same coil antenna that is utilized for near field communications (NFC) functions. The WLAN dual-band may be integrated into an NFC module to form a single module. |
| US09125005B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing mobile services outside of cellular coverage
The application provides a method, apparatus and computer program product to enable the provision of mobile services outside the typical coverage area of a cell. Moreover, some embodiments of the application may enable the provision of burst radio link communications over long distances between transmission and reception devices (e.g., access points) having devices within their respective coverage areas in order to enable the devices to provide data or content from one device to another. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the access points may be enabled to communicate with the devices within their respective coverage areas via short range communication techniques and aspects of cognitive radio may be employed. |
| US09125001B2 |
Individualized short-range radio communication method, system and central device for the implementation thereof
The present invention relates to an individualized short-range radio communication method applicable to communications which can include applications or programs and multimedia information, between: a central device (1, 101) suitable for detecting radio-frequency signals of different technologies and protocols, and for setting up bidirectional short-range radio communications using said technologies and protocols, surrounding devices (2, 102), suitable for bidirectionally communicating by means of a short-range technology and a protocol comprising: a.1) polling by means of the central device (1, 101) a surrounding area thereof, using a detection module dedicated for each technology and protocol, a.2) detecting and acquiring through the pick-up of at least one radio-frequency signal emitted by said surrounding devices (2, 102) a unique identifier of said surrounding devices (2, 102) and a.3) setting up by means of the central device (1, 101) an individualized communication with said detected surrounding devices (2, 102) using a compatible technology and protocol. |
| US09125000B2 |
Location-aware mobile application management
Described herein are techniques related to managing mobile applications (“apps”) of a mobile device based, at least in part, upon the determined location of the device. The techniques described herein are especially suited for situations where the present location differs from the locations associated with particular apps that are already installed on the mobile device. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. |
| US09124999B2 |
Method and apparatus for wireless communications in a process control or monitoring environment
A method in a communication device that implements a communication stack to wirelessly communicate with a remote device according to a general purpose wireless communication protocol, where the remote device operates in a process control environment, includes receiving a request from a software module to establish a wireless communication link with the remote device, establishing a direct connection between the software module and the communication stack, where the direct connection is free of intermediate services, and communicating process data between the software module and the remote device in accordance with an industrial automation protocol over the wireless communication link, where the wireless communication link utilizes the general purpose wireless communication protocol. |
| US09124998B2 |
Smart alarm
Providing personalized content comprises discovering personal information using an electronic device. Services information related to the personal information is obtained using the electronic device. Personalized content is provided based on applying the services information to the personal information. |
| US09124994B2 |
System for programming special function buttons for hearing assistance device applications
Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods to provide improved control of hearing assistance devices and hearing assistance applications. The present apparatus and method can be deployed on a hearing aid, a device in communication with the hearing aid, or on both. In one embodiment a programmable control, including, but not limited to a button or switch or sensor or microphone is adapted to provide control of the function or settings of the hearing aid. In one embodiment, a programmable control for a device including, but not limited to a button or switch or sensor or microphone is adapted to provide wireless control of the function or settings of the hearing aid. In various embodiments, a programmable control for the hearing aid and a programmable control of the device are used to provide wireless control of the function or settings of the hearing aid. |
| US09124990B2 |
Method and apparatus for hearing assistance in multiple-talker settings
Disclosed herein, among other things, are systems and methods for hearing assistance in multiple-talker settings. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a method of operating a hearing assistance device for a user in an environment. A parameter is sensed relating to facing orientation of a talker in communication within the environment. Parameters related to location and talking activity of a talker can also be used. In various embodiments, facing orientation, location, and talking activity of the talker are estimated based on the sensed parameter. A hearing assistance device parameter is adjusted based on the estimated facing orientation, location, and talking activity of the talker, according to various embodiments. |
| US09124989B2 |
Hearing aid sleeve
A hearing aid sleeve is made from a pliable and flexible rubber material. The sleeve is configured to minimize acoustic feedback in an ear canal by restricting movement of a hearing aid relative to the ear canal. The hearing aid sleeve includes a pliable rubber body configured to flex to the contours of an ear canal, the rubber body having an outer surface. The opposing ends of the sleeve form a tapered contour. An aperture passes from a first end to a second end. The aperture is configured to accept contact with the hearing aid. The outer surface of the body is configured to flex to the contour of the ear canal and grip the surface of the ear canal, thereby increasing the compressive forces around the hearing aid sufficient to minimize acoustic feedback. |
| US09124988B2 |
Hearing aid with adaptive noise reduction and method
A method of noise reduction of low-level input signals in a hearing aid involves applying compression to the input signal using a first compression ratio if a detected measure of amplitude modulation in the input signal is below a selected modulation level, and using a second compression ratio if the measure of amplitude modulation is above the selected modulation level. This reduces the volume of low-level steady-state noise while increasing the volume of modulated signals, e.g. speech. A hearing aid having a noise reduction system (10) has means for determining a level of amplitude modulation from a noise level and an absolute average level of an input signal, and comprises a dynamic compressor having a first compression ratio and a second compression ratio. The means for determining the level of amplitude modulation is configured to control the dynamic compressor in such a way that, below a predetermined input level, unmodulated sounds are amplified less than unmodulated sounds. In this way, low-level, unmodulated sounds are dampened by the hearing aid. |
| US09124986B2 |
Feedback control in a listening device
A listening device includes a) an input transducer; and b) an output transducer for converting a processed electric signal to an output sound; a forward signal path being defined there between and comprising c) a signal processing unit for processing an electric input signal or a signal derived therefrom and providing a processed output signal; d) a manually operable user interface located on the listening device allowing a user to control a function of the listening device; e) a feedback estimation system for estimating a feedback path from the output transducer to the input transducer, the feedback estimation system comprising e1) an adaptive filter having e11) a variable filter part and e12) an algorithm part comprising an adaptive algorithm. |
| US09124985B2 |
Hearing aid and method for automatically controlling directivity
A hearing aid for automatically controlling directivity is provided. The automatic directivity controlling hearing aid controls an amplification factor and delay time for each of a plurality of acoustic signals that are generated from a plurality of microphones, to thus automatically enhance directivity so that a speech sound can be strongly heard among ambient sounds that are generated in the vicinity. Therefore, even any directional voices may be heard as accurate voices by enlarging intensity of a speech sound in contrast to ambient noise. |
| US09124980B2 |
System and method for optimized playback of audio signals through headphones
The application discloses a system and method for playback of audio signals though a large variety of headphone devices. To optimize playback, the specific headphone device is identified so the proper amplifier gain and equalization settings can be applied. Such identification is determined by measuring the headphone impedance as a function of frequency, and comparing the impedance data with data of know devices in a database. Once a match is found, the appropriate audio gain and equalization settings can be applied. |
| US09124971B2 |
Audio signal processing circuit for reducing zero crossing distortion and method thereof
An audio signal processing circuit includes an encoding circuit, a first audio conversion circuit, and a second audio conversion circuit. The encoding circuit receives pulse coded modulation signals and generates a first audio signal and a second audio signal accordingly. The first audio conversion circuit generates a first pulse width modulation (PWM) signal according to consecutive values of the first audio signal for configuring a first power stage circuit. The second audio conversion circuit generates a second PWM signal according to consecutive values of the second audio signal for configuring a second power stage circuit. The pulse width of the first PWM signal is configured to be substantially equal to the pulse width of the second PWM signal, and the pulse edges of the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal are configured to be separated by a predetermined time interval to mute the audio signal processing circuit. |
| US09124969B2 |
Loudspeaker rigging system having upwardly extending connecting links
A loudspeaker rigging system having upwardly extending connecting links comprises splay adjustment and pivot links slidingly disposed in splay adjustment and pivot link stowing channels in a frame structure for the sides of a loudspeaker in a stack of loudspeakers, the splay adjustment and pivot links upwardly movable from stowed to linking positions, in the linking position the splay adjustment and pivot links linkable with locking pin holes in the bottom of the frame structure of a superjacent loudspeaker, the splay adjustment link having a plurality of splay angle slots of various lengths, the splay angle slots aligned with a plurality of splay angle selection pin holes in the frame structure, such that upon insertion of a linking pin in a selected splay angle selection pin hole and corresponding aligned splay angle slot the splay angle link may be raised upward to a selected splay angle. |
| US09124965B2 |
Adaptive system for managing a plurality of microphones and speakers
Methods and systems are provided for adaptively managing a plurality of microphones and speakers in an electronic device. A mode of operation of the electronic device may be determined, and operation of at least one speaker may be managed, based on the determined mode of operation. The managing may comprise adaptively switching or modifying functions of the at least one speaker. For example, the at least one speaker may be configured to act as microphone or as vibration detector. Input obtained using the at least one speaker may be utilized in optimizing audio related functions, such as noise reduction and/or acoustic echo canceling. |
| US09124962B2 |
Wind noise suppressor, semiconductor integrated circuit, and wind noise suppression method
In a wind noise suppressor, a divider divides the frequency band an input sound into a first frequency band having a possibility that wind noise is included and a second frequency band having a frequency higher than a frequency of the first frequency band, a calculator calculates a probability that the input sound includes wind noise from feature parameters of a sound in the first frequency band, a suppressor suppresses wind noise included in the first frequency band in accordance with an intensity calculated from the probability, and an adder mixes and outputs the sound in the second frequency band divided by the divider and the sound in the first frequency band by which wind noise is suppressed by the suppressor. |
| US09124961B2 |
Control device for driving multi-function speaker by using digital mixing scheme and related control method thereof
A control device and an associated method for driving a multi-function speaker supporting a plurality of predetermined functions including at least an audio function and a non-audio function includes a digital signal mixing block and a digital-to-analog block. The digital signal mixing block is arranged for receiving a plurality of digital input signals corresponding to the predetermined functions, respectively, and generating a digital mixed signal according to the digital input signals. The digital-to-analog block is coupled to the digital signal mixing block, for generating an analog driving signal to the multi-function speaker according to the digital mixed signal. |
| US09124957B1 |
System and method for dynamic multifactor routing
A system for selecting communication routes based on multiple criteria is disclosed. The system can dynamically update route ranking criteria without loading new data tables. Further, the system can be implemented in the context of a route ranking system that provides a list of routes for processing or completing a call. The list of routes can be generated in a ranked order to facilitate attempts to route the call based on the predefined routing criteria. Further, the route ranking system can determine the list of routes based on one or more criteria including, for example, margins, call type, and vendor ratings, to name a few. Advantageously, modifications can be made to values associated with the routing criteria without requiring the loading of new tables associated with the routing criteria. These modifications can be associated with an expiration condition thereby enabling increased flexibility in determining the list of routes. |
| US09124955B2 |
Vehicle driver monitor and a method for monitoring a driver
A method and a monitor for monitoring a driver of a vehicle, the monitor includes: multiple sensors coupled to at least one vehicle element or integrated with at least one vehicle element; a processor for: receiving physiological information relating to the driver from the multiple sensors; detecting, based on the physiological information, a health problem of the driver, an awareness level of the driver and a stress level of the driver; determining a selected action to be performed based on the detection, wherein the action is selected from a list consisting of: establishing a call to a remote assistance site, transmitting the physiological information to a remote assistance site, generating an audio alert, and generating a visual alert; and assisting in a completion of the selected action. |
| US09124952B2 |
Virtualization based conditional access tuner module for providing secure linear and non-linear content services
A virtualized, general-purpose computer or consumer electronics (CE) device is provided with and hosts a plug-in module for securely accessing various content services. These modules are referred to as content personalization portable on demand storage units (content personalization PODs). |
| US09124951B2 |
Data tunneling via closed captioning
An example apparatus that processes DTVCC data has a demultiplexer that extracts DTVCC data packets from a DTV signal. A parser parses the DTVCC data packets by: passing normal DTVCC data to a CC decoder; detecting ancillary data in the DTVCC data packets; and separating the ancillary data from the DTVCC data for output to an ancillary data process. An apparatus that processes DTVCC data has an ancillary data packager that packages data ancillary to DTV data for insertion into the DTVCC data packets. A DTVCC data packager receives CC data into DTVCC data packets and packages the ancillary data together with the DTVCC data into DTVCC data packets. A multiplexer multiplexes the DTVCC data packets from the DTVCC data packager with non-CCDTV data to produce DTV signal data. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. |
| US09124948B2 |
Systems and methods for defining ad spaces in video
Computer-implemented systems and methods are provided for defining ad space in a video. For example, a computer can receive an identification of a video and an advertisement space definition that includes a time stamp for the advertisement space in the video and an advertisement length. The computer can receive a request to view the video. The computer can determine an advertisement to play in the advertisement space such that the advertisement is not longer than the advertisement length included in the video's advertisement space definition. The computer can provide access to the video, and when the video reaches the time stamp, the advertisement is played in the advertisement space. |
| US09124943B2 |
System for provisioning media services
A system for monitoring order fulfillment of telecommunication services is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a monitoring system having a controller element that submits a correlation ID to a service orchestration system (SOS) that manages one or more order fulfillment systems (OFSs) that collectively fulfill a select one of a plurality of telecommunication service orders according to a plurality of intermediate fulfillment steps, receives from the SOS information associated with the plurality of intermediate fulfillment steps tagged with the correlation ID, records said information according to the correlation ID, and collects correlated fulfillment activity for the plurality of telecommunication service orders from a plurality of iterations of the foregoing steps. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09124942B2 |
System and method for mapping potential internet protocol television interference
A method is disclosed for determining a mitigation strategy to limit a potential source of interference on an Internet Protocol television (IPTV) system. A new user installation request is received at a server in the IPTV system. A first geographical location of a customer premises associated with the new user installation request is received. A second geographical location of an amplitude modulation broadcasting facility is received. A first distance between the first geographical location and the second geographical location is determined. A first signal transmission power rating for the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility is retrieved from a database. A first mitigation strategy causing filters to filter an IPTV signal according to a frequency range associated with the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility to limit a first interference on the IPTV signal provided to the first geographical location when the first distance is less than the first threshold distance is determined. |
| US09124941B2 |
Distributed TV access system
Distributed navigation of broadcast signals is provided through an on-line application connected through a second network connection. A customer receives the broadcast signals through a first network connection, and navigates the broadcast TV content through an on-line application by a browser connected through a second network connection. The present on-line application provides flexible and re-configurable content services, which will need to be customized once for each service provider, but will render consistently on a variety of PC and non-PC client devices. Further, the present on-line application can provide targeted advertising by maintaining an advertising profile for each viewer, determined in part by recording data about the navigating of the content of the broadcast signals, and by recording a plurality of selections of the viewer transmitted to the on-line application. The on-line capability further provides ease for roaming access. |
| US09124939B2 |
Image output apparatus, measurement assistance system, image output controller, and image outputting method
The image output apparatus includes an output unit that outputs content data indicating video content, and a control unit that controls the output unit to cause the output unit to output image data instead of or together with the content data when the output unit is outputting the content data. The image data is for prompting a user to measure to obtain the body information indicating a body condition of the user using an external apparatus. |
| US09124938B2 |
Virtual channel table for a broadcast protocol and method of broadcasting and receiving broadcast signals using the same
A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel. |
| US09124933B1 |
Method and system for detecting unauthorized use of a set top box using expected terrestrial signal identification
A system and method for determining unauthorized use of a set top box includes a terrestrial signal determination module in the set top box that receives terrestrial signals from a terrestrial source comprising terrestrial signal identifiers. A memory in the set top box stores expected terrestrial signal identifiers for a location of the user device. The user device also includes a comparison module comparing the received terrestrial signal identifier to the location-based terrestrial signal identifiers and a disable module disabling the user device from receiving satellite signals in response to comparing. |
| US09124932B2 |
Systems and methods for contextually linking television program information
The present invention provides systems and methods for providing television schedule information to a viewer, and for allowing the viewer to link, search, select and interact with information in a remote database, e.g., a database on the internet. The television schedule information can be displayed on a variety of viewer interfaces, such as televisions screens, computer monitors, PCTV screens and the like. The television schedule information may be stored on the viewer's computer, television, PCTV, or a remote server (e.g., a website), or the television schedule information may be downloaded from a remote database to the viewer's computer, television or PCTV. |
| US09124930B2 |
In-circuit security system and methods for controlling access to and use of sensitive data
The invention disclosed herein is an in-circuit security system for electronic devices. The in-circuit security system incorporates identity credential verification, secure data and instruction storage, and secure data transmission capabilities. It comprises a single semiconductor chip, and is secured using industry-established mechanisms for preventing information tampering or eavesdropping, such as the addition of oxygen reactive layers. This invention also incorporates means for establishing security settings, profiles, and responses for the in-circuit security system and enrolled individuals. The in-circuit security system can be used in a variety of electronic devices, including handheld computers, secure facility keys, vehicle operation/ignition systems, and digital rights management. |
| US09124924B2 |
Multi-transport stream (TS) generating apparatus and method, and digital broadcasting transmission and reception apparatuses and methods
A multi-transport stream (TS) generating apparatus and method, and digital broadcasting transmission and reception apparatuses and method are provided. The multi-TS generating apparatus includes an adaptor to generate an adaptation field in some packets of a normal stream; an interleaver to interleave the normal stream; a turbo processor to turbo-code a plurality of turbo streams; a stuffer to generate a multi-TS by stuffing the plurality of the turbo streams into the adaptation field; and a deinterleaver to deinterleave the multi-TS. Accordingly, the plurality of the turbo streams can be transmitted far more easily. |
| US09124913B2 |
Wireless communication device and wireless communication method
As a parameter control unit that controls video encoding parameters regarding video encoding in a video encoding unit and transmission channel parameters regarding error correction coding and modulation in a channel coding/modulation unit so as to be linked to each other, a cross layer rate control unit is provided. The cross layer rate control unit performs variable control of the GOP size according to propagation changes by reducing the GOP size when the amount of change in the predicted value of the PHY transmission rate is larger than a determined amount of change and increasing the GOP size when the amount of change in the predicted value of the PHY transmission rate is equal to or less than the determined amount of change. |
| US09124911B2 |
Storage optimization in a cloud-enabled network-based digital video recorder
This disclosure describes systems and methods related to cloud-enabled network-based digital video recording. In some embodiments, a request to copy a file to a plurality of target file locations may be received. A file may be retrieved and processed. The processing may include apportioning the file into a plurality of data blocks. At least one of the plurality of data blocks may be stored. A plurality of references pointers associated with each of the plurality of data blocks may be generated. The plurality of reference pointers may be stored to each of the plurality of file locations. |
| US09124910B2 |
Systems and methods of processing closed captioning for video on demand content
A method includes receiving closed captioning data at a computing device. The closed captioning data is associated with a video on demand asset and is represented in a first format. The method also includes, during a single video on demand streaming session, converting the closed captioning data from the first format to a platform-independent format and converting the closed captioning data from the platform-independent format to a second format. The method further includes transmitting, during the single video on demand streaming session, the closed captioning data in the second format to a destination device. |
| US09124908B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting media content
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may perform operations including, for example, receiving a plurality of user-generated comments associated with media content where the plurality of user-generated comments are temporally associated with a portion of the media content during a presentation of the media content at a group of communication devices, and identifying from the plurality of user-generated comments a cluster of comments associated with a segment of the media content based on a frequency of the user-generated comments. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09124906B2 |
System and method for simplifying discovery of content availability for a consumer
There is presented a system and method for simplifying discovery of content availability for a consumer. The system comprises a content availability database storing content records accessible through a server, and an aggregator configured to update the content records. The system also comprises a content discovery application configured to display an information pane corresponding to one of the content records according to a data related to the consumer, the information pane including one or more selectable display features indicating the distribution status of a content unit corresponding to the content record. The content discovery application is further configured to receive an input from the consumer selecting one of the selectable display features indicating distribution status and to identify at least one provider of the content unit according to the selected distribution status. |
| US09124903B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding video by using deblocking filtering, and method and apparatus for decoding video by using deblocking filtering
A method and apparatus for encoding video by using deblocking filtering, and a method and apparatus for decoding video by using deblocking filtering are provided. The method of encoding video includes: splitting a picture into a maximum coding unit; determining coding units of coded depths and encoding modes for the coding units of the maximum coding unit by prediction encoding the coding units of the maximum coding unit based on at least one prediction unit and transforming the coding units based on at least one transformation unit, wherein the maximum coding unit is hierarchically split into the coding units as a depth deepens, and the coded depths are depths where the maximum coding unit is encoded in the coding units; and performing deblocking filtering on video data being inversely transformed into a spatial domain in the coding units, in consideration of the encoding modes. |
| US09124902B2 |
Method and device for interpolating images by using a smoothing interpolation filter
Provided are a method of interpolating an image by determining interpolation filter coefficients, and an apparatus for performing the same. The method includes: differently selecting an interpolation filter, from among interpolation filters for generating at least one sub-pel-unit pixel value located between integer-pel-unit pixels, based on a sub-pel-unit interpolation location and a smoothness; and generating the at least one sub-pel-unit pixel value by interpolating, using the selected interpolation filter, pixel values of the integer-pel-unit pixels. |
| US09124901B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding/decoding images considering low frequency components
The present disclosure relates to a video encoding/decoding method and apparatus that account for low frequency components. The method includes generating a reconstructed block by performing a predictive encoding on a current block and generating encoded image data, and generating encoded low frequency data by encoding a low frequency component of an error block generated through subtraction of the reconstructed block from the current block, thereby improving the compression efficiency while reducing blocking effects due to transform and quantization operations by encoding images accounting for low frequency components. |
| US09124898B2 |
Method and apparatus of temporal motion vector prediction
An apparatus and method for motion vector prediction for a current block in a picture are disclosed. In video coding systems, the spatial and temporal redundancy is exploited using spatial and temporal prediction to reduce the information to be transmitted. Motion Vector Prediction (MVP) has been used to further conserve the bitrate associated with motion vector. In conventional temporal MVP, the predictor is often based on a single candidate such as the co-located motion vector in the previous frame/picture. If the co-located motion vector in the previous frame/picture does not exist, the predictor for the current block is not available. A technique for improved MVP is disclosed where the MVP utilized multiple candidates based on co-located motion vectors from future and/or past reference pictures. The candidates are arranged according to priority order to provide better availability of MVP and also to provide more accurate prediction. Furthermore, the MVP technique disclosed can be operated in a closed-loop fashion so that no additional side information or minimum additional side information is required. |
| US09124895B2 |
Video coding with network abstraction layer units that include multiple encoded picture partitions
A video encoder generates a Network Abstraction Layer (NAL) unit that contains a plurality of encoded picture partitions of the video data. The video encoder generates a bitstream that includes a variable-length value that represents an entropy-encoded first syntax element, a variable-length value that represents an entropy-encoded second syntax element, and fixed-length values that represent offset syntax elements. Lengths of each of the offset syntax elements are determinable based on the first syntax element. A video decoder uses the first syntax element, the second syntax element, and the offset syntax elements when decoding the encoded picture partitions. |
| US09124894B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding video by compensating for pixel value according to pixel groups, and method and apparatus for decoding video by the same
Provided are a method and apparatus of encoding a video by compensating for a pixel value and a method and apparatus of decoding a video by compensating for a pixel value. The method of encoding the video includes: encoding image data; decoding the encoded image data and generating a restored image by performing loop filtering on the decoded image data; determining a compensation value corresponding to errors between a predetermined group restored pixels in the restored image and corresponding original pixels, and a pixel group including a restored pixel to be compensated for by using the compensation value; and encoding the compensation value and transmitting the encoded compensation value and a bitstream of the encoded image data. |
| US09124886B2 |
Motion picture encoding device and motion picture decoding device
When a prediction is made between fields with different parity, the predicative efficiency of a chrominance vector is improved by adaptively switching the generation of a chrominance motion vector depending on a encoding/decoding field parity (top/bottom) and a reference field parity (top/bottom), and the coding efficiency is improved accordingly. |
| US09124882B2 |
3D glasses, display apparatus and control method thereof
A display apparatus switching between a two-dimensional (2D) display mode and a three-dimensional (3D) display mode is provided. The display apparatus includes: an imaging device configured to capture an image a pair of 3D glasses worn by a user to view an image displayed in the 3D display mode, wherein the 3D glasses are switchable between a plurality of different states; a transmitter/emitter module configured to remotely control the 3D glasses so as to switch the states of the 3D glasses; and a controller configured to determine whether the user is wearing the 3D glasses based on a state of the 3D glasses in the image captured by the imaging device, and to control the display apparatus to operate in the 3D display mode when it is determined that the user is wearing the 3D glasses. |
| US09124879B2 |
System for proactively troubleshooting set top box issues
A system for proactively troubleshooting set top box issues may include a media distribution network with a remote requesting device and a programming guide server. The programming guide server may be configured to identify a guide data retrieval profile of the requesting device, compare the guide data retrieval profile to an expected profile, and flag the requesting device for troubleshooting based on a lack of correspondence between the retrieval profile and the expected profile. Additionally methods for discovering related devices, predicting that the related devices also require troubleshooting, and limiting restorative measures to only those devices that have been confirmed to be affected by a service issue may also be implemented by the system. |
| US09124877B1 |
Methods for acquiring stereoscopic images of a location
The present invention provides new and improved methods for acquiring stereoscopic image data and, in particular, stereoscopic images of a location. Some of the benefits of these methods include acquiring by a single user, without producing one or more substantially abrupt transitions in or between respective views or images, or capability for interactive adjustment of image aspects including interpupillary distance and convergence. The invention is capable of producing high resolution, real-time image data while avoiding or mitigating the deleterious effects of spurious parallax. |
| US09124873B2 |
System and method for finding correspondence between cameras in a three-dimensional vision system
This invention provides a system and method for determining correspondence between camera assemblies in a 3D vision system implementation having a plurality of cameras arranged at different orientations with respect to a scene involving microscopic and near microscopic objects under manufacture moved by a manipulator, so as to acquire contemporaneous images of a runtime object and determine the pose of the object for the purpose of guiding manipulator motion. At least one of the camera assemblies includes a non-perspective lens. The searched 2D object features of the acquired non-perspective image, corresponding to trained object features in the non-perspective camera assembly can be combined with the searched 2D object features in images of other camera assemblies, based on their trained object features to generate a set of 3D features and thereby determine a 3D pose of the object. |
| US09124872B2 |
Coefficient groups and coefficient coding for coefficient scans
Techniques are described for a video coder (e.g., video encoder or video decoder) that is configured to select a context pattern from a plurality of context patterns that are the same for a plurality of scan types. Techniques are also described for a video coder that is configured to select a context pattern that is stored as a one-dimensional context pattern and identifies contexts for two or more scan types. |
| US09124871B2 |
Image decoding method, image coding method, image decoding device and image coding device
An image coding method is provided for coding, on a per-block basis, pictures each including slices. The method involves estimating a current motion vector which is a motion vector of a current block to be coded and specifies a reference block included in a reference picture; generating a prediction image block by allocating a value of an inside pixel to an outside pixel, the inside pixel being a pixel located inside an associated slice, the outside pixel being a pixel located outside the associated slice and included in the reference block specified by the current motion vector, and the associated slice being a slice included in the reference picture and corresponding to a current slice to be coded which includes the current block; subtracting the prediction image block from the current block to generate a difference image block; and coding the current motion vector and the difference image block. |
| US09124868B2 |
3D encoding apparatus
A 3D encoding apparatus encodes an input image and generates and outputs a three dimensional stream including a basic stream and an extended stream including a plurality of image groups. A 3D encoding apparatus includes a setter that sets a specific delay value for each image group based on the a first delay value as a delay value of the basic stream and a second delay value as a delay value of the three dimensional stream. The setter sets the specific delay value to a value not more than smaller one of the first delay value and the second delay value. The first virtual buffer and the second virtual buffer perform the buffer simulation for n+1th image group based on information about the specific delay value of the nth image group set by the setter in the basic stream and three dimensional stream. |
| US09124863B2 |
Device and method for creating multi-view video contents using parallel processing
A device for creating multi-view video contents includes a virtual view position and distribution unit that calculates a plurality of virtual views corresponding to the number of predetermined virtual views based on input information and distributes the calculated positions of the plurality of virtual views to a plurality of view synthesis processing units; a view synthesis processor that operates the plurality of view synthesis processing units in parallel, allows each of the view synthesis processing units to create at least one virtual view video corresponding to a position of at least one virtual view distributed from the virtual view position calculation and distribution unit, and performs partial multiplexing based on at least one created virtual view video; and a video integration unit that integrates a plurality of partially multiplexed videos output from the plurality of view synthesis processing units. |
| US09124862B2 |
Field/frame adaptive decoding with field/frame index
A moving picture coding method for coding a picture with switching between frame coding and field coding adaptively on a block-by-block basis includes: determining the maximum number of reference indices for field coding for specifying fields which are to be referred to at the time of field coding, using the maximum number of reference indices for frame coding for specifying frames which are to be referred to at the time of frame coding; and assigning to fields the reference indices for field coding for specifying fields which are to be referred to at the time of field coding, within a range of the determined maximum number thereof, using the reference indices for frame coding for specifying frames which are to be referred to at the time of frame coding. |
| US09124858B2 |
Content processing apparatus for processing high resolution content and content processing method thereof
A content processing apparatus is provided, which includes an inputter configured to receive an input of high resolution content, a data processor configured to generate video frames by processing the high resolution content, and a controller configured to control the data processor to configure an object that corresponds to the high resolution content as an object for low resolution and to add the object to the video frame if an output resolution of a display panel to display the video frames is a low resolution. |
| US09124856B2 |
Method and system for video event detection for contextual annotation and synchronization
Described herein are methods and systems for video event detection for contextual annotation and synchronization. Exemplary embodiments relate to a method comprising receiving a video stream, extracting a first event from the video stream, determining an index value identifying a location within the video stream corresponding to the first event, and inserting content based on the first event at a location identified by the index value. Further exemplary embodiments relate to a system comprising an event-based data extractor that receives a video stream and extracts a first event from the video stream, a processor that determines an index value identifying a location within the video stream corresponding to the first event, and a video insertion module inserts content based on the first event at a location identified by the index value. |
| US09124855B2 |
Method and apparatus for video stream processing
A method and apparatus for video stream processing is implemented in a monitor scaler chip (MSC). The MSC receives the video stream and determines whether the video stream includes copy protected content. The MSC routes the video stream based upon the determination. |
| US09124852B2 |
System and methodology for utilizing a portable media player
A low-cost portable digital video player receives proprietary compressed data from a source such as a personal video recorder (PVR), and displays the data on an integral display. A rewritable non-volatile memory of the player stores the data and a media decoder of the player transforms and decompresses the data. According to one embodiment the decoder transforms the data to a non-proprietary format, prior to storing the data. According to a second embodiment, the memory stores the data in the proprietary format, and decoder transforms and decompresses the data in response to an instruction from a user input device, and transfers the decoded data to a display. A cradle for the player provides communications to the PVR, a power supply and optionally further storage capacity. |
| US09124843B2 |
Device management system, peripheral device, and method therefor for managing device information of a peripheral device
The present invention relates to a device management system including a peripheral device, a management server configured to manage device information of the peripheral device, and a terminal communicable with the management server. In the device management system, the management server registers key obtaining information received from the terminal while associating the key obtaining information with device identification information of the peripheral device and an authentication key managed by the management server. The management server determines whether the key obtaining information, from the terminal, that is registered while being associated with the device identification information contained in an obtaining request received from the peripheral device matches the key obtaining information contained in the received obtaining request. |
| US09124839B2 |
Image processing apparatus and pixel interpolation method
A color separating unit separates a color image into plural color components to generate images of respective colors. A periodicity determining unit determines, for each of the color images, whether an image region including a target pixel whose pixel value is to be interpolated is a periodic region in which pixel values vary periodically. A first generating unit generates pixel values of the respective colors of a pixel using a first interpolation method. A second generating unit generates pixel values of the respective colors of a pixel using a second interpolation method. A control unit determines which one of the first and second generating units is to be used for generating pixel values of the respective colors of the target pixel. A pixel value combining unit combines candidate pixel values which are the pixel values of the respective colors of the target pixel to calculate a combined pixel value. |
| US09124828B1 |
Apparatus and methods using a fly's eye lens system for the production of high dynamic range images
Apparatus and methods for simultaneously producing multiple images of a subject are provided. The multiple images include images having different light intensity ranges that can be combined into a single image with a high dynamic range (HDR). The apparatus include a fly's eye lens system and at least one optical sensor. |
| US09124827B2 |
Image-capturing apparatus having a control unit to vary a variable sensitivity voltage based on an output level of image-captured data
An image-capturing apparatus including a solid-state imaging device including unit-cells arranged in a matrix, in which each of the unit-cells includes a photoelectric conversion unit including: a photoelectric conversion film formed above a semiconductor substrate; a pixel electrode formed on a surface of the photoelectric conversion film, the surface facing the semiconductor substrate; and a transparent electrode formed on a surface of the photoelectric conversion film, the surface being opposite the surface on which the pixel electrode is formed, and the image-capturing apparatus further includes: a voltage applying unit which applies, between the pixel electrode and the transparent electrode, a variable sensitivity voltage for controlling sensitivity of the solid-state imaging device; a level detecting unit which detects an output level of image-captured image data from the solid-state imaging device; and a controlling unit which varies the variable sensitivity voltage based on the output level detected by the level detecting unit. |
| US09124824B2 |
Pixel design with temporal analysis capabilities for scene interpretation
