最新美国发明专利
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US09153753B2 Polymeric matrix with organic phosphor and manufactory thereof
A method for manufacturing a wavelength converting element (202, 301, 302, 303, 310, 312) the method comprising providing (100) a polymeric carrier material (200) having a first wavelength converting material (201) dispersed or molecular dissolved therein; the first wavelength converting material (201) is adapted to convert light of a first wavelength to light of a second wavelength, deforming (101) the polymeric carrier material at a first temperature at or above the glass transition temperature thereof such that at least part of the polymeric carrier material (200) is crystallized; and annealing (102) the polymeric carrier material(200) at a second temperature below the melting temperature thereof. Treatment of a polymeric material(200) according to the invention improves the stability and lifetime of a wavelength converting material (201) comprised in a such a treated polymeric material. A polymeric material (200) treated according to the invention may comprise polymeric molecules having a degree of crystalline being 10% by volume or more.
US09153749B2 Light emitting device package and lighting device with the same
The present invention relates to a light emitting device package and a lighting device with the same. The light emitting device package comprises a package body having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface has a mounting portion positioned thereon, and a through hole provided therein to pass through the first surface and the second surface, at least one pair of first electrodes on the first surface, at least one pair of second electrodes on the second surface connected to the first electrodes through the through hole respectively, a light emitting device on the mounting portion connected to the first electrodes electrically, a light wavelength conversion layer positioned on the light emitting device, and a protective layer on the light wavelength conversion layer for sealing the mounting portion.
US09153743B2 Method of forming light emitting diode dies, light emitting diode wafer and light emitting diode die
A method of forming light emitting diode dies includes: forming an epitaxial layered structure that defines light emitting units on a front surface of a substrate wafer; forming a photoresist layer over a back surface of the substrate wafer; aligning the substrate wafer and patterning the photoresist layer so as to form openings in the photoresist layer, each of the openings having an area less than a projected area of the respective light emitting unit; forming a solder layer on the photoresist layer such that the solder layer fills the openings in the photoresist layer; removing the photoresist layer and a portion of the solder layer that covers the photoresist layer from the substrate wafer; and dicing the substrate wafer.
US09153741B1 Ultraviolet light-emitting diode and electric apparatus having the same
To improve light extraction efficiency of a deep ultraviolet light-emitting diode (DUVLED), a typical LED element has a single crystal substrate made of sapphire or AlN, The ultraviolet layer is arranged as a film stack having an n-type conductive layer, a recombination layer, and a p-type conductive layer. A stack of a p-type contact layer and a reflective electrode is disposed on the p-type conductive layer. The ultraviolet emission layer and a p-type contact layer are made of mixed crystal of AlN and GaN. The transmittance for the emission wavelength of the p-type contact layer is increased, and the light extraction efficiency is improved. Also an LED element whose p-type contact layer is configured in a layered structure and whose reflective electrode is patterned is provided. Moreover, an electric appliance having such LED elements is provided.
US09153739B2 Light emitting devices with textured active layer
A device includes a textured substrate having a trench extending from a top surface of the textured substrate into the textured substrate, wherein the trench comprises a sidewall and a bottom. A light-emitting device (LED) includes an active layer over the textured substrate. The active layer has a first portion parallel to the sidewall of the trench and a second portion parallel to the bottom of the trench.
US09153736B2 Light-emitting diode device and method for fabricating the same
The invention provides a light-emitting diode device and a method for fabricating the same. The light-emitting diode device includes a metal substrate. A light-emitting diode structure is bonded on the metal substrate. The light-emitting diode structure includes a first type semiconductor substrate and a second type semiconductor layer. The first type semiconductor layer has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The second type semiconductor layer is in contact with the metal substrate. A light-emitting layer is disposed between the first type semiconductor substrate and the second type semiconductor layer. A portion of the second surface and a sidewall adjacent to the second surface are uneven roughened surfaces.
US09153729B2 Atomic layer deposition for photovoltaic devices
A photovoltaic device and method include a substrate, a conductive layer formed on the substrate and an absorber layer formed on the conductive layer from a Cu—Zn—Sn containing chalcogenide material. An emitter layer is formed on the absorber layer and a buffer layer is formed on the emitter layer including an atomic layer deposition (ALD) layer. A transparent conductor layer is formed on the buffer layer.
US09153728B2 Ion implanted solar cells with in situ surface passivation
Solar cells and methods for their manufacture are disclosed. An example method may include providing a substrate comprising a base layer and introducing n-type dopant to the front surface of the base layer by ion implantation. The substrate may be annealed by heating the substrate to a temperature to anneal the implant damage and activate the introduced dopant, thereby forming an n-type doped layer into the front surface of the base layer. Oxygen may be introduced during the annealing step to form a passivating oxide layer on the n-type doped layer. Back contacts may be screen-printed on the back surface of the base layer, and a p-type doped layer may be formed at the interface of the back surface of the base layer and the back contacts during firing of the back contacts. The back contacts may provide an electrical connection to the p-type doped layer.
US09153723B2 Luminescent photovoltaic generator and a waveguide for use in a photovoltaic generator
The present invention relates to a luminescent photovoltaic generator (1) and a waveguide for use in such a photovoltaic generator. The photovoltaic generator comprises a photovoltaic cell (4) and a waveguide comprising a transparent matrix (2) having particles of an inorganic luminescent material dispersed therein and/or an inorganic luminescent material disposed at at least one side thereof (6). The waveguide is associated with the photovoltaic cell (4), such that, in use, at least some of the light emitted from the luminescent material passes into the photovoltaic cell (4) to generate a voltage in the cell. In preferred embodiments, the inorganic luminescent material is a line emitter and the emission is due to a forbidden electronic transition within the material. The inorganic luminescent material may be selected from an inorganic phosphor, an inorganic fluorescent material and quantum dots, quantum rods and quantum core/shell systems. The photovoltaic generator (1) is an alternative to or an improvement upon known photovoltaic generators, which generally suffer from a lack of power yield per area.
US09153721B1 Solar cell assembly, solar cell panel, and method for manufacturing the same
A solar cell assembly, a solar cell array, and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The solar cell assembly may include a solar cell and an interconnection member, the interconnection member comprising a first portion and a second portion attached to the first portion with an angle formed therebetween. The solar cell array may comprise at least two said solar cell assemblies. In an embodiment, the top surfaces of the first solar cell and the second solar cell are arranged such that the second portion of the first interconnect member and the second portion of the second interconnection member are adjacent to each other, and at least the end portion of the second portion of the first interconnection member is bended together with at least the end portion of the second portion of the second interconnection member.
US09153719B2 Solar cell module and method for manufacturing the same
A solar cell module and a method for manufacturing the same are discussed. The solar cell module includes a plurality of solar cells, a front substrate a front substrate positioned at first surfaces of the plurality of solar cells, a back substrate positioned at second surfaces of the plurality of solar cells, a front protective member positioned between the front substrate and the plurality of solar cells, the front protective member including a first silicone resin, a back protective member positioned between the back substrate and the plurality of solar cells, the back protective member including a second silicone resin, and a fiber material disposed between the front substrate and the back substrate.
US09153714B2 Photoelectric conversion device
A photoelectric conversion device according to an exemplary embodiment includes a first substrate, a photoelectric conversion layer disposed above the first substrate, a second substrate which is different from the first substrate and disposed on the photoelectric conversion layer, and a nano pillar layer disposed above the second substrate in which the nano pillar layer includes a plurality of nano pillars which is spaced apart from each other, so as to easily absorb the light.
US09153712B2 Conductive contact for solar cell
Conductive contacts for solar cells and methods of forming conductive contacts for solar cells are described. For example, a solar cell includes a substrate. A conductive contact is disposed on the substrate. The conductive contact includes a layer composed of a first metal species having a plurality of pores. The conductive contact also includes a second metal species disposed in the plurality of pores. Portions of both the first and second metal species are in contact with the substrate.
US09153711B2 Photodetector circuit
A photodetector circuit is provided that includes: a first wiring connected to an input terminal; a second wiring connected to an output terminal; and first and second photosensors each including a first terminal connected to the first wiring and a second terminal connected to the second wiring, wherein the first wiring and the second wiring are arranged in parallel, and the sum of resistance values of a first path from the input terminal to the output terminal via the first wiring, the first photosensor, and the second wiring is identical to the sum of resistance values of a second path from the input terminal to the output terminal via the first wiring, the second photosensor, and the second wiring.
US09153705B2 Vertical memory devices and methods of manufacturing the same
A memory device includes a plurality of channels, a plurality of first charge storage sites coupled to first sides of respective ones of the channels, and a plurality of second charge storage sites coupled to second sides of respective ones of the channels. The first charge storage sites correspond to first memory cells and the second charge storage sites coupled to second memory cells. At least one of the channels is a dummy channel not connected to a bit line, and a blocking layer is contiguously formed around the first and second charge storage sites and the channels.
US09153698B2 VTFT with gate aligned to vertical structure
A thin film transistor includes a post on a substrate. The post has a height dimension extending away from the substrate to a top portion of the post which extends a distance beyond a bottom portion of the post in a direction parallel to the substrate to define a reentrant profile. A conformal conductive gate layer is located on an edge of the post in the reentrant profile and not over the top portion of the post, and includes a portion that extends along the substrate. A conformal insulating layer is on the gate layer in the reentrant profile. A conformal semiconductor layer is on the insulating layer in the reentrant profile. First and second electrodes are located in contact with first and second portions of the semiconductor layer over the top portion of the post and not over the top portion of the post, respectively.
US09153695B2 Fin-last finFET and methods of forming same
Embodiments of the present disclosure are a FinFET device, and methods of forming a FinFET device. An embodiment is a method for forming a FinFET device, the method comprising forming a semiconductor strip over a semiconductor substrate, wherein the semiconductor strip is disposed in a dielectric layer, forming a gate over the semiconductor strip and the dielectric layer, and forming a first recess and a second recess in the semiconductor strip, wherein the first recess is on an opposite side of the gate from the second recess. The method further comprises forming a source region in the first recess and a drain region in the second recess, and recessing the dielectric layer, wherein a first portion of the semiconductor strip extends above a top surface of the dielectric layer forming a semiconductor fin.
US09153689B2 Integrated circuit device, system, and method of fabrication
A semiconductor device (10), comprising a first semiconductor portion (32) having a first end (34), a second end (36), and a slit portion (30), wherein the width of the slit portion (30) is less than the width of at least one of the first end (34) and the second end (36); a second portion (38) that is a different material than the first semiconductor portion (32), a third portion (40) that is a different material than the first semiconductor portion (32), wherein the second (38) and third (40) portions are on opposite sides of the slit portion (30), and at least three terminals selected from a group consisting of a first terminal (12) connected to the first end (34), a second terminal (14) connected to the second end (36), a third terminal (16) connected to the second portion (38), and a fourth terminal (17) connected to the third portion (40).
US09153687B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of epitaxial layers stacked over a supportive substrate, a first buried impurity region formed to share the supportive substrate with a lowermost epitaxial layer among the multiple epitaxial layers, one or more second buried impurity regions formed to be coupled with the first buried impurity region and share an Nth epitaxial layer and an (N+1)th epitaxial layer among the multiple epitaxial layers, where N is a natural number, a body region formed in an uppermost epitaxial layer among the multiple epitaxial layers and a deep well formed in the uppermost epitaxial layer to surround the body region and to be coupled with the second buried impurity regions that share the uppermost epitaxial layer.
US09153676B2 Insulated gate bipolar transistor
An IGBT has layers between emitter and collector sides, including a drift layer, a base layer electrically contacting an emitter electrode and completely separated from the drift layer, first and second source regions arranged on the base layer towards the emitter side and electrically contacting the emitter electrode, and first and second trench gate electrodes. The first trench gate electrodes are separated from the base layer, the first source region and the drift layer by a first insulating layer. A channel is formable between the emitter electrode, the first source region, the base layer and the drift layer. A second insulating layer is arranged on top of the first trench gate electrodes. An enhancement layer separates the base layer from the drift layer. The second trench gate electrode is separated from the base layer, the enhancement layer and the drift layer by a third insulating layer.
US09153670B2 Semiconductor device and fabricating the same
The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a substrate having a gate region, source and drain (S/D) regions separated by the gate region and a first fin structure in a gate region in the N-FET region. The first fin structure is formed by a first semiconductor material layer as a lower portion, a semiconductor oxide layer as a middle portion and a second semiconductor material layer as an upper portion. The semiconductor device also includes a second fin structure in S/D regions in the N-FET region. The second fin structure is formed by the first semiconductor material layer as a lower portion and the semiconductor oxide layer as a first middle portion, the first semiconductor material layer as a second middle portion beside the first middle and the second semiconductor material layer as an upper portion.
US09153669B2 Low capacitance finFET gate structure
Low capacitance finFET gate structures and methods of manufacturing. The method includes forming a layer of material on a substrate. The method further includes forming a dummy gate structure on the substrate which abuts the layer of material. The method further includes forming at least one spacer adjacent to the dummy gate structure and the layer of material. The method further includes removing the dummy gate structure and at least a portion of the layer of material to form an opening with a varying length. The method further includes forming a replacement gate structure with varying length by depositing gate material in the opening with the varying length.
US09153666B1 LDMOS with corrugated drift region
Semiconductor devices, such as LDMOS devices, are described that include a plurality of trench regions formed in an extended drain region of the devices. In one or more implementations, the semiconductor devices include a substrate having an extended drain region, a source region, and a drain region, all of the first conductivity type, formed proximate to a surface of the substrate. A gate is positioned over the surface and between the source region and the drain region. The gate is configured to receive a voltage so that a conduction region may be formed at least partially below the gate to allow charge carriers (e.g., majority carriers) to travel between the source region and the drain region. A plurality of trench regions are formed within the extended drain region that are configured to increase resistivity within the extended drain region when charge carriers travel between the source region and the drain region.
US09153664B2 Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is provided, which includes forming a screen layer on a substrate, the screen layer including a first portion doped with a first type impurity, forming a first undoped semiconductor layer on the screen layer, forming a gate structure on the first semiconductor layer, forming a first amorphous region on both sides of the gate structure in the first semiconductor layer, and re-crystallizing the first amorphous region through performing a first heat treatment of the first amorphous region.
US09153663B2 Semiconductor device having a stress-inducing layer between channel region and source and drain regions
A semiconductor device includes: a channel region formed in a semiconductor substrate; a source region formed on one side of the channel region; a drain region formed on the other side of the channel region; a gate electrode formed on the channel region via a gate insulating film; and a stress-introducing layer that applies stress to the channel region, the semiconductor device having a stress distribution in which source region-side and drain region-side peaks are positioned between a pn junction boundary of the channel region and the source region and a pn junction boundary of the channel region and the drain region.
US09153661B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing same
A silicon carbide substrate includes: an n type drift layer having a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other; a p type body region provided in the first surface of the n type drift layer; and an n type emitter region provided on the p type body region and separated from the n type drift layer by the p type body region. A gate insulating film is provided on the p type body region so as to connect the n type drift layer and the n type emitter region to each other. A p type Si collector layer is directly provided on the silicon carbide substrate to face the second surface of the n type drift layer.
US09153655B2 Spacer elements for semiconductor device
The present disclosure describes a semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate and a gate stack disposed on the semiconductor substrate. A first spacer element is disposed on the substrate abutting the first gate stack. A second spacer element is adjacent the first spacer element. A source/raised drain is provided adjacent the gate stack. A conductive feature (e.g., silicide) is disposed on the source/drain and laterally contacts sidewalls of the second spacer element. In an embodiment, a contact directly interfaces with the second spacer element.
US09153653B2 Termination design by metal strapping guard ring trenches shorted to a body region to shrink termination area
This invention discloses a semiconductor power device formed in a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type comprises an active cell area and a termination area surrounding the active cell area and disposed near edges of the semiconductor substrate. The termination area includes a plurality of trenches filled with a conductivity material forming a shield electrode and insulated by a dielectric layer along trench sidewalls and trench bottom surface wherein the trenches extending vertically through a body region of a second conductivity type near a top surface of the semiconductor substrate and further extending through a surface shield region of the first conductivity type. A dopant region of the second conductivity type disposed below the surface shield region extending across and surrounding a trench bottom portion of the trenches. At least a metal connector disposed above the top surface of the semiconductor substrates electrically connecting to the shield electrode of at least two trenches and shorted to the body region.
US09153651B2 Thin film transistor and method for manufacturing the same
Provided are a thin film transistor and a method for manufacturing the same. The thin film transistor manufacturing method includes forming a gate electrode on a substrate, forming an active layer that is adjacent to the gate electrode and includes an oxide semiconductor, forming an oxygen providing layer on the active layer, forming a gate dielectric between the gate electrode and the active layer, forming source and drain electrodes coupled to the active layer, forming a planarizing layer covering the gate electrode and the gate dielectric, forming a hole exposing the active layer, and performing a heat treatment process onto the planarizing layer in an atmosphere of oxygen.
US09153649B2 Semiconductor device and method for evaluating semiconductor device
A semiconductor layer with a low density of trap states is provided. A transistor with stable electrical characteristics is provided. A transistor having high field-effect mobility is provided. A semiconductor device including the transistor is provided. A method for evaluating a semiconductor layer is provided. A method for evaluating a transistor is provided. A method for evaluating a semiconductor device is provided. Provided is, for example, a semiconductor layer with a low defect density which can be used for a channel formation region of a transistor, a transistor including a semiconductor layer with a low defect density in a channel formation region, or a semiconductor device including the transistor.
US09153645B2 Lattice-mismatched semiconductor structures with reduced dislocation defect densities and related methods for device fabrication
A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming an opening in a dielectric layer, forming a recess in an exposed part of a substrate, and forming a lattice-mismatched crystalline semiconductor material in the recess and opening.
US09153639B2 Memory devices with vertical storage node bracing and methods of fabricating the same
A memory device includes a substrate and a plurality of vertical storage nodes linearly spaced apart on the substrate along a first direction. The device further includes at least one support pattern abutting sidewalls of the storage nodes, the at least one support pattern having portions that bridge first pairs of adjacent ones of the storage nodes and openings therein that separate second pairs of adjacent ones of the storage nodes. First distances between the storage nodes of the respective first pairs may be greater than second distances between the storage nodes of the respective second pairs. Methods of fabricating such devices are also described.
US09153635B2 Light emitting display apparatus
There is provided a light emitting display apparatus including at least a light emitting element and a thin film transistor (TFT) for driving the light emitting element, characterized in that a mechanism is provided in which a semiconductor constituting the TFT is irradiated with at least a part of light whose wavelength is longer than a predetermined wavelength among the light emitted by the light emitting element.
US09153624B2 Scaling of filament based RRAM
A solid state memory comprises a top electrode, a bottom electrode and an insulating switching medium that is disposed at a thickness based on a predetermined function. The insulating switching medium generates a conduction path in response to an electric signal applied to the device. The thickness of the insulating switching medium is a function of a filament width of the conduction path and operates to prevent rupture of a semi-stable region. The semi-stable region maintains filament structure over time and does not degrade into retention failure. The solid state memory can comprise one or more conducting layers that can operate to control the conductance at an on-state of the memory and offer oxygen vacancies or metal ions to the switching medium. The function of the thickness of the insulating switching medium can vary depending upon the number of conduction layers disposed at the insulating switching medium.
US09153621B2 Process of forming a back side illumination image sensor
A process of forming a back side illumination (BSI) image sensor is disclosed. An n-type implant is formed in a semiconductor substrate, and a p-type implant region, surrounding n-type in each pixel, is formed in the n-type implant such that in cross sectional view an n-type implant region is sandwiched between the two p-type implant regions. A transfer gate is formed on the semiconductor substrate such that the transfer gate entirely covers the n-type implant region and at least partially covers each of the p-type implant regions. A floating diffusion is formed in one of the p-type implant regions.
US09153614B2 Method and apparatus for lens alignment for optically sensitive devices and systems implementing same
Non-symmetrically located lenses are employed with semiconductor devices comprising optically active regions which are non-symmetrically located on a surface thereof. The optical axes of the lenses are aligned with the centers of the optically active regions. Wafer-level assemblies of semiconductor devices and lenses may be fabricated, mutually secured with the non-symmetrically placed lenses aligned over the non-symmetrically placed optically active regions, and singulated to form packages, such as image sensor packages. Related methods, and systems incorporating devices with non-symmetrically placed optically active regions and aligned lenses are also disclosed.
US09153610B2 Solid-state image sensor
A solid-state image sensor comprising a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels are arrayed in a matrix having a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, wherein the pixel array includes a first wiring layer and a second wiring layer arranged above the first wiring layer, the first wiring layer includes first column signal lines arranged at the respective columns of the pixel array, and the second wiring layer includes second column signal lines arranged at the respective columns of the pixel array.
US09153608B2 Photodiode array, method for determining reference voltage, and method for determining recommended operating voltage
A reverse bias voltage is applied to a photodiode array provided with a plurality of avalanche photodiodes operated in Geiger mode and with quenching resistors connected in series to the respective avalanche photodiodes. Electric current is measured with change of the reverse bias voltage applied, and the reverse bias voltage at an inflection point in change of electric current measured is determined as a reference voltage. A voltage obtained by adding a predetermined value to the determined reference voltage is determined as a recommended operating voltage.
US09153602B2 Semiconductor device wherein an oxide semiconductor layer comprises a crystal and has a degree of crystallization of 80% or more
An object is to improve reliability of a semiconductor device. A semiconductor device including a driver circuit portion and a display portion (also referred to as a pixel portion) over the same substrate is provided. The driver circuit portion and the display portion include thin film transistors in which a semiconductor layer includes an oxide semiconductor; a first wiring; and a second wiring. The thin film transistors each include a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer. In the thin film transistor in the driver circuit portion, the semiconductor layer is sandwiched between a gate electrode layer and a conductive layer. The first wiring and the second wiring are electrically connected to each other in an opening provided in a gate insulating film through an oxide conductive layer.
US09153601B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a gate electrode, an insulating layer, a source electrode, a drain electrode, a semiconductor channel layer, a first passivation layer and a second passivation layer. The gate is formed on the substrate. The insulating layer covers the gate electrode. The source electrode and the drain electrode are positioned on the insulating layer. The semiconductor channel layer is disposed on the insulating layer, and connects the source electrode and the drain electrode. The first passivation layer covers the source electrode, the drain electrode and the semiconductor channel layer. The first passivation layer includes silicon oxide. The second passivation layer is disposed on the first passivation layer. The second passivation layer includes silicon nitride that has a hydrogen concentration of about 2.0×1022 atom/cm3 to about 3.11×1022 atom/cm3.
US09153598B2 Memory device comprising a memory cell and a selection transistor
A semiconductor device that includes a plurality of first conductive patterns stacked over a substrate, dummy patterns formed in the first conductive patterns, respectively, first barrier patterns each surrounding the respective first conductive patterns and partially interposed between the respective first conductive patterns and the respective dummy patterns, second barrier patterns each surrounding the respective first barrier patterns and the respective dummy patterns, a second conductive pattern located over or under the first conductive patterns, and a third barrier pattern surrounding the second conductive pattern, wherein the second conductive pattern has a greater thickness than the first conductive patterns.
US09153590B2 Semiconductor devices including buried channels
A semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes an active region defined by a device isolation layer formed in a cell region, a transistor including a buried gate in the active region, a metal contact formed on the active region positioned at one side of the buried gate, a landing pad on the metal contact, a capacitor on the landing pad and electrically connected to the active region, and a metal oxide layer between the metal contact and the active region.
US09153588B2 Semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device
There is provided a readily manufacturable semiconductor device including two transistors having mutually different characteristics. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a multilayer wiring layer disposed over the substrate, a first transistor disposed in the multilayer wiring layer, and a second transistor disposed in a layer different from a layer including the first transistor disposed therein of the multilayer wiring layer, and having different characteristics from those of the first transistor. This can provide a readily manufacturable semiconductor device including two transistors having mutually different characteristics.
US09153586B2 Semiconductor device having metal carbon nitride electrodes with different work functions
A semiconductor device includes a substrate including a first region and a second region, a gate dielectric layer formed on the substrate, and a metal electrode layer formed on the gate dielectric layer and including a compound of carbon and nitrogen, wherein a metal electrode formed from the metal electrode layer in the first region has a work function lower than a work function of a metal electrode formed from the metal electrode layer in the second region and a nitrogen concentration of the metal electrode of the first region is smaller than a nitrogen concentration of the metal electrode of the second region.
US09153584B2 Transistor device and a method of manufacturing same
A transistor device is provided that includes a substrate, a first channel region formed in a first portion of the substrate and being doped with a dopant of a first type of conductivity, a second channel region formed in a second portion of the substrate and being doped with a dopant of a second type of conductivity, a gate insulating layer formed on the first channel region and on the second channel region, a dielectric capping layer formed on the gate insulating layer, a first gate region formed on the dielectric capping layer over the first channel region, and a second gate region formed on the dielectric capping layer over the second channel region, wherein the first gate region and the second gate region are made of the same material, and wherein one of the first gate region and the second gate region comprises an ion implantation.
US09153563B2 Electronic device
An improvement is achieved in the performance of an electronic device. A first semiconductor device and a second semiconductor device are mounted over the upper surface of a wiring board such that, e.g., in plan view, the orientation of the second semiconductor device intersects the orientation of the first semiconductor device. That is, the first semiconductor device is mounted over the upper surface of the wiring board such that a first emitter terminal and a first signal terminal are arranged along an x-direction in which the pair of shorter sides of the wiring board extend. On the other hand, the second semiconductor device is mounted over the upper surface of the wiring board such that a second emitter terminal and a second signal terminal are arranged along a y-direction in which the pair of longer sides of the wiring board extend.
US09153559B2 Semiconductor devices including through silicon via electrodes and methods of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device may include a semiconductor substrate, a through via electrode, and a buffer. The through via electrode may extend through a thickness of the semiconductor substrate with the through via electrode surrounding an inner portion of the semiconductor substrate so that the inner portion of the semiconductor substrate may thus be isolated from the outer portion of the semiconductor substrate. The buffer may be in the inner portion of the semiconductor substrate with the through via electrode surrounding and spaced apart from the buffer. Related methods are also discussed.
US09153556B2 Adhesive sheet for manufacturing semiconductor device, manufacturing method of semiconductor device using the sheet, and semiconductor device obtained by the method
The adhesive sheet for manufacturing a semiconductor device is an adhesive sheet for manufacturing a semiconductor device used when a semiconductor element is adhered to an adherend and the semiconductor element is wire-bonded, and is a peelable adhesive sheet in which the 180 degree peeling adhesive strength against a silicon wafer is 5 (N/25 mm width) or less.
US09153553B2 IC embedded substrate and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed herein is an IC embedded substrate that includes a core substrate having an opening, an IC chip provided in the opening, a lower insulating layer, and upper insulating layer. The IC chip and the core substrate is sandwiched between the lower insulating layer and the upper insulating layer. The upper insulating layer is formed in such a way as to fill a gap between a side surface of the IC chip and an inner peripheral surface of the opening of the core substrate. A first distance from the upper surface of the IC chip to an upper surface of the upper insulating layer is shorter than a second distance from the upper surface of the core substrate to the upper surface of the upper insulating layer.
US09153550B2 Substrate design with balanced metal and solder resist density
A package includes a package substrate, which includes a middle layer selected from the group consisting of a core and a middle metal layer, a top metal layer overlying the middle layer, and a bottom metal layer underlying the middle layer. All metal layers overlying the middle layer have a first total metal density that is equal to a sum of all densities of all metal layers over the middle layer. All metal layers underlying the middle layer have a second total metal density that is equal to a sum of all densities of all metal layers under the middle layer. An absolute value of a difference between the first total metal density and the second total metal density is lower than about 0.1.
US09153546B2 Reliable electrical fuse with localized programming and method of making the same
An electrical fuse has an anode contact on a surface of a semiconductor substrate. The electrical fuse has a cathode contact on the surface of the semiconductor substrate spaced from the anode contact. The electrical fuse has a link within the substrate electrically interconnecting the anode contact and the cathode contact. The link comprises a semiconductor layer and a silicide layer. The silicide layer extends beyond the anode contact. An opposite end of the silicide layer extends beyond the cathode contact. A silicon germanium region is embedded in the semiconductor layer under the silicide layer, between the anode contact and the cathode contact.
US09153545B2 Light-emitting element unit and light-emitting element package
A light-emitting element according to the present invention includes a semiconductor light-emitting element having a front surface and a rear surface so that light is extracted from the rear surface, and having a first n-side electrode and a first p-side electrode on the front surface, and a support element having a conductive substrate having a front surface and a rear surface as well as a second n-side electrode and a second p-side electrode formed on the front surface of the conductive substrate, the first n-side electrode and the second n-side electrode, and the first p-side electrode and the second p-side electrode are so bonded to one another respectively that the semiconductor light-emitting element is supported by the support element in a facedown posture downwardly directing the front surface, and the support element has an n-side external electrode and a p-side external electrode formed on the rear surface of the conductive substrate, a conductive via passing through the conductive substrate from the front surface up to the rear surface for electrically connecting the second n-side electrode and the n-side external electrode and/or the second p-side electrode and the p-side external electrode with each other, and an insulating film formed between the via and the conductive substrate to cover the side surface of the via.
US09153543B1 Shielding technique for semiconductor package including metal lid and metalized contact area
In one embodiment a semiconductor package includes a metal lid configured as a shield that effectively surrounds the active circuitry, and thus forms a type of Faraday shield. The lid is electrically coupled to a metalized area located on the surface of the active circuitry, or to an additional metalized die. Appropriate interconnect methods between the lid and the metalized die or metalized area include, but are not restricted to, wire bonding, bumps, tabs, or similar techniques.
US09153539B2 Ground-referenced single-ended signaling connected graphics processing unit multi-chip module
A system of interconnected chips comprising a multi-chip module (MCM) includes a first processor chip, a graphics processing cluster (GPC) chip, and an MCM package configured to include the first processor chip, the GPC chip, and an interconnect circuit. The first processor chip is configured to include a first ground-referenced single-ended signaling interface circuit. A first set of electrical traces fabricated within the MCM package and configured to couple the first single-ended signaling interface circuit to the interconnect circuit. The GPC chip is configured to include a second single-ended signaling interface circuit and to execute shader programs. A second set of electrical traces fabricated within the MCM package and configured to couple the second single-ended signaling interface circuit to the interconnect circuit. In one embodiment, each single-ended signaling interface advantageously implements ground-referenced single-ended signaling.
US09153534B2 Semiconductor fuse with enhanced post-programming resistance
Post programming resistance of a semiconductor fuse is enhanced by using an implantation to form an amorphous silicon layer and to break up an underlying high-κ/metal gate. Embodiments include forming a shallow trench isolation (STI) region in a silicon substrate, forming a high-κ dielectric layer on the STI region, forming a metal gate on the high-κ dielectric layer, forming a polysilicon layer over the metal gate, performing an implantation to convert the polysilicon layer into an amorphous silicon layer, wherein the implantation breaks up the metal gate, and forming a silicide on the amorphous silicon layer. By breaking up the metal gate, electrical connection of the fuse contacts through the metal gate is eliminated.
US09153533B2 Microelectronic elements with master/slave configurability
A semiconductor chip that may be configured to function as either a master chip or a slave chip. The semiconductor chip may be included in a microelectronic assembly including a plurality of vertically stacked semiconductor chips, with each of the chips containing functional circuit blocks that enable each semiconductor chip to function as either a master chip or a slave chip under in accordance with a state input stored on the same chip, or received from another chip in the stacked assembly or from another component of a system in which the stacked assembly is configured to operate.
US09153531B1 Methods and apparatus for reducing crosstalk and twist region height in routing wires
An integrated circuit may have interconnect circuitry which may include a sequence of tiles. Each tile may be associated with a given tile type, and each tile type may include a predetermined routing of multiple wires on multiple tracks. Wires may change tracks within a given tile, which is sometimes also referred to as wire twisting. Wire twists may reduce the overlap between pairs of adjacent wires, thereby reducing the coupling capacitance between the respective wires. Reducing the coupling capacitance may result in reduced crosstalk between the wires which may speed up the signal transition along those wires. At the same time, the twist region height (i.e., the region in the tile in which wires are twisted) may be reduced compared to conventional interconnect circuitry.
US09153530B2 Thermal enhanced high density flip chip package
Systems and methods according to embodiments of the invention enable flip chip packaging using high density routing while minimizing the thickness and layer count of the flip chip package. By using a photoresist layer to create very fine traces on a metallic base layer, embodiments of the present invention combine advantages of leadframe substrates and laminate substrates by supporting high-density routing while minimizing layer count and manufacturing cost. Additionally, the use of raised metallic pads in a routing layer enables embodiments of the present invention to include highly compact traces that pass over IC die bond pad connection sites without directly coupling to these bond IC die bond pad connection sites. Further, embodiments of the present invention can support multiple thin routing layers without the need for organic (e.g., laminate) material separating these routing layers.
US09153529B2 Pre-soldered leadless package
Consistent with an example embodiment, a semiconductor device comprises a patterned conductive layer defining contact pads for being connected to terminals of a semiconductor chip. The semiconductor chip comprises the terminals at a first side and an adhesive layer at a second side opposite to the first side; wherein, the semiconductor chip is mounted with an adhesive layer on a patterned conductive layer such that the semiconductor chip part of each respective contact pad leaves part thereof uncovered by the chip for wire bonding. Wire bonds connect respective terminals of the semiconductor chip and respective contact pads at the first side thereof. A molding compound covers the semiconductor chip, the wire bonds and the contact pads; wherein, the molding compound is also located on the second side of the semiconductor device, separating the contact regions that are located directly on a backside of the contact pads.
