最新美国发明专利第2015-10-06期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US09153767B2	Ultrasonic probe and manufacturing method thereof Disclosed herein are an ultrasonic probe having a backing layer formed of a structure which varies acoustic impedance and a manufacturing method thereof. The ultrasonic probe includes a piezoelectric layer and a backing layer provided on a rear surface of the piezoelectric layer, and the backing layer includes a plurality of kerfs formed on a front surface thereof in a lengthwise direction, the front surface being adjacent to the rear surface of the piezoelectric layer, and the kerfs are formed such that the intervals between the kerfs are varied.
US09153762B2	Electronic component package structure A thermistor includes a metal substrate, a semiconductor ceramic layer on the metal substrate, and a pair of split electrodes on the semiconductor layer. The semiconductor ceramic layer is formed by a solid-phase method. The metal substrate includes ceramic particles and is not interrupted in the direction of thickness by the ceramic particles or a pillar defined by a chain of the ceramic particles. Preferably, the metal substrate and the ceramic layer of the thermistor have a thickness of about 10 μm to about 80 μm and about 1 μm to about 10 μm, respectively.
US09153757B2	Thermoplastic resin composition for reflective material, reflective plate, and light-emitting diode element The purpose of the present invention is to provide a thermoplastic resin composition for a reflective material which has excellent mechanical strength, excellent heat resistance, excellent high reflectance, and excellent moldability, and which makes it possible to obtain a reflective plate with little decline in reflectance caused by heating. A first embodiment of this thermoplastic resin composition for a reflective material includes: a polyester resin (A) that has a melting point or glass transition temperature of 250° C. or higher and includes an alicyclic hydrocarbon structure; a thermoplastic resin (B) that has a polyolefin backbone and a functional group; a white pigment (C); and an inorganic filler (D); the thermoplastic resin (B) either including 0.1 to 1.8 wt % of a functional group unit (B1) that further includes a heteroatom, or further including an aromatic hydrocarbon structure (B2), and the limiting viscosity [η] being 0.04 to 1.0 dl/g.
US09153755B2	Silicone resin sheet, cured sheet, and light emitting diode device and producing method thereof A silicone resin sheet is formed from a resin composition containing a thermosetting silicone resin and microparticles. The complex viscosity thereof at a frequency of 10 Hz is 80 to 1000 Pa·s and the tan δ thereof at a frequency of 10 Hz is 0.3 to 1.6 obtained by a dynamic viscoelastic measurement at a frequency of 0.1 to 50 Hz at 30° C.; a rate of frequency increase of 10 Hz/min; and a distortion of 1% in a shear mode.
US09153754B2	Light emitting diode (LED) red fluorescent material and lighting device having the same Provided are a Light Emitting Diode (LED) red fluorescent material and a lighting device having the same. The florescent material consists of elements M, A, D, X, L and Z, wherein element M at least contains one or more than one element of Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba and Zn; element A at least contains one or more than one element of B, Al, Ga, In, La, Gd, Lu, Sc and Y; element D at least contains one or more than one element of Si, Ge, C, Sn, Ti, Zr and Hf; element X at least contains one or more than one element of N, O and F; element L at least contains one or more than one element of S, Se and Te; and element Z at least contains one or more than one element of a rare earth element or a transition-metal element.
US09153752B2	Method of manufacturing light-emitting device A method of manufacturing a light-emitting device including a light-emitting element which emits light with a predetermined wavelength and a wavelength conversion portion including a fluorescent substance which is excited by the light emitted from the light-emitting element to emit fluorescence with a wavelength different from the predetermined wavelength, includes the followings. First, spraying so as to apply a liquid mixture containing a layered silicate mineral and a translucent ceramic precursor on the light-emitting element from a nozzle is performed while the nozzle is moved relative to the light-emitting element. Subsequently, forming of the wavelength conversion portion by heating the sprayed and applied liquid mixture is performed.
US09153748B2	Light emitting apparatus and surface light source apparatus having the same Provided are a light emitting apparatus and a surface light source apparatus having the same. The light emitting apparatus comprises a package body, a first color light emitting part in a first cavity of the package body, and a second color light emitting part in a second cavity of the package body. The package body comprises a plurality of cavities.
US09153747B2	Light-emitting element A light-emitting element includes a light-emitting stack which has an active layer, and a non-oxide insulative layer below the light-emitting stack, wherein a refractive index of the non-oxide insulative layer is less than 1.4.
US09153746B2	Semiconductor light emitting device and method for manufacturing same According to an embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes a semiconductor layer having a light emitting layer. The device also includes a p-side electrode provided on a first region including the light emitting layer; an n-side electrode provided on a second region layer not including the light emitting layer; and a first insulating film having a first opening communicating with the p-side electrode and a second opening communicating with the n-side electrode. A p-side interconnection is provided on the first insulating film and electrically connected to the p-side electrode through the first opening. An n-side interconnection is provided on the first insulating film and electrically connected to the n-side electrode through the second opening. The p-side interconnection has a plurality of protrusive parts protruding toward the n-side interconnection, and the n-side interconnection has a plurality of portions extending between the protrusive parts of the p-side interconnection.
US09153744B2	Light emitting element A light-emitting element includes a semiconductor portion, an upper electrode and a lower electrode. The upper electrode includes a plurality of first external connectors, a plurality of second external connectors, a first inward elongated portion extending from each of the first external connectors, a second inward elongated portion extending from each of the second external connectors, a first outward elongated portion extending from each of the first external connectors toward a side opposite to a side where the second external connectors are disposed, and connecting two first external connectors next to each other, and a second outward elongated portion extending from each of the second external connectors toward a side opposite to a side where the first external connectors are disposed, and connecting two second external connectors next to each other.
US09153742B2	GaN-crystal free-standing substrate and method for producing the same A GaN-crystal free-standing substrate obtained from a GaN crystal grown by HVPE with a (0001) plane serving as a crystal growth plane and at least one plane of a {10-11} plane and a {11-22} plane serving as a crystal growth plane that constitutes a facet crystal region, except for the side surface of the crystal, wherein the (0001)-plane-growth crystal region has a carbon concentration of 5×1016 atoms/cm3 or less, a silicon concentration of 5×1017 atoms/cm3 or more and 2×1018 atoms/cm3 or less, and an oxygen concentration of 1×1017 atoms/cm3 or less; and the facet crystal region has a carbon concentration of 3×1016 atoms/cm3 or less, a silicon concentration of 5×1017 atoms/cm3 or less, and an oxygen concentration of 5×1017 atoms/cm3 or more and 5×1018 atoms/cm3 or less.
US09153738B2	Light-emitting element A light-emitting element comprises a light-emitting semiconductor stack comprising a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer on the first semiconductor layer, and a light-emitting layer between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer; a plurality of extensions formed on the first semiconductor layer; and a first conductive part and a second conductive part formed on the light-emitting semiconductor stack and respectively electrically connected to the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer, wherein one of the plurality of extensions is formed beyond a projected area of the second conductive part and not covered by the first conductive part.
US09153737B2	High-quality non-polar/semi-polar semiconductor device on porous nitride semiconductor and manufacturing method thereof Provided are a high-quality non-polar/semi-polar semiconductor device having reduced defect density of a nitride semiconductor layer and improved internal quantum efficiency and light extraction efficiency, and a manufacturing method thereof. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is to form a template layer and a semiconductor device structure on a sapphire, SiC or Si substrate having a crystal plane for a growth of a non-polar or semi-polar nitride semiconductor layer. The manufacturing method includes: forming a nitride semiconductor layer on the substrate; performing a porous surface modification such that the nitride semiconductor layer has pores; forming the template layer by re-growing a nitride semiconductor layer on the surface-modified nitride semiconductor layer; and forming the semiconductor device structure on the template layer.
US09153735B2	Optoelectronic semiconductor component An optoelectronic semiconductor component includes a carrier which has an upper side and a lower side opposite to the upper side. At least one radiation-emitting semiconductor device is disposed on the upper side and has a radiation emission surface, through which at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation, which is generated during operation of the semiconductor device, leaves the semiconductor device. A radiation-absorbing layer is arranged to absorb ambient light, which impinges upon the component, such that an outer surface of the component facing away from the carrier appears black at least in places.
US09153731B2	Colloidal nanocrystals and method of making A tight confinement nanocrystal comprises a homogeneous center region having a first composition and a smoothly varying region having a second composition wherein a confining potential barrier monotonically increases and then monotonically decreases as the smoothly varying region extends from the surface of the homogeneous center region to an outer surface of the nanocrystal. A method of producing the nanocrystal comprises forming a first solution by combining a solvent and at most two nanocrystal precursors; heating the first solution to a nucleation temperature; adding to the first solution, a second solution having a solvent, at least one additional and different precursor to form the homogeneous center region and at most an initial portion of the smoothly varying region; and lowering the solution temperature to a growth temperature to complete growth of the smoothly varying region.
US09153730B2	Solar cell front contact doping A method of doping solar cell front contact can improve the efficiency of CdTe-based or other kinds of solar cells.
US09153727B2	Optoelectronic device An optoelectronic device having an optoelectronic component that receives or generates radiation and has a main radiation passage surface, wherein the component is assigned an aperture which defines a radiation cone for radiation passing through the main radiation passage surface, and the aperture has an inner surface having a region inclined away from the main radiation passage surface.
US09153726B1	Inductive optical sensor utilizing frontside processing of photo sensitive material A photodetector detects the absence or presence of light by detecting a change in the inductance of a coil. The magnetic field generated when a current flows through the coil passes through an electron-hole generation region. Charged particles in the electron-hole generation region come under the influence of the magnetic field, and generate eddy currents whose magnitudes depend on whether light is absent or present. The eddy currents generate a magnetic field that opposes the magnetic field generated by current flowing through the coil.
US09153720B1	Electrical interconnect An interconnect includes a first set of connector pads, a second set of connector pads, and a continuous central portion. A first plurality of legs extends at a first angle from the continuous central portion. Each leg of the first plurality of legs is connected to a connector pad of a first set of connector pads. A second plurality of legs extends at a second angle from the continuous central portion. Each leg of the second plurality of legs is connected to a connector pad of the second set of connector pads. Gaps are defined between legs. The gaps enable movement of the first set of connector pads relative to the second set of connector pads.
US09153708B2	Light receiving circuit and photocoupler A light receiving circuit includes a light receiving element, a transimpedance amplifier, a delay circuit and a comparator. The transimpedance amplifier is configured to convert the current signal into a first voltage. The comparator includes first to third current control elements each including first to third electrodes and configured to control current of the third electrode by voltage of the second electrode. The first voltage is inputted to the second electrode of the first current control element. Output voltage of the delay circuit is inputted to the second electrode of the second current control element. A second voltage is inputted to the second electrode of the third current control element. The comparator is configured to compare output current of the first current control element with sum of output current of the second current control element and output current of the third current control element.
US09153707B2	Chip package and method for forming the same An embodiment of the invention provides a chip package which includes: a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface; a device region disposed in the semiconductor substrate; a dielectric layer disposed on the first surface of the semiconductor substrate; a conducting pad structure disposed in the dielectric layer and electrically connected to the device region, a carrier substrate disposed on the dielectric layer; and a conducting structure disposed in a bottom surface of the carrier substrate and electrically contacting with the conducting pad structure.
US09153704B2	Nonvolatile memory device and method for fabricating the same A nonvolatile memory device includes a memory gate including a memory layer provided over a substrate and a gate electrode provided over the memory layer, the memory gate having first and second opposing sidewalls disposed on first and second sides of the memory gate, respectively; first and second select gates disposed on the first and second sidewalls of the memory gate; a source region formed in the substrate proximate to the first side of the memory gate; a drain region formed in the substrate proximate to the second side of the memory gate; and a gate contact coupled to the gate electrode of the memory gate and to the first select gate, or the second select gate, or both.