Disclosed is a sensor device with pixels that in addition to sensing an image, performs captured image or scene analysis. The device saves further image processing downstream, is characterized by minimal charge movements and reduces a large fraction (about 90%) of the consumed electric energy as compared to the existing devices. |
| US09124823B2 |
Image sensor with fast intra-frame focus
A method of focusing an image sensor includes scanning a first portion of an image frame from an image sensor a first time at a first rate to produce first focus data. A second portion of the image frame from the image sensor is scanned at a second rate to read image data from the second portion. The first rate is greater than the second rate. The first portion of the image frame is scanned a second time at the first rate to produce second focus data. The first focus data and the second focus data are compared, and the focus of a lens is adjusted in response to the comparison of the first focus data and the second focus data. |
| US09124822B2 |
Solid-state image pickup device, method of manufacturing solid-state image pickup device, and electronic apparatus
Disclosed herein is a solid-state image pickup device including a solid-state image pickup element operable to produce an electric charge according to the amount of light received, a lens disposed on the upper side of a pixel of the solid-state image pickup element, a protective film which covers the upper side of the lens and a surface of which is flattened, and a surface film which is formed at the surface of the protective film and which is higher in hydrophilicity than the inside of the protective film. |
| US09124821B2 |
Communication apparatus and communication method
A communication apparatus includes a communication control section and an information acquiring communication control section. When the communication apparatus serving as a destination causes an error requiring repair, the destination communication apparatus determines a processing executable time from an estimated repair period indicated by a maintenance notice acquired by issuing to a maintenance system a maintenance call requesting the repair and sends back to the communication apparatus serving as a source having made a connection request temporal inexecutability information indicating that the destination communication apparatus is temporarily unable to execute a connection processing required by the connection request and containing the processing executable time when the destination communication apparatus becomes able to execute the connection processing. |
| US09124820B2 |
Content-based security processing using distributed scan management protocols
A method and apparatus is provided for processing acquired document data, using distributed scan management protocols, according to a security classification of the data. A scanning device through which the document data is acquired includes a distributed scan management service that implements a distributed scan device protocol and a distributed scan processing protocol. In embodiments of the invention, the distributed scan device protocol and the distributed scan processing protocol are implemented using Web services. The distributed scan management service is configured to receive information for post scan processing instructions. The scanning device also includes a scan service configured to scan a document and generate scan data based on the document scan. The scanning device further includes a security handler service that is configured to identify a security classification for the scan data, and perform one or more actions, associated with the security classification, for the scan data. |
| US09124813B2 |
Information processing device using compression ratio of still and moving image data
The server device draws a processing result from software in an image memory, detects an update area containing an update between frames in the image, performs still image compression, and calculates the compression ratio of still image compressed data in the update area. The server device identifies a high-frequency change area, performs moving image compression, and calculates the compression ratio of moving image compressed data. The server device transmits the still image compressed data and the moving image compressed data. The server device stops the moving image compression based on the result of comparing the compression ratio of the moving image compressed data and a compression ratio of still image compressed data in a previous update area is the update area in a previous frame detected before the start of the moving image compression and has been detected at a position associated with the high-frequency change area. |
| US09124812B2 |
Object image capture apparatus and method
Disclosed herein is an object image capture apparatus. The object image capture apparatus includes a first camera unit, a second camera unit, and a control unit. The first camera unit obtains a wide-area view image by capturing a wide-area view region. The second camera unit obtains a close-up view image by capturing the close-up view region of the wide-area view region. The control unit controls the second camera unit by dividing the wide-area view image into a plurality of blocks, analyzing the resulting blocks, and defining a target block, in which a moving object is detected, as a close-up view region from among the plurality of blocks. |
| US09124808B2 |
Foveated imaging system and method
A time-varying image is synthesized having at least one time-varying region of interest therewithin. The image is spatially modulated with an array of modulating pixels to form a modulated image. The array of modulating pixels has a modulator resolution. The modulated image is sensed with an array of sensor pixels. The array of sensor pixels has a sensor resolution. The modulator resolution is finer than the sensor resolution. Each sensor pixel corresponds to a plurality of modulating pixels. Said sensor pixel and said plurality of modulating pixels subtend the same region in the image. Outside the region of interest, the modulated image is synthesized at the sensor resolution and at a sensor video frame rate. Inside the region of interest, the modulated image is synthesized at the modulator resolution and at an effective synthesized video frame rate that is less than sensor video frame rate. |
| US09124802B2 |
Digital 3D/360 degree camera system
The digital 3D/360° camera system is an omnidirectional stereoscopic device for capturing image data that may be used to create a 3-dimensional model for presenting a 3D image, a 3D movie, or 3D animation. The device uses multiple digital cameras, arranged with overlapping fields of view, to capture image data covering an entire 360° scene. The data collected by one, or several, digital 3D/360° camera systems can be used to create a 3D model of a 360° scene by using triangulation of the image data within the overlapping fields of view. |
| US09124799B2 |
Focus adjustment apparatus with a size detector
In a focus position control apparatus, a control unit performs, when a size changing amount of an object image is larger than a predetermined amount during control for driving a focus lens according to a distance change of an object image in an optical axis direction based on a determination result of a determination unit, a following driving operation corresponding to the distance change as a driving control, and limits the following driving operation corresponding to the distance change when the size changing amount of the object image smaller than the predetermined amount. The predetermined amount is changed according to an imaging parameter and an object status. |
| US09124794B2 |
Method and apparatus for capturing image in portable terminal
The present disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for capturing an image in a portable terminal. Upon receiving an image for preview and an image for capture simultaneously by a camera module, the controller simultaneously outputs the image for the preview and the image for the capture to a main controller during a simultaneous output mode. The received image for the preview is displayed and stored for a predetermined time period for a subsequent retrieval, so that when a capture key is pressed to capture a target object, the stored image corresponding to a time point at which the capture key is activated is retrieved and stored. |
| US09124792B2 |
Microphone and camera disruption apparatus and method
An apparatus for use with an electronic device having a microphone and a camera. The apparatus comprises a structure configured to detachably couple to the device, and a shutter supported by the structure and comprising a lens shutter configured to obscure a lens of the camera when in an engaged position. A generator is supported by the structure and configured to generate a force that acts on the microphone and renders the microphone unresponsive to voice sounds. |
| US09124788B2 |
Spherical camera
Provided is a spherical camera, including a first shell, a second shell, and a first waterproof ring installed at the joint of the first shell and the second shell; the first shell comprises a first rotating shaft; the second shell comprises a second rotating shaft; the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft fit with an support bracket for installing the spherical camera, to allow the spherical camera to rotate to different areas to acquire images; the first waterproof ring is a planar closed-loop waterproof ring; the combination surface between the first shell and the second shell is a plane, and the combination plane passes through the sphere center of the spherical camera. |
| US09124786B1 |
Projecting content onto semi-persistent displays
Described herein are systems and techniques for periodically projecting content onto a display medium that is configured to display images for a finite amount of time, during which time the images decay until the image substantially or entirely disappears from the display medium. That is, the systems and techniques may project light onto the display medium, with the light energizing particles of the display medium to display a predefined image. |
| US09124785B2 |
Method for receiving low-resolution and high-resolution images and device therefor
The method includes receiving an image of a subject via a lens of a camera, generating low-resolution images and high-resolution images repeatedly from the camera in response to a focus adjustment command inputted at a first timing point, displaying the low-resolution images as a preview image of the subject on a display, and storing at least one of the generated high-resolution images to be stored as a photo file of the subject in a memory in response to a photograph-taking command inputted at a second timing point behind the first timing point. |
| US09124784B2 |
Decreasing power requirements for an output signal based on persistence of perception characteristics
A system for decreasing output power required to produce an output signal based on persistence of perception characteristics. The system includes a circuit configured to receive a perception signal at an input. The circuit is also configured to output a portion of the input perception signal when the circuit is receiving power output a zero amplitude signal when the circuit is not receiving power. The system also includes a switch configured to provide power to the circuit for a first interval of time and cut power to the circuit for a second interval of time contiguous to the first interval of time. |
| US09124783B2 |
Method and system for automated labeling at scale of motion-detected events in video surveillance
A method and system are provided for automated labeling at scale of motion-detected events in video surveillance imagery that may be private to and viewable only by the owner of that imagery. Further provided are processing, organization, and archival aspects related to such automated labeling at scale. |
| US09124782B2 |
Movie ticket vending system and hand-held electronic device and method thereof
A movie ticket vending system, a hand-held electronic device and a method thereof. The movie ticket vending system includes a server and a handheld electronic device. A plurality of pieces of picture information and a plurality of pieces of service information are stored in the server. The handheld electronic device comprises a camera module, a transmitting module, a processing module and a positioning navigation module. The camera module captures a poster image. The transmitting module uploads the poster image to the server and the server compares the poster image with the plurality of pieces of picture information. The transmission module receives information corresponding to the poster image. The processing module receives a confirm signal to generate a navigation signal corresponding to the service information received by the transmission module. The GPS module generates a navigation route to guide a user to the cinema showing the corresponding movie. |
| US09124780B2 |
Methods and apparatus for tracking motion and/or orientation of a marking device
Marking material is dispensed onto a target surface using a marking device, and one or more images are captured by one or more camera systems attached to the marking device. The image(s) is/are analyzed to determine tracking information indicative of the a motion or an orientation of the marking device. The tracking information is analyzed to determine marking information relating to the dispensed marking material. In one example, the image(s) is/are analyzed to obtain an optical flow plot indicative of a path on the target surface traversed by the marking device. One or more reference plots respectively representing a plurality of reference marking patterns are compared to one or more portions of the optical flow plot to identify at least one reference marking pattern that substantially matches the portion(s) of the optical flow plot. |
| US09124776B2 |
Systems and methods for documenting electronic medical records related to anesthesia
A system that displays a user interface for medical personnel to monitor and/or control the delivery medications such as anesthesia to a patient during a medical procedure. The system may gather patient data and other information from one or more patient monitors, one or more remote patient record information systems, one or more remote medical databases, and analyze various data to provide information for or to enable control of the administration of at least one medication or drug to a patient during a medical procedure such as an operation. |
| US09124770B2 |
Method and system for prevention of control word sharing
A method and system of preventing control word sharing, the method and system including receiving a temporal key, denoted TKi, at a removable security element, receiving an entitlement control message (ECM), the ECM including a control word derivable by the removable security element, deriving the control word from the ECM at the removable security element, combining at least the control word and a value associated with an ID of the removable security element, thereby producing combined control word and removable security element ID data, encrypting the combined control word and removable security element ID data according to an encryption function, wherein the encrypting includes using TKi as an encryption key, and at a time after a removable security element interface has received TKi, but prior to a start of a crypto period with which the control word is associated, sending the encrypted combined control word and removable security element ID data to the removable security element interface. Related apparatus, methods and systems are also described. |
| US09124768B2 |
Portable electronic entity capable of receiving broadcast multimedia data flow
A portable electronic entity includes a communication interface (110) with a host terminal (TH), a conversion system (170) for a signal received in a secure multimedia data flow and an element to transmit to the host terminal a flow of multimedia data obtained from the secure multimedia data flow. It also includes systems (160) capable of allowing host terminal restitution of the multimedia data flow that was transmitted. |
| US09124763B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing both audio/video visitation and VOIP telephonic visitation originated either by an inmate or by an outside visitor directly between inmates of a prison and an outside visitor without need of intervention by prison personnel
An Internet-based audio/video and VoIP telephone visitation system for prisons wherein audio/video and VoIP visitation may be originated by either an inmate or an outside visitor. An inmate uses an individual portable electronic device in his/her possession to communicate exclusively with the visitation system. Through the visitation system video messages, video visitations, and VoIP telecommunications may be exchanged between the inmate and a registered visitor having an Internet-enabled device. Communication requires no endpoint control by prison personnel. All communications may be subject to intervention, recordation, and monitoring by prison personnel. Payment for services is prepaid by visitors using an on-line payment service eliminating involvement of prison personnel. All non-privileged calls are recorded. All calls may be monitored. A fee-per-minute is charged. Time is tracked for each call. The call duration and time remaining for a call may be displayed for both the visitor and the inmate. |
| US09124759B2 |
Reproduction apparatus
A reproduction apparatus includes a reproduction unit configured to reproduce a moving image signal from a recording medium, a reception unit configured to receive an instruction for switching between a normal reproduction mode and a highlight reproduction mode for reproducing a plurality of highlight reproduction periods in the moving image signal recorded in the recording medium, and a control unit configured to determine a reproduction start position of the moving image signal in response to the reception of the instruction for switching to the normal reproduction mode during reproduction of the moving image signal in the highlight reproduction mode, and control the reproduction unit to reproduce the moving image signal in the normal reproduction mode from the determined reproduction start position. The control unit determines a head position for the highlight reproduction period which includes a reproduction position of the moving image signal when the switching to the normal reproduction mode is instructed, as the reproduction start position. |
| US09124755B2 |
Apparatus and method for compressive imaging and sensing through multiplexed modulation
Compressive imaging apparatus employing multiple modulators in various optical schemes to generate the modulation patterns before the signal is recorded at a detector. The compressive imaging apparatus is equally valid when applying compressive imaging to structured light embodiments where the placement is shifted from the acquisition path between the subject and the detector into the illumination path between the source and the subject to be imaged. |
| US09124752B2 |
Activation of functions in a multi-functional apparatus on demand
Systems, apparatuses and methods are provide to allow a multi-functional apparatus to be configured on user side, as needed. Functions are activated on demand, and user is charged an amount corresponding to the functions and/or settings that the user requests. |
| US09124749B2 |
Image forming apparatus and execution method thereof
In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises an interface, a storage section configured to store identification information, and a control section. The interface is configured to carry out data transmission/reception with an external device. The control section is configured to control the interface, generate the identification information, store the identification information in the storage section, and send the identification information to the external device. In addition, when the identification information which is stored in the storage section exists in information received from the interface, the control section carries out an image forming operation, and does not carry out the image forming operation when the identification information does not exist. |
| US09124742B2 |
Image reading device
Provided is a structure capable of preventing shaking of an image reading unit (1) during movement at low cost. A first contact portion (T1) between the image reading unit (1) and a guide shaft (2A) supports force (F1) acting in a gravity direction and force (F2) acting in a horizontal direction in the case where the image reading unit (1) moves in a predetermined direction. In this case, the first contact portion is arranged so as to satisfy F1>F2×tan θ1, where θ1 represents an angle formed by a perpendicular line (γ) with respect to a tangential plane (β) of the guide shaft (2A) and the horizontal direction. Thus, the image reading unit (1) can be prevented from being lifted due to rotation moment during movement. |
| US09124740B2 |
Reproduction of touch operation in information processing apparatus
An information processing apparatus includes a display unit displaying a screen which accepts a touch operation on the information processing apparatus, a touch operation unit accepting the touch operation, a touch event issuance unit issuing one or more touch events respectively corresponding to one or more touch operations on the touch operation unit, and a gesture control unit capable of performing each of a mode for performing corresponding processing based on the one or more touch events issued by the touch event issuance unit, and a reproduction mode for reproducing the touch event stored beforehand. The gesture control unit is configured to add an operation image indicating the touch operation corresponding to the stored touch event, to a region associated with the touch event in the reproduction mode, and to cause the display unit to display the operation image. |
| US09124737B2 |
Portable device with image sensor and quad-core processor for multi-point focus image capture
A multi-core processor is used in a portable device that has first and second image sensors spaced from each other for capturing images of a scene from slightly different perspectives. The multi-core processor has a first image sensor interface for receiving data from the image sensor, a second image sensor interface for receiving data from the second image sensor, multiple processing units and, the four processing units and the first and second sensor interfaces being integrated onto a single chip. The processing units are configured to simultaneously process the data from the first and second image interfaces to generate stereoscopic image data. |
| US09124736B2 |
Portable hand-held device for displaying oriented images
A portable hand-held device is provided having a network interface for sharing images between the device and a network, an image display for displaying the shared images, an orientation sensor for sensing an orientation of the device, and a processor for processing the displayed images based on the sensed device orientation and outputting the processed images to the image display. |
| US09124730B2 |
Automatic privacy management for image sharing networks
In some examples, a method for managing a captured image is described. The method may include receiving image data that includes image location data regarding where an image is captured. The method may also include receiving device data from a device. The device data may include device location data. The method may also include correlating the device data with the image data. The method may also include modifying the image based on the correlation of the device data and the image data. |
| US09124727B2 |
Peripheral device control system, printing device, peripheral device control method, and program
An application in an image processing apparatus presents information about ink installed in a peripheral device, such as the shape, color, size, arrangement direction, and a remaining ink level of an ink tank, in a visually realistic manner using accurate graphics. The image processing apparatus acquires ink information about, in particular, a remaining ink level, arrangement direction, and the order of the arrangement of the ink tank, and displays the information about the peripheral device in a user interface of the application using the acquired ink information. |
| US09124726B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
A video system, comprising includes a video reproduction device that retrieves a predetermined subset of video and audio data from a server. The video reproduction device then starts reproduction of the video and audio data based on the predetermined subset of video and audio data. The predetermined subset of video and audio data includes sufficient data to cause the video reproduction device to determine that all of the video and audio data has been received and that reproduction can be started. |
| US09124724B2 |
Method, system, and computer program product for tracking and accounting for roaming of mobile devices
Roaming of mobile devices is tracked and accounted for automatically and accurately. Revenue records are received for at least one service provider due to roaming of mobile devices within a geographical area served by the at least one service provider for mobile devices that do not have a subscription for service with the service provider for the geographic area. Expense records are received for the service provider due to roaming of mobile devices within other geographical areas served by at least one other service provider and not served by the at least one service provider. Each of the revenue and expense records is associated with a mobile device and includes a code identifying a service and a geographical area. If the codes are valid, the revenue records and expense records received over a period of time are compiled and summarized. |
| US09124723B2 |
Method and device for data processing in a digital subscriber line environment
A method and a device for data processing in a digital subscriber line environment. A virtual noise level for a digital subscriber line is determined based on measurement information of at least one network element connected to the digital subscriber line. |
| US09124721B2 |
Method for prompting user confirmation
Prompting user confirmation of an action in a display window on a display of a mobile electronic device including displaying a pair of soft key icons, receiving a request to initiate an action from a user and displaying a confirmation message to confirm that a user wishes to proceed with the action. When the confirmation message is displayed, the pair of soft key icons are modified to create a pair of updated soft key icons. The receiving of the request may include detection of a soft key event. The updated soft key icons provide a first response and a second response to the confirmation message for selection by the user. The soft key icons and updated soft key icons may be displayed at the bottom portion of the display in a manner that does not obstruct the display window. |
| US09124719B2 |
Devices, systems and methods for managing custom alpha tags
Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for a subscriber of services on a network to display a custom operator name or alpha tag on the subscriber mobile communications device. The custom alpha tag (or operator name) is selected or defined by the subscriber via an interface on a communications device, and a custom operator name request is submitted to a provisioning logic on the network. The provisioning logic communicates with business rule logic on the network, the business rule logic being configured to retrieve and/or update a first account associated with the subscriber with the custom operator name. A billing logic within a billing subsystem may be invoked to debit a second account associated with the subscriber. A programming logic on the network then updates one or more mobile devices with the custom alpha tag. The several logic units may be part of an Over-the-air (OTA) platform on the network. |
| US09124718B2 |
Media delivery platform
A method of delivering an audio and/or visual media file including, for example, one or more of full or partial master recordings of songs, musical compositions, ringtones, videos, films, television shows, personal recordings, animation and combinations thereof, over the air wirelessly, from one or more servers to an electronic device with or without an Internet connection, said method comprising transmitting and audio and/or visual media file in compressed format to said electronic device, and wherein the electronic device is effective to receive said audio and/or visual file and playback said audio and/or visual content on demand by a user. |
| US09124714B2 |
Information processing device and method, program, and information processing system
An information processing device has a first transmitting unit to connect a first other information processing device and second other information processing device and transmit the content via the connection; a first receiving unit to receive a master request that requests an upgrade to a master from the first other information processing device; a second transmitting unit to transmit the identification information of the first other information processing device to the second information processing device upon receiving the master request; a disconnecting unit to disconnect the connection with the second other information processing device after transmitting the identification information of the first other information processing device; and a second receiving unit to receive content via the connection from the first other information processing device. |
| US09124713B2 |
Mobile terminal capable of controlling various operations using a plurality of display modules and a method of controlling the operation of the mobile terminal
A mobile terminal equipped with first and second display modules provided at the front and the rear, respectively, and a method of controlling the mobile terminal, is provided. The method includes displaying a screen image related to a first operating mode on the first display module, if it is determined that the mobile terminal has been rotated on a predetermined axial direction, switching the mobile terminal from the first operating mode to a second operating mode; and displaying a screen image related to the second operating mode on the second display module. Therefore, it is possible to control various operations performed by the mobile terminal upon the motion of the mobile terminal using the first and second display modules. |
| US09124711B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling built-in microphone of portable terminal
An electronic device and a method implemented in the electronic device are provided. The method includes detecting, by a device detector, whether a wired external device coupled to the electronic device and including a wired external speaker further includes a wired external microphone; providing a signal, by the device detector, indicating whether the wired external device includes the wired external microphone; detecting, by a controller, a call establishment; and operating, by the controller, a built-in microphone to receive a voice sound if the signal from the device detector indicates that the wired external device does not include the wired external microphone and providing a voice signal received from a second electronic device to the wired external device so that the wired external speaker outputs the voice signal, wherein the built-in microphone and a built-in speaker of the electronic device are coupled to the controller via a COder-DECoder (CODEC). |
| US09124710B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling built-in microphone of portable terminal
An apparatus and method for controlling a built-in microphone of a portable terminal is provided. The method includes checking whether a connection device connected to the portable electronic device includes an external microphone; operating the built-in microphone of the portable electronic device to receive a first signal, upon connecting a call, when the connection device does not include the external microphone; and selecting, upon connecting the call while a plurality of connection devices are connected to the portable electronic device, one connection device from among the plurality of connection devices to output a second signal. |
| US09124707B2 |
Conference multiplexing
Methods, products, apparatuses, and systems may provide at least multiplexed audio for a plurality of conferences. A conference attendee may simultaneously listen to the plurality of conferences via the multiplexed audio. Audio corresponding only to a respective conference of the plurality of conferences may be provided to another conference attendee having access to the respective conference. The multiplexed audio may be blocked from one or more other attendees. In addition, a conference operation may be implemented at any time to add a conference, delete a conference, select a subset of conferences, and/or rejoin conferences. |
| US09124706B2 |
Method and system for interoperation between multiple conference systems
A method for interoperation between multiple conference systems is described. In the method, a first conference system sends a call request message, which includes conference authentication information of a second conference created by a second conference system, to a second conference system for authentication. After the authentication is passed, the first conference system joins the second conference as a participant, where a type of the participant is a conference. |
| US09124705B2 |
Key code for a conference operation
Methods, products, apparatuses, and systems may facilitate a conference operation. The conference operation may include conference chaining, conference switching, conference modification, conference announcement, and so on. A collection of authentication data for a plurality of distinct conferences may be performed to chain the conferences. Switching among the distinct conference may be performed in response to a switch key code. The switch key code may include a general key code applicable to each of the conferences and/or a specific key code application to a specific conference. |
| US09124703B2 |
Controlling mobile device functions
This provides for controlling mobile device functions and features, along with systems incorporating these devices and methods. For example, it limits or disables the use of some of mobile device features which could cause distraction to the user, when the user is engaged in another activity. In an example, it enables other mobile device features based on occurrence of events related to the user or environment. Another example addresses controlling the mobile device features, such as SMS, while the user is in a vehicle or driving. Another example restricts the ability of the driver of a vehicle to text, while the vehicle is in motion, by automatically disabling the texting ability of mobile device within and around the perimeter of the driver's seat. Other variations, examples, improvements, detection mechanisms, models, techniques, calculations, verification mechanisms, and features are also described in details. |
| US09124702B2 |
Strategy pairing
A contact center is described as having the ability to simultaneously consider a plurality of different work assignment strategies. Specifically, a work assignment engine in the contact center is enabled to create merged strategies from work-finding-agent strategies and agent-finding-work strategies to determine if one such strategy contradicts the other strategy. |
| US09124700B1 |
System and method for unified calling
Systems and methods for unified calling are disclosed. According to one embodiment, the method may include (1) using a soft phone application executed by a computer processor, communicating, to a telephony server, an agent status indicating a readiness of the agent to manually make a telephone call; (2) receiving, on a computer terminal, an indication of a telephone number to call; and (3) manually dialing the telephone number using a telephone. The soft phone application emulates an analog connection with the telephony server. |
| US09124698B2 |
Virtual calling modes
Embodiments for implementing virtual dialing campaigns using virtual calling modes include systems for receiving account data associated with customer accounts and identifying an account status associated with each of the accounts based on the account data. The embodiments further include grouping the accounts into one or more queues based on the identified account status, selecting a first call mode for at least one queue, determining dialing parameters associated with the first call mode, providing the at least one queue to a user via a display of a computing device that is in communication with the system, and launching an account from the at least one queue. |
| US09124696B2 |
Customer-enabled evaluation and control of communication center agent contact
A communication center has agents operating at workstations and enabled to interact with customers, a router for routing incoming transactions from customers to agents, and routing rule sets associated with specific customers. Individual ones of the rule sets include one or more contact constraints set by the customer associated with the rule set. |
| US09124693B2 |
Method and system for on-hold messaging for off network calls
An Off Net scenario may occur during primary communications between a first and second caller, in which the second caller is connected to a network over a data channel and receives a second call over a voice channel resulting in an interruption of the primary communications between the original callers. In the Off Net scenario, a message indicating the original communication has been interrupted is received by a carrier. The carrier substitutes another communication device in place of the second caller's communication device to establish a secondary communication between the first caller's communication device and the third communication device. The secondary communication may inform the first caller of the interruption of the primary communication and may provide options regarding the primary communication to the first caller. |
| US09124692B2 |
System and method for optimizing communication
An optimal communication system may include an optimal communication module, executed by a computer system, to ascertain a first and second user's available modes of communication. A first user communication system may allow the first user to link a communication criterion with a preferred mode of communication. A second user communication system may allow the second user to send a message to the first user by the first user's preferred mode of communication. |
| US09124688B2 |
System and mobile terminal for displaying caller information and method thereof
Caller information display system includes a caller terminal, a service system and a receiver terminal. The caller terminal stores caller information and transmits data including the caller information during a call. The service system receives the data including the caller information from the caller terminal and transmits the data to a receiver terminal. The receiver terminal receives the data from the service system, stores the caller information to be linked with a telephone number of the caller terminal, and displays the caller information when a paging signal is received. |
| US09124687B2 |
Dynamic voicemail receptionist system
A voicemail receptionist system includes a memory and a processor. The memory can store data relating to one or more users. An incoming communication can be handled by the voicemail receptionist system and provided with functionality based upon a user's preferences, for example. The data stored by the voicemail receptionist system can be updated at any time, or automatically updated upon updating of the data, or upon occurrence of a trigger event. Voicemail receptionist functionality can include standard voicemail system functionality as well as functionality relating to email, text messaging, MMS messaging, calendar features, schedule announcements, location data, as well as other features. |
| US09124684B2 |
Signal testing system of a handheld device and a signal testing method thereof
A signal testing system of a handheld device is described in the present invention. The signal testing system comprises a testing apparatus and a computer device. The testing apparatus is connected with the handheld device. The computer device is connected with the handheld device and the testing apparatus, and is configured to control the handheld device accessing a signal testing state and receives a power value corresponding to the signal testing state through the testing apparatus. |
| US09124680B2 |
Managed material fabric for composite housing
A mobile electronic communications device 100 is at least partially covered or encased in a composite housing 123, 134, 168 and 188. The composite housing can have at least one conductive housing portion 220 and 223 comprising a conductive material and at least one non-conductive housing portion 224 and 226 comprising a non-conductive material. Preferably, the non-conductive housing portion is positioned in proximity to an antenna 202, a battery door 194 or cover for a battery 126, in the mobile electronic communications device. |
| US09124679B2 |
Sleeve with electronic extensions for a cell phone
A passively re-radiating cell phone sleeve assembly capable of receiving a nested cell phone provides signal boosting capabilities and provides a radar enablement. Signal boosting is enabled by use of an additional antenna, a pass-through repeater, dual antenna isolation capability and other features. |
| US09124675B2 |
Method and system for providing an enhanced event notification in a universal plug and play home network environment
Methods and systems are provided for providing an incoming event notification to a telephony control point in a UPnP home network environment. Information associated with a remote party is fetched by a telephony server, when an incoming event associated with the remote party arrives at the telephony server. An incoming event notification associated with the incoming event is generated. The incoming event notification includes the information associated with the remote party. The incoming event with the incoming event notification is forwarded to at least one telephony control point in the UPnP home network environment. The information associated with the remote party is displayed with the incoming event notification on a display of the at least one telephony control point, when the incoming event arrives at the telephony control point. |
| US09124674B2 |
Systems and methods for connection pooling for video streaming in content delivery networks
System and methods for connection pooling for video streaming in content delivery networks (CSNs) are provided. An embodiment method for connection pooling in a content delivery network (CDN) by a proxy server includes receiving, from a client, a request for media content, sending, to a control server, a query to locate an origin media server having the media content if the media content is cache-missing, receiving, from the control server, information regarding the origin media server having the media content requested by the client, and forwarding the request for the media content to the origin media server having the media content using a reusable connection from a pool of the reusable connections between the proxy server and the origin media server if the reusable connection is unoccupied. |
| US09124671B2 |
Media service and method for delivery of stored media
A system includes an application programming interface (API) configured to process a transaction request that specifies data content located at a storage medium. A request processor associated with the API can be configured to determine a delivery format for the data content in response to the transaction request. A file converter can be configured to transform the data content into the delivery format in accordance with the transaction request. |
| US09124669B2 |
Cooperative client and server logging
Various embodiments enable automatic cooperative logging of information associated with a connection between at least two computing devices. In some cases, a first computing device can automatically trigger logging on a second computing device upon detection of at least one scenario. Alternately or additionally, the second computing device can respond to the first computing device with additional and/or supplemental logging requests. |
| US09124667B2 |
State-based provisioning of a client having a windows-based embedded image
Examples of methods and apparatus are provided for state-based provisioning of a local client having a windows-based embedded image. The apparatus may include a retrieval module of the local client that facilitates locating a remote repository server containing a configuration file and that facilitates obtaining the configuration file from the remote repository server. The apparatus may include a reset check module of the local client that determines whether to reset a previous state of the image based on the configuration file. The apparatus may include an apply settings module of the local client that applies, to the image, one of a first configuration change and a second configuration change based on the determination. The first configuration change may include a configuration update to the previous state of the image. The second configuration change may include a change to the image independent of the previous state of the image. |
| US09124661B2 |
Enabling participation in an online community using visual machine-readable symbols
A facility for coordinating an online discussion is described. The facility receives an indication that a user has captured a machine-readable symbol encoding an identifier that identifies a particular online discussion. In response, the facility incorporates into an online forum that hosts this online discussion an indication that this user captured a symbol encoding an identifier that identifies this online discussion. |
| US09124654B2 |
Forming a federated system with nodes having greatest number of compatible firmware version
A method initializes a federated computer system from a fabric of nodes connected by a federated interface. Each node casts a vote to the federated interface for a candidate firmware version supported by the node casting the vote. The candidate firmware version having received the greatest number of votes is identified, and the computer system is initialized as a federated system of the nodes that support the firmware version identified as having received the greatest number of votes. A process of iterative voting may be used to identify a greater number of nodes supporting a compatible firmware version. |
| US09124651B2 |
Controlling media consumption privacy settings
Embodiments related to controlling media privacy settings are disclosed. One disclosed embodiment provides a media server system including a configured to receive media consumption data for each media content item of a plurality of media content items consumed by a user. Media consumption data for each media content item includes an item-specific privacy status and a media content item identifier. The server is also configured to receive, from one or more of another user and a media content item recommendations program, a request for access to the media consumption data for a media content item, and to provide one or more of the other user and the media content item recommendations program with access to the media consumption data based on the item-specific privacy status of the media consumption data. |
| US09124646B2 |
Method and system for obtaining availability status for multiple SIP users
Systems and methods for obtaining availability status in respect of a plurality of user identifiers are provided. For each user identifier, a respective SIP cluster identifier is obtained. The user identifiers are then grouped according to SIP cluster identifier, each such group of user identifiers containing at least one user identifier for which the same SIP cluster identifier was obtained. For each SIP cluster identifier for which there is a group of user identifiers, a request is sent for availability status information in a single message to a SIP cluster associated with the SIP cluster identifier, the request containing the user identifiers of the group of user identifiers. A response to each single message is received in a single message containing availability status information for the user identifiers belonging to the group of user identifiers. |