US09153525B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor element that includes an electrode layer on a surface of the semiconductor element; a low-strength layer that is provided on a surface of the electrode layer; a bonding layer that is provided on a surface of the low-strength layer; and a conductive plate that is provided on a surface of the bonding layer. Strength of the bonding layer is higher than strength of the electrode layer, and strength of the low-strength layer is lower than the strength of the electrode layer.
US09153524B2 Method of forming stacked-layer wiring, stacked-layer wiring, and electronic element
A method of forming a stacked-layer wiring includes forming first wettability variable layer on a substrate using material that changes surface energy by energy application; forming first conductive layer in or on the first wettability variable layer; forming second wettability variable layer on the first wettability variable layer using material that changes surface energy by energy application; forming concave portion to become wiring pattern of second conductive layer to the second wettability variable layer while concurrently forming high surface energy area on surface exposed by forming the concave portion by changing surface energy; forming via hole by exposing a part of the first conductive layer while concurrently forming high surface energy area on surface exposed by forming the via hole by changing surface energy; and applying conductive ink to the high surface energy area to form the second conductive layer and via simultaneously.
US09153521B2 Method of manufacturing a package carrier
A method of manufacturing a package carrier is provided. An insulation cover is provided. The insulation cover has an inner surface and an outer surface opposite to each other, a plurality of openings, and a containing space. A patterned metal layer is formed on the outer surface of the insulation cover. A surface treatment layer is formed on the patterned metal layer. A heat dissipation element is formed in the containing space of the insulation cover and structurally connected to the insulation cover. A thermal-conductive layer is formed on a surface of the heat dissipation element, and a portion of the thermal-conductive layer is exposed by the openings of the insulation cover.
US09153518B2 Molded semiconductor package with pluggable lead
A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor die having a plurality of terminals, a molding compound encapsulating the semiconductor die, and a pluggable lead dimensioned for insertion into an external receptacle. The pluggable lead protrudes from the molding compound and provides a separate electrical pathway for more than one terminal of the semiconductor die. The separate electrical pathways of the pluggable lead can be provided by electrical conductors isolated from one another by electrical insulator such as molding compound or other insulation material/medium.
US09153516B2 Voidlessly encapsulated semiconductor die package
A system can include a semiconductor die having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The system can also include a first slug coupled to a portion of the first side of the die. The system can further include a second slug coupled to a portion of the second side of the die. The system can additionally include an insulating material voidlessly encapsulating the die. The first slug can include a first portion having a first width in proximity to the die and a second portion having a second width. The first portion can be closer than the second portion to the die and the first width can be smaller than the second width.
US09153510B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate provided with a predetermined element and having wirings formed on its main surface connected to back wirings by a plurality of through silicon vias (TSVs), and a conductive cover which covers the main surface of the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate and the conductive cover are bonded to each other with a conductive bonding member. The TSV bonded to the conductive cover with the conductive bonding member is connected to an external electrode pad to which a ground potential is supplied.
US09153508B2 Multi-chip package and interposer with signal line compression
A multi-chip package with signal line compression for testing of the multi-chip package. The multi-chip package includes an interposer and two or more integrated circuits attached to the interposer. The interposer includes multiple data signal lines for data communications between the two integrated circuits. The data signal lines are also coupled to one or more test contacts through an interface circuit. The number of test contacts is smaller than the number of signal lines, which allows a large number of signal lines to be tested with a smaller number of test contacts.
US09153506B2 System and method for through silicon via yield
The present disclosure provides one embodiment of an integrated circuit (IC) fabrication method to form an IC structure having one or more through silicon via (TSV) features. The IC fabrication method includes performing a plurality of processing steps; collecting physical metrology data from the plurality of processing steps; collecting virtual metrology data from the plurality of processing steps based on the physical metrology data; generating a yield prediction to the IC structure based on the physical metrology data and the virtual metrology data; and identifying an action at an earlier processing step based on the yield prediction.
US09153501B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes implanting indium into a first region of a semiconductor substrate; forming a first gate insulation film having a first film thickness in the first region and a second region different from the first region after the implanting; removing the first gate insulation film from the first region; applying heat treatment to the semiconductor substrate after the forming; and forming a second gate insulation film having a second film thickness on the first region after the applying. In the method, a temperature falling rate of the heat treatment in the applying is 20° C. per second or higher.
US09153500B2 Method for improving the electromigration resistance in the copper interconnection process
The present invention belongs to the technical field of integrated semiconductor circuits, and relates to a method used in a process no greater than 32 nm to improve the electromigration resistance of Cu interconnects. Coating layers on Cu interconnects, such as CuSi3, CuGe, and CuSiN, can be prepared by autoregistration, and with the use of new impervious layer materials, the electromigration resistance of Cu interconnects can be largely improved and the high conductivity thereof can be kept, which provides an ideal solution for interconnection process for process nodes no greater than 32 nm.
US09153499B2 Semiconductor device having metal plug and method of forming the same
Provided is a semiconductor device including first, second and third source/drain regions. A first conductive plug in contact with the first source/drain regions, having a first width and a first height, and including a first material is provided. An interlayer insulating layer covering the first conductive plug and the substrate is disposed. A second conductive plug vertically penetrating the interlayer insulating layer to be in contact with the second source/drain regions, having a second width and a second height, and including a second material is provided. A third conductive plug vertically penetrating the interlayer insulating layer to be in contact with the third source/drain regions, having a third width and a third height, and including a third material is disposed. The second material includes a noble metal, a noble metal oxide or a perovskite-based conductive oxide.
US09153498B2 Methods of forming semiconductor device with self-aligned contact elements and the resulting devices
One method disclosed herein includes forming a sacrificial etch stop material in a recess above a replacement gate structure, with the sacrificial etch stop material in position, forming a self-aligned contact that is conductively coupled to the source/drain region, after forming the self-aligned contact, performing at least one process operation to expose and remove the sacrificial etch stop material in the recess so as to thereby re-expose the recess, and forming a third layer of insulating material in at least the re-exposed recess.
US09153497B2 Semiconductor constructions
Some embodiments include methods in which a pair of spaced-apart adjacent features is formed over a substrate. The features have silicon dioxide surfaces. Silicon nitride is deposited between the features. A first region of the silicon nitride is protected with a mask while a second region is not. The second region is removed to form an opening between the features. Some embodiments include semiconductor constructions that contain a pair of spaced-apart adjacent features. The features are lines extending along a first direction, and are spaced from one another by a trench. Alternating plugs and intervening materials are within the trench, with the plugs and intervening materials alternating along the first direction. The intervening materials consist of silicon nitride, and the plugs have lateral peripheries that directly contact silicon dioxide of the features, and that directly contact silicon nitride of the intervening regions.
US09153492B2 Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the same are disclosed, which can prevent migration of copper (Cu) ion when forming a Through Silicon Via (TSV). The semiconductor device includes a through silicon via (TSV) formed to pass through a semiconductor substrate; an oxide film located at a lower sidewall of the TSV; and a first prevention film formed to cover an upper portion of the TSV, an upper sidewall of the TSV, and an upper surface of the oxide film.
US09153491B2 Methods for forming conductive elements and vias on substrates and for forming multi-chip modules
Methods of forming conductive elements on and in a substrate include forming a layer of conductive material over a surface of a substrate prior to forming a plurality of vias through the substrate from an opposing surface of the substrate to the layer of conductive material. In some embodiments, a temporary carrier may be secured to the layer of conductive material on a side thereof opposite the substrate prior to forming the vias. Structures, including workpieces formed using such methods, are also disclosed.
US09153489B2 Microelectronic devices having conductive through via electrodes insulated by gap regions
A microelectronic device includes a substrate having a trench extending therethrough between an active surface thereof and an inactive surface thereof opposite the active surface, a conductive via electrode extending through the substrate between sidewalls of the trench, and an insulating layer extending along the inactive surface of the substrate outside the trench and extending at least partially into the trench. The insulating layer defines a gap region in the trench that separates the substrate and the via electrode. Related devices and methods of fabrication are also discussed.
US09153488B1 Semiconductor device, resistor and manufacturing method of the same
A resistor includes a first conductive layer; a second conductive layer protruding from the first conductive layer; a third conductive layer located above and facing the first conductive layer to face the first conductive layer; and at least two contact plugs electrically coupled to the third conductive layer.
US09153487B2 Methods of forming wirings in electronic devices
A method of forming a wiring may include forming a first wire on a substrate; forming a material layer on the substrate, except on the first wire; forming a surface treatment film on the material layer; and forming a second wire on the first wire. The surface treatment film has physical properties opposite to the first wire. A method of forming a wiring may include forming a first wire on a substrate; forming a material layer on the substrate and the first wire; removing a portion of the material layer from the first wire; forming a surface treatment film on the material layer and the first wire; removing a portion of the surface treatment film from the first wire; and forming a second wire on the first wire. A thickness of the material layer on the substrate is greater than a thickness of the first wire on the substrate.
US09153485B2 Methods of processing substrates and methods of forming conductive connections to substrates
Embodiments disclosed include methods of processing substrates, including methods of forming conductive connections to substrates. In one embodiment, a method of processing a substrate includes forming a material to be etched over a first material of a substrate. The material to be etched and the first material are of different compositions. The material to be etched is etched in a dry etch chamber to expose the first material. After the etching, the first material is contacted with a non-oxygen-containing gas in situ within the dry etch chamber effective to form a second material physically contacting onto the first material. The second material comprises a component of the first material and a component of the gas. In one embodiment, the first material is contacted with a gas that may or may not include oxygen in situ within the dry etch chamber effective to form a conductive second material.
US09153484B2 Methods of forming integrated circuits
A method of forming an integrated circuit comprises forming a gate of a transistor over a substrate. The method further comprises forming a connecting line over the substrate, the connecting line being coupled with an active area of the transistor. The method also comprises forming a dielectric layer surrounding the gate and the connecting line. The method additionally comprises forming an etch stop layer over the dielectric layer and covering a portion of a top surface of the connecting line. The method further comprises forming a via structure comprising a via in physical contact with a top surface of the gate and another portion of the top surface of the connecting line. The method also comprises forming a metallic line structure being coupled with the via structure.
US09153477B2 Directed self assembly of block copolymers to form vias aligned with interconnects
A method of an aspect includes forming an interconnect line etch opening in a hardmask layer. The hardmask layer is over a dielectric layer that has an interconnect line disposed therein. The interconnect line etch opening is formed aligned over the interconnect line. A block copolymer is introduced into the interconnect line etch opening. The block copolymer is assembled to form a plurality of assembled structures that are spaced along a length of the interconnect line etch opening. An assembled structure is directly aligned over the interconnect line that is disposed within the dielectric layer.
US09153476B2 Semiconductor device and method of forming prefabricated multi-die leadframe for electrical interconnect of stacked semiconductor die
A prefabricated multi-die leadframe having a plurality of contact pads is mounted over a temporary carrier. A first semiconductor die is mounted over the carrier between the contact pads of the leadframe. A second semiconductor die is mounted over the contact pads of the leadframe and over the first die. An encapsulant is deposited over the leadframe and first and second die. The carrier is removed. A first interconnect structure is formed over the leadframe and the first die and a first surface of the encapsulant. A channel is cut through the encapsulant and leadframe to separate the contact pads. A plurality of conductive vias can be formed through the encapsulant. A second interconnect structure is formed over a second surface of the encapsulant opposite the first surface of the encapsulant. The second interconnect structure is electrically connected to the conductive vias.
US09153475B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of isolation regions, a plurality of trenches, where each of the plurality of trenches is formed in a corresponding isolation region, of the plurality of isolation regions, and where the plurality of trenches are arranged, in parallel, along a first direction, a plurality of gate lines formed on the semiconductor substrate in a second direction crossing the plurality of trenches, an insulating layer formed between each of the plurality of gate lines, a first air gap formed in at least one of the plurality of trenches, the first air gap extending in the first direction, and a second air gap formed in at least one of the insulating layers, the second air gap extending in the second direction.
US09153474B2 Semiconductor device manufacturing method
An objective of the present invention is to increase production efficiency of high-performance flexible semiconductor devices. A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes: a step of forming an insulating substrate (10) which is configured of glass substrates (11, 13) with a thermal expansion coefficient which approximates the thermal expansion coefficient of a single-crystal silicon substrate (20) and a plastic substrate (12) which is positioned between both of the glass substrates; and a step of, after bonding the insulating substrate (10) with the single-crystal silicon substrate (20), separating a portion of the single-crystal silicon substrate (20) with heat processing, and forming a single-crystal silicon layer (14) upon the glass substrate (11).
US09153469B2 Calculating apparatus, transfer robot system, and calculating method
A calculating apparatus includes an acquiring portion and a calculating portion. The acquiring portion acquires a center position of a wafer placed on an alignment apparatus, and a wafer angle corresponding to a marker such as an orientation flat. The calculating portion calculates by using the wafer center position and the wafer angle, a rotational angle of the wafer on the alignment apparatus, an approach angle, which is an angle of a direction in which a transfer robot approaches the wafer, and a distance between the wafer after the rotation and the transfer robot. Then, the alignment apparatus rotates the wafer by the rotational angle. The transfer robot turns by the approach angle. Subsequently, the transfer robot extends its arm according to the distance, thereby approaching the wafer, and retrieves the wafer.
US09153459B2 Manufacturing method of semiconductor device and adjusting apparatus
According to embodiments, there is provided a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device includes forming a semiconductor thin film on a substrate; processing the thin film to a predetermined shape; executing an ion implantation process on the thin film processed to the predetermined shape; executing an anneal treatment on the thin film on which the ion implantation process has been executed to create a resistor element; and adjusting both or any one of a process condition of the ion implantation process and a treatment condition of the anneal treatment based on at least any one of a film forming condition and a film formation result of the forming and a film process result of the processing.
US09153457B2 Etch process for reducing directed self assembly pattern defectivity using direct current positioning
A method for preparing a patterned directed self-assembly layer for reducing directed self-assembly pattern defectivity using direct current superpositioning is provided. A substrate having a block copolymer layer overlying a first intermediate layer, said block copolymer layer comprising a first phase-separated polymer defining a first pattern and a second phase-separated polymer defining a second pattern in said block copolymer layer is provided. A first plasma etching process using plasma formed of a first process composition to remove said second phase-separated polymer while leaving behind said first pattern of said first phase-separated polymer is performed. A second plasma etching process to transfer said first pattern into said first intermediate layer using plasma formed of a second process composition is performed. In an embodiment, said first phase-separated polymer is exposed to an electron beam preceding, during, or following said first plasma etching process, or preceding or during said second plasma etching process.
US09153456B2 Pattern forming method using block copolymers
According to one embodiment, first, on a process object, a hydrophilic guide pattern including a first hole forming pattern having a first hole diameter and a second hole forming pattern having a second hole diameter is formed. Then, above the guide pattern, a frame pattern having a first opening region in a forming region of a plurality of the first hole forming patterns and a second opening region in a forming region of a plurality of the second hole forming patterns is formed. Then, a first solution including a first block copolymer having a hydrophilic polymer chain and a hydrophobic polymer chain is supplied to the first opening region to condense the first block copolymer. The hydrophilic polymer chain is then removed to reduce the diameter of the first hole forming pattern to a third hole diameter that is smaller than the first hole diameter.
US09153452B2 Systems and methods for chemical mechanical planarization with photo-current detection
Systems and methods are provided for performing chemical-mechanical planarization on an article. An example system includes a polishing head, a polishing pad, a light source, a polishing fluid, a current detector, and one or more processors. The polishing head is configured to perform chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) on an article. The polishing pad is configured to support the article. The light source is configured to emit an incident light. The polishing fluid is configured to perform CMP including a plurality of light-absorption particles being capable of transferring charges to a stop layer in the article in response the incident light. The current detector is configured to detect a current in response to the light-absorption particles transferring charges to the stop layer. The one or more processors are configured to control the polishing head based on the detected current.
US09153444B2 Process flow for replacement metal gate transistors
A replacement metal gate transistor and methods of forming replacement metal gate transistors are described. Various examples provide methods of manufacturing a replacement metal gate transistor that includes depositing a dielectric layer into a trench, wherein the dielectric layer is deposited onto the bottom of the trench and the sidewalls of the trench, depositing a first metal layer into the trench, wherein the first metal layer is deposited onto the bottom of the trench and the sidewalls of the trench over the dielectric layer, depositing a second metal layer into the trench, wherein the second metal layer is deposited onto the bottom of the trench and the sidewalls of the trench over the first metal layer, removing at least a portion of the second metal layer from the sidewalls of the trench, and depositing a conducting layer into the trench. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
US09153439B2 Method for etching a group III nitride semiconductor, method for producing a group III nitride semiconductor crystal, and method for producing a GaN substrate
A mask layer is formed on a Ga polarity surface of the GaN substrate as a growth substrate. Subsequently, a protective film PF is formed on a N polarity surface of the GaN substrate. Then, a plurality of concave portions is formed from the mask layer extending to the GaN substrate, to thereby form a seed crystal. The seed crystal is etched in a Na melt, and a plurality of concave portions having a facet plane exposed. The seed crystal and the raw materials are placed in a crucible, and the pressure and temperature inside the crucible are increased. Thus, a target GaN layer is grown in the upward direction on the surface of the mask layer and the lateral direction over the concave portions.
US09153437B2 Inorganic nanostructure reactive direct-write and growth
Methods for forming inorganic nanostructures are provided. The methods create the inorganic nanostructures by positioning a writing electrode (e.g., a conductive “stamp”) spaced nanometers above a substrate such that a precursor is intermediate the two. Applying an electric field, a voltage bias, an ionic current, or an electronic current between the writing electrode and the substrate converts the precursor into an inorganic solid material (e.g., a semiconductor such as silicon or germanium) in the area of the writing electrode.
US09153433B2 Method of depositing a film and film deposition apparatus
A disclosed method of depositing a silicon film on a substrate mounted on a turntable and can pass by rotation through a first process area and a second process area, which are separately arranged along a peripheral direction in a cylindrical chamber set to have a first temperature capable of cutting a Si—H bond includes a molecular layer deposition step of supplying a Si2H6 gas set to have a second temperature less than the first temperature when the substrate passes through the first process area thereby forming a SiH3 molecular layer on a surface of the substrate, and a hydrogen desorption step of causing the substrate, on a surface of which the SiH3 molecular layer is formed, to pass through the second process area maintained to have the first temperature thereby cutting the Si—H bond and leaving only a silicon atomic layer on the surface of the substrate.
US09153428B2 Double-capped short arc flash lamp
A double-capped short arc flash lamp includes an arc tube, a pair of main electrodes disposed in the arc tube, and a pair of auxiliary electrodes disposed in the arc tube. The flash lamp also includes inner leads and outer leads associated with the two auxiliary electrodes, respectively. The flash lamp also includes a first sealing tube and a second sealing tube provided at opposite ends of the arc tube. A sealing glass tube is partly received in the second sealing tube. Grooves are formed in the outer surface of the sealing glass tube in a region where the sealing glass tube overlaps the second sealing tube. The grooves extend in the axial direction of the sealing glass tube, and are configured to receive the inner leads and the outer leads. Metallic foils electrically connect the inner leads with the outer leads, respectively.
US09153420B2 Charged particle beam writing apparatus and charged particle beam writing method
A charged particle beam writing apparatus includes first and second transmission units to perform first and second transmission processing, where, in the first transmission processing, while one of the units performs data transmission processing, the other unit inputs processing data for N processing regions more than pre-set, data-converted, n processing regions, and while one of the units performs data input processing, the other transmits processing data for (N-n) processing regions in order, and in the second transmission processing, processing data for remaining n processing regions are transmitted in order after the first transmission processing, where one of the units starts inputting the processing data while the other performs the first transmission processing, and does not input processing data for a new processing region after starting the second transmission processing.
US09153418B2 Charged particle radiation apparatus
A charged particle radiation apparatus includes a control device that switches between a first charged particle beam and a second charged particle beam, the first charged particle beam being scanned to acquire an image and a waveform signal, the second charged particle beam being scanned over a sample before the scan of the first charged particle beam and used to charge the sample more than the first charged particle beam; wherein the control device is configured to acquire at least one of signal waveform data and image data about a pattern formed on the sample in accordance with a scan performed on the sample by the second charged particle beam, and to stop, when the acquired data has proved to be indicative of a predetermined state, the scan of the second charged particle beam.
US09153416B2 Detection method for use in charged-particle microscopy
A method of investigating a sample using a charged-particle microscope is disclosed. By directing an imaging beam of charged particles at a sample, a resulting flux of output radiation is detected from the sample. At least a portion of the output radiation is examined using a detector, the detector comprising a Solid State Photo-Multiplier. The Solid State Photo-Multiplier is biased so that its gain is matched to the magnitude of output radiation flux.
US09153414B2 Particle optical apparatus with a predetermined final vacuum pressure
The invention relates to a particle-optical apparatus with a predetermined final vacuum pressure. To that end a vacuum chamber of said apparatus is via a first restriction connected to a volume where vapor or gas is present at a known pressure and via a second restriction to a vacuum pump. By making the ratio of the two conductances, associated with said restrictions, a calibrated ratio, the final pressure of the vacuum chamber is a predetermined final pressure. This eliminates the need for e.g. vacuum gauges and control systems, resulting in a more compact design of such apparatus.
US09153410B2 X-ray generating method, and X-ray generating apparatus
A method for generating an X-ray includes the steps of: disposing at least a target in a chamber; irradiating an electron beam onto the target from an electron beam source disposed in or outside the chamber so as to satisfy a relation of β≦60 degrees if an incident angle of the electron beam is defined as “β”; and generating and taking an X-ray out of the target so as to satisfy a relation of −30 degrees≦β−α≦60 degrees if an output angle of the X-ray relative to a surface of the target is defined as “α”.
US09153403B2 Electromagnet device
The present invention provides an electromagnet device including a horizontal portion of a yoke arranged near one end portion of an iron core, a movable iron piece which pivotably supported on a leading end edge portion of a vertical portion of the yoke which serves as a fulcrum, an end portion of the movable iron piece adapted to be attracted to a magnetic pole portion by a main magnetic circuit, the magnetic pole portion is arranged in the other end portion of the iron core. The main magnetic circuit is formed by applying a voltage to a coil wound around a periphery of the iron core and an auxiliary magnetic circuit formed in parallel with the main magnetic circuit, the auxiliary circuit including a permanent magnet is arranged near the one end portion of the iron core and a magnetic resistance portion, in which a magnetic flux of the permanent magnet is magnetically saturated.
US09153402B2 Cutter
A cutter includes a stopper with which a blade after cutting a harness with a cutting portion collides and stops. The blade includes a flexible guide portion which protrudes further in a forward direction of the blade than the cutting portion.
US09153398B2 Portable actuator assembly
A portable actuator and safety switch assembly wherein the portable actuator includes a housing and an actuator for selectively engaging with a control mechanism of said safety switch. The actuator is at least one of partially located within the housing, forms a part of the housing, or is attached to the housing. The assembly includes a controller that controls a configuration of the actuator assembly, such that the actuator assembly can selectively and controllably attain a first configuration wherein the actuator is able to interact with the control mechanism of the safety switch and a second configuration wherein the actuator is unable to manipulate the control mechanism of said safety switch.
US09153387B2 Photoelectric conversion element
The photoelectric conversion element of the present invention includes: a pair of electrodes facing one another; a oxide semiconductor layer provided on one of the pair of electrodes; an electrolyte disposed between the electrodes; and a sealing part that connects the electrodes, and surrounds and seals the oxide semiconductor layer and the electrolyte. At least a portion of the sealing part comprises an inorganic sealing part formed of an inorganic material and on a surface of at least one of the electrodes and a resin sealing part that is connected to the inorganic sealing part along the direction connecting the electrodes and comprises a material including a resin. A region on a surface of the inorganic sealing part on a side closer to the electrolyte than a region connected to the resin sealing part is covered with a protective resin layer that is resistant to the electrolyte.
US09153385B2 Electrode structure of the touch panel, method thereof and touch panel
An electrode structure is provided. The electrode structure comprises a plurality of first conductive cells and second conductive cells separated from each other and disposed on a substrate; a plurality of first conductive lines connecting adjacent said first conductive cells and a plurality of second conductive lines connecting adjacent said second conductive cells; wherein each said second conductive line comprises a conducting element and a pair of second conductive branches disposed at two sides of said conducting elements and connecting said conducting element to adjacent said second conductive cells; said first conductive lines and said second conductive lines are insulated and intersected. The method of forming an electrode structure is also provided.
US09153384B2 Method of manufacturing an electrolytic capacitor
An electrolytic capacitor includes a capacitor element and an electrolyte solution impregnated in the capacitor element. The capacitor element includes an anode foil, cathode foil, separator, and a solid electrolytic layer. The anode foil has a dielectric layer on its surface, and the cathode foil confronts the anode foil. The separator is interposed between the anode foil and the cathode foil. The solid electrolytic layer is formed on the surfaces of the anode foil, cathode foil, and separator as an aggregate of fine particles of conductive polymer. The separator has an air-tightness not greater than 2.0 s/100 ml. Sizes of the fine particles measure not greater than 100 nm in diameter, and an amount of the fine particles contained falls within a range from 0.3 mg/cm2 to 1.2 mg/cm2, inclusive, as converted to weight per unit area of the anode foil.
US09153382B2 Multilayer ceramic capacitor and method for manufacturing multilayer ceramic capacitor
A multilayer ceramic capacitor exhibits superior life characteristics in a high temperature load test despite the use of very thin dielectric layers. As a dielectric ceramic constituting a dielectric layer of the multilayer ceramic capacitor, a perovskite-type compound is used and contains Ba and Ti (a portion of Ba can be replaced with at least one of Ca and Sr, and a portion of Ti can be replaced with Zr) as a main component, and including La within the range of 2-6 parts by mole, Mg within the range of 3-5 parts by mole, and Mn within the range of 1.5-3 parts by mole in a case where a total content of Ti and Zr is 100 parts by mole.
US09153381B2 Chip device and method for manufacturing the same
Disclosed herein is a chip device including: a multilayer body having a hexahedral shape; an external electrode covering both distal ends of the multilayer body; and a shape maintaining material contained in the external electrode to maintain a shape of the external electrode at the time of forming the external electrode.
US09153380B2 Shapeable short circuit resistant capacitor
A ceramic short circuit resistant capacitor that is bendable and/or shapeable to provide a multiple layer capacitor that is extremely compact and amenable to desirable geometries. The capacitor that exhibits a benign failure mode in which a multitude of discrete failure events result in a gradual loss of capacitance. Each event is a localized event in which localized heating causes an adjacent portion of one or both of the electrodes to vaporize, physically cleaning away electrode material from the failure site. A first metal electrode, a second metal electrode, and a ceramic dielectric layer between the electrodes are thin enough to be formed in a serpentine-arrangement with gaps between the first electrode and the second electrode that allow venting of vaporized electrode material in the event of a benign failure.
US09153377B2 Magnetic polymer composite
The invention relates to a hot melt dispensable polymeric composite and process for making and using the composite. Particulates of adequate particle size are mixed with a polymer that exhibits low viscosities at temperatures typically provided by hot-melt glue guns to form rods that vary significantly in density from the base polymer. Novel articles can be manufactured by dispensing the composite from a glue gun into molds or by placement of the melt molding compound into preformed cavities within an end article.
US09153376B2 Harmonic cancelling interphase magnetic device
A harmonic cancelling interphase magnetic device (1) comprising a magnetic core of rectangular shape with three wound legs (14) and two non-wound legs (12), wherein the cross-section of said non-wound legs (12) is thinner than the cross-section of said wound legs (14). The magnetic device is designed for a front end multi-pulse rectifier or inverter. Its use enables reduction of the harmonics of the currents absorbed or injected to three-phase power line. Compare to known solutions, cost, material and dimensions of the magnetic device are significantly reduced.
US09153370B2 Linear solenoid
A linear solenoid has a moving core, a main coil, and a magnetically attractive core. The moving core is supported to be capable of sliding in an axial direction of the moving core. The main coil winds around the moving core and forms a tubular shape. The magnetically attractive core magnetically attracts the moving core based on magnetic force caused by the main coil. The linear solenoid may further have a secondary coil disposed separately from the main coil so that the secondary coil intersects with the moving core at a position corresponding to the secondary coil when the moving core moves toward the magnetically attractive core.
US09153366B2 Resistor and resistance element
A resistance element that includes a resistor made of a thin film containing VO2 as a main component and at least one of W, Nb, Mo and Ti as an additive element. The thin film has a plurality of layer regions distributed in the direction of thickness thereof, and amounts of the additive elements doped in the layer regions are different from each other between the adjacent layer regions. Terminal electrodes are disposed such that a current flows through the plural layer regions of the resistor. Preferably, an interval at which the plural layer regions are distributed is selected to be not less than 8 nm and not more than 35 nm.
US09153362B2 Coating of technical substrates for manufacturing super-conducting layers with high transition temperature
The present invention refers to a method for applying a smoothening layer on a band substrate for subsequent manufacturing a high temperature superconductor tape, wherein the method comprises the steps: (a) applying a liquid containing polysilazane on at least one side of the band substrate; and (b) heating the liquid containing polysilazane to a temperature≧450° C. for depositing a layer on the band substrate which comprises silicon oxynitride (SiNxOy, wherein 0≦x<0.6 and 1.0
US09153361B2 Differential signal transmission cable
A differential signal transmission cable includes a pair of differential signal lines arranged in parallel to each other, an insulation for bundle-covering the pair of differential signal lines, and a shield conductor wound around an outer periphery of the insulation. The insulation is configured such that an outer circumference thereof in a cross section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction thereof has an oval shape formed with a continuous convex arc-curve. The outer circumference of the insulation includes a first curved portion with a pair of symmetrical elliptical arcs located at both ends in a first direction along the arrangement direction of the pair of differential signal lines and a second curved portion with a pair of symmetrical elliptical arcs located at both ends in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.
US09153358B2 Composition for wire protective member, wire protective member, and wiring harness
A composition for a wire protective member with heat resistance, flame retardancy, and resistance against both a calcium chloride and a braided wire; a wire protective member and a wire harness using the composition. The composition for a wire protective member is produced by including a polypropylene having a propylene monomer constituting 50 to 95 percent by mass of monomers forming a polymer, a melt flow rate of 0.5 to 5 g/10 min, and a melting point of 150 degrees C. or more; a bromine-based flame retardant and an antimony trioxide as a flame retarder; a phenol-based antioxidant as a heat resistance life improving agent; and a metal deactivator, wherein the propylene has a tensile strength of 20 to 35 MPa and a Charpy impact strength of 10 kJ/m2 or more at 23 degrees C.
US09153356B2 High dielectric permittivity materials from composites of low dimensional metallic systems
Metal nanoparticles are assembled in interrupted metal strands or other structures of characteristic dimensions and orientation to generate a giant dielectric response through a modified GE effect. Careful selection and modification of the host material and synthesis also leads to low dielectric breakdown voltages. In addition, the high dielectric composite material is employed in material configurations that are more scalable for industrial and consumer applications.
US09153354B2 Compositions comprising conductive particles with surface-modified nanoparticles covalently attached thereto, and methods of making
Compositions are disclosed comprising a plurality of conductive particles wherein each conductive particle comprises a plurality of surface-modified nanoparticles that are covalently bonded to the surface of the conductive particle. Compositions are also disclosed wherein the plurality of conductive particles comprising a plurality of surface-modified nanoparticles covalently bonded thereto, are provided in an organic vehicle.
US09153349B2 Method for recycling nuclear control rods and recycled control rod section
A method for recycling AgInCd control rod absorber bar material from a used control rod from a nuclear power plant includes sectioning AgInCd absorber bar from a used control rod into a first section and a second section, the first section having a higher radioactivity than the second section; and recycling the material of the second section of the AgInCd absorber bar.
US09153346B2 Code coverage circuitry
A method with a circuit that includes a memory (130) coupled to an analog line coverage circuit (104). The analog line coverage circuit includes a plurality of buffers (151-154) in which each buffer is coupled to one memory location of the memory, a plurality of bin cells (161-164) in which each bin cell is coupled to a buffer, a multiplexer (170), each input terminal of which is coupled to a bin cell, and an analog-to-digital converter (180) coupled to the multiplexer and to an output terminal of the analog line coverage circuit. The analog line coverage circuit stores an analog voltage that is representative of a number of occasions that a memory location is accessed, and outputs a signal indicative thereof. A processor (102), coupled to the memory and to the analog line coverage circuit, enables the analog line coverage circuit when the processor is in a debug mode.
US09153345B2 Error generating apparatus for solid state drive tester
Disclosed is an error generating apparatus of a solid state drive tester. The error processing operation of the storage is tested by inserting errors into a specific instruction to be transmitted to the storage, and detecting the results of the error processing operation of the storage when testing the storage. The error generating apparatus includes a host terminal for receiving a test condition for a test of a storage from a user, and a test control unit for generating a test pattern according to the test condition or generating a test pattern randomly, generating error data used to test an error characteristic of the storage, and testing the storage based on the test pattern and a normal instruction or an error instruction which is formed by inserting the error data into the normal instruction.