US09153702B2	Semiconductor device, power circuit, and manufacturing method of semiconductor device The semiconductor device includes a first conductive layer over a substrate; an oxide semiconductor layer which covers the first conductive layer; a second conductive layer in a region which is not overlapped with the first conductive layer over the oxide semiconductor layer; an insulating layer which covers the oxide semiconductor layer and the second conductive layer; and a third conductive layer in a region including at least a region which is not overlapped with the first conductive layer or the second conductive layer over the insulating layer.
US09153700B2	Method of manufacturing thin-film transistor, method of manufacturing organic light-emitting display device including the same, and thin-film transistor and organic light-emitting display device manufactured using the methods A method of manufacturing a thin-film transistor includes: forming an oxide semiconductor pattern including a first region and a second region on a substrate; forming an insulation film on the substrate to cover the oxide semiconductor pattern; removing the insulation film on the second region through patterning; increasing carrier density of the first region of the oxide semiconductor pattern through an annealing process; forming a gate electrode on the insulation film so that the gate electrode is insulated from the oxide semiconductor pattern and overlaps the second region; and forming a source electrode and a drain electrode to be insulated from the gate electrode and contact the first region.
US09153696B2	Semiconductor device having tri-gate transistor and method of manufacturing the same A semiconductor device includes a substrate including an NMOS region, a fin active region protruding from the substrate in the NMOS region, the fin active region including an upper surface and a sidewall, a gate dielectric layer on the upper surface and the sidewall of the fin active region, a first metal gate electrode on the gate dielectric layer, the first metal gate electrode having a first thickness at the upper surface of the fin active region and a second thickness at the sidewall of the fin active region, and a second metal gate electrode on the first metal gate electrode, the second metal gate electrode having a third thickness at the upper surface of the fin active region and a fourth thickness at the sidewall of the fin active region, wherein the third thickness is less than the fourth thickness.
US09153692B2	Semiconductor device having a stress film on a side surface of a fin Provided is a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a fin on a substrate; a gate electrode cross the fin on the substrate; a source/drain formed on at least one of both sides of the gate electrode, and including a first film and a second film; and a stress film arranged between an isolation film on the substrate and the source/drain, and formed on a side surface of the fin.
US09153691B1	High voltage MOS transistor In one aspect, a MOS transistor includes a first diffusion region of a first doping type, a tap region of a second doping type configured to contact the first diffusion region, a channel region configured to substantially surround the first diffusion region and the tap region, and a second diffusion region of the first doping type configured to substantially surround the channel region. In another aspect, a method for manufacturing a MOS transistor includes, forming a first diffusion region of a first doping type, forming a tap region of a second doping type contacting the first diffusion region, forming a second diffusion region of the first doping type substantially surrounding the first diffusion region and the tap region, and forming a gate electrode substantially surrounding the first diffusion region and the tap region.
US09153690B2	MOS devices with modulated performance and methods for forming the same A device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (MOS) device, and a second MOS device of a same conductivity as the first MOS device. The first MOS device includes a first gate stack over the semiconductor substrate, and a first stressor adjacent to the first gate stack and extending into the semiconductor substrate. The first stressor and the first gate stack have a first distance. The second MOS device includes a second gate stack over the semiconductor substrate, and a second stressor adjacent to the second gate stack and extending into the semiconductor substrate. The second stressor and the second gate stack have a second distance greater than the first distance.
US09153686B2	Semiconductor device including DC-DC converter In a non-insulated DC-DC converter having a circuit in which a power MOS•FET high-side switch and a power MOS•FET low-side switch are connected in series, the power MOS•FET low-side switch and a Schottky barrier diode to be connected in parallel with the power MOS•FET low-side switch are formed within one semiconductor chip. The formation region SDR of the Schottky barrier diode is disposed in the center in the shorter direction of the semiconductor chip, and on both sides thereof, the formation regions of the power MOS•FET low-side switch are disposed. From the gate finger in the vicinity of both long sides on the main surface of the semiconductor chip toward the formation region SDR of the Schottky barrier diode, a plurality of gate fingers are disposed so as to interpose the formation region SDR between them.
US09153680B2	Stimulated phonon emission device and oscillator, frequency filter, cooling device, light-receiving device, and light-emitting device comprising the stimulated phonon emission device A stimulated phonon emission device of an embodiment is provided with a first electroconductive type of semiconductor substrate of an indirect transition type semiconductor crystal, a second electroconductive type of well region provided in the semiconductor substrate, an element isolation region deeper than the well region, an element region surrounded by the element isolation region, and a field-effect transistor having a plurality of gate electrodes which are formed in the well region in the element region, are parallel to each other, and are arranged at a constant pitch and first electroconductive type of source region and drain region provided in the element regions on the both sides of the gate electrode.
US09153679B2	Silicon-controlled rectification device with high efficiency A silicon-controlled rectification device with high efficiency is disclosed, which comprises a P-type region surrounding an N-type region. A first P-type heavily doped area is arranged in the N-type region and connected with a high-voltage terminal. A plurality of second N-type heavily doped areas is arranged in the N-type region. A plurality of second P-type heavily doped areas is closer to the second N-type heavily doped areas than the first N-type heavily doped area and arranged in the P-type region. At least one third N-type heavily doped area is arranged in the P-type region and connected with a low-voltage terminal. Alternatively or in combination, the second N-type heavily doped areas and the second P-type heavily doped areas are respectively arranged in the P-type region and the N-type region.
US09153678B2	Power semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same There is provided a power semiconductor device including a contact formed in an active region, a trench gate extendedly formed from the first region into a first termination region and formed alternately with the contact, a first conductive well formed between the contact of the active region and the trench gate, a first conductive well extending portion formed in the first termination region and a part of a second termination region, and a first conductive field limiting ring formed in the second termination region and contacting the well extending portion.
US09153677B2	Insulated gate bipolar transistor with high emitter gate capacitance An IGBT is disclosed with a high emitter-gate capacitance, wherein an active cell region can include plural emitter and gate regions. A termination edge region can include a varied lateral doping region VLD. Each gate polysilicon layer can be arranged at a surface of the semiconductor substrate in the gate regions, separated from the semiconductor substrate by a first insulating layer. A first SIPOS layer and a covering second insulating layer overlie at least portions of the gate polysilicon layer. In a central area, the gate polysilicon layer is in electrical contact with the overlying first SIPOS layer whereas, in a peripheral area, the gate polysilicon layer is electrically separated from the overlying first SIPOS layer. A substrate surface at the VLD region is in electrical contact with a second SIPOS layer, and an increased gate-emitter capacitance may be achieved by slightly modifying etch masks during manufacturing.
US09153674B2	Insulated gate bipolar transistor A semiconductor device is disclosed. One embodiment provides a cell area and a junction termination area at a first side of a semiconductor zone of a first conductivity type. At least one first region of a second conductivity type is formed at a second side of the semiconductor zone. The at least one first region is opposed to the cell area region. At least one second region of the second conductivity type is formed at the second side of the semiconductor zone. The at least one second region is opposed to the cell area region and has a lateral dimension smaller than the at least first region.
US09153673B2	Semiconductor device In a current-prioritized IGBT, a collector conductive layer is connected to one collector active region included in a collector region by a plurality of contacts. The number of contacts through which the collector conductive layer is connected to the one collector active region is larger than the number of contacts through which the emitter conductive layer is connected to one base active region included in a base region.
US09153672B2	Vertical BJT for high density memory Some aspects of this disclosure relate to a memory device. The memory device includes a collector region having a first conductivity type and which is coupled to a source line of the memory device. A base region is formed over the collector region and has a second conductivity type. A gate structure is coupled to the base region and acts as a shared word line for first and second neighboring memory cells of the memory device. First and second emitter regions are formed over the base region and have the first conductivity type. The first and second emitter regions are arranged on opposite sides of the gate structure. First and second contacts extend upwardly from the first and second emitter regions, respectively, and couple the first and second emitter regions to first and second data storage elements, respectively, of the first and second neighboring memory cells, respectively.
US09153668B2	Tuning tensile strain on FinFET A fin field effect transistor (FinFET) having a tunable tensile strain and an embodiment method of tuning tensile strain in an integrated circuit are provided. The method includes forming a source/drain region on opposing sides of a gate region in a fin, forming spacers over the fin, the spacers adjacent to the source/drain regions, depositing a dielectric between the spacers; and performing an annealing process to contract the dielectric, the dielectric contraction deforming the spacers, the spacer deformation enlarging the gate region in the fin.
US09153662B2	MOSFET with selective dopant deactivation underneath gate A method of fabricating a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) device on a substrate includes doping a channel region of the MOSFET device with dopants of a first type. A source and a drain are formed in the substrate with dopants of a second type. Selective dopant deactivation is performed in a region underneath a gate of the MOSFET device.
US09153658B2	Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same A gate insulating film of a conventional semiconductor device is subjected to dielectric breakdown at a low electric field strength and thus its service life is short. This is because since the size of the asperity of at least one of a semiconductor layer-side interface and an electrode-side interface is large and, an electric field applied to the gate insulating film is locally concentrated and has a variation in its strength. This problem is solved by specifying the sizes of the asperities of both interfaces of the gate insulating film.
US09153656B2	NAND type nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method for manufacturing same According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: first semiconductor regions extending in a first direction and arranged in a direction crossing the first direction; control gate electrodes provided on an upper side of the first semiconductor regions, extending in a second direction different from the first direction, and arranged in a direction crossing the second direction; a charge storage layer provided in a position each of the first semiconductor regions and each of the control gate electrodes cross; a first insulating film provided between the charge storage layer and each of the first semiconductor regions; a second insulating film provided between the charge storage layer and each of the control gate electrodes; and a silicon-containing layer in contact with part of a side wall of each of the control gate electrodes and having a gradient in a silicon concentration in a direction crossing the second direction.
US09153648B2	Semiconductor stacked body, method for manufacturing same, and semiconductor element A method for manufacturing a semiconductor stacked body, and a semiconductor element including the semiconductor stacked body includes a semiconductor stacked body, including a Ga2O3 substrate having, as a principal plane, a plane on which oxygen atoms are arranged in a hexagonal lattice, an AlN buffer layer formed on the Ga2O3 substrate, and a nitride semiconductor layer formed on the AlN buffer layer.
US09153646B2	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a structural body, an insulating film, and a control electrode. The structural body has a first surface, and includes a first semiconductor region including silicon carbide of a first conductivity type, a second semiconductor region including silicon carbide of a second conductivity type, and a third semiconductor region including silicon carbide of the first conductivity type. The structural body has a portion in which the first semiconductor region, the second semiconductor region, and the third semiconductor region are arranged in this order in a first direction along the first surface. The insulating film is provided on the first surface of the structural body. The control electrode is provided on the insulating film. The structural body has a buried region provided between the second semiconductor region and the first surface. The buried region is doped with a group V element.
US09153643B2	Semiconductor ceramic and method for manufacturing the same, and laminated semiconductor ceramic capacitor with varistor function and method for manufacturing the same A semiconductor ceramic contains a donor element solid-solved in crystal grains of a SrTiO3-based compound, and an acceptor element in a grain boundary layer. The number of tetravalent acceptor elements is 1×1017/g or more, as determined from an electron spin resonance absorption spectrum. A mixture of a calcined powder and an acceptor compound is pulverized to a specific surface area of 5.0 to 7.5 m2/g before mixing with a binder. Semiconductor ceramic layers having a varistor function are formed by using the semiconductor ceramic forming a highly reliable capacitor which can suppress characteristics variations to stably obtain good electrical characteristics.
US09153642B2	Metal-oxide-metal (MOM) capacitor with enhanced capacitance A particular metal-oxide-metal (MOM) capacitor device includes a conductive gate material coupled to a substrate. The MOM capacitor device further includes a first metal structure coupled to the conductive gate material. The MOM capacitor device further includes a second metal structure coupled to the substrate and proximate to the first metal structure.
US09153640B2	Process for forming a capacitor structure with rutile titanium oxide dielectric film A process of forming a capacitor structure includes providing a substrate. Next, a first electrode is deposited onto the substrate. Later, a water-based ALD process is performed to deposit a transitional amorphous TiO2 layer on the first electrode. Subsequently, the transitional amorphous TiO2 layer is treated by oxygen plasma to transform the entire transitional amorphous TiO2 layer into a rutile TiO2 layer. Finally, a second electrode is deposited on the rutile TiO2 layer.