| US09124644B2 |
Script-controlled egress packet modifier
An egress packet modifier includes a script parser and a pipeline of processing stages. Rather than performing egress modifications using a processor that fetches and decodes and executes instructions in a classic processor fashion, and rather than storing a packet in memory and reading it out and modifying it and writing it back, the packet modifier pipeline processes the packet by passing parts of the packet through the pipeline. A processor identifies particular egress modifications to be performed by placing a script code at the beginning of the packet. The script parser then uses the code to identify a specific script of opcodes, where each opcode defines a modification. As a part passes through a stage, the stage can carry out the modification of such an opcode. As realized using current semiconductor fabrication process, the packet modifier can modify 200M packets/second at a sustained rate of up to 100 gigabits/second. |
| US09124643B2 |
Method and apparatus for a publish-subscribe system with templates for role-based view of subscriptions
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for notifying one or more users of information having a plurality of attributes. A plurality of subscribable objects are provided to one or more users, where each subscribable object comprises one or more attributes as required attributes and zero or more of the attributes as optional attributes. Subscription requests are received from one or more of the users based on at least one of the subscribable objects. The subscribable objects are based, for example, on a set of predefined templates. The predefined templates identify each of the plurality of attributes as a required attribute or an optional attribute. Each of the attributes is presented to a user using a display format selected based on a cardinality of the corresponding attribute. |
| US09124641B2 |
System and method for securing the data and information transmitted as email attachments
A system for securing data and information transmitted via entails is disclosed. The system includes a sender-side device from which an email including a first code is transmitted. The first code comprises instructions for manipulating server-side processing of the email. The system includes a filter module which determines whether the first code is present within the email, and subsequently transmits the email to a processing server in case if the first code is present within the email. The system includes a processing server which processes the email in accordance with the instructions specified in the first code and generates a first link, thereby enabling the email sender to access and modify the access policy for the email. The processing server further authenticates the intended recipient of the email via an OTP before enabling the intended recipient to access the parts of the email. |
| US09124639B2 |
Managing command compliance in internetworking devices
In an embodiment, an internetworking device is configured with compliance proxy logic that is configured for sending, to a compliance server, a request to determine whether the command conforms to one or more compliance policies, wherein the request includes the command; receiving a compliance response from the compliance server; in response to determining whether the compliance response indicates success, executing the command only when the compliance response indicates that the command conforms to the one or more compliance policies. Thus the device can determine actively whether a proposed user command or configuration change will violate established standards or policies, before the command or change is applied to the device. |
| US09124637B2 |
Data protection for keychain syncing
Some embodiments provide a program that provides data protection for a device when synchronizing a set of keychains stored on the device with a set of other devices. The program receives keychain data for synchronizing the set of keychains stored on the device with the set of other devices. The keychain data is specified as belonging to a protection domain. The program determines whether a set of conditions defined for the protection domain is satisfied. When the set of conditions is determined as satisfied, the program allows access to the keychain data in order to process the keychain data and synchronize the set of keychains stored on the device with the set of other devices. |
| US09124636B1 |
Infected endpoint containment using aggregated security status information
In one example, a network device may store health status information specifying a current security status for each of a plurality of authenticated endpoint devices in accordance with an authorization data model. The network device may update the current security status of each of at least two of the plurality of authenticated endpoint devices connected to an enterprise network to indicate that each of the at least two of the plurality of authenticated endpoint devices has a compromised security status, and identify a characteristic common to both of the authenticated endpoint devices having the compromised security status. The network device may interface with one or more policy enforcement devices to quarantine a set of endpoint devices associated with the identified characteristic. The current security status of at least one of the quarantined endpoint devices may indicate that the quarantined endpoint device does not have a compromised security status. |
| US09124635B2 |
Verified sensor data processing
Sensor data may be filtered in a secure environment. The filtering may limit distribution of the sensor data. Filtering may modify the sensor data, for example, to prevent identification of a person depicted in a captured image or to prevent acquiring a user's precise location. Filtering may also add or require other data use controls to access the data. Attestation that a filter policy is being applied and working properly or not may be provided as well. |
| US09124630B1 |
Aggregating social location information
In one implementation, user identities who are members of a particular user identity's social network are identified. In addition, data is accessed that reveals locations that at least some of the identified other user identities have registered with the platform as locations that they have visited. A view of an aggregation of at least some of the locations where other user identities who are members of the particular user identity's social network have registered that they have visited is made available for display. In another implementation, data is accessed that reveals residence information for user identities who are members of a particular user identity's social network. Thereafter, a view of an aggregation of at least some of the residence information for the other user identities who are members of the particular user identity's social network is made available for display. |
| US09124629B1 |
Using secure connections to identify systems
A session identifier is used during negotiation of a secure connection between a client and an endpoint that includes both session information and client identification information. For example, a client connects to a load balancer using transport layer security (TLS). The load balancer may pass client information, such as session information, on to an application server that determines client information to put in a TLS session identifier. The application may send the client information to include in the TLS session identifier back to the load balancer. The load balancer may combine TLS session information for resuming TLS communications and client information for identifying the client into the session identifier. The session identifier may be passed to the client for use in later communication. TLS negotiation between the client and the load balancer may be completed and a secure connection begun. The application may monitor actions performed by the client. |
| US09124627B2 |
Dynamic resolution of fully qualified domain name (FQDN) address objects in policy definitions
Dynamic resolution of Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) address objects in policy definitions is provided. In some embodiments, dynamic resolution of Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) address objects in policy definitions includes receiving a network policy that includes a domain name (e.g., the network policy can include a network security rule that is based on the domain name); and periodically updating Internet Protocol (IP) address information associated with the domain name by performing a Domain Name Server (DNS) query. In some embodiments, dynamic resolution of Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) address objects in policy definitions includes dynamically performing a first local Domain Name Server (DNS) lookup for a first VSYS using a first DNS server on a first domain name for implementing a network policy based on the first domain name; dynamically performing a second local DNS lookup for a second VSYS using a second DNS server on the first domain name for implementing the network policy based on the first domain name; in which the network policy includes a network security rule that is based on the first domain name, and the network policy includes a network security rule that is based on the second domain name. |
| US09124626B2 |
Firewall based botnet detection
A computer detects malicious intrusions (or bots) into a computer. The computer receives firewall log data that includes communication records containing the source and destination of the communication, as well as, the time of the communication. The source or destination of the communication may be on a list of suspicious servers known to contain malicious software. The computer identifies a sequence of communications between a common source address and a common destination address. The computer further identifies substantially fixed intervals between the communications, and generates an alert indicating a suspected bot intrusion. The computer also identifies from the sequence of communication, patterns in the communication intervals, similarly generating an alert indicating a suspected bot intrusion. |
| US09124625B1 |
Interdicting undesired service
Interdicting an undesired service is disclosed. For example, a malware service is interdicted. The undesired service is identified. A vulnerability of the undesired service is identified from among a hierarchy of vulnerabilities. The undesired service is interdicted according to the vulnerability. For example, a corresponding action of a vulnerability to interdict the undesired service is performed in the order of the hierarchy until the undesired service is interdicted. |
| US09124624B2 |
Detecting vulnerabilities in web applications
A method, computer program product, and system for detecting vulnerabilities in web applications is described. A method may comprise determining one or more values associated with a web application that flow to response data associated with the web application. The one or more values may be modifiable by unreliable input. The method may further comprise generating a representation of the response data associated with the web application. The method may additionally comprise determining one or more potentially vulnerable portions of the response data based upon, at least in part, the one or more values modifiable by the unreliable input that flow to the response data associated with the web application, and the representation of the response data associated with the web application. |
| US09124622B1 |
Detecting computer security threats in electronic documents based on structure
In an embodiment, a data processing method providing an improvement in computer security comprises selecting, from a queue identifying a plurality of web pages, a particular web page to retrieve from one of a plurality of internet sources; causing retrieving a copy of the particular web page from a particular internet source; determining a hierarchical structure of the particular web page; based upon a hierarchical structure of the particular web page and without consideration of content of the particular web page, identifying one or more features, of links in the particular web page or files referenced in the particular web page, that indicate one or more security threats; determining a reputation score for the particular web page; determining a specified remediation measure, based upon the reputation score, to remediate a security threat that is identified in the particular web page; providing the specified remediation measure to one or more of a compromised computer, a sensor computer and an enterprise computer. |
| US09124619B2 |
Directing audited data traffic to specific repositories
Data traffic is monitored on a network and data access elements thereof are collected. The collected data access elements are compared to security rules providing sets of predefined data access elements for identifying predefined data accesses. First audit data collections for data accesses are sent to a first repository. For a data access that matches one of the rules, a second audit data collection defined by the matching rule is sent to at least a second repository designated by the matching rule. |
| US09124615B2 |
Authentication of content provider web sites and applications via a mobile device identifier
A device receives content that includes embedded authentication code, and provides the content for display. The device generates a request to authenticate the content based on execution of the embedded authentication code, and provides the request to a server device that authenticates the content based on the request. The device receives, from the server device, an indication indicating that the content is authenticated, when the content is authenticated. The indication includes a portion of an identifier associated with the device. The device provides the indication and the portion of the identifier associated with the device for display. |
| US09124613B2 |
Information storage system including a plurality of storage systems that is managed using system and volume identification information and storage system management method for same
An embodiment of this invention is an information storage system comprising a plurality of storage systems connected to be able to communicate. Each of the plurality of storage systems includes default storage system identification information which is the same to the plurality of storage systems, common volume identification information for uniquely identifying volumes provided by the plurality of storage systems to a host computer among the plurality of storage systems, and a controller configured to return the default storage system identification information to the host computer in response to a request from the host computer and to process a read or write request to a volume accompanying the common volume identification information from the host computer. |
| US09124612B2 |
Multi-site clustering
According to various embodiments, techniques are described for managing data within a multi-site clustered data intake and query system. A data intake and query system as described herein generally refers to a system for collecting, retrieving, and analyzing data. In this context, a clustered data intake and query system generally refers to a system environment that is configured to provide data redundancy and other features that improve the availability of data stored by the system. For example, a clustered data intake and query system may be configured to store multiple copies of data stored by the system across multiple components such that recovery from a failure of one or more of the components is possible by using copies of the data stored elsewhere in the cluster. |
| US09124608B2 |
Conveying session continuity information in a multi-component communication session
In a multimedia communication session with multiple media components, one or more media components can be transferred from one access network to another access network and yet maintain the continuity of the overall communication session. Each session is first identified and thereafter the media component intended to be transferred is also identified. The identities of the identified session and component are sent to one or more entities within the communication network for executing the media component transfer. |
| US09124603B2 |
Methods and apparatus to select a peered voice over internet protocol (VoIP) border element
Methods and apparatus to select a peered voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) border element are disclosed. An example method comprises receiving a session initiation protocol (SIP) message that includes an identifier representative of a location of a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) access border element, querying a telephone number mapping (ENUM) database to identify two or more peered VoIP border elements, and selecting a one of the two or more peered VoIP border elements based on the identifier. |
| US09124601B2 |
Data client
Facilitating the distribution of content is disclosed. A request for content is received from a requesting peer. A peer type compatibility criteria is applied to an allocation process that allocates at least one sending peer to deliver the content to the requesting peer. The peer type compatibility criteria ensures that a lightweight peer is paired with a regular peer. |
| US09124595B2 |
Modem devices, application processors, communication devices, methods for controlling a modem device, methods for controlling an application processor, and methods for controlling a communication device
A modem device may be provided. The modem device may include: a transceiver structure configured to transmit and receive data using at least one of a plurality of communication technologies; a memory configured to store a profile, the profile including or being information specifying a configuration of the transceiver structure for each communication technology of the plurality of communication technologies; and an application processor interface, wherein the modem device is configured to receive from the application processor a command for configuring the transceiver structure through the application processor interface. The command may include or may be an instruction to the modem device to configure the transceiver structure according to the profile. |
| US09124593B2 |
Managing an execution of a composite service
The present invention relates to a method for managing an execution of a composite service, the composite service comprising constituent services. The method comprises providing (101) first service complexity measures indicating a complexity related to executing a number of constituent services of the composite service by a first service execution node, providing (103) second service complexity measures indicating a complexity related to executing the number of constituent services of the composite service by a second service execution node, determining (105) a first total complexity measure upon the basis of the first service complexity measures, determining (107) a second total complexity measure upon the basis of second service complexity measures, and selecting (109) either the first service execution node or the second service execution node in dependency of at least one of: the first total complexity measure or the second total complexity measure for executing the number of constituent services of the composite service. |
| US09124592B2 |
Method and system for application level load balancing in a publish/subscribe message architecture
A method of publishing a message includes receiving a subscription request at a first remote relay from a first client and transmitting a subscription message from the remote relay to each of a first set of central relays. The method also includes receiving a publication request at a second remote relay from a second client and transmitting a publication message from the second remote relay to a first central relay of the first set of central relays and a second central relay of a second set of central relays. The method further includes determining, at the first central relay, that a target matches at least a portion of a pattern, transmitting the message string from the first central relay to the first remote relay, determining, at the first remote relay, that the target matches at least a portion of the pattern, and transmitting the message string to the first client. |
| US09124585B1 |
Framework for mapping network addresses to hosts in an enterprise network
Mapping network addresses in logs of network activity to corresponding host computers includes generating lists of known-dynamic addresses, static addresses and other-dynamic addresses from network addresses appearing in the logs. The static addresses and other-dynamic addresses are assigned to host computers having respective first host identifiers, and the known-dynamic addresses are associated with corresponding host computers having respective second host computer identifiers contained in dynamic address assignment activity. For the static and other-dynamic addresses, the first host identifiers are obtained, and first address-to-host bindings are created for address-based lookups of first host identifiers using respective addresses. For the known-dynamic addresses, the second host computer identifiers and log-time information from the dynamic address activity are used to create second address-to-host bindings usable to perform address-based lookup of second host identifiers and corresponding use-time information using respective addresses to which the second host identifiers are bound. |
| US09124578B2 |
Service opening method and system, and service opening server
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a service opening method and system, and a service opening server. The method includes: receiving a service request from a third-party application, where the service request carries type and parameter information of the requested service; querying, according to the type information of the service, a service directory to obtain an access address and authentication type information of the requested service; when it is determined that the invoking of the service needs an authorization of an end user, obtaining an authorization notification message of the end user according to the type information of the service and the parameter information of the service; and forwarding, the service request to a capability server, and forwarding, to the third-party application, a service response message returned by the capability server. The control of the end user on the authorized service is ensured to the greatest extent. |
| US09124563B2 |
Method for asynchronously provisioning keys from one secure device to another
A method to securely and asynchronously provisioning keys from one source secure device to a target secure device through a key provisioning server, in which the keys to be provisioned via the method remain unknown. The method includes the steps of, for the source secure device, encrypting a key to be transferred using a transport key so that only the target secure device can decrypt, and sending the encrypted key to the provisioning server and, for the target secure device, when available, getting the encrypted transferred key, and decrypting the transferred key using the transport key. |
| US09124555B2 |
Tunnel interface for securing traffic over a network
Methods and systems for a flexible, scalable hardware and software platform that allows a managed security service provider to easily provide security services to multiple customers are provided. According to one embodiment, a method is provided for delivering customized network services to subscribers of a service provider. Multiple virtual routers (VRs) are provided within each of multiple service processing switches of a service provider. Each VR is supported by an object group and each object of the object group supports a network service. One or more VRs are assigned to a subscriber of multiple subscribers of the service provider. Customized network services are provided to the subscriber by the one or more VRs assigned to the subscriber. |
| US09124550B1 |
Distributed multi-processing security gateway
Systems and methods for a distributed multi-processing security gateway establishes a host side session, selects a proxy network address for a server based on network information, and using the proxy network address to establish a server side session. The proxy network address is selected such that a same processing element is assigned to process data packets from the server side session and the host side session. The network information includes a security gateway network address and a host network address. By assigning processing elements in this manner, higher capable security gateways are provided. |
| US09124549B1 |
Automated web frontend sharding
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for requesting handling web applications provided from a server. A bootstrap object is received from the server. The bootstrap object is independent of the requested web application and includes default settings for a plurality of different web applications. An application configuration object is also received from the server. The application configuration object is specific to the requested web application and includes a plurality of plugin handles. The bootstrap object loads the application configuration object, and identifies, based on the plugin handles, a first plugin for the requested web application. The first plugin is requested, and upon receipt the from the server the first plugin is loaded in a user interface. The first plugin exposes an application programming interface (API) of the first plugin to the bootstrap object. |
| US09124540B2 |
Caching of look-up rules based on flow heuristics to enable high speed look-up
According to one embodiment, a system includes a plurality of ports adapted for connecting to external devices and a switching processor. The switching processor includes a packet processor which includes a look-up interface, fetch and refresh logic (LIFRL) module and a packet processor logic (PPL) module adapted to operate in parallel, an internal look-up table cache including a plurality of look-up entries, each relating to a traffic flow which has been or is anticipated to be received by the switching processor, and a traffic manager module including a buffer memory which is connected to the plurality of ports. The LIFRL module is adapted for accessing the internal look-up table cache, the PPL module is adapted for communicating with the traffic manager module and the buffer memory, and the LIFRL module is adapted for communicating with one or more external look-up tables. |
| US09124537B2 |
Systems and methods to transmit information among a plurality of physical upstream channels
A communication system includes a supervisory node (e.g., a headend) and one or more remote nodes (e.g., cable modems). The supervisory node or a remote node monitors a characteristic associated with the communication system. Remote node transmits an upstream communication among a plurality of physical upstream channels based on the characteristic. The average transmit power used to transmit the upstream communication among the plurality of physical upstream channels is no greater than the average transmit power that would be necessary to transmit the upstream communication using a single physical upstream channel at a lower data rate. |
| US09124535B2 |
System for using attributes to deploy demand response resources
A system for using attributes to deploy demand response resources. A service provider may provide energy to customers. The provider may via interactions modify consumption of the energy by the customers. Customers that participate in these interactions may be regarded as demand response resources. Interactions may incorporate demand response signals sent to the resources at their respective facilities. Each resource may have a demand response client which has an association with a customer account in a demand response management system of the provider. The association may be regarded as a binding of the demand response client. The binding may involve inputting an attribute of the demand response client, which can be correlated to the customer account. The attribute may be, for example, a location of the demand response client. Such attribute may be used for the association of the demand response client with a proper customer account. |
| US09124534B1 |
Systems and methods for managing sub-clusters within dependent clustered computing systems subsequent to partition events
A computer-implemented method for managing sub-clusters within dependent clustered computing systems subsequent to partition events may include (1) identifying a first computing cluster and a second computing cluster, (2) determining that the first computing cluster depends on the second computing cluster, (3) detecting a partition event that partitions the first computing cluster into multiple sub-clusters, (4) determining, in response to detecting the partition event, whether the second computing cluster is partitioned into multiple sub-clusters, and (5) making, based at least in part on determining whether the second computing cluster is partitioned into multiple sub-clusters, a fencing decision for the multiple sub-clusters of the first computing cluster. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US09124533B2 |
Service bandwidth configuring method and network management system
A service bandwidth configuring method of is provided by this invention, which includes the following steps: defining various kinds of service classes according to the characteristics of various services provided by a network system; defining various kinds of bandwidth specifications of the network system; establishing the mapping relationships between the various kinds of service classes and various kinds of bandwidth specifications; and configuring the service bandwidth of the network system with the mapping relationships. Besides, this invention also provides a network management system. This invention is intended to be applied to the interfaces between NMS and EMS, or interfaces between EMS and NE, and it facilitates the intercommunication between the network management systems of different manufacturers, and the unified management on network management system or devices from different manufacturers by the upper layer network management system. |
| US09124528B2 |
Method and arrangement for data clustering
This disclosure relates a method within a network node and a corresponding network node for determining input information for creation of a data traffic clustering model. The method comprises obtaining data descriptors of data flows, wherein the data descriptors describe data of the data flows, and obtaining flow information of the data flows. In addition, the method comprises determining clustering model input information based on the obtained data descriptors and the obtained flow information. One exemplary advantage of the present disclosure is that it allows traffic clustering based solely on packet header information, making the present disclosure appropriate for handling encrypted traffic. |
| US09124525B2 |
User-equipment-initiated framed routes on customer-premises equipment for wireless wide area networks
Systems and methods are disclosed for processing framed routes initiated by user equipment (UE) at customer-premises equipment (CPE) and gateways using protocol configuration options (PCO). The PCO can include encoding and decoding framed route information using a PCO information element (IE). The framed route information can include a framed route and a virtual private networking routing and forwarding (VRF) name. The framed route information can also include a tunnel identifier and a packet data protocol (PDP) address. The gateway can include a packet data network gateway (PGW) and a gateway general packet radio service support node (GGSN). When the gateway receives an attach request message from the UE with the encoded PCO, the gateway decodes the PCO to extract the framed route and VRF name, associates a tunnel identifier and PDP address with the extracted framed route and VRF name, and installs the framed route in a corresponding VRF. |
| US09124514B2 |
Systems and methods for sharing L2 information and MAC based forwarding
The present application is directed towards sharing data link layer information of network traffic distributed across a cluster of intermediary devices. A method for sharing data link layer information across a cluster includes receiving a request packet at a first intermediary device. The first intermediary device identifies a first set of data link layer information from a data link layer of the request packet. The first intermediary device modifies the request packet for transmission on a common data backplane of the cluster to include the first set of data link layer information in the request packet. The modified request packet includes a second set of data link layer information that differs from the first set of data link layer information at the data link layer. The first intermediary device transmits the modified request packet on the common data backplane of the cluster to other devices of the cluster. |
| US09124512B2 |
Method and apparatus for simplifying the computation of alternate network paths
An alternate path calculation process may be terminated after considering some of a source node's neighbors and without considering each of its neighbors, to reduce the amount of processing required to perform the alternate path calculations. The neighbors may be ranked according to the number of alternate paths that the neighbor has historically been able to provide on the network. The influence of historical success or failure may degrade over time so that the rankings may be adjusted to reflect changes in network topography. A given source node, when computing alternate paths through the network, may preferentially select neighbors to perform alternate path calculations on historically higher scoring nodes before performing calculations on historically lower scoring nodes. Several different criteria may be used to stop the alternate path calculation process before considering all neighbors. The neighbors may be loop free neighbors or U-turn neighbors. |
| US09124510B2 |
Configuring relay cell identities in cellular networks
The technology in this application identifies a relay cell serviced by a relay radio node in a radio access network (RAN) of a cellular communications system in which there is a radio connection between the relay radio node and a donor radio base station. The donor radio base station is identified by a RAN donor radio base station cell identifier. A RAN relay cell identifier is determined that uniquely identifies the relay cell within the RAN, the RAN relay cell identifier including a relay cell identifier and a donor base station identifier. The RAN relay cell identifier is then provided or used as needed so that the relay radio node can transmit the RAN relay cell identifier to uniquely identify the relay cell to one or more radio terminals in the RAN. |
| US09124507B1 |
Proxy of routing protocols to redundant controllers
In an embodiment, a method exchanges routing data within a network including control and forwarding on separate devices. In the method, a first reachability information session is established between a forwarding device and a first control device and a second reachability information session is established between the forwarding device and a second control device. Also, a third reachability information session is established between the forwarding device and an external routing device. Finally, advertisements are exchanged between the first and second reachability information sessions and the third reachability information session such that the first and second control device appear to the external routing device to be a single device. System and computer program product embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US09124506B2 |
Techniques for end-to-end network bandwidth optimization using software defined networking
Techniques for end-to-end network bandwidth optimization using software defined networking are provided. In one embodiment, a computer system can receive information regarding a flow to be admitted to a network, where the flow is associated with a source and a destination. The computer system can further calculate, for each path in a plurality of paths between the source and the destination, a projected utilization of the path in view of the flow. If the projected utilization of the shortest path in the plurality of paths is less than or equal to a target utilization threshold, the computer system can assign the flow to the shortest path. Otherwise, the computer system can select a path in the plurality of paths that comes closest to the target utilization threshold without exceeding the threshold and can assign the flow to that selected path. |
| US09124504B2 |
System and method for implementing label switch router (LSR) overload protection
A method and apparatus for implementing Label Information Base (LIB) overload protection for a respective Forwarding Equivalency Class (FEC) type associated with a Label Switched Path (LSP). |
| US09124503B2 |
Network congestion management
Technologies for managing congestion of a communication channel includes a network device for receiving a network packet from a computing device destined for another computing device, analyzing network traffic flows over a communication channel established between the network device and an upstream network device, and determining whether the communication channel is congested as a function of the network traffic flows. Such technologies may also include storing the received packet in a local storage in response to determining that the communication channel is congested, transmitting an acknowledgement packet to the computing device in response to storing the received network packet local storage, and transmitting the stored network packet to the upstream network device in response to determining that the communication channel is no longer congested. |
| US09124495B2 |
System and method for automatic provisioning of stacked switches
A system and method for automatic provisioning of stacked switches includes entering a client state, setting one or more ports of the switch to normal mode, sending a first provisioning discover request on the one or more ports, receiving a first provisioning offer on a first port selected from the one or more ports, detecting whether the first provisioning offer is a full offer or a partial offer, entering a server state when the first provisioning offer is a full offer, entering a relay state when the first provisioning offer is a partial, and provisioning the switch based on information associated with the first provisioning offer. |
| US09124494B2 |
Method and apparatus of performing remote management of a managed machine
Disclosed are an apparatus and method of remotely communicating with a managed machine. One example method of operation may include identifying the managed machine operating in a communication network, and transmitting a connection establishment message to the managed machine over the communication network. The method may also include receiving an acceptance message from the managed machine, requesting an administrative service of the managed machine, initiating the administrative service on the managed machine, and forwarding received commands to the administrative service. Such a procedure provides an administrator with the capability to access, modify, update, etc., administrative services operating on a remotely managed machine. |
| US09124491B2 |
Internet protocol (IP) network device, network system, method thereof
An internet protocol (IP) network device is provided including a detector adapted to detect an event in the internet protocol (IP) network device. The network device also includes a generator adapted to generate a trap message including event information having information about the detected event. The network device also includes a transmitter adapted to transmit, to an internet protocol (IP) network management device, the trap message including the event information and a first sequence indicator. The network device also includes a timer adapted to measure a time period from a time at which the transmitter transmits the trap information. If the measured time period is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, the generator generates an empty trap message and the transmitter transmits, to the network management device, the empty trap message and a second sequence indicator. |
| US09124488B2 |
Method and apparatus for visualizing the health of datacenter objects
Embodiments of the present invention provide a dashboard that displays an overview of a datacenter's health which helps prioritize, monitor, and troubleshoot problems. In particular, one embodiment is a method for visualizing the health of datacenter objects which includes displaying datacenter objects on a scatterplot of a dashboard wherein one axis of the scatterplot corresponds to problem severity and another axis of the scatterplot corresponds to time. |
| US09124487B2 |
Communication network apparatus and method
A communication network apparatus and method for routing communication signals form a source device to a receiving device. The apparatus performs only local processing on communication signals to thereby increase the speed of processing the signals. A plurality of the processing nodes is combined into a plurality of sub-networks that comprise the network apparatus. Each processing node of a sub-network need only process address information pertaining to the node's current layer, one layer above it, if any, and one layer below it, if any. Additionally, each processing node has associated communication signal frequencies/wavelengths that identify the processing node as the intended recipient of the communication signal. |
| US09124486B2 |
Method for establishing multi segment pseudowire across domains having different pseudowire signaling protocol
A method of establishing a multi-segment pseudowire (MS-PW) across domains executing different pseudowire signaling protocols augments a Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) label message to include a MS-PW Type-Length-Value (TLV). The MS-PW TLV carries pseudowire signal protocol information associated with signaling protocols of other segments of the MS-PW. As a result, a multi-segment pseudowire can be extended between domains that execute different pseudowire signaling protocols. |
| US09124484B2 |
Technique for improving LDP-IGP synchronization
A technique may improve LDP-IGP synchronization in a MPLS network when an interface of a router coupled to a communications link along a shortest path between a source router and a destination router becomes newly active. Specifically, an IGP adjacency may be held down over the newly active link while a LDP adjacency is established over the link. The router may inject a temporary, non-redistributable route having a large administrative weight into its routing table utilizing addresses learned during establishment of the LDP adjacency. The injected route ensures that there is a reachable route to a peer router so that LDP may converge. After LDP has converged and all needed label bindings have been distributed in the MPLS network utilizing the injected route, IGP executing on the router may advertise a normal cost metric for the link associated with the newly active interface, and IGP convergence may be completed. |
| US09124480B2 |
Method and apparatus for spectrum sensing
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention the application discloses a method and an apparatus to receive a signal (501) in a radio device on a radio channel; calculate a plurality of cyclic autocorrelations (504′, 505) for the received signal (501), wherein calculating the plurality of cyclic autocorrelations comprises selecting a cyclic frequency (503) and at least two delay values (502, 512) corresponding to the plurality of cyclic autocorrelations (504′, 505); to compensate a phase offset of at least one of the plurality of cyclic autocorrelations (504′) by at least one compensation term (506) to obtain a plurality of phase compensated autocorrelations (504), wherein the compensation term (506) is dependent on the cyclic frequency (503) and a corresponding delay value of the at least two delay values; and to combine the plurality of phase compensated autocorrelations. |
| US09124478B2 |
Method for cancelling inter-subcarrier interference and apparatus for the same
Disclosed are a method for cancelling inter-subcarrier interferences and an apparatus for the same. The method according to an example embodiment may comprise dividing total available subcarriers into a plurality of sub-blocks, composing Alamouti code symbol pairs by mapping input symbols to subcarriers included in each of the plurality of sub-blocks, and performing inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) on the Alamouti code symbol pairs. Therefore, inter-subcarrier interferences due to frequency error between transmit antennas of a distributed antenna system or a cooperative transmission apparatus may be cancelled in the frequency selective fading channel environment. |
| US09124475B2 |
Method and apparatus for interference cancellation for antenna arrays
Embodiments of the claimed subject matter provide methods and apparatuses for interference cancellation. One embodiment of a method includes estimating, for an antenna in an antenna array including a plurality of antennas, interference parameters using analog signals received at the antenna on each of a plurality of subcarriers. Each interference parameter is associated with one of a plurality of symbols transmitted to one of a plurality of users on one of the plurality of subcarriers. This embodiment also includes canceling interference from analog signals received by the antenna on the plurality of subcarriers using the estimated interference parameters. |
| US09124474B2 |
Technique for automated MAC address cloning
In an arrangement where the device that is known to an ISP is communicating with the ISP through an interposed device that is not known to the ISP, the interposed device captures the known device's MAC address upon startup and clones the captured MAC address in all standard packets that it sends to the ISP. |
| US09124472B1 |
Providing file information to a client responsive to a file download stability prediction
A client sends a file information request to a security server, where the file information request identifies a URL from which the client is attempting to download a file. Upon receiving the request, the security server determines the stability information of the identified URL and provides the requested file information for the file provided by the URL. The security server determines the stability information of a URL by analyzing the file identifiers and URLs identified in downloaded file reports received from multiple clients. The determination of the stability information of a URL may be based on a variety of factors, such as stability of a URL over time, a textual analysis of the URL, and the set of files provided by the URL. A user of the client can review the file information and decide whether to expend the resources to download the file. |
| US09124471B2 |
Systems and methods for transceiver communication
Systems and methods for transceiver communication are discussed herein. An exemplary system comprises a first transceiver and a second transceiver. The first transceiver may comprise an I/Q module and a PHY device. The I/Q module may receive a first complex signal and transform the first complex signal into bit words of a predetermined size and framewords. The PHY device may receive the bit words, transmit the bit words and framewords over a cable, and perform adaptive cancellation. The second transceiver may comprise a PHY device, an I/Q module, an I/Q modulator, and an antenna. The PHY device may receive the bit words and the framewords from over the cable. The I/Q module may transform the bit words to a second complex signal based on the framewords. The I/Q modulator may modulate the complex signal to generate a transmit signal. The antenna may transmit the signal. |
| US09124464B2 |