US09153335B2 Clamp voltage generator of a semiconductor memory apparatus
The invention provides a clamp voltage generating circuit capable of generating a correct clamp voltage. The clamp voltage generating circuit includes an emulate transistor, having a drain coupled to a power source VDD, a source coupled to a node, and a gate coupled to the clamp voltage; a current setting circuit, connected between the node and ground, for setting a current flowing from the node to the ground; a regulator, inputting a feedback voltage from the node and a reference voltage, and outputting a voltage VCLMP. The current setting circuit duplicates a current of a bit line, so that the emulate transistor is similar to a charge transfer transistor.
US09153329B2 Selective re-programming of analog memory cells
A method for data storage includes defining, in a memory that includes multiple analog memory cells, an erased state, a set of non-erased programming states and a partial subset of the non-erased programming states. Data is initially stored in a first group of the analog memory cells by programming each of at least some of the memory cells in the first group from the erased state to a respective non-erased programming state selected from the set of non-erased programming states. After initially storing the data, a second group of the analog memory cells, which potentially cause interference to the first group, is programmed. After programming the second group, the first group is selectively re-programmed with the data by repeating programming of only the memory cells in the first group whose respective programming states belong to the partial subset.
US09153328B2 Page buffer circuit
A page buffer circuit is coupled to a bit line of a memory array. The page buffer circuit includes a latch storing different data during different phases of a multi-phase program operation. A preparation phase is after the program phase and after the program verify phase of the present multi-phase program operation. For the preparation phase, the control circuitry causes the latch to store the preparation data indicating whether to program the memory cell in a subsequent multi-phase program operation following the present multi-phase program operation. Results of the program verify phase, and contents of the latch at a start of the present multi-phase program operation, are sufficient to determine the preparation data.
US09153323B2 Systems and methods for generating soft information in NAND flash
Systems and methods are provided to generate soft information related to the threshold voltage of a memory cell. A range of threshold voltages for the memory cell is divided into subregions of threshold voltage values herein referred to as bins. An output of the memory cell in response to an applied reference signal is measured. The applied reference signal includes a voltage value and position information. A single bin is identified based on the position information of the reference signal. The identified bin is split into more than one bin based on the output of the memory cell and the voltage value of the reference signal. The newly split bins and all the other bins that were not split are assigned new bin indices.
US09153320B2 Programming memory cells using a program pulse
Described herein are techniques related to one or more systems, apparatuses, methods, etc. for programming a memory cell through the use of a program pulse.
US09153317B2 Non-volatile memory system with power reduction mechanism and method of operation thereof
A method of operation of a non-volatile memory system including: providing a resistive storage element having a transformation layer; activating a write driver, coupled to the resistive storage element, for applying a bias voltage to the transformation layer; monitoring a resistance of the resistive storage element by a sense amplifier; and detecting a conductive thread, formed in the transformation layer, by the sense amplifier for reducing a level of the bias voltage.
US09153314B2 Ground-referenced single-ended memory interconnect
A system is provided for transmitting signals. The system includes a ground-referenced single-ended signaling (GRS) driver circuit that is configured to pre-charge a first capacitor to store a first charge between a first output node and a first reference node based on a first input data signal during a first pre-charge phase and drive an output signal relative to a ground network based on the first charge during a first drive phase. A control circuit is configured to generate a first set of control signals based on the first input data signal and a first clock signal, where the first set of control signals causes the first GRS driver circuit to operate in either the first pre-charge phase or in the first drive phase.
US09153312B2 Methods and apparatuses including transmitter circuits
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for transmitter circuits. One example apparatus includes a pre-driver circuit configured to provide a transition control signal responsive to received data, and a main driver circuit configured to drive an output node responsive to the transition control signal. The apparatus also includes a feedback circuit configured to provide a feedback control signal responsive to a voltage of the output node reaching or exceeding a predefined threshold, and an equalizer driver circuit configured to assist the main driver circuit in driving the output node responsive to signals from at least one of the pre-driver circuit and the feedback circuit.
US09153311B1 System and method for retaining DRAM data when reprogramming reconfigurable devices with DRAM memory controllers
A system and method for retaining dynamic random access memory (DRAM) data when reprogramming reconfigurable devices with DRAM memory controllers such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). The DRAM memory controller is utilized in concert with an internally or externally located data maintenance block wherein the FPGA drives the majority of the DRAM input/output (I/O) and the data maintenance block drives the self-refresh command inputs. Even though the FPGA reconfigures and the majority of the DRAM inputs are tri-stated, the data maintenance block provides stable input levels on the self-refresh command inputs.
US09153310B2 Dynamic random access memory for communications systems
An integrated circuit may comprise a digital logic circuit, a memory refresh circuit, a first one or more dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cells, and a second one or more DRAM cells. The first DRAM cell(s) may be refreshed by the memory refresh circuit whereas the second DRAM cell(s) is not refreshed by any memory refresh circuit. Each of the first DRAM cell(s) and the second DRAM cell(s) may be a one-transistor cell. The first DRAM cell(s) may be used for storage of data which is overwritten at less than a threshold frequency. The second DRAM cell(s) may be used for storage of data which is overwritten at greater than the threshold frequency. A rate at which the first DRAM cell(s) are refreshed may be adjusted during run-time of the integrated circuit.
US09153308B2 Magnetic random access memory device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array, a buffer configured to hold data input to an input/output circuit and to hold data read from the memory cell array, and a controller configured to receive a first command and an address from the outside and to read data, in response to the first command, from a memory cell group coupled to a selected word line designated by the address to the buffer. The controller receives a second command which is input after the first command and indicates a last command of a group of commands including write commands and/or read commands, and starts a write operation from the buffer to the memory cell array in response to the second command.
US09153307B2 System and method to provide a reference cell
An apparatus includes a group of data cells and a reference cell coupled to the group of data cells. The reference cell includes four magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) cells. Each of the four MTJ cells is coupled to a distinct word line. Each of the four MTJ cells includes an MTJ element and a single transistor. The single transistor of each particular MTJ cell is configured to enable read access to the MTJ element of the particular MTJ cell.
US09153305B2 Independently addressable memory array address spaces
Examples of the present disclosure provide devices and methods for accessing a memory array address space. An example memory array comprising a first address space comprising memory cells coupled to a first number of select lines and to a number of sense lines and a second address space comprising memory cells coupled to a second number of select lines and to the number of sense lines. The first address space is independently addressable relative to the second address space.
US09153304B2 Apparatus for reducing write minimum supply voltage for memory
Described is an apparatus for self-induced reduction in write minimum supply voltage for a memory element. The apparatus comprises: a memory element having cross-coupled inverters coupled to a first supply node; a power device coupled to the first supply node and a second supply node, the second supply node coupled to power supply; and an access device having a gate terminal coupled to a word-line, a first terminal coupled to the memory element, and a second terminal coupled to a bit-line which is operable to be pre-discharged to a logical low level prior to write operation.
US09153294B2 Semiconductor memory device having adjustable refresh period, memory system comprising same, and method of operating same
A semiconductor memory device includes a cell array including a plurality of cell regions, a row decoder configured to drive rows corresponding to cell regions in which a refresh operation is to be performed, based on a counting address, and a refresh address generator configured to generate the counting address and a modified address in response to a control signal, wherein the modified address is generated by inverting at least one bit of the counting address, and wherein the semiconductor memory device performs concurrent refresh operations on a first cell region corresponding to the counting address and a second cell region corresponding to the modified address where the second cell region is determined to have weak cells.
US09153293B2 Operation scheme for non-volatile memory
A method of operating an integrated circuit includes determining at least one characteristic of at least one memory cell and conducting an operation for the at least one memory cell, wherein based on the at least one characteristic determined a disturbance for at least one additional memory cell is adjusted.
US09153284B2 Video signal generating apparatus, video signal receiving apparatus, and video signal generating and receiving system
A video signal generating apparatus is disclosed which includes: a camera configured to generate a video signal; an operating device configured to operate at least either the camera or an apparatus configured to receive the video signal; a text data generating device configured to generate text data including a meaningful term in response to the operation performed on the operating device; and a text data inserting device configured to insert the text data generated by the text data generating device into the video signal in a corresponding manner.
US09153279B1 Magnetic tape control apparatus, recording medium storing a control program, and method
A magnetic tape control apparatus includes a control device that executes a process including: detecting an occurrence of speed fluctuations of a running magnetic tape for each recorded area from which a synchronization error is detected, when the synchronization error of a bit signal of a track is detected with a time lag between any of tracks of the running magnetic tape partitioned in units of recording areas; and setting the recording area as an unavailable area in accordance with a state where the speed fluctuations in the recording area occur.
US09153271B2 Optical disc device
The optical disc device has a circuit which forms a focus error signal for focus servo control based on reflection light from an optical disc exposed to laser light. Also, the device has a data processing unit which can control by feedback a position to which an objective lens is moved by a focusing actuator based on a focus error signal. In label printing, the data processing unit controls, by feedforward, a position to which the objective lens is moved by the focusing actuator based on control data for label printing. The operation resolution of the focusing actuator in feedforward control is made higher than that in feedback control. Thus, an intended position control accuracy is achieved in feedforward control. For instance, in feedforward control, the gain of the driver circuit for the focusing actuator is switched to a smaller one in comparison to that in feedback control.
US09153262B1 Disk drive actuator having a radially stepped pivot bore
A head stack assembly (HSA) for a disk drive includes an actuator body having a cylindrical bore therethrough and an actuator arm extending therefrom. A head is attached to a distal end of the actuator arm. A pivot bearing cartridge is disposed within the cylindrical bore. A tolerance band is radially preloaded between an outer surface of the pivot bearing cartridge and an inner surface of the cylindrical bore. The cylindrical bore has a first diameter in a first region adjacent a first axial end, and a second diameter in a second region adjacent a second axial end. There is a radial step between the first and second regions. The first diameter is greater than the second diameter by at least 20 microns but no more than 100 microns.
US09153261B1 Dampers for actuator assembly of hard disk drive
An actuator assembly for a magnetic storage device includes a top surface and a bottom surface that opposes the top surface. The actuator assembly also includes a first constraining layer that is secured to the top surface by a first adhesive layer. The first adhesive layer is positioned between the top surface and the first constraining layer. Additionally, the actuator assembly includes a second constraining layer that is secured to the bottom surface by a second adhesive layer. The second adhesive layer is positioned between the bottom surface and the second constraining layer. At least one of (i) the first constraining layer is configured differently than the second constraining layer; and (ii) the first adhesive layer is configured differently than the second adhesive layer.
US09153259B2 Magnetic media access head with metal coating
Embodiments disclosed herein provide magnetic media access heads with metal coatings. In a particular embodiment, a magnetic media head for accessing magnetic media comprises a base substrate configured to support a magnetic head layer. The magnetic head layer is formed on the base substrate and configured to magnetically access the magnetic media. A metallic layer formed over the magnetic head layer and disposed between the magnetic head layer and the magnetic media when the magnetic media is positioned for access by the magnetic head layer.
US09153258B2 Scissor magnetic read sensor with novel multi-layer bias structure for uniform free layer biasing
A scissor type magnetic sensor having a back edge bias structure that has a non-uniform magnetic moment to compensate for differences in magnetic spacing between the bias structure and a first magnetic free layer as compared with the magnetic spacing between the bias structure and a second magnetic free layer. The magnetic bias structure can include a first magnetic layer and a second magnetic layer formed over the first magnetic layer, with the first magnetic layer having a higher magnetic moment than the second magnetic layer.
US09153257B1 Write head having reduced dimensions
A write head having reduced dimensions. In one implementation, the write head has a main pole having a leading side and a trailing side, a leading yoke on the leading side of the main pole, and a coil wrapped around the main pole and the leading yoke. The coil on the leading side and the leading yoke having a distance of no greater than 300 nm therebetween, and the coil on the trailing side and the main pole having a distance of no greater than 350 nm therebetween. In an alternate implementation, the write head has a trailing yoke, with the coil on the trailing side and the trailing yoke having a distance of no greater than 350 nm therebetween.
US09153253B2 Perpendicular magnetic recording head and magnetic recording unit having leading shield including exposed end surface and recess shield including mid part
The perpendicular magnetic recording head includes: a magnetic pole including an end surface exposed on an air bearing surface, and extending in a height direction perpendicular to the air bearing surface; a leading shield including an end surface exposed on the air bearing surface; a leading gap provided between the magnetic pole and the leading shield; and a recess shield including a mid-part and other parts, and provided at a position on a side opposite to the magnetic pole with the leading shield in between, the mid-part being distanced from the leading shield in a track width direction, the other parts being in contact with the leading shield, and the position being recessed from the air bearing surface.
US09153247B1 Far field interference mitigation by relative frequency ordering
A method is disclosed for improved operation of a data storage device such as a hard disk drive, wherein the overhead for data rewriting is reduced or eliminated by the grouping of logical zones in proximity to other zones with similar writing frequencies. Thus cold zones are written near other cold zones, and hot zones near other hot zones, within a multiplicity of realms on the data storage surface. Substantial reductions in FTI writes are achievable in comparison with previous FTI mitigation algorithms.
US09153241B2 Signal processing apparatus
The signal processing apparatus inserts the header information in a frame to probably be the reproduction start point by including: the first and the second coding units that code an input signal per frame; the first header inserting unit that inserts the SBR header indicating management information of the coded signal represented by a sequence of frames, in each frame at a regular interval within the coded signal; the control unit that determines a frame in which the SBR header is inserted, independent of the frames in which the first header inserting unit inserts the SBR header; and the second header inserting unit that singly inserts the SBR header in the frame determined by the control unit.
US09153237B2 Audio signal processing method and device
Disclosed is an audio signal processing method comprising the steps of: receiving an audio signal containing current frame data; generating a first temporary output signal for the current frame when an error occurs in the current frame data, by carrying out frame error concealment with respect to the current frame data a random codebook; generating a parameter by carrying out one or more of short-term prediction, long-term prediction and a fixed codebook search based on the first temporary output signal; and memory updating the parameter for the next frame; wherein the parameter comprises one or more of pitch gain, pitch delay, fixed codebook gain and a fixed codebook.
US09153236B2 Audio codec using noise synthesis during inactive phases
A parametric background noise estimate is continuously updated during an active or non-silence phase so that the noise generation may immediately be started with upon the entrance of an inactive phase following the active phase. In accordance with another aspect, a spectral domain is very efficiently used in order to parameterize the background noise thereby yielding a background noise synthesis which is more realistic and thus leads to a more transparent active to inactive phase switching.
US09153234B2 Speech recognition apparatus, method of recognizing speech, and computer readable medium for the same
A speech recognition apparatus includes: a recognition device that recognizes a speech of a user and generates a speech character string; a display device that displays the speech character string; a reception device that receives an input of a correction character string, which is used for correction of the speech character string, through an operation portion; and a correction device that corrects the speech character string with using the correction character string.
US09153231B1 Adaptive neural network speech recognition models
Neural networks may be used in certain automatic speech recognition systems. To improve performance of these neural networks, they may be updated/retrained during run time by training the neural network based on the output of a speech recognition system or based on the output of the neural networks themselves. The outputs may include weighted outputs, lattices, weighted N-best lists, or the like. The neural networks may be acoustic model neural networks or language model neural networks. The neural networks may be retrained after each pass through the network, after each utterance, or in varying time scales.
US09153230B2 Mobile speech recognition hardware accelerator
A method for executing a mobile speech recognition software application based on a multi-layer neural network model includes providing to a hardware accelerator in the mobile device to classify one or more frames of an audio signal. The hardware accelerator includes a multiplier-accumulator (MAC) unit to perform matrix multiplication operations involved in computing the neural network output.
US09153229B2 Methods and systems for adapting grammars in hybrid speech recognition engines for enhancing local SR performance
A speech recognition method includes providing a processor communicatively coupled to each of a local speech recognition engine and a server-based speech recognition engine. A first speech input is inputted into the server-based speech recognition engine. A first recognition result from the server-based speech recognition engine is received at the processor. The first recognition result is based on the first speech input. The first recognition result is stored in a memory device in association with the first speech input. A second speech input is inputted into the local speech recognition engine. The first recognition result is retrieved from the memory device. A second recognition result is produced by the local speech recognition engine. The second recognition result is based on the second speech input and is dependent upon the retrieved first recognition result.
US09153223B2 Noise reduction device
A noise reduction device includes a noise controller, a control sound output component and a residual sound detector. The noise controller is configured to produce a control sound signal for canceling out noise. The control sound output component is configured to output a control sound based on the control sound signal produced by the noise controller. The residual sound detector is configured to detect a residual sound produced by superposition of noise and the control sound outputted from the control sound output component. The control sound output component and the residual sound detector are housed in the shell. The control sound output component and the residual sound detector are away from a rear face of the seat.
US09153212B2 Compressed frame writeback and read for display in idle screen on case
In an embodiment, a display pipe is configured to composite one or more frames of images and/or video sequences to generate output frames for display. Additionally, the display pipe may be configured to compress an output frame and write the compressed frame to memory responsive to detecting static content in the output frames. The display pipe may also be configured to read the compressed frame from memory for display instead of reading the frames for compositing and display. In some embodiments, the display pipe may include an idle screen detect circuit configured to monitor the operation of the display pipe and/or the output frames to detect the static content.
US09153210B2 Method of graphically indicating on a wireless communications device that map data is still being downloaded
Displaying a map on a wireless communications device includes downloading map data from which the map is to be rendered, rendering portions of the map for which the map data has been fully downloaded, and then graphically overlaying on a portion of the map for which the map data has not yet been fully downloaded a graphical indication, such as hatching, crosshatching or shading, to indicate that further map data is being downloaded. This hatching, crosshatching, shading, or writing informs the user that further map data is being downloaded and that not all of the map features have been rendered yet.
US09153200B2 Method for selecting backlight color values
A method of facilitating the display of an image. The method includes, in a display system comprising a display panel having pixels and a backlight having individually addressable colored light emitters configured to provide light to the pixels of the display panel, receiving image data corresponding to an image for display upon the display panel, the pixels each having a color to be displayed, so as to collectively display the image. The method also includes, for each pixel, evaluating whether the corresponding color to be displayed is out-of-gamut to the each pixel, so as to form a set of out-of-gamut pixels. A set of virtual primaries is determined so as to define intensities of light emitted by the colored light emitters of the backlight during display of the image, the virtual primaries determined according to the colors of the set of out-of-gamut pixels.
US09153199B2 Mobile equipment, information display system and recording medium
A mobile equipment includes an alternative display searching part sending an alternative display list request including current position information indicating the current position of the mobile equipment to a server, receiving from the server an alternative display list representing a list of display devices located near the current position, and selecting an alternative destination display device from the alternative display list on the basis of an inter-device distance between each of the display device and the mobile equipment, an ME short-distance radio communication part sending a distance measuring signal request signal to the display devices by short-distance radio communication and estimating the inter-device distance on the basis of the field strength of a distance measuring signal sent from the display devices, and an ME network connection part sending event information of the mobile equipment to the alternative destination display device.
US09153196B2 Display device and driving method thereof
A display device includes a display panel including a gate line, a data line, and a pixel connected to the gate line and the data line, a data driver connected to the data line, a gate driver connected to the gate line, and a signal controller controlling the data driver and the gate driver, wherein a circuits powering power source voltage that is normally used for driving the data driver is selectively not applied during a new-image blanking time when the signal controller is not supplying image data to the data driver.
US09153192B2 Display device
Disclosed is a display device. The display device includes a panel in which a plurality of pixels are respectively formed in a plurality of pixel areas defined by intersections between a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines, a source driving IC coupled to the plurality of data lines in a first non-display area of the panel and configured to respectively supply data voltages to the plurality of data lines, and an ESD circuit in which, to prevent static electricity from flowing into the plurality of data lines, in the first non-display area, a end of one side of the ESD circuit is coupled to a corresponding data line, a end of the other side is coupled to a power line, and a length of a channel through which a current flows is formed greater than a width of the channel.
US09153188B2 Driving apparatus of display with pre-charge mechanism
A driving apparatus of a display is disclosed. The driving apparatus includes a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuit, an output buffer circuit and a pre-charge circuit. The DAC circuit receives a display data with a digital format for generating a gray level voltage. The output buffer circuit is coupled to the DAC circuit, and has an output terminal to output an output signal. The output buffer circuit receives the gray level voltage and the output signal, and compares the gray level voltage and the output signal to generate a comparison result. The pre-charge circuit is coupled to the output buffer circuit, and generates a pre-charge output signal to the output terminal of the output buffer circuit according to the comparison result and a pre-charge enable signal.
US09153186B2 Devices and methods for kickback-offset display turn-off
Methods and devices employing circuitry for display turn-off that offsets the effect of kickback voltage are provided. In one example, a method may include determining an amount of kickback voltage that is expected to occur in pixels of the electronic display during shutdown of the display, supplying a common voltage output to a common electrode of a pixel of the electronic display, and supplying an activation signal to the pixel to activate the pixel. The method may also include supplying a data signal to a pixel electrode of the pixel. The data signal may be substantially equal to the sum of the common voltage output and the determined kickback voltage. The method may include removing the activation signal from the pixel to store the data signal in the pixel to reduce the effect of kickback voltage on the pixel electrode of the pixel during shutdown of the electronic display.
US09153185B2 Field sequential liquid crystal display device and method of fabricating the same
A field sequential liquid crystal display device includes a circuit unit producing RGB reference voltages and scanning signal voltages using RGB data and control signals, a liquid crystal display panel changing alignment direction of liquid crystal molecules in accordance with the RGB reference voltages and the scanning signal voltages, and a backlight device emitting light to the liquid crystal display panel, wherein the circuit unit includes an interface receiving the RGB data and the control signals, a timing controller generating gate control signals and data control signals, at least two gamma generating units generating the RGB reference voltages, a switch selecting one of the RGB reference voltages, a data driver receiving the data control signal and the selected RGB reference voltage selected from the switch, and supplying an RGB image voltage to the liquid crystal display panel in accordance with the selected RGB reference voltage and the data control signal, and a gate driver receiving the gate control signals from the timing controller and supplying the scanning signal voltage to the liquid crystal display panel in accordance with the gate control signal.
US09153183B2 Display apparatus and electronic apparatus
A display apparatus is configured to allow a user positioned in a first direction to visually recognize a first image and to allow a user positioned in a second direction different from the first direction to visually recognize a second image. The display apparatus includes a display unit that alternately displays the first and second images; an irradiation unit that provides irradiation light; a color filter that respectively includes first and second areas for the first and second images, through which the irradiation light is transmitted; and a distribution unit that distributes the irradiation light transmitted through the first area of the color filter to the first direction and through the second area of the color filter to the second direction. The color filter includes color components of three primary colors and a white color.
US09153182B2 Electrophoretic panel and driving method thereof
An electrophoretic display includes an electrophoretic panel, a timing control circuit, a source driver, a gate driver, and a gate line enable circuit. The timing control circuit generates a timing control signal corresponding to a refresh area of a frame according to the refresh area. The gate driver generates output enable signals corresponding to the refresh area according to the timing control signal, and the gate line enable circuit transmits scan signals of first gate lines corresponding to the refresh area to second gate lines corresponding to the refresh area according to the enabled output enable signals. The source driver drives data lines corresponding to the refresh area according to the timing control signal to charge/discharge pixels corresponding to the refresh area.
US09153181B2 Electronic book using grayscale inversion for image signal correction
An object is to improve visibility without causing increases in device size and cost. Another object is to improve visibility and reduce the burden on a user without blocking external light when reflection of external light is high. An electronic book includes a display panel having an electrophoretic display element controllable by a pixel circuit of each pixel, and an illuminance sensor, and a display control portion having a circuit configured to correct an image signal for the electrophoretic display element to display a grayscale image in accordance with illuminance that is detected by the illuminance sensor.
US09153179B2 Display systems with handshaking for rapid backlight activation
A system may include a graphics controller and a display. The graphics controller may generate video data to display on the display. The display may include a display panel for displaying the video data, a backlight unit for providing the display panel with backlight, and a display timing controller for communicating with the graphics controller over a communications path. The communications path may include a video data path for conveying video data bits, an interrupt path for conveying interrupts, and a sideband control path for conveying control signals such as a backlight enable signal for the backlight unit. The graphics controller and timing controller may perform link training operations to assess link quality between the graphics controller and timing controller. The timing controller may use interrupts to inform the graphics controller of system status. Use of the interrupts may help the system minimize the time consumed during display power-up operations.
US09153177B2 Apparatus for generating gray scale voltage in organic light emitting display device
An apparatus for generating a gray scale voltage in an organic light emitting display device is disclosed. In one aspect, the apparatus includes a gamma reference voltage generator, a gray scale voltage output unit and a gray scale voltage selector. The gamma reference voltage generator outputs a gamma reference voltage. The gray scale voltage output unit outputs N first gray scale voltages, based on the gamma reference voltage. The gray scale voltage selector has a lookup table in which voltage values respectively corresponding M reference gray scales are previously set, and outputs second gray scale voltages by selecting M of the N first gray scale voltages.
US09153174B2 Method for driving active display
A method for adjusting the electricity of a TFT has the steps of starting a displaying sequence by driving the TFT and resetting the electricity of the TFT. The step of starting the display sequence by driving the TFT further comprises the steps of: (a) providing a gate driving voltage to the gate electrode of the TFT; (b) providing a source driving voltage to the source electrode of the TFT; and (c) providing a drain driving voltage to the drain electrode of the TFT. The step of resetting the electricity of the TFT comprises the steps of: (a) providing a gate resetting voltage to the gate electrode of the TFT; (b) providing a source resetting voltage to the source electrode of the TFT; and (c) providing a drain resetting voltage to the drain electrode of the TFT. The gate resetting voltage is smaller than or equal to the source resetting voltage or the drain resetting voltage. The source resetting voltage and the drain resetting voltage are adjustable.
US09153173B2 Pixel structure and driving method thereof
A pixel structure and a driving method thereof are disclosed. The driving method includes following steps. During a first displaying frame period, a threshold voltage of a transistor for driving a light-emitting diode is stored in a first capacitor, and a first data voltage is stored in a second capacitor. The threshold voltage stored in the first capacitor is utilized for compensation during the first displaying frame period. During a second displaying frame period, a second data voltage is stored in the second capacitor, and the threshold voltage stored in the first capacitor during the first frame displaying period is still utilized for compensation during the second displaying frame period.
US09153171B2 Smart pixel lighting and display microcontroller
A light emitting assembly is described. In one embodiment, one or more light emitting diode (LED) devices and one or more microcontrollers are bonded to a same side of a substrate, with the one or more microcontrollers to switch and drive the one or more LED devices.
US09153168B2 Method for deciding duty factor in driving light-emitting device and driving method using the duty factor
There is provided a method for deciding a duty factor in driving a light-emitting device and a driving method using the duty factor that enable restraint of deterioration of light-emitting elements and improvement in reliability. In a method for deciding a duty factor of a light-emitting device that performs display based on an analog video signal, with respect to a characteristic obtained by multiplying the characteristic of luminance after X hours in relation to the current density and the characteristic of luminance after X hours in relation to the duty factor when the total quantity of electricity flowing through light-emitting elements in one frame period is defined at a specific value, a range of duty factor that enables realization of luminance approximately exceeding a value that is 0.8 times a maximum value is regarded as an optimum range of duty factor.
US09153165B2 OLED display panel, driving circuit, and driving method
The present invention provides an OLED display panel, a driving circuit, and a driving method. The OLED display panel includes: a first transparent substrate and a second transparent substrate arranged opposite to each other; an OLED array formed on one face of the first transparent substrate facing the second transparent substrate, and an optical display array and a first optical film formed on the other face of the first transparent substrate; and a second optical film formed on one face of the second transparent substrate opposite to the first transparent substrate, and an optical display array formed on the other face of the second transparent substrate. The first and second optical films can be switched between a non-opaque status and an opaque status.
US09153156B2 Liquid crystal display device that addresses non-synchronous response times
A liquid crystal display device includes a display part which has a plurality of divided segments and a control part, configured to control voltages applied to the segments. The control part changes a turning-on pattern of segments to be output to the display part from a first turning-on pattern which turns on a first segment group to a second turning-on pattern which turns on a second group, and subsequently to a third turning-on pattern which turns on a third segment group. Change of the turning-on pattern includes a control to apply a voltage to at least one of segments of the plurality of segments which are not commonly used in the first segment group in a period from a predetermined time before starting of change to the third turning-on pattern.
US09153154B2 Display panel and testing method thereof
A display panel and a testing method are provided. The display panel has a display region and a peripheral circuit region, and includes an active device array substrate, an opposite substrate and a display medium located between the above two substrates. The active device array substrate includes scan lines, data lines, pixel units, a common electrode layer and testing lines. The scan lines and the data lines are intersected to define a plurality of pixel regions in the display region. The pixel units are disposed in the display region respectively, and each pixel unit is electrically connected to the corresponding scan line and the data line. The common electrode layer covers the data lines at least. The testing lines are disposed in the display region, and each testing line which is located between the common electrode layer and the data lines is at least overlapped to the data lines.
US09153151B2 Sign ventilation system
An electronic sign includes a planar lighting module emitting visible light. A cabinet supportingly engages the lighting module. An air chamber is between the cabinet and the lighting module. A vertical partition is within the air chamber and extends between a bottom wall and a top wall of the cabinet, and between the lighting module and a rear wall of the cabinet. The partition divides the air chamber into first and second sections. An electric fan is within the cabinet and transfers air from the first to the second section. The cabinet and/or the lighting module include a plurality of throughholes fluidly interconnecting the air chamber to ambient air. A first subset of the throughholes are more closely fluidly connected to the first section than to the second section. A second subset of the throughholes are more closely fluidly connected to the second section than to the first section.
US09153150B2 Lighting assembly having enhanced visual appearance
A lighting assembly includes a housing assembly, a first light source located within the housing assembly, and a second light source located within the housing assembly. A first cover is positioned relative to the first light source so that the first light source is able to illuminate the first cover. A second cover is positioned relative to the second light source so that the second light source is able to illuminate the second cover. A light barrier is disposed between the first and second covers. The light barrier is configured to prevent interference between the first light source and the second light source.
US09153137B2 Temporally based weather symbology
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are described herein for integrating geo-spatially enabled and time-encoded textual weather information into a graphical map display. Time-encoded textual weather information regarding one or more geographic locations is received, parsed, and interpreted in light of a temporal context of the graphical map display. Weather symbology relating the weather conditions within the temporal context of the graphical map display is generated from the parsed textual weather information and displayed at positions on the map corresponding to the geographic locations. The weather symbology may include weather pictograms that relate past, current, and future weather conditions at the corresponding geographic locations according to the temporal context of the graphical map display.
US09153134B2 Handheld visual back-up guidance device and system for trailers and vehicles
A visual back-up guidance device and system for trailers and vehicles includes a guidance device having a durable main body, a plurality of indicators represented by a left turn indicator, a GO indicator, a STOP indicator, and a right turn indicator, a speaker and a plurality of control inputs.A visual back-up guidance system includes the guidance device and a driver unit having another plurality of indicators represented by a left turn indicator, a GO indicator, a STOP indicator, and a right turn indicator, that is communicatively linked to the guidance device.
US09153128B2 Traffic signal device for driver/pedestrian/cyclist advisory message screen at signalized intersections
An encrypted traffic signal device controller (TSDC) and an Electronic Variable Message Sign (EVMS) at intersection roadways and related traffic intersections where the invention system is installed at traffic light intersections which will be triggered at the red light sequence where vehicles/pedestrian/cyclists are stopped. After the traffic light turns red, the time delay of the red light will trigger an audio and visual public announcement which will be of assistance to the driver and enable the driver to pay attention to the announcement without being concerned about diverting the driver's attention from driving the vehicle since the vehicle is stopped at a red light and the driver can devote his attention to reading the information provided.
US09153123B2 Remote monitoring system
A remote monitoring system includes a sensor interface, a processor, and a wireless communication interface. The sensor interface receives sensor information from a sensor coupled to the sensor interface. The processor processes the sensor information into at least one data packet for transferring to a server. The wireless communication interface transfers the data packet over wireless communications to the server.
US09153122B2 Environmental alert for computer systems
Improved efficiency in monitoring environmental conditions in the vicinity of an unattended computer system includes using the existing communication systems between the computer system and a network, to provide immediate information to users, emergency responders and anyone connected to the network. The system may also include an ability of the unattended computer system to receive a return message from the user ordering a physical action in response to the reported environmental condition, for example turning on a fire suppression system in response to a smoke alarm. The system may also include storage of environmental conditions and analysis of variations over time, as well as any interactions of various types of environmental conditions, such as giving more weight to a high temperature reading in conjunction with an elevated but not critical level of smoke.
US09153121B2 Alarm suspend system
An alarm suspend system utilizes an alarm trigger responsive to physiological parameters and corresponding limits on those parameters. The parameters are associated with both fast and slow treatment times corresponding to length of time it takes for a person to respond to medical treatment for out-of-limit parameter measurements. Audible and visual alarms respond to the alarm trigger. An alarm silence button is pressed to silence the audible alarm for a predetermined suspend time. The audible alarm is activated after the suspend time has lapsed. Longer suspend times are associated with slow treatment parameters and shorter suspend times are associated with fast treatment parameters.