US09153636B2	Display device and method for manufacturing the same A display device according to the present disclosure includes: a first substrate including a front surface and a rear surface, the front surface defining thereon a first region, a second region, and a third region, the rear surface defining thereon a fourth region, a fifth region, and a sixth region respectively opposing the first region, the second region and the third region; a display element provided on the first region; a wire provided on the second region and electrically connected to the display element; a driving element provided above the third region; and a second substrate provided to be in contact with the fourth region, the fifth region, and the six region, and being composed of a material with higher rigidity than the first substrate, a portion thereof in contact with the sixth region having a smaller thickness than a portion thereof in contact with the fourth region.
US09153634B2	Light-emitting element and display device using same A display device includes a plurality of light-emitting elements aligned on a TFT substrate in a formation of a matrix. The plurality of light-emitting elements each have a flat surface portion and including a light-emitting layer, an anode, and a cathode, an insulating layer formed on the TFT substrate and under the light emitting element, and a tilted metal surface provided on a peripheral area surrounding the flat surface portion of the light-emitting element and having a tilt angle with respect to the flat surface portion of the light-emitting element. The tilted metal surface is provided on a surface of a slope of a bank that is provided on the insulation layer, and a width of a cross-section of the bank becomes smaller as the cross section comes farther away from a surface of the TFT substrate. A counter substrate is placed on the TFT substrate.
US09153633B2	Organic light-emitting display apparatus and manufacturing method thereof An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a thin film transistor (TFT) including an active layer, a gate electrode, source and drain electrodes, a first insulating layer between the active layer and the gate electrode, and a second insulating layer between the gate electrode and the source and drain electrodes, a capacitor including a first electrode on a same layer as the active layer and a second electrode on a same layer as the gate electrode, a first contact layer of a same material as the second electrode, a second contact layer on the first contact layer, the second contact layer being of a same material as the gate electrode, a pixel electrode that contacts an edge of the first contact layer and is on an opening in the second insulating layer, an organic emission layer on the pixel electrode, and a counter electrode on the organic emission layer.
US09153630B2	Light-emitting device, information processing device, and imaging device Provided is a light-emitting device and an information processing device which include a light-emitting element mounted on a housing and an optical component detachable from the housing. The optical component is capable of condensing light emitted from the light-emitting element. This structure allows a user to select the emission of diffused light and condensed light by attaching or detaching the optical component.
US09153627B2	Display device To provide a display device with low power consumption. The display device includes a plurality of pixels each having a light-emitting element having a structure in which light emitted from a light-emitting layer is resonated between a reflective electrode and a light-transmitting electrode, wherein no color filter layers are provided or color filter layers with high transmittance are provided in pixels for light with relatively short wavelengths (e.g., pixels for blue and/or green), and a color filter layer is selectively provided in pixels for light with a long wavelength (e.g., pixels for red), and thereby maintaining color reproducibility and consuming less power.
US09153623B1	Thin film transistor steering element for a non-volatile memory device A non-volatile memory device structure comprises a substrate having a surface region and a first dielectric material overlying the surface region. The device structure includes a state change device overlying the first dielectric material, the state change device comprising a first wiring structure configured to spatially extend in a first direction, a switching element comprising a first amorphous silicon material overlying the first wiring structure, and a second wiring structure configured to spatially extend in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The device structure includes a first thin film transistor device configured to cause the state change device to change from a first state to a second state. The thin film transistor device comprises a first active region, a second active region, a gate structure overlying a gate dielectric layer, and a channel region. The first active region is in electrical contact with the second wiring structure.
US09153620B2	Method of fabricating a metal grid for semiconductor device A method for manufacturing the image sensor device is provided. The method includes depositing a first dielectric layer over a back surface of a substrate, forming a ridge over the first dielectric layer, depositing a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer, including filling in a space between two adjacent ridges. The method also includes removing the ridge to form a trench in the second dielectric layer and forming a metal grid in the trench.
US09153618B2	Photoelectric conversion apparatus, imaging apparatus using the same, and manufacturing method thereof A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes: an active matrix-type TFT array substrate on which photoelectric conversion elements and thin film transistors are arranged in a matrix shape, wherein the photoelectric conversion element connects with a drain electrode via a contact hole opened through a first interlayer insulation film provided above the thin film transistor, wherein a data line and a bias line are connected with the source electrode and the photoelectric conversion element via respective contact holes opened through the second interlayer insulation, and wherein at least a part of the photoelectric conversion element is fixed to have a shape different from a normal pixel between pixels adjacent to each other in an extending direction of the gate line, and an electrical connection between the photoelectric conversion element and the data line is cut off in the transistor of the pixel having the different shape.
US09153616B2	Solid-state imaging device and imaging device with circuit elements distributed on multiple substrates, method of controlling solid-state imaging device, and imaging device with circuit elements distributed on multiple substrates In the solid-state imaging device, first and second substrates are electrically connected to each other via connectors electrically connecting the first and second substrates. A photoelectric conversion element is disposed in the first substrate. A read circuit is disposed in the second substrate and reads a signal generated by the photoelectric conversion element and transmitted via the connector. In a signal processing circuit including elements or circuits performing signal processing on the read signal, some of the elements or circuits are disposed in the first substrate, the remaining elements or circuits are disposed in the second substrate, and the elements or circuits disposed in the first and second substrates are electrically connected to each other via the connector.
US09153615B2	Method of fabrication of an array of graded refractive index microlenses integrated in an image sensor Methods and devices that incorporate microlens arrays are disclosed. An image sensor includes a pixel layer and a dielectric layer. The pixel layer has a photodetector portion configured to convert light absorbed by the pixel layer into an electrical signal. The dielectric layer is formed on a surface of the pixel layer. The dielectric layer has a refractive index that varies along a length of the dielectric layer. A method for fabricating an image sensor includes forming an array of microlenses on a surface of the dielectric layer, emitting ions through the array of microlenses to implant the ions in the dielectric layer, and removing the array of microlenses from the surface of the dielectric layer.
US09153612B2	Solid-state imaging device, manufacturing method thereof, and electronic apparatus A solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions each provided to correspond to each of a plurality of pixels in a semiconductor substrate and receiving incident light through a light sensing surface, and a pixel separation portion that is embedded into a trench provided on a side portion of the photoelectric conversion portion and electrically separates the plurality of pixels in a side of an incident surface of the semiconductor substrate into which the incident light enters. The pixel separation portion is formed by an insulation material which absorbs the incident light entering the light sensing surface.
US09153605B2	Thin film transistor array substrate, organic light emitting display device comprising the same, and method of manufacturing the thin film transistor array substrate A thin film transistor array substrate may include a thin film transistor including an active layer, a gate electrode, source and drain electrodes, a first insulation layer arranged between the active layer and the gate electrode, and a second insulation layer arranged between the gate electrode and the source and drain electrodes, a pixel electrode arranged on the first insulation layer and comprising the same material as the gate electrode, a capacitor comprising a first electrode arranged on the same layer as the active layer and a second electrode arranged on the same layer as the gate electrode, a pad electrode arranged on the second insulation layer and comprising the same material as the source and drain electrodes, a protection layer formed on the pad electrode, and a third insulation layer formed on the protection layer and exposing the pixel electrode.
US09153600B2	Thin film transistor array panel and manufacturing method thereof A thin film transistor array panel and a manufacturing method thereof according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention form a contact hole in a second passivation layer formed of an organic insulator, protect a side of the contact hole by covering with a protection member formed of the same layer as the first field generating electrode and formed of a transparent conductive material, and etch the first passivation layer below the second passivation layer using the protection member as a mask. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the second passivation layer formed of an organic insulator from being overetched while etching the insulating layer below the second passivation layer so that the contact hole is prevented from being made excessively wide.
US09153599B2	Thin film transistor array panel A thin film transistor array panel includes a gate line and the driver connection line formed with the same layer material, a data line and a driving pad formed with the same layer material, a first field generating electrode and a connecting member formed with the same layer material, and a second field generating electrode and a dummy electrode layer formed with the same layer material.
US09153597B2	Methods of manufacturing a three-dimensional semiconductor device The inventive concept provides methods of manufacturing three-dimensional semiconductor devices. In some embodiments, the methods include forming a stack structure including sacrificial layers and insulation layers, forming a trench penetrating the stack structure, forming a hydrophobic passivation element on the surfaces of the insulation layers that were exposed by the trench and selectively removing the sacrificial layers.
US09153596B2	Adjacent wordline disturb reduction using boron/indium implant Semiconductor devices having reduced parasitic current and methods of malting the semiconductor devices are provided. Further provided are memory devices having reduced adjacent wordline disturb. The memory devices contain wordlines formed over a semiconductor substrate, wherein at least one wordline space is formed between the wordlines. Adjacent wordline disturb is reduced by implanting one or more of indium, boron, and a combination of boron and indium in the surface of the at least one wordline space.
US09153594B2	Nonvolatile memory and three-state FETs using cladded quantum dot gate structure The present invention discloses use of quantum dot gate FETs as a nonvolatile memory element that can be used in flash memory architecture as well as in a nonvolatile random access memory (NVRAM) configuration that does not require refreshing of data as in dynamic random access memories. Another innovation is the design of quantum dot gate nonvolatile memory and 3-state devices using modulation doped field-effect transistors (MODFETs), particularly MOS-gate field effect transistors. The cladded quantum dot gate MODFETs can be designed in Si—SiGe, InGaAs—InP and other material systems. The incorporation of 3-state FET devices in static random access memory (SRAM) cell is described to result in advanced multi-state memory operation. Unlike conventional SRAMs, the 3-state QD-FET based of SRAMs provides 3 and 4-state memory operation due to the utilization of the intermediate states particularly in CMOS configuration. QD-gate FETs, potentially suitable for 8 nm channel lengths, in vertical configuration (VFET) are also described.
US09153592B2	High density vertical structure nitride flash memory A charge trap type of memory having a memory channel with vertical and possibly horizontal components is described. The invention includes a new operation method of simultaneous hole and electron injection operation for high speed and high reliability non-volatile memories, as well as high-density non-volatile memories. Array implementations for high-density memory arrays and high-speed memory arrays and their fabrication methods are also described.
US09153585B2	Tunneling field effect transistor device and related manufacturing method A transistor device may include a first source portion including a first InSb material set and a first first-type dopant set. The transistor device may include a first drain portion including a second InSb material set and a first second-type dopant set. The transistor device may include a first gate and a corresponding first channel portion disposed between the first source portion and the first drain portion and including a third InSb material set. The transistor device may include a second drain portion including a first GaSb material set and a second first-type dopant set. The transistor device may include a second source portion including a second GaSb material set and a second second-type dopant set. The transistor device may include a second gate and a corresponding second channel portion disposed between the second source portion and the second drain portion and including a third GaSb material set.
US09153583B2	III-V layers for N-type and P-type MOS source-drain contacts Techniques are disclosed for forming transistor devices having reduced parasitic contact resistance relative to conventional devices. In some example embodiments, the techniques can be used to implement the contacts of MOS transistors of a CMOS device, where an intermediate III-V semiconductor material layer is provided between the p-type and n-type source/drain regions and their respective contact metals to significantly reduce contact resistance. The intermediate III-V semiconductor material layer may have a small bandgap (e.g., lower than 0.5 eV) and/or otherwise be doped to provide the desired conductivity. The techniques can be used on numerous transistor architectures (e.g., planar, finned, and nanowire transistors), including strained and unstrained channel structures.
US09153582B2	Apparatus and method for FinFETs A FinFET comprises an isolation region formed in a substrate, a cloak-shaped active region formed over the substrate, wherein the cloak-shaped active region has an upper portion protruding above a top surface of the isolation region. In addition, the FinFET comprises a gate electrode wrapping the channel of the cloak-shaped active region.