Methods and apparatus for channel estimation in MIMO-OFDM communication system
A wireless receiver is configured to perform a method of channel estimation in a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) network. The method includes despreading a vector of received samples to determine an average channel estimate for each of a plurality of multiplexed layers associated with the MIMO network, canceling inter-layer interference using the average channel estimates for the layers and obtaining a time-varying estimate for each layer, and estimating the channel using a two-dimensional minimum mean squared error (2D MMSE) technique. |
| US09124460B2 |
Rules for multiplexing data of different access categories in multi user MIMO wireless systems
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a technique for multiplexing data of different access categories in Multi User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) wireless systems. The present disclosure defines rules for multiplexing data of an access category that did not win the contention together with data that won the contention. In this way, a desired Quality of Service (QoS) of each access category class can be preserved. |
| US09124459B2 |
Branch processing of search tree in a sphere decoder
Sphere decoding of signals for MIMO detection involves a first distance processor arranged to determine a distance between symbols of a received symbol vector and possible transmit symbols, in a search sequence according to a search tree. A line from root to leaf of the search tree represents a possible transmit symbol vector and the sequence of processing root level symbols can be ordered with respect to increasing distance without explicit sorting of the root level symbols based on distance calculations. A next symbol in the sequence is determined, based on a symbol currently being processed by the first distance processor, and a second distance processor determines the distance in respect of the next symbol in the search sequence for the same possible transmit symbol vector, in parallel with the determining of the distance in respect of the current symbol by the first distance processor. |
| US09124453B2 |
Receiver and reception method for estimating channel in an orthogonal frequency division multiple access system
A receiver and reception method for estimating a channel in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) system is provided. The receiver includes a delay estimator for estimating, from a signal received from a transmitter through multipaths, at least one of an average time delay of the multipaths and a time delay of one of the multipaths having a maximum power among the multipaths, a rotator for circular-rotating the received signal using the estimated delay, and a channel estimator for estimating a channel impulse response of the circular-rotated signal. |
| US09124449B2 |
Network topologies for energy efficient networks
One embodiment receives at a first node in at least a portion of a network a routing table, the portion of the network comprising the first node and one or more second nodes, the routing table specifying the immediate neighbor that provides each of the best paths in the portion of the network based on a total cost; using the routing table, determines at the first node every second node that is necessary for the first node to reach all edges of the network, the second nodes that are necessary for the first node to reach all edges of the network comprising an active set for the first node; and sends a message from the first node to every second node to facilitate determining whether to shut down the second node. |
| US09124446B2 |
Methods and apparatus to implement a remote terminal unit network
Methods and apparatus to implement a remote terminal unit network are disclosed. An example method involves allocating, via a processor of a first remote terminal unit, a first time slot of a first frame of a first transmission schedule to the first remote terminal unit, the first remote terminal unit to be in communication with a second remote terminal unit in a network associated with a process control system and to be in communication with a host of the process control system, the first remote terminal unit to communicate first data over the network during the first time slot, and allocating, via the processor, a second time slot of the first frame to the second remote terminal unit, the second remote terminal unit to communicate second data over the network during the second time slot. |
| US09124444B2 |
Method of facilitating servicing an appliance
A method of facilitating servicing an appliance includes establishing two way communications between an appliance and a remote client, and monitoring and communicating to the remote client operational data associated with the appliance. In this way, the remote client can use the operational data to service the appliance. |
| US09124443B2 |
Communication of commands in a home automation network and between home automation networks
Method of communication in a home automation network allowing communication between command transmitters and/or command receivers associated with equipment in a building by means of messages transmitted in the form of frames, a frame comprising at least one data field comprising several functional segments, said method comprising a step of constructing a frame on the basis of an instruction written in a programming language, the instruction comprising words composed in the form of strings of alphanumeric characters and/or of signs and/or of icons, delimited by separators, in which each word gives rise to a functional segment. |
| US09124438B2 |
Network communication apparatus, network communication method, and program
A network communication apparatus which can transmit multicast packets includes a communication interface unit that has a plurality of IP addresses allocated thereto and transmits multicast packets using each of the plurality of IP addresses as a transmission source, and a multicast control unit that controls transmission of the multicast packets from the communication interface unit, groups the plurality of IP addresses in a plurality based on predetermined criteria, and sequentially transmits the multicast packets using one IP address belonging to each group as a transmission source with respect to all the IP addresses in each group. |
| US09124434B2 |
Securing a computing device accessory
Various embodiments are disclosed that relate to security of a computer accessory device. For example, one non-limiting embodiment provides a host computing device configured to conduct an initial portion of a mutual authentication session with an accessory device, and send information regarding the host computing device and the accessory device to a remote pairing service via a computer network. The host computing device is further configured to, in response, receive a pairing certificate from the remote pairing service, the pairing certificate being encrypted via a private key of the remote pairing service, and complete the mutual authentication with the accessory device using the pairing certificate from the remote pairing service. |
| US09124433B2 |
Remote authentication and transaction signatures
Authentication devices and methods for generating dynamic credentials are disclosed. The authentication devices include a communication interface for communicating with a security device such as a smart card. A dynamic credential such as a one-time password (OTP) or a message authentication code (MAC) may be generated by receiving from a server an encrypted initialization seed encrypted with an asymmetric encryption algorithm using a public key of a public/private key pair, submitting the encrypted initialization seed to a security device, decrypting at the security device the encrypted initialization seed with a private key of the public/private key pair, returning the decrypted initialization seed to the authentication device, deriving at the authentication device a secret credential generation key from the decrypted initialization seed, and generating the dynamic credential by combining a dynamic variable with the secret credential generation key using a symmetric cryptographic dynamic credential generation algorithm. |
| US09124432B2 |
Host device and authentication method for host device
A first data generation unit generates identification key information (FKey) that may be decrypted from the identification key information (IDKey) using key management information (FKB) read from an authenticatee. A decryption unit decrypts encrypted secret identification information (E-SecretID) using the identification key information (FKey) to generate secret identification information (SecretID). A second data generation unit generates a first session key (Skey) using the first key information (Hkey) and a random number. A one-way conversion unit performs a one-way conversion process on the secret identification information (SecretID) using the generated first session key (SKey) to generate first one-way conversion data (Oneway-ID). |
| US09124428B2 |
Communication method, mobile station apparatus, base station apparatus and mobile communication system
To provide a mobile communication system and a communication method for enabling HARQ control information to be transmitted and received using radio resources efficiently in case that a base station apparatus and a mobile station apparatus communicate with each other in a wider frequency band using component carriers in a composite manner, in the communication method in the mobile station apparatus that transmits, to the base station apparatus, the HARQ control information for a plurality of downlink transport blocks transmitted on a plurality of downlink component carriers using a first physical uplink control channel resource, in case that the mobile station apparatus detects a single physical downlink control channel in a common search space in a certain subframe, the mobile station apparatus transmits the HARQ control information to the base station apparatus, using a second physical uplink control channel resource different from the first physical uplink control channel resource. |
| US09124427B2 |
Control method of an antenna system
A control method of an antenna system includes the steps of configuring the antenna system to communicate with a plurality of stations, and configuring the antenna system to modify, at intervals of a predetermined time, a plurality of data acknowledgement (ACK) timeouts which correspond respectively to the stations, so that each of the data ACK timeouts substantially equals the round trip time of a packet for communication between the antenna system and the corresponding one of the stations. |
| US09124426B2 |
Hybrid ARQ system with a snapshot feedback mechanism for interference prone wireless networks
An IP packet transmission system is disclosed and more specifically it is a system using a hybrid ARQ method including a sliding purge window and having the transmitter opportunistically piggy-back a snapshot of the transmitter's transmit/send window in data frames. When the receiver receives this snapshot the receiver can compare it with its receive window and if a mismatch is detected, whereby the transmitter has moved on to the next packet, the receiver can now also sync up quicker and not wait for the regular timeout to progress ahead. |
| US09124418B2 |
Method and system for encryption of blocks of data
A method for encryption of blocks of data (201-206) is provided including the steps of: encrypting (301) a block of data using a current random number (211-216) generated for the block of data (201-206); encoding (303) the current random number using one or more of a set of previous random numbers, each of the set of previous random numbers having been used to encrypt a previously sent block of data; and transmitting (304) the encrypted block of data (241-246) with the one or more versions of the encoded current random number (272-276), each version for a different one of the previous random numbers. A method for decryption of blocks of data is provided including the steps of: receiving (401) an encrypted block of data (241-246) with the one or more versions of an encoded current random number, each version for a different one of the previous random numbers (272-276); selecting (402) one of a set of previously received blocks of data for which the random number is available (291-296); decoding (403) the current random number using the random number of the selected previously received block of data; and decrypting (404) the received encrypted block of data (241-246) using the decoded current random number. |
| US09124417B2 |
Computation of garbled tables in garbled circuit
An efficient encryption system for improving the computation speed of a garbled circuit is set forth. The garbled circuit includes a number of garbled Boolean gates having first and second garbled Boolean gate input wires. The system includes a first key ki on a first garbled gate input wire. A second key kj is also provided on a second garbled gate input wire. A programmable function is provided for combining the first key ki and the second key kj to obtain an encrypted output key. A method for expediting encryption and decryption of a garbled circuit having a number of encryptions for a garbled table of a garbled gate is also set forth. The method includes the steps of: forming the garbled table with a number of secret keys by applying a function to the secret keys to produce less than twice the number of secret keys as the number of encryptions for the garbled table, and evaluating the garbled table to decrypt an output key of the garbled table. |
| US09124415B2 |
PLL glitchless phase adjustment system
A clock generator with glitchless phase adjustment having a phase locked loop with a controlled oscillator providing an output representing a phase value. One or more output modules generate one or more output clocks from the output. One or more adjustment modules add a requested phase adjustment to an output clock. The phase adjustment modules are configured to break the requested phase adjustment into smaller increments and apply the increments to an output clock generated in said at the output modules one cycle at a time. |
| US09124413B2 |
Clock and data recovery for NFC transceivers
Exemplary embodiments are directed to data and clock recovery in NFC transceivers. A transceiver may include a phase-locked loop configured to recover a clock from a received input signal in a first mode and enable for oversampling of an output signal in a second, different mode. |
| US09124412B2 |
Method and arrangement for reconfiguring mapping of carrier indicator field to component carrier
A method and an arrangement in a radio network node for reconfiguring mappings from Carrier Indicator Field-values to component carriers are provided. Each CIF-value is mapped to a respective component carrier comprising a respective shared data channel. Each respective shared data channel corresponds to at least one downlink control channel carrying said each CIF-value. The radio network node reconfigures mappings from CIF-values to component carriers, while at least one mapping of CIF-value to component carrier is maintained. The component carrier of said at least one mapping from CIF-value to component carrier comprises said at least one downlink control channel and a shared data channel corresponding to said at least one downlink control channel. The radio network node sends at least one of the reconfigured mappings from CIF-values to component carriers to the user equipment. |
| US09124410B2 |
Multicarrier transmission method and apparatus
A signaling mechanism is provided to indicate to the user equipment which mode is currently in use for uplink and/or downlink transmission in a system supporting different transmission modes of a multicarrier radio system, such as a HSPA system or another radio system. Using such signaling a particular mode can be dynamically or semi-dynamically activated according to the need, UE reported events or measurements, BS measurements, type of service, DRX cycle in use etc. |
| US09124409B2 |
Determining control region parameters for multiple transmission points
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate determining control region parameters related to a plurality of carriers and/or coordinated multiple point (CoMP) access points. Wireless devices can receive control region parameters related to the carriers or CoMP access points from a serving access point over control channel resources. Additionally or alternatively, wireless devices can assume all carriers or CoMP access points have substantially the same control region as indicated in a control format indicator channel from the serving access point or based on a configured value. |
| US09124406B2 |
Fallback operation for cross-carrier signaling in multi-carrier operation
Techniques for supporting fallback operation in a multi-carrier communication system are described. In one aspect, a UE may determine at least one first downlink control information (DCI) format to monitor on a first carrier. The UE may monitor for the first DCI format(s) on the first carrier to detect DCI sent to the UE. The UE may receive a reconfiguration message related to communication on a plurality of carriers by the UE with cross-carrier signaling, and may determine at least one second DCI format to monitor on the first carrier based on the reconfiguration message. The UE may monitor for the first DCI format(s) and the second DCI format(s) on the first carrier after receiving the reconfiguration message. |
| US09124403B2 |
Puncturing scheme based decoder optimizations
Systems and methods for decoding bitstreams are described. The bitstreams may be encoded using a punctured convolution code and received from a wireless network. A puncture pattern associated with a modulation and coding scheme used to encode the bitstream is determined, and punctured log-likelihood ratios (LLRs) generated from the bitstream are ignored while decoding the bitstream. The puncture pattern may be characterized by one or more algorithms that identify punctured LLRs in a repetitive sequence of LLRs. A decoder may exclude punctured LLRs from calculations related to bitstream decoding. The decoder may comprise a Viterbi decoder or an algebraic decoder. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described. |
| US09124401B2 |
Systems and methods for carrier aggregation
A User Equipment (UE) for performing carrier aggregation is described. The UE includes a processor and instructions stored in memory that is in electronic communication with the processor. The UE determines an uplink control information (UCI) transmission cell in a wireless communication network with at least one frequency-division duplexing (FDD) cell and at least one time-division duplexing (TDD) cell. The UE also selects a first cell for FDD and TDD carrier aggregation. The UE further determines a set of downlink subframe associations for the first cell that indicate at least one UCI transmission uplink subframe of the UCI transmission cell. The UE additionally sends Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Acknowledgement/Negative Acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) information in the UCI transmission uplink subframe of the UCI transmission cell. |
| US09124399B2 |
Highly-spectrally-efficient reception using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing
Circuitry for use in a receiver may comprise: a front-end circuit operable to receive an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol on a first number of physical subcarriers. The circuitry may comprise a decoding circuit operable to decode the OFDM symbol using an inter-carrier interference (ICI) model, the decoding resulting in a determination of a sequence of symbols, comprising a second number of symbols, that most-likely correspond to the received OFDM symbol, where the second number is greater than the first number. The sequence of symbols may comprise N-QAM symbols, N being an integer. The ISCI model may be based, at least in part, on non-linearity experienced by the OFDM symbol during transmission by a transmitter, propagation over a channel, and/or reception by the receiver. The ISCI model may be based, at least in part, on phase-noise introduced to the OFDM symbol during transmission by a transmitter, propagation over a channel, and/or reception by the receiver. |
| US09124398B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating feedback in a communication system
A method and an apparatus are provided for generating feedback in a communication system. The method includes receiving information about first Evolved Node Bs (ENBs) and a threshold for the first ENBs, which are powered off at a specific time; measuring a channel status for each of second ENBs, which are subject to channel status measurement; selecting a third ENB having an optimal channel status from among the second ENBs, based on the measured channel statuses; generating first feedback information including a cell index and channel status information for the third ENB; measuring a channel status for each of the second ENBs, while the first ENBs are powered off; selecting a fourth ENB having an optimal channel status from among the second ENBs, based on the measured channel statuses; and generating second feedback information including a cell index and channel status information for the fourth ENB. |
| US09124396B2 |
COFDM digital television receivers for iterative-diversity reception
Receivers with capability for iterative-diversity reception of COFDM digital television transmissions of repeated similarly coded data are described. Also described are receivers with capabilities for receiving COFDM digital television transmissions in which earlier transmissions of coded data are later followed by subsequent transmissions of the same data differently coded. The receivers use maximal-ratio code combining techniques for repeated components in the COFDM digital television transmissions. The receivers use turbo decoding techniques for concatenated coding of data in the COFDM digital television transmissions. |
| US09124394B2 |
Physical channel bundling in data transmission
Embodiments related to bundling of data streams in data communication are described and depicted. |
| US09124393B2 |
End of communication detection
An apparatus for detecting the end of a communication is disclosed. The apparatus includes an interface circuit for receiving an encoded signal and a carrier signal recovery circuit coupled to an output of the interface circuit. The carrier signal recovery circuit is configured to output a carrier signal of the encoded signal and a second signal that is out of phase with the carrier signal. The apparatus also includes a decoding circuit configured to decode the encoded signal as a function of both the encoded signal and the carrier signal output by the carrier signal recovery circuit. The apparatus also includes a detection circuit configured to detect an indication of an end of a communication in the encoded signal as a function of both the encoded signal and the second signal. |
| US09124390B2 |
Drift tracking feedback for communication channels
A communication channel includes a first component having a transmitter coupled to a normal signal source, and a second component having a receiver coupled to a normal signal destination. A communication link couples the first and second components. Calibration logic provides for setting an operation value for a parameter of the communication channel, such as by executing an exhaustive calibration sequence at initialization of the link. A tracking circuit, including a monitoring function, tracks drift in the parameter by monitoring a feedback signal that has a characteristic that correlates with drift in the communication channel, and updates, or indicates the need for updating of, the operation value of the parameter in response to the monitoring function. |
| US09124389B2 |
Encoder and method for predictively encoding, decoder and method for decoding, system and method for predictively encoding and decoding and predictively encoded information signal
An encoder for predictively encoding a signal having a sequence of signal values has a predictor for performing an adaptive prediction in dependence on the signal, and in dependence on one or more weighting values, to obtain predicted signal values, wherein the predictor is configured to reset the weighting values at times which are dependent on the signal, and wherein the predictor is configured to adapt the weighting values to the signal between subsequent resets. |
| US09124388B2 |
Cellular communication system computation of RSRP in the presence of large frequency errors
A Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) value is produced from a received Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) signal that comprises a plurality of reference symbols located at known sub-carrier frequencies and times within the received OFDM signal. RSRP value production involves, for each hypothesized error state selected from a plurality of different hypothesized error states, ascertaining a corresponding hypothesized RSRP value, and then using the hypothesized RSRP values as a basis for determining a value for use as the produced RSRP value (e.g., by selecting a maximum one of the hypothesized RSRP values as the produced RSRP value). In this technology, each of the hypothesized error states is a hypothesized frequency error paired with a hypothesized timing error and the corresponding hypothesized RSRP value is produced by adjusting one or more measured channel estimates as a function of the hypothesized error state. |
| US09124387B2 |
Dynamic adaption of transmission rate for multiuser MIMO networks
Dynamic adaption of transmission rate for multiuser MIMO networks is disclosed. The invention controls a first communication device to transmit data at rates optimal determined under the condition that the channel is occupied by the first communication device, a second communication device to transmit data at rates optimal determined under the condition that the channel is shared by the first and second communication devices and a third communication to transmit data at rates optimal determined under the condition that the channel is shared by the first, second and third communication device. |
| US09124382B2 |
Transmission device, transmission system, and method for adjusting passband
A transmission device includes: a wavelength detector configured to detect a first wavelength of a first optical signal; a wavelength selective switch to which the first optical signal is input; and a controller configured to detect a direction toward which a central wavelength of a passband of the wavelength selective switch is shifted from the first wavelength detected by the wavelength detector and to control the wavelength selective switch so as to increase a width of the passband toward an opposite direction of the direction toward which the central wavelength of the passband is shifted from the first wavelength. |
| US09124380B2 |
Packet delay distribution rate filtering
To test the timing-recovery process of a receiving (i.e., slave) node in a packet-based network, a packet filter is configured in a test configuration that already contributes a natural delay distribution to the packet flow arriving at the slave node. The resulting delay distribution of the arriving packet flow is the combination of that natural delay distribution and the effects of the packet filter, which deterministically or statistically reduces the number of packets with delays within the anchor value window arriving at the slave node (i.e., received packets having packet delays within the slave node's anchor value window). The packet filter can be adjusted to test the slave node's timing-recovery process for a wide variety of packet-flow conditions (e.g., different rates of packets with delays within the anchor value window). |
| US09124377B2 |
Methods and apparatus for enabling peer-to-peer (P2P) communication in LTE time division duplex (TDD) system
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus receives a configuration indicating multicast broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframes within a radio frame. The configuration indicates a number of symbols of an MBSFN subframe for receiving a wide area network (WAN) control signal and remaining symbols of the MBSFN subframe dedicated for peer-to-peer communication. The apparatus communicates with a peer via the symbols dedicated for peer-to-peer communication. Alternatively, the apparatus receives a configuration indicating a portion at a beginning and/or end of a guard period of a special time division duplex (TDD) subframe. The portion is reserved for an uplink timing advance and/or switching from transmission to reception and/or reception to transmission. The configuration also indicates a remaining portion of the guard period of the special TDD subframe for peer-to-peer communication. The apparatus communicates with a peer via the remaining portion. |
| US09124375B1 |
Tiered subscription broadcast system
A receiver operating in a broadcast system is disclosed that allows a broadcaster to provide multiple tiers of subscription services. By a receiver that can operating at different tiers, a subscriber has the option of listening to fewer (or no) commercials, e.g., by paying a higher fee, or listening to more commercials, e.g., by paying a lower or no fee. Commercials can be demographically targeted, cannot be skipped, and can be audited for billing purposes. |
| US09124374B1 |
Transmitter optical module outputting an optical signal containing two or more wavelengths
A transmitter module is disclosed, where the transmitter module includes optical sources, an optical multiplexer to multiple optical signals each output from optical sources, an optical detector to detect an output of the optical multiplexer, and a controller. The controller alternately superposes a dither signal on a bias current provided to the optical source, and the bias current is controlled based on a magnitude of the dither signal, which is detected by a configuration similar to the lock-in amplifier. |
| US09124371B2 |
Apparatus to control carrier spacing in a multi-carrier optical transmitter
Consistent with the present disclosure, data, in digital form, is received by a transmit node of an optical communication system, and is then provided to a modulator that, in turn, modulates light, received from an optical source at one of a plurality of periodically and preferably minimally spaced wavelengths. The plurality of periodically spaced wavelengths or carriers are grouped together with minimal carrier spacing, to form a superchannel. The carrier spacing between adjacent carriers is determined by detecting a beat frequency of a combined optical signal that includes the outputs of two adjacent optical sources. The beat frequency corresponds to a frequency difference between the outputs of the adjacent carriers. This frequency difference should correspond to a desired carrier spacing between each of the plurality of carriers. A frequency error between the beat frequency and the desired carrier spacing is then measured by down-converting the beat frequency with respect to a target reference frequency corresponding to the desired carrier frequency spacing. Based on the determined frequency error, the optical sources are controlled to adjust in frequency to minimize or reduce the frequency error to zero. For every pair of adjacent carriers, the corresponding outputs of the optical sources are compared in the above manner to determine a plurality of frequency errors. Each optical source can thus be tuned in order to realize a precise carrier spacing between each of the adjacent carriers. |
| US09124369B2 |
Multi-direction variable optical transceiver
An optical transceiver including a multi-direction variable transmitter including multiple outputs with different subcarriers being directed to different ones of the outputs to go to different directions in a network, and a multi-direction variable receiver for receiving multiple inputs thereby enabling transmission direction in a network with the transceiver at subcarrier granularity and avoiding entire super-channel granularity and enabling unused subcarriers to be utilized for traffic in other directions or destinations and making switching granularity finer for flexibility in the network. |
| US09124367B2 |
Methods and arrangements for memory-efficient estimation of noise floor
The present invention relates to a method and arrangement in a wireless communication system, e.g. an evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network, for improved scheduling and admission control of the uplink by providing an improved determining of power-related quantities, e.g. neighbor cell interference levels, for specific tones and providing more accurate recursive estimation of noise-related quantities, e.g. noise floor power estimates, for specific tones. The method and arrangement obtains a neighbor cell interference measure for each subset of tones from at least a noise floor measure for each subset of tones based on combined power quantities from the total uplink power per subset of tones and dividing said noise floor measure into sub noise floor measures for each subset of tones, said dividing dependent on the bandwidth of each subset of tones. |
| US09124366B2 |
Communication apparatus, communication system, control method, and storage medium
A communication apparatus acquires a delay profile for a first transmit signal from a transmitting apparatus and determines an end time at which to end detection of a second transmit signal from the transmitting apparatus, based on the delay profile. |
| US09124365B2 |
Enhanced mobile device audio performance
A mobile device includes a processing device that converts a digital input signal to an analog output signal and a memory device that stores a plurality of gain tables, each including values associated with processing the digital input signal. The mobile device further includes at least one filter and at least one amplifier. The processing device is configured to select one of the plurality of gain tables based on the signal strength of the digital input signal and apply one or more values in the selected gain table to the filter, the amplifier, or both, to process the digital input signal, the analog output signal, or both. A method includes receiving a digital input signal, identifying a signal strength of the digital input signal, selecting one of a plurality of gain tables, and processing the digital input signal based on the selected gain table. |
| US09124358B2 |
Passive wireless connection
A wireless switch or sensor is provided that includes a radio frequency (RF) transponder including a narrowband receiver operable to generate power from a received narrowband RF signal and an ultra wideband (UWB) transmitter operable to transmit UWB pulses using the generated power. |
| US09124357B2 |
Media access control for ultra-wide band communication
Media access control is provided for an ultra-wide band medium. The media access control may employ a peer-to-peer network topology. The media access control may employ a reduced addressing scheme. Concurrent ultra-wide band channels may be established through the use of a pulse division multiple access channelization scheme. Multiple media access control states may be defined whereby each state may be associated with one or more of different channel parameter state information, different duty cycles, and different synchronization status. |
| US09124355B2 |
Tunable notch filtering in multi-transmit applications
A radio frequency (RF) communication device comprises a first signal propagating circuit and a second signal propagating circuit, which together enables simultaneous transmission. The first signal propagating circuit is configured with a first tunable notch filter within a first transmit path and the second signal propagating circuit is configured with a second tunable notch filter within a second transmit path. A controller is communicatively coupled to a respective first tuning component and second tuning component of the tunable notch filters. The controller selectively tunes at least one of the tunable notch filters during signal propagation to produce a specific combined notch filtering response that reduces a level of IMD on at least one receive carrier frequency of at least one propagating signal. Aspects of the disclosure also provide a method for making the communication device. |
| US09124348B2 |
Mobile terminal having a microphone sound hole and speaker sound hole disposed on the same plane
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a mobile terminal device that: suppresses the generation of echoes and howling that cause a deterioration in call quality; and achieves good call performance. The mobile terminal device (100) comprises a rear surface casing (120) and a battery cover (130) that covers the entire rear surface of the rear surface casing (120). Sound holes (125) for a microphone (170) and speaker sound holes (124) for a speaker (150) are arranged on the same rear surface of the rear surface casing (120). The rear surface casing (120) comprises a concave groove section (129), at least on the speaker (150) side and around the sound holes (125) for the microphone (170). The battery cover (130) comprises a convex protruding section (139) that fits into the groove section (129). |
| US09124342B2 |
Method for the control of a wireless communications link for mitigating adjacent satellite interference
A method for remotely and dynamically controlling adjacent satellite interference comprising monitoring one or more off-axis signals emitted by one or more remote transmitters; determining whether one or more of the off-axis signals is creating adjacent satellite interference (ASI), off axis emissions and inband interference that is higher than a predetermined level of acceptable interference, and transmitting a control signal to at least one of the one or more remote transmitters in response to the determination that the one or more off-axis signals is creating interference that is higher than the predetermined level of acceptable interference, the control signal initiating an adjustment to one or more transmission parameters of the one or more remote transmitters such that interference resulting from the one or more off-axis signals emitted by the one or more remote transmitters is reduced or eliminated. |
| US09124341B1 |
Notification device for package delivery
A notification device for sending a predetermined message regarding the delivery of a package to a recipient contact number is disclosed. The device may be programmed with one or more recipient contact numbers. When delivery of the package is imminent, a delivery driver or other operator may send a first message to the recipient contact number. When the driver arrives at the delivery address, the operator may send a second message to the recipient contact number. |
| US09124338B2 |
Method and apparatus for efficient DC calibration in a direct-conversion system with variable DC gain
A wireless communication receiver includes a multitude of look-up tables each storing a multitude of DC offset values associated with the gains of an amplification stage disposed in the wireless communication receiver. The entries for each look-up table are estimated during a stage of the calibration phase. During such a calibration stage, for each selected gain of an amplification stage, a search logic estimates a current DC offset number and compares it to a previous DC offset estimate that is fed back to the search logic. If the difference between the current and previous estimates is less than a predefined threshold value, the current estimate is treated as being associated with the DC offset of the selected gain of the amplification stage and is stored in the look-up table. This process is repeated for each selected gain of each amplification stage of interest until the look-up tables are populated. |
| US09124337B2 |
Repeater emulation to increase network range
Technologies are generally described for methods and systems configured to increase a range of a network. In an example, a method for increasing a range of a first network may include sending a request by a communication device to a network device while the communication device is in a range of the first network. The request may include a request for discovery data that identifies the first network. The method may further include receiving, by the communication device, the discovery data. The method may further include broadcasting, by the communication device, information based on the discovery data when the communication device is outside the range of the first network and when the communication device is configured to communicate over a second network. The second network may be different from the first network. |
| US09124335B1 |
Wideband receiver robust to radio frequency harmonics
A radio frequency (RF) noise-cancelling receiver includes first transconductance cells configured to produce respective weighted current signals proportional to an input voltage signal. The RF receiver includes frequency conversion cells coupled to the first transconductance cells and configured to mix the weighted current signals with a plurality of non-overlapping local oscillator (LO) signals to produce downconverted current signals. The RF receiver includes transimpedance amplifiers coupled to the frequency conversion cells and configured to produce output voltage signals proportional to the downconverted current signals. The transimpedance amplifiers include second transconductance cells. Each of the first and second transconductance cells has an effective transconductance of a first magnitude for frequency components of the input voltage signal arising from a first harmonic and an effective transconductance of a second magnitude less than the first magnitude for frequency components of the input voltage signal arising from harmonics at integer multiples of the first harmonic. |
| US09124333B1 |
Improving uplink performance for a beam-forming antenna configuration
A method, system, and medium are provided for improving uplink performance of an antenna array configured for downlink beam forming. Beam forming requires an antenna element spacing that results in correlated downlink signals. Uplink reception preferably uses an element spacing such that uplink signals are uncorrelated. For an eight-element antenna configured for beam forming, using eight-branch combining to produce a single resultant signal is thus less than optimal. In an embodiment, non-adjacent elements in the antenna array, which receive uncorrelated signals, may be combined in pairs with two-branch combining. The four resultant signals may then be combined using four-branch combining to provide a single resultant signal. |
| US09124328B2 |
System and method for channel information feedback in a wireless communications system
A system and method for channel information feedback in a wireless communications system is provided. A method for communications device operation includes receiving a pilot transmitted by a controller, computing a channel estimate for a channel between the controller and a communications device, the computing based on the pilot, computing a channel correlation matrix for the channel based on the channel estimate, and transmitting a reduced rank representation of the channel correlation matrix to the controller as a first feedback information. The method also includes adapting a first codebook based on the reduced rank representation of the channel correlation matrix, computing a representation of the channel using the adapted codebook, transmitting the representation of the channel as a second feedback information, and receiving a transmission beamformed based on the first feedback information and the second feedback information. |
| US09124319B2 |
Multi-user multiple input multiple output wireless communications
A method implemented in a user equipment used in a multi-user multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO) wireless communications system is disclosed. The method includes receiving from a base station an indication of a first modulation type for the user equipment, receiving a first data signal for the user equipment, receiving a second data signal for a co-scheduled user equipment, where a second modulation type for the co-scheduled user equipment is unknown to the user equipment, and deciding the second modulation type. Other methods, systems, and apparatuses also are disclosed. |
| US09124316B2 |
Transmit circuit, method for adjusting a bias of a power amplifier and method for adapting the provision of a bias information
A transmit circuit includes an envelope tracker configured to determine an envelope of a transmit signal and provide bias information based on the determined envelope of the transmit signal. The transmit circuit further includes a power amplifier configured to generate an RF output signal based on the transmit signal, a bias provider configured to provide a bias for the power amplifier based on the bias information, and an impedance determinator configured to determine a measure of a load impedance of a load coupled to an output of the power amplifier. The envelope tracker is configured to adapt the bias information based on the measure of the load impedance. |
| US09124314B2 |
Method and device for delivering service data
A method and device for sending service data are provided in the present invention, so as to realize simplification of a precoding matrix calculation method. The method includes: a network side executing the following steps: calculating a value space matrix according to a signal channel matrix of a serving cell of a terminal; calculating a null space matrix according to an interference channel matrix of a coordinating cell of the terminal; projecting a vector of the value space matrix to a space on which a vector of the null space matrix is located to obtain a precoding matrix of the terminal; and sending the service data in the serving cell of the terminal according to the precoding matrix. |
| US09124312B2 |
Communication device, reader/writer device, communication system, and communication method
There is provided a communication device including a secure communication unit configured to perform secure communication with an external reader/writer device, the secure communication being secure close-proximity communication, a first communication unit configured to perform high-speed communication with the reader/writer device, the high-speed communication being close-proximity communication that is faster than the secure communication, a second communication unit configured to, when communication via the high-speed communication is disconnected, communicate with the reader/writer device with a communication mode that is different from a communication mode of the high-speed communication, a power transmission unit configured to receive power transmitted from the reader-writer device by power transmission, and a secondary battery configured to store the power received by the power transmission unit. The second communication unit may be configured to, when communication via the high-speed communication is disconnected, operate with the power stored in the secondary battery. |
| US09124310B2 |
RF transmitter having broadband impedance matching for multi-band application support
Systems and methods are provided for a broadband, closed-loop RF transmitter for multi-band applications that employs a single RF path to service multiple bands of operation. Embodiments of the present disclosure implement a broadband impedance matching module, which avoids the need for several costly and complex narrow-band matching networks. In an embodiment, the broadband impedance matching module includes concentric, mutually-coupled inductors. By adding this broadband impedance matching functionality, delay is significantly reduced because a single path can be used to service multiple bands. |
| US09124309B2 |
Wireless power transmitter using a resonance coil via a resonance frequency band and corresponding method
A wireless power transmission method of a wireless power transmitter for transmitting power to a wireless power receiver, according to the embodiment includes transmitting a connection signal for identifying the wireless power receiver; identifying the wireless power receiver by receiving a response signal to the connection signal from the wireless power receiver; negotiating a power transmission condition with the identified wireless power receiver; and transmitting the power to the identified wireless power receiver according to the negotiated power transmission condition. |