US09153119B2 Scenting nebulizer with remote management and capacitive liquid level sensing
A scenting nebulizer is described that capacitively measures the level of scenting oil in a bottle in the nebulizer without ever contacting the oil in the bottle. In addition, such capacitively measured oil levels are measured at multiple vertical levels of the bottle of scenting oil. In actual operation the capacitively measured oil level readings are very frequently measured then averaged, and the averaged figures are stored. The stored, averaged figures are interpolated against previously stored, capacitance readings made when the scenting oil bottle is full and when there is no bottle. In this manner the level of the oil is accurately determined. A plurality of processor controlled scenting nebulizers are connected to a central computer and their individual oil levels and other operational information are forwarded to the central computer where appropriate maintenance for the individual nebulizers is scheduled. The operational settings operation of the nebulizers may be programmed from the central computer.
US09153116B2 Real-time vehicle driver performance monitoring
Real-time vehicle driver performance monitoring uses a plurality of sensors operated in a vehicle, each generating a real-time data stream comprising data corresponding to operation of the vehicle by the vehicle's driver. A computing device (such as an in-vehicle computer) processes the generated data stream from each of the plurality of sensors to determine whether the operation of the vehicle triggers any of a plurality of predetermined operational alert triggers. The predetermined operational alert triggers may correspond to detecting characteristics of an improper magnitude and/or an improper linearity of a delta in data detected by one of the sensors. When an alert is triggered, a corresponding alert message is generated and sent to at least one recipient (e.g., to the vehicle's driver, to nearby driver(s), to authorities, etc.). Examples of monitored characteristics include speed, steering, braking, use of turn indicators by the driver, and mobile phone usage.
US09153115B1 Fall impact signal transmitter
A fall impact signal transmitter device is associated with a fall arrest harness to provide an alert signal when a user has experienced a fall event and is suspended in the fall arrest harness. A transmitter is disposed within a housing and is caused to issue a distress signal when actuated by an engagement member when a fall event occurs. The transmitter may be Bluetooth® enabled to permit a distress signal to be communicated by the user's own cell phone, or to permit two-way communication through the cell phone between the user and a called number.
US09153114B2 Fall detection method and system
Fall detection method and systems with its unique designed sensors are disclosed. The capacitive sensing based systems use the abrupt changes of the capacitance value to detect whether a real fall event happens, while the reed sensor/or reed switch based systems work in power saving passive mode to detect the real fall event by analyzing the binary “on/off” signal available from the reed sensor/or reed switch. Both rely on the orientation change of the host body respects to local gravity direction during the falling process. The system can present either as a standalone system or a built-in component with supporting software installed on other devices.
US09153113B1 Oven door smoke sensor
A smoke alarm system specifically designed to detect smoke near a kitchen stove includes a transmitter assembly having a smoke detection device housed within an enclosure which hangs upon an oven door handle or other such appendage. The transmitter assembly further comprises a transmitter module that generates a wireless signal upon detection of smoke and transmits the signal to a remote receiver. When activated by the signal from the transmitter assembly, the receiver assembly produces sound and illumination type alarms, thereby warning occupants of smoke that is emanating from the stove, and the need to take immediate corrective action.
US09153112B1 Modular patient monitor
A modular patient monitor provides a multipurpose, scalable solution for various patient monitoring applications. In an embodiment, a modular patient monitor utilizes multiple wavelength optical sensor and/or acoustic sensor technologies to provide blood constituent monitoring and acoustic respiration monitoring (ARM) at its core, including pulse oximetry parameters and additional blood parameter measurements such as carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO) and methemoglobin (HbMet). Expansion modules provide blood pressure BP, blood glucose, ECG, CO2, depth of sedation and cerebral oximetry to name a few.Aspects of the present disclosure also include a transport dock for providing enhanced portability and functionally to handheld monitors. In an embodiment, the transport dock provides one or more docking interfaces for placing monitoring components in communication with other monitoring components. In an embodiment, the transport dock attaches to the modular patient monitor.
US09153111B2 Image surveillance and reporting technology
Image surveillance and reporting technology, in which an event that is indicative of potential physical activity within an area corresponding to a location of a camera unit is detected. In response to detection of the event, the camera unit is controlled to capture one or more images of the area corresponding to the location of the camera unit. The one or more images captured by the camera unit are analyzed to determine whether the one or more images include image data that is indicative of relevant physical activity within the area corresponding to the location of the camera unit. The one or more images are handled based on the determination of whether the one or more images include image data that is indicative of relevant physical activity within the area corresponding to the location of the camera unit.
US09153110B2 Video surveillance system and method for configuring a video surveillance system
A video surveillance system 1 having an input device 6. The input device includes an analysis device 12 for evaluating images of a surveillance scene from a surveillance region 5, that have been recorded by a surveillance camera 3 A user 7 is represented and/or can be represented on the images, and the analysis device 12 and/or the input device 6 are/is designed for generating user object data 14, based on the images 13 with the user 7 and/or the input device 6. The input device is embodied as a mobile device 6 for the configuration of the video surveillance system 1 by the user 7 on the basis of or using the user object data 14.
US09153109B1 Mobile device cover with theft protection
A cover for a mobile device includes an engaging portion for engaging an exterior surface of the mobile device to secure the cover to the mobile device, a back protective panel for protecting a back surface of the mobile device and at least one wall extending from an interior side of the back protective panel and contacting the back surface of the mobile device. A theft-detection device capable of generating a signal in response to passing through a field is positioned on the interior side of the back protective panel such that a height of the theft-detection device is less than a height of the at least one wall.
US09153105B2 Gaming device and method for providing player selection of modifiers to game components
In one embodiment, the gaming device and method disclosed herein provides a player one or more modifiers to apply to different components or characteristics of a game. In one such embodiment, the gaming device enables a player to selectively apply or associate a plurality of modifiers to a single game component or apply the plurality of modifiers across the plurality of game components. For each game component with at least one applied modifier, the gaming device disclosed herein modifies said game component based on each applied modifier. The gaming device generates any awards based on any modified game components and any unmodified game components and provides any generated awards to the player.
US09153102B2 Electronic gaming machine and gaming method
An electronic gaming machine includes an electronic game controller and a display where game symbols are arranged in an array of predetermined game positions. The appearance of at least one special symbol in a first play of a game causes the electronic game controller to increase the value of a prize awarded for a predetermined winning combination, the increase being associated with a numerical value associated with the special symbol. Also, the numerical value associated with the special symbol sequentially increases for one or more subsequent plays of the game. A gaming method is also provided.
US09153100B2 Gaming system and method for offering simultaneous play of multiple games
Gaming apparatus and methods of conducting a wagering game of chance. A gaming machine is disclosed which is configured for mutually concurrent play of a plurality of games of chance on a single display screen. A method of conducting a wagering activity includes providing a player with a plurality of differing games of chance, at least some of which are mutually concurrently playable on a single screen display of a gaming device and enabling mutually concurrent play of the plurality of differing games of chance on the single screen display. Various other gaming machine configurations and methods of play related to multiple differing games of chance on a single display screen are also disclosed herein. Networked gaming machines are also disclosed.
US09153096B2 Audio markers in a computerized wagering game
A computerized wagering game system has a gaming module comprising a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the processor to present or conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered. An audio module is operable to process markers embedded within an audio stream, wherein the markers comprise structured audio commands.
US09153092B2 Prize merchandiser
The invention relates to a prize merchandiser comprising a cabinet, a see-through monitor extending through a front wall of the cabinet, a touch screen overlay mounted over the see-through monitor, a coin acceptor attached to the cabinet, a prize dispenser mounted inside the cabinet, and a computer unit connected to the coin acceptor, the prize dispenser, the see-through monitor and the touch screen overlay. The prize dispenser has a prize storage area extending behind the see-through monitor so that prizes in the prize storage area are visible through the see-through monitor during game play and when nobody plays a game. The computer unit is configured to run an interactive video game that displays on the see-through monitor and is controlled by player interactions with the touch screen overlay, and to operate the prize dispenser so as to dispense a prize based on an outcome of the video game.
US09153091B2 Gaming method and apparatus for portioning a play area
A method and apparatus for use in gaming activities, such as in a slot machine. A first grid comprising a plurality of elements overlayed a second grid comprising a plurality of elements is presented. At least some of the elements of the first grid and the second grid are marked. Marked elements of first grid are then used to form a subportion, the subportion boundary enclosing an area and having a correspondingly marked element of the first grid at each corner. Payouts are issued for marked elements and element combinations of the second grid within the subportion. The payouts may be administered according to a pay table.
US09153090B2 Symbol pushing gaming machine
A gaming machine for conducting a symbol pushing wagering game (40) includes a plurality of symbols (42) arranged in an array (44). The array (44) comprises at least one variable position (52) and a plurality of pass-through positions (54). At least one pass-through position is adjacent to the variable position. A first symbol in the variable position is varied and then stopped, wherein the first symbol is translated from the variable position to the adjacent pass-through position. In the direction of translation, symbols are pushed to adjacent pass-through positions. Payoff awards are distributed upon the occurrence of certain winning combination of symbols.
US09153089B1 Communication device for vending machine and method of using the same
The present application is directed to systems and methods for transmitting vending machine data wirelessly via a reporting device. Each vending machine may connect to a reporting device. The reporting device may communicate with a mobile device wirelessly, where the mobile device may be carried by an operator. The reporting device may transmit vending machine data to the mobile device. The reporting device may transmit maintenance information to the mobile device. The mobile device may upload the vending machine data and maintenance information via a network to a remote device. The reporting device may enable a customer to make purchases with a mobile device. The reporting device may receive a repair-needed notification from a customer's mobile device.
US09153087B2 Coin processing device
A coin processing device includes: a conveying unit that conveys a coin in a conveyance direction; first and second material sensors detect material of the conveyed coin to obtain material detection data; first and second position sensors detect a position of the conveyed coin to obtain position detection data; a correcting unit that corrects the material detection data based on the position detection data to obtain corrected material detection data; and an identifying unit that identifies the conveyed coin based on the corrected material detection data.
US09153081B2 Counter apparatus
Of a counter apparatus, a first microcomputer and a second microcomputer communicate with each other and receive a crank signal with pulses. The first microcomputer detects a first pulse count number at a detection time point and transmits it to the second microcomputer. The second microcomputer detects a second pulse count number at a determination time point, which is an allowable delay time period later from the detection time point. The allowable delay time period is expected to elapse from the detection time point to when the first pulse count number is received by the second microcomputer. The second pulse count number is compared with a determination value, which is the sum of (i) the first pulse count number and (ii) the largest integer not greater than the quotient of T2/T1, T1 being a pulse period of the crank signal, T2 being the allowable delay time period.
US09153079B1 System and method of automated 3D scanning for vehicle maintenance
System and method for using automated 3D scans to diagnose the mechanical status of substantially intact vehicles. One or more processor controlled 3D scanners utilize optical and other methods to assess the exposed surfaces of various vehicle components. Computer vision and other computerized pattern recognition techniques then compare the 3D scanner output versus a reference computer database of these various vehicle components in various normal and malfunctioning states. Those components judged to be aberrant are flagged. These flagged components can be reported to the vehicle users, as well as various insurance or repair entities. In some embodiments, the 3D scans can be performed using time-of-flight cameras, and optionally infrared, stereoscopic, and even audio sensors attached to the processor controlled arm of a mobile robot. Much of the subsequent data analysis and management can be done using remote Internet servers.
US09153074B2 Wearable augmented reality eyeglass communication device including mobile phone and mobile computing via virtual touch screen gesture control and neuron command
Provided are an augmented reality eyeglass communication device and a method for facilitating shopping using an augmented reality eyeglass communication device. The augmented reality eyeglass communication device may comprise a frame, and a right earpiece and a left earpiece connected to the frame. Furthermore, the eyeglass communication device may comprise a processor configured to receive one or more commands of a user, perform operations associated with the commands of the user, receive product information, and process the product information. The eyeglass communication device may comprise a display connected to the frame and configured to display data received from the processor. In addition to that, the eyeglass communication device may comprise a transceiver electrically connected to the processor and configured to receive and transmit data over a wireless network. The eyeglass communication device may comprise a Subscriber Identification Module card slot, a camera, an earphone, a microphone, and a charging unit.
US09153067B2 Systems and methods for 3D data based navigation using descriptor vectors
Systems and methods for 3D data based navigation using descriptor vectors are provided. In at least one embodiment, a method for identifying corresponding segments in different frames of data comprises identifying a first segment set in a first frame in multiple frames acquired by at least one sensor, and identifying a second segment set in a second frame in the multiple frames. The method also comprises calculating a first and second set of descriptor vectors, wherein the first and second sets of descriptor vectors comprise a descriptor vector for each segment in the respective first and second segment set, wherein a descriptor vector describes an indexed plurality of characteristics; and identifying corresponding segments by comparing the first set of descriptor vectors against the second set of descriptor vectors, wherein the corresponding segments describe characteristics of the same feature in the environment.
US09153065B2 System and method for adjusting image pixel color to create a parallax depth effect
A method carried out by a graphics processing apparatus samples a texture value of a first texture layer at an offset to a second texture layer of a surface and adjusts pixel color for a pixel of the second texture layer using the texture value such that an appearance of depth is created between the first texture layer and the second texture layer. The method may adjust the pixel color using the sampled texture value alpha component. Another method includes transforming a surface normal vector to eye space for a surface having at least first and second texture layers mapped thereto, determining an offset between the first texture layer and the second texture layer using the transformed surface normal vector, sampling a texture value of the first texture layer using the offset, and adjusting pixel color for a pixel of the second texture layer using the texture value.
US09153064B2 Grouping pixels to be textured
A region or group of pixels may be textured as a unit, using a range specifier and one or more anchor pixels to define the group. In some embodiments, processing grouped pixels improves efficiency.
US09153062B2 Systems and methods for sketching and imaging
A method, a system, and a computer program product for generating a three-dimensional representation of a scene within a three-dimensional space are disclosed. A plurality of two-dimensional planes to be positioned within the three-dimensional space are generated. The plurality of two dimensional planes include two-dimensional content that is capable of being modified. The generated two-dimensional planes are positioned within the three-dimensional space. The positioning of the planes is capable of being modified.
US09153058B2 Dynamic splitting of content
Methods and systems for dynamically splitting content are disclosed. In some embodiments, content may be received that includes one or more elements to be animated. It may be determined that a size of at least one element of the one or more elements to be animated exceeds a threshold. The at least one element having the size that exceeds the threshold may be split into a plurality of sub-elements. A transform of at least one of the sub-elements may be modified.
US09153053B2 Selective composite rendering
Systems, apparatus, methods and computer program products are described below for rendering a graphical user interface by selectively compositing display contents. In general for each of one or more content producers, where each content producer is associated with content storage containing display content, display content for output is identified depending on the content consumer to which the graphical user interface is being rendered.
US09153048B2 System optics in at least in one of backprojection and forward projection for model-based iterative reconstruction
Iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithms are advantageous over standard filtered backprojection (FBP) algorithms by improving resolution and noise performance. In this regard, model-based IR algorithms (MBIR) have been developed to incorporate accurate system models into IR and result in a better image quality than IR algorithms without a system model. System optics are included in both forward and backprojection (IRSOM-FPBP).
US09153046B2 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, method, and program combining structural and elasticity images
A sectional image and a two-dimensional elasticity image on an arbitrary cross section are added at a first combination ratio received from an operator to produce an arbitrary cross-section combined image. A three-dimensional image and a three-dimensional elasticity image of a predetermined part are added at a second combination ratio received from the operator to produce a three-dimensional combined image. The arbitrary cross-section combined image and the three-dimensional combined image are displayed side by side in a display. This can provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of facilitating the grasp of the structure and the recognition of the hardness of the living organ within the object from the plurality of images.
US09153034B2 Image processing of images that include marker images
An image processing method, includes: obtaining an image, the image having marker images and a background image; identifying presence of an object in the background image using a processor; and providing a signal for stopping a procedure if the presence of the object is identified. An image processing apparatus, includes: a processor configured for: obtaining an image, the image having marker images and a background image; identifying presence of an object in the background image; and providing a signal for stopping a procedure if the presence of the object is identified. A computer product having a non-transitory medium storing a set of instructions, an execution of which causes an image processing method to be performed, the method includes: obtaining an image, the image having marker images and a background image; identifying presence of an object in the background image; and providing a signal for stopping a procedure if the presence of the object is identified.
US09153032B2 Conversion method and apparatus with depth map generation
A conversion method and apparatus with a generating of a depth map for two dimensional (2D)-to-three dimensional (3D) conversion. A depth order may be restored based on a line tracing and an edge map generated from an input image, and a stereo image may be generated using depth information.
US09153030B2 Position and orientation estimation method and apparatus therefor
There is provided a method for accurately estimating a position and orientation of an object even if the object is more dispersive in shape than a three-dimensional geometric model with a standard shape. The statistic of deviation of a feature constituting a three-dimensional model representing a three-dimensional standard shape of an object is estimated to determine a reliability for each feature. The amount of deviation is calculated between the feature extracted from observation data obtained by an imaging apparatus and the feature in the three-dimensional model. The three-dimensional position and orientation of the object is estimated based on the amount of deviation and the reliability related to each feature extracted from the three-dimensional model.
US09153029B2 Block patterns as two-dimensional ruler
A two-dimensional pattern comprises a plurality of R-planes each comprising a tiling of a corresponding R-ary block, being a block of radix R integer values, where for each dimension of the pattern, the least common multiple of the sizes of the tiled blocks in that dimension is greater than the size of the tiling that dimension, and any sub-block of a size less than the tiled blocks occurs on a regular grid with the same periodicity as the tiled block for that R-plane. The pattern may be used in determining a position of a location captured in an image by projecting the pattern onto a scene. An image is captured. The method determines from the captured image a sub-block associated with the location and constructs, a unique integer value for each R-plane. The unique integer values from each R-plane are used to determine the location in the image.
US09153028B2 Systems and methods for capturing motion in three-dimensional space
Methods and systems for capturing motion and/or determining the shapes and positions of one or more objects in 3D space utilize cross-sections thereof. In various embodiments, images of the cross-sections are captured using a camera based on edge points thereof.
US09153027B2 System, method, and computer program product for performing fast, non-rigid registration for high dynamic range image stacks
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for performing fast, non-rigid registration for at least two images of a high-dynamic range image stack. The method includes the steps of generating a warped image based on a set of corresponding pixels, analyzing the warped image to detect unreliable pixels in the warped image, and generating a corrected pixel value for each unreliable pixel in the warped image. The set of corresponding pixels includes a plurality of pixels in a source image, each pixel in the plurality of pixels associated with a potential feature in the source image and paired with a corresponding pixel in a reference image that substantially matches the pixel in the source image.
US09153021B2 Estimating risk of future bone fracture utilizing three-dimensional bone density model
A novel approach for analyzing a patient's body part of interest to assess bone strength and/or risk of future fracture includes obtaining a priori information regarding the body part of interest, performing X-ray absorptiometric scans of the patient's body part of interest and collecting X-ray absorptiometry data from the scans, constructing a three-dimensional model of the patient's body part of interest, by utilizing the a priori information along with the X-ray absorptiometric data, and performing measurements of various geometric parameters on the three-dimensional model for determining geometric and structural properties.
US09153020B2 Semiconductor device defect inspection method and system thereof
Provided are a semiconductor device defect inspection method and system thereof, with which predetermined hot spots are inspected using a SEM, and with which the frequency of defects occurring at the hot spot is estimated statistically and with reliability. An inspection point is designated in design data by the defect type. A plurality of pre-designated inspection points is selected by the defect type from the designated inspection points. The plurality of pre-designated inspection points by defect type thus selected are image captured by the inspection points. A defect ratio, which is a ratio of the plural inspection points which are image captured by the defect type to the plural defects detected, and a reliability interval of the defect ratio which is computed by the defect type is compared with a preset reference value. A defect type having a defect occurrence ratio which exceeds the reference value is derived.
US09153019B2 Electronic device and method for detecting state of lamps
In a method for closely monitoring a state of a lamp using an electronic device, a plurality of images of the lamp are captured by an image capturing unit of the lamp and a specified number of captured images are sampled. A luminance value of each of the sampled images is calculated to determine a state of the lamp, the possible states of the lamp including a normal state and an abnormal state. The lamp is marked or indicated accordingly on a monitoring interface when the lamp is in the abnormal state.
US09153016B2 Method and system for enhancing contrast of spatially-localized phenomena in mammography image
In a method to enhance the contrast of spatially-localized phenomena in an image such as microcalcifications in a mammogram, a multi-scale decomposition is applied to a digital signal representation of the image thereby generating a number of detail images at different scales, the detail signals pertaining to the spatially-localized phenomena having a common polarity (either negative or positive) being modified at at least one scale.
US09153013B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method and computer readable medium
An image processing method comprising, dividing an input image into a plurality of divided images, calculating a difference image between a divided image before noise removal and a divided image after noise removal for each of the plurality of divided images, calculating a relative value between a pixel intensity in the divided image before noise removal and a pixel intensity in the difference image for each of the plurality of divided images, detecting a frequency distribution of relative values in a background area of the input image, contained in frequency distribution of relative values calculated with respect to the plurality of divided images, and estimating an intensity of noise in accordance with the frequency distribution of the relative values in the background area.
US09153010B2 Image processing device and image processing method generating a high-resolution image from a low-resolution image
An image processing device that, even when a degradation model differs from a real degradation process of an obtained low-resolution image, generates a high-resolution image while restricting noises from occurring due to differences between the degradation model and the real degradation process. The image processing device includes: an enlargement interpolation unit generating a first high-resolution image that is higher in resolution than the low-resolution image; a super resolution processing unit generating, from the low-resolution image, a second high-resolution image; a feature generating unit generating features by using the low-resolution image; a difference calculating unit calculating difference values between values of pixels; an adjustment unit calculating corrected difference values by correcting the difference values by using the features; and a combination unit generating a third high-resolution image by adding corrected difference values to values of corresponding pixels in the first high-resolution image.
US09153009B2 Motion sickness reduction
A motion sickness reduction device includes an image capture device for capturing an image device environment and an image display device for displaying image related to the captured image. In order to effectively prevent or reduce motion sickness, the right amount of motion must be displayed on the image display device when the vehicle accelerates or turns. Various methods are disclosed for adjusting the image on the display device and/or the angle of the environment subtended to make the motion sickness reduction device effective.
US09153007B2 Imaging systems with conformal image buffers
Imaging systems may be provided with image sensors for capturing images. An image sensor may include storage and processing circuitry having a conformal image buffer to be used in performing various types of image transformations on captured input images. The storage and processing circuitry may perform the image transformations, in part, by storing a portion of a captured input image in the conformal image buffer. A conformal image buffer may include a buffer for storing input image pixel values specific to various types of image transformations and memory for storing a pixel buffer lookup table. The pixel buffer lookup table may be used by the storage and processing circuitry to determine which input image pixel values should be stored in the conformal image buffer for each type of image transformation and to provide random read access to the stored input image pixel values in the conformal image buffer.
US09153006B2 Circumvention of watermark analysis in a host content
Methods and devices are provided to thwart analysis of a watermarking system by preventing analysis of watermarks in a host content. Upon receiving a content at a watermark embedding device, the content is analyzed to ascertain whether one or more test features are present in at least a first portion of the received content. When the analysis reveals that one or more test features are present, embedding of watermarks in at least the first portion of the received content is disabled. The test features of interest include a temporal, a spatial and/or a frequency characteristic such that, if a region of the content that includes test feature is embedded with a watermark, at least one characteristic of the embedded watermark is detectable upon analysis of that region. The test feature can, for example, approximate an impulse signal, a step function signal or a pure sinusoidal signal.
US09153005B2 Method and system for authenticating a secure document
The method of automatically authenticating a document having a label-forming portion comprises the following steps: a) printing an authentic label having optically-variable elements; b) photographing the authentic label to create a first reference image; c) calculating and storing a reference digital fingerprint of the label; d) photographing a label for verification successively in first lighting conditions and in second lighting conditions that are essentially different from the first lighting conditions in order to create first and second verification images, by using a camera having a communications unit, a memory unit, and a calculation unit; e) verifying the optically-variable nature of said elements from the first and second verification images and calculating a verification digital fingerprint for the label that is to be verified; and f) comparing the verification digital fingerprint with the corresponding reference digital fingerprint, calculating the distance between these two digital fingerprints, and comparing the distance with a predetermined threshold.
US09153002B2 Bar code reader for a medical device
A bar code reader (2) for a medical device (3) is configured to be attached to a central communication device (1) to which at least one medical device (3) is attachable. The bar code reader (2) comprises a bar code scanning device (21) for scanning a bar code (4), a processing device (22) for decoding the scanned bar code (4) to obtain decoded bar code data which is contained in the scanned bar code (4), and a connection line (24) for outputting the decoded bar code data to the central communication device (1). The processing device (22) herein is operative to decode bar codes (4) of different bar code types. Furthermore, the processing device (22) is configured to map the decoded bar code data to a predefined standardized output format and to output the decoded bar code data in the predefined standardized output format via the connection line (24). Thus, a bar code reader and a method for processing a bar code scanned by a bar code reader are provided which are capable of reading and interpreting bar codes of a variety of different types and allow for outputting the data contained in a bar code in a manner such that a central communication device to which the bar code reader is attached may easily interpret the data.
US09152998B2 Investor relations systems and methods
Techniques to automate the management of investor relations are disclosed herein. A vertical domain query language is introduced, specifically for investor relations. Graphical query builder tools to create queries in the vertical domain query language are described. Reports specific to investor relations, in particular reports to assess the efficacy of investor relations activities, are also described. Investor relations client applications that make use of user state, such as identity, date time stamp and geolocation are described.
US09152997B2 Method for buying and selling stocks and securities
A computer-based method and system for buying and selling stocks and other securities. In general, the method creates an indicator for the purchase point or period and selling point or period for a stock. The method uses various technical indicators that converge to form zones, roughly in the form of triangles when viewed in a graphical display. A buy, sell, or take no action indicator is then determined based upon the comparison of price linear regression data to the other indicators described above. When the linear regression line or data at a point or for a period is greater than (i.e., above) all of the other indicators, this results in a buy indication. When the linear regression line or data at a point or for a period is lower than (i.e., below) all of the other indicators, this results in a sell indication.
US09152994B2 Systems and methods for managing global warning
A closed end financial instrument for the monetization of greenhouse gases is disclosed. The closed end security has unique features providing for the securitization of greenhouse gas reductions (e.g., avoidance, sequestration, transformation) on global and sub-global scales. A universal carbon index based on the computed value for metric tons fossil fuel derived CO2 from measurements of the carbon 14 isotope, directly linked to fossil fuel emissions, is also disclosed. The 14C based universal index provides a unique and novel market mechanism to value and track fossil fuel carbon across all reduction genres and measurement platforms. Sub-global indexes for 14C and other GHGs representing partial carbon budgets for specific regions are accounted for within the global budget. The global and sub-global GHG indexes may operate in real time across all GHG currency transactions constituting a live GHG trading regime. An asset allocation system, based on trace gas emissions over small to large scales is also disclosed providing a means to manage and reduce GHG emissions with market-based risk assessment versus return and modern portfolio theory paradigms. Features such as small, mid and large, growth and value are applied to GHG reduction efforts by trace gas type. The unique elements of financial mechanism, global and sub-global carbon indexes and asset allocation options provide a means to manage, reduce and monetize the burden of GHGs to the atmosphere and resultant global warming.
US09152993B2 Systems and methods for a website application for the purpose of trading, bartering, swapping, or exchanging personal property through a social networking environment
A system is provided for facilitating a personal property trading system and social networking environment that allows users to interact and create dialogue and socialize in relation to possible trades of personal property or services. This application will allow users who are willing to trade an item, service or favor to obtain similar wants or needs. This form of haggling and the feeling of success are proven to be mentally stimulating, proving another benefit for users. Users will be able to comment and haggle, as well as suggest other users that they believe may have a match on their ‘TRADING ITEMS’ and ‘STUFF I WANT’ lists. The system will promote environmentally conscious trading by bringing unwanted items back to use.
US09152991B2 Methods and systems for generating an interactive communication session with a live consultant
Methods and systems for generating an interactive communication session with a live consultant that comprises: receiving a request to communicate with a live consultant concerning at least one item for purchase. In response to the request, an interactive communication session is generated between the live consultant and a customer. The interactive communication session transmits live video images of the live consultant and the at least item to the remote device. Live video images of a customer are transmitted and received. At least one test is applied on the at least one item. The results generated by the at least one a test is transmitted.
US09152990B1 Crowdsourced personalized comparison tool
Disclosed are various embodiments for providing a product comparison application utilizing crowdsourcing. A network page is rendered providing a grid comprising a plurality of products, product attributes, and/or attribute data. Additions and/or modifications of attributes, products, and/or attribute data are assigned a score to determine which addition or modification to display and/or associate with a product catalog. The grid provides a view for comparison of products.
US09152984B1 Personal ad targeting
A system and method for selecting and customizing advertisements to be provided to a user includes monitoring user interactions within a virtual gaming environment and indirectly determining user characteristics based on the monitored user interactions. A user profile is generated from the user characteristics. An advertisement is selected and customized for the user based on the user profile. The advertisement is provided for display to the user in the virtual gaming environment.
US09152972B2 Data importer for a sales prospector
A data importer for a sales prospecting system imports one or more data tables that each may include one or more records. The data importer first (a) imports a data table into an intermediate table. The data importer then (b) determines if the imported data table depends on another data table and moves one or more records from the imported data table that have no missing dependencies to a corresponding working table; and (c) determines a set of previously imported data tables that refer to the imported data table. The data importer then, for each previously imported data table, repeats (b) and (c) above.
US09152963B2 Gift card transaction processing
Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for processing information associated with a transaction that qualifies for a gift card. An exemplary apparatus is configured to: receive information associated with a transaction executed using a payment method associated with an account, the information including an alias associated with the account and an amount of the transaction; determine, based on accessing a database, whether the alias is associated with a gift card; in response to determining the alias is associated with the gift card, determine whether the transaction qualifies for the gift card; and in response to determining the transaction qualifies for the gift card, apply a balance of the gift card to the amount of the transaction.
US09152960B2 Biometric identification and authentication system
Disclosed are methods, apparatus, and systems of biometric identification and authentication. In one embodiment, a method to authenticate a user at an automated teller machine is disclosed. In this embodiment, the method comprises: retrieving, by a processor of the automated teller machine, a numeric identification data inputted by the user; comparing, by the processor or by a processor of a remote sever, the numeric identification data against a stored set of numeric identification data in a user database stored in a memory communicatively coupled to the automated teller machine; and narrowing, by the processor or by the processor of the remote server, a user population to a first narrowed set of the user population based on the comparison of the numeric identification data against the stored set of numeric identification data. Multiple biometric identification techniques may then be used to authenticate the user at the automated teller machine.
US09152957B2 System and method for downloading an electronic product to a pin-pad terminal after validating an electronic shopping basket entry
A method of downloading an electronic product to a pin-pad terminal involves the terminal transmitting to a network gateway a transaction proposal for an electronic product from a network device, and receiving from the gateway a transaction proposal response generated by the gateway in response to the transaction proposal. The transaction proposal response includes a transaction pointer associated with the electronic product. An electronic cash register receives an indication of a proposed payment amount for the electronic product. The pin-pad terminal receives from the electronic cash register confirmation of entry of the electronic product in an electronic shopping basket maintained by the electronic cash register. The terminal validates the confirmation of entry of the electronic product from a comparison with the transaction proposal response, and transmits the transaction pointer to the network device via the gateway. The terminal receives the electronic product from the network device via the gateway.
US09152956B1 Automated kiosk assembly
An automated kiosk assembly includes a housing coupled to a support surface. A processor is coupled to the housing. A blood alcohol analyzer is coupled to the housing and the processor. A display is coupled to the housing and the processor. A user touches the display so the user actuates the processor. A payment acceptor is coupled to the housing and the processor. A dispenser is coupled to the housing and the processor. The dispenser selectively dispenses a straw. An input is coupled to the housing and the blood alcohol analyzer. The user operationally couples the straw to the input. The user exhales through the straw so the blood alcohol analyzer determines a blood alcohol content of the user. A transceiver is coupled to the housing and the processor. The transceiver contacts a taxi service if the user's blood alcohol content is above a legal limit.
US09152955B2 Touchless and touch optimized processing of retail and other commerce transactions
A computer implemented method for reducing input performed in a commerce based application is provided. The method includes receiving a sequence of input values from an input device and associating the sequence of input values with an object in the application based on the sequence. A context of the application is determined One or more tasks in the application are automatically performed based on the object, the context and the sequence of input values.
US09152951B2 Filtering data entries on mobile electronic devices having auxiliary input devices
A method of filtering data entries on a mobile device includes displaying a list of data entries on a display device of the mobile device. An indication of one of the data entries of the list is received at one of an input device and an auxiliary input device. Highlighting the data entry in response to the indication is performed. At an auxiliary input device, a pause of the indication is received. A filter for data entries that match the value of a predetermined field of the highlighted data entry is then executed. Results of the filter are displayed on the display device.
US09152950B2 System and method for collaboration
A method and computer program product for receiving notification of a first user response message concerning an email message received from a sender; receiving notification of a second user response message concerning the email message received from the sender; and providing the first and second users with one or more statistics concerning the email message.