US09153581B2	Vertical tunneling field-effect transistor cell and fabricating the same A method of making a tunneling field-effect transistor (TFET) device is disclosed. A frustoconical protrusion structure is disposed over the substrate and protrudes out of the plane of substrate. Isolation features are formed on the substrate. A drain region is disposed over the substrate adjacent to the frustoconical protrusion structure and extends to a bottom portion of the frustoconical protrusion structure as a raised drain region. A source region is formed as a top portion of the frustoconical protrusion structure. A series connection and a parallel connection are made among TFET devices units.
US09153580B2	High-frequency MOS transistor layout to reduce parasitic gate resistance and parasitic gate-to-drain capacitance According to one embodiment, a semiconductor is provided with a MOS transistor and 1st to 5th signal lines. The MOS transistor has a gate finger structure with gate terminals. The 1st line is formed parallel to a gate width direction at each of ends of gate terminals and connected to one end of one gate terminal. The 2nd line connected to the 1st line is formed perpendicular to the direction outside an active region. The 3rd line with a smaller line width than a gate width is formed perpendicular to the direction and connected to each drain on the active region. The 4th line connected to a source is formed parallel to the direction. The 5th line connected to the 4th line is formed such that the 5th line does not overlap the 2nd line.
US09153576B2	Semiconductor device A semiconductor substrate comprises an IGBT region and a diode region. The IGBT region comprises: an n-type emitter region; a p-type IGBT body region; an n-type IGBT barrier region; an n-type IGBT drift region; a p-type collector region; a first trench; a first insulating layer; and a first gate electrode. The diode region comprises: a p-type diode top body region; an n-type diode barrier region; a p-type diode bottom body region; an n-type cathode region; a second trench; a second insulating layer; and a second gate electrode. An n-type impurity density of a specific part of the diode barrier region making contact with the second insulating layer is higher than an n-type impurity density of the IGBT barrier region.
US09153575B2	Semiconductor device When a semiconductor substrate of a semiconductor device is viewed from above, an isolation region, an IGBT region, and a diode region are all formed adjacent to each other. A deep region that is connected to a body region and an anode region is formed in the isolation region. A drift region is formed extending across the isolation region, the IGBT region, and the diode region, inside the semiconductor substrate. A collector region that extends across the isolation region, the IGBT region and the diode region, and a cathode region positioned in the diode region, are formed in a region exposed on a lower surface of the semiconductor substrate. A boundary between the collector region and the cathode region is in the diode region, in a cross-section that cuts across a boundary between the isolation region and the diode region, and divides the isolation region and the diode region. The collector region formed in the isolation region has a higher dopant impurity concentration than the collector region in the IGBT region.
US09153574B2	Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same Provided is a semiconductor device including a deep doped region of a first conductivity type, a well region of a second conductivity type, a base region of the first conductivity type, an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) and a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS). The well region is disposed in the deep doped region. The base region is disposed in the well region and is not connected to the deep doped region. The IGBT is disposed on the well region at the first side of the base region, and includes a first doped region of the second conductivity type disposed in the base region. The MOS is disposed on the well region and the deep well region at the second side of the base region, and includes a second doped region of the second conductivity type disposed in the base region.
US09153573B2	Semiconductor apparatus comprised of two types of transistors A semiconductor apparatus that includes two types of transistors is disclosed. A first semiconductor chip includes the first semiconductor device of a transistor type of GaAs-HEMT, while, a second semiconductor chip includes a second semiconductor device of a transistor type GaN-HEMT. The second semiconductor device is formed on a SiC substrate, and the first semiconductor chip is mounted in an inactive region of the SiC substrate.
US09153572B1	Integrated circuit system with dynamic decoupling and method of manufacture thereof A system and a method of manufacture of an integrated circuit system includes: a supply grid connected to an active component of an integrated circuit die; a high voltage capacitor connected to the supply grid; a low voltage decoupling capacitor connected to the supply grid; a pass gate gating the low voltage decoupling capacitor; and a pass gate control for controlling the pass gate to cause the high voltage capacitor and the low voltage decoupling capacitor to stabilize voltage of the supply grid during activity of the active component.
US09153571B1	Stacked electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device A stacked electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device includes a substrate; a deep well with a first conductive type formed in the substrate, the deep well defining a plurality of element regions with a second conductive type therein; and a plurality of ESD protection elements, each of which is formed in one of the element regions. A current path is formed by connecting the plurality of ESD protection elements in series.
US09153567B2	Semiconductor device A semiconductor device comprises: a memory cell region having a first transistor and a peripheral circuit region having a second transistor. The first transistor has a first source electrode and a first drain electrode, a first buried gate insulating film which is formed along an inner wall of a trench and whose relative dielectric constant is higher than a relative dielectric constant of silicon oxide, and a buried gate electrode. The second transistor has a second source electrode and a second drain electrode, a first on-substrate gate insulating film whose relative dielectric constant is higher than a relative dielectric constant of silicon oxide, and an on-substrate gate electrode. A first Hf content percentage, which is a content percentage of hafnium in the first buried gate insulating film, is different from a second Hf content percentage, which is a content percentage of hafnium in the first on-substrate gate insulating film.
US09153566B1	Semiconductor device manufacturing method and semiconductor device A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes forming grooves in a surface of a semiconductor substrate, stacking a plurality of semiconductor chips in each area of the semiconductor substrate surrounded by the grooves to form stacked bodies, forming a first sealing resin layer that covers spaces between the plurality of semiconductor chips and lateral sides of the stacked bodies, separating the semiconductor substrate to singulate the stacked bodies, mounting the stacked bodies on a wiring substrate, forming a second sealing resin layer that seals the stacked bodies on the wiring substrate, separating the wiring substrate to singulate a portion of the wiring substrate with a single stacked body thereon, and grinding a portion of the semiconductor substrate in a thickness direction from a side of the semiconductor substrate opposite to the stacked bodies, after forming the first sealing resin layer and before singulating the wiring substrate.
US09153562B2	Stacked packaging improvements In-process units include upper and lower dielectric substrates and a plurality of microelectronic elements disposed between the upper and lower substrates. Each of the upper and lower substrates includes a plurality of regions. Each region of the upper substrate is aligned with a corresponding region of the lower substrate. At least one of the microelectronic elements is disposed between the upper and lower substrates and each of the regions of the upper and lower substrates has interlayer connection terminals at the surface thereof. Vertically elongated electrical conductors are formed from copper and each extend in a vertical direction away from the surface of a dielectric substrate of one of the upper and lower dielectric substrates and have an end joined with an electrically conductive bonding material to the interlayer connection terminal of the region of an other one of the upper and lower dielectric substrates.
US09153561B2	Light-emitting device comprising a metal film on a substrate and manufacturing method for the same A light-emitting device includes: a substrate; the metal film at the mounting region on the substrate; a light-emitting part including a plurality of light-emitting elements disposed on the metal film; metal members formed on the substrate, respectively including pad parts and wiring parts, forming a positive electrode and a negative electrode configured to apply a voltage to the light-emitting element through the wiring parts, respectively; and a plating wire connected to the metal film, extended to a side face of the substrate. The metal film and the metal members are independently disposed. The wiring part of the positive electrode and the wiring part of the negative electrode are formed at a circumference of the mounting region. The metal members are formed apart from the circumferential edge of the substrate on the side of the mounting region of the substrate.
US09153558B2	Electromigration immune through-substrate vias A through-substrate via (TSV) structure includes at least two electrically conductive via segments embedded in a substrate and separated from each other by an electrically conductive barrier layer therebetween. The length of each individual conductive via segment is typically equal to, or less than, the Blech length of the conductive material so that the stress-induced back flow force, generated by each conductive barrier layer, cancels the electromigration force in each conductive via segment. Consequently, the TSV structures are immune to electromigration, and provide reliable electrical connections among a chips stacked in 3 dimensions.
US09153557B2	Chip stack embedded packages A chip stack embedded package includes a first dielectric layer having a multistep cavity therein, a first plurality of semiconductor chips disposed in a first level of the multistep cavity, a second plurality of semiconductor chips disposed in a second level of the multistep cavity, and a second dielectric layer filling the multistep cavity to cover the first and second pluralities of semiconductor chips.
US09153552B2	Bumpless build-up layer package including an integrated heat spreader An example includes a die package including a microelectronic die having a lower die surface, an upper die surface parallel to the lower die surface, and a die side, the microelectronic die including an active region and an inactive region. The example optionally includes a heat spreader having a lower heat spreader surface, an upper heat spreader surface parallel to the lower heat spreader surface, and at least one heat spreader side, the heat spreader disposed on the upper surface of the microelectronic die in thermal communication with the inactive region of the die and electrically insulated from the active region. The example optionally includes an encapsulation material encapsulating the die side and the heat spreader side and lower heat spreader surface, the encapsulation material including a lower surface substantially parallel to the die lower surface and an upper surface substantially parallel to the die upper surface.
US09153551B2	Integrated circuit package including in-situ formed cavity A flip chip packaged component includes a die having a first surface and a dielectric barrier disposed on the first surface of the die. The dielectric barrier at least partially surrounds a designated location on the first surface of the die. A plurality of bumps is disposed on the first surface of the die on an opposite side of the dielectric barrier from the designated location. The flip chip packaged component further includes a substrate having a plurality of bonding pads on a second surface thereof. A cavity is defined by the first surface of the die, the dielectric barrier, and the substrate. A molding compound encapsulates the die and at least a portion of the substrate.
US09153547B2	Integrated inductor structure and method of fabrication An inductor structure comprised of a magnetic section and a single turn solenoid. The single turn solenoid to contain within a portion of the magnetic section and circumscribed by the magnetic section.
US09153540B2	Semiconductor die connection system and method A system and method for connecting semiconductor dies is provided. An embodiment comprises connecting a first semiconductor die with a first width to a second semiconductor die with a larger second width and that is still connected to a semiconductor wafer. The first semiconductor die is encapsulated after it is connected, and the encapsulant and first semiconductor die are thinned to expose a through substrate via within the first semiconductor die. The second semiconductor die is singulated from the semiconductor wafer, and the combined first semiconductor die and second semiconductor die are then connected to another substrate.
US09153538B2	Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In some embodiments, a semiconductor device includes conductive features disposed over a workpiece, each conductive feature including a conductive line portion and a via portion. A barrier layer is disposed on sidewalls of each conductive feature and on a bottom surface of the via portion of each conductive feature. The barrier layer includes a dielectric layer. A first insulating material layer is disposed beneath a portion of the conductive line portion of each conductive feature. A second insulating material layer is disposed between the conductive features. A third insulating material layer is disposed beneath the first insulating material layer and the second insulating material layer. A lower portion of the via portion of each of the conductive features is formed within the third insulating material layer. The second insulating material layer has a lower dielectric constant than a dielectric constant of the first insulating material layer and a dielectric constant of the third insulating material layer.
US09153537B2	Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof A semiconductor film having an impurity region to which at least an n-type or p-type impurity is added and a wiring are provided. The wiring includes a diffusion prevention film containing a conductive metal oxide, and a low resistance conductive film over the diffusion prevention film. In a contact portion between the wiring and the semiconductor film, the diffusion prevention film and the impurity region are in contact with each other. The diffusion prevention film is framed in such a manner that a conductive film is exposed to plasma generated from a mixed gas of an oxidizing gas and a halogen-based gas to form an oxide of a metal material contained in the conductive film, the conductive film in which the oxide of the metal material is formed is exposed to an atmosphere containing water to be fluidized, and the fluidized conductive film is solidified.
US09153528B2	Chip package and method for forming the same Embodiments of the present invention provide a chip package including: a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface; a device region formed in the semiconductor substrate; a dielectric layer disposed on the first surface; and a conducting pad structure disposed in the dielectric layer and electrically connected to the device region; a cover substrate disposed between the chip and the cover substrate, wherein the spacer layer, a cavity is created an surrounded by the chip and the cover substrate on the device region, and the spacer layer is in direct contact with the chip without any adhesion glue disposed between the chip and the spacer layer.