| US09124308B2 |
Furniture with wireless power
Furniture components, such as office furniture components, are configured to include electronic components that transfer electrical power to peripheral electronic devices via wireless technologies, including conductive and inductive technologies. The articles of furniture may include grommet devices received within work surfaces, the grommet devices incorporating or housing the electronics of wireless power systems. The articles of furniture may also include the electronics of wireless power systems physically embedded or integrated within work surfaces in a manner in which the continuous surfaces of the work surfaces are maintained, and the work surfaces may optionally further include lighting or other indication features to indicate the locations of the electronics to a user. |
| US09124306B2 |
Wireless data transmission via inductive coupling using di/dt as the magnetic modulation scheme without hysteresis
The disclosed couplers operate in a “near field” mode, meaning energy, whether used to transmit data or power, is transferred through magnetic induction using a ∂i/∂t circuit (meaning a change in current over a change in time), such as by using inductive transmission and receive coils in which resistors and/or other components such as diodes are placed into series and/or in parallel with the coils and used to control the shape of the pulse, e.g. its voltage and/or frequency. In embodiments, no hysteresis circuit is required for data transmission. |
| US09124302B2 |
Carrier frequency variation for device detection in near-field communications
A near-field communications (NFC) device includes an NFC antenna, a matching network coupled to the NFC antenna, and a transmitter coupled to the matching network. The transmitter applies a signal to the matching network and varies a frequency of the signal. A parameter is measured while varying the frequency of the signal. A peak value of the parameter is identified and compared to a threshold. A communication protocol is initiated in response to a determination that the peak value satisfies the threshold. |
| US09124301B2 |
Error correction code for unidirectional memory
A memory array and a method of writing to a unidirectional non-volatile storage cell are disclosed whereby a user data word is transformed to an internal data word and written to one or more unidirectional data storage cells according to a cell coding scheme. A check word may be generated that corresponds to the internal data word. In some embodiments, the check word may be generated by inverting one or more bits of an intermediate check word. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US09124297B2 |
Trapping-set database for a low-density parity-check decoder
A machine-implemented method of generating trapping-set information for use in LDPC-decoding processing of read signals generated, e.g., by sensing a storage medium, such as a magnetic platter. In one embodiment, the method can be implemented as an add-on to any other trapping-set search method in which the discovered trapping sets are evaluated to determine their influence on the overall bit-error rate and/or error-floor characteristics of the LDPC decoder. The method can advantageously reuse at least some of the computational results obtained during this evaluation, thereby requiring a relatively small amount of additional computations, while providing a significant benefit of discovering many more trapping sets in addition to the ones that are being evaluated. |
| US09124288B2 |
Semiconductor device
To determine the accuracy of an AD converter more simply than in the related art, a semiconductor device includes a successive approximation AD converter. The AD converter includes one or a plurality of testing capacitors used in a test mode, separately from a C-DAC used for AD conversion in a normal mode. In the test mode, the accuracy of a capacitor under test among a plurality of capacitors configuring the C-DAC is determined by comparing a potential occurring in the capacitor under test and a potential occurring in the testing capacitors. |
| US09124287B1 |
Scrambler with built in test capabilities for unary DAC
An apparatus comprising a scrambler having a plurality of scrambler inputs and 2N scrambler outputs, and a unary-weighted digital to analog converter (DAC) connected to scrambler to generate an analog output signal based on the 2N scrambler outputs. The scrambler has N unique scrambling stages arranged in order between the scrambler inputs and the scrambler outputs from a first scrambling stage to a last scrambling stage. Each of the N unique scrambling stages has a plurality of stage inputs and outputs, with the stage inputs of the first scrambling stage connected to the scrambler inputs, the stage outputs of each scrambling stage except the last scrambling stage connected to the stage inputs of a next scrambling stage, and the stage outputs of the last scrambling stage connected to the scrambler outputs. Each of the N unique scrambling stages is operable to pass signals at the inputs to the outputs in either an unscrambled or scrambled state under control of a control bit provided by an N-bit entropy signal. When an N+1 bit input signal is applied to the scrambler inputs and the N-bit entropy signal is randomized the analog output signal from the DAC has improved linearity compared to the analog output signal generated from a non-scrambled input, and when a test input signal is applied to the scrambler inputs and the entropy signal is swept through 2N orthogonal values the analog output signal from the DAC indicates whether a fault exists in one of the scrambler and the DAC. |
| US09124283B2 |
Switching scheme for ISI mitigation in data converters
Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a switching scheme for tri-level unit elements with ISI mitigation. A tri-level unit element may include a first and second current source and a plurality of switches arranged to form three circuit branches between the first and the second current source. The first circuit branch may include two switches connected in parallel between the first current source and a first output terminal and two switches connected in parallel between the second current source and the first output terminal. The second circuit branch may include two switches connected in parallel between the first current source and a second output terminal and two switches connected in parallel between the second current source and the second output terminal. The third circuit branch may include switches to couple the first current source and the second current source to a dump node. |
| US09124282B1 |
Digital-to-analog converter with correction for parasitic routing resistance
An embodiment of a digital-to-analog converter circuit includes a resistor network connected to an output node, a switch network having a first plurality of switches connecting the resistor network to a first circuit node and a second plurality of switches connecting the resistor network to a second circuit node, a voltage reference to supply a reference voltage to the first circuit node, and a current generator connected to the first circuit node and the second circuit node, to generate a compensation current, draw the compensation current from the first circuit node, and supply the compensation current to the second circuit node. The current generator can generate the compensation current as a function of a current or a voltage of a component of the voltage reference or as a function of an analog output voltage produced at the output node. |
| US09124281B2 |
Accurate and cost efficient linear hall sensor with digital output
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a magnetic sensor circuit having a magnetic field sensor device configured to generate a digital signal proportional to an applied magnetic field. An analog-to-digital converter converts the analog signal to a digital signal that is provided to a digital signal processing unit, which is configured to digitally track the analog output signal. The digital tracking unit comprises a delay removal circuitry configured to generate a plurality of digital signal component corresponding to a chopping phase. A non-delayed offset compensated digital output signal may be generated within the chopping phase by mathematically operating upon (e.g., adding or subtracting) the plurality of digital signal components, generated by the delay removal circuitry. |
| US09124278B1 |
Half rate serialization and memory cell for high speed serializer-deserializer
Methods and systems provide a memory cell and a memory cell system for data serialization. In an embodiment, a half-rate serialization procedure uses a half-rate differential clock to output full-rate serial data. In an embodiment, the memory cell system includes two memory cells each receiving a respective data stream. Each memory cell may be controlled by a respective clock, the clocks being substantially mutually exclusive such that the output of each memory cell becomes alternately tri-stated. Based on the principle of a transistor tri-state or hold mode, if clocks of two memory cells are substantially mutually exclusive, then a tri-stated node can be driven by either of the memory cells in a substantially mutually exclusive manner, effectively multiplexing input parallel data to output serial data. The memory cell system may include a combination of different types of memory cells. |
| US09124273B2 |
Sensor device and method for grip and proximity detection
A sensor device is provided, with a first electrode structure and a second electrode structure, wherein the first electrode structure has a transmitting electrode, a compensation electrode and a reception electrode and wherein the second electrode structure has a number of field sensing electrodes. The first and the second electrode structure are coupled with an evaluating device. The evaluating device has a signal generator for supplying the transmitting electrode and the compensation electrode with an alternating electrical signal. The reception electrode, the transmitting electrode, the compensation electrode and the field sensing electrodes are arranged in relation to each other in such a way that a first alternating electrical field emitted at the transmitting electrode may be coupled into the reception electrode and into one of the field sensing electrodes and a second alternating electrical field emitted at the compensation electrode may be coupled substantially only into the reception electrode. |
| US09124272B2 |
Semiconductor device and driving system
An output MOS transistor has a drain connected with a power supply and a source connected with an output terminal. The short-circuit MOS transistor has a source connected with the output terminal. The short-circuit MOS transistor is formed in a semiconductor substrate connected with the power supply. A switching device is formed in a semiconductor region which is formed in the semiconductor substrate, and contains a first diffusion layer connected with the gate of the output MOS transistor and a second diffusion layer formed in the semiconductor region and connected with the drain of the short-circuit MOS transistor. |
| US09124267B2 |
Digital transmitter and method for calibrating digital transmitter
A digital transmitter includes: a plurality of adjustable delay lines arranged to delay a plurality of digital input signals by a plurality of delay times to generate a plurality of delayed digital input signals respectively; a plurality of converting devices arranged to convert the plurality of delayed digital input signals into a plurality of converting signals respectively; and a calibration device arranged to adjust a delay time of at least one adjustable delay line in the plurality of adjustable delay lines to make the plurality of converting devices convert the plurality of delayed digital input signals at respective desire time points. |
| US09124265B2 |
Method and apparatus for transistor switch isolation
A transistor switch that provides isolation is described. The transistor switch is adapted to receive an input signal at an input terminal and either transmit the input signal to an output terminal when the transistor switch is in a first state or ground the input signal when the transistor switch is in a second state. The transistor switch comprises series switches, which couple the input terminal to the output terminal when the transistor switch is in the first state; shunt switches, which couple the input terminal to ground when the transistor switch is in the second state; and filters to provide isolation between the input terminal and the output terminal. |
| US09124262B2 |
Reconfigurable flip-flop
A device (300, 1000) provides a dual-edge triggered flip-flop (DETFF) that is reconfigurable to a master-slave flip-flop (MSFF). The device includes a reconfigurable MUX-D flip-flop including two distinct circuit configurations. In a first configuration, two latches or storage elements (340, 360, 1040, 1060) are operating in series to provide a MUX-D flip-flop. In a second configuration, the storage elements (340, 360, 1040, 1060) are operating in parallel to provide a dual-edge triggered flip-flop (DETFF). |
| US09124261B2 |
Flip-flop circuit
A flip-flop circuit includes an evaluation part connected to a first node and a second node to discharge the second node according to a voltage level of the first node, a conditional delay part connected to the second node to discharge a third node to have a voltage level different from a voltage level of the second node, and a keeper logic part connected to the second node and third node to maintain a voltage level of one of the second and third nodes being not discharged. |
| US09124260B2 |
Flip-flop, shift register, display panel, and display device
A flip-flop circuit (11a) includes: an input transistor (Tr19) having a gate terminal thereof connected to an SB terminal, a source terminal thereof connected to an RB terminal, and a drain terminal thereof connected to a first CMOS circuit and a second CMOS circuit; a power supply (VSS) which is connected to the first CMOS circuit or the second CMOS circuit and, when an SB signal is turned to be active, is connected to the RB terminal; and a regulator circuit (RC). With the arrangement, a compact flip-flop and a compact shift register employing the flip-flop are provided, without causing malfunction of the flip-flop and the shift register. |
| US09124256B2 |
Tunable clock system
A memory-like structure composed of variable resistor elements for use in tuning respective branches and leaves of a clock distribution structure, which may be used to compensate for chip-by-chip and/or combinatorial logic path-by-path delay variations, which may be due, for example, to physical variations in deep submicron devices and interconnections, is presented. A single system clocked scan flip-flop with the capability to perform delay test measurements is also presented. Methods for measuring combinatorial logic path delays to determine the maximum clock frequency and delays to program the variable resistors, as well as methods for calibrating and measuring the programmed variable resistors, are also presented. |
| US09124252B2 |
Method for reducing output data noise of semiconductor apparatus and semiconductor apparatus implementing the same
Provided is a semiconductor apparatus which includes a plurality of output buffers configured to connect a plurality of power sources, and a data noise measuring unit configured to fix an output data of a selected output buffer among the plurality of output buffers to have a specific level, measure a noise of the output data using a capacitance and control a slew rate of the plurality of output buffers based on the noise. |
| US09124251B2 |
Two stage source-follower based filter
A filter, comprising: two source-follower stages connected in series and in between input nodes and output nodes, wherein inner nodes connect the two stages; and a frequency dependent feedback circuit connected between the input and output nodes, wherein the filter comprises additional frequency dependent feedback circuits connected between input nodes and inner nodes and between output nodes and inner nodes, the additional frequency dependent feedback circuits comprising capacitors. |
| US09124248B2 |
Impedance-matching network using BJT switches in variable-reactance circuits
This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatuses for impedance-matching radio frequency power transmitted from a radio frequency generator to a plasma load in a semiconductor processing chamber. Impedance-matching can be performed via a match network having a variable-reactance circuit. The variable-reactance circuit can comprise one or more reactive elements all connected to a first terminal and selectively shorted to a second terminal via a switch. The switch can comprise a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) or insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) controlled via bias circuitry. In an on-state, the BJT base-emitter junction is forward biased, and AC is conducted between a collector terminal and a base terminal. Thus, AC passes through the BJT primarily from collector to base rather than from collector to emitter. Furthermore, the classic match network topology used with vacuum variable capacitors can be modified such that voltages do not overload the BJT's in the modified topology. |
| US09124245B2 |
Adaptive online filter for DC offset elimination
A phase angle detector with a PLL, a power converter, and a method for reducing offsets in an input signal, in which an adaptive offset processor selectively removes a DC offset component from the input signal to generate a modified signal including a fundamental frequency component and higher order harmonics of the input signal with the DC offset component removed, and the PLL provides a phase angle signal at least partially according to the modified signal. |
| US09124241B2 |
Impedance matching apparatus
Disclosed is an impedance matching apparatus performing impedance matching between a front-end module and an antenna. The impedance matching apparatus includes an RF front end providing a multi-band RF signal, a reflected power measuring module measuring a reflection coefficient for the RF input signal, a matching unit adjusting impedance so that the reflection coefficient is minimized, a first switch module provided in the RF front end to selectively switch the RF signal onto a bypass path, and a controller allowing the RF signal to be switched onto the bypass path if a specific frequency range is detected from the reflection coefficient. |
| US09124234B1 |
Method and apparatus for adaptive automatic gain control
Systems and methods for dynamically adjusting the gain in a receiver front end to have a desired amount of headroom, based upon a measurement of the signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the output of a digital to analog converter and the amount of degradation to the SNR due to previous adjustments to the gain. |
| US09124233B2 |
Audio equalizer and methods for use therewith
An audio equalizer includes an equalization processor that operates in conjunction with a transformed-based audio decoder that generates a decoded audio signal from an encoded audio signal. The equalization processor receives an equalization input signal, generates a plurality of response coefficients in response to the equalization input and applies the response coefficients to partially decoded data of the transformed-based audio decoder. |
| US09124231B2 |
Soft turn-off for boost converters
Techniques for reducing ringing arising from L-C coupling in a boost converter circuit during a transition from a boost ON state to a boost OFF state. In an aspect, during an OFF state of the boost converter circuit, the size of the high-side switch coupling a boost inductor to the load is gradually increased over time. In this manner, the on-resistance of the high-side switch is decreased from a first value to a second (lower) value over time, which advantageously reduces ringing (due to high quality factor or Q) when initially entering the OFF state, while maintaining low conduction losses during the remainder of the OFF state. Further techniques are provided for implementing the high-side switch as a plurality of parallel-coupled transistors. |
| US09124230B2 |
dB-linear voltage-to-current converter
A dB-linear voltage-to-current (V/I) converter that is amenable to implementation in CMOS technology. In a representative embodiment, the dB-linear V/I converter has a voltage scaler, a current multiplier, and an exponential current converter serially connected to one another. The voltage scaler supplies an input current to the current multiplier based on an input voltage. The current multiplier multiplies the input current and a current proportional to absolute temperature and supplies the resulting current to the exponential current converter. The exponential current converter has a differential MOSFET pair operating in a sub-threshold mode and generating an output current that is proportional to a temperature-independent, exponential function of the input voltage. |
| US09124229B2 |
Methods and systems to provide low noise amplification
An amplifier, including a voltage-to-current converter (V2I) to control an output current based on an input voltage, resistive degeneration circuitry to reduce baseband gain of the voltage-to-current converter, capacitive degeneration circuitry to increase passband gain of the voltage-to-current converter, and impedance control circuitry to compensate for negative input impedance of the capacitive degeneration circuitry. The V2I may include series-connected complimentary V2Is. The impedance control circuitry may include resistive negative feedback to provide a real part of input impedance, which may increase a frequency range for which the amplifier is linear. Capacitive degeneration and associated phase compensation may increase a frequency range for which the resistive feedback is negative. The amplifier may be configured as a single-input/single-output system and/or as a differential system. |
| US09124227B2 |
Distortion limiter and automatic power control for drivers
Systems and methods are disclosed to provide automatic power control for a driver circuit. Embodiments disclosed herein enable a driver circuit to automatically decrease the gain of amplified input signals when output power exceeds a threshold. Further, embodiments disclosed herein enable a driver circuit to automatically increase the gain of amplified input signals when battery supply voltage drops to avoid unwanted output signal distortion. By using reference signals for battery power and amplified signal input, the amplifiers of the driver circuit can be automatically adjusted until an equilibrium is reached. |
| US09124226B2 |
Method of outputting audio signal and audio signal output apparatus using the method
An audio signal output apparatus includes a modulation signal generator for generating a first modulation signal by pulse-modulating an input audio signal of one channel using a first carrier signal or a first sampling clock, which has a first frequency; a vacuum tube filter unit comprising a vacuum tube and for generating a vacuum tube signal by allowing the first modulation signal to pass through the vacuum tube; a frequency modulation unit for generating a second modulation signal by pulse-modulating the vacuum tube signal; and a power switching amplifier for outputting an amplification signal corresponding to the second modulation signal. |
| US09124225B2 |
Dual power amplifier linearizer
A circuit in a transmitter with multiple power amplifiers includes multiple individual linearizer circuits each receiving a corresponding input signal and each providing a conditioned input signal to a corresponding power amplifier. The linearizer circuit each include: (a) a pre-distortion circuit receiving (i) the corresponding input signal and (ii) the output signal of a corresponding power amplifier, and providing a pre-distortion signal; (b) a cancelation circuit receiving an interfering signal and providing a cancelation signal; and (c) a combination circuit that combines the cancelation signal and the pre-distortion signal to provide a conditioned input signal to the corresponding power amplifier. |
| US09124218B2 |
Input impedance of low noise preamplifiers used for MRI with dual source FET, floating ground and permanent ground
A preamplifier (46) comprises a field effect transistor (64) in common source configuration. While the gate of the field effect transistor is coupled to an amplifier input circuit (e.g. MRI coil), the drain of the field effect transistor (64) is coupled to an amplifier output. The preamplifier comprises furthermore a first (66) and a second (68) source-ground connection. The first source-ground lead (66) couples the source of the field effect transistor to the ground node of the amplifier input circuit, while the second source-ground lead (68) couples the source of the field effect transistor to the ground node of the amplifier output circuit. As a result, amplifier output currents generate basically a voltage drop across the second source-ground lead (68). Thus, the amplifier input circuit is less influenced by any common voltage drop across any common source-ground connection. |
| US09124217B2 |
Power amplifier
A power amplifier comprising a plurality of primary amplifying channels arranged to each receive an input signal from one or more signal sources for generating a primary amplified output in each of the plurality of primary amplifying channels, a secondary amplifying channel in communication with the one or more signal sources wherein the secondary amplifying channel is arranged to receive one or more signal components each associated with the input signal received by each of the plurality of primary amplifying channels to form a merged input signal for generating a secondary amplified output, and an electric junction arrangement being in electrical communication with the primary amplified output of each of the primary amplifying channels and the secondary amplified output of the secondary amplifying channel. |
| US09124214B2 |
Method for spatially determining the series resistance of a semiconductor structure
A method for spatially determining the series resistance of a semiconductor structure by generating luminescent radiation in the semiconductor structure under measurement conditions A and B, by determining a local calibration parameter CV,i for a plurality of prescribed locations of the semiconductor structure and determining local series resistances RS,i for a plurality of prescribed locations of the semiconductor structure. It is essential that the local series resistances RS,i are each determined as a function of a global series resistance RSg of the semiconductor structure that is identical for all local series resistances. |
| US09124213B2 |
Method and apparatus for cooling and energy capture in an electronic device via a photovoltaics
A method and apparatus for cooling and capturing energy in an electronic device using photovoltaic cells is disclosed. A power supply powers electronic components inside the electronic device. The electronic components produce heat and infrared energy. The photovoltaic cells convert the infrared energy into an electric current to reduce the overall heat level of the electronic device. A power recovery circuit conditions the electric current into a conditioned power signal usable by a system power path manager of the electronic device. The system power path manager uses the converted infrared energy to power the electronic device and/or to charge an energy storage unit. |
| US09124211B2 |
Rotary electric machine control apparatus
A control unit of a rotary electric machine control apparatus includes a rotation position calculation section, which calculates a sensor angle by correcting a detection signal of a rotation position sensor based on correction value information specific to each sensor, and a correction value abnormality check section, which checks whether the correction value information is normal. When the correction value information is abnormal, the rotation angle calculation section corrects the detection signal of the rotation position sensor by using default value information in place of the correction value information. Each default value is limited to be different from the correction value within a predetermined range. A current command value calculation section sets a d-axis current command value to zero and fixes a current command phase to 90[°]. The current command phase is changed to be most remote from 0[°] and 180[°] thereby ensuring a tolerable range. |
| US09124210B2 |
Motor control apparatus with power failure determination unit
A motor control apparatus includes: a PWM rectifier; an inverter; a detection unit for detecting an AC voltage value of the PWM rectifier; a calculation unit for calculating a power supply voltage phase; a detection unit for detecting an AC current value of the PWM rectifier; a current loop control unit for generating an AC voltage command to control a power conversion operation of the PWM rectifier; a current loop saturation state determination unit for determining to be in a current loop saturation state when a magnitude of the AC voltage command is equal to or larger than a predetermined voltage prescribed value; an operation determination unit for determining whether the PWM rectifier is in a powering operation or in a regenerative operation and a power failure determination unit for determining a presence or absence of a power failure at the AC power supply side from the determination results. |
| US09124209B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling power converter with inverter output filter
Power converters and methods are presented for driving an AC load connected through an intervening filter circuit, in which at least one filter current or voltage signal or value is determined according to feedback signals or values representing an output parameter at an AC output of the power converter, and AC electrical output power is generated at the AC output based at least partially on the at least one filter current or voltage signal or value. |
| US09124208B2 |
Control apparatus for a power converter connected to a rotary machine which is operable as a drive motor of a vehicle
In a vehicle, a control apparatus controls a power converter supplying a rotary machine which can operate as a drive motor of the vehicle, and controls a cooling apparatus for circulating a coolant fluid through the rotary machine and the power converter. When a temporary condition occurs immediately after commencement of the circulation, whereby the temperatures of the coolant fluid and of switching elements in the power converter are judged to concurrently exceed respective specified temperature thresholds, the control apparatus limits the maximum power that can be supplied from the power converter to a lower value than is normally available. When the temperature of the coolant fluid is judged to no longer exceed the corresponding temperature threshold, the limiting is released. |
| US09124207B2 |
Rotary electric machine control apparatus and electric power steering apparatus using the same
A control unit controls driving of a motor by controlling a first inverter unit and a second inverter unit, specifically by controlling on/off operations of FETs. The control unit functions as an abnormality detection device. The control unit detects a short-circuit abnormality between a first winding set and a second winding set or between the first inverter unit and the second inverter unit, before starting to control driving of the motor, based on phase current values detected by current detectors when a high-side FET of the first inverter unit and a low-side FET of the second inverter unit are turned on. |
| US09124206B2 |
Method and arrangement for determining the position of a rotor in a brushless motor or in stepper motor
Method for determining the position of a rotor in a brushless motor or in a stepper motor, said method including the following steps: applying a voltage in at least one powered phase of the motor; measuring, in an unpowered phase of the motor, the voltage induced by mutual inductance between phases; and determining said position and/or the speed of the rotor from said induced voltage. |
| US09124204B2 |
Inverter device
An inverter device includes a rectifier circuit that rectifies alternating-current power supplied from a main power supply and generates direct-current power, a control power supply circuit that generates direct-current power for control using at least one of the generated direct-current power and direct-current power supplied from an external power supply, and a control unit that receives the generated direct-current power for control and performs a predetermined control operation. The control power supply circuit includes an insulation transformer including a primary side and second side winding wires, a first control power supply capacitor connected to the secondary side winding wire via a first diode, an external power supply capacitor connected to the first control power supply capacitor via a second diode and connected to a terminal, to which the external power supply is connected, via a third diode, and a second control power supply capacitor connected to the external power supply capacitor. |
| US09124201B2 |
Method and device for controlling an electric machine
In a method for predefining a generator-based braking power of an electric machine in a vehicle, a motor-based propulsion power is predefined as a function of the position of a first final control element, e.g., an accelerator pedal, and the generator-based braking power is predefined as a function of the position of the first final control element, the generator-based braking power assuming values which are unequal to zero, already at an actuated position of the first final control element. |
| US09124199B2 |
Auto calibration driver IC and its application motor driver system
A motor driver IC with auto calibration function is provided, the motor driver IC utilizes a Hall sensor of a switched sensor circuit to detect the changes in an external magnetic field. By using the compensation current which is generated by the automatic calibration circuit to correct the unexpected offset existed in the Hall sensor of the sensing unit itself to zero so that the sensing unit can sense the changes in the external magnetic field accurately and can point out the rotor position correctly, and the motor can be further driven to commutate relatively to reduce the motor rotation noise to achieve good output performance of the motor rotation and the better motor driving system stability. |
| US09124198B2 |
Multiplexed motor controller
A system, multiplexed controller, and a method of controlling a plurality of motors is described. The system includes a plurality of motors, at least two of the motors requiring a variable-frequency source or being a multi-speed motor. The multiplexed controller of the system is configured to control operation of the plurality of motors, the controller directly communicating with each of the plurality of motors. |
| US09124197B2 |
Electrical energy microgenerator with magnetic coupling
The present in relates to an electric energy Micro Generator, integrated by a pneumatic motor and an electric Generator coupled magnetically, where the pneumatic motor is propelled by the fluid pressure associated with: air, natural gas, bitter gas, nitrogen, etc. designed to be intrinsically safe, with an index of protection against intrusion of solid objects or dust, accidental contacts, or water IP 67, according to the International Electro technical Commission, for use in hazardous locations “where fire or explosion may exist due to flammable gases or vapors, flammable liquids, combustible dust or flammable fibers or in suspension”. “Classified as Class I, Division 1, Group A, B, C and D, according to U.S. National Electrical Code, and which has its main field of application remote installations that lack electricity, but that dispose of a pressure associated with a fluid.In this regard, it is important to mention that: The pressure associated with the propellant fluid can be as low as 5 Kg/cm2 and as high as up to at least 700 kg/cm2; The implementation of magnetic coupling ensures that there is no possibility that the fluid used as propelling means, the high pressures associated with said fluid, the pneumatic motor and none of the pieces that integrated it, have contact and/or enter the space of the electric generator and The fluid used as propelling means is not consumed, is returned to its original process, providing a sustainable and intrinsically safe process. |
| US09124196B1 |
Diamagnetic levitation training, therapy, game and entertainment sphere
A diamagnetic levitation sphere having concentric superconducting coils encircling a hollow sphere. The inner surface of the sphere is lined with a 3D visual display screen. Users in carbon fiber suits are positioned within the hollow sphere by entering the sphere at its bottom end, standing on an elevator platform, and then being elevated up towards the center of the sphere. The superconducting coils are energized, the users are levitated while on the elevator platform, and then the elevator platform is lowered to the bottom of the sphere, closing the sphere. The users then float freely in space and can participate in a full emersion space ride game. The diamagnetic levitation sphere can also provide users unique experiences in physical training, therapy, entertainment, and education. |
| US09124190B2 |
Isolated switched mode power supply
An isolated switched mode power supply comprises a transformer, with primary and secondary windings, and a rectification network connected to the secondary winding. The rectification network and the transformer are arranged such that, during a free-wheeling period of operation of the switched mode power supply, a magnetic flux from a first portion of a secondary winding of the transformer substantially cancels a magnetic flux from a second portion of the secondary winding between the first and second portions of the secondary winding. Additionally, a secondary side circuit connected to the secondary winding comprises a switching device, which is connected to a center-tap, provided between the first and second portions of the secondary winding, and an output of the rectification network so as to conduct at least a part of a free-wheeling current flowing in the secondary side circuit during the free-wheeling period. |
| US09124189B2 |
Converter with galvanic isolation
A converter is suggested comprising a transformer providing a galvanic isolation between a primary side and a secondary side of the converter; at least one switching element; a converter control unit comprising a first pin for controlling the at least one switching element and a second pin for detecting a current signal in the at least one switching element during a first phase; and for detecting an output voltage signal of the secondary side of the converter and an information regarding a current in a secondary winding of the transformer during a second phase. |
| US09124188B2 |
Systems and methods for constant current control with primary-side sensing and regulation in various operation modes
System and method for regulating a power converter. The system includes a first signal processing component configured to receive at least a sensed signal and generate a first signal. The sensed signal is associated with a primary current flowing through a primary winding coupled to a secondary winding for a power converter. Additionally, the system includes a second signal processing component configured to generate a second signal, an integrator component configured to receive the first signal and the second signal and generate a third signal, and a comparator configured to process information associated with the third signal and the sensed signal and generate a comparison signal based on at least information associated with the third signal and the sensed signal. |
| US09124186B2 |
Varying switching frequency and period of a power supply controller
A controller includes a PWM circuit and a timing circuit. The PWM circuit controls a switch in response to a clock signal. A switching period of the clock signal is based on a charging and discharging time of a capacitor included in the timing circuit. Both first and second current sinks discharge the capacitor while the timing circuit is in a normal discharging mode that is when an on time of the switch is less than a threshold time. The second current sink is prevented from discharging the capacitor such that the capacitor is discharged with the first current sink and not the second current sink while the timing circuit is in an alternative discharging mode that is when the on time of the switch exceeds the threshold time. The discharging of the capacitor in the alternative discharging mode increases the switching period of the clock signal. |
| US09124185B2 |
Configurable power controller with combination input/output line
Embodiments described herein describe a power supply configured to provide power to an output load via a power supply transformer. The power supply includes a controller configured to operate in a configuration state and an operating state. During the configuration state, the controller receives a configuration signal from a sense circuit coupled to the controller and selects one of a plurality of operating modes from the configuration signal. During the operating state, the controller controls a switch coupled to the transformer based on the selected operating mode and a sense signal received from the sense circuit representative of the power provided to the output load by the power supply. When the switch is closed, current flows from a power source through the transformer, and when the switch is open, current is prevented from flowing from the power source through the transformer. |
| US09124179B2 |
Method for current control in a direct voltage network of a direct voltage converter and a direct voltage converter
A method for the control of a first current in a first direct voltage network which is connected to a direct voltage converter, wherein energy is transmitted between the first and a second direct voltage network via a transformation unit of the direct voltage converter, wherein a current control is provided for the control of a second current in the second direct voltage network. A second current setpoint is determined from a first current setpoint of the first direct voltage network based on a transfer function of the transformation unit, which second current setpoint is fed to the current control and therefore, due to the transformation ratio of the transformation unit, a first actual current of the current-control-free direct voltage network is controlled. |
| US09124178B2 |
Method and apparatus for dynamic capacitor charging
A power converter and a method of operation thereof is disclosed including an input, an output, a sensor unit, a switched power converter, and a processor module. The power converter may convert an input power into an output power. The power converter may sense real-time measurements of the input power and the output power to determine a real-time calculated efficiency. The power converter may chop the input power into sized and positioned portions of the input power based on a plurality of determined operating parameters. The power converter may determine the operating parameters based on the real-time calculated efficiency and on a plurality of other operating factors/conditions. |
| US09124177B2 |
Systems and methods of smooth light load operation in a DC/DC converter
Systems and devices for smooth light load operation in a DC/DC converter are presented. The disclosed systems and methods enable smooth discontinuous conduction mode (DCM)/continuous conduction mode (CCM) transition. The disclosed systems and methods of smooth light load operation in a DC/DC converter may also avoid the generation of sub-harmonics during light load operation. In an example embodiment, a rising ramp is used to control the ON time of the converter oscillator, while a falling ramp controls the OFF time. During DCM operation, the minimum value of the falling ramp is clamped. The clamping of the falling ramp ensures a substantially similar level of the error amplifier output in both CCM and DCM and avoids disturbances caused by a difference in the error amplifier outputs between the modes. |
| US09124176B2 |
Voltage converter comprising a storage inductor with one winding and a storage inductor with two windings
A circuitry includes first, second, and third switching elements, first and second storage inductors, two connector pairs, and first and second intermediate potential points. The second storage inductor includes first and second windings. The first intermediate potential point is connected to a first connector of the first connector pair via the first storage inductor, to the second connector of the first connector pair via the third switching element, and to the second intermediate potential point. The second intermediate potential point is connected to the first connector of the second connector pair via a series connection of the first switching element and the first winding of the second storage inductor, and to the second connector of the second connector pair via a series connection of the second switching element and the second winding of the second storage inductor. |
| US09124174B2 |
DC-DC converter switching transistor current measurement technique
A method is described comprising conducting a first current through a switching transistor. The method also comprises conducting a second current through a pair of transistors whose conductive channels are coupled in series with respect to each other and are together coupled in parallel across the switching transistor's conductive channel. The second current is less than and proportional to the first current. |
| US09124173B2 |
Slab inductor device providing efficient on-chip supply voltage conversion and regulation
A voltage conversion circuit such as a buck regulator circuit has a plurality of switches coupled to a voltage source; a slab inductor having a length, a width and a thickness, where the slab inductor is coupled between the plurality of switches and a load and carries a load current during operation of the plurality of switches. The voltage conversion circuit can also include means to reduce or cancel a detrimental effect of other wires on same chip, such as a power grid, that conduct a return current and thereby degrading the functionality of this slab inductor. In one embodiment the wires can be moved further away from the slab inductor and in another embodiment magnetic materials can be used to shield the slab inductor from at least one such interfering conductor. |
| US09124171B2 |
Adaptive current limiter and dimmer system including the same
In an embodiment, an adaptive current limiter includes a sense element, a current pass element, and a controller. The sense element includes a first sense terminal coupled to a power supply terminal and a second sense terminal. The sense element generates a sense voltage in response to a feedback current. The current pass element includes a first terminal for receiving the feedback current, a second terminal coupled to the second sense terminal, and a control terminal. The controller is coupled to the sense element and to the control terminal for adjusting the feedback current conducted by the current pass element based on the sense voltage and a time-varying voltage signal. |
| US09124168B2 |
Method and apparatus for electric isolation transmission
A method and apparatus used for electric isolation transmission are provided. The method includes: providing an isolation transmission circuit having at least one capacitor; and implementing electric isolation between the primary side and secondary side, and suppressing leakage currents generated between the primary side and secondary side and transmitting power. The apparatus includes the isolation transmission circuit that is manufactured by capacitor(s). The apparatus can be applied to light-weight power sources providing AC/DC outputs with high efficiency, adapters, or related products. In addition, the apparatus has a reduced size and higher power transmission efficiency. |
| US09124166B2 |
Electric motor