US09152943B2 Apparatus and method for providing job searching services, recruitment services and/or recruitment-related services
An apparatus, including a memory device which stores information regarding a job opening, position, assignment, contract, or project, and information regarding a job search request or inquiry, a processing device which processes the information regarding a job search request or inquiry upon a detection of a job posting by at least one employer or at least one hiring entity or a posting of new or revised data or information from at least one individual or a group of individuals, automatically detects the occurrence of the searching event, and generates a message containing the information regarding a job opening, position, assignment, contract, or project, in response to the job search request or inquiry, and a transmitter which transmits the message to a communication device associated with an individual.
US09152937B2 Message sequence management of enterprise based correlated events
A message sequence management of enterprise based correlated events incorporates the changing and unique business of a telecommunications service provider with minimal configurations. The design identifies and manages related service requests and ensures that related service requests follow a precise execution sequence as defined by the business logic. The design's robust features allows for simplified integration and management to changing business processes and needs.
US09152936B2 Methods for interactively exchanging graphical objects between networked users
Systems and methods for media interaction include transmitting web-based objects, including media objects, between users. For example, a first user may select a media object in response to a prompt and send the media object to a second user. Media objects may be dynamic and customizable to further personalize interactions between the first user and the second user. For example, a usemame of the first user or custom text may be automatically inserted into a media object sent to the second user. In an exemplary embodiment, display of the packaged media object on the second user's client computer may be purposely delayed until a predetermined even occurs. For example, a pulse, or heartbeat, may be generated and fired by a web client to inform the server of a current state of the web client, for example, readiness to receive media objects based on the user activity.
US09152935B2 System and method for creating and displaying data—ties
A system and method for creating, storing and retrieving, and displaying user-created data_ties (a data_tie is a user-created relationship between two items the user had previously saved). The purpose of the invention is to provide the user a way to not only see the data he has saved, but to provide him a way to graphically display the relationships he has made between pieces of Evidence. The present invention is particularly adapted to tablet computers, notepads, etc. with touchscreens. A feature of the present invention is the ability to manually slide one icon on top of a second icon thereby creating a data_tie between the two pieces of data, or evidence. In various embodiments of the invention, this relationship can be annotated with context to later relate why and how the two pieces of data were connected.
US09152933B2 Fleet management system
Position dependent operation of a materials handling vehicle, comprises utilizing a processor on the materials handling vehicle to communicate across a wireless computing environment to a corresponding server computer via a transceiver on the materials handling vehicle. Operation further comprises obtaining from at least one device on the materials handling vehicle, information relating to the position of the materials handling vehicle and communicating the obtained position related information to the server computer. The operation still further comprises receiving a command from the server computer to perform a predetermined action, wherein the command is based upon the position related information of the materials handling vehicle relative to a position of a point of interest known by the server, and communicating information across a vehicle network bus to at least one component of the materials handling vehicle to perform the predetermined action in response to the received command.
US09152928B2 Context parameters and identifiers for communication
In one aspect, a method related to communication. In addition, other method, system, and program product aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and/or text forming a part of the present application.
US09152920B2 System and method of event publication in a goal achievement platform
Disclosed herein is system, method and architecture facilitating goal setting and achievement and providing positive social and economic motivators for goal achievement. Progress toward a goal is tracked and a determination may be made based on the progress whether or not to initiate one or more actions to stimulate progress and/or increase the likelihood of success in achieving a goal and/or achieving a milestone in a path of progression toward the goal.
US09152918B1 Resource forecasting using Bayesian model reduction
A predictive model forecasts a medical resource need by making use of empirical Bayes estimation methods to determine a Dynamic Bayes Network (DBN) model. Exemplary resource needs that may be forecast include nurses, ventilators, hospital rooms, etc. The DBN model is estimated from retrieved data that is related to the resource to be forecast. The DBN model is simplified and a predictive model is generated based on the simplified model. The predictive model runs to forecast the predicted need for the resource. Embodiments are directed toward a predictive model development system that instructs an operator as to the structure of the data so that a model may be tailored based on the understanding of the operator. Embodiments are directed toward a model running system that indexes available models and also employs powerful statistical analysis techniques on behalf of a user to generate a predictive model with little or no user involvement in low-level modeling details.
US09152916B2 Multi-compartment neurons with neural cores
Embodiments of the invention provide a neural core circuit comprising a synaptic interconnect network including plural electronic synapses for interconnecting one or more source electronic neurons with one or more target electronic neurons. The interconnect network further includes multiple axon paths and multiple dendrite paths. Each synapse is at a cross-point junction of the interconnect network between a dendrite path and an axon path. The core circuit further comprises a routing module maintaining routing information. The routing module routes output from a source electronic neuron to one or more selected axon paths. Each synapse provides a configurable level of signal conduction from an axon path of a source electronic neuron to a dendrite path of a target electronic neuron.
US09152914B2 Automatic increasing of capacity of a virtual space in a virtual world
A system for automatically increasing a capacity of a virtual space in a virtual world may include a processor and a module operating on the processor for detecting an attempt by an avatar to enter a virtual space in a virtual world. The system may also include another module for determining if an allowable number of avatars is currently in the virtual space. The allowable number of avatars may be determined by at least a capacity of a server that is hosting the virtual space. Another module may be provided for increasing a capacity of the virtual space when the allowable number of avatars is currently in the virtual space. Increasing the capacity of the virtual space may include spawning a replicate new virtual space on a different server in response to the capacity of the server that is hosting the virtual space reaching the allowable number of avatars.
US09152903B2 Automated generation of QR codes with embedded images
Systems and methods for the automated generation of QR codes with embedded images therein are provided. The QR code has an active, machine-readable portion and a background portion. An example system comprises an image identification module to identify a human-readable image. A primitive creation module generates a primitive QR code. The primitive QR code comprises a machine-readable QR code having the image embedded in the QR code. An overlay interface module generates an intermediate QR code by modifying the active portion of the QR code using a first modification and modifying the background portion using a second modification.
US09152902B2 Identification document with a contactless RFID chip
To provide an identification document, particularly a passport, in which at least one contactless RFID chip (10) and an antenna (12) connected thereto are integrated on a page of the identification document, an additional layer (22) mechanically reinforcing the RFID chip is situated at the area of the RFID chip (10) on the page, thus providing an arrangement with which the RFID chip can withstand mechanical stress for years on end.
US09152901B2 Method for the production of a book cover insert and book-type security document and book cover insert and book-type security document
The invention relates to a method for the production of a book cover insert (11) and to a method for the production of a book-type security document (30) and also to a book cover insert and a book-type security document, in which at least one data carrier (22) that can be operated contactlessly is provided in a book cover insert (11). (In this respect FIG. 9).
US09152899B2 Secure, server-less print release
A print release environment includes a client computing device, an imaging device and an active directory. The client stores an imaging job on a local hard disk. The client registers itself with the active directory indicating an existence of the job. Upon a user logging in to the imaging device to retrieve an imaged media corresponding to the imaging job, the imaging device queries the active directory for possible clients. The imaging device contacts client(s) and retrieves a list of jobs available to the user. The user selects their job and the client releases it direct to the imaging device. The client deletes the imaging job upon successful imaging of the media and undoes its registration with the active directory, unless further imaging jobs exist for the user. Encryption techniques are contemplated to secure the data of the imaging job end-to-end from the client to the imaging device.
US09152897B1 Printing an image on a substrate
Printing a screened image includes a computer for converting a contone image to a digital image. A digital front end provides a screening tile, a dither magnitude curve, a spot function for each of the cells in the screening tile and a displacement vector for each of the cells. The digital front end displaces the center of each cell spot function and constructs a halftone image from the contone image and the screening tile by comparing value of each pixel from the contone image to a corresponding threshold value from the screening tile. If the pixel value exceeds the threshold value set a corresponding pixel in the halftone image to one otherwise set the corresponding pixel in the halftone image to zero. An imaging system prints the halftone image on a substrate.
US09152895B2 Image processing apparatus, method thereof, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus that outputs, in the recording of a fine line image, an image having high fine line reproducibility by performing image processing according to a paper frequency characteristic. This image processing apparatus includes an input unit configured to input image data representing an image to be formed on a recording medium, an acquisition unit configured to acquire a frequency characteristic of surface unevenness of the recording medium, and a correction unit configured to correct the image data based on the frequency characteristic acquired by the acquisition unit.
US09152887B2 Object detection device, object detection method, and object detection program
An object detection device (10) is provided with: a video image converting section (20) converting an input video image in which surroundings of a vehicle are shot, to a characteristics video image into which image characteristics have been extracted from the input video image; a video images-classified-by-distance extracting/composing section (30) extracting areas which differ according to distances from the characteristics video image on the basis of the distance from a vehicle and composing the areas; a first object detecting section (40) scanning a composite video image to perform first object detection processing; an object-candidate position specifying section (50) determining an object-candidate position from a result of the first object detection processing; a second object detecting section (60) performing second object detection processing for the object-candidate position; and an object position identifying section (70) identifying an object position from a result of the second object detecting section.
US09152886B2 Methods and apparatus for acquiring and analyzing image data
An information processing apparatus includes: a storage unit which stores person relationship information representing relationships between people as a subject in a storage medium; an acquisition unit which acquires image data generated by imaging people as a subject; a detection unit which detects each person in an image; a specification unit which specifies each person detected from the image by the detection unit; and a determination unit which determines the relationship between multiple people detected from the image. When at least one person from among the people detected from the image is specified and another person is unable to be specified, the specification unit may specify the at least one other person on the basis of the relationship between the multiple people and the person relationship information.
US09152885B2 Image processing apparatus that groups objects within image
Provided is an image processing apparatus including: a grouping preference unit configured to register user preference information on a storage device based on a user operation, the user preference information indicating how objects within an image are to be classified into groups; an image analysis unit configured to detect the objects within the image; and a grouping unit configured to read the user preference information from the storage device and classify the objects detected within the image into the groups indicated in the read user preference information.
US09152880B1 Method for modeling human visual discrimination task performance of dynamic scenes
Methods for determining the probability of a human observer correctly performing a visual discrimination task of a target with a dynamic image stream, movie, are based on the V50 criterion, or the number of resolvable cycles needed by the human observer for a fifty percent probability of discrimination task completion, for performing the same visual discrimination task of the same targets in static scenes given an infinite amount of time. Once the V50 value is determined for the target set using static images, this value is used with the resolvable cycles V of the target set from the movie in an empirical Target Transfer Probability Function TTPF defined by P∞(t)=(V(t)/V50(t))1.5/(1+(V(t)/V50(t))1.5). The TTPF calculates the probability of correctly performing the visual discrimination task of a target at a given instance in time within the movie. These P∞ values are then modified by a time limited search equation.
US09152878B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium
There is provided with an image processing apparatus. A setting unit sets a parameter indicating a likelihood of being foreground or a likelihood of being background for each pixel of the input image. A selection unit selects a first cluster, wherein the first cluster has color information indicating a color similar to a color which is indicated by color information of any cluster out of the second group of clusters. An adjustment unit configured to adjust the parameter of each of pixels which belong to the selected first cluster. An estimation unit estimates a region corresponding to the foreground part using the parameters associated with respective pixels after adjustment of the parameters by the adjustment unit.
US09152875B2 Preserving text quality in video encoding
A video encoder receives a macro-block of an image frame, and determines whether the macro-block contains text. The video encoder computes a quantization parameter for quantizing the macro-block, with the quantization parameter computed to be smaller if the macro-block is determined to contain text. The video encoder encodes the macro-block using the quantization parameter. Text quality in the encoded macro-block is preserved.
US09152872B2 User experience analysis system to analyze events in a computer desktop
A user experience analysis system to measure a user experience associated with a computer desktop may include an event capture subsystem and a duration analysis subsystem. The event capture subsystem may capture videos of the desktop before and after an infrastructure change. The duration analysis subsystem may analyze the videos to determine and compare durations of events occurring in the desktop that are captured in the videos, and determine changes in user experience based on the analysis.
US09152863B1 Systems and methods for remotely assessing roof condition
A system for remotely assessing the condition of a roof of a building is disclosed. The system may compare multiple pieces of image data of the roof, representing the roof at different moments in time, to determine if at least a portion of the roof has been repaired, replaced or damaged in the time between the pieces of image data. If the roof is determined to have been repaired, replaced or damaged, the system may calculate a date of repair, replacement or damage of the roof that corresponds to the date on which at least one of the pieces of image data was captured or created. In the case where the roof has been repaired or replaced, the system may calculate the age of the roof based on the date of repair or replacement, and subsequently, calculate the actual cash value (ACV) of the roof based on the roof age.
US09152862B2 Object identification and inventory management
A method/apparatus for identifying an object based on a pattern of structural features located in a particular region wherein the pattern comprises at least one fingerprint feature. The region may be recognized and used to identify the object. A first feature vector (FV) may be extracted from a first image of the pattern and may be mapped to an object identifier. To authenticate the object, a second FV may be extracted from a second image of the same region. The FVs may be compared and difference(s) determined. A match correlation value (MCV) may be calculated based on the difference(s). The difference(s) may be dampened if associated with expected wear and tear reducing the impact of the difference(s) on the MCV. The differences may be enhanced if associated with changes that are not explainable as wear and tear increasing the impact of the difference(s) on the MCV.
US09152859B2 Property record document data verification systems and methods
A data verification system is configured to verify machine-recognized data elements acquired during a machine-implemented data acquisition process. The system includes a data verification workstation, an image server, and a data entry server. The data verification workstation is configured to obtain document images from the image server, present portions of document images to an operator, wherein the document images include text, and receive input from the operator based on the text. The input includes data elements. The data verification workstation is also configured to acquire machine-recognized data elements from the data entry server. The machine-recognized data elements were acquired from the document image during a machine-implemented data acquisition process based on the text. The data verification workstation is also configured to compare the data elements received from the operator to the machine-recognized data elements and selectively prompt the operator to re-input the data elements based on the comparison.
US09152858B2 Extracting card data from multiple cards
Extracting financial card information with relaxed alignment comprises a method to receive an image of a card, determine one or more edge finder zones in locations of the image, and identify lines in the one or more edge finder zones. The method further identifies one or more quadrilaterals formed by intersections of extrapolations of the identified lines, determines an aspect ratio of the one or more quadrilateral, and compares the determined aspect ratios of the quadrilateral to an expected aspect ratio. The method then identifies a quadrilateral that matches the expected aspect ratio and performs an optical character recognition algorithm on the rectified model. A similar method is performed on multiple cards in an image. The results of the analysis of each of the cards are compared to improve accuracy of the data.
US09152855B2 Enhanced object detection method using image discontinuousness
An enhanced object detection method uses image discontinuousness for enhancing performance of identifying objects of a specific class in an image data. The method includes retrieving an image data; computing an image discontinuousness value between a first area and other areas surrounding of the first area, which is with different sizes and in different positions within the image data, and marking areas with an image discontinuousness value larger than a threshold; and identifying the objects of the specific class within the sliding window and outputting detection result.
US09152849B2 Method, system, and computer program for identification and sharing of digital images with face signatures
Methods and systems are provided for sharing a digital image depicting one or more faces. The method may include linking a plurality of computer terminals to a computer network, each computer terminal associated with an individual; receiving a digital image at at least one of the computer terminals; executing a face recognition routine on the digital image, the face recognition routine detecting at least one face in the digital image, each detected face corresponding to a person, the face recognition routine recognizing at least one of the persons as being one of the individuals; and for each individual recognized in the digital image by the face recognition routine, initiating dissemination of the digital image to the computer terminal associated with respective individual whose face is recognized in the digital image.
US09152848B2 Information processing apparatus including a face dictionary, control method therefor, and storage medium
An information processing apparatus generates, for each person, a first face dictionary storing face data concerning a face of the person included in an image. The apparatus receives, from an imaging apparatus, a second face dictionary which is stored face data of a person corresponding to the first face dictionary and which may be updated the face data using images obtained on the imaging apparatus, and stores. The information processing apparatus transmits the first face dictionary to the imaging apparatus when an update date and time of the second face dictionary is older than a date and time of the first face dictionary. The information processing apparatus does not transmit the first face dictionary to the imaging apparatus when the first face dictionary includes face data of the person included in an image captured outside of a predetermined period.
US09152847B2 Facial landmark localization by exemplar-based graph matching
Systems and methods are discussed to localize facial landmarks using a test facial image and a set of training images. The landmarks can be localized on a test facial image using training facial images. A plurality of candidate landmark locations on the test facial image can be determined. A subset of the training facial images with facial features similar to the facial features in the test facial image can be identified. A plurality of shape constraints can be determined for each test facial image in the subset of test facial images. These shape constraints graphically relate to one landmark location from a linear combination of the other landmark locations in the test facial image. Shape constraints can be determined for every landmark within each test facial image. A candidate landmark can be chosen from the plurality of candidate landmarks using the shape constraints.
US09152839B2 Method and apparatus for optical fingerprint recognition using multiple exposure
A method for an optical fingerprint recognition, the method includes scanning a fingerprint image separately using a multiple exposure which allows alternating a short exposure and a normal exposure; determining whether there is an inflow of external light depending on a darkness level of a fingerprint image derived from the normal exposure; and performing a fingerprint recognition using a fingerprint image derived from the short exposure or the fingerprint image derived from the normal exposure in accordance with the determination result as to the inflow of external light.
US09152838B2 Fingerprint sensor packagings and methods
A fingerprint sensor which includes a conductive layer which is incorporatable within a housing adaptable for use in an electronic device.
US09152837B2 Apparatus and method for verifying the identity of an author and a person receiving information
Apparatus for identifying a person who wishes to receive a computer file, or to input computer information, where identifying information for each of a plurality of registered individuals is stored in a database, calls for capturing images of an individual requesting to receive or alter computer information, and determining whether this individual is the same as one of the registered individuals whose identifying information is stored in the database. The stored identifying information includes both an alphanumeric identifier and images of a unique, visually observable biologic identifier on a body portion of each registered indvidual. The specificity of the identification process is enhanced by storing registered examples of altered biological information in the database, by causing the computer source to induce an alteration in a biologic indentifier of a requesting person at the time of the request, and by comparing the altered requesting person information to stored information.
US09152835B2 Decoding utilizing image data
The invention relates to decoding utilizing image data. The image data can be received from a source. A processor can process the image data for decoding. Processing for decoding can be responsive to determined information. The format of a frame of image data may be recognized. The recognizing may include determining the source of the frame of image data. The recognizing may include determining a parameter associated with the frame of image data.
US09152833B2 Antenna circuit
An antenna circuit has a substrate, an antenna coil on only one side of the substrate, and a low-profile crossover element on the same side of the substrate and which bridges at least one turn of the antenna coil to electrically interconnect an inner end portion and an outer end portion of the antenna coil. The crossover element includes an electrically insulative layer on or adjacent to the turn of the antenna coil, a first electrically conductive layer above the electrically insulative layer, and a second electrically conductive layer which is above the first electrically conductive layer and which is of a different electrically conductive material.
US09152832B2 Positioning guidance for increasing reliability of near-field communications
To promote ease of use, as well as a reduction in bit error rates during extended data exchange between a coupled NFC tag/reader pair, signal strength is measured from a plurality of NFC tag antennas each positioned differently with respect to a common reader field, and differences in signal strength are used to determine an optimum positioning of the tag, or tag emulator, with respect to the reader. Alternative embodiments may include signal time of flight for determining orientation of the NFC antennas within the reader field. Information is generated by the tag, or tag emulator, and output by the tag, or tag emulator, such that a user may direct the positioning of the tag, or tag emulator, for improved communication with the reader.
US09152830B2 Color restoration for color space encoded image
Embodiments of the present disclosure can include devices for storing and exchanging color space encoded images. The encoded images can store input data into high capacity multi-colored composite two-dimensional pictures having different symbols organized in specific order using sets in a color space. The encoding can include performing two-level error correction and generating frames based on the color space for formatting and calibrating the encoded images during decoding. The decoding can use the frames to perform color restoration and distortion correction. The decoding can be based on a pseudo-Euclidean distance between a distorted color and a color in a color calibration cells. In some embodiments, an encoded image can be further divided into sub-images during encoding for simplified distortion correction.
US09152825B2 Using storage controller bus interfaces to secure data transfer between storage devices and hosts
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that secures data transfer between a storage device and a host. During operation, the system obtains an input/output (I/O) command and an encryption context associated with the I/O command from a device driver executing on the host. Next, the system uses a storage controller bus interface between the host and the storage device to apply the encryption context to data associated with the I/O command, wherein the encryption context enables transmission of an encrypted form of the data between the storage device and the host. Finally, the system uses the storage controller bus interface to issue the I/O command to the storage device, wherein the I/O command is processed by the storage device.
US09152819B2 Cloud based real time app privacy dashboard
A method of operating an electronic device comprises detecting access to private information stored in memory of the electronic device. The detecting is performed by a privacy management module downloadable to the electronic device as object code for execution on the electronic device and the access is performed by a client application program. The method further comprises tracking, using the privacy management module, the private information being accessed by the client application program, and reconfiguring the electronic device, using the privacy management module, to change the access to the private information by the client application program according to at least one privacy access policy stored in the electronic device.
US09152815B2 Method, secure device, system and computer program product for securely managing user access to a file system
A method, a secure device, a system and a computer program product for securely managing user access to a file system. The method includes providing a secure device, where the secure device is protected by design against malicious software or malware and adapted to establish a connection to a server through a telecommunication network establishing a connection between the secure device and the server, receiving at the secure device, through the established connection, data pertaining to a file system identifying files which are at least partly stored outside the secure device, exposing at the secure device the file system to a user, based on the data received from the server, the file system navigable by the user.
US09152810B2 Information output system, method, and program for tampering detection
An information output system for tampering detection 100, including: a digital image acquiring unit 15 for acquiring a digital image including target information for tampering detection as an image; an encrypting unit 11 for converting the digital image based on an encryption key to generate an encrypted image; and an output unit 18 for outputting the encrypted image generated by the encrypting unit 11 so that the encrypted image is recorded on a paper medium on which the image of the target information is to be recorded or on which the image of the target information is recorded.
US09152808B1 Adapting decoy data present in a network
Disclosed are various embodiments for obtaining policy data specifying decoy data eligible to be inserted within a response to an access of a data store. The decoy data is detected in the response among a plurality of non-decoy data based at least upon the policy data. An action associated with the decoy data is initiated in response to the access of the data store meeting a configurable threshold.
US09152803B2 Optimized policy matching and evaluation for hierarchical resources
Improved techniques are provided for processing authorization requests. In some embodiments, an authorization request specifying a hierarchical resource can be processed without having to sequentially process the various security policies configured for a collection of resources.
US09152799B2 System and method for allowing secure remote server access using data prevention code
Systems and methods are provided for providing users at remote access devices with conditional access to server-based applications. Requests for access to server-based applications (e.g., requests to launch or obtain data associated with the server-based applications) by remote access devices may be prevented or allowed based on device compliance with one or more policies including whether data-retention prevention code can be downloaded to and operational on the remote access devices. The data-retention prevention code may be used to both determine whether data can be automatically deleted from a cache or file directory at the remote access device and to delete potentially retention-sensitive data once the data is downloaded to the remote access device from the server-based application.
US09152798B1 Securely enabling content protection across a sandboxed application boundary
A sandboxed application issues a request to enable content protection for audio and video content. The request is sent via an application programming interface to an unsandboxed application. The request is received from the unsandboxed application by an output device. After receiving the request, content protection is enabled and the output device employs a certificate to create a signed message indicating the content protection is enabled. The sandboxed application verifies the request has been fulfilled based on the signed message, and provides protected audio and video content.
US09152796B2 Dynamic analysis interpreter modification for application dataflow
An interpreter is modified to create a source tracking object for a data object received from a data source and to record information associated with the data source into the source tracking object. The interpreter is modified to create a copy of the data object for a tracking event in an application program, to create a flow tracking object for the tracking event, and to record information associated with the tracking event into the flow tracking object as the tracking event processes the copy of the data object. The interpreter is modified to create a sink tracking object for outputting the copy of the data object to a data sink and to record information associated with the data sink into the sink tracking object. The source tracking object, the flow tracking object, and the sink tracking object are output as dynamic analysis of dataflow in the application program.
US09152794B1 Secure key handling for authentication of software for a system-on-chip
A method relating generally to generating a boot image, as performed by an information handling system, for an embedded device is disclosed. This method includes a public key obtained by a boot image generator. A first hash for the public key is generated by the boot image generator. The first hash is provided to a signature generator. A first signature for the first hash is generated by the signature generator. A first partition for the boot image is obtained by the boot image generator. A second hash for the first partition is generated by the boot image generator. The second hash is provided to the signature generator. A second signature for the second hash is generated by the signature generator. The boot image generator and the signature generator are programmed into the information handling system. The boot image includes the public key, the first signature, and the second signature. The boot image is output from the information handling system.
US09152793B2 Methods, systems and apparatus to self authorize platform code
Methods and apparatus are disclosed to self authorize platform code. A disclosed example method includes storing a hash of a first public key in a policy data structure of a platform at a first time, extracting a second public key from a signature block associated with a data structure to be authenticated at a second time, when a hash of the second public key matches the hash of the first public key, extracting an encrypted hash from that signature block, decrypting the encrypted hash using the second public key to determine a decrypted value, and comparing the decrypted value with a hash of the data structure to verify the data structure integrity.
US09152786B2 Method and device for controlling invocation of an application programming interface
A computer-implemented method for controlling invocation of application programming interface (API) is provided. The method includes categorizing a plurality of APIs according to a plurality of API categories. The API categories are categorized by an API function through which user information is obtained. The method further includes setting a default invoking permission for a respective API category, and detecting, in real time, an attempt by an application to invoke an API in the respective API category. Upon detecting the attempted invocation of the API in the API category by the application, the method further includes controlling the invoking behavior of the API by the application in accordance with the default invoking permission for the API category.
US09152782B2 Systems and methods for user-based network onboarding
A network security system including a first-level security profile engine and a second-level security profile engine is disclosed. In an example of operation, the first-level security profile engine assigns a first-level security profile for a first user device, the first user device requesting access to a network; the second-level security profile engine assigns a first second-level security profile to the first user device, the first second-level security profile providing first network configuration information for the first user device; a device selection engine receives a selection of a second user device associated with the first-level security profile; and the second-level security profile engine assigns a second second-level security profile to the second user device, the second second-level security profile providing second network configuration information for the second user device. A device network configuration engine can then configure the first user device to access the network based on the first network configuration information.
US09152780B2 Identifying user by measuring pressure of button presses on user input device
In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving, by a user identifier circuit, a button pressure signature specifying a sequence of button pressure values sampled while a corresponding identified button of a user input device is pressed by a user; the user identifier circuit identifying the user of the user input device based on the button pressure signature; and the user identifier circuit outputting a message identifying the identified button and the identified user.
US09152776B2 Secure access-based enumeration of a junction or mount point on a clustered server
Embodiments described herein provide a technique for securely responding to an enumeration request of a data container stored at a location referenced by a junction or mount point within a share served by a storage system. To that end, the technique applies access permissions of the data container at the referenced location instead of permissions that may reside at the junction or mount point. Upon determining that the permissions are insufficient to allow access to the data container, the technique ensures that a descriptor of the junction or mount point is not included in a response to the enumeration request.
US09152775B1 Question generation in knowledge-based authentication for an enterprise
An improved technique involves generating KBA questions from facts obtained from a personal information management (PIM) server under the control of an organization. Along these lines, such an organization acquires facts from documents such as emails, meeting notices, presentations, and spreadsheets that are stored on a PIM server such as a Microsoft® Exchange server or IBM Lotus® Domino server. A KBA server then generates KBA questions from the acquired facts and stores the KBA questions on a question server. In some arrangements, the KBA server filters out KBA questions based on the nature of the facts from which the KBA questions were derived. The remaining KBA questions are ranked based on historical question data; the KBA server provides the most highly ranked KBA questions to a user claiming to be a member of the organization.
US09152774B2 Analyzing usage information of an information management system
In an information management system, activity data is collected and analyzed for patterns. The information management system may be policy based. Activity data may be organized as entries including information on user, application, machine, action, object or document, time, and location. When checking for patterns in the activity or historical data, techniques may include inferencing, frequency checking, location and distance checking, and relationship checking, and any combination of these. Analyzing the activity data may include comparing like types or categories of information for two or more entries.
US09152769B2 System and a method for detecting an endemic or an epidemic disease
This system of detecting endemic or epidemic diseases includes an analysis center connected by a computer network to a number of health booths in which health data can be measured and stored with the conditions under which the measurements are taken. The analysis center generates an alert automatically if an endemic or epidemic disease is detected.
US09152768B2 Method and system for patient care management
A method for governing care of a person includes determining the importance of a candidate activity (84) relative to the importance of patient sleep continuity (104) and, if the candidate activity is more important than sleep continuity, carrying out the activity or indicating the acceptability of carrying out the activity (106) and, if the candidate activity is not more important than sleep continuity, refraining from carrying out the activity or indicating the unacceptability of carrying out the activity (108). A system for patient care governance comprises a decision engine (80) for determining the importance of the candidate activity relative to the importance of sleep continuity, and a controller (92) responsive to the decision engine for issuing a command to carry out the activity or indicate the acceptability of carrying out the activity (106), refrain from carrying out the activity or indicate the unacceptability of carrying out the activity (108).
US09152767B2 Methods and systems for employing artificial intelligence in automated orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning
A method for treating an orthodontic condition can include receiving patient data, such as through a website, accessing a database having information derived from patient treatments, generating a model of an orthodontic condition defining one or more anatomic features of a set of teeth, identifying a diagnosis of an orthodontic condition and identifying a treatment regimen for the diagnosis. A method can include tagging an anatomic feature with an electronic identifier and automatically generating a tooth setup. A system can include a server and a database, which can include information relating to patient treatments, and a website for receiving patient data. A system can include an electronic model representing anatomic features of a patient's teeth and an application adapted to identify a diagnosis and a treatment regimen for an orthodontic condition, which can include executing artificial intelligence and/or other algorithms.
US09152765B2 Multi-display bedside monitoring system
The present specification discloses systems and methods for patient monitoring using a multitude of display regions, at least two of which have the capability to simultaneously display real time patient waveforms and vital statistics as well as provide display for local and remote software applications. In one example, a primary display shows real time patient waveforms and vital statistics while a customizable secondary display shows trends, cumulative data, laboratory and radiology reports, protocols, and similar clinical information. Additionally, the secondary display can launch local and remote applications such as entertainment software, Internet and email programs, patient education software, and video conferencing applications. The dual display allows caregivers to simultaneously view real time patient vitals and aggregated data or therapy protocols, thereby increasing hospital personnel efficiency and improving treatment, while not compromising the display of critical alarms or other data.
US09152764B2 Systems and methods for managing data
System and methods are disclosed, one method can comprise the steps of receiving a request for a diagnostic message, receiving a selection of diagnostic information, retrieving at least a portion of the selected diagnostic information, generating the requested diagnostic message, wherein the diagnostic message comprises the portion of the selected diagnostic information, and transmitting the requested diagnostic message.
US09152763B2 Categorization of information using natural language processing and predefined templates
A computer implemented method for generating a report that includes latent information, comprising receiving an input data stream that includes latent information, performing one of normalization, validation, and extraction of the input data stream, processing the input data stream to identify latent information within the data stream that is required for generation of a particular report, wherein said processing of the input data stream to identify latent information comprises of identifying a relevant portion of the input data stream, bounding the relevant portion of the input data stream, classifying and normalizing the bounded data, activating a relevant report template based on said identified latent information, populating said template with template-specified data, and processing the template-specified data to generate a report.
US09152755B2 Optical semiconductor device, socket, and optical semiconductor unit
An optical semiconductor unit of the present invention has an LED device provided with an LED (Light Emitting Diode) and a socket to which the LED device is mounted, the LED device has a main body to which the LED is mounted, the main body has a first surface to which block-shaped electrode portions are connected.
US09152754B2 Sub-module physical refinement flow
A computer system is provided that enables a designer of a circuit design to fracture and reconstitute a larger design for both computer modeling of the functionality and the physical implementation or rendering of the circuit design. More particularly, the designer may refine or re-work a sub-module of the larger sub-circuit without having to create a corresponding sub-module in the physical implementation. This capability thus avoids the significant complexity required for sub-module refinement in the current state of the art, and provides the designer with a much simpler flow.
US09152753B1 Incrementer absorption into multiplier logic for programmable logic devices
Various techniques are provided to efficiently implement user designs in programmable logic devices (PLDs). In one example, a computer-implemented method includes receiving a design identifying operations to be performed by a PLD. The computer-implemented method also includes synthesizing the design into a plurality of PLD components. In the computer-implemented method, the synthesizing includes detecting an incrementer-multiplier operation in the design and merging an incrementer portion of the incrementer-multiplier operation with a multiplier portion of the incrementer-multiplier operation to reduce the plurality of PLD components.
US09152751B2 Metal lines for preventing AC electromigration
A method is disclosed that includes the operations outlined below. An effective current pulse width of a maximum peak is determined based on a waveform function of a current having multiple peaks within a waveform period in a metal segment of a metal line in at least one design file of a semiconductor device to compute a duty ratio between the effective current pulse width and the waveform period. A maximum direct current limit of the metal segment is determined according to physical characteristics of the metal segment. An alternating current electromigration (AC EM) current limit is determined according to a ratio between the maximum direct current limit and a function of the duty ratio. The metal segment is included with the physical characteristics in the at least one design file when the maximum peak of the current does not exceed the AC EM current limit.