US09153526B2	Microelectronic devices and methods for manufacturing microelectronic devices Microelectronic devices and methods for manufacturing microelectronic devices are disclosed herein. One such method includes forming a plurality of apertures in a substrate with the apertures arranged in an array, and, after forming the apertures, attaching the substrate to a lead frame having a plurality of pads with the apertures in the substrate aligned with corresponding pads in the lead frame. Another method includes providing a partially cured substrate, coupling the partially cured substrate to a plurality of leads, attaching a microelectronic die to the leads, and electrically connecting the microelectronic die to the leads.
US09153523B2	ASIC element including a via In an ASIC element, vias are integrated into the CMOS processing of an ASIC substrate. The ASIC element includes an active front side in which the circuit functions are implemented. The at least one via is intended to establish an electrical connection between the active front side and the rear side of the element. The front side of the via is defined by at least one front-side trench which is completely filled, and the rear side is defined by at least one rear-side trench which is not completely filled. The rear-side trench opens into the filled front-side trench.
US09153522B2	Semiconductor devices and methods of fabricating the same Provided are semiconductor devices and methods of fabricating the same. The device may include a substrate including a first surface and a second surface opposing each other, a through-silicon-via (TSV) electrode provided in a via hole that may be formed to penetrate the substrate, and an integrated circuit provided adjacent to the through electrode on the first surface. The through electrode includes a metal layer filling a portion of the via hole and an alloy layer filling a remaining portion of the via hole. The alloy layer contains at least two metallic elements, one of which may be the same as that contained in the metal layer, and the other of which may be different from that contained in the metal layer.
US09153519B2	Semiconductor device for preventing a progression of a crack in a solder layer and method of manufacturing the same A semiconductor device has a connection structure in which a power semiconductor chip is mounted on an insulating substrate having conductor patterns bonded to front and rear surfaces thereof and the insulating substrate is bonded to a heat-dissipating base member to dissipate heat generated from the power semiconductor chip to outside. The conductor pattern bonded to the heat-dissipating base member is formed such that a thickness of a circumferential portion of a bonding surface of the conductor pattern bonded to the insulating substrate is less than that of a center of the bonding portion.
US09153512B2	Semiconductor device with an insulating terminal table A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor-element substrate in which a front-surface electrode pattern is formed on a surface of an insulating substrate and a back-surface electrode is formed on another surface; semiconductor elements affixed to the surface of the front-surface electrode pattern opposite the insulating substrate; and a sealing resin member which covers the semiconductor element and the semiconductor-element substrate, wherein at a position of the front-surface electrode pattern where the position has potential equivalent to that of the front-surface electrode pattern at a position where a semiconductor element is bonded, an insulating terminal table formed with a conductive relay terminal and an insulating member that insulates the relay terminal and the front-surface electrode pattern from each other are provided, and wiring from the semiconductor element to the outside is led out via the relay terminal.
US09153509B2	Fault tolerant design for large area nitride semiconductor devices A fault tolerant design for large area nitride semiconductor devices is provided, which facilitates testing and isolation of defective areas. A transistor comprises an array of a plurality of islands, each island comprising an active region, source and drain electrodes, and a gate electrode. Electrodes of each island are electrically isolated from electrodes of neighboring islands in at least one direction of the array. Source, drain and gate contact pads are provided to enable electrical testing of each island. After electrical testing of islands to identify defective islands, overlying electrical connections are formed to interconnect source electrodes in parallel, drain electrodes in parallel, and to interconnect gate electrodes to form a common gate electrode of large gate width Wg. Interconnections are provided selectively to good islands, while electrically isolating defective islands. This approach makes it economically feasible to fabricate large area GaN devices, including hybrid devices.
US09153504B2	Metal insulator metal capacitor and method for making the same A semiconductor device includes one or more metal-insulator-metal (MiM) capacitors. The semiconductor device includes a bottom electrode, a dielectric layer located above, and in physical contact with, the bottom electrode, a top electrode located above, and in physical contact with, the dielectric layer, a first top contact contacting the top electrode, a first bottom contact contacting the bottom electrode from a top electrode direction, a first metal bump connecting to the top contact, and a second metal bump connecting to the bottom contact. The top electrode has a smaller area than the bottom electrode. The bottom electrode, the dielectric layer, and the top electrode is a MiM capacitor. Top electrodes of a number of MiM capacitors and bottom electrodes of a number of MiM capacitors are daisy chained to allow testing of the conductivity of the electrodes.
US09153503B2	Thin film solar cell processing and testing method and equipment A method of providing a plurality of classified photovoltaic articles, including the steps of providing a first photovoltaic element that includes a plurality of photovoltaic articles on a continuous flexible substrate, forming a electrically insulating material on the first photovoltaic element at one or more predetermined locations, separating adjacent photovoltaic articles from each other, determining an efficiency of each photovoltaic article by measuring its current-voltage characteristics, and classifying each photovoltaic article according to its efficiency.
US09153496B2	Methods of manufacturing integrated circuits having FinFET structures with epitaxially formed source/drain regions Methods of manufacturing semiconductor integrated circuits having FinFET structures with epitaxially formed source and drain regions are disclosed. A method of fabricating an integrated circuit includes forming a plurality of silicon fin structures on a semiconductor substrate, epitaxially growing a silicon material on the fin structures, wherein a merged source/drain region is formed on the fin structures, and anisotropically etching at least one of the merged source drain regions to form an un-merged source/drain region.
US09153486B2	CVD based metal/semiconductor OHMIC contact for high volume manufacturing applications An apparatus and method for manufacturing an interconnect structure to provide ohmic contact in a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes providing a semiconductor device, such as a transistor, comprising a substrate, a gate dielectric, a gate electrode, and source and drain regions in the substrate. An ultra-thin interfacial dielectric is deposited by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) over the source and drain regions, where the interfacial dielectric can have a thickness between about 3 Å and about 20 Å. The ultra-thin interfacial dielectric is configured to unpin the metal Fermi level from the source and drain regions. Other steps such as the deposition of a metal by CVD and the cleaning of the substrate surface can be performed in an integrated process tool without a vacuum break. The method further includes forming one or more vias through a pre-metal dielectric over the source and drain regions of the substrate.
US09153483B2	Method of semiconductor integrated circuit fabrication A method of fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed. A first conductive feature and a second conductive feature are provided. A first hard mask (HM) is formed on the first conductive feature. A patterned dielectric layer is formed over the first and the second conductive features, with first openings to expose the second conductive features. A first metal plug is formed in the first opening to contact the second conductive features. A second HM is formed on the first metal plugs and another patterned dielectric layer is formed over the substrate, with second openings to expose a subset of the first metal plugs and the first conductive features. A second metal plug is formed in the second openings.
US09153482B2	Methods and apparatus for selective deposition of cobalt in semiconductor processing Methods and apparatus for selective deposition of cobalt on copper lines in the presence of exposed dielectric in semiconductor processing are provided. Cobalt in its metallic form is selectively deposited onto copper in the presence of dielectric by contacting a prepared surface of the substrate with an organometallic cobalt compound in a presence of a reducing agent. Surface preparation involves H2 treatment with concurrent UV light irradiation. After the substrate surface is prepared, the substrate is contacted with an organometallic cobalt compound comprising a substituted or unsubstituted allyl ligand in a presence of a reducing agent to selectively deposit cobalt on copper. No plasma treatment during or after cobalt deposition is necessary, and the method can be used in a presence of a ULK dielectric without causing damage to dielectric. Deposited cobalt caps are used to reduce copper electromigration and to improve adhesion of copper to subsequently deposited layers.
US09153481B2	Manganese-containing film forming method, processing system, electronic device manufacturing method and electronic device A manganese-containing film forming method for forming a manganese-containing film on an underlying layer containing silicon and oxygen includes: degassing the underlying layer formed on a processing target by thermally treating the processing target, the underlying layer containing silicon and oxygen; and forming a manganese metal film on the degassed underlying layer by chemical deposition using a gas containing a manganese compound. Forming a manganese metal film includes: setting a film formation temperature to be higher than a degassing temperature; introducing a reducing reaction gas; and forming a manganese-containing film including an interfacial layer formed in an interface with the underlying layer and a manganese metal film formed on the interfacial layer, the interfacial layer being made up of a film of at least one of a manganese silicate and a manganese oxide.
US09153479B2	Method of preventing a pattern collapse A device includes a substrate and at least three conducting features embedded into the substrate. Each conducting feature includes a top width x and a bottom width y, such that a top and bottom width (x1, y1) of a first conducting feature has a dimension of (x1y2), and a top and bottom width (x3, y3) of a third conducting feature has a dimension of (x3>y3). The device also includes a gap structure isolating the first and second conducting features. The gap structure can include such things as air or dielectric.
US09153478B2	Spacer etching process for integrated circuit design A method of forming a target pattern includes forming a first material layer on a substrate; performing a first patterning process using a first layout to form a first plurality of trenches in the first material layer; performing a second patterning process using a second layout to form a second plurality of trenches in the first material layer; forming spacer features on sidewalls of both the first plurality of trenches and the second plurality of trenches, the spacer features having a thickness; removing the first material layer; etching the substrate using the spacer features as an etch mask; and thereafter removing the spacer features. The target pattern is to be formed with the first layout and the second layout.
US09153472B2	Device for depositing a layer on a semiconductor wafer by means of vapour deposition Uniformity of vapor deposited coatings on semiconductor wafers is improved by employing an apparatus having a gas distributor head below a susceptor onto which the wafer is placed, the gas distributor head directing a fan of cooling gas at the rear side of the susceptor. The ratio of the diameter of the cooled section of the susceptor to the diameter D of the wafer is preferably from 0.1 to 0.4.
US09153470B2	Wafer handler comprising a vision system A wafer handler including, a wafer loading station (3) for loading a wafer (1) mounted on a tack film (2); a tensioner (30) for tensioning the tacky film; a picking module (66) for successively picking a plurality of devices from the wafer; a vision system (5, 50) with one or several cameras (50) for capturing a first image of the wafer or of portions of the wafer, the first image showing a plurality of devices, wherein the vision system is arranged for determining from the first image the individual position of a plurality of devices. The wafer handler further includes an additional camera (63) positioned proximate to the picking module (66) and arranged for capturing an second image of a device to be picked, wherein the second image is used for fine adjustment of the wafer so that the device to be picked is centered under the picking module.
US09153468B2	Load port apparatus To prevent an inert gas from stagnating in an internal space of a mount base of a load port apparatus, the load port apparatus includes: an outside air supply device for introducing an air from an external space, in which an operator works, into the internal space of the mount base; a casing surrounding a space in which a drive mechanism for a door is arranged; and a duct through which a gas inside the internal space of the casing is dischargeable.
US09153467B2	Substrate processing apparatus, substrate processing method and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium A substrate processing apparatus includes a control unit performing loading substrates into a second unit block when a trouble occurs in a module of a first unit block; determining whether it is before a leading substrate of a next lot of the lot where a standby substrate positioned in upper stream side than the troubled module belongs is loaded into the module in the uppermost stage of the second unit block; loading the standby substrate into the module in the uppermost stage of the second unit block when determined it is before the loading of the leading substrate and loading the standby substrate into the module in the uppermost stage of the second unit block after a rearmost substrate of the next lot is loaded into the module in the uppermost stage of the second unit block when determined otherwise; and performing a series of processing on the standby substrate.
US09153466B2	Wafer boat A wafer boat for accommodating semiconductor wafers comprises two side rods and at least one back rod, the rods being vertically oriented and extending between a top member and a bottom member. The rods comprise vertically spaced recesses formed at corresponding heights, recesses at the same height defining a wafer accommodation for receiving and supporting a wafer in a substantially horizontal orientation, the recesses having an improved shape. The upwardly facing surfaces of the recesses comprise a first flat surface in an inward region of the recess which is horizontal or inclined upward in an outward direction of the recess and a second flat surface in an outer region of the recess which is inclined downward in an outward direction of the recess. The intersection of the first and second surface forming an edge for supporting the wafer. The recesses are easy to machine and prevent damage to the wafer.