A brush direct current motor has a stator with a plurality of coils that correspond to N phases, a rotor with 2P magnet poles and a current converting device for converting direct current power to N phases current and carrying the N phases of alternating current for the coils of the stator. The current converting device has a plurality of first and second bars alternately arranged with transiting plates along a brush path. Resistors connect the transiting plates to one of the adjacent bars. |
| US09124165B2 |
Axial gap electrical machine
An axial gap electrical machine employs unique architecture to (1) overcome critical limits in the air gap at high speeds, while maintaining high torque performance at low speeds, while synergistically providing a geometry that withstands meets critical force concentration within these machines, (2) provides arrangements for cooling said machines using either a Pelletier effect or air fins, (3) “windings” that are produced as ribbon or stampings or laminates, that may be in some cases be arranged to optimize conductor and magnetic core density within the machine. Arrangements are also proposed for mounting the machines as wheels of a vehicle, to provide ease of removing and installing said motor. |
| US09124164B2 |
Device for fixing magnets
The invention relates to an electric machine (10), in particular a generator for a motor vehicle, comprising an exciter system composed of a plurality of electrically excited salient poles. The salient poles can be designed within the stator (16) or rotor (20) in the form of electromagnetically excited poles (22, 23; 24, 25) which are axially and radially oriented on the periphery and are alternatively polarized in the peripheral direction. In order to improve performance and reduce the magnetic leakage flux, permanent magnets (66), which are secured by means of a magnetically non-excitable holding element (60), are inserted into interstices (74) between the alternating poles (24, 25). The holding element (60) is bilaterally mounted in pole grooves (92, 94), is radially, axially, and tangentially resilient, and has a wave-shaped (62) and/or bead-shaped (76, 78; 86) profile. |
| US09124163B2 |
Repulsive force conversion drives and centrifugal force conversion
A repulsive force conversion drive system for centrifugal force conversion to drive a load. A operational load to be driven by movement and provide external power due to movement of the operational load. A rotary repulsive force conversion drive connected to the operational load, such that the operational load moves in a first linear direction due to centrifugal force of rotating mass of the rotary repulsive force conversion drive. A linear repulsive force conversion drive connected to the operational load, the linear repulsive force conversion drive connected to the operational load such that the operational load moves is a second linear direction that is opposite the first linear direction on command from the linear repulsive force conversion drive. |
| US09124161B2 |
Double-stator/double-rotor type motor and direct drive apparatus for washer using same
Provided are a double-stator/double-rotor type motor, in which a double rotor is disposed between an inner stator and an outer stator so as to face the inner stator and the outer stator and form a magnetic circuit with a shortened magnetic path with respect to each of the inner stator and the outer stator, to thereby promote efficiency of the motor, and in which magnets are mounted on inner and outer circumferential surfaces of a back yoke, and a direct drive apparatus for a washing machine using the double-stator/double-rotor type motor. The double-stator/double-rotor type motor includes: a rotor including a first permanent magnet mounted on an inner circumferential surface of a back yoke and a second permanent magnet mounted on an outer circumferential surface of the back yoke; an inner stator that faces the first permanent magnet with a first air gap, to generate a first magnetic field that rotates the rotor; and an outer stator that faces the second permanent magnet with a second air gap, to generate a second magnetic field that rotates the rotor. |
| US09124160B2 |
Drive unit
A drive unit has a motor, a control unit, and a fastener. The motor is housed in a motor case, and includes a stator, a rotor, and a shaft. The stator has winding wires that are wound therein and are electrically coupled to motor wires. The rotor is disposed inside of the stator and the shaft is disposed in and coupled to the rotor, such that the rotor and shaft rotate, as one, within the stator. The control unit includes a semiconductor module with a switching element, a connection terminal that electrically couples the switching element with other devices, and a control unit case to house the semiconductor module. The fastener is disposed in the control unit case, such that the fastener couples the motor and the control unit, and electrically couples the motor wire and the connection terminal. |
| US09124159B2 |
Electromagnetic rotary electric machine
A stator that includes stator windings wound around teeth. A rotor includes: a rotor core; rotor windings wound around main salient poles of the rotor; and a diode serving as a magnetic characteristic adjustment portion that causes magnetic characteristics produced on the main salient poles by electromotive forces induced in the rotor windings to differ in the circumferential direction of the rotor. The rotor has auxiliary salient poles that are each protruded from a side surface of each main salient pole in the circumferential direction. In each of rotor slots formed between the main salient poles adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction, the auxiliary salient poles adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction are connected to each other within the rotor slot. In each rotor slot, at least a portion of the rotor windings is disposed radially inside the auxiliary salient poles. |
| US09124156B2 |
Rotor for electric rotating machine
The rotor for an electric rotating machine includes a rotor core fixed to a rotating shaft and formed with at least one magnet accommodating hole, a magnet accommodated in the magnet accommodating hole, a resin portion filled in the magnet accommodating hole accommodating the magnet, a first end plate fixed to the rotating shaft at one axial side of the rotor core, and a second end plate fixed to the rotating shaft at the other axial side of the rotor core. The axial fixing force of the second end plate against the rotating shaft is smaller than that of the first end plate. At least a part of the resin portion is present in an axial area between the magnet accommodated in the magnet accommodating hole and the first end plate, and the magnet is in direct contact with the second end plate. |
| US09124155B2 |
Drive apparatus including motor
A heat sink of a drive apparatus includes a heat receiving surface located in a rising direction from an end surface wall of a motor case formed in an axial direction of the motor case. A power module includes a mold part and is arranged along the heat receiving surface of the heat sink. Motor leads are taken out from the motor case and electrically connected to the power module and winding wires. The drive apparatus has the motor case, a control circuit substrate, the heat sink, the power module and a power circuit substrate arranged in this order in the axial direction. The motor leads are connected to the power module at an opposite side of the motor case relative to the mold part in the axial direction. |
| US09124154B2 |
Kinetic energy conversion device with variable output
A rotational kinetic energy conversion system includes a magnetic piston with an associated winding and an actuating magnet. Relative motion between the actuating magnet and the magnetic piston causes the magnetic piston to induce a current and voltage in the winding creating electrical energy. The amount of electrical energy induced in the winding is varied by adjusting a spacing between the magnetic piston and the actuating magnet. The spacing may be based on a relative speed between the magnetic piston and the actuating magnet. Maximum energy output may be increased by including additional sets of magnetic pistons and actuating magnets. The spacing between each individual set of magnetic pistons and actuating magnets may be changed to control the energy output. |
| US09124152B2 |
Permanent magnet motor
A permanent magnet motor has a rotor and a stator. The rotor has a shaft, a rotor core and commutator fixed to the shaft, and rotor windings wound about poles of the rotor core and electrically connected to the commutator. The stator has an axially extending round housing, a ring magnet member fixed to an inner surface of the round housing, an endcap, and at least one pair of brushes in sliding contact with the commutator. A chamber is formed by the housing and the endcap. The commutator is disposed in the chamber. A window lift device incorporating the motor is also provided. |
| US09124141B2 |
Wireless power transmission system
It is desired to provide a wireless power transmission system which it is possible to more surely prevent the leakage of a microwave. A wireless power transmission system includes: a power transmission antenna configured to output a microwave from an output plane; a power reception antenna arranged in a position opposing to said output plane of said power transmission antenna in power transmission and configured to receive the microwave outputted from said power transmission antenna by an input plane; and a shield section configured to electromagnetically shield a space between said power transmission antenna and said power reception antenna from an external space by a plurality of outer circumference coil springs provided in an area which surrounds said output plane of said power transmission antenna. The coil spring bends along a convex section compared with a wire member when there is the convex section in a hit part. Therefore, good electromagnetic wave shield efficiency is obtained. |
| US09124140B2 |
Intelligent power converter control for grid integration of renewable energies
Embodiments according to the present invention provide methods and a system for a control approach that effectively maintains the DC link voltage at a constant set value under variable system conditions and keeps the converter operating with an optimal power factor range while limiting power quality effects and phase balance. |
| US09124138B2 |
Power grid operation control system, device, and method
A power grid operation control system, device, and method for steadily operating a power grid while making the most of renewable energy. The power grid operation control system serves a power grid connected to a plurality of renewable energy and a plurality of thermal/hydroelectric power generators, and includes an automatic dispatching system, which controls the thermal/hydroelectric power generators, and a renewable energy generation control system, which controls the renewable energy. The automatic dispatching system controls the thermal/hydroelectric power generators by generating an automatic frequency control signal for correcting the power supply and demand imbalance of the power grid. The renewable energy generation control system determines an available connection capability and issues load instructions to ensure that the total power generation capacity of the renewable energy does not exceed the available connection capability. |
| US09124135B2 |
System for control of wind power generation storage battery and method of control thereof
While a control method is established which can maximize the lifetime of an storage battery based on a SOC capable of maximizing the lifetime of the storage battery under a temperature condition and a wind condition at an electricity generation site and on currently known ones of other operational conditions, a control system is constructed which can feedback to an actual wind power generation and storage battery system. The control system includes a wind power generation and storage battery system, an storage battery operation and deterioration data collection unit for collecting data of the wind power generation and storage battery system, an storage battery operation and deterioration relation assessment unit for assessing a relation between an operation of the storage battery and deterioration thereof based on the collected data, an storage battery operation planning unit for planning such a method of operating the storage battery as to satisfy a necessary lifetime requirement using information obtained by the storage battery operation and deterioration relation assessment unit, and an storage battery operation instruction unit for instructing the wind power generation and storage battery system to operate the storage battery in accordance with the plan of the storage battery operation planning unit. |
| US09124128B2 |
Arrangement for an uninterruptible power supply
The invention relates to an arrangement for an uninterruptible power supply with a rectifier, an energy store, an inverter, a switching means and a controller. The rectifier is connected to a rectifier input to a supply grid (AC1). The energy store is connected to a rectifier output of the rectifier (1) and to an inverter input of the inverter. A network (AC3) to be protected or a load to be protected is connected to an inverter output of the inverter, wherein the rectifier input or a supply grid (AC2) is connected via the switching means to the inverter output, and wherein the rectifier, the inverter and the switching means is controlled by the controller, wherein the controller has two control parts which are constructed with redundancy, and wherein the rectifier and the switching means or the inverter and the switching means can be controlled simultaneously by the control parts. |
| US09124127B2 |
Detecting islanding conditions in power networks
A method is provided for detecting islanding conditions in an electric power network which includes a plurality of sub-networks. The sub-networks include at least one power electrical unit and are separable from each other and a main grid supplying the network by switching devices. The method includes determining topological information of at least one sub-network of interest, detecting islanding conditions in at least one sub-network of interest on the basis of the topological information by using separate detecting devices for each sub-network of interest, and sending, on the basis of the islanding conditions detected by using the detecting devices, a disconnect signal to at least one power electrical unit in at least one sub-network of interest. |
| US09124118B2 |
Circuit for a small electric appliance with an accumulator and method for measuring a charging current
A circuit for a small electric appliance is disclosed. The circuit includes a battery (B); a control circuit (uC) for measuring the charging current of the battery (B); a DC-DC converter (DC/DC) which supplies the control circuit (uC) from the battery; and a current sensing resistor (R1), whose one end lies at a reference potential and whose other end is connected to the battery (B). The control circuit (uC) has a terminal which is at reference potential, and a measurement input which is related to the reference potential. |
| US09124116B2 |
Electrical charge relay enhancer and solar cell system including the enhancer
A charge relay enhancer used in relaying a charge produced in a solar cell to a charger, and a solar cell system including the charge relay enhancer. The charge relay enhancer includes: a charge induction and pumping device inducing a charge by using a power voltage from among two power voltages of different polarities selected in response to a control signal, and pumping the induced charge; and a charge pathway selecting device relaying the charge input to an input terminal via two input/output terminals, to the charge induction and pumping device, receiving the charge pumped by the charge induction and pumping device via the two input/output terminals, and outputting the charge to an output terminal. Accordingly, as charges produced in a solar cell may be relayed to a charging device as much as possible, efficiency of relaying charges produced in the solar cell to the charging device may be maximized. |
| US09124115B2 |
High efficiency rectifier, wireless power receiver including the rectifier
A high efficiency rectifier and a wireless power receiver including the rectifier are provided. In one embodiment, a rectifier may be formed of a full bridge diode circuit and may include: a first dual diode, a second dual diode, a third dual diode and a fourth dual diode forming the full bridge diode circuit, the full bridge diode circuit including: a first path configured to output voltage when the phase of an input voltage is positive, via the first dual diode and the fourth dual diode; and a second path configured to output voltage when the phase of the input voltage is negative, via the second dual diode and the third dual diode. In another embodiment, a rectifier may include: at least two full bridge diode circuits connected in parallel. |
| US09124111B2 |
Power system having a battery unit that calculates cumulative work volume value
A camera includes: a battery unit on which a battery is mounted, that can be detachably loaded into the camera and supplies power to the camera; and a function unit that executes camera functions, wherein: as a function of the camera is executed, the function unit transmits information related to the executed function to the battery pack; and the battery unit has a storage unit in which the information related to the camera function is stored. |
| US09124110B2 |
In-vehicle wireless charging system
An in-vehicle wireless charging system including a warning unit that generates a warning notifying a user that a vehicle is in a situation inappropriate for the user to leave the vehicle when a door opens under a situation inappropriate for the user to leave the vehicle. The warning unit is constantly supplied with power. A wireless charging device supplies power to a charged device set at a predetermined charge location in the vehicle. A first switch detects whether or not the charged device is set at the charge location. The warning unit generates the warning notifying the user that the vehicle is in a situation inappropriate for the user to leave the vehicle when the door opens under a situation in which the charged device has been determined from the detection of the first switch as being set at the charge location. |
| US09124100B2 |
Power supply system, control device of power supply system, operation method of power supply system, and control method of power supply system
A power supply system according to the present invention includes a control device (110) which is configured such that if it is predicted that the sum of start-up power for a power generation system (101) and electric power consumed by an external electrical load (105) at start-up of the power generation system (101) and/or the sum of stopped-period power for the power generation system (101) and electric power consumed by the external electrical load (105) at stopping of power generation of the power generation system (101) exceed upper limit power, up to which an electric rate is kept to a relatively low unit price, and that the electric rate is to be changed to a relatively high unit price, then the control device (110) performs control of supplying electric power stored in an electrical storage unit (107) to at least one of the power generation system (101) and the external electrical load (105) in order to prevent the amount of electric power supplied from a power grid (104) from exceeding the upper limit power. |
| US09124099B2 |
Storage battery system
A storage battery is charged with power supplied from at least one of a commercial power system and an independent power source, and supplies the charged power to a plurality of electric devices or the commercial power system. A control unit switches the operation state of the storage battery to either charging or discharging, and switches connection destinations of the storage battery. When the commercial power system is not in a power outage state, the control unit supplies power from the storage battery to the electric devices or the commercial power system only if the remaining level of the storage battery exceeds a reference value. |
| US09124097B2 |
Polarity correcting device
Embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to a device for correcting the polarity of electricity in a circuit. In direct current circuits, a positive voltage received from a power source will exit the device at a predetermined output regardless of which input of the device received the positive voltage. In alternating current circuits, one or more currents received from a hot output(s) of a power source will be connected to a predetermined output(s) of the device regardless of which input(s) received the current(s). |
| US09124094B2 |
Current saturation detection and clamping circuit and method
A method and circuit for detecting and clamping current in a ground fault circuit interrupter circuit. In accordance with an embodiment the circuit includes an amplifier connected to a switch, where in the amplifier has an input connected to a first conduction terminal of the switch through a resistor and another input connected to a second conduction terminal of the switch. An output of the amplifier is connected to a control terminal of the switch. The circuit may include a ground fault circuit interrupter engine having an input connected to the first conduction terminal of the switch and another second input connected to the second conduction terminal of the switch. |
| US09124092B2 |
Pulse width modulation controller
Disclosed herein is a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) controller. The PWM controller includes a plurality of Field Effect Transistors (FETs) and an FET driver. A comparator compares a current flowing through the FETs with an overcurrent reference value, and microcomputer controls a motor and a circuit protection function, and turns off the FET driver when the current flowing through the FETs is greater than the overcurrent reference value as a result of comparison by the comparator. |
| US09124090B2 |
Combined circuit breaker and DC power supply apparatus, systems, and methods
A circuit breaker is configured to provide both AC and DC protected power. The circuit breaker is packaged in a housing that includes a tripping module, a DC power supply, an AC load terminal, and a DC load terminal. The tripping module senses and responds to electrical faults by interrupting power, and the DC power supply converts received AC power to DC power. In some embodiments, the circuit breaker may be configured as a main breaker of a circuit breaker panel, while in other embodiments the circuit breaker may be configured as a branch circuit breaker that occupies a single branch circuit breaker mounting location in a circuit breaker panel. Methods of assembling a circuit breaker are also provided, as are other aspects. |
| US09124088B2 |
Electrostatic discharge protection circuit and semiconductor circuit device
The invention provides an electrostatic protection circuit that is effective in absorbing static electricity that is continuously input. The electrostatic protection circuit includes a circuit constituting a latch and a static electricity absorption circuit. When static electricity is input, the static electricity absorption circuit maintains its on state for a while at an output held by the latch circuit, and absorbs static electricity that is continuously input. When the static electricity has been absorbed, the output of the latch is inverted so as to turn off the static electricity absorption circuit, and the operation of absorbing static electricity ends. At this point in time, normal operation serving as an input terminal is performed. |
| US09124087B2 |
Arc suppression circuit
An improved arc suppression circuit is disclosed for a switch having switch comprising a shunt circuit connected across the switch. A trigger circuit senses the voltage across the switch for actuating the shunt circuit when voltage across the switch contacts exceeds a predetermined level to reduce arcing current at the switch. |
| US09124081B2 |
Power distribution box having interlocking support modules
A power distribution box may include a first support module having interconnectable elements provided on a plurality of sides thereof, and a second support module having interconnectable elements provided on a plurality of sides thereof. An interconnectable element on the first support module may be interconnected with an interconnectable element on the second support module to connect the first and second support modules together to form a body of the power distribution box having one of a plurality of possible configurations which define different footprints. |
| US09124078B2 |
Meter socket block assembly
A meter socket block assembly for a meter socket connected to a meter having at least one meter blade, wherein the meter socket includes at least one conductor. The meter socket block assembly includes at least one lug and jaw body, the body having a lug portion and a first jaw portion which are unistructurally formed and wherein the lug portion is connected to the conductor. The meter socket block assembly also includes a second jaw portion attached to the first jaw portion to form a jaw for connecting to the meter blade. Further, the meter socket block assembly includes a base having a lug cavity for receiving the body and at least one snap tab for attaching the body to the base. |
| US09124077B2 |
Meter socket and load center combination apparatus, electrical distribution systems, and methods of assembly
A meter socket, load center combination apparatus is disclosed. The meter socket, load center combination apparatus has an enclosure having a meter socket section with a meter socket configured to receive a utility meter, a load center section having a panelboard with a plurality of locations configured to receive circuit interface devices, and a cross-bus connection section extending between first and second sides of the enclosure, the cross bus connection section having one or more side openings configured to allow electrical connection to one or more cross bus bars, and a main circuit breaker coupled between the panelboard and the meter socket. Methods of assembling power distribution systems and electrical distribution systems including the meter socket, load center combination apparatus are disclosed, as are other aspects. |
| US09124070B2 |
Superluminescent diode and optical coherence tomography apparatus including the superluminescent diode
A superluminescent diode which amplifies light through stimulated amplification and outputs emitted beams from one of edges at two ends includes a cladding layer of a first conductivity type formed on a semiconductor substrate, an active layer formed on the cladding layer of the first conductivity type, a cladding layer of a second conductivity type formed on the active layer, and a multilayer film formed at the other edge opposite to the one edge that emits the beams, reflectance of which has wavelength dependence, and a spectral shape of the emitted beams output from the one edge is controllable by the multilayer film. |
| US09124068B1 |
Method and apparatus to reduce noise caused by mode hopping in external cavity lasers
An external cavity laser and method for operating same are disclosed. The external cavity laser includes a gain chip, a grating, an actuator and actuator driver. The grating diffracts light leaving the gain chip in a band of wavelengths back to the gain chip, the grating is characterized by an angle relative to light leaving the gain chip and distance from the gain chip, the angle and distance is controlled by the actuator. Part of the diffracted light is amplified by the gain chip. The actuator driver causes the angle to be dithered about an equilibrium angle in a motion characterized by an amplitude and average frequency. The amplitude of the dithering motion is chosen to either excite a plurality of adjacent laser modes of the gain chip or provide a servo signal for maintaining the grating angle at a target value. |
| US09124067B2 |
Pulse laser apparatus
Provided is a pulse laser apparatus for generating laser light. The apparatus includes a first mirror and a second mirror which are disposed at both ends of a resonator and configured to reflect the laser light, a gain medium disposed between the first and second mirrors and configured to amplify and output light incident from an outside, an etalon configured to adjust a pulse width of the laser light, and an acousto-optic modulator disposed between the first and second mirrors and configured to form a mode-locked and Q-switched signal from the laser light, in which some of the laser light is output through either the first or second mirror to outside the resonator. |
| US09124066B2 |
Diffractive optical elements for transformation of modes in lasers
Spatial mode conversion modules are described, with the capability of efficiently transforming a given optical beam profile, at one plane in space into another well-defined optical beam profile at a different plane in space, whose detailed spatial features and symmetry properties can, in general, differ significantly. The modules are comprised of passive, high-efficiency, low-loss diffractive optical elements, combined with Fourier transform optics. Design rules are described that employ phase retrieval techniques and associated algorithms to determine the necessary profiles of the diffractive optical components. System augmentations are described that utilize real-time adaptive optical techniques for enhanced performance as well as power scaling. |
| US09124060B1 |
System and method for generating and utilizing a valid sweep vector to obviate spurious data and increase sweep rate in an akinetic path-based swept laser
A system and method for triggering data acquisition in a semiconductor laser system including outputting electromagnetic energy from the semiconductor laser over a range of wavelengths according to a signaling path. The signaling path includes a plurality of discrete data inputs to the semiconductor laser for outputting electromagnetic energy over a range of wavelengths and the signaling path includes one or more perturbances in transitioning from one wavelength to another wavelength along the signaling path. A series of triggering signals are generated for input to a measurement system by the semiconductor laser. The electromagnetic energy output from the semiconductor laser is detected based on the series of triggering signals. The detected electromagnetic energy is compared with a valid data vector, wherein the valid data vector includes one or more criteria and/or values that is used to differentiate valid data from invalid data corresponding to the detected electromagnetic energy. |
| US09124059B2 |
Receptacle having an insulator with insert-molded contacts and surrounded by a metallic shell
A Mini DisplayPort connector receptacle including an insulator, a plurality of contacts and a metal shell surrounding the insulator. The insulator includes a first insulator and a second insulator with a base portion, a positioning portion, and a tongue plate. The tongue plate defines first contact locations on a top side of the tongue plate and second contact locations on a bottom side of the tongue plate. The contacts include upper contacts at the corresponding first contact location and lower contacts at the corresponding second contact location. The connection portions of the lower contacts are held by the base portion and insert-molded in the base portion, and the partial soldering portions of the lower contacts are held by the positioning portion and insert-molded in the positioning portion. |
| US09124058B2 |
Feeding wire-ends to processing units
In a processing device the wire-ends are fed circularly to the peripherally arranged processing units. A loop-layer grasps a leading wire-end and lays it in a wire-loop. The wire is then advanced by a belt apparatus, and a loop-guide picks up a loop-end and moves upward until the wire-loop has attained the desired dimension and transfers the loop-end of the wire-loop to a holding element of a rotary star, which, by means of the loop-guide, is displaceable along a linear axle, depending on the length of the wire-loop. |
| US09124045B2 |
Methods of manufacturing a connector component having a narrow-pitch connector group
Preparation is made of first and second contact assemblies in each of which ends of a plurality of contacts are respectively coupled to a plurality of coupling portions of a carrier. The coupling portions of at least one of the first and second contact assemblies are bent so as to offset the contacts in a thickness direction of the carrier. Then, the first and second contact assemblies are combined together in a state where the carriers overlap each other and the contacts are aligned with and spaced apart from each other in the same plane. After integrating the contacts, the coupling portions are cut off. Then, the integrated contacts are collectively inserted into a shell. |
| US09124040B2 |
PCB connector having a conductive base body having a spring body and a put-through body
The invention relates to a PCB connector for fastening a first printed circuit board on a second printed circuit board. The PCB connector may have a longitudinal base body with a clamping and fastening device for tool-free fastening of the PCB connector on a printed circuit board. The clamping and fastening device has a put-through body and a spring body which is formed extendable upon putting-through the put-through body through the land. The base body is thus pressed against the printed circuit board by the spring body. |
| US09124037B2 |
High speed input/output connection interface element, cable assembly and interconnection system with reduced cross-talk
A high speed input/output plug assembly is disclosed having a plug body. A plurality of conductive traces are disposed on a surface of the plug body and connectable to an input/output cable. An electrically conductive grounding layer is positioned within the plug body and electrically insulated from the conductive traces, and has an opening extending through the grounding layer and below the conductive traces. |
| US09124036B2 |
Electrical connector with improved grounding member for cross-talk prevention
An electrical connector includes a housing member, a first contact group, a second contact group, a metallic shell and a grounding member. The housing member includes a first tongue plate and a second tongue plate to which the first contact group and the second contact group are respectively associated. The first contact group and the second contact group are compatible to USB 3.0 standard. The grounding member comprises a body portion located between the second mounting portions of the first contact group and the third mounting portions of the second contact group. The grounding member is electrically and mechanically connected to the metallic shell for cross-talk prevention. |
| US09124035B2 |
Electrical connector
An electrical connector includes a lock claw and a latch claw. The latch claw is provided at a nearer side than the lock claw in a fitting direction where a connector fitting portion is fitted to a power receiving connector and is provided with the lock claw along the fitting direction. |
| US09124034B2 |
Terminal having an operating lever pivotably supported about a rotational axis
The invention relates to a terminal (1), comprising at least one bus bar piece (5), at least one clamping spring (4), which is bent into a U shape and has a clamping section (6) that points at an angle in the direction of an associated bus bar piece section (5a) of the bus bar piece (5) and forms a clamping point for an electrical conductor to be connected with a free clamping end and with the bus bar piece section (5a) in order to form a spring force clamping connection (3), an insulating-material housing (2), which has at least one conductor insertion opening (7) that leads to an associated spring force clamping connection (3) and extends in a conductor insertion direction (L), and at least one operating lever (8) pivotably supported about a rotational axis (D), which operating lever interacts with at least one clamping spring (4) by means of an operating section (9) in order to open at least one clamping point of an associated spring force clamping connection (3) when the operating lever (8) is pivoted and which has an operating arm (10) adjacent to the operating section (9). For each spring force clamping connection (3), two respective operating sections (9) opposite each other for accommodating an associated clamping section (6) of the clamping spring (4) of the associated spring force clamping connection are provided at least partially in the space between the opposite operating sections (9). |
| US09124033B2 |
Lever-type connector
A lever-type connector is configured so that a lock piece (65) of a lock (60) resiliently locks a locked portion (49) to hold a lever (50) at an end position when the lever (50) is rotated to the end position. The locked portion (49) is released from a locked state and the lever (50) is permitted to rotate toward an initial position by pulling up an unlocking portion (70) and forcibly deflecting the lock piece (65). Entrance restricting projections (75) project from facing surfaces of the protection walls (70) on an end position side of the unlocking portion (70) of the lock piece (65) in the lock (60). |
| US09124029B2 |
Connector, counter-connector and connector assembly with clamp surfaces and fixation means
The invention relates to a plug type connector, a counter-connector and a plug type connector arrangement. In order to protect a contact position (P) of the plug type connector against undesirable displacement relative to the counter-connector of the plug type connector arrangement, without undesirable forces occurring, there is provision according to the invention for the plug type connector and the counter-connector to have clamping faces which extend transversely relative to a connection direction (V) and which are clamped to each other via a fixing means. |
| US09124024B2 |
Connector having inner conductive member
A connector (10) includes a housing (20) connectable to a mating housing of the mating connector. A female terminal (52) is held in the housing (20) and includes a terminal connecting portion (52A) to be connected to a mating terminal provided in the mating connector and a barrel (52B) connected to the terminal connecting portion (52A). A flexible outer wire (70) is pulled out to outside from the interior of the housing (20). An inner conductive member (50) connects the barrel (52B) and the outer wire (70) in the housing (20) and includes an intermediate portion (53C) formed by bending a metal plate material substantially at a right angle. The intermediate portion (53C) is fixed to the housing (20). |
| US09124022B2 |
Rotatable connector device
In an accommodation space formed by a rotator and a stator, a flat cable and a dummy cable are accommodated. A retainer placed in a bottom part of the accommodation space is provided with a press guide for allowing a reversed part of the dummy cable, at which a winding direction thereof is reversed, to be pressed thereon. |
| US09124020B2 |
Jumper connector
To include an outfitting cable, a jumper cable, a connection plug receiver that is attached to an end of the outfitting cable, a connection plug that is attached to an end of the jumper cable, a casing that is provided below a vehicle floor, and that has the connection plug receiver introduced from a surface opposite to the surface on the side of the space between the vehicles to connect to the connection plug, a water blocking frame that is detachably attached to the surface of the casing on the side of the space between the vehicles, and that is formed with an inclined surface that includes an introduction opening into which the connection plug is introduced obliquely from below, and a gripping unit that is attached to the inclined surface and that grips the jumper cable. |
| US09124017B2 |
Terminal fitting
A terminal fitting is mounted on a terminal accommodation chamber formed in a connector housing by being engaged with an elastically deformable lance provided in the terminal accommodation chamber. The terminal fitting includes a bite resistance increasing part that is formed only at an upper portion of a hole edge engagement end face of an engaging hole to be engaged with the lance and increases a bite resistance to the lance. An lower portion of the hole edge engagement end face is flat. The bite resistance increasing part has a wave-shaped part that is formed by partially pressing the hole edge engagement end face. |
| US09124013B2 |
Electrical contact pins for electrically coupling electronic devices, batteries, and/or battery chargers
An electrical contact pin includes an outer shaft, an inner shaft at least partially received within the outer shaft and slidable relative to the outer shaft, and a rotatable member disposed at a free end of the inner shaft. The rotatable member is rotatable relative to the inner shaft in at least one direction. |
| US09124009B2 |
Ground sleeve having improved impedance control and high frequency performance
A conductive sleeve includes a central portion with a front, a rear, and sides; at least one flange mated with at the sides of the central portion; and capacitive section that extends from a portion of the central portion at the rear of the central portion. The central portion is adapted to be placed over an end of a cable and extend over at least one conductor of the cable. The at least one flange is adapted to connect with a mating conductor. The capacitive section has a width smaller than a width of the central portion and is adapted to be placed immediately adjacent to an insulator of the cable and another conductor of the cable to form substantially a capacitive shorting circuit. |
| US09124006B2 |
Antenna array for ultra wide band radar applications
A low profile antenna array for UWB radar antenna applications is disclosed. It may be used as a mid-range receiving antenna array (RXM) or as a mid-range transmitting antenna array (TXM). In some embodiments, the RXM or the TXM may include a plurality of radiation patch elements formed on a top layer of a printed circuit board (PCB), a distribution feeding network in the mid-layer of the PCB having a patch array, and a serial feeding arrangement from a λ/4 coupling slot to each feeding patch. This antenna may have a desirable large frequency bandwidth with relatively flat antenna gain over a frequency range from 22 GHz to 26.5 GHz. In addition, sidelobe levels for the elevation patterns may be below −20 dB. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed. |
| US09124001B2 |
Communication device and antenna element therein
A communication device including a ground element and an antenna element is provided. The antenna element includes a metal element. The metal element has a plurality of bends and substantially forms a loop structure with a gap. The gap is between a first open end and a second open end of the metal element. The metal element extends along an edge of the ground element and does not overlap with the ground element. The antenna element has a feeding point. A first portion of the metal element is between the feeding point and the first open end, and a second portion of the metal element is between the feeding point and the second open end. The feeding point, the first open end, and the second open end are all facing or adjacent to the edge of the ground element. |
| US09124000B2 |
Current breaker and wireless communication device having the same
A current breaker comprises a multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB), a ground plane, a metal component and a conductive via hole. The ground plane is disposed in a first metal layer of the multi-layer PCB and comprises a slot forming inductive impedance. The slot comprises an extended portion. The metal component is disposed in a second metal layer of the multi-layer PCB. Capacitive impedance is formed between the metal component and the ground plane. The projection of the metal component on the ground plane and the extended portion of the slot partially overlap. The conductive via hole penetrates the multi-layer PCB to connect metal component with the ground plane. The first and the second metal layers are any two metal layers of the multi-layer PCB. The inductive impedance formed by the slot and the capacitive impedance formed between the metal component and the ground plane create a parallel LC equivalent circuit. |
| US09123994B2 |
Antenna structure
An antenna structure includes: a substrate; a ground layer disposed on a first surface of the substrate; a patch antenna unit which is disposed on a second surface of the substrate opposite to the first surface of the substrate, and is configured to receive a signal to be radiated; and a three-dimensional (3D) antenna unit which comprises a shorting leg that is shorted with the patch antenna unit, and is configured to radiate the signal received by the patch antenna unit. |
| US09123991B2 |
Ear-microphone having ESD enhancing function
An ear-microphone for connection to a portable apparatus and use as a Frequency Modulation (FM) radio broadcast receiving antenna is provided. The ear-microphone includes an ear plug, a cable, a microphone, and a filtering unit. The ear plug is for connection to an earjack. The cable has a predefined length, has an earphone line whose one end is electrically connected to the ear plug and whose other end is electrically connected to at least one earphone. The microphone intervenes in an intermediate portion of the cable and is connected to the ear plug via a microphone line inside the cable. The filtering unit intervenes in the cable and is installed to have an Electro Static Discharge (ESD) protection function. |
| US09123989B2 |
Antenna apparatus and antenna switch circuit
An antenna device and an antenna switch circuit are provided. The antenna device comprises a first antenna, an antenna detection circuit, a switch control circuit, and a controller. The first antenna is configured to transmit an RF signal. The antenna detection circuit comprises an inductor configured to detect a second antenna. The switch control circuit is coupled to the antenna detection circuit and configured to generate a first control signal indicative of the presence of the second antenna upon the detection thereof. The controller is coupled to the first antenna, the antenna detection circuit and the switch control circuit, and configured to receive the first control signal and connect to the second antenna when the first control signal indicates the presence of the second antenna. |
| US09123987B2 |
Antenna mounting systems and methods
An apparatus for coupling an object to a surface is disclosed. The apparatus may include a mounting plate, a mounting bracket, and a locking plate. The mounting plate may include a mounting portion configured to be coupled with the surface, a receptacle portion configured to receive a mounting bracket, and at least one protrusion extending from the mounting portion. The mounting bracket may include a backing portion, and a coupling portion. The backing portion may define at least one aperture configured to receive the at least one protrusion when the mounting bracket is disposed in the receptacle portion of the mounting plate. The coupling portion may be configured to be coupled with the object, which may be an antenna. The locking plate may be configured to be disposed between at least a portion of the at least one protrusion and at least a portion of the backing portion. |
| US09123984B2 |
Non-resonant node filter
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a filter configured to operate in an operational frequency range. The filter may include a mainline, at least one combline resonator coupled to the mainline, an input port coupled to the mainline, and an output port coupled to the mainline. The mainline may include at least one non-resonant node. The at least one non-resonant node may be configured to resonate in a frequency range outside of the operational frequency range of the filter, and the at least one combline resonator may be configured to resonate in a frequency range within the operational frequency range of the filter. |
| US09123971B2 |
Secondary battery