US09152750B2 Methods for manufacturing integrated circuit devices having features with reduced edge curvature
A structure, such as an integrated circuit device, is described that includes a line of material with critical dimensions which vary within a distribution substantially less than that of a mask element, such as a patterned resist element, used in etching the line. Techniques are described for processing a line of crystalline phase material which has already been etched using the mask element, in a manner which straightens an etched sidewall surface of the line. The straightened sidewall surface does not carry the sidewall surface variations introduced by photolithographic processes, or other patterning processes, involved in forming the mask element and etching the line.
US09152748B2 Computing system with switching mechanism and method of operation thereof
A method of operation of a computing system includes: calculating an initial data connection traversing a center state node of a switching network having an ingress stage, a center stage, and an egress stage; calculating a repacking route across the switching network traversing the center switching node; broadcasting an ingress portion of the repacking route simultaneously to ingress nodes of the ingress stage; broadcasting a center portion of the repacking route simultaneously to center nodes of the center stage with the ingress portion completely deployed; broadcasting an egress portion of the repacking route simultaneously to egress nodes of the egress stage with the center portion completely deployed; and deploying a repacked data connection with the repacking route traversing the center switching node across the switching network synchronously with the initial data connection.
US09152742B1 Multi-phase models for timing closure of integrated circuit designs
In one embodiment, a method of designing an integrated circuit is disclosed, including receiving a first partition block for a top level of a hierarchical design of an integrated circuit; analyzing each pin of the first partition block for an attribute associated with the pin indicating a timing exception; and if a timing exception other than false path is indicated then generating an internal timing pin in a first timing graph model of the first partition block for each timing exception, and adding a timing arc and a dummy arc coupled to the internal timing pin in the first timing graph model of the first partition block. The internal timing pin adds a timing exception constraint for each timing exception. Timing of the top level may then be analyzed with the first timing graph model to determine if timing constraints, including the added timing exception constraints, are met.
US09152741B2 Three-dimensional shape generation method, program, and recording medium
There is provided a method of generating a three-dimensional (3D) shape by specifying a boundary between materials, including acquiring numerical data of a boundary line of a two-dimensional (2D) shape in a plane, generating a next 2D shape by moving the 2D shape in a direction intersecting the plane based on numerical data specifying a shape of the boundary and also by copying or deforming the 2D shape, and configuring a solid based on data of a generated 2D shape.
US09152739B2 Method and apparatus for pushing situationally relevant data
A computer-implemented method of providing users with contextually relevant data associates metadata tags with data items extracted from a variety of data sources that summarize the data items in searchable form using a common format. Contextual data is collected from the users indicative of their current situation. This data is then correlated with the metadata tags to identify data items of potential interest to the users taking into account their current situation. The identified data items are pushed to the relevant receiving devices in real time over a communications network to provide the identified users with information relevant to their current situation.
US09152734B2 Systems and methods for identifying intersections using content metadata
User-submitted content (e.g., stories) may be associated with descriptive metadata (intersection metadata), such as a timeframe, location, tags, and so on. The user-submitted content may be browsed and/or searched using the descriptive metadata. Intersection criteria comprising a prevailing timeframe, a location, and/or other metadata criteria may be used to identify an intersection space comprising one or more stories. The stories may be ordered according to relative importance, which may be determined (at least in part) by comparing story metadata to the intersection criteria.
US09152730B2 Extracting principal content from web pages
Extracting principal content from Web pages includes identifying and classifying items on the Web page, building a list of candidates, calculating candidate scores, selecting a top score candidate, performing clean up processing for the top score candidate, and performing final page processing for the top score candidate. Candidate scores may vary according to a number of paragraphs and images grouped according to size. A word length of CJK (Chinese-Japanese-Korean) text may be determined according to punctuation therein. Candidate scores may be modified according to a number of containers and pieces and wherein a container is a Web page element that is associated with tags ‘body’, ‘div’, ‘td’, ‘li’, ‘article/section’ and pieces are candidates that do not include other candidates. Candidate scores may be modified according to a number of ratios corresponding to text and link density.
US09152726B2 Real-time personalized recommendation of location-related entities
A location-related entity ranking technique is described that allows a user see the ranking of location-related entities near a desired location in response to a query. The technique can leverage the searches performed by a community of mobile device users at a given location and at a given time to infer the location-related entities that are popular at this specific location and time window. The technique can also filter out or re-rank these location-related entities based on the personal preferences of the person that submits the query and group preferences of a group to which the user belongs. The personal preferences can also be context specific (i.e. different restaurant preferences for lunch and dinner times).
US09152722B2 Augmenting online content with additional content relevant to user interest
A method of gathering information relevant to the interests of a user includes receiving activity history associated with the user from a network data source, where the activity history includes a description of a user action initiated by the user, generating a first metadata item based upon the activity history; and storing the first metadata item as user profile information associated with the user in a user profile database. Generating the first metadata item may include extracting text from the activity history and generating the first metadata item based upon the text. The activity history may include a description of a user action. The method may further include providing a server plugin for performing a second method in response to access of web content on a server by the user, the second method comprising retrieving a content object from the server, determining if the first metadata item is relevant to the content object, adding a web link to the web content as a reference to the content object in response to the content object being relevant to the first metadata item; and providing the web content to the user.
US09152718B2 Serving advertisements based on content
Advertisers are permitted to put targeted ads on page on the web (or some other document of any media type). The present invention may do so by (i) obtaining content that includes available spots for ads, (ii) determining ads relevant to content, and/or (iii) combining content with ads determined to be relevant to the content.
US09152717B2 Search engine suggestion
A search engine suggestion method, apparatus, and non-transitory article of manufacture embodying computer readable instructions for data search. The method includes: obtaining a query input by a user; obtaining a query suggestion set for the query for each of a plurality of different search engines, the query suggestion set including at least one query suggestion; determining a match degree between each of the search engines and the query based on the query suggestion set and background association information of the query; and suggesting among the plurality of different search engines based on the match degrees. By use of the solutions proposed by this application, it is possible to suggest the user a more appropriate search engine(s) for data search.
US09152716B1 Techniques for verifying search results over a distributed collection
An improved search engine technique allows a user to ensure that an untrusted search engine provides complete and correct search results without requiring large proofs for large data collections. Thus techniques are presented for a trusted crawler to index a distributed collection of documents and create an authenticated search structure that allows an untrusted search server to return reliably complete and correct search results.
US09152715B2 Visual approach to searching databases
A visual approach to searching a database includes displaying a plurality of logical rules for searching a database, narrowing a search scope in response to a first selection of at least one logical rule, dividing the search scope into divisions in response to a second selection of at least one displayed criterion, and displaying each of the divisions in a search tree structure.
US09152712B2 Method and system for performing a web search via a client-side module
Disclosed is a method and system for providing to a user rapid access to search resources while interacting with electronic documents by providing for recognition of user initiated search triggers that result in searches being performed with minimal user input or page navigation. A method and system for performing a web search includes detecting, by a client-side module, a user-initiated search interface trigger occurring during display of the web page, the search interface trigger not associated with an input focus of the web page or an input focus of a browser, detecting, by the client-side module, a user-initiated search execution trigger after the detecting of the search interface trigger, and transmitting, by the client-side module to a search entity, in response to the detecting of the search execution trigger, a request for search results related to content associated with the search interface trigger.
US09152707B2 System and method for creating and providing media objects in a navigable environment
A system and method for storing and providing media objects in a navigable environment implemented on at least one computer executing computer readable program code stored in a tangible memory medium. The at least one computer is configured to access a plurality of media objects comprising a media recording and metadata. The at least one computer is further configured to generate an index of said plurality of media objects based on said metadata.
US09152704B2 System and method for adaptive text recommendation
Network system provides a real-time adaptive recommendation set of documents with a high statistical measure of relevancy to the requestor device. The recommendation set is optimized based on analyzing text of documents of the interest set, categorizing these documents into clusters, extracting keywords representing the themes or concepts of documents in the clusters, and filtering a population of eligible documents accessible to the system utilizing site and or Internet-wide search engines. The system is either automatically or manually invoked and it develops and presents the recommendation set in real-time. The recommendation set may be presented as a greeting, notification, alert, HTML fragment, fax, voicemail, or automatic classification or routing of customer e-mail, personal e-mail, job postings, and offers for sale or exchange.
US09152698B1 Substitute term identification based on over-represented terms identification
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for identifying substitute terms. According to one implementation, a method includes receiving an original query that includes one or more query terms; obtaining initial search results in response to the original query; identifying an over-represented term in text associated with a subset of the initial search results; determining that the over-represented term is associated with a particular query term; and in response to determining the over-represented term is associated with the particular query term, revising the original query to include the over-represented term.
US09152693B1 System and method for visual representation and selection of hierarchical data
Access to hierarchical data arranged in parent/child data levels is obtained and each data level is assigned a data level display symbol. The data level display symbols associated with a common parent data level are then identified and grouped into sets of related data level display symbols. Each of the data level display symbols within each set of related data level display symbols is then assigned a weighting value that determines one or more visual emphasis parameters to be associated with the data level display symbols. All the sets of related data level display symbols are then displayed on a single user interface display screen in accordance with their assigned weighting value and associated visual emphasis parameters. Any of the data level display symbols can then be activated through the user interface display screen.
US09152692B2 Generating n-gram clusters associated with events
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs for receiving a set of content items, each content item including a time reference and digital content that is distributed using one or more computer-implemented services, for each content item: determining an event time based on a respective time reference, identifying one or more n-grams based on text of the content item, associating each of the one or more n-grams with the event time, and including the one or more n-grams in a superset of n-grams, the superset of n-grams including n-grams provided from one or more of the content items in the set of content items, generating one or more n-gram clusters based on the superset of n-grams, each n-gram cluster providing a description of an event and including at least one n-gram and an associated event time and storing each of the one or more n-gram clusters in a cluster database.
US09152690B2 Mapping non-relational database objects into a relational database model
According to some embodiments, information may be received about a non-relational database object, such as an InfoSet, InfoSet query, or Advanced Business Application Programming (“ABAP”) function for an enterprise resource planning system. The non-relational database object may then be mapped into a relational database model, such as a model associated with a business intelligence platform. As a result, Structured Query Language (“SQL”) inputs from a business intelligence platform may be used create reports based on information in an enterprise resource planning system.
US09152684B2 Snapshots and clones of volumes in a storage system
In one embodiment, a node coupled to one or more storage devices executes a storage input/output (I/O) stack having a volume layer that manages volume metadata. The volume metadata is organized as one or more dense tree metadata structures having a top level residing in memory and lower levels residing on the one or more storage devices. The dense tree metadata structures include a first dense tree metadata structure associated with a parent volume and a second dense tree metadata structure associated with a copy of the parent volume. The top level of the first dense tree metadata structure may be copied to the second dense tree metadata structure. The lower levels of the first dense tree metadata structure are initially shared with the second dense tree metadata structure. The shared lower levels may eventually be split as the parent volume diverges from the copy of the parent volume.
US09152682B2 Tracking metadata for a column in a table as a sequence of commands operates on the table
Embodiments are directed towards determining and tracking metadata for the generation of visualizations of requested data. A user may request data by providing a query that may be employed to search for the requested data. The query may include a plurality of commands, which may be employed in a pipeline to perform the search and to generate a table of the requested data. In some embodiments, each command may be executed to perform an action on a set of data. The execution of a command may generate one or more columns to append and/or insert into the table of requested data. Metadata for each generated column may be determined based on the actions performed by executing the commands. The table of requested data and the column metadata may be employed to generate and display a visualization of at least a portion of the requested data to a user.
US09152678B1 Time based ranking
Apparatus, systems and methods for content ranking are disclosed. Historical click-through rates of first and second content items for a query are determined from an analysis of click logs and query logs. Temporal changes in the historical click-through rate of the first and second content items are identified. The rankings of the first and second content items are adjusted based on the temporal change.
US09152677B2 Shared metadata for media files
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for organizing music tracks based on shared metadata. In one aspect, a method includes identifying a set of common music tracks associated with a first user and a second user, wherein the set of common music tracks includes at least one music track present in both a first set of music tracks associated with the first user and a second set of music tracks associated with the second user. Metadata associated with at least one music track in the set of common music tracks is retrieved, the metadata being specific to the second user. A set of user music tracks associated with the first user is organized based on the retrieved metadata.
US09152676B2 Identifying query aspects
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for generating aspects associated with entities. In some implementations, a method includes receiving data identifying an entity; generating a group of candidate aspects for the entity; modifying the group of candidate aspects to generate a group of modified candidate aspects comprising combining similar candidate aspects and grouping candidate aspects using one or more aspect classes each associated with one or more candidate aspects; ranking one or more modified candidate aspects in the group of modified candidate aspects based on a diversity score and a popularity score; and storing an association between one or more highest ranked modified candidate aspects and the entity. The aspects can be used to organize and present search results in response to queries for the entity.
US09152673B2 Non-deterministic finite automaton (NFA) overflow recovery that ejects an end of scan set of active states into a buffer
Disclosed is a method of recovering from overflow of a hardware dynamically reconfigurable NFA cell array, to find matches within a symbol stream to regular expression or similar rules without missing matches due to overflow. Upon overflow, active states are selected to spill from the cell array, saving state information and spill position. Scanning continues a limited distance, with additional overflow spills possible, to a selected end of segment position where all active end states are removed and recorded. A re-scan of the segment from the first overflow position begins with each previously spilled state re-injected at the same position it was spilled from. At the end of the segment, saved end states are re-injected and scanning continues. RE-scans may iterate if there was additional overflow. NFA states may be assigned color codes, with connected states receiving the same color, to aid in efficient overflow recovery.
US09152671B2 System for storage, querying, and analysis of time series data
A system for storing time series data includes an ingester that prepares metadata indices associated with blocks of incoming time series data and stores the blocks of data in a time series database and the indices in a separate index database. The time series database distributes storage of the data blocks among multiple data nodes. A query layer receives queries and uses the index database to determine which data blocks are needed to process the query, and then requests only those data blocks from the time series database. Processing of the query is performed within the time series database only on those data nodes that contain relevant data, and partial results are passed to an output layer for formation into a final query result.
US09152668B1 Asynchronous computation batching
A method and a system implementing asynchronous computation batching. A web application written in a side-effect free manner possesses the quality of referential transparency. This property allows independent functions to be executed in any order or in parallel and enables necessary data for such functions to be gathered in a batch query. This property also extends to dependent functions and allows web applications to be written assuming random access to data on a database.
US09152656B2 Database data type creation and reuse
Embodiments are provided for creating and reusing custom data types in a database. A selection of a field or group of fields may be received from a database table in the database by a database software application executing on a computer system. Each selected field may include a set of field properties. The application may further receive a user input to initiate saving the selected field or group of fields as a custom data type. In response to receiving the input, the application may be configured to generate a dialog for receiving custom data type information for the selected field or group of fields and save the selected field or group of fields as a custom data type. The custom data type may then be reused by the application in the database.
US09152651B2 Ticket entry systems and methods
A ticket entry system and method includes a program management system that receives contact information and a search criteria for a locate request. The program management system transmits the search criteria to a spatial management system that geocodes the search criteria and retrieves map data from a data management system corresponding to the search criteria geocode. The spatial management system transmits the map data to the program management system, which transmits the map data to a user interface. The user interface receives an indication of a site location where the operation is to be performed. The program management system transmits the site location indication to the spatial management system. The spatial management system geocodes the site location indication and transmits the site location geocode to the program management system. The program management system creates a locate ticket, which comprises the site location geocode and the contact information.
US09152649B2 Maintaining order and fault-tolerance in a distributed hash table system
Data storage systems and methods for storing data are described herein. The storage system includes a first storage node is configured to issue a first delivery request to a first set of other storage nodes in the storage system, the first delivery request including a first at least one data operation for each of the first set of other storage nodes and issuing at least one other delivery request, while the first delivery request remains outstanding, the at least one other delivery request including a first commit request for each of the first set of other storage nodes. The first node causes the first at least one data operation to be made active within the storage system in response to receipt of a commit indicator along with a delivery acknowledgement regarding one of the at least one other delivery request.
US09152647B2 Computer system and process for transferring multiple high bandwidth streams of data between multiple storage units and multiple applications in a scalable and reliable manner
Multiple applications request data from multiple storage units over a computer network. The data is divided into segments and each segment is distributed randomly on one of several storage units, independent of the storage units on which other segments of the media data are stored. At least one additional copy of each segment also is distributed randomly over the storage units, such that each segment is stored on at least two storage units. This random distribution of multiple copies of segments of data improves both scalability and reliability. When an application requests a selected segment of data, the request is processed by the storage unit with the shortest queue of requests. Random fluctuations in the load applied by multiple applications on multiple storage units are balanced nearly equally over all of the storage units. This combination of techniques results in a system which can transfer multiple, independent high-bandwidth streams of data in a scalable manner in both directions between multiple applications and multiple storage units.
US09152645B2 Distributed object management system, distributed object management server, distributed object management method and computer program of the same
A distributed object management system includes: a completion information management portion which stores a relay state of the object server and which manages information of the object which should be transmitted again when the transmission to the object server is resumed; and a relay control portion which requests other object server to temporally exclude the object server that has transmitted the suspension request from a copying operation of the object and which, if the resume request is received from the object server that has transmitted the suspension request, requests said other object server to include the object server that has transmitted the resume request in the copying operation of the object again.
US09152644B2 Systems and methods for providing collaborative editing
Systems and methods are presented for providing collaborative editing. An embodiment collaboratively edits a computer file using a plurality of computers in a network, where the computers are connected using a token ring, each of the computers has a local copy, and a first computer has edited its local copy and performs the method. A token circulating around the token ring is captured, and a location of the edited portion of the local copy of the file is determined. The location is broadcast to the other computers. Conflicts are received from the other computers, and the conflicts from the other computers are reconciled with the edited portion of the local copy of the file to provide reconciled edits to the file. The local copy of the file is updated with the reconciled edits. A data packet with the reconciled edits is created and transmitted around the token ring.
US09152643B2 Distributed data store
Systems and methods are disclosed for backing up a computer with a distributed meta data store by splitting meta data from file data; storing the meta data for each file in a separate file; mapping the file data and meta data to an arbitrary file system; and reconstructing files for the arbitrary file system.
US09152642B2 Systems and methods for on-demand data storage
Systems and methods provide on demand data storage by creating an unpartitioned storage pool; generating a unique volume identifier for a data storage volume at a predetermined location; pre-provisioning the data storage volume in a volume queue ready for use on-demand; and storing data on the data storage volume at the predetermined location on-demand.
US09152641B2 Method and system for providing storage device file location information
A method and system are disclosed that permit a host application to obtain cluster location data, for example logical addresses associated with the clusters of a file, and to allow a host application to communicate the logical block address mapping information to firmware of a storage device. The method includes the host transmitting one or more clusters or partial clusters having a signature to the storage device where the storage device knows or has been instructed by the host to look for the signature. The storage device may receive clusters having a signature and, responsive to a host request, return logical address information to a host for the location in the storage device of the marked clusters. The host may parse a data structure on the storage device to obtain remaining cluster location information using a file's first cluster location or may request that the storage device return the cluster location information.
US09152637B1 Just-in time formatting of file system metadata
An improved technique generates formatted file system metadata in increments only when metadata for those increments are specifically requested. A location on a storage volume designated for storing file system metadata is read and tested to determine whether it stores a predetermined pattern indicating an unformatted state. If the pattern is found, metadata for the designated location are generated and returned. Otherwise, metadata are returned as initially read from the storage volume.
US09152629B1 Electronic book signing system and method
An electronic personalization system comprises a server, electronic content for use on a personal electronic device capable of providing a tangible medium of expression, and a storage device. The system is capable of coupling the server and the storage medium with the personal electronic device such that a personalized message, such as an image, a video recording, an audio recording or the like, and/or a signature entered by an author, such as a writer, creator, artist or the like, on the personal electronic device or another device, is integrally added to the electronic content. The storage medium may store a copy of personalized electronic content and/or personalization, and the system may validate the personalization as authentic and not counterfeit.
US09152624B1 Systems and methods for visual presentation and navigation of content using data-based image analysis
Systems and methods are provided for implementing a browsing application that allows users to navigate image-based content. Images and associated descriptive attributes describing the images are stored in a database. The user may select an item of interest and an example-based proximity search function may be executed to search for similar images. Images having common descriptive attributes may be grouped together and displayed. A web browser may be implemented and users may select reduced-size images of previously viewed web pages in order to access the web page.
US09152623B2 Natural language processing system and method
A natural language processing system is disclosed herein. Embodiments of the NLP system perform hand-written rule-based operations that do not rely on a trained corpus. Rules can be added or modified at any time to improve accuracy of the system, and to allow the same system to operate on unstructured plain text from many disparate contexts (e.g. articles as well as twitter contexts as well as medical articles) without harming accuracy for any one context. Embodiments also include a language decoder (LD) that generates information which is stored in a three-level framework (word, clause, phrase). The LD output is easily leveraged by various software applications to analyze large quantities of text from any source in a more sophisticated and flexible manner than previously possible. A query language (LDQL) for information extraction from NLP parsers' output is disclosed, with emphasis on its embodiment implemented for LD. It is also presented, how to use LDQL for knowledge extraction on the example of application named Knowledge Browser.
US09152620B2 System, method, and computer-readable medium for plagiarism detection
A system, method, and computer-readable medium for detecting plagiarism in a set of constructed responses by accessing and pre-processing the set of constructed responses to facilitate the pairing and comparing of the constructed responses. The similarity value generated from the comparison of a pair of constructed responses serves as an indicator of possible plagiarism.
US09152618B2 Cell view mode for outsized cells
Embodiments provide electronic spreadsheet viewing and interaction features and functionalities, but the embodiments are not so limited. In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method can be configured to provide a cell view launch indicator or interface that alerts a user that a selected cell includes additional content not being currently displayed. The cell view launch indicator can be activated and use a cell view mode to launch a separately controllable cell view window or portion. Other embodiments are included.
US09152617B2 System and method for processing objects
A system, method, and computer program product for processing of objects are disclosed. A processor coupled to a graphical user interface is configured to display an object. The processor receives input from a user concerning the object, wherein input relates to at least a partial location of the object, as a mouse position close to the object, a line approximately covering the vertical or horizontal extent of the object, or a box approximately covering the object. The processor provides input to a keying module, wherein the keying module processes the received input and provides the input to a recognition engine. The recognition engine is in communication with the keying module. Based on the received input, the recognition engine provides an exact information concerning the received input to the keying module, as an exact location, a recognition result, and a confidence score qualifying the reliability of the recognition results. The keying module generates an enhanced information about the object based on the information received from the recognition engine and predetermined information concerning the object.
US09152616B2 Template-based page layout for web content
Page layout of web content is performed based on templates. Publishers publish web content referred to as “sources.” Each source comprises one or more assets from one or more asset types. The asset types include title, subtitle, byline, dateline, pull quote, image, video, audio, caption, and in-line text. A content processing system processes the sources using a conversion module and a rule database. The conversion module restructures a received source into a standardized format of the source, wherein each asset of the source is tagged with an asset type according to rules present in the rule database. A layout module interprets the standardized source, determines one or more templates from a template database to use for the layout of the assets of the source, and lays out the assets of the source based on the selected templates.
US09152608B2 Detection of power train oscillations
A method for damping a power train oscillation in a vehicle provided with a prime mover which rotates at a speed ω. A vibration change S in the rotation speed ω of the prime mover is determined. There is deemed to be a power train oscillation if for a predetermined number of times the amplitude of the vibration change S is alternately above a positive threshold value Th1 and below a negative threshold value Th2 and if all of the consecutive upward crossings of the positive threshold value Th1 and downward crossings of the negative threshold value Th2 are separated by a time shorter than a predetermined period T.
US09152607B2 Side-by-side diesel utility vehicle
A utility vehicle comprises a plurality of ground engaging members and a frame supported by the plurality of ground engaging members. The frame includes a front frame portion, a mid-frame portion, and a rear frame portion. The utility vehicle further comprises an attachment supported at the front frame portion. Additionally, the utility vehicle includes an operator area supported by the frame and including an operator seat and an adjacent passenger seat spaced apart from the operator seat. The operator seat and the passenger seat are in a side-by-side arrangement. The utility vehicle also comprises an auxiliary power assembly having an attachment shaft configured to be operably coupled to the attachment. The attachment shaft extends in a generally longitudinal direction of the utility vehicle and projects outwardly from the front frame portion.
US09152605B2 Apparatus, method, and computer-readable storage medium for data processing in a ring bus
An apparatus includes a plurality of processing modules which are connected to each other by corresponding communication unit and the modules transfer packets in a predetermined direction to execute a plurality of operations of pipeline processing. The module includes a storage unit for storing a first identification and a second identification for each of the plurality of operations, a reception unit for extracting data from a packet which has the first identification, a processing unit for processing the data extracted by the reception unit, and a transmission unit for storing the second identification corresponding to the first identification of the packet a packet and transmitting the packet to the module arranged in the predetermined direction.
US09152602B2 Mechanisms for evaluating relevance of information to a managed device and performing management operations using a pseudo-agent
A pseudo-agent is disclosed herein that bridges this divide. For purposes of the discussion herein, a pseudo-agent is a machine that is installed on a fully capable host machine, such as a Windows or UNIX machine, and that gathers and evaluates content from a management server, takes actions if so instructed, and reports the results of its evaluation upstream. However, unlike an agent in a traditional management system, which inspects and acts on the local machine, the pseudo-agent actually inspects and acts on a remote device, or many remote devices.
US09152600B2 System and method for caching network file systems
A network caching system has a multi-protocol caching filer coupled to an origin server to provide storage virtualization of data served by the filer in response to data access requests issued by multi-protocol clients over a computer network. The multi-protocol caching filer includes a file system configured to manage a sparse volume that “virtualizes” a storage space of the data to thereby provide a cache function that enables access to data by the multi-protocol clients. To that end, the caching filer further includes a multi-protocol engine configured to translate the multi-protocol client data access requests into generic file system primitive operations executable by both the caching filer and the origin server.
US09152595B2 Processor-based system hybrid ring bus interconnects, and related devices, processor-based systems, and methods
Processor-based system hybrid ring bus interconnects, and related devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a processor-based system hybrid ring bus interconnect is provided. The processor-based system hybrid ring bus interconnect includes multiple ring buses, each having a bus width and configured to receive bus transaction messages from a requester device(s). The processor-based system hybrid ring bus interconnect also includes an inter-ring router(s) coupled to the ring buses. The inter-ring router(s) is configured to dynamically direct bus transaction messages among the ring buses based on bandwidth requirements of the requester device(s). Thus, less power is consumed than by a crossbar interconnect due to simpler switching configurations. Further, the inter-ring router(s) allows for provision of multiple ring buses that can be dynamically activated and deactivated based on bandwidth requirements. This provides conservation of power when full bandwidth requirements on the processor-based system hybrid ring bus interconnect are not required.
US09152590B2 Deterministic message processing in a direct memory access adapter
Deterministic message processing in a direct memory access (DMA) adapter includes the DMA adapter incrementing from a sub-head pointer, the sub-tail pointer until encountering an out-of-sequence packet. The DMA adapter also consumes packets between the sub-head pointer and the sub-tail pointer including incrementing with the consumption of each packet, the sub-head pointer until determining that the sub-head pointer is equal to the sub-tail pointer. In response to determining that the sub-head pointer is equal to the sub-tail pointer, the DMA adapter determines that the next in-sequence packet is not in the first FIFO message queue. In response to determining that the next in-sequence packet is not in the first FIFO message queue and that the first FIFO message queue exceeds a threshold capacity, the DMA controller copies the contents of the first FIFO message queue into the second FIFO message queue.
US09152586B2 Coherent cache system with optional acknowledgement for out-of-order coherence transaction completion
To enable efficient tracking of transactions, an acknowledgement expected signal is used to give the cache coherent interconnect a hint for whether a transaction requires coherent ownership tracking. This signal informs the cache coherent interconnect to expect an ownership transfer acknowledgement signal from the initiating master upon read/write transfer completion. The cache coherent interconnect can therefore continue tracking the transaction at its point of coherency until it receives the acknowledgement from the initiating master only when necessary.
US09152578B1 Securing data replication, backup and mobility in cloud storage
A technique secures data in cloud storage. The technique involves receiving, by processing circuitry, an input/output (I/O) request which includes host data. The technique further involves encrypting, by the processing circuitry, the host data to form encrypted data and sending a block-based write transaction which includes the encrypted data to a replication storage array to store the encrypted data within the replication storage array. The technique further involves storing, by the processing circuitry, the host data within the production storage array. The encrypted host data is stored within the replication storage array to secure the host data which is also stored at the production storage array.
US09152577B2 Security central processing unit management of a transcoder pipeline
A method for managing a transcoder pipeline includes partitioning a memory with a numbered region; receiving an incoming media stream to be transcoded; and atomically loading, using a security central processing unit (SCPU), a decryption key, a counterpart encryption key and an associated region number of the memory into a slot of a key table, the key table providing selection of decryption and encryption keys during transcoding. The atomically loading the decryption and encryption keys and the associated numbered region ensures that the encryption key is selected to encrypt a transcoded version of the media stream when the media stream has been decrypted with the decryption key and the transcoded media stream is retrieved from the associated numbered region of the memory.
US09152576B2 Mode-based secure microcontroller
Various embodiments of the present invention are related to integrated circuits for processing data at a microcontroller interface. The microcontroller interfaces to a memory. The method is employed to process input data provided by the microcontroller during a memory write operation, or input data extracted from the memory during a memory read operation, respectively. A write/read control is used to indicate the memory write or read operation, and a logic address is translated to at least one physical address in the memory. The write/read control and the logic address are further employed to determine a data process mode. In various data processing modes, the input data are processed according to at least one of a plurality of data processing methods to result in processed data in different data formats. Data in different formats may be stored in various regions of the memory.
US09152575B2 Data staging area
An illustrative embodiment of a computer-implemented process for managing a staging area creates the staging area for identified candidate cold objects, moves the identified candidate objects into the staging area, tracks application access to memory comprising the staging area and determines whether frequency of use information for a specific object exceeds a predetermined threshold. Responsive to a determination that the frequency of use information for the specific object exceeds a predetermined threshold, move the specific object into a regular area and determine whether a current time exceeds a predetermined threshold. Responsive to a determination that the current time exceeds a predetermined threshold, the computer-implemented process moves remaining objects from the staging area to a cold area.
US09152571B2 All invalidate approach for memory management units
An input/output memory management unit (IOMMU) having an “invalidate all” command available to clear the contents of cache memory is presented. The cache memory provides fast access to address translation data that has been previously obtained by a process. A typical cache memory includes device tables, page tables and interrupt remapping entries. Cache memory data can become stale or be compromised from security breaches or malfunctioning devices. In these circumstances, a rapid approach to clearing cache memory content is provided.
US09152569B2 Non-uniform cache architecture (NUCA)
In one embodiment, a cache memory includes a cache array including a plurality of entries for caching cache lines of data, where the plurality of entries are distributed between a first region implemented in a first memory technology and a second region implemented in a second memory technology. The cache memory further includes a cache directory of the contents of the cache array and a cache controller that controls operation of the cache memory.
US09152568B1 Environmental-based device operation
The disclosure is related to systems and methods for temperature-based device operation. In one example, a device may include a first memory and a temperature detection module adapted to measure a temperature of the device and modify a data storage behavior of the first memory based on the temperature. The device may further comprise a second memory, and the temperature detection module may direct that data be written to the first memory less frequently, and be written to the second memory more frequently when a threshold temperature is exceeded. The temperature detection module may also implement operating limitations for the device when a threshold temperature is exceeded, such as restricting execution of background diagnostics or implementing other operating limitations. In some embodiments, other environmental factors such as humidity, altitude, air pressure, physical shock, or other factors may be monitored and the device operation may be modified based on those factors.
US09152562B2 Storage sub-system for a computer comprising write-once memory devices and write-many memory devices and related method
Methods and apparatus for a solid state non-volatile storage sub-system of a computer is provided. The storage sub-system may include a write-many storage sub-system memory device including write-many memory cells, a write-once storage sub-system memory device including write-once memory cells, and a page-based interface that is adapted to read and write the write-once and write-many storage sub-system memory devices. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US09152554B2 Non-volatile memory system with compression and encryption of data
A memory system includes a non-volatile memory, a compressor capable of compressing data, an encryptor which encrypts data, a decryptor which decrypts data, and a data flow controller. The data flow controller is configured to perform first and second processes. In the first process, the data flow controller causes the encryptor to encrypt user data received from a host in a non-compressed state, and causes the encrypted user data to be written into the non-volatile memory via the second area. In the second process, the data flow controller causes the encrypted user data to be read out from the non-volatile memory, causes the decryptor to decrypt the encrypted user data, causes the compressor to compress the decrypted user data, causes the encryptor to encrypt the compressed user data, and causes the encrypted and compressed user data to be written into the non-volatile memory.
US09152552B2 Securing sensitive information in a network cloud
A virtual non-volatile memory is simulated for a virtual switch. Operating instructions from the non-volatile memory of a physical switch may be translated into a flash type file. The flash type file may be stored on a virtual storage area in the virtual switch. Operating instructions in the virtual switch may access the flash type file in the virtual storage area without the need to access the non-volatile memory in the physical switch.