US09153465B2	Substrate stage, substrate processing apparatus and substrate processing system A substrate stage for mounting a substrate thereon includes a peripheral stage member on which a peripheral substrate portion of the substrate may be mounted, the peripheral substrate portion controlling a temperature of the peripheral substrate portion, a central stage member on which a central substrate portion of the substrate may be mounted, the central substrate portion controlling a temperature of the central substrate portion, and a support base that supports the peripheral stage member and the central stage member. A gap is formed between the peripheral stage member and the central stage member to keep the peripheral stage member and the central stage member from coming in contact with each other.
US09153463B2	Substrate support device A substrate support device formed of a metal and having a high withstand voltage and a high thermal resistance is provided. A substrate support device according to the present invention includes a plate section formed of a metal; a shaft section connected to the plate section and formed of a metal; a heating element provided in the plate section; and an insulating film formed on a first surface of the plate section, the first surface opposite to the shaft section, by ceramic thermal spraying. The substrate support device may further include an insulating film formed on a second surface of the plate section which intersects the first surface of the plate section approximately perpendicularly.
US09153461B2	Semiconductor device having stacked memory elements and method of stacking memory elements on a semiconductor device A semiconductor device includes a die coupled to a substrate, a first memory device coupled to a surface of the die opposite the substrate and a coupling device coupled between the surface of the die opposite the substrate and a second memory device such that the second memory device at least partially overlaps the first memory device. Also disclosed is method of mounting first and second memory devices on a die in an at least partially overlapping manner.
US09153460B2	Heatsink attachment module An assembly process for a heatsink attachment module for a chip packaging apparatus is provided and includes attaching a semiconductor chip to a substrate to form a module subassembly, placing a load frame and shim in a fixture, dispensing adhesive to the load frame and loadably placing the module subassembly chip face down in the fixture.
US09153458B2	Methods of forming a pattern on a substrate A method of forming a pattern on a substrate includes forming a repeating pattern of four first lines elevationally over an underlying substrate. A repeating pattern of four second lines is formed elevationally over and crossing the repeating pattern of four first lines. First alternating of the four second lines are removed from being received over the first lines. After the first alternating of the four second lines have been removed, elevationally exposed portions of alternating of the four first lines are removed to the underlying substrate using a remaining second alternating of the four second lines as a mask. Additional embodiments are disclosed and contemplated.
US09153451B2	Method of forming a planar surface for a semiconductor device structure, and related methods of forming a semiconductor device structure A method of forming a planar surface for a semiconductor device structure. The method comprises forming a particle film comprising a plurality of discrete particles on a non-planar surface of a semiconductor device structure. The semiconductor device structure is subjected to at least one chemical-mechanical polishing process after forming the particle film on the non-planar surface of the semiconductor device structure. Methods of forming a semiconductor device structure are also described.
US09153450B2	Method for manufacturing gallium nitride wafer A method for manufacturing a gallium nitride (GaN) wafer is provided. In the method for manufacturing the GaN wafer according to an embodiment, an etch stop layer is formed on a substrate, and a first GaN layer is formed on the etch stop layer. A portion of the first GaN layer is etched with a silane gas, and a second GaN layer is formed on the etched first GaN layer. A third GaN layer is formed on the second GaN layer.
US09153449B2	Electroless gap fill A method for providing copper filled features is provided. Features are provided in a layer on a substrate. A simultaneous electroless copper plating and anneal is provided. The electroless copper plating is chemical-mechanical polished, where there is no annealing before the chemical-mechanical polishing and after the simultaneous electroless copper plating and anneal.
US09153448B2	Semiconductor device with selectively etched surface passivation A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate configured to include a channel, a gate supported by the semiconductor substrate to control current flow through the channel, a first dielectric layer supported by the semiconductor substrate and including an opening in which the gate is disposed, and a second dielectric layer disposed between the first dielectric layer and a surface of the semiconductor substrate in a first area over the channel. The second dielectric layer is patterned such that the first dielectric layer is disposed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate in a second area over the channel.
US09153446B2	Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same A semiconductor device includes a substrate including a trench, a buried gate filling a part of the trench, an inter-layer dielectric layer formed on the buried gate to gap-fill the rest of the trench, and a protection layer covering substantially an entire surface of the substrate including the inter-layer dielectric layer.
US09153443B2	Semiconductor device and method of fabricating same Fabrication of a termination structure in a semiconductor device increases in some cases the numbers of ion implantation processes or of photolithography processes, thus leading to an increase in fabrication costs. To overcome this problem, a semiconductor device is provided which includes an n-type drift layer formed on a semiconductor substrate; an element region formed in a surface portion of the drift layer; a recess formed in a loop in a laterally outer portion of the drift layer, spaced away a predetermined distance from the element region; and a p-type dopant region formed ranging from a bottom of the recess to a position away from the recess and toward the element region, a thickness of the dopant region where no recess is provided being greater than that where the recess is provided.
US09153442B2	Processing systems and methods for halide scavenging Systems, chambers, and processes are provided for controlling process defects caused by moisture contamination. The systems may provide configurations for chambers to perform multiple operations in a vacuum or controlled environment. The chambers may include configurations to provide additional processing capabilities in combination chamber designs. The methods may provide for the limiting, prevention, and correction of aging defects that may be caused as a result of etching processes performed by system tools.
US09153436B2	Method for manufacturing semiconductor device In a semiconductor device in which a channel formation region is included in an oxide semiconductor layer, an oxide insulating film below and in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer and a gate insulating film over and in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer are used to supply oxygen of the gate insulating film, which is introduced by an ion implantation method, to the oxide semiconductor layer.
US09153435B2	Reducing wafer distortion through a high CTE layer Provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a silicon substrate having opposite first and second sides. At least one of the first and second sides includes a silicon (111) surface. The method includes forming a high coefficient-of-thermal-expansion (CTE) layer on the first side of the silicon substrate. The high CTE layer has a CTE greater than the CTE of silicon. The method includes forming a buffer layer over the second side of the silicon substrate. The buffer layer has a CTE greater than the CTE of silicon. The method includes forming a III-V family layer over the buffer layer. The III-V family layer has a CTE greater than the CTE of the buffer layer.
US09153434B2	Methods for the formation of a trap rich layer An integrated circuit chip is formed with an active layer and a trap rich layer. The active layer is formed with an active device layer and a metal interconnect layer. The trap rich layer is formed above the active layer. In some embodiments, the active layer is included in a semiconductor wafer, and the trap rich layer is included in a handle wafer.
US09153429B2	Film deposition apparatus having a turntable and film deposition method A method of depositing a film of forming an oxide film containing a predetermined element on substrates using an apparatus including a turntable mounting substrates, first and second process areas above the upper surface of the turntable provided with gas supplying portions, a separation gas supplying portion between the first and second process areas, and a separation area including depositing the oxide film by rotating the turntable while supplying a reaction gas containing the predetermined element, the oxidation gas from the second gas supplying portion, and the separation gas; and rotating at least one turn while supplying the separation gas from the first gas supplying portion and the separation gas supplying portion, and the oxidation gas from the second gas supplying portion.
US09153425B2	Device for high spatial resolution chemical analysis of a sample and method of high spatial resolution chemical analysis A system and method for analyzing a chemical composition of a specimen are described. The system can include at least one pin; a sampling device configured to contact a liquid with a specimen on the at least one pin to form a testing solution; and a stepper mechanism configured to move the at least one pin and the sampling device relative to one another. The system can also include an analytical instrument for determining a chemical composition of the specimen from the testing solution. In particular, the systems and methods described herein enable chemical analysis of specimens, such as tissue, to be evaluated in a manner that the spatial-resolution is limited by the size of the pins used to obtain tissue samples, not the size of the sampling device used to solubilize the samples coupled to the pins.
US09153424B2	Correcting time-of-flight drifts in time-of-flight mass spectrometers A method of correcting time-of-flight drift in a mass spectrometer by identifying mass spectral peaks of ions in spectra, detecting ions having substantially the same mass across spectra, determining a time-of-flight drift of the detected ions, and correcting the time-of-flight drift of the detected ions by applying a correction factor to each respective time-of-flight.
US09153421B2	Passive capacitively-coupled electrostatic (CCE) probe method for detecting plasma instabilities in a plasma processing chamber A method for detecting plasma instability within a processing chamber of a plasma processing system during substrate processing is provided. The method includes collecting a set of process data, the process data including a set of induced current signals flowing through a measuring capacitor. The method further includes converting the set of induced current signals into a set of analog voltage signals and converting the set of analog voltage signals into a set of digital signals. The method also includes analyzing the set of digital signals to detect high frequency perturbations, the high frequency perturbations indicating the plasma instability.
US09153419B2	Pattern defect inspection using data based on secondary electron from pattern A pattern defect inspection method includes generating electron beam irradiation point track data on the basis of first data on an inspection target pattern, irradiating the electron beam to the inspection target pattern in accordance with the electron beam irradiation point track data, detecting secondary electrons generated from the inspection target pattern due to the irradiation of the electron beam, acquiring second data regarding a signal intensity of the secondary electrons from a signal of the detected secondary electrons, and detecting an abnormal point from the second data and outputting the abnormal point as a defect of the inspection target pattern. The electron beam irradiation point track data includes data on a track of irradiation points of an electron beam to the inspection target pattern and is intended to control over scanning with the electron beam, the electron beam irradiation point track data.
US09153417B2	Back scattered electron detector It is an object of the present invention to provide a back scattered electron detector suitable for implementing a method for determining beforehand in which region of a sample an X-ray detector can obtain an accurate X-ray detection image and perform an appropriate analysis. A Coax-BSE detector which is a back scattered electron detector includes a BSE element, a support member that supports the BSE element, and a fixing member to fix the support member to the X-ray detector, in which the fixing member fixes the support member by clamping a side portion on the distal end side which is an X-ray receiving side of a housing that covers the X-ray detector.
US09153407B2	X-ray tube An X-ray tube is provided. The X-ray tube includes a first housing including an X-ray window formed therein, a second housing being rotatable about a rotational shaft installed within the first housing, an anode installed on the rotational shaft within the second housing and positioned in one side of the rotational shaft in an extending direction of the rotational shaft, an emitter installed on the rotational shaft within the second housing, positioned in the other side of the rotational shaft in the extending direction of the rotational shaft, and emitting electron beams, a lens unit installed between the anode and the emitter and focusing the electron beams emitted from the emitter to the anode, and an electron beam deflection unit installed on the rotational shaft to deflect an angle of electron beams moving toward the anode from the lens unit.
US09153406B2	Supporting structure and ion generator using the same An ion generator includes: an arc chamber; a repeller that includes a repeller plate provided within the arc chamber and a repeller extension portion inserted through a through hole communicating the inside and the outside of the arc chamber; and a supporting structure that is provided outside the arc chamber and that supports the repeller so that a gap is ensured between the repeller extension portion and an inner wall of the through hole. The supporting structure includes a cover member that forms, outside the arc chamber, a small chamber communicating with the gap, and an insulation member that electrically insulates the arc chamber and the repeller from each other.
US09153405B2	Ion source device and ion beam generating method An ion source device has a configuration in which a cathode is provided in an arc chamber having a space for plasma formation, and a repeller is disposed to face a thermal electron discharge face of the cathode by interposing the space for plasma formation therebetween. An external magnetic field that is induced by a source magnetic field unit is applied to the space for plasma formation in a direction parallel to an axis that connects the cathode and the repeller. An opening is provided in a place corresponding to a portion in the repeller with the highest density of plasma that is formed in the space for plasma formation, and an ion beam is extracted from the opening.
US09153401B2	Protective device A protective device for protecting equipment includes an insulation base substrate, a fusible conductor arranged on the insulation base substrate and connected to a power supply path for the equipment so that the fusible conductor is fused off by a preset abnormal current or voltage, an insulation cover mounted on the insulation base substrate to overlie the fusible conductor via a preset spacing, and a flux coated on a surface of the fusible conductor and disposed in the spacing. The fusible conductor is fused off to break a current path when the abnormal voltage is applied to the equipment. The fusible conductor is secured to a conductor layer and to pair electrodes provided on the insulation base substrate via an electrically conductive paste containing a metal component exhibiting wettability with respect to the fusible conductor in the fused state.