The object of an exemplary embodiment of the invention is to provide a secondary battery with a high performance in which the generation of the swelling can be suppressed and in which the cycle property is excellent. An exemplary embodiment of the invention is a secondary battery, comprising an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are oppositely disposed, an electrolyte liquid, and a package which encloses the electrode assembly and the electrolyte liquid inside; wherein the negative electrode is formed by binding a negative electrode active substance, which comprises metal (a) that can be alloyed with lithium, metal oxide (b) that can absorb and desorb lithium ion, and carbon material (c) that can absorb and desorb lithium ion, to a negative electrode collector with at least one selected from polyimides and a polyamide-imides; and wherein the electrolyte liquid comprises a compound represented by any one of predetermined formulae. |
| US09123970B2 |
Lithium battery binder composition, method for preparing the same and lithium battery including the same
A lithium battery binder composition in accordance with some example embodiments of the inventive concept may include a lithium ion polymer, an inorganic particle and an organic solution in which a lithium salt is dissolved. The lithium ion polymer may be a cellulosic polymer having sulfonic acid lithium salt or carboxylic acid lithium salt functional group. The lithium ion polymer may be manufactured by substituting hydroxyl group or carboxylic group of cellulosic polymer. The lithium battery binder composition may be used to at least one of an electrolyte, a cathode layer and an anode layer. |
| US09123965B2 |
Method of preparing nano-sized catalyst on carbon support
The present invention provides a method of synthesizing a nano-sized transition metal catalyst on a carbon support, including dissolving a stabilizer in ethanol thus preparing a mixture solution, adding a support to the mixture solution thus preparing a dispersion solution, dissolving a transition metal precursor in ethanol thus preparing a precursor solution, mixing the precursor solution with the dispersion solution with stirring, and then performing reduction, thus preparing the nano-sized transition metal catalyst. This method enables the synthesis of transition metal nanoparticles supported on carbon powder having a narrow particle size distribution and a wide degree of dispersion through a simple process, and is thus usefully applied to the formation of an electrode material or the like of a fuel cell. |
| US09123964B2 |
Fuel cell electrode and production process thereof
A fuel cell electrode that contains a support layer and a catalyst layer, wherein the catalyst layer does not contain a noble metal catalyst and is formed of carbon nanotubes, wherein the carbon nanotubes have pores in sidewalls thereof, and have a pore size distribution of 0.1 nm to 30 nm and a BET specific surface area of 100 to 4,000 m2/g, wherein the pores penetrate or do not penetrate the sidewalls. |
| US09123963B2 |
Direct coated membrane electrode assembly on external reinforcement for fuel cells
Disclosed are methods for fabricating a reinforced membrane electrode assembly having one or more freestanding external reinforcement layers. The method comprises providing a freestanding external reinforcement layer, and depositing a catalyst solution and membrane solution onto at least a portion of the freestanding external reinforcement layer. |
| US09123962B2 |
Flow battery having electrodes with a plurality of different pore sizes and or different layers
A flow battery includes an electrode operable to be wet by a solution having a reversible redox couple reactant. In one embodiment, the electrode can have plurality of micro and macro pores, wherein the macro pores have a size at least one order of magnitude greater than a size of the micro pores. In another embodiment, the electrode includes a plurality of layers, wherein one of the plurality of layers has a plurality of macro pores, and wherein another one of the plurality of layers has a plurality of micro pores. In another embodiment, the electrode has a thickness less than approximately 2 mm. In still another embodiment, the electrode has a porous carbon layer, wherein the layer is formed of a plurality of particles bound together. |
| US09123961B2 |
Three-dimensional net-like aluminum porous body, electrode using the aluminum porous body, nonaqueous electrolyte battery using the electrode, and nonaqueous electrolyte capacitor using the electrode
Provided are a three-dimensional net-like aluminum porous body in which the diameter of cells in the porous body is uneven in the thickness direction of the porous body; a current collector and an electrode each using the aluminum porous body; and methods for producing these members. The porous body is a three-dimensional net-like aluminum porous body in a sheet form, for a current collector, in which the diameter of cells in the porous body is uneven in the thickness direction of the porous body. When a cross section in the thickness direction of the three-dimensional net-like aluminum porous body is divided into three regions of a region 1, a region 2 and a region 3 in this order, the average cell diameter of the regions 1 and 3 is preferably different from the cell diameter of the region 2. |
| US09123959B2 |
High energy cathode material
A composition for use in a battery electrode comprising a compound including lithium, manganese, nickel, and oxygen. The composition is characterized by a powder X-ray diffraction pattern having peaks including 18.6±0.2, 35.0±0.2, 36.4±0.2, 37.7±0.2, 42.1±0.2, and 44.5±0.2 degrees 2θ as measured using Cu Kα radiation. |
| US09123958B2 |
Cathode active material for lithium secondary battery
Disclosed is a cathode active material for secondary batteries, comprising at least one compound selected from the following Formula 1: xLi2MO3*yLiM′O2*zLi3PO4 (1) wherein M is at least one element selected from 1 period or 2 period metals having an oxidation number of +4; M′ is at least one element selected from 1 period or 2 period metals having a mean oxidation number of +3; and 0.1≦x≦0.9, 0.1≦y≦0.9, 0 |
| US09123956B2 |
Cell barrier for secondary battery module and secondary battery module
The cell barrier for a rechargeable battery module of the present invention includes a metal body and an insulating layer disposed on the surface of the metal body. The cell barrier is interposed between unit cells to electrically insulate between the unit cells. The insulating layer is selected from the group consisting of a resin layer, an inorganic oxide layer, an anodized layer, and a composite layer thereof. The cell barrier also has channels to provide for additional cooling by a heat transfer medium. A single unit cell can also be used with a cell barrier disposed along the unit cell for insulation and cooling. |
| US09123949B2 |
Battery module and battery cell
A battery module having first and second battery cells is provided. The first battery cell has a housing and first and second electrical terminals. The housing extends longitudinally along a first axis and vertically along a second axis. The housing has first, second, third and fourth ends. The first and second ends extend parallel to the first axis. The third and fourth ends extend parallel to the second axis. The first electrical terminal extends from the third end in a direction parallel to the first axis, and has first and second edges extending parallel to the first axis. The first edge is disposed closer to the first end than the second edge of the first electrical terminal. A distance from the second end of the housing to the second edge of the first electrical terminal is greater than a distance from the first end of the housing to the first edge of the first electrical terminal. |
| US09123947B2 |
Secondary battery
A secondary battery includes a case including an internal space, at least one electrode assembly in the case, the electrode assembly including a separator between a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate, and the positive and negative electrode plates including uncoated portions at edges of the electrode assembly, at least one current collector piece coupled to the uncoated portions of the electrode assembly, the at least one current collector piece being inserted into an interior region of the uncoated portions, a current collector terminal coupled to the current collector piece and protruding to an upper portion of the case, and a cap plate coupled to the upper portion of the case. |
| US09123946B2 |
Fuel cell stack
A fuel cell of a fuel cell stack includes separators. Each of the separators includes a fuel gas supply section, a bridge, and a sandwiching section. A fuel gas supply passage extends through the center of the fuel gas supply section, and a fuel gas supply channel is formed in the bridge. A plurality of the fuel cells are stacked together to form a stack body. Side insulating members are provided in parallel with an extension line extending from the bridge, and along both of outer portions of the sandwiching section. The side insulating members suppress heat radiation from the fuel cells, and are used as a reference level for positioning the fuel cells at the time of stacking the fuel cells. |
| US09123941B2 |
Protected active metal electrode and battery cell structures with non-aqueous interlayer architecture
Active metal and active metal intercalation electrode structures and battery cells having ionically conductive protective architecture including an active metal (e.g., lithium) conductive impervious layer separated from the electrode (anode) by a porous separator impregnated with a non-aqueous electrolyte (anolyte). This protective architecture prevents the active metal from deleterious reaction with the environment on the other (cathode) side of the impervious layer, which may include aqueous or non-aqueous liquid electrolytes (catholytes) and/or a variety of electrochemically active materials, including liquid, solid and gaseous oxidizers. Safety additives and designs that facilitate manufacture are also provided. |
| US09123927B2 |
Secondary battery
A secondary battery that can induce an internal short circuit in accordance with a stimulus, for example, excessive internal pressure or temperature, is provided. The secondary battery includes an electrode assembly, a collecting plate electrically connected to the electrode assembly and having a short circuit hole, a short circuit member including a short circuit plate installed in the short circuit hole, a case accommodating the electrode assembly and the collecting plate and having an opening, and a cap assembly including a cap plate sealing the opening of the case. The short circuit plate faces the cap plate. |
| US09123926B2 |
Secondary battery with terminal plate
A secondary battery including: an electrode assembly including two electrode taps; and a cap assembly including a terminal plate. The terminal plate includes a tap connecting portion that is laser welded to one of the electrode taps. The tap connecting portion includes a curved portion that has an apex that extends along the length of the terminal plate, to which the one electrode tap is welded. |
| US09123923B2 |
Use of porous membrane and composite membrane thereof in redox flow energy storage battery
Disclosed is use of a porous membrane and a composite membrane thereof in a redox flow batteries, and in particular the use thereof in a vanadium redox flow battery. The membrane can effectively realize the separation of ions with different valence states, and an ion transfer without any ion exchange group. The pore size and structure of the porous membrane can be controlled by filling an inorganic substance or grafting an ion exchange group in the pore, in order to improve the barrier properties of the porous membrane for vanadium ions and to increase proton conductivity. |
| US09123922B2 |
Lithium ion battery exterior material
A lithium ion battery exterior material, includes: a base material layer, and a sequentially laminated adhesive layer, aluminum foil layer provided with a corrosion prevention treated layer, and an adhesive resin layer on one surface of the base material layer; wherein, the adhesive resin layer contains an acid-modified polyolefin resin and a miscible elastomer dispersed in the acid-modified polyolefin at a dispersed phase size of 1 nm to less than 1 μm. |
| US09123919B2 |
Rechargeable battery and heat treatment device
An embodiment of the present invention provides a rechargeable battery that prevents generation of a crack under the longitudinal compression condition by increasing an elongation ratio to a part of the bottom of the case to prevent an internal short-circuit. A rechargeable battery according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a case receiving an electrode assembly; a cap plate covering an opening of the case; and an electrode terminal provided in the cap plate and electrically connected to the electrode assembly, the case includes side walls connected with each other and forming the opening in one side and a bottom connecting neighboring side walls at the opposite side of the opening for sealing, and the bottom a first elongation portion having a first elongation ratio and a second elongation portion having a second elongation ratio that is higher than the first elongation ratio. |
| US09123918B2 |
Electric storage device
There is provided an electric storage device in which an electrode assembly enclosed in an insulating cover can be smoothly inserted in a case and the electrode assembly is positioned in place inside the case when housed in the case. The electric storage device according to the present invention includes an electrode assembly, an insulating cover covering the electrode assembly, and a case including a case body having a rectangular box shape and having an opening, the case body being configured to house the electrode assembly and the insulating cover, wherein the insulating cover is formed into a rectangular box shape conforming to the case body, and a portion of each of edges at which adjacent side surfaces of the insulating cover meet each other is beveled into a beveled part, the portion being close to the bottom of the insulating cover. |
| US09123913B2 |
Organic electroluminescence element, lighting device, and display device
An object of the present invention is to provide an organic EL element having high light extraction efficiency and to provide a lighting device and a display device provided using the organic EL element. The organic EL element 1 includes: a transparent substrate 2 having a refractive index of 1.8 or more; a stacked body 6 that is provided on the substrate 2 and includes at least one pair of electrodes 3 and 4 and an organic light-emitting layer 5 located between the pair of electrodes 3 and 4; and a porous light-scattering body 2a that is provided on a surface of the substrate 2, the surface being opposite to the stacked body 6. |
| US09123912B2 |
Light-emitting device and manufacturing method thereof
To provide a method for manufacturing light-emitting devices with different emission colors using EL layers formed using the same apparatus and condition, and a light-emitting device with high added value. A substrate in which a transparent conductive layer is formed in advance on a surface over which an EL layer is to be formed and another substrate in which a transparent conductive layer with a thickness different from that of the transparent conductive layer are prepared, and EL layers are formed over the substrates using the same apparatus and condition. Thus, even when the EL layers are formed using the same apparatus and condition, optical path lengths of the substrates can be different. |
| US09123911B2 |
Display apparatus
Provided is a display apparatus that is bendable. The display apparatus includes: a substrate including a display region that includes a plurality of light-emitting devices and an edge region that surrounds the display region; and a thin-film encapsulation layer on the display region and the edge region of the substrate. The thin-film encapsulation layer includes a plurality of inorganic films and at least one organic film disposed between the plurality of the inorganic films. At least one of the plurality of the inorganic films of the thin-film encapsulation layer includes inorganic patterns. |
| US09123910B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display device and display panel thereof
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device and a display panel thereof are provided. The organic light emitting diode display panel comprises a first substrate, a first electrode, an organic light emitting layer, a second electrode, and a second substrate. The first electrode is disposed on the first substrate. The organic light emitting layer is disposed on the first electrode. The second electrode is disposed on the organic light emitting layer. The second substrate is located on the second electrode. The material of the second electrode comprises an alkaline earth element and silver. The second electrode comprises a first portion and a second portion, and the first portion is located between the second portion and the first substrate. The ratios of the alkaline earth element to silver in the first portion and in the second portion are different. |
| US09123909B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display
An organic light emitting diode display is disclosed In one aspect, the display includes a display panel, a grid layer positioned on the display panel, wherein the grid layer includes a plurality of protrusions formed of a first protrusion and a second protrusion formed on a surface of the first protrusion, and a window positioned on the grid layer. |
| US09123902B2 |
Semiconductor compound
A thiaxanthenothiaxanthene compound of Formula (I): wherein R1 to R10 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an alkylthio group, an alkenyl group, a substituted alkenyl group, an ethynyl group, a substituted ethynyl group, an aryl group, a substituted aryl group, a heteroaryl group, a substituted heteroaryl group, a trialkylsilyl group, a fluorohydrocarbon group, a cyano group and a halogen; and wherein the semiconductor of Formula (I) is predominantly crystalline or liquid crystalline. The compounds are designed to ensure air stability, good solubility, and high mobility. |
| US09123896B2 |
Organic electronic device containing an organic semiconductor material film which contains a leaving substituent-containing compound
A leaving substituent-containing compound including a partial structure represented by the following General Formula (I): where a pair of X1 and X2 or a pair of Y1 and Y2 each represent a hydrogen atom; the other pair each represent a group selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom and a substituted or unsubstituted acyloxy group having one or more carbon atoms; a pair of the acyloxy groups represented by the pair of X1 and X2 or the pair of Y1 and Y2 may be identical or different, or may be bonded together to form a ring; R1 to R4 each represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent; and Q1 and Q2 each represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a monovalent organic group, and may be bonded together to form a ring. |
| US09123895B2 |
Photovoltaic cell with thiazole-containing polymer
Photovoltaic cells with thiazole-containing polymers, as well as related components, systems, and methods, are disclosed. |
| US09123891B2 |
Diode for variable-resistance material memories, processes of forming same, and methods of using same
A variable-resistance material memory (VRMM) device includes a container conductor disposed over an epitaxial semiconductive prominence that is coupled to a VRMM. A VRMM device may also include a conductive plug in a recess that is coupled to a VRMM. A VRMM array may also include a conductive plug in a surrounding recess that is coupled to a VRMM. Apparatuses include the VRMM with one of the diode constructions. |
| US09123887B2 |
Magnetic electronic device
A magnetic electronic device comprises a substrate, a buffer layer, a first CoFeB layer, a first metal oxidation layer and a capping layer. The buffer layer is disposed above the substrate. The first CoFeB layer is disposed above the buffer layer. The first metal oxidation layer is disposed above the first CoFeB layer. The capping layer is disposed above the first metal oxidation layer and covers the first metal oxidation layer. A manufacturing method of the magnetic electronic device is also disclosed. |
| US09123864B2 |
Semiconductor light-emitting element
A semiconductor light-emitting element capable of increasing a strength of adhesion between an electrode and a protection film.The semiconductor light-emitting element includes a semiconductor structure having an n-type semiconductor layer and a p-type semiconductor layer. A transparent conductive film is disposed on the p-type semiconductor layer. An insulation film is disposed on the transparent conductive film. A p-side electrode layer is disposed on the insulation film. A protection film is disposed over the insulation film, and the protection film covers part of the p-side electrode layer. |
| US09123861B2 |
Solar battery, manufacturing method thereof, and solar battery module
A solar battery includes a transparent electrode and a collector electrode in this order on the surface of a light incident surface side of a photoelectric conversion layer. The collector electrode is formed in a predetermined region on the photoelectric conversion layer and a first transparent electrode of the transparent electrode is formed only in a region right under the collector electrode in contact with the photoelectric conversion layer and the collector electrode. A second transparent electrode of the transparent electrode is formed in a region on the photoelectric conversion layer where the collector electrode is not formed and on the collector electrode in contact with the photoelectric conversion layer or the collector electrode. The carrier concentration of the first transparent electrode is higher than the carrier concentration of the second transparent electrode. |
| US09123859B2 |
Module-level processing of silicon photovoltaic cells
A method for module-level processing of photovoltaic cells is provided. The method includes: bonding at least one crystalline silicon photovoltaic substrate to a carrier by means of an adhesive layer, thereby leaving part of the adhesive layer uncovered; after bonding, exposing the uncovered part of the adhesive layer and the at least one crystalline silicon photovoltaic substrate to a plasma; and removing a surface portion of the at least one crystalline photovoltaic substrate. The method may further include performing an annealing step of the adhesive before bonding the at least one photovoltaic substrate to the carrier, and performing an outgassing step of the adhesive after bonding the at least one photovoltaic substrate to the carrier. The method may further include module-level rear side processing of the at least one crystalline silicon photovoltaic substrate to make a photovoltaic module. |
| US09123857B2 |
Thermoelectric material and method for manufacturing the same
A thermoelectric material and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The thermoelectric material includes a mixture of nano-thermoelectric crystal particles, micron-thermoelectric crystal particles and nano-metal particles. |
| US09123853B2 |
Series connected segmented LED
A light source and method for making the same are disclosed. The light source includes a conducting substrate, and a light emitting structure that is divided into segments. The light emitting structure includes a first layer of semiconductor material of a first conductivity type deposited on the substrate, an active layer overlying the first layer, and a second layer of semiconductor material of an opposite conductivity type from the first conductivity type overlying the active layer. A barrier divides the light emitting structure into first and second segments that are electrically isolated from one another. A serial connection electrode connects the first layer in the first segment to the second layer in the second segment. A power contact is electrically connected to the second layer in the first segment, and a second power contact electrically connected to the first layer in the second segment. |
| US09123850B2 |
Systems and methods for generating electric current from hyperthermal chemical reaction
An electric generator is disclosed that includes a duct configured to direct hyperthermal air molecules toward a source of exothermic fuel, a fuel dispenser configured to dispense fuel into a flow of the hyperthermal air molecules to cause a hyperthermic chemical reaction between the fuel and the hyperthermal air molecules that produces highly internally excited air molecules. The excited molecules amplify a seed current. Power harvesting cells are configured to capture and convert the amplified current to electricity. |
| US09123849B2 |
Photovoltaic device
Some photovoltaic cells have a front face accepting incoming incident light and opaque gridlines overlying part of the front face, electrically bonded to the face, with upper reflective facets oblique to the plane of the front face and producing outgoing reflected light. An optical interface parallel to and in front of the front face transmits incoming light to the front face and to the gridlines and reflects back towards the front face by total internal reflection at least some of the outgoing reflected light. Some photovoltaic devices have a triple junction photovoltaic cell, a single junction photovoltaic cell, and a reflective surface arranged to distribute incoming light between the cells. The surface may be a frequency-selective mirror that apportions light so when the cells are in series the power produced, and preferably the photocurrent, is greater than if all the light fell on the triple junction cell alone. |
| US09123845B2 |
Dust removal from solar cells
A solar panel cleaning device includes a solar panel having a plurality of photovoltaic cells arranged in rows and embedded in the solar panel with space between the rows. A transparent dielectric overlay is affixed to the solar panel. A plurality of electrode pairs each of which includes an upper and a lower electrode are arranged on opposite sides of the transparent dielectric and are affixed thereto. The electrodes may be transparent electrodes which may be arranged without concern for blocking sunlight to the solar panel. The solar panel may be a dielectric and its dielectric properties may be continuously and spatially variable. Alternatively the dielectric used may have dielectric segments which produce different electrical field and which affects the wind “generated.” |
| US09123840B2 |
Solar cell element manufacturing method, solar cell element, and solar cell module
A method for manufacturing a solar cell element is disclosed. The method includes two different etching processes followed by forming a semiconductor layer. A semiconductor substrate having a first conductor type is etched by using a first acid aqueous solution containing hydrofluoric acid, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid. Then, the semiconductor substrate is etched by using a second acid aqueous solution containing hydrofluoric acid and nitric acid with substantially no sulfuric acid to make an uneven surface. A semiconductor layer of second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type is formed on at least a part of the uneven surface of the semiconductor substrate. |
| US09123836B2 |
Solar cell sealing film and solar cell using the same
The solar cell sealing film according to the present invention includes ethylene-methyl methacrylate copolymer, a crosslinker and a silane coupling agent, wherein the crosslinker is contained in an amount of 0.05 to 0.7 part by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the ethylene-methyl methacrylate copolymer, and the silane coupling agent is contained in an amount of 0.1 to 0.7 part by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the ethylene-methyl methacrylate copolymer, and wherein the ethylene-methyl methacrylate copolymer has a methyl methacrylate content of 25 to 35% by weight. |
| US09123835B2 |
Connected structure and method for manufacture thereof
A method for electrically connecting a surface electrode of a solar battery cell and a wiring member via a conductive adhesive film, wherein the conductive adhesive film contains an insulating adhesive and conductive particles, and wherein when the ten point height of roughness profile and maximum height of the surface of the surface electrode in contact with the conductive adhesive film are Rz (μm) and Ry (μm) respectively, the average particle diameter r (μm) of the conductive particles is equal to or greater than the ten point height of roughness profile Rz, and the thickness t (μm) of the conductive adhesive film is equal to or greater than the maximum height Ry. |
| US09123831B2 |
Semiconductor device, nitride semiconductor wafer, and method for forming nitride semiconductor layer
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a functional layer of a nitride semiconductor. The functional layer is provided on a nitride semiconductor layer including a first stacked multilayer structure provided on a substrate. The first stacked multilayer structure includes a first lower layer, a first intermediate layer, and a first upper layer. The first lower layer contains Si with a first concentration and has a first thickness. The first intermediate layer is provided on the first lower layer to be in contact with the first lower layer, contains Si with a second concentration lower than the first concentration, and has a second thickness thicker than the first thickness. The first upper layer is provided on the first intermediate layer to be in contact with the first intermediate layer, contains Si with a third concentration lower than the second concentration, and has a third thickness. |
| US09123829B2 |
Method for producing chip stacks
The present disclosures relates to a method for producing ultrathin chip stacks and chip stacks. Generally, a plurality of first semiconductor chips is formed in a wafer. A second semiconductor chip is applied to each of the plurality of first semiconductor chips via a connection layer and a stabilization layer is applied to fill in the interspace between each of the second semiconductor chips. The wafer, semiconductor chip, and stabilization layer are thinned and the wafer is diced to produce a plurality of singulated chip stacks. |
| US09123825B2 |
Methods for fabricating FinFET integrated circuits using laser interference lithography techniques
A method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes providing a semiconductor substrate with a pad layer overlying the semiconductor substrate and a photoresist layer overlying the pad layer, exposing the photoresist layer to a split laser beam to form a plurality of parallel linear void regions in the photoresist layer, and etching the pad layer and the semiconductor substrate beneath the plurality of parallel linear void regions to form a plurality of extended parallel linear void regions. The method further includes depositing a first dielectric material over the semiconductor substrate, patterning a photoresist material over the semiconductor substrate to cover a portion of the semiconductor substrate, and etching portions of the pad layer, the first dielectric material, and the semiconductor substrate. Still further, the method includes depositing a second dielectric material into the second void regions. |
| US09123823B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
According to embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, includes: a memory cell region; and a peripheral region, the memory cell region including: a semiconductor layer including semiconductor regions; control gate electrodes; a first insulating film; a semiconductor-containing layer having a smaller thickness than the first insulating film; and a second insulating film, the peripheral region including: the semiconductor layer; a third insulating film; the semiconductor-containing layer, and a periphery of the semiconductor-containing layer being surrounded by an element isolation region; the first insulating film provided on the semiconductor-containing layer; and a pair of conductive layers extending from a surface of the first insulating film to reach the third insulating film via the semiconductor-containing layer, and the pair of conductive layers being in contact with part of a lower surface of the semiconductor-containing layer. |
| US09123822B2 |
Split gate non-volatile flash memory cell having a silicon-metal floating gate and method of making same
A non-volatile memory cell includes a substrate of a first conductivity type with first and second spaced apart regions of a second conductivity type, forming a channel region therebetween. A select gate is insulated from and disposed over a first portion of the channel region which is adjacent to the first region. A floating gate is insulated from and disposed over a second portion of the channel region which is adjacent the second region. Metal material is formed in contact with the floating gate. A control gate is insulated from and disposed over the floating gate. An erase gate includes a first portion insulated from and disposed over the second region and is insulated from and disposed laterally adjacent to the floating gate, and a second portion insulated from and laterally adjacent to the control gate and partially extends over and vertically overlaps the floating gate. |
| US09123821B2 |
Electrode for oxide semiconductor, method of forming the same, and oxide semiconductor device provided with the electrode
To make it possible to form a metal electrode of low electrical contact resistance on a conductive indium-containing oxide semiconductor layer constituting a device active layer of a thin-film transistor or the like. Between an indium-containing oxide semiconductor layer and a metal electrode layer provided above this layer for passing device operating current, which can reduce indium oxide or the like of the oxide semiconductor layer. A metallic oxide layer and a metal layer are formed using as material a metal film including an easily oxidable metal, and further an indium-rich layer in which reduced indium is accumulated is formed at a boundary between the metallic oxide layer and the metal layer. |
| US09123819B2 |
Liquid crystal display and TFT array substrate comprising a zinc oxide semiconductor layer and an OHMIC contact layer
The embodiments of the disclosed technology provide a liquid crystal display, a thin film transistor array substrate and a method for manufacturing thin film transistor array substrate. The TFT array substrate comprises: a semiconductor layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode formed adjoining the semiconductor layer, a thin film transistor channel region being defined between the source electrode and the drain electrode; and an ohmic contact layer formed between the semiconductor layer and the drain electrode and between the semiconductor layer and the source electrode, wherein the material of the semiconductor layer is zinc oxide (ZnO) and the material of the ohmic contact layer is GaxZn1-xO, where 0≦x≦1. |
| US09123810B2 |
Semiconductor integrated device including FinFET device and protecting structure
A semiconductor integrated device includes a substrate, a plurality of active fins, and a plurality of first protecting fins. The substrate includes an active region, and the active fins are positioned in the active region. The active region is surrounded by the first protecting fins. The active fins and the first protecting fins all extend along a first direction. |
| US09123805B2 |
Method to manufacture short channel trench MOSFET
Aspects of the present disclosure describe a trench MOSFET with a channel length that may be controlled by counterdoping the body-drain junction to form a straggle region adjacent to the trenches. The channel length is defined between the straggle region at the bottom and a source region at the top. Both of the straggle region and the source region are of the same conductivity type though they may be different ion species. |
| US09123804B2 |
LDMOS minority carrier shunting
A device includes a semiconductor substrate, source and drain regions in the semiconductor substrate and having a first conductivity type, a gate structure supported by the semiconductor substrate between the source and drain regions, a first well region in the semiconductor substrate, having a second conductivity type, and in which a channel region is formed under the gate structure during operation, and a second well region adjacent the first well region, having the second conductivity type, and having a higher dopant concentration than the first well region, to establish a path to carry charge carriers of the second conductivity type away from a parasitic bipolar transistor involving a junction between the channel region and the source region. |
| US09123794B2 |
Dicing die bond film
The present invention provides a dicing die bond film in which peeling electrification hardly occurs and which has good tackiness and workability. The dicing die bond film of the present invention is a dicing die bond film including a dicing film and a thermosetting type die bond film provided thereon, wherein the thermosetting type die bond film contains conductive particles, the volume resistivity of the thermosetting type die bond film is 1×10−6 Ω·cm or more and 1×10−3 Ω·cm or less, and the tensile storage modulus of the thermosetting type die bond film at −20° C. before thermal curing is 0.1 to 10 GPa. |
| US09123789B2 |
Chip with through silicon via electrode and method of forming the same
The present invention provides a method of forming a chip with TSV electrode. A substrate with a first surface and a second surface is provided. A thinning process is performed from a side of the second surface so the second surface becomes a third surface. Next, a penetration via which penetrates through the first surface and the third surface is formed in the substrate. A patterned material layer is formed on the substrate, wherein the patterned material layer has an opening exposes the penetration via. A conductive layer is formed on the third surface thereby simultaneously forming a TSV electrode in the penetration via and a surface conductive layer in the opening. |
| US09123784B2 |
Memory process and memory structure made thereby
A memory process is described. A substrate is provided, having therein trenches and conductive lines buried in the trenches and having thereon an array area, wherein each of the conductive lines has an array portion in the array area. A contact area apart from the array area is defined on the substrate, wherein each of the conductive lines has a contact portion in the contact area. The substrate between the contact portions of the conductive lines is etched down to below the tops of the conductive layers to form gaps between the contact portions of the conductive lines. The gaps are then filled with an insulating layer. |
| US09123783B2 |
Integrated circuits and methods of forming integrated circuits with interlayer dielectric protection
Integrated circuits and methods of forming integrated circuits are provided herein. In an embodiment, a method of forming an integrated circuit includes providing a base substrate having an embedded electrical contact disposed therein. An interlayer dielectric is formed overlying the base substrate, and a recess is etched through the interlayer dielectric over the embedded electrical contact. A protecting liner is formed in the recess and over an exposed surface of the embedded electrical contact in the recess. The protecting liner includes at least two liner layers that have materially different etch rates in different etchants. A portion of the protecting liner is removed over the surface of the embedded electrical contact to again expose the surface of the embedded electrical contact in the recess. An embedded electrical interconnect is formed in the recess. The embedded electrical interconnect overlies the protecting liner on sides of the recess. |
| US09123780B2 |
Method and structures for heat dissipating interposers
A method for making an interconnect element includes depositing a thermally conductive layer on an in-process unit. The in-process unit includes a semiconductor material layer defining a surface and edges surrounding the surface, a plurality of conductive elements, each conductive element having a first portion extending through the semiconductor material layer and a second portion extending from the surface of the semiconductor material layer. Dielectric coatings extend over at least the second portion of each conductive element. The thermally conductive layer is deposited on the in-process unit at a thickness of at least 10 microns so as to overlie a portion of the surface of the semiconductor material layer between the second portions of the conductive elements with the dielectric coatings positioned between the conductive elements and the thermally conductive layer. |
| US09123779B2 |
Semiconductor device and production method therefor
A semiconductor device having a multi-level interconnection structure including a plurality of interconnection layers stacked one on another on a semiconductor substrate is provided, and a production method for the semiconductor device. In the production method, forming each of the interconnection layers of the multi-level interconnection structure includes: forming a real interconnection and a dummy interconnection, forming an insulative film covering the real interconnection and the dummy interconnection, and planarizing a surface of the insulative film. The production method may include computing an in-plane distribution of an overall thickness of the multi-level interconnection structure to be expected when no dummy interconnection is formed; and defining a dummy present zone and a dummy absent zone. The dummy interconnection is formed in the defined dummy present zone outside the defined dummy absent zone in each of the interconnection layers. |
| US09123773B1 |
T-shaped single diffusion barrier with single mask approach process flow
Methods of forming a T-shaped SBD using a single-mask process flow are disclosed. Embodiments include providing a substrate having STI regions; forming a hard mask layer over the substrate and the STI regions, the hard mask having an opening laterally separated from the STI regions; forming a recess in the substrate through the opening, the recess having a first width; forming spacers on sidewalls of the recess, with a gap therebetween; forming a trench in the substrate through the gap, the trench having a second width less than the first; removing the spacers; removing the hard mask layer; filling the trench and the recess with an oxide layer, forming a T-shaped STI region; forming another hard mask layer on a portion of the T-shaped STI region; and revealing a Fin by removing portions of the STI regions and the T-shaped STI region. |
| US09123766B2 |
Transistor and method of manufacturing a transistor
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a transistor is disclosed. The transistor comprises a collector, a base and an emitter, wherein a first end width of the base is larger than a middle width of the base, wherein a first end width of the collector is larger than a middle width of the collector, or wherein a first end width of the emitter is larger than a middle width of the emitter. |
| US09123765B2 |
Susceptor support shaft for improved wafer temperature uniformity and process repeatability
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to susceptor support shafts and process chambers containing the same. A susceptor support shaft supports a susceptor thereon, which in turn, supports a substrate during processing. The susceptor support shaft reduces variations in temperature measurement of the susceptor and/or substrate by providing a consistent path for a pyrometer focal beam directed towards the susceptor and/or substrate, even when the susceptor support shaft is rotated. The susceptor support shafts also have a relatively low thermal mass which increases the ramp up and ramp down rates of a process chamber. |
| US09123761B2 |
Substrate transferring device
A substrate transferring device is disclosed. In one aspect, the substrate transferring device includes substrate to transfer the substrate in one direction and a plurality of side rollers. Each roller includes a side roller main body configured to rotate while contacting a side surface of the substrate to prevent the substrate from being deviated from the one direction. The roller also includes a side roller support which is coupled to a lower part of the side roller main body or a lower part of the side roller main body when the side roller main body is turned upside down in a vertical direction to vary a position of a contact line where the side surface of the substrate is in contact with the side roller main body. The roller further includes a fixing member which is coupled to the side roller support inside the side roller main body. |
| US09123758B2 |
Gas injection apparatus and substrate process chamber incorporating same
Methods and apparatus for mixing and delivery of process gases are provided herein. In some embodiments, a gas injection apparatus includes an elongate top plenum comprising a first gas inlet; an elongate bottom plenum disposed beneath and supporting the top plenum, the bottom plenum comprising a second gas inlet; a plurality of first conduits disposed through the bottom plenum and having first ends fluidly coupled to the top plenum and second ends disposed beneath the bottom plenum; and a plurality of second conduits having first ends fluidly coupled to the bottom plenum and second ends disposed beneath the bottom plenum; wherein a lower end of the bottom plenum is adapted to fluidly couple the gas injection apparatus to a mixing chamber such that the second ends of the plurality of first conduits and the second ends of the plurality of second conduits are in fluid communication with the mixing chamber. |
| US09123755B2 |
System and method for controlling a thermal array
A system and method is provided. The system and method calculate target setpoints for each thermal element and index through each thermal element to provide power to the thermal element, sense an electrical characteristic of the thermal element, and determine if the thermal element exceeds a target setpoint for the thermal element based on the sensed electrical characteristic. |
| US09123747B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and manufacturing method thereof
According to one embodiment, a plurality of memory cell transistors including a floating gate and a control gate and a plurality of peripheral circuit transistors including a lower electrode portion and an upper electrode portion are included. The floating gate includes a first polysilicon region, and the lower electrode includes a second polysilicon region. The first polysilicon region is a p-type semiconductor in which boron is doped, and the second polysilicon region is an n-type semiconductor in which phosphorus and boron are doped. |
| US09123743B2 |
FinFETs and methods for forming the same
Methods for forming a semiconductor device and a FinFET device are disclosed. A method comprises forming a dummy gate electrode layer over a substrate, the dummy gate electrode layer having a first height, forming a first etch stop layer on the dummy gate electrode layer, forming a first hard mask layer on the first etch stop layer, and patterning the first hard mask layer. The method further comprises patterning the first etch stop layer to align with the patterned first hard mask layer, and patterning the gate electrode layer to form a dummy gate electrode, the dummy gate electrode aligning with the patterned first etch stop layer, wherein after the patterning the gate electrode layer the first hard mask layer has a vertical sidewall of a second height, the second height being less than the first height, and the first hard mask layer having a rounded top surface. |
| US09123742B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first gate electrode on a semiconductor substrate in a first transistor region; forming a channel dose region; and forming a first source extension region, wherein the channel dose region is formed by using a first mask as a mask and by ion-implanting a first dopant of the first conductivity type, and the first mask covering a drain side of the first gate electrode and covering a drain region, and the first source extension region is formed by using a second mask and the gate electrode as masks and by ion-implanting a second dopant of a second conductivity type that is a conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type, the second mask covering the drain side of the first gate electrode and covering the drain region. |