US09152547B2 Apparatus and method for scratch pad memory management
Disclosed is a scratch pad memory management device and a method thereof. The scratch pad memory management device divides a scratch pad memory into a plurality of unit blocks, maintains a memory allocation table corresponding to indices of the plurality of unit blocks in a main memory, and manages the scratch pad memory.
US09152545B1 Read-write access in a read-only environment
In one example, a method for reading data, includes receiving a read request that is directed to a data object, where the read request includes both an offset and an end. Next, the data object is examined to determine if a previously written data block is present that has an offset which is the same as one of the offset or the end of the read request. If there is no previously written data block present which has the same offset or end as the read request, a previously written data block whose offset immediately precedes one of the offset or the end of the read request is then returned.
US09152535B2 Programmatic identification of root method
Embodiments relate to a computer implemented process, system and program product for identification of a root method for a thread. In one aspect of the embodiment the process includes instrumenting code to form instrumented code and creating stack sample data. It also includes creating method stack sample data in a case that the stack sample data exceeds a stack sample data threshold. It also includes, determining whether a root method is identified, the determining based on using the method stack sample data; and reporting any root method identified for a respective thread.
US09152532B2 System and method for configuring a cloud computing system with a synthetic test workload
The present disclosure relates to a method and system for configuring a computing system, such as a cloud computing system. A method includes selecting, based on a user selection received via a user interface, a workload for execution on a cluster of nodes of the computing system. The workload is selected from a plurality of available workloads including an actual workload and a synthetic test workload. The method further includes configuring the cluster of nodes of the computing system to execute the selected workload such that processing of the selected workload is distributed across the cluster of nodes. The synthetic test workload may be generated by a code synthesizer based on a set of user-defined workload parameters provided via a user interface that identify execution characteristics of the synthetic test workload.
US09152529B2 Systems and methods for dynamically altering a user interface based on user interface actions
A plurality of user interface (UI) actions from a particular user is detected via a user interface of the application. The plurality of UI actions is analyzed to determine a usage pattern for the particular user. A modification to the user interface is determined based on the determined usage pattern. The determined modification in the user interface is implemented to customize the user interface of the application for the particular user. The determined modification may be stored in a user profile for subsequent use.
US09152517B2 Programmable active thermal control
Test equipment provides interrupt capability to automatic testing as a means of actively controlling temperature of the device under test. A processor coupled to memory is responsive to computer-executable instructions contained in the memory. A test socket is coupled to a device under test and coupled to the processor. The processor is configured to interrupt an application pattern running on the device under test. In response to interrupting the application pattern, the processor is configured to cause a control pattern to run on the device under test and then cause the application pattern to restart running from the point of interruption on the device under test.
US09152515B2 Apparatus and method for managing storage copy services systems
An apparatus for controlling a storage system having a data replication function, comprises: a storage array component being operable to send notification to a replication engine that a write of data to a primary storage location by a host is subject to data replication; the replication engine being operable to receive the notification and in response to instruct the storage array to copy the data to a secondary storage location; wherein the data is copied to the secondary storage location unmediated by the replication engine.
US09152512B2 Apparatus and methods for providing data integrity
The present disclosure includes apparatus (e.g., computing systems, memory systems, controllers, etc.) and methods for providing data integrity. One or more methods can include, for example: receiving a number of sectors of data to be written to a number of memory devices; appending first metadata corresponding to the number of sectors and including first integrity data to the number of sectors, the first metadata has a particular format; generating second integrity data to be provided in second metadata, the second integrity data corresponding to at least one of the number of sectors (wherein the second metadata has a second format); and generating third integrity data to be provided in the second metadata, the third integrity data including error data corresponding to the second integrity data and the at least one of the number of sectors.
US09152511B2 System for dynamically distributing an available memory resource to redundant and non-redundant storage areas using RAM routing logic
A system for distributing an available memory resource comprising at least two random access memory (RAM) elements and RAM routing logic. The RAM routing logic comprises configuration logic to dynamically distribute the available memory resource into a first memory area providing redundant memory storage and a second memory area providing non-redundant memory storage. The system may further comprise bus access ports which support at least one of concurrent access by a bus access port to access redundantly stored data or non-redundantly stored data, or concurrent access by at least two bus access ports to respective RAM elements to access redundantly stored data or to a respective one of the RAM elements to access non-redundantly stored data. Comparison logic and error detection or correction logic may be provided to detect or correct errors in information read from the RAM elements.
US09152507B1 Pruning unwanted file content from an image backup
Pruning unwanted file content from an image backup. In one example embodiment, a method of pruning unwanted file content from an image backup includes identifying files to be excluded from a base image backup of a source storage, identifying a set of all allocated blocks in the source storage at a first point in time by accessing a file system block allocation map (FSBAM), pruning the set of all allocated blocks to exclude the allocated blocks that correspond to content of the files to be excluded, backing up the pruned set of allocated blocks, and not backing up the excluded allocated blocks, in the base image backup, and restoring the base image backup to a restore storage, the restoring including pruning FSM of a file system of the restore storage to modify metadata associated with the files to be excluded prior to exposing the file system to any user.
US09152505B1 Verified hardware-based erasure of data on distributed systems
Systems, methods and related processes for securely erasing and/or rendering permanently inaccessible data stored on storage systems securely erased is described. Such storage systems may, in some aspects, integrate hardware capable of secure erasure. In some aspects, a cryptographically-based system is utilized.
US09152502B2 Data error detection and correction using hash values
The subject disclosure is directed towards a data storage service that uses hash values, such as substantially collision-free hash values, to maintain data integrity. These hash values are persisted in the form of mappings corresponding to data blocks in one or more data stores. If a data error is detected, these mappings allow the data storage service to search the one or more data stores for data blocks having matching hash values. If a data block is found that corresponds to a hash value for a corrupted or lost data block, the data storage service uses that data block to repair the corrupted or lost data block.
US09152499B1 Method and system for calculating parity values for multi-dimensional RAID
A method for calculating parity values including calculating a first set of parity values using datum stored in RAID Grid locations in a first PCB, where datum associated with the RAID Grid locations in the first PCB is obtained in a first order that is based on a Hilbert curve. The method further includes calculating a second set of parity values using datum stored in RAID Grid locations in a second PCB, where datum associated with the RAID Grid locations in the second PCB is obtained in a second order that is based on the Hilbert curve. The method further includes storing at least a portion of the first set of parity values and a second set of parity values in a cache, memory, or persistent storage, where each of the first parity values and second parity values is associated with a separate RAID Grid location in the RAID Grid.
US09152492B2 Performing recovery of a headless computer
To perform recovery of a headless computer, a direct connection is established by the headless computer with a recovery computer over a network link. After establishing the direct connection, the headless computer is initiated in recovery mode. The headless computer receives a recovery routine from the recovery computer, and the recovery routine is executed in the headless computer to implement a procedure to receive a recovery image from the recovery computer. The recovery image upon loading in the headless computer causes loading of software for recovery of the headless computer.
US09152491B2 Job continuation management apparatus, job continuation management method and job continuation management program
A job continuation management apparatus according to an exemplary aspect of the invention includes, job execution units that carrying out jobs; a job management information memory unit storing job identification information, identification information on the job execution unit, job execution information and job continuing execution priority in unit of the job; and a job continuation management unit referring to the job management information memory unit when a failure occurs in the job execution units, and, about records having identification information of the job execution unit identical with identification information of the failed job execution, sends the job identification information and the job execution information to one of the job execution units except for the failed unit sequentially in a order starting from a job having highest the job continuing execution priority to lowest, and making the job execution unit of a receiving party perform continuation execution of the job.
US09152487B2 Service outage details in an error message
One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for providing a customized service error message to a user of a service. An error encountered during a user action related to the service may be compared to one or more identified service outages to determine if the error may be attributable to any of the service outages. If the error may be caused by one or more of the identified service outages, the customized service error message can be provided, where the customized service error message comprises information about one or more of the identified service outages that cover the error. The customized service error message may be displayed to the user so that the user knows that the error is server/service side (e.g., as opposed to an issue on the user's local device), a timeframe within which the error is expected to be resolved, etc.
US09152483B2 Network devices with multiple fully isolated and independently resettable direct memory access channels and methods thereof
A method, computer readable medium, and system independently managing network applications within a network traffic management device communicating with networked clients and servers include monitoring with a network device a plurality of applications communicating over a plurality of direct memory access (DMA) channels established across a bus. The network device receives a request from a first application communicating over a first DMA channel in the plurality of DMA channels to restart the first DMA channel. In response to the request, the first DMA channel is disabled with the network device while allowing other executing applications in the plurality of applications to continue to communicate over other DMA channels in the plurality of DMA channels. A state of the first DMA channel is cleared independently from other DMA channels in the plurality of DMA channels, and communications for the first application over the first DMA channel are resumed with the network device.
US09152482B2 Multi-core processor system
The present invention provides a multi-core processor system, including: multiple central processor units and multiple groups of level-one hardware message queues. Each central processor unit is separately connected to a group of level-one hardware message queues and is configured to process messages in the level-one hardware message queues. Each group of level-one hardware message queues includes multiple level-one hardware message queues. Moreover, in each group of level-one hardware message queues, a level-one hardware message queue having a higher priority is scheduled preferentially, and level-one hardware message queues having the same priority are scheduled in a round-robin manner according to round robin scheduling weights. Through the multi-core processor system provided in the present invention, the efficiency and performance of the multi-core processor system are improved.
US09152479B2 Apparatus and method for processing event notification
A method for processing an event notification includes recognizing an event to be indicated via a mobile apparatus, determining whether a default notification scheme for the event is prohibited by a notification setting of the mobile apparatus, and, if the default notification scheme for the event is prohibited by the notification setting of the mobile apparatus, determining a modified notification scheme for the event and notifying the event according to the modified notification scheme.
US09152478B2 Real-time communications client architecture
A distributed services modular client architecture may be used to implement IP-based real time communication services in a flexible manner among a wide variety of different types of chip sets and systems-on-chip. The various services are distributed among one or more processor cores, at least one of which is a low power core, in accordance with a number of factors, including power consumption, media latency, on-time, performance, and other considerations. A processor “core” may refer to a processor itself where the processor has only a single core, and may also refer to a “core” of a multicore processor. The architecture uses a SIP/IMS framework, and is modularized by placing certain services into their own framework so that a particular service may be plugged into the SIP/IMS framework if and when desired, and otherwise omitted. The frameworks may be installed on various processor cores within the chip set or system-on-chip, including in particular the low power core, to allow for more effective power conservation without unduly sacrificing performance.
US09152475B1 Notifying listeners of change events
Plural change events are associated with corresponding listeners, where the plural change events represent distinct groups of one or more changes made to a collection of items. In response to a further change of the collection of items, the plural change events are modified to include the further change. The listeners are notified of respective plural change events.
US09152471B2 System performance using cooling configuration information
A method, system, and computer program product for improving system performance using cooling configuration information are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A set of components in a data processing system is indexed according to corresponding amounts of cooling available to the components in the set. Priorities are assigned to component users in a set of component users. Using a processor and a memory, a component whose index value represents a higher than threshold amount of cooling availability to the component is allocated to a component user whose priority is higher than a threshold priority.
US09152469B2 Optimizing execution and resource usage in large scale computing
A method for tuning workflow settings in a distributed computing workflow comprising sequential interdependent jobs includes pairing a terminal stage of a first job and a leading stage of a second, sequential job to form an optimization pair, in which data segments output by the terminal stage of the first job comprises data input for the leading stage of the second job. The performance of the optimization pair is tuned by determining, with a computational processor, an estimated minimum execution time for the optimization pair and increasing the minimum execution time to generate an increased execution time. The method further includes calculating a minimum number of data segments that still permit execution of the optimization pair within the increased execution time.
US09152467B2 Method for simultaneous scheduling of processes and offloading computation on many-core coprocessors
A method is disclosed to manage a multi-processor system with one or more manycore devices, by managing real-time bag-of-tasks applications for a cluster, wherein each task runs on a single server node, and uses the offload programming model, and wherein each task has a deadline and three specific resource requirements: total processing time, a certain number of manycore devices and peak memory on each device; when a new task arrives, querying each node scheduler to determine which node can best accept the task and each node scheduler responds with an estimated completion time and a confidence level, wherein the node schedulers use an urgency-based heuristic to schedule each task and its offloads; responding to an accept/reject query phase, wherein the cluster scheduler send the task requirements to each node and queries if the node can accept the task with an estimated completion time and confidence level; and scheduling tasks and offloads using a aging and urgency-based heuristic, wherein the aging guarantees fairness, and the urgency prioritizes tasks and offloads so that maximal deadlines are met.
US09152466B2 Organizing file events by their hierarchical paths for multi-threaded synch and parallel access system, apparatus, and method of operation
A cloud file event server transmits file events necessary to synchronize a file system of a file share client. A tree queue director circuit receives file events and stores each one into a tree data structure which represents the hierarchical paths of files within the file share client. An event normalization circuit sorts the file events stored at each node into sequential order and moots file events which do not have to be performed because a later file event makes them inconsequential. A thread scheduling circuit assigns a resource to perform file events at a first node in a hierarchical path before assigning one or more resources to a second node which is a child of the first node until interrupted by the tree queue director circuit or until all file events in the tree data structure have been performed.
US09152465B2 Prioritzed branch computing system
A branch device that may be operable to: request to initiate access to a cloud computing application; map or link service level agreement information associated with the cloud computing application to performance and uptime specifications associated with a policy engine; and communicate with a first computational node that runs a first instance of the cloud computing application. Also, the branch device may be operable to: compare the performance data and the uptime data retrieved from the first computational node against the specifications, respectively; direct a request to the first instance, where the performance data and the uptime data at least satisfies the specifications, respectively; and direct a request to a second instance of the cloud computing application running on a second computational node, where the performance data and the uptime data do not satisfy the specifications, respectively.
US09152461B1 Management of computing devices processing workflow stages of a resource dependent workflow
Systems and method for the management of resource dependent workflows are provided. One or more resource control devices monitor usage of a computing resource by server computing devices. Each resource control device may direct a server computing device to proceed with a workflow or to pause processing a workflow. A resource control device may further direct a server computing device to take resource conserving actions. When a computing resource is determined to be available, a resource control device may direct a paused server computing device to resume a workflow.
US09152459B2 Adjusting thread priority to improve throughput between peer-to-peer (P2P) devices
In some implementations, a processor is configured to receive a current pending packet number representing a number of packets of data that currently remain to be transferred between two devices, determine whether to adjust a priority of a thread based on the current pending packet number, a previous pending packet number, and a priority pending packet number, and adjust or maintain the priority of the thread based on determining whether to adjust the priority of the thread. The thread is to be executed by the processor to perform a transfer of the packets of data between the two devices, the previous pending packet number represents a number of packets of data that previously remained to be transferred between the two devices, and the priority pending packet number corresponds to the current priority of the thread.
US09152458B1 Mirrored stateful workers
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for determining image search results. One of the methods includes scheduling a first computation for execution on each of a first plurality of worker processes. The first computation changes a respective state of each of one or more of the first worker processes from a first state to a second state. A respective second computation is scheduled for execution on each of a second plurality of worker, where each respective second computation will use a different value for a particular variable for two or more of the second plurality of worker processes. The respective state of each of the second plurality of worker processes is updated from the second state to a third state, where the third state corresponds to execution of the second computation using a first value of the particular variable.
US09152455B2 System and method of providing system jobs within a compute environment
The invention relates to systems, methods and computer-readable media for using system jobs for performing actions outside the constraints of batch compute jobs submitted to a compute environment such as a cluster or a grid. The method for modifying a compute environment from a system job comprises associating a system job to a queuable object, triggering the system job based on an event and performing arbitrary actions on resources outside of compute nodes in the compute environment. The queuable objects include objects such as batch compute jobs or job reservations. The events that trigger the system job may be time driven, such as ten minutes prior to completion of the batch compute job, or dependent on other actions associated with other system jobs. The system jobs may be utilized also to perform rolling maintenance on a node by node basis.
US09152453B2 Transferring ownership privileges
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for transferring ownership privileges. In one aspect, a method includes identifying an ownership privilege in a system that permits users to acquire a write lock on one or more resources in a plurality of resources. The ownership privilege for a first plurality of users located in a first geographic region is revoked based at least partly on a determination that a current time of day in a different, second geographic region satisfies a criteria. The ownership privilege is granted to a different second plurality of users located in the second geographic location responsive to the determination.
US09152446B2 System and method for on-demand cloning of virtual machines
A system for on-demand cloning of virtual machines (VMs) includes a virtual server to host a number of VMs, the virtual server including at least one master VM. The system also includes a Web server to authenticate a user in response to a request for online access to a new VM on the virtual server. In addition, the system includes a cloning module, in communication with the Web server and the virtual server, to automatically clone the master VM to create a unique VM clone for the user on the virtual server responsive to the request.
US09152443B2 System and method for automated assignment of virtual machines and physical machines to hosts with right-sizing
A system and method for reconfiguring a computing environment comprising a consumption analysis server, a placement server and a data warehouse in communication with a set of data collection agents and a database. The consumption analysis server operates on measured resource utilization data to yield a set of resource consumptions in regularized time blocks, collects host and virtual machine configurations from the computing environment and determines available capacity for a set of target hosts. The placement server assigns a set of target virtual machines to the target set of hosts in a new placement that is right-sized according to a set of right-sizing constraints and rules. In one mode of operation the new placement is nearly optimal. In another mode of operation, the new placement is “good enough” to achieve a threshold score based on an objective function of capacity headroom. The new placement is implemented in the computing environment.
US09152441B2 Systems and methods involving virtual machine host isolation over a network via a federated downstream cluster
Systems and methods for virtual machine host isolation are disclosed. According to one implementation, an illustrative system may include a first compute node configured to be operatively coupled to a second compute node via a first application server, and to a third compute node via a second application server. In operation, the first compute node may be configured to receive an instruction from the second compute node via the first server to define a virtual machine, and send an instruction to the third compute node via the second server to define the virtual machine.
US09152436B2 Gesture support for shared sessions
Methods and systems for providing gesture support for shared sessions are shown and described. One method includes facilitating the establishment of a first and second connection with a first and second computing device, negotiating gesture capabilities with the first and second computing devices, receiving gesture inputs from the first and second computing devices, reconciling the gesture inputs, and transmitting a modified shared session window to the first and second computing devices.
US09152434B2 Enterprise user interface customization
In one embodiment, a method is illustrated as rendering an application User Interface (UI) to be modified to reflect a use case, and initiating a guided procedure relating to the use of an elected privilege to modify the application UI. Further, in one embodiment, a method is illustrated as including displaying a configuration rule, the configuration rule used to govern a UI configuration, detecting a selection of the configuration rule as an elected privilege relating to modifying a UI element and a layout element, and storing the elected privilege. In some cases, the UI is a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) UI.
US09152431B2 Computer and computer control method
When a shutdown is detected, a master boot record (MBR) or a backup MBR are read. When the data of the MBR is not identical to the data of the backup MBR, the MBR is copied to the backup MBR. When the backup MBR cannot normally be read or is improper, the MBR is copied to the backup MBR. When the backup MBR cannot normally be read or is improper while the power of the computer is turned on, the MBR is copied to the backup MBR.
US09152430B2 Method for low power boot for microcontroller
A microcontroller includes a clock generator having an internal reference clock, a system mode controller establishing an operating mode, a flash memory having an internal clock and a non-volatile option register, and a boot mode selection logic circuit coupled to the system mode controller and the flash memory. The logic circuit outputs a boot mode selection signal instructing the microcontroller to boot in a very low power run (VLPR) mode or a RUN mode. The system mode controller enters the VLPR or RUN mode in response. The flash memory bypasses and disables its internal clock prior to calibration of the flash memory in the VLPR mode and prior to initialization of the flash memory in the RUN mode. The flash memory subsequently uses an external clock signal based on the output of the internal reference clock.
US09152426B2 Initiating assist thread upon asynchronous event for processing simultaneously with controlling thread and updating its running status in status register
A method of data processing includes a processor of a data processing system executing a controlling thread of a program and detecting occurrence of a particular asynchronous event during execution of the controlling thread of the program. In response to occurrence of the particular asynchronous event during execution of the controlling thread of the program, the processor initiates execution of an assist thread of the program such that the processor simultaneously executes the assist thread and controlling thread of the program.
US09152424B2 Mitigating instruction prediction latency with independently filtered presence predictors
Embodiments of the disclosure include mitigating instruction prediction latency with independently filtered instruction prediction presence predictors coupled to the processor pipeline. The prediction presence predictor includes a plurality of presence predictors configured to each receive an instruction address in parallel and to generate an unfiltered indication of an associated instruction prediction. The prediction presence predictor includes a plurality of dynamic filters that are each coupled to one of the plurality of presence predictors. Each dynamic filter is configured to block the unfiltered indications based on a performance of the presence predictor it is coupled to. The prediction presence predictor further including stall determination logic coupled to the plurality of dynamic filters. The stall determination logic is configured to generate a combined indication that will stall instruction delivery, allowing potentially latent instruction predictions to be accounted for, based upon one or more non-blocked indications received from the plurality of dynamic filters.
US09152419B2 Instruction set for supporting wide scalar pattern matches
A processor includes an instruction decoder to receive an instruction having a first operand, a second operand, and a third operand, and an execution unit coupled to the instruction decoder to execute the instruction, the execution unit to individually perform a shift operation by at least one bit for each of a plurality of data elements stored in a storage location indicated by the second operand, for each of the data elements that has an overflow in response to the shift-left operation, to carry over the overflow into an adjacent data element based on a first bitmask obtained from the third operand, generating a final result, and to store the final result in a storage location indicated by the first operand.
US09152418B2 Apparatus and method of exception handling for reconfigurable architecture
A processor including a coarse grained array including a plurality of processing elements, a central register file including a first plurality of register files, a shadow central register file including a second plurality of register files, each of the second plurality of register files corresponding to each of the first plurality of register files included in the central register file, and a plurality of shadow register files, each of the plurality of shadow register files corresponding to each of a third plurality of register files included in predetermined processing elements selected from the plurality of processing elements.
US09152410B2 Auto-update while running client interface with handshake
In one embodiment, a predecessor version of a client software application may execute a runtime handover to a successor version of the client software application. A client side device 110 may execute a predecessor version 112 of a client software application while installing a successor version 116 of the client software application. The client side device 110 may execute an update handshake between the successor version 116 and the predecessor version 112. The client side device 110 may execute a runtime validation of the successor version 116.
US09152409B2 Low or medium voltage electric power distribution network
A low or medium voltage electric power distribution network comprising at least a P&C device (IED1, IEDN), and a computer station 11 which communicate with said at least a P&C device through a communication network 12. Said computer station comprises first computerized means 111 for executing, according to a batch processing mode, downloading sessions of the software package (F1, FN) to said P&C devices in order to upgrade the software of said at least a P&C device, and said at least a P&C device comprises second computerized means 115 for executing a procedure for safely managing the software upgrade in said at least a P&C device.
US09152405B2 Rapid provisioning of virtual machines based on multi-dimensional user request patterns in a cloud
An apparatus and an article of manufacture for pre-provisioning a virtual machine instance include deriving a weight function for at least one virtual machine request based on historical data of the at least one virtual machine request to create a weighted virtual machine request for each request, capturing at least one inter-arrival pattern of requests, and applying the at least one pattern to the at least one weighted request to create a prioritized ordering of the at least one weighted request, and pre-provisioning at least one instance of a virtual machine image based on the prioritized ordering of the at least one weighted request.
US09152403B2 Virtual software application deployment configurations
Configuration items for a software application can be automatically and/or manually discovered, and the application can be packaged to form a virtual application package. A deployment configuration can include settings for the configuration items. The deployment configuration can be set after packaging the software application. For example, a selected configuration item in the deployment configuration may be changed in response to user input. The virtual application package can be deployed to instantiate the application one or more times, and the deployment configuration can be applied in the instantiated application.
US09152399B2 Extracting stream graph structure in a computer language by pre-executing a deterministic subset
Compile-time recognition of graph structure where graph has arbitrary connectivity and is constructed using recursive computations is provided. In one aspect, the graph structure recognized at compile time may be duplicated at runtime and can then operate on runtime values not known at compile time.
US09152398B2 Object storage and synchronization hooks for occasionally-connected devices
A system may include an application programming interface (API) layer, a cache layer, and an object storage/access layer. The API layer may expose an interface to store a business object and an interface to retrieve the business object, and may transmit a request to store the business object and a request to retrieve the business object, and the cache layer may cache the business object and transmit the request to store the business object and the request to retrieve the business object. The object storage/access layer may receive the request to store the business object and, in response to the request to store the business object, to invoke a serialization method exposed by the business object to store the data associated with the object in a data structure. The object storage/access layer may also receive the request to retrieve the business object and, in response to the request to retrieve the business object, to invoke a deserialization method of the business object to deserialize the data associated with the business object in the data structure.
US09152395B2 Response to user input based on declarative mappings
Systems and methods are provided that enable direct response to user input, e.g., in accordance with storyboards. For instance, applications can predefine storyboards which describe output in terms of received input. The predefined storyboards can be used externally and independently from the applications to process user input on behalf of the applications.
US09152394B2 Generating application model build artifacts
An application model build processor generates one or more application model build artifacts based on an application model. In one example, a method includes receiving inputs identifying application model subsets and audiences, and associating application model subsets with the audiences. The method further includes receiving inputs identifying semantic constructs of the application model with the application model subsets. The method further includes generating application model build artifacts based on the application model and defined subsets. The method further includes generating documentation topics for semantic constructs in the application model based on the semantic construct, the subsets to which it belongs, the audiences associated with those subsets, and other semantic constructs in those subsets.
US09152392B2 Systems and methods for realtime creation and modification of a dynamic media player and disabled user compliant video player
Methods and systems for a disabled user compliant video player for an end-to-end streaming web video solution affording accessibility for disabled users, including blind users and those with partial or poor vision, colorblind users, deaf users and those limited to only keyboard/voice input. Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to systems and methods for real-time creation and modification of specialized media players, to be used as stand-alone applications or as embedded data display applications.
US09152378B2 Bluetooth or other wireless interface with power management for head mounted display
A headset computer that includes a wireless front end that interprets spoken commands and/or hand motions and/or body gestures to selectively activate subsystem components only as needed to carry out specific commands.
US09152377B2 Dynamic event sounds
Event sounds for a multimedia system are assigned statically and/or dynamically to an event based on internal and/or external events and the like. An associator associates a sound to an event based on these factors. User related information that is implicit and/or explicit can also be used to determine an association between an event sound and an event. A controller controls which sound is played back when a particular event occurs based on the event sound association. Probabilities related to a user's preferences can also be utilized to determine which sound is played back during an occurrence of an event.
US09152375B2 Speech recognition interface for voice actuation of legacy systems
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for a technician to access a systems interface to back-end legacy systems by voice input commands to a speech recognition module. Generally, a user logs a computer into a systems interface which permits access to back-end legacy systems. Preferably, the systems interface includes a first server with middleware for managing the protocol interface. Preferably, the systems interface includes a second server for receiving requests and generating legacy transactions. After the computer is logged-on, a request for voice input is made. A speech recognition module is launched or otherwise activated. The user inputs voice commands that are processed to convert them to commands and text that can be recognized by the client software. The client software formats the requests and forwards them to the systems interface in order to retrieve the requested information.
US09152370B2 ID setting system, ID setting method and display unit using the same
An ID setting method and system capable of easily setting IDs of a plurality of display units. The ID setting system includes a plurality of display units connected through an input port and an output port to each other, and a control unit that controls assignment of an ID to each of the plurality of display units. Each of the display units compares a present ID to an initial ID, and disables a connection between the output port and an another display unit when the present ID and the initial ID match. Accordingly, a user can easily assign IDs to each of the plurality of display units.
US09152365B2 Image processing apparatus, network system, information processing method, program, and storage medium
Maintenance of a plurality of image processing apparatuses connected to a network at low cost while suppressing the time and labor is realized. An image processing apparatus includes a unit which stores set information for operating the image processing apparatus, a unit which updates the set information by using set information which is received via a network from another image processing apparatus connected to the network and used to operate the image processing apparatus, a storage unit which stores the set information before update by the update unit, a return instruction acceptance unit which accepts from the user an instruction to return the updated set information to the set information before update, and a return unit which returns the set information to the set information before update when the return instruction acceptance unit accepts the instruction to return the set information to the set information before update.
US09152361B2 Information processing apparatus and method therefor
An information processing apparatus that communicates with a peripheral device searches for a generic driver corresponding to compatible identification information of the peripheral device, if a specific driver corresponding to model information of the peripheral device has been found and if a setting is enabled to use a generic driver, and controls installation of the generic driver if the generic driver has been found.
US09152358B2 Printer, print processing program, and print processing method
This disclosure discloses a printer comprising a USB port, memory, a printing device, and a processor configured to control the printing device and the memory, wherein the regular storage area includes a first memory area, and at least a second memory area in which at least an instruction file including the print data, and wherein, the processor executes a plurality of processing while concurrently performing at least one processing thereof, the plurality of processing including file write processing for updating a content of original instruction file stored in the second memory area by writing the instruction file in the second memory area, update preparation processing for enabling to be updated later a content of the instruction file stored in the second memory area, and print processing for making the printing device execute printing of print data corresponding to the instruction file written in the second memory area.
US09152355B2 System and method for printable document job submission
In some embodiments, a method which includes receiving an indication of the presence of a first message from a first client device, the first message including a first specification file and a first network address associated with a first print data file. The method includes retrieving the first print data file from the first network address. The method includes processing the first specification file and the first print data file by a raster image processor.
US09152354B2 Pull copying using document-file identifiers
A method for printing a coded document includes receiving a print job, generating a document-file identifier, storing a document-file table entry into a document-file table, and printing a coded document. The document-file table entry includes the document-file identifier and the original document-file path. The coded document includes the received document-file data and the generated document-file identifier. A method for scanning a coded document includes receiving scan-document data indicative of a coded document, extracting the document-file identifier from the scan-document data, and searching a plurality of document-file table entries for the scanned document-file identifier. Each of the plurality of document-file table entries includes an entry document-file identifier and an entry document-file path, and may also include a table entry lifetime and/or a plurality of document-file variations. A pull-copy system includes an image forming apparatus, a storage unit, and a processor. The processor may perform the methods for printing and scanning a coded document.
US09152353B1 Verifying the consistency of slice allocation metadata
A technique for verifying the consistency of slice allocation metadata includes accessing, from user space of an operating system running on the data storage apparatus, a set of drivers running in kernel space of the operating system to obtain slice allocation metadata from the set of drivers, and identifying discrepancies in slice allocation metadata returned from the set of drivers on a per-file-system basis.
US09152352B1 Filemark cache to cache filemark metadata for virtual tapes
A method of an aspect includes receiving a request to move between filemarks at a network interface. A filemark cache is accessed with an offset into an open virtual tape file based on the received request. A determination is made that the offset is in the filemark cache. Filemark metadata corresponding to the offset is read from the filemark cache. The filemark cache is separate from the open virtual tape file. Other methods, apparatus, and articles are also disclosed.
US09152346B2 Storage and retrieval of high importance pages in an active memory sharing environment
Using a set of non-volatile storage media and a virtual input/output system operating in a memory sharing environment, by: (i) estimating which non-volatile storage medium, of the set of non-volatile storage media, will have the fastest access at a given time; and (ii) read-writing (that is, reading and/or writing) data by the virtual input/output system of a high importance page to the non-volatile storage media estimated to have the fastest access time.
US09152344B2 Facilitation of simultaneous storage initialization and data destage
Various embodiments for storage initialization and data destage in a computing storage environment are provided. At least a portion of data on a storage device is initialized using a background process, while one of simultaneously and subsequently destaging the at least the portion of the data to the storage device using a foreground process is performed. A persistent metadata bitmap, adapted to indicate whether the at least the portion of the data has been initialized, is staged to cache, the cache operable in the computing storage environment. The background process maintains a volatile bitmap indicating a status of the initialization of the at least the portion of the data in direct correspondence to the metadata bitmap. As the background process initializes the at least the portion of the data, an applicable bit on the persistent metadata bitmap is cleared and a corresponding bit is set on the volatile bitmap.
US09152340B2 System and method for managing and producing a dataset image across multiple storage systems
An application may store data to a dataset comprising a plurality of volumes stored on a plurality of storage systems. The application may request a dataset image of the dataset, the dataset image comprising a volume image of each volume of the dataset. A dataset image manager operates with a plurality of volume image managers in parallel to produce the dataset image, each volume image manager executing on a storage system. The plurality of volume image managers respond by performing requested operations and sending responses to the dataset image manager in parallel. Each volume image manager on a storage system may manage and produce a volume image for each volume of the dataset stored to the storage system. If a volume image for any volume of the dataset fails, or a timeout period expires, a cleanup procedure is performed to delete any successful volume images.
US09152337B2 Storage apparatus and storage apparatus migration method
A source remote copy configuration in a source storage system is migrated to a destination storage system as a destination remote copy configuration. The destination primary storage apparatus of the destination storage system defines a virtual volume mapped to the primary volume provided by the source primary storage apparatus which is a storage area of the virtual volume; takes over a first identifier of the primary volume to the virtual volume; transfers, when the virtual volume receives an access request, the access request to the source primary storage apparatus to write data in the primary volume; and takes over the first identifier from the virtual volume to another primary volume provided by the destination primary storage apparatus, after completion of copy of data from primary volume of the source primary storage apparatus into primary volume of the destination primary storage apparatus and secondary volume of the destination secondary storage apparatus.