US09153400B2	Pneumatic detector integrated alarm and fault switch An integrated switch to indicate pressure changes in an environment includes a housing with a cavity between a first retainer portion and a second retainer portion, a first diaphragm held in the cavity of the housing to indicate fault conditions, and a second diaphragm held in the cavity of the housing to indicate alarm conditions.
US09153399B2	ARC baffling device An arc baffle includes a first baffle member having a number of first venting holes disposed therein, each being structured to receive ionized gases produced by an arcing event; a second baffle member having a number of second venting holes disposed therein; a section of porous material disposed between the first baffle member and the second baffle member; and a cover disposed adjacent the second baffle member on the opposite side of the section of porous material. The first venting holes are laterally spaced from the second venting holes by a predetermined distance such that ionized gases produced by the arcing event passing through one of the first venting holes must travel at minimum the predetermined distance generally along the section of porous material before passing through one of the second venting holes.
US09153394B2	Method for fabricating a microswitch actuatable by a magnetic field The invention concerns a method for the fabrication, on a plane substrate, of a microswitch actuatable by a magnetic field, comprising:a) the etching, in the upper face of the plane substrate, of cavities forming a hollow model of two strips, these cavities having vertical flanks extending perpendicularly to the plane of the substrate to form vertical faces of the strips,b) the filling of the cavities by a magnetic material to form the strips, thenc) the etching in the substrate, by a method of isotropic etching, of a well that extends between the vertical faces of the strips and beneath and around one distal end of at least one of the strips to open out an air gap between these strips and make this distal end capable of being shifted between a closed position and an open position.
US09153392B2	Electrical switch An electrical switch is disclosed including a rotatably mounted contact bridge which includes a movable contact, wherein the movable contact interacts with a stationary contact of the electrical switch for the purpose of closing or opening the electrical circuit as a result of rotation of the contact bridge. In at least one embodiment, the surfaces at the point at which contact is made between the movable contact and the stationary contact are at least partially covered by a protective material for protecting against soiling and/or damage due to contact-erosion materials, wherein the protective material is a paper-like fleece.
US09153388B2	Sealed monolithic electrochemical system A sealed monolithic electrochemical system is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the sealed monolithic electrochemical system includes an electrically insulating substrate; an electrically conducting pattern arranged to support a plurality of blocks of porous structures arranged on the substrate, wherein each porous structure includes a working electrode, an insulating layer and a counter electrode, and wherein an electrolyte is at least partially filled in the blocks of porous structures for forming a plurality of electrochemical cells; and an encapsulation covering the plurality of blocks of porous structures. In at least one embodiment, each block includes at least one porous structure, where the blocks may be individually disconnected and a method individually disconnecting such a system.
US09153383B2	Winding-type solid electrolytic capacitor package structure without using a lead frame A winding-type solid electrolytic capacitor package structure without using any lead frame includes a winding capacitor and a package body. The winding capacitor has a winding body enclosed by the package body, a positive conductive lead pin extended from a first lateral side of the winding body, and a negative conductive lead pin extended from a second lateral side of the winding body. The positive conductive lead pin has a first embedded portion enclosed by the package body and a first exposed portion exposed outside the package body and extended along the first lateral surface and the bottom surface of the package body. The negative conductive lead pin has a second embedded portion enclosed by the package body and a second exposed portion exposed outside the package body and extended along the second lateral surface and the bottom surface of the package body.
US09153378B2	Method of producing a reactor A method of producing a reactor equipped with a core in which a coil is disposed, comprises: preparing one of a vessel and a casing; preparing a positioning member with fins; putting a magnetic powder/resin mixture in the one of the vessel and the casing; stirring the magnetic powder/resin mixture within the one of the vessel and the casing using the fins of the positioning member; arranging a coil and the positioning member within the magnetic powder/resin mixture; and solidifying the magnetic powder/resin mixture to make the core including the positioning member and the fins.
US09153375B2	Temperature sensing system for power electronic device A power electronic device is disclosed. The power electronic device may include a housing, a conductive element positioned within the housing and rated for at least a medium voltage, a cooling system in fluid communication with the conductive element, a plurality of temperature sensing tags and a data collection unit having a receiver that is configured to receive signals from the antennae of the temperature sensing tags. The cooling system may have a plurality of outlet conduit elements that are positioned within the housing. Each of the tags may be attached to one of the outlet conduits and may include a power supply, a temperature sensor, and an antenna.
US09153373B2	Transformer having assembled bobbins and voltage transformation module having the transformer The present invention provides a transformer having assembled bobbins and a voltage transformation module having the transformer. The transformer includes a base, bobbins, secondary windings and two magnetic cores. The base is provided with a penetration hole. The bobbins are disposed in the base and each has an annular groove, a hollow portion corresponding to the penetration hole, and protrusions formed on a surface of the bobbin. The protrusions form a gap between the two adjacent bobbins when the two adjacent bobbins are assembled with each other. The secondary windings are disposed between the bobbins and each has a through-hole corresponding to the hollow portion. The two magnetic cores penetrate the penetration hole of the base, the hollow portions of the bobbins, and the through-holes of the secondary windings to assemble them together.
US09153368B2	Soft magnetic powder A composite iron-based powder suitable for soft magnetic applications such as inductor cores. Also, a method for producing a soft magnetic component and the component produced by the method.
US09153367B2	Method of making magnetic iron nitride nanoparticles Magnetic iron nitride nanoparticles, such as Fe16N2 nanoparticles, are made by subjecting iron nanoparticles synthesized from iron oxide or iron carbonyl precursor to a solid-gas reaction with a nitrogen-containing gas.
US09153365B2	Temperature sensor element, method for manufacturing same, and temperature sensor A temperature sensing element includes a thermistor composed of Si-base ceramics and a pair of metal electrodes bonded onto the surfaces of the thermistor. The metal electrodes contain Cr and a metal element α having a Si diffusion coefficient higher than that of Cr. A diffusion layer is formed in a bonding interface between the thermistor and each metal electrode, the diffusion layer including a silicide of the metal element α in a crystal grain boundary of the Si-base ceramics. A temperature sensor including the diffusion layers is provided. Owing to the diffusion layers, the temperature sensor ensures heat resistance and bonding reliability and enables temperature detection with high accuracy in a temperature range, in particular, of from −50° C. to 1050° C.
US09153357B1	Adhesion promoter Compositions useful for improving the adhesion of coating compositions, such as dielectric film-forming compositions, include a hydrolyzed amino-alkoxysilane having a protected amino moiety. These compositions are useful in methods of improving the adhesion of coating compositions to a substrate, such as an electronic device substrate.
US09153347B2	Method and system for reliable big capacity storage system protected by triple protection The method delivers a storage system for Big Data usage. The system contains a matrix of unreliable physical data devices and data in this reliable big capacity storage system is protected by the triple protection so the method and system can protect storage system from more than 2 fault data devices. In some cases, the system can still deliver data when system has many failed data devices at the same. Floating Parity technology can also avoid heavily writing data to some device surfaces, due to parity update, which cause data device to be failed before expected device life time.
US09153344B1	Device for detecting defective global word line A device for detecting defective memory includes a first global word line; a second global word line; a global word-line front end, connected to the first global word line; a global word-line driver, connected to the global word-line front end and driving the first global word line; a local word-line driver, connected to the first global word line and driving a local word line; and a voltage-controlled transistor, including a first terminal connected to the first global word line, a second terminal connected to a connection line between the global word-line front end and the global word-line driver, and a third terminal outputting a test current.
US09153342B2	Shift register, gate driver and display device Disclosed are a shift register, a gate driver and a display device, which relate the field of display technology and may eliminate the voltage coupled noise generated by a clock signal at an output terminal of the shift register effectively. The shift register comprises: a first input unit, a clock control unit, a second input unit, an inverting unit, a pulling-down unit and a first level selecting unit, a second level selecting unit, a third level selecting unit; the first input unit is connected with a first input signal terminal, the first level selecting unit and the second input unit, respectively, wherein a node at which the first input unit is connected with the second input unit is a pulling-up node, the first input unit is used for controlling a potential at the pulling-up node. The embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to various display devices.
US09153341B2	Shift register, semiconductor device, display device, and electronic device The invention provides a semiconductor device and a shift register, in which low noise is caused in a non-selection period and a transistor is not always on. First to fourth transistors are provided. One of a source and a drain of the first transistor is connected to a first wire, the other of the source and the drain thereof is connected to a gate electrode of the second transistor, and a gate electrode thereof is connected to a fifth wire. One of a source and a drain of the second transistor is connected to a third wire and the other of the source and the drain thereof is connected to a sixth wire. One of a source and a drain of the third transistor is connected to a second wire, the other of the source and the drain thereof is connected to the gate electrode of the second transistor, and a gate electrode thereof is connected to a fourth wire. One of a source and a drain of the fourth transistor is connected to the second wire, the other of the source and the drain thereof is connected to the sixth wire, and a gate electrode thereof is connected to the fourth wire.
US09153339B2	Semiconductor device and semiconductor memory device A semiconductor device includes a fuse array having a plurality of fuse sets suitable for outputting a plurality of fuse status signals having different levels according to whether fuses of the plurality of fuse sets are cut or not, a code counter suitable for counting selection codes in a preset order in response to an enable signal and an operation clock, and storage blocks suitable for receiving and storing the plurality of fuse status signals in a preset order in response to the selection codes.
US09153337B2	Fatigue management system and method for hybrid nonvolatile solid state memory system A solid state memory system comprises a first nonvolatile semiconductor memory having a first write cycle lifetime and a first set of physical addresses, and a second nonvolatile semiconductor memory having a second write cycle lifetime and a second set of physical addresses. The first write cycle lifetime is greater than the second write cycle lifetime. The system further comprises a fatigue management module to generate a write frequency ranking for a plurality of logical addresses. The fatigue management module maps each of the plurality of logical addresses to a physical address of the first set of physical addresses or the second set of physical addresses based on the write frequency rankings.
US09153336B1	Decoder parameter estimation using multiple memory reads An apparatus including a memory array and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to, based at least on a plurality of read comparison results, determine a number of memory cells of the memory array that have threshold voltages that fall into each of a plurality of voltage ranges. The control circuitry is further configured to, based at least on the number of memory cells that have threshold voltages in each of the plurality of voltage ranges, estimate an offset amount that a center voltage between two threshold voltage distributions differs from a center reference voltage. The control circuitry is further configured to read one or more of the plurality of memory cells based at least in part on the estimated offset amount.
US09153332B2	Data storage device, controller, and operating method of data storage device A nonvolatile memory is provided which includes a memory cell array including a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells; a decoder connected with the memory cell array through a plurality of word lines; a data input/output circuit connected with the memory cell array through a plurality of bit lines; a voltage detector configured to detect a variation in a power supply voltage to output a voltage variation signal; and control logic configured to control the decoder and the data input/output circuit such that data stored at the memory cell array is invalidated in response to the voltage variation signal.
US09153330B2	Semiconductor system and method of operating the same A semiconductor system includes a data storage unit including memory blocks, a circuit group and a control circuit, wherein the memory blocks store data therein and are arranged in a longitudinal direction and a vertical direction. The circuit group is suitable for performing a program, read or erase operation on the memory blocks, and the control circuit controls the circuit group. A memory control unit is suitable for controlling the data storage unit, wherein each of the memory blocks includes a plurality of sub-memory blocks. The sub-memory blocks arranged in the longitudinal direction share bit lines and do not share word lines and source lines. Further, the sub-memory arranged in the vertical direction share the bit lines or the source lines.