| US09123741B2 |
Metamorphic growth of III-V semiconductor on silicon substrate by MOCVD for high speed III-V transistors
A III-V semiconductor device on a silicon substrate is constructed with a silicon (Si) substrate onto which gallium arsenide (GaAs) indium phosphide (InP) and aluminum indium arsenide (AlInAs) to form a structure of AlInAs over InP over GaAs over Si. The GaAs is applied in at least one layer over the Si, followed by at least one layer of InP and at least one layer of AlInAs. A portion of the structure is doped and a cap or passivation layer is applied. |
| US09123739B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes: a first nitride semiconductor layer; a second nitride semiconductor layer formed over the first nitride semiconductor layer; and a gate electrode facing the second nitride semiconductor layer via a gate insulating film. Because the second nitride semiconductor layer is formed by stacking plural semiconductor layers with their Al composition ratios different from each other, the Al composition ratio of the second nitride semiconductor layer changes stepwise. The semiconductor layers forming the second nitride semiconductor layer are polarized in the same direction so that, among the semiconductor layers, a semiconductor layer nearer to the gate electrode has higher (or lower) intensity of polarization. In other words, the intensities of polarization of the semiconductor layers change with an inclination based on their distances from the gate electrode so that, at each interface between two semiconductor layers, the amount of negative charge becomes larger than that of positive charge. |
| US09123736B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a cell region and a peripheral circuit region defined therein, semiconductor memory elements formed over the semiconductor substrate in the cell region, an interlayer insulating layer formed over the semiconductor substrate in the peripheral circuit region, first conductive layers substantially vertically passing through the interlayer insulating layer, and arranged in a matrix, and second conductive layers coupling the first conductive layers in rows or columns, each pair of the second conductive layers and the first conductive layers coupled to the each pair of the second conductive layers, respectively, forming electrodes of a capacitor. |
| US09123735B2 |
Semiconductor device with combined passive device on chip back side
Semiconductor chips are described that combine a semiconductor device and a capacitor onto a single substrate such that the semiconductor device and the capacitor are electrically isolated from each other. In one example, a semiconductor chip includes a substrate having a first side and a second side, wherein the second side is opposite the first side. The semiconductor chip further includes a semiconductor device formed on the first side of the substrate and an electrically insulating layer formed on at least a portion of the second side of the substrate. The semiconductor chip further includes a capacitor device formed on at least a portion of the electrically insulating layer on the second side of the substrate, wherein the capacitor device is electrically insulated from the semiconductor device. |
| US09123734B2 |
Semiconductor-encapsulating adhesive, semiconductor-encapsulating film-form adhesive, method for producing semiconductor device, and semiconductor device
The present invention relates to a semiconductor-encapsulating adhesive, a semiconductor-encapsulating film-form adhesive, a method for producing a semiconductor device, and a semiconductor device. The present invention provides a semiconductor-encapsulating adhesive comprising (a) an epoxy resin, and (b) a compound formed of an organic acid reactive with an epoxy resin and a curing accelerator. |
| US09123733B1 |
Integrated circuit packaging system with package underfill and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a sacrificial carrier assembly having a stack interconnector thereover; mounting an integrated circuit having a connector over the sacrificial carrier assembly with the connector over the stack interconnector; dispensing an underfill material between the sacrificial carrier assembly and the integrated circuit with the underfill material substantially free of a void; encapsulating the integrated circuit over the sacrificial carrier assembly and the underfill material; exposing the stack interconnector by removing the sacrificial carrier assembly; and forming a base array over the underfill material and the stack interconnector. |
| US09123732B2 |
Die warpage control for thin die assembly
Die warpage is controlled for the assembly of thin dies. In one example, a device having a substrate on a back side and components in front side layers is formed. A backside layer is formed over the substrate, the layer resisting warpage of the device when the device is heated. The device is attached to a substrate by heating. |
| US09123730B2 |
Semiconductor device having through silicon trench shielding structure surrounding RF circuit
The present invention provides a semiconductor device with a shielding structure. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, an RF circuit, a shielding structure and an interconnection system. The substrate includes an active side and a back side. The RF circuit is disposed on the active side of the substrate. The shielding structure is disposed on the active side and encompasses the RF circuit. The shielding structure is grounded. The shielding structure includes a shielding TST which does not penetrate through the substrate. The interconnection system is disposed on the active side of the substrate. The interconnection system includes a connection unit providing a signal to the RF circuit. |
| US09123729B2 |
Alignment mark design for semiconductor device
Better alignment mark designs for semiconductor devices may substantially lessen the frequency of layer misalignment scanner alignment problems. Exemplary alignment mark designs substantially avoid or minimize damage during the fill-in and etching and chemical mechanical processing processes. Thus, additional processing steps to even out various layers or to address the misalignment problems may also be avoided. |
| US09123727B2 |
Airgap interconnect with hood layer and method of forming
An airgap interconnect structure with hood layer and methods for forming such an airgap interconnect structure are disclosed. A substrate having a dielectric layer with a plurality of interconnects formed therein is provided. Each interconnect is encapsulated by a barrier layer. A hardmask is formed on the dielectric layer and patterned to expose the dielectric layer between adjacent interconnects where an airgap is desired. The dielectric layer is etched to form a trench, wherein the etching process additionally etches at least a portion of the barrier layer to expose a portion of the side surface of each adjacent copper interconnect. A hood layer is electrolessly plated onto an exposed portion of the top surface and the exposed portion of the side surface to reseal the interconnect. A gap-sealing dielectric layer is formed over the device, sealing the trench to form an airgap. |
| US09123726B2 |
Selective local metal cap layer formation for improved electromigration behavior
A method of forming a wiring structure for an integrated circuit device includes forming a first metal line within an interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer, and forming a second metal line in the ILD layer adjacent the first metal line; masking selected regions of the first and second metal lines; selectively plating metal cap regions over exposed regions of the first and second metal lines at periodic intervals such that a spacing between adjacent metal cap regions of an individual metal line corresponds to a critical length, L, at which a back stress gradient balances an electromigration force in the individual metal line, so as to suppress mass transport of electrons; and wherein the metal cap regions of the first metal line are formed at staggered locations with respect to the metal cap regions of the second metal line, along a common longitudinal axis. |
| US09123723B2 |
Line structure for repair and flat panel display device having the same
A line structure for repair may include a first line in a first direction, a second line parallel with the first line, the second line having side portions extending along a second direction from respective end portions and coupled to the first line, and a third line intersecting the first and second lines, wherein at least one portion of the second line is made of undoped poly-silicon. |
| US09123721B2 |
Placement of monolithic inter-tier vias (MIVs) within monolithic three dimensional (3D) integrated circuits (ICs) (3DICs) using clustering to increase usable whitespace
Placement of Monolithic Inter-tier Vias (MIVs) within monolithic three dimensional (3D) integrated circuits (ICs) (3DICs) using clustering to increase usable whitespace is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of placing MIVs in a monolithic 3DIC using clustering is provided. The method comprises determining if any MIV placement clusters are included within a plurality of initial MIV placements of a plurality of MIVs within an initial 3DIC layout plan. The method further comprises aligning each MIV of the plurality of MIVs within each MIV placement cluster in the initial 3DIC layout plan at a final MIV placement for each MIV placement cluster to provide a clustered 3DIC layout plan. |
| US09123718B1 |
Shielded package having shield lid
A shielded package includes a shield assembly having a shield fence, a shield lid, and a shield lid adhesive electrically coupling the shield lid to the shield fence. The shield fence includes a porous sidewall through which molding compound passes during molding of the shielded package. Further, the shield fence includes a central aperture through which an electronic component is die attached and wire bonded. |
| US09123715B2 |
Method of sealing a glass envelope
A method of hermetically sealing a glass assembly comprising glass plates or substrates with a glass-based frit when there is a large difference between the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTEs) of the frit and the CTEs of the glass plates. The method comprises a rapid increase of an irradiating heat source, used to heat and soften the frit, from a non-sealing power to a sealing power over a very short distance along the frit to form an initial stabilizing seal between the substrates. |
| US09123714B2 |
Metal layer air gap formation
Air gaps are provided to reduce interference and resistance between metal bit lines in non-volatile memory structures. Metal vias can be formed that are electrically coupled with the drain region of an underlying device and extend vertically with respect to the substrate surface to provide contacts for bit lines that are elongated in a column direction above. The metal vias can be separated by a dielectric fill material. Layer stack columns extend in a column direction over the dielectric fill and metal vias. Each layer stack column includes a metal bit line over a nucleation line. Each metal via contacts one of the layer stack columns at its nucleation line. A low temperature dielectric liner extends along sidewalls of the layer stack columns. A non-conformal dielectric overlies the layer stack columns defining a plurality of air gaps between the layer stack columns. |
| US09123713B2 |
Lead structures with vertical offsets
A microelectronic structure includes a first row of contacts (14) and a second row of contacts (24) offset from the first row, so that the first and second rows cooperatively define pairs of contacts. These pairs of contacts include first pairs (30a) and second pairs (30b) arranged in alternating sequence in the row direction. The first pairs are provided with low connectors (32a), whereas the second pairs are provided with high connectors (32b). The high connectors and low connectors have sections vertically offset from one another to reduce mutual impedance between adjacent connectors. |
| US09123706B2 |
Electroless filled conductive structures
Techniques are disclosed that enable interconnects, vias, metal gates, and other conductive features that can be formed through electroless material deposition techniques. In some embodiments, the techniques employ electroless fill in conjunction with high growth rate selectivity between an electroless nucleation material (ENM) and electroless suppression material (ESM) to generate bottom-up or otherwise desired fill pattern of such features. Suitable ENM may be present in the underlying or otherwise existing structure, or may be provided. The ESM is provisioned so as to prevent or otherwise inhibit nucleation at the ESM covered areas of the feature, which in turn prevents or otherwise slows down the rate of electroless growth on those areas. As such, the electroless growth rate on the ENM sites is higher than the electroless growth rate on the ESM sites. |
| US09123705B2 |
Conductive ink for filling vias
Vias (holes) are formed in a wafer or a dielectric layer. A low viscosity conductive ink, containing microscopic metal particles, is deposited over the top surface of the wafer to cover the vias. An external force is applied to urge the ink into the vias, including an electrical force, a magnetic force, a centrifugal force, a vacuum, or a suction force for outgassing the air in the vias. Any remaining ink on the surface is removed by a squeegee, spinning, an air knife, or removal of an underlying photoresist layer. The ink in the vias is heated to evaporate the liquid and sinter the remaining metal particles to form a conductive path in the vias. The resulting wafer may be bonded to one or more other wafers and singulated to form a 3-D module. |
| US09123703B2 |
Systems and methods for producing flat surfaces in interconnect structures
Methods and apparatus for forming a semiconductor device are provided which may include any number of features. One feature is a method of forming an interconnect structure that results in the interconnect structure having a co-planar or flat top surface. Another feature is a method of forming an interconnect structure that results in the interconnect structure having a surface that is angled upwards greater than zero with respect to a top surface of the substrate. The interconnect structure can comprise a damascene structure, such as a single or dual damascene structure, or alternatively, can comprise a silicon-through via (TSV) structure. |
| US09123700B2 |
Integrated circuit constructions having through substrate vias and methods of forming integrated circuit constructions having through substrate vias
An integrated circuit construction includes a stack of two or more integrated circuit substrates. At least one of the substrates includes through substrate vias (TSVs) individually comprising opposing ends. A conductive bond pad is adjacent one of the ends on one side of the one substrate. A conductive solder mass is adjacent the other end projecting elevationally on the other side of the one substrate. Individual of the solder masses are bonded to a respective bond pad on an immediately adjacent substrate of the stack. Epoxy flux surrounds the individual solder masses. An epoxy material different in composition from the epoxy flux surrounds the epoxy flux on the individual solder masses. Methods of forming integrated circuit constructions are also disclosed. |
| US09123699B1 |
Formation of package pins in semiconductor packaging
Embodiments provide a method of fabricating a semiconductor package, the method comprising forming a leadframe, wherein the leadframe includes an inner lead, and wherein a bottom surface of the inner lead comprises a first section and a second section; depositing an oxidation resistant material on the first section of the bottom surface of the inner lead; and forming an oxidation layer on the second section of the bottom surface of the inner lead, wherein the oxidation resistant material deposited on the first section of the bottom surface of the inner lead prevents the oxidation layer from forming on the first section of the bottom surface of the inner lead. |
| US09123696B2 |
Semiconductor device
In a semiconductor device including semiconductor modules, it is possible to average the temperatures of the semiconductor modules. At least two semiconductor modules, wherein a plurality of semiconductor circuits, on which are mounted one or more semiconductor chips having a gate terminal and gate resistors connected to the gate terminals, are disposed in parallel, are disposed above a cooling body so that an array direction of the semiconductor circuits is a direction intersecting a refrigerant flow. At least one temperature detecting resistor is disposed in each semiconductor module, a gate signal is supplied to a gate signal input terminal of one semiconductor module of the at least two semiconductor modules via the temperature detecting resistor of the other semiconductor module, and a gate signal is supplied to a gate signal input terminal of the other semiconductor module via the temperature detecting resistor of the one semiconductor module. |
| US09123694B2 |
N/P boundary effect reduction for metal gate transistors
The present disclosure provides a device having a doped active region disposed in a substrate. The doped active region having an elongate shape and extends in a first direction. The device also includes a plurality of first metal gates disposed over the active region such that the first metal gates each extend in a second direction different from the first direction. The plurality of first metal gates includes an outer-most first metal gate having a greater dimension measured in the second direction than the rest of the first metal gates. The device further includes a plurality of second metal gates disposed over the substrate but not over the doped active region. The second metal gates contain different materials than the first metal gates. The second metal gates each extend in the second direction and form a plurality of respective N/P boundaries with the first metal gates. |
| US09123692B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
By reducing the contact resistance between an oxide semiconductor film and a metal film, a transistor that uses an oxide semiconductor film and has excellent on-state characteristics is provided. A semiconductor device includes a pair of electrodes over an insulating surface; an oxide semiconductor film in contact with the pair of electrodes; a gate insulating film over the oxide semiconductor film; and a gate electrode overlapping with the oxide semiconductor film with the gate insulating film interposed therebetween. In the semiconductor device, the pair of electrodes contains a halogen element in a region in contact with the oxide semiconductor film. Further, plasma treatment in an atmosphere containing fluorine can be performed so that the pair of electrodes contains the halogen element in a region in contact with the oxide semiconductor film. |
| US09123691B2 |
Thin-film transistor and method for manufacturing the same
Disclosed herein is a thin film transistor. The thin film transistor is characterized in having a source interconnect layer and a drain interconnect layer. The source electrode and the drain electrode are respectively disposed above and in contact with the source interconnect layer and the drain interconnect layer. The semiconductor layer is in contact with both the source interconnect layer and the drain interconnect layer, but is not in contact with the source electrode and the drain electrode. |
| US09123685B2 |
Microelectronic packages having frontside thermal contacts and methods for the fabrication thereof
Microelectronic packages and methods for fabricating microelectronic packages are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes forming one or more redistribution layers over an encapsulated die having a frontside bond pad area and a frontside passivated non-bond pad area. The redistribution layers are formed to have a frontside opening over the non-bond pad area of the encapsulated die. A primary heat sink body is provided in the frontside opening and thermally coupled to the encapsulated die. A contact array is formed over the redistribution layers and is electrically coupled to a plurality bond pads located on the frontside bond pad area of the encapsulated die. |
| US09123684B2 |
Chip package structure and manufacturing method thereof
A chip package structure including a leadframe, a chip, at least one heat dissipation pillar, and a molding compound is provided. The leadframe includes a die pad and a plurality of leads. The die pad has at least one through hole. The leads surround the die pad. The chip is located on the die pad and electronically connected to the leads. The chip includes an active surface and a back surface opposite to the active surface. The back surface of the chip is adhered to the die pad. The heat dissipation pillar is located on the back surface and passes through the through hole. The molding compound encapsulates the chip, at least parts of the leads, and the die pad. The molding compound includes at least one opening to expose the heat dissipation pillar. A manufacturing method of the chip package structure is also provided. |
| US09123683B2 |
Unit power module and power module package comprising the same
Disclosed herein is a unit power module including: a first semiconductor chip having one surface on which a 1-1-th electrode and a 1-2-th electrode spaced apart from the 1-1-th electrode are formed and the other surface on which a 1-3-th electrode is formed, a second semiconductor chip having one surface on which a 2-1-th electrode is formed and the other surface on which a 2-2-th electrode is formed, a first metal plate contacting the 1-1-th electrode of the first semiconductor chip and the 2-1-th electrode of the second semiconductor chip, a second metal plate contacting the 1-2-th electrode of the first semiconductor chip and spaced apart from the first metal plate, a third metal plate contacting the 1-3-th electrode of the first semiconductor chip and the 2-2-th electrode of the second semiconductor chip, and a sealing member formed to surround the first metal plate, the second metal plate, and the third metal plate. |
| US09123681B2 |
Display panel
A display panel includes a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines, a plurality of power lines, a plurality of light emitting units, a plurality of first pixel circuits and a plurality of second pixel circuits. The plurality of light emitting units are arranged in an array and adapted to display different colors. In the organic light emitting units with the same color, some parts are connected to the first pixel circuits, and other parts are connected to the second pixel circuits. A first terminal and a second terminal of a first control transistor in the first pixel circuit are sequentially arranged on a forward direction of a first direction, and a first terminal and a second terminal of a second control transistor in the second pixel circuit are sequentially arranged on a reverse direction of the first direction. |
| US09123677B2 |
Organic light-emitting display apparatus
An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes an emission pixel in a display area and a spare pixel circuit in a repair area outside the display area. The emission pixels includes a plurality of sub emission pixels each including a driving unit for generating a driving current corresponding to input data signals and an emission device for emitting light by using the driving current. The spare pixel circuit is coupled to a repair line that is coupled to the emission device of one of the sub emission pixels. The spare pixel circuit includes a plurality of driving transistors corresponding to the plurality of sub emission pixels. |
| US09123674B2 |
Display unit, method of manufacturing display unit, and electronic apparatus
A display unit includes: a first substrate including a plurality of light-emission devices in a display region, the plurality of light-emission devices each including an organic layer between a first electrode and a second electrode; a second substrate disposed to face the first substrate with the light-emission devices interposed therebetween; a first peripheral electrode provided on the second substrate and positioned outside the display region; a first wiring provided on the second substrate and configured to be electrically connected to the first peripheral electrode; and a first connection section configured to electrically connect the first wiring and each of the light-emission devices. |
| US09123673B2 |
Wafer back side processing structure and apparatus
Disclosed herein is a method of processing a device, comprising providing a substrate having a buffer layer disposed on a back side and forming an outer protection layer over the back side of the buffer layer, forming a thermal layer on the back side of the outer protection layer and heating the substrate through the thermal layer and the back side of the outer protective layer. A back side protection layer may be formed on the back side of the buffer layer. The thermal layer has a thermal emissivity coefficient of about 0.7 or greater and a thickness greater than a roughness of the back side of the outer protection layer. The back side protection layer is an oxide with a thickness between about 20 angstroms and about 50 angstroms. The outer protection layer is a nitride with a thickness between about 50 angstroms and about 300 angstroms. |
| US09123672B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device in which a reduction in size and thinness are realized is provided. The semiconductor device of the present invention can realize a reduction in size by forming light emitting elements as a light source, and photodiodes as photoelectric conversion elements on the same substrate. Further, it becomes possible to control two signal lines by using one driver circuit with using an output switching circuit. As a result, it becomes possible to reduce the area occupied by the driver circuits of the semiconductor device, and the semiconductor device can be made smaller. |
| US09123670B2 |
Display device and method of manufacturing the same
In one aspect, a display device comprising: a lower substrate, a light-emitting element formed on the lower substrate and comprising a plurality of pixels, an upper substrate disposed on the light-emitting element with a gap therebetween sealed with a sealant, a filler filling the gap between the light-emitting element and the upper substrate, and a light-absorbing material formed between the lower substrate and the upper substrate and selectively absorbing light of a certain wavelength range is provided. |
| US09123669B2 |
Display unit and electronic apparatus
A display unit is provided. The display unit includes a plurality of pixels having first to third sub-pixels each of which corresponds to respective colors of red, green, and blue, and a fourth sub-pixel exhibiting higher luminance than the first to third sub-pixels. In each of the pixels, the first to fourth sub-pixels have light-emitting devices. In the first to third sub-pixels, color filters are provided, and in the fourth sub-pixel, the transmittance of light emitted from the light-emitting device is configured to be reduced at a partial or whole region of the fourth sub-pixel. A difference in the transmittance among the first to third sub-pixels having the color filters and the fourth sub-pixel having no color filter is reduced to ensure an excellent luminance balance, which makes it easy to represent desired chromaticity. |
| US09123668B2 |
Organic light-emitting diode displays with white subpixels
An electronic device may include a display having an array of organic light-emitting diode display pixels that produce light that forms an image. Color filter elements may be used to allow the display to present color images. Each display pixel may have a red subpixel, a blue subpixel, a green subpixel, and a white subpixel. To adjust the color coordinates of the white pixel and thereby ensure that the light from the white pixel has a desired white point, part of the white subpixel may be overlapped by an area of colored color filter material. The white subpixel may, for example have a rectangular white area within which a patch of blue color filter material may be provided to make the white light from the white subpixel more bluish than it would be without the patch of blue color filter material. |
| US09123660B2 |
Chemical mechanical polishing slurry compositions and polishing method using the same
Disclosed herein is a CMP slurry composition. The CMP slurry composition includes cerium oxide particles, an adsorbent for adsorbing the cerium oxide particles to a polishing pad, an adsorption adjusting agent for adjusting adsorption performance of the adsorbent, and a pH adjusting agent. The CMP slurry composition may improve polishing efficiency of a patterned oxide layer and lifespan of a diamond disc conditioner. |
| US09123659B1 |
Method for manufacturing finFET device
A method for manufacturing a finFET device is provided. Firstly, a first multiple layer structure and a second multiple layer structure are formed on a substrate in sequence. Then, a first sacrificial pattern is formed on the second multiple layer structure. A first spacer is next formed on a sidewall of the first sacrificial pattern. Subsequently, a portion of the second multiple layer structure is etched so as to form a second sacrificial pattern by using the first spacer as a hard mask. Next, a second spacer is formed on a sidewall of the second sacrificial pattern. After that, the first multiple layer structure is patterned by using the second spacer as a hard mask. Finally, the substrate is etched so as to form at least a first fin structure by using the patterned first multiple layer structure as a hard mask. |
| US09123644B2 |
Semiconductor device, method of manufacturing semiconductor device and system of processing substrate
A semiconductor device includes a gate insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate; a first conductive metal-containing film formed on the gate insulating film; a second conductive metal-containing film, formed on the first metal-containing film, to which aluminum is added; and a silicon film formed on the second metal-containing film. |
| US09123638B2 |
Multi-heterojunction nanoparticles, methods of manufacture thereof and articles comprising the same
Disclosed herein is a semiconducting nanoparticle comprising a one-dimensional semiconducting nanoparticle having a first end and a second end; where the second end is opposed to the first end; a first node that comprises a first semiconductor; where the first node contacts a radial surface of the one-dimensional semiconducting nanoparticle producing a first heterojunction at the point of contact; and a second node that comprises a second semiconductor; where the second node contacts the radial surface of the one-dimensional semiconducting nanoparticle producing a second heterojunction at the point of contact; where the first heterojunction is compositionally different from the second heterojunction. |
| US09123635B2 |
Manufacturing method of semiconductor device
A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device includes the steps of: forming a first electrode layer on a n-type semiconductor layer; forming a second electrode layer on a p-type semiconductor layer; and performing heat treatment for the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer formed on the semiconductor layers. Temperature of the heat treatment is not lower than 400 degrees centigrade and not higher than 650 degrees centigrade. |
| US09123633B2 |
Methods for forming semiconductor regions in trenches
A structure includes a semiconductor substrate including a first semiconductor material. A portion of the semiconductor substrate extends between insulation regions in the semiconductor substrate. The portion of the semiconductor substrate has a (111) surface and a bottom surface. The (111) surface is slanted and has a top edge and a bottom edge. The bottom surface is parallel to a top surface of the insulation regions, and is connected to the bottom edge. A semiconductor region overlaps the portion of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the semiconductor region includes a second semiconductor material different from the first semiconductor material. The top edge and the bottom edge of the (111) surface are at a first depth and a second depth, respectively, relative to a top surface of the semiconductor region. A ratio of the first depth to the second depth is smaller than about 0.6. |
| US09123632B2 |
Semiconductor device
A highly reliable structure is provided when high-speed driving of a semiconductor device is achieved by improving on-state characteristics of the transistor. The on-state characteristics of the transistor are improved as follows: an end portion of a source electrode and an end portion of a drain electrode overlap with end portions of a gate electrode, and the gate electrode surely overlaps with a region serving as a channel formation region of an oxide semiconductor layer. Further, embedded conductive layers are formed in an insulating layer so that large contact areas are obtained between the embedded conductive layers and the source and drain electrodes; thus, the contact resistance of the transistor can be reduced. Prevention of coverage failure with a gate insulating layer enables the oxide semiconductor layer to be thin; thus, the transistor is miniaturized. |
| US09123631B2 |
Method for molecular adhesion bonding with compensation for radial misalignment
A method for bonding a first wafer on a second wafer by molecular adhesion where the wafers have an initial radial misalignment between them. The method includes bringing the two wafers into contact so as to initiate the propagation of a bonding wave between the two wafers while a predefined bonding curvature is imposed on at least one of the two wafers during the contacting step as a function of the initial radial misalignment. |
| US09123630B2 |
Stacked die package, system including the same, and method of manufacturing the same
A stacked die package includes a package substrate, a first die mounted on the package substrate and electrically connected to the package substrate, a second die electrically connected to the package substrate, and an interposer mounted on the package substrate and including a plurality of vertical electrical connection means electrically connecting the package substrate to the second die. At least part of the first die is disposed between the second die and the package substrate in a vertical direction. |
| US09123627B1 |
Methods of forming alternative material fins with reduced defect density for a FinFET semiconductor device
One method disclosed herein includes removing at least a portion of a fin to thereby define a fin trench in a layer of insulating material, forming first and second layers of semiconductor material in the fin trench, after forming the second layer of semiconductor material, performing an anneal process to induce defect formation in at least the first layer of semiconductor material, wherein, after the anneal process is performed, the upper surface of the second layer of semiconductor material is substantially defect-free, forming a layer of channel semiconductor material on the upper surface of the second layer of semiconductor material and forming a gate structure around at least a portion of the channel semiconductor material. |
| US09123623B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device having multi-cell array and method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor light emitting device having a multi-cell array, including: sequentially forming a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second conductive semiconductor layer on a substrate; etching and removing portions of the second conductive semiconductor layer and the active layer so as to expose portions of an upper surface of the first conductive semiconductor layer corresponding to respective regions of the second conductive semiconductor layer spaced apart from one another; and separating light emitting cells by partially etching the exposed portions of the first conductive semiconductor layer, wherein the separating of the light emitting cells is not performed at an edge portion of the substrate. |
| US09123618B2 |
Method for producing image pickup apparatus, and method for producing semiconductor apparatus
A method for producing an image pickup apparatus includes: a process of fabricating a plurality of image pickup chips by cutting an image pickup chip substrate where light receiving sections and electrode pads are formed; a process of fabricating a joined wafer by bonding the image pickup chips to a glass wafer; a process of filling a gap between the plurality of image pickup chips with a sealing member; a process of machining the joined wafer to reduce a thickness; a process of forming through-hole vias; a process of forming an insulating layer that covers the image pickup chips; a process of forming through-hole interconnections; a process of forming external connection electrodes, each of which is connected to each of the through-hole interconnections; and a process of cutting the joined wafer. |
| US09123617B2 |
Elevated photodiode with a stacked scheme
A device includes an image sensor chip having formed therein an elevated photodiode, and a device chip underlying and bonded to the image sensor chip. The device chip has a read out circuit electrically connected to the elevated photodiode. |
| US09123615B2 |
Vertically integrated image sensor chips and methods for forming the same
A method includes bonding a Backside Illumination (BSI) image sensor chip to a device chip, forming a first via in the BSI image sensor chip to connect to a first integrated circuit device in the BSI image sensor chip, forming a second via penetrating through the BSI image sensor chip to connect to a second integrated circuit device in the device chip, and forming a metal pad to connect the first via to the second via. |
| US09123613B2 |
Image sensor and display
An image sensor, for example for incorporation within an active matrix display, comprises an array of sensor elements 10. Each sensor element (10) comprise an amplifying transistor (M1) whose gate is connected to an integrating node (11). The integrating node (11) is connected to one plate of an integrating capacitor (C1) and to one electrode of a photodiode (D1), whose other electrode is connected to a resetting line (RST). The sensor element (10) performs a repeating sensing cycle comprising a resetting phase, an integrating phase and a reading phase. During the resetting phase, the resetting line (RST) receives a voltage which forward-biases the photodiode (D1) so as to charge the integrating node (11) to a predetermined voltage. The resetting line (RST) is then returned to a voltage for reverse-biasing the photodiode (D1) so that the integrating and reading phases may be performed. |
| US09123610B2 |
Arrangement of circuits in pixels, each circuit shared by a plurality of pixels, in image sensing apparatus
In an image sensing apparatus having a plurality of unit cells, each including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and a common circuit shared by the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, arranged in either one or two dimensions, the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged at a predetermined interval. |
| US09123607B1 |
Modified hybrid infrared focal plane array architecture for large scaling
An apparatus for infrared imaging may include a hybrid infrared focal plane array including a front-end (FE) portion and a back-end (BE) portion. The FE portion may be coupled to the BE portion via multiple electrically conductive bump bonds. The FE portion may include nano-electronic circuits integrated with an array of infrared imaging pixels. The CNT electronic circuits may be configured to generate multiplexed output signals. The BE portion may include electronic circuits implemented on a substrate and configured to generate readout output signals. A count of the multiple electrically conductive bump bonds may be substantially less than a count of the infrared imaging pixels of the array. |
| US09123605B2 |
Image sensor
An image sensor includes a package having a window; a sensor chip facing the window, the sensor chip having a pixel region, the sensor chip having an electrode; a read-out circuit disposed farther from the window than the sensor chip, the read-out circuit having a read-out electrode connected to the electrode of the sensor chip; and a shielding plate disposed outside the pixel region of the sensor chip. The shielding plate is configured to block transmission of light. |
| US09123603B2 |
Photoelectric conversion device and imaging system
In a photoelectric conversion device capable of adding signals of photoelectric conversion elements included in each of photoelectric conversion units, each of the photoelectric conversion elements includes a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type for collecting a signal charge, a second semiconductor region of a second conductivity type is arranged between the photoelectric conversion elements arranged adjacent to each other and included in the photoelectric conversion unit, and a third semiconductor region of the second conductivity type is arranged between the photoelectric conversion elements arranged adjacent to each other among the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and included in different photoelectric conversion units arranged adjacent to each other. An impurity concentration of the second semiconductor region is lower than an impurity concentration of the third semiconductor region. |
| US09123602B2 |
Pixel array area optimization using stacking scheme for hybrid image sensor with minimal vertical interconnects
Embodiments of a hybrid imaging sensor that optimizes a pixel array area on a substrate using a stacking scheme for placement of related circuitry with minimal vertical interconnects between stacked substrates and associated features are disclosed. Embodiments of maximized pixel array size/die size (area optimization) are disclosed, and an optimized imaging sensor providing improved image quality, improved functionality, and improved form factors for specific applications common to the industry of digital imaging are also disclosed. |
| US09123591B2 |
Display panel with fewer data lines
A display device includes a plurality of pixel units. Each of the pixel units at least includes three sub-pixels for displaying different colors. The three sub-pixels are electrically connected to three different gate lines, and at least two of the three sub-pixels are electrically connected to the same data line. |
| US09123590B2 |
Array substrate, display device and method for fabricating array substrate
An array substrate, a display device and a method for fabricating an array substrate are disclosed. The array substrate comprises at least two Gate Driver on Array (GOA) elements and a Start Vertical (STV) signal line, a transmission channel between two of the adjacent GOA elements is formed by a via hole and a gate metal layer or a source/drain metal layer; a forward via hole region and a backward via hole region are disposed on the array substrate; the forward via hole region is for disposing a forward via hole for forming a forward transmission channel connecting an output of mth GOA element and an input of (m+1)th GOA element, a connection point connecting to the STV signal line is disposed on the first GOA element; the backward via hole region is for disposing a backward via hole for forming a backward transmission channel connecting an output of (m+1)th GOA element and an input of mth GOA element, a connection point connecting to the STV signal line is disposed on the last GOA element; m is an integer no less than 1. |
| US09123585B1 |
Method to form group III-V and Si/Ge FINFET on insulator
A method includes providing a structure having a substrate, a first electrically insulating layer overlying the substrate, a first semiconductor layer comprised of a first semiconductor material overlying the first electrically insulating layer, a second electrically insulating layer overlying the first semiconductor layer in a first portion of the structure and a second semiconductor layer comprised of a second, different semiconductor material overlying the second electrically insulating layer in the first portion. The method further includes growing additional first semiconductor material on the first semiconductor layer in a second portion of the structure to form a regrown semiconductor layer; forming fins; forming gate structures orthogonal to the fins and removing at least a portion of the first semiconductor layer in the first portion of the structure to form a void and filling the void with insulating material. Structures formed by the method are also disclosed. |
| US09123584B2 |
In-line metrology system
A metrology system for gauging and spatially mapping a semiconductor material on a substrate can be used in controlling deposition and thermal activation processes. |
| US09123583B2 |
Overlay abnormality gating by Z data
The present disclosure relates to a method of monitoring wafer topography. A position and orientation of a plurality first alignment shapes disposed on a surface of a wafer are measured. Wafer topography as a function of wafer position is modeled by subjecting the wafer to an alignment which simultaneously minimizes misalignment between the wafer and a patterning apparatus and maximizes a focus of radiation on the surface. A non-correctable error is determined as a difference between the modeled wafer topography and a measured wafer topography. A maximum non-correctable error per field is determined for a wafer, and a mean variation in the maximum non-correctable error across each field within each wafer of a lot is determined, both within a layer and across layers. These values are then verified against a set of statistical process control rules to determine if they are within a specification limit of the manufacturing process. |
| US09123580B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes word lines and interlayer insulating layers alternately stacked over a substrate, vertical channel layers protruding from the substrate and passing through the word lines and the interlayer insulating layers, a tunnel insulating layer surrounding each of the vertical channel layers, a charge trap layer surrounding the tunnel insulating layer, wherein first regions of the charge trap layer between the tunnel insulating layer and the word lines have a thickness smaller than a thickness of second regions thereof between the tunnel insulating layer and the interlayer insulating layers, and first charge blocking layer patterns surrounding the first regions of the charge trap layer. |
| US09123579B2 |
3D memory process and structures
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a stack structure and a transistor. The substrate includes a first region and a second region. The stack structure is formed over the substrate in the first region. The transistor structure has a gate formed in the second region. A bottom portion of the gate structure is disposed at a height from the substrate that is less than a height between the substrate and a bottom portion of the stack structure. |
| US09123578B1 |
Non-volatile memory device
Provided is a non-volatile memory device having a zigzag body wiring. A well is disposed in a substrate. Word lines are arranged in an array, are disposed on the substrate and extend in a first direction. Inter-poly dielectric films are respectively between the substrate and the word lines. Floating gates are respectively disposed between the well and the inter-poly dielectric films. Tunnel oxide films are respectively disposed between the well and the floating gates. First bit lines and second bit lines, arranged periodically, are disposed over the word lines and extend in a second direction, wherein a first distance from the first bit lines to the substrate is smaller than a second distance from the second bit lines to the substrate. |