US09152335B2 Global in-line extent-based deduplication
In one embodiment, a layered file system of a storage input/output (I/O) stack executes on one or more nodes of a cluster. The layered file system includes a flash-optimized, log-structured layer configured to provide sequential storage of data and metadata (i.e., a log-structured layout) on solid state drives (SSDs) of storage arrays in the cluster to reduce write amplification, while leveraging a data de-duplication feature of the storage I/O stack. An extent store layer of the file system performs and maintains mappings of the extent keys to SSD storage locations, while a volume layer of the file system performs and maintains mappings of the LUN offset ranges to the extent keys. Separation of the mapping functions between the volume and extent store layers enables different volumes with different offset ranges to reference a same extent key (and thus a same extent).
US09152334B2 Remote office duplication
Remote office deduplication comprises calculating one or more fingerprints of one or more data blocks, sending the one or more fingerprints to one or more backup servers via a network interface, receiving from the one or more backup servers an indication of which one or more data blocks corresponding to the one or more fingerprints should be sent to the one or more backup servers, and if the indication indicates one or more data blocks to be sent to the one or more backup servers, sending the one or more data blocks to the one or more backup servers via the network interface.
US09152333B1 System and method for estimating storage savings from deduplication
Techniques for a method of estimating deduplication potential are disclosed herein. The method includes steps of selecting randomly a plurality of data blocks from a data set as a sample of the data set, collecting fingerprints of the plurality of data blocks of the sample, identifying duplicates of fingerprints of the sample from the fingerprints of the plurality of data blocks, estimating a total number of unique fingerprints of the data set depending on a total number of the duplicates of fingerprints of the sample based on a probability of fingerprints from the data set colliding in the sample, and determining a total number of duplicates of fingerprints of the data set depending on the total number of the unique fingerprints of the data set.
US09152329B2 Information processing device, storage processing method, and computer readable recording medium having program stored therein
An information processing device includes: a calculator that calculates the number of pages used for storing management information in a first storage medium; a storage processor that sets pages corresponding to the calculated number of pages as free pages and stores the management information in the set free pages to thereby store the management information in the first storage medium; and an update processor that performs a process of updating position management information that indicates a storage position of the management information in the first storage medium. The information processing device can quickly write out logs on a memory.
US09152322B2 Facilitating navigation of a webpage on computer device
A method of Webpage navigation can include a computer device loading a Webpage having at least a first portion and a second portion, arranging the Webpage in order to present the first portion in the display area of the computer device and to place the second portion out of the display area, and presenting a navigation map corresponding to the Webpage in the display area. In response to a control command input with respect to the navigation map, the Webpage can be arranged in order to present the second portion in the display area.
US09152321B2 Touch sensitive UI technique for duplicating content
Techniques are disclosed for providing a duplicate content mode in touch sensitive computing devices. The duplicate content mode can be used to copy content or objects to a target location using a multiple contact point drag and drop gesture. For example, the duplicate content mode may be used to copy files from a first folder to a second folder. In some cases, the duplicate content mode drag and drop gesture is initiated using multiple contact points, such as two or more fingers, but may transition to a smaller number of contact points, such as one finger, once initiated. In some cases, the user may be able to select additional content after initiating the drag and drop gesture. Once the content has been copied to the target location, the user can then share or organize the content to the users liking.
US09152316B2 Electronic device, controlling method thereof, and non-transitory storage medium
An electronic device, a controlling method thereof, and a non-transitory storage medium are provided. The method includes displaying a first user interface of a first mode in a first area of a touch screen of the electronic device and one or more snapshots of a second user interface of a second mode in a second area of the touch screen while the electronic device is in the first mode. The method also includes detecting a first sliding gesture on or near the touch screen. The method further includes switching the electronic device from the first mode into the second mode if the first sliding gesture complies with a predetermined switching condition.
US09152315B2 Method and apparatus for operating an electronic book function in a mobile device
A touch device is provided that allows users to easily select text in an Electronic Book (e-book), based on a touch interaction. A method is also provided that operates an e-book function in the touch device which includes displaying e-book content, receiving an anchor interaction at a location in text of the e-book content, displaying a number of candidate anchors, based on the location where the anchor interaction is input, determining two selected candidate anchors as definite anchors, and forming a block of text in the definite anchors.
US09152311B2 Automated color selection method and apparatus
An automated method and apparatus for providing color selection capability to a user wherein a first display is generated on a display apparatus of an array of color family groups disposed in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. Upon selection of a particular color family group, a second display is generated comprising an enlarged display of a particular selected color family group and a reduced size miniature version of the array of color family groups. A third display may further be generated in response to selection of a color chip on the second display during which generation a color chip selected on the second display is caused to appear in an enlarged form in the third display.
US09152309B1 Touch screen locking and unlocking
A computer-implemented touch screen call interface includes announcing an incoming telephone call on a mobile device touch screen display, connecting to the call and displaying a slidable panel on the display while locking the display from inputs other than unlocking inputs, receiving a user selection moving the slidable panel away from a position that covers one or more selectable controls, and unlocking the display for selection of the selectable controls while the slidable panel stays in a position that leaves the selectable controls uncovered.
US09152306B2 Techniques for touch and non-touch user interaction input
Various embodiments are generally directed a method and apparatus having a touch screen module to receive first input data from a touch screen sensor based on one or more detected touch inputs at a first location of a virtual object displayed on a display. In addition, an ultrasonic module may receive second input data from an ultrasonic sensor based on detected non-touch motion associated with the virtual object. The detected non-touch motion may be tracked from the first location to a second location in a direction away from the first location based on the second input data and used to determine the second location for the virtual object based on the tracking.
US09152300B2 Methods and techniques for adaptive search
A user may establish a reservation for content that is not currently available to the user via a group of sources, including broadcast, streaming, and/or download sources. For example the a user may establish a reservation to record a broadcast of specific content that is currently not scheduled for broadcast. As another example, the user may establish a reservation for the purpose of alerting the user once a new movie becomes available through a subscription streaming service. Based on a reservation, the service provider and/or the user's media playback device may monitor content availability data for one or more sources. When the content is indicated as available, the user may be so informed. The content may then be streamed or downloaded, or a recording of the content may be scheduled. Additionally, or alternatively, the content may be automatically scheduled for recording or download.
US09152299B2 Activity management tool
A method for providing an activity management tool includes receiving a user request for an activity overview, identifying currently running applications, applications that are likely to be run in the future, and open windows of the currently running applications. The method further includes presenting an activity overview graphical user interface (GUI) having a first area and a second area. The first area includes visual indicators of the currently running applications and the applications likely to be run in the future. The second area includes the open windows of the currently running applications, where the open windows are resized and positioned in such a way as to be simultaneously viewable by the user.
US09152290B2 Touch-screen system and display panel with touch-sensing function
A touch-screen system including a stylus, a display panel and a touch module is disclosed herein. The stylus includes a magnetic component. The touch-sensing module is disposed within the display panel. The touch-sensing module includes a plurality of sensing units distributed at different locations as an array over the display panel. Each of the sensing units includes a Hall induction plate for sensing a magnetic field established by the magnetic component and forming an induction output voltage. The touch module detects a touch position of the stylus according to the induction output voltages from the sensing units.
US09152284B1 Apparatus and method for reducing average scan rate to detect a conductive object on a sensing device
A switch circuit and method is described. In one embodiment, the switch circuit is configured to couple each of a plurality of plurality of capacitive sense elements and a plurality of capacitance sensors in different modes. In a first mode, the switch circuit is configured to couple each of the plurality of capacitance sensors to a group of two or more of the plurality of capacitive sense elements. In a second mode, the switch circuit is configured to couple the plurality of capacitance sensors to individual ones of the two or more of the plurality of capacitive sense elements in one of the groups.
US09152280B2 Touch device and fabrication method thereof
The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a touch device having a sensing area and a peripheral area around the peripheral area. The touch device comprises a sensing electrode layer, a shading layer, and a signal transmission line, wherein the shading layer is disposed on the peripheral area and the sensing electrode layer. The shading layer has a hollow part and wholly overlays the peripheral area. The signal transmission line is disposed on the shading layer and filled in the hollow part. The signal transmission line is electrically connected to the sensing electrode layer through the shading layer beneath the hollow part. In addition, a fabrication method of the touch device is also provided.
US09152279B2 Tool and method for authenticating transactions
This invention relates to a hardware tool for interacting with an “intelligent device” such as a “smart phone,” e.g., Apple Corporation's “iPhone”, or other devices with certain comparable capabilities, such as the Apple “iPad” tablet computer, and to a method for authorizing transactions based on successful interaction. More specifically, the invention relates to employment of a hardware tool having contact members for contacting the touch-sensitive screens of such devices at plural locations in specific spatial relation to one another. The device, running an application program or “app”, then detects the locations at which the screen has been thus contacted, and compares those locations to stored locations specific to a particular type of transaction, and, if the detected locations match a set of stored locations, authorizes the transaction to proceed.
US09152277B1 Touchable projection surface system
A touch sensor, a projection surface, and a projector are combined to form a touchable projection surface system. An image presented by the projector is modified at least partially in response to touches on the touchable projection surface assembly. Implements such as styli, rollers, brushes, and so forth, as well as body parts such as fingers, palms, feet, and so forth may impart touches. Responses to the imparted touches may vary at least partially in response to the different implements.
US09152274B2 Optical touch panel apparatus for detecting a touch on a peripheral area
An optical touch panel apparatus for detecting a position of a light blocking object on a flat panel 2 includes a plurality of light emitting elements and light receiving elements arranged along a side of the rectangular flat panel 2. The optical touch panel apparatus sets a peripheral area on the flat panel 2, and performs position detection in an area other than the peripheral area while not performing position detection within the peripheral area. The peripheral area is an area proximal to the light emitting elements or light receiving elements, in which resolution for position detection is deteriorated and unsatisfactory light blocking is likely to occur. By limiting the area for which position detection is performed to the area other than the peripheral area, deterioration in resolution for position detection and occurrence of unsatisfactory light blocking can be prevented, making it possible to stably perform position detection.
US09152273B2 Terminal and method for controlling a screen
Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a terminal and method for controlling a screen. The method comprises: during a calling or call originating process of the terminal, determining whether a distance between a specified area and a human body is larger than a distance threshold value based on an electrical signal generated by the screen when the specified area of a screen of the terminal gets close to the human body; controlling the screen to be off if it is determined that the distance is not larger than the distance threshold value, and controlling the screen to be on if it is determined that the distance is larger than the distance threshold value. By adopting the technical solution disclosed in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the on and off status of the screen can be controlled more precisely during the calling or call originating process of the terminal.
US09152272B2 Multipoint positioning method for touchpad
A multipoint positioning method for a touchpad including the steps of: scanning a touchpad to retrieve two-dimensional data; calculating an object area and a number of maxima of local maxima in the two-dimensional data; comparing the object area with an area threshold when the number of maxima is larger than 1; and identifying positions of the local maxima as a plurality of contact positions when the object area is larger than or equal to the area threshold.
US09152271B2 Automatic and dynamic sensitivity control of projected capacitive touch sensitive detection systems
Systems and methods of controlling the touch sensitivity of a projected capacitive touch detection system are provided. The temperature that is at least representative of the touch sensitive region temperature is sensed. Based on the sensed temperature, the numbers of the capacitive touch sensors that have different strength electric fields applied thereto are varied and/or the relative magnitudes of the different electric fields are varied. When installed in a vehicle, the operational state of the vehicle may also impact this operation.
US09152269B2 Sensing circuit
A sensing circuit includes a plurality of sensors, a controller, a multiway switch, a linear optocoupler, and a logical control unit. The plurality of sensors are capable of measuring physical quantity, and each of the plurality of sensors is capable of generating a sensing signal in accordance with the physical quantity. The controller is capable of receiving and analyzing the sensing signals, and transforming the sensing signals into sensing events. The multiway switch is capable of selectively connecting one of the plurality of sensors to the controller. The linear optocoupler is connected between the plurality of sensors and the controller. The logical control unit is capable of controlling the multiway switch to selectively connect one of the plurality of sensors to the optocoupler, and generating a control signal to the controller, wherein the control signal indicating the one of the plurality of sensors connected to the controller.
US09152264B2 Electronic device with piezoelectric actuator
An electronic device includes a touch screen configured to receive an input from a user, and a haptic device that includes a piezoelectric actuator including an elongated piezo bender having a mass at one end thereof and supported by a flexible holder at the other end thereof, and an electrical driving signal generator configured to generate a signal to create a vibration in the elongated piezo bender in response to the input from the user.
US09152262B2 Touch sensor integrated type display device comprising shielding electrodes formed between a first electrode and a pixel electrode
A touch sensor integrated type display device includes a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines which are formed to cross over each other; a plurality of pixel electrodes respectively formed in areas defined by crossings of the plurality of gate lines and the plurality of data lines; a plurality of first electrodes, each of which is formed between the pixel electrodes and in parallel with the gate line, the pixel electrodes being adjacent to each other with the gate line interposed therebetween; a plurality of second electrodes formed in parallel with the data lines, at least a portion of each of the plurality of second electrodes overlapping the pixel electrode; and a shielding electrode formed between each first electrode and each second electrode.
US09152259B2 Contact detecting device and display device for multi-touch sensing
According to one aspect of the invention, a contact detecting device includes: a contact responding section configured to produce an electric change in response to an object to be detected coming into contact with or proximity to a detecting surface; and a contact driving scanning section configured to scan application of driving voltage to the contact responding section in one direction within the detecting surface, and control output of the electric change in time series, wherein the contact driving scanning section performs a plurality of scans of different regions of the contact responding section in parallel with each other, and outputs a plurality of the electric changes in parallel with each other.
US09152256B2 Touch screen and method of manufacturing the same
A touch screen and a method for manufacturing the touch screen are provided. The touch screen can include: an ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) film deposited on the upper surface of a flexible plastic film; a primary metal layer deposited on the ITO film; and a secondary metal film plated on the primary metal layer. The touch screen is durable and has excellent sensitivity.
US09152245B2 Rolling type input apparatus and method for setting sensitivity thereof, and electronic equipment
The embodiments of the present invention disclose a rolling type input apparatus, a method for setting sensitivity thereof and electronic equipment. The method comprises: detecting a rolling direction and the rolling distance of a rolling device (1) in the rolling process of the rolling device (1) and generating corresponding interrupts; identifying the number and the direction of the interrupts; responding to the interrupts once by transmitting a moving event signal (10) for controlling a cursor (80) to move on a screen (8) when the number of the interrupts in the same direction reaches a threshold value; detecting parameters reflecting the speed and the amplitude of operations of a user for rolling the rolling device (1); and setting the threshold value according to the detected parameters. The technical solution can improve the automation degree of the rolling type input apparatus.
US09152240B2 Method for previewing output character and electronic device
A method for previewing an output character, and an electronic device are provided. In the present method, at least one touch signal generated by pressing at least one of the keys of a software input panel (SIP) is received. Then, an impending output character corresponding to the pressed key is determined from all relative characters thereof. Finally, showing a display window including at least the output character, and a display format of the output character in the display window is changed to specifically indicate the output character. As a result, the correctness of the pressed key on the SIP can be determined easily, and whether the impending output character is the expected character can be confirmed at the same time.
US09152239B2 Keyboard safety protection device
A keyboard safety protection device for protecting a point of sale (POS) device keyboard area from being attacked includes: a protection layer, a metal dome, and a keyboard printed circuit board, wherein a key gold finger and a safety processor are arranged on the keyboard PCB, the protection layer is composed of a layer of PVDF film and a first and second silver slurries, the first and the second silver slurries are coated on the surface of the PVDF film, the surfaces of the first and second silver slurries are provided with a first and second thin film layers respectively, the first and second silver slurries are electrically connected with the key gold finger, and the first and second silver slurries are electrically connected with the safety processor to form a safety detection circuit through the keyboard printed circuit board and the safety processor.
US09152238B2 Asymmetric shuffle keyboard
An asymmetric keyboard with a QWERTY style layout comprising a plurality of sparse grids and a plurality of dense grids is provided. A sparse grid is substantially large in size containing large keys with large labels, whereas a dense grid is substantially small in size containing small keys with small labels. All keys are functional but the larger keys in the sparse grid offer greater visibility and operability than the smaller keys in the dense grid. The user makes use of the sparse grid as the primary grid to input data. A swipe across a designated boundary interchanges the key labels between corresponding pairs of keys in the designated sparse and dense grids. On the software-based version, a swipe across another designated boundary compresses or decompresses a corresponding grid. On the hardware-based version, a bi-axial hinge allows the display and the keyboard to rotate around two axes.
US09152237B1 Power bouncing reduction circuit and method thereof
A circuit having a core circuit for sinking a first current from a first internal power supply node; a power bouncing reduction circuit for receiving power from a second internal power supply node and sourcing a second current to the first internal power supply node in accordance with a comparison between a voltage at the first internal power supply node and a low-pass filtered voltage of the first internal power supply node; and a package for coupling the first internal power supply node and the second internal power supply node to a first external power supply node and a second external power supply node, respectively.
US09152235B2 Video peeking
A new user interface and display system for a video display device with a touch screen makes it possible to peek at, that is view briefly, a selected video content while watching other content. During a video peek, video from a second video source will be seen to partially displace and temporarily replace a portion of a video presently being viewed. Selection of the other video sources can be controlled, for example, by swiping with one, two, three or four finger tips and by swiping inwardly from any one of the four edges of a video display. Moreover, the video presently being viewed can be interchanged with the video being peeked at.
US09152226B2 Input method designed for augmented reality goggles
Apparatuses, methods, systems and computer-readable media for using proximity inputs on or near a touch screen lens to select objects within a field of view are presented. In some embodiments, a viewing apparatus (e.g. head mounted display, augmented reality goggles) may include at least one lens, wherein the lens can sense touches or near-touches and output data indicative of a location of the proximity input by the user. A processor may receive the data and may select an object within the field of view of the user corresponding to the data, wherein the object and the location of the proximity input on or near the lens by the user are on a common line of sight. In some embodiments, the viewing apparatus may include at least one camera that is configured to record at least one image representative of the user's field of view.
US09152223B2 Mobile device with multiple security domains
Included within a shared housing are at least one user interface element; a first isolated computational entity; a second isolated computational entity; and a switching arrangement. The switching arrangement is configured to, in a first mode, connect the first isolated computational entity to the at least one user interface element; and, in a second mode, connect the second isolated computational entity to the at least one user interface element.
US09152222B2 Method, apparatus, and system for facilitating cross-application searching and retrieval of content using a contextual user model
A method, apparatus, and system for facilitating cross-application searching and retrieval of computer-stored content using a contextual user model includes using passive and/or active interaction data to formulate a user-specific search query. In some embodiments, inferences relating to the user's current interaction context may be used to automatically retrieve relevant information for the user.
US09152221B2 Method, apparatus, and system for modeling passive and active user interactions with a computer system
A method, apparatus, and system for modeling user interactions with a computer system associates semantic descriptions of passive and active user interactions, which are meaningful at a user level, with application events and user interaction data as a user interacts with one or multiple software applications with a computing device, and uses those associations to build and maintain a user-specific contextual model. In some embodiments, the contextual models of multiple users are leveraged to form one or more collective contextual user models. Such models are useful in many different applications.
US09152220B2 Incremental preparation of videos for delivery
Methods and arrangements for video delivery preparation. A video, being accessible online, is displayed at an interface in response to a user request. A relative probability of video access by the user with respect to at least two other online-accessible videos is qualitatively determined. An ordered prediction set is created with respect to the other videos. The other videos are prepared incrementally based on the prediction set, so that the user is able to access and view the videos. The preparing includes preparing a first one of the other videos over a first time period and a second one of the other videos over a second time period, wherein at least a portion of the first time period is coincident with at least a portion of the second time period. An element is displayed at the interface which provides a connection to at least one of the other videos.
US09152219B2 Creation and context-aware presentation of customized emoticon item sets
Embodiments provide context-aware inclusion of emoticon item sets in applications and/or services. The emoticon item sets include a plurality of emoticon images or other emoticons. A computing device creates custom emoticon item sets for each of the applications. Based on a determined execution context, the computing device selects the emoticon item set and presents the selected emoticon item set for use within the execution context by a user of the computing device.
US09152216B1 Smart touchpad input device
The subject technology discloses a system for filtering out touches on a touch sensitive input device (e.g., touchpad) during a typing-intensive task. A typing task detection module receives key-press events and computes the typing speed in terms of keys per second in combination with a determined amount of typing based on a number of received key-press events. When input speed and amount of continued typing are higher than a threshold, the typing task detection module then determines that the user is performing a typing task. The typing mode and other characteristics of user's typing activity are used to adjust the responsiveness of touchpad. The subject technology further includes a touchpad responsiveness adjustment module. This module receives the determined typing speed and amount of typing from the typing task detection module, and adjusts the input sensitivity (which controls the responsiveness) of the touchpad to filter out accidental finger touches.
US09152211B2 Electronic device with enhanced notifications
There is disclosed an electronic device comprising a receiver, a display, an application processor and a sensor hub. The receiver is configured to receive notifications from a remote device. The display is configured to provide information including notifications. The application processor and the sensor hub are in communication with the display. The application processor is configured to provide instructions for displaying full screen information at the display during a non-sleep mode of the electronic device. The full screen information includes a first notification associated with information received by the electronic device during the non-sleep mode. The sensor hub is configured to provide instructions for displaying partial screen information at the display during a sleep mode of the electronic device. The partial screen information includes a second notification associated with information received by the electronic device during the sleep mode.
US09152210B2 Method and apparatus for determining tunable parameters to use in power and performance management
Various method and apparatus embodiments for selecting tunable operating parameters in an integrated circuit (IC) are disclosed. In one embodiment, an IC includes a number of various functional blocks each having a local management circuit. The IC also includes a global management unit coupled to each of the functional blocks having a local management circuit. The management unit is configured to determine the operational state of the IC based on the respective operating states of each of the functional blocks. Responsive to determining the operational state of the IC, the management unit may provide indications of the same to the local management circuit of each of the functional blocks. The local management circuit for each of the functional blocks may select one or more tunable parameters based on the operational state determined by the management unit.
US09152208B2 Methods, apparatuses and computer program products for updating a content item
Methods, apparatuses and computer program products are provided for updating a content item. In this regard, a current context associated with a content item can be determined based on criteria such as, a user's tendencies, user preferences, battery level, time of day, etc. The current context of the content item can be active or inactive. If a content item is in an active current context and an associated triggering event occurs, the content item can be updated. If the content item is in an inactive current context, the content item need not be updated. Content items may be updated in various manners, including generating a preview of the content item. A preview of a content item may be generated by retrieving the content item via an interface, where the interface is determined from data associated with the content item. Upon retrieval of a content item via the interface, a preview of the content item can be generated, such as by generating an image file having associated metadata. The metadata maybe used for linking the preview to additional, related content items.
US09152207B2 System for reducing dynamic power consumption of wakeup source
A system for reducing dynamic power consumption of a wakeup source includes a receiver interface coupled to the wakeup source. A data packet, received by the receiver interface, transmits the data packet to the wakeup source. The wakeup source processes the data packet to identify a predetermined code for initiating a wakeup sequence. The wakeup source is put into a deep sleep mode if it is idle for a predetermined time period.
US09152201B2 Method and system for display output stutter
Apparatus and methods for reducing power consumption of a data transfer interface in a computer system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for reducing power consumption of a data transfer interface between a first device and a second device, includes, identifying a free interval between a first data and a second data, disabling the data transfer interface during the free interval, enabling the data transfer interface at the end of the free interval, and transmitting the second data. The method may also include a step of notifying the second device that the data transfer interface is being temporarily disabled. Another embodiment, for example, includes the transfer of display data (or video frames) over an interface, such as, a DisplayPort interface, between a graphics controller device and a timing controller device in a computer system.
US09152199B2 Power state dependent wake-up alarm
A method of operating a computing device to allow events to be conditionally executed based on a power state of the device at the time of execution of the events. Conditional execution may be implemented using multiple timers, each associated with a power state. A timer such as an “AC timer” or a “DC timer” associated with a respective power state may be used to wake up the device when, upon expiration, or time-out, of the timer, a current power state of the device and the power state associated with the timer match. An Advanced Configuration Power Interface (ACPI) may be employed to abstract implementation of the timers from underlying hardware of the device. The operating system and software applications may request establishing wake-up behavior of the device as commands to program conditional events, which may then be translated into commands to embedded controller to set the timers.
US09152192B2 Power supply and power cord for max power setting
Apparatus, methods, and systems are disclosed for a power supply adapted to receive power from an outlet, the power input having a property, such as amperage, frequency or voltage. An indicator is provided on the connector to the power cord to indicate a value for the property to the power supply, wherein the power supply adapts to the value for the property. By providing an indication of the property the system is capable of reducing functionality to meet the capabilities of the power supply. A power cord may be provided with a male plug at one end capable of being inserted into a socket with a minimum value for a property, and the other end of the power cord may have a connector with an indicator to identify the minimum value for the power cord.
US09152190B2 Collapsible chimney for electronic device
In one embodiment a housing for an electronic device comprises a first section, a second section, and a collapsible chimney coupled to the first section and the second section to provide an airflow path from a portion of the first section. Other embodiments may be described.
US09152189B2 Locking mechanism and removable electronic device using same
A locking mechanism is used to lock a removable electronic device on a housing structure including a pair of resisting portions. The locking mechanism includes a pair of bar members, a pair of elastic elements and an operating member. Each of the pair of bar members includes a blocking portion to engage with the corresponding resisting portion and a matching portion. The pair of elastic elements is elastically connected between the electronic device and the corresponding bar members. The operating member located between the pair of bar members and defines a first groove and a second groove respectively engaging with the matching portions.
US09152188B2 Attachment mechanism for fastening expansion card
An attachment mechanism for fastening an expansion card includes a bracket and a bar. The bracket is fastened to a first end of the expansion card. The bar abuts a side of the expansion card adjoining the first end, and is fastened to both of the first end of the expansion card and a second end of the expansion card opposite to the first end.
US09152187B2 Docking station and portable apparatus
A docking station includes a docking body and a hinge structure. The docking body includes a casing having an articulated portion and an operation interface disposed at the casing. The hinge structure is connected with the docking body vertiginously and includes a hinge assembly and a pivot portion. The hinge assembly includes a pivot, a fixed rack, a rotating rack, a first positioning cam set and a second positioning cam set. The pivot is connected with the pivot portion, while the pivot portion is articulated with the articulated portion. One end of the pivot is connected with the fixed rack. The fixed rack is connected with the docking body. The rotating rack is rotatable relative to the fixed rack and has a first spacing angle by the first positioning cam set and a second spacing angle by the second positioning cam set.
US09152185B2 Dorsal touch input
A back touch sensor positioned on a back surface of a device accepts user input in the form of touches. The touches on the back touch sensor map keys on a virtual keyboard, a pointer input, and so forth. Touches on a touch sensor positioned on a front surface provide additional input while also allowing the user to grasp and hold the device.
US09152184B2 Hybrid computer
A hybrid computer system is provided. The hybrid computer includes a display portion attached to a base portion via hinge. The display portion can be folded flat against the base portion such that the display screen faces outwards, for use in a tablet computer configuration. The display portion can alternatively be tilted upwards relative to the base portion, with the display portion being hinged at a front edge of the display and in a middle section of the base portion. When the display is articulated upwards, a support structure can be deployed between the backside of the display and the base portion, in order to provide physical support to the display and resistance against hinge movement in response to a user pressing on the display to engage touchscreen functionality.
US09152183B2 Locking mechanism for hinge assembly
In one embodiment a locking mechanism for a hinge, comprises a housing defining a chamber which is to contain a magnetorheological (MR) fluid, a bias mechanism which disposed at a first end of the chamber, a piston disposed at a second end of the chamber, the piston to be coupled to a hinge rotatable about a first axis, wherein rotation of the hinge about the first axis translates the piston laterally in the housing on a first side of the chamber, and a magnet positioned proximate the housing to change the MR fluid from a first state in which the MR fluid exhibits a low viscosity to a second state in which the MR exhibits a high viscosity. Other embodiments may be described.
US09152180B2 Portable device and control method thereof
A portable device and a control method thereof are disclosed that enable a user to more conveniently and accurately control a flexible display. The portable device includes a main display, a flexible display, a measurement unit configured to measure a first length of the flexible display, the first length being a measurement of the flexible display that is extended from the housing unit, when the flexible display is extended from the housing unit, and a control unit configured to obtain a second length of the flexible display, compare the second length with the width of the main display, and to display an indicator configured to indicate the second length on the main display according to the comparison result. The second length is a measurement of the flexible display that is not extended from the housing unit using the first length when the flexible display is extended from the housing unit.
US09152179B2 Portrait dual display and landscape dual display
Methods and devices for controlling the displayed output associated with applications in connection with a multiple screen device are provided. More particularly, an application presented by the device in a dual portrait orientation can utilize the first screen to display control information, and can utilize the second screen to display content information. An application presented by the device in a dual landscape orientation can utilize both the first screen and the second screen to display content information.
US09152178B2 Environmental controls for mobile electronic devices
A mobile computing device is described. The mobile computing device includes an enclosure. A humidity sensor senses humidity inside the enclosure and generates humidity data. An internal temperature sensor senses a temperature inside the enclosure and generates internal temperature data. An external temperature sensor senses a temperature exterior to the enclosure and generates external temperature data. An environmental control apparatus adjusts at least a temperature inside the enclosure of the mobile electronic device. A processor receives the humidity data, the internal temperature data, and the external temperature data and activates the environmental control apparatus in response to the humidity data, the internal temperature data, and the external temperature data to minimize condensation from forming inside the enclosure due to rapid changes in external ambient temperature.
US09152177B2 Self-aligning connection to a docking station
A docking station (2) system for a tablet (1) having a data connector, said docking station (2) comprising: a substantially planar docking platform (4) for receiving a tablet (1), said docking platform (4) having an elevated retaining lip (6) extending along the lower edge of said docking platform (4) to engage at least one edge of said tablet (1), and one or more elevated guide rails (14); a cable slide (7) having a cable platform, said cable platform having one or more elevated cable tabs (12) for mechanically securing said unmodified tablet data cable (17) thereon, and a cable slide cover (10) for applying pressure to, in order to align the unmodified tablet data cable connector (18) to a tablet connector (16) of said tablet (1), and slide the cable slide (7) into said docking station (2).
US09152174B2 Computer system
A computer system includes a desk, and a first display and a first keyboard arranged on a desk panel of the desk and flexibly connected to the desk panel. The panel board includes at least two layers; an edge of a top layer of the panel board is flexibly connected to a second layer of the panel board; a lower surface of the top layer of the panel board is used as a second display and an upper surface of a second layer of the panel board is used as a second keyboard; and the first display, the first key board, the second display, and the second keyboard are all connected to the computer. The computer system of the present disclosure effectively protects eye sights, reduces the probability of shortsightedness, greatly increases the amount of exercise, consumes unnecessary energy, reduces the storage of energy and production of fat, further results in loss of weight, and at the same time strengthens physical exercise and improves health states.
US09152173B2 Transparent display device
This document describes techniques and apparatuses for implementing a transparent display device. A transparent display device includes a transparent or translucent screen to render images on the screen, and to render virtual objects that appear to be in a three-dimensional (3D) space behind the screen. The transparent display device also includes a hand tracker to sense movement of a user's hands to interact with one or more of the virtual objects, and to generate 3D-input based on the movement. The transparent or translucent screen enables the user to see the user's hands behind the screen as the user's hands interact with the one or more virtual objects. The transparent display device is controlled to modify the rendering of the images on the screen or the virtual objects behind the screen based on the 3D-input.
US09152169B2 Hinge structure and electronic device having the same
A hinge structure adapted to an electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a first body, a second body, a first cable and a second cable. The hinge structure includes a first hinge, a second hinge, a first electrical connection element and a second electrical connection element. The first hinge is fixed at the first body. The second hinge is fixed at the second body and pivoted to the first hinge along an axis. The second electrical connection element is rotatably connected to the first electrical connection element along the axis. The first cable is connected between the first body and the first electrical connection element, and the second cable is connected between the second body and the second electrical connection element.
US09152166B2 Accelerator apparatus for vehicle
A first coil spring urges a shaft in an accelerator closing direction. A support member has a space, in which a first center line of the first coil spring is convexly curved when the shaft is rotated in an accelerator opening direction. The first center line is straight or is convexly curved toward the space when the limiting portion contacts the support member.
US09152164B2 Constant current source circuit
A current source includes a first MOS transistor of a first channel type including a drain connected to an output terminal, and a source directly connected to a first power supply, a second MOS transistor of the first channel type including a drain connected to a gate, the gate of the second MOS transistor being connected to the gate of the first transistor, and a source directly connected to the first power supply, a third MOS transistor of a second channel type opposite the first channel type including a drain connected to the drain of the second MOS transistor, a fourth MOS transistor of the second channel type including a drain connected to the source of the third MOS transistor, a gate connected to a first bias voltage, and a source directly connected to second power supply voltage, and a control voltage generator that detects an output voltage on the output terminal and provides a shifted version of the output voltage to the gate of the third MOS transistor.
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