US09153327B2	Flash memory apparatus with voltage boost circuit A flash memory apparatus is provided. The flash memory apparatus includes a plurality of memory cell regions. Each of the memory cell regions includes a plurality of memory cells, a programming voltage control generator and an erase voltage control generator. The memory cells receives a programming control voltage through a control end point for programming operation, and the memory cells receives an erase control voltage through an erase end point for erasing operation. The programming voltage control generator provides the programming control voltage to the memory cells, and the erase voltage control generator provides the erase control voltage to the memory cells.
US09153326B2	Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method of controlling same The disclosure describes a semiconductor memory device including a memory cell array and a control circuit. The memory cell array comprises a plurality of memory cells that each include a control gate and a charge accumulation layer and that each are configured to have a threshold set to be included in any of a plurality of threshold distributions, the memory cell being connected between a bit line and a source line. The control circuit, in at least one of a write verify operation and a read operation on a selected memory cell, applies to the control gate a control gate voltage to determine the threshold of the selected memory cell, the control gate voltage having a plurality of values respectively corresponded to the plurality of threshold distributions, and sets a voltage between the bit line and the source line based on the control gate voltage.
US09153321B2	Resistance change memory cell circuits and methods The gate of the access transistor of a 1 transistor 1 resistor (1T1R) type RRAM cell is biased relative to the source of the access transistor using a current mirror. Under the influence of a voltage applied across the 1T1R cell (e.g., via the bit line), the RRAM memory element switches from a higher resistance to a lower resistance. As the RRAM memory element switches from the higher resistance to the lower resistance, the current through the RRAM cell switches from being substantially determined by the higher resistance of the RRAM device (while the access transistor is operating in the linear region) to being substantially determined by the saturation region operating point of the access transistor.
US09153319B2	Method for driving nonvolatile memory element, and nonvolatile memory device having a variable resistance element A method for driving a nonvolatile memory element includes: a writing step of changing a variable resistance layer to a low resistance state, by applying a writing voltage pulse having a first polarity; and an erasing step of changing the variable resistance layer to a high resistance state, by applying an erasing voltage pulse having a second polarity different from the first polarity, wherein in the writing step, a first input and output terminal of a field effect transistor is a source terminal of the transistor, and when a pulse width of the writing voltage pulse is PWLR and a pulse width of the erasing voltage pulse is PWHR, PWLR and PWHR satisfy a relationship of PWLR
US09153316B1	Circuits and read methods of RRAM An RRAM circuit includes word lines, bit lines, source lines, memory cells, and a sense module. Each of the memory cells includes a resistor and a transistor. The resistor alternates between a high impedance and a low impedance, and is coupled to one of the bit lines. The transistor is controlled by one of the word lines and coupled between the resistor and one of the source lines. The sense module includes a switch and a sense amplifier. The switch is controlled by an output signal and coupled to one of the bit lines. The sense amplifier compares the data voltage, which is generated by a current flowing through the switch and the resistor, and a reference voltage to generate the output signal. The switch is turned off when the data voltage exceeds the reference voltage, and is turned on otherwise.
US09153313B2	Normally-off, power-gated memory circuit with two data retention stages for reducing overhead power The first circuit has a function of retaining data in a first period during which a power supply voltage is supplied. The second circuit has functions of saving the data retained in the first circuit in the first period and retaining the data saved from the first circuit in a second period during which application of the power supply voltage is stopped. The third circuit has functions of saving the data retained in the second circuit in the second period and retaining the data saved from the second circuit in a third period during which application of the power supply voltage is stopped. The second circuit is capable of being written with the data for a shorter time than the third circuit. The third circuit is capable of maintaining the data for a longer time than the second circuit.
US09153309B2	Semiconductor memory device having electrically floating body transistor, semiconductor memory device having both volatile and non-volatile functionality and method or operating A semiconductor memory cell includes a floating body region configured to be charged to a level indicative of a state of the memory cell; a first region in electrical contact with said floating body region; a second region in electrical contact with said floating body region and spaced apart from said first region; and a gate positioned between said first and second regions. The cell may be a multi-level cell. Arrays of memory cells are disclosed for making a memory device. Methods of operating memory cells are also provided.
US09153306B2	Tunnel magnetoresistive effect element and random access memory using same Provided is a tunnel magnetoresistive effect element such that a high TMR ratio and a low write current can be realized, and the thermal stability factor (E/kBT) of a recording layer and a pinned layer is increased while an increase in resistance of the element as a whole is suppressed, thus enabling a stable operation. On at least one of a recording layer 21 and a pinned layer 22 each comprising CoFeB, electrically conductive oxide layers 31 and 32 are disposed on a side opposite to a tunnel barrier layer 10.
US09153302B2	Memory and method of operating the same A memory includes a plurality of memory blocks, a plurality of global bit lines, a common pre-charging circuit, and a selection circuit. Each memory block includes a pair of bit lines, and a plurality of memory cells coupled to the pair of bit lines. Each global bit line is coupled to at least one of the memory blocks. The pre-charging circuit is configured to pre-charge the global bit lines, one at a time, to a pre-charge voltage. The selection circuit is coupled between the pre-charging circuit and the global bit lines, and configured to couple the global bit lines, one at a time, to the pre-charging circuit.
US09153300B2	System and methods for localizing and analyzing samples on a bio-sensor chip Chips that include one or more particle manipulation mechanisms, or force transduction elements, provided at specific locations to manipulate and localize particles proximal the substrate surface. In one embodiment, individually addressable magnetic control mechanisms such as electric coils are provided at specific locations to create a magnetic field to attract magnetic particles, such a magnetic or magnetizable beads, to those specific locations. In another embodiment, electrostatic control mechanisms such as electrodes are provided to attract and manipulate electrically charged micro-particles. A location may include a crater or well formed in the substrate, or it may include an element on the surface of the substrate. In some embodiments, one or more sensors are located proximal specific locations, e.g., specific craters, so as to analyze specific conditions at each location. In other embodiments, multiple locations share one or more sensors.
US09153296B2	Methods and apparatuses for dynamic memory termination Described herein are a method and an apparatus for dynamically switching between one or more finite termination impedance value settings to a memory input-output (I/O) interface of a memory in response to a termination signal level. The method comprises: setting a first termination impedance value setting for a termination unit of an input-output (I/O) interface of a memory; assigning the first termination impedance value setting to the termination unit when the memory is not being accessed; and switching from the first termination impedance value setting to a second termination impedance value setting in response to a termination signal level.
US09153292B2	Integrated circuit devices having memory and methods of implementing memory in an integrated circuit device An integrated circuit device having memory is disclosed. The integrated circuit device comprises programmable resources; programmable interconnect elements coupled to the programmable resources, the programmable interconnect elements enabling a communication of signals with the programmable resources; a plurality of memory blocks; and dedicated interconnect elements coupled to the plurality of memory blocks, the dedicated interconnect elements enabling access to the plurality of memory blocks. A method of implementing memory in an integrated circuit device is also disclosed.
US09153287B1	Data access for shingled magnetic recording media Methods and apparatus for facilitating pre-read and/or post-read operations of a disk drive. A write command is received including a logical block address (LBA) for user data in the write command. Parity data for correcting the user data is generated by encoding the LBA with the user data. The parity data is written on a disk of the disk drive with the user data so that the LBA can be recovered using the parity data when read from the disk. When a read command is received by the disk drive, requested user data is read from a first sector. User data and parity data is read from a second sector adjacent the first sector. The parity data is used to recover an LBA for the second sector and it is determined whether to store the user data read from the second sector based on the recovered LBA.
US09153286B2	Information processing apparatus, data division method, and data division program An information processing apparatus includes an operation unit, and a control unit that displays, on a display unit, a data image representing the contents of temporally continuous data along a time axis. Here, when a gesture operation for cutting the data image perpendicularly to the time axis is performed through the operation unit, the control unit divides the data at a position on the time axis in accordance with the position cut by the gesture operation.
US09153285B2	Content play device having content forming function and method for forming content thereof A content play device capable of forming content and a method for forming content thereof. The method for forming content of the content play device, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, comprises providing a content forming user interface (UI) which reflects a plurality of data to be played, receiving a play time of each of the plurality of data via the content forming UI, and forming content in which the plurality of data is reproduced according to a received play time of each data. Accordingly, a user may easily form content in which background music is set for each image file.
US09153281B2	Magazine drop-out for a robotic gripper Embodiments of the invention include systems and methods for providing gripper recovery using a magazine drop-out feature. Embodiments operate in context of a data storage library having a number of media cartridges physically located within slots of one or more magazines. A robotic hand assembly uses a gripper mechanism to retrieve and ferry the cartridges between the magazines and one or more media drives. In some instances, the gripper mechanism is unable to disengage from the cartridge or to disengage the cartridge from its magazine slot. Embodiments detect this condition and direct the robotic hand assembly to drop out of engagement with the cartridge through the drop-out region of the magazine slot, allowing the gripper mechanism to recover.
US09153277B2	Near field transducer having sacrificial structure Near field transducers (NFTs) and devices that include a peg having an air bearing region and an opposing back region, the back region including a sacrificial structure, a disc having a first surface in contact with the peg, and a barrier structure, the barrier structure positioned between the opposing back region of the peg and the first surface of the disc.
US09153276B2	Laser optical power monitoring using thermal sensor of a head transducer A light source is configured to produce light, a waveguide is optically coupled to the light source and configured to direct the light to an intended focus location, and a slider is configured to use the light as an energy source for heating a region of a magnetic recording medium. A thermal sensor is situated on the slider at a location outside of a light path that includes the intended focus location. The thermal sensor is configured for sensing a short time constant change in temperature resulting from light source heating of the thermal sensor, wherein the sensed change in thermal sensor temperature is representative of optical intensity of the light delivered to the intended focus location.
US09153270B1	Defect emulation system A defect emulator module for a rotating storage device includes a coefficient module that generates a first coefficient. A location module generates a location. A defect signal module selectively modifies a read-back signal based on the first coefficient and the location. The first coefficient includes an emulation of a first defect in the read-back signal.
US09153269B2	Method for manufacturing glass substrate for magnetic disk A method for manufacturing a glass substrate for magnetic disk, the internal strain of which is reduced without performing annealing treatment, is provided. The method includes a forming process of forming a plate-shaped glass blank by pressing a lump of molten glass using a pair of dies, wherein the method includes: a removing process of removing at least a part of a residual stress layer formed on the principal face of the glass blank press-formed in the forming process; and a process of forming a donut-shaped glass substrate by subjecting the glass blank after the removing process to machining.
US09153265B1	Head slider with adjusted thermal profile A slider generally comprises a substrate forming at least part of a body of the slider, a heat-assisted media recording (HAMR) read/write transducer proximate the substrate, and an end cap substantially encapsulating the HAMR read/write transducer. The end cap has a first surface proximate the substrate and a second surface as a trailing edge of the slider. The end cap has a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) similar to a corresponding CTE of the substrate. At least a portion of the second surface of the end cap has a second CTE that is lower than the first CTE. A body of the end cap is intermediate to the first and second surfaces of the end cap and has a CTE intermediate of the first and second CTE.
US09153260B1	Electronic lapping guide in a magnetic recording transducer A slider includes a transducer including a magnetic structure having a front edge and a back edge. The slider further includes an electronic lapping guide (ELG) substantially coplanar with the magnetic structure and having a top edge and a bottom edge. The slider further includes a plurality of pads configured to calibrate a sheet resistance of the ELG and an offset of the ELG.
US09153256B2	Slider with self-assembled monolayer pattern A slider, having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a working surface, and read/write heads proximate the trailing edge. The slider includes a protective overcoat over the working surface of the slider, and a self-assembled monolayer coating on the working surface of the slider and over the protective overcoat, the coating comprising at least one self-assembled monolayer material.
US09153255B1	Method for fabricating a magnetic writer having an asymmetric gap and shields A method and system provide a magnetic transducer. An intermediate including multiple sublayers is provided. A trench is formed in the intermediate layer. A main pole having a bottom, a top wider than the bottom, a first side and a second side opposite to the first side is provided in the trench. An asymmetric gap is provided along the first and second sides of the main pole. The asymmetric gap terminates closer to the top of the main pole along the first side than on the second side. The asymmetric gap has a first thickness along the first side and a second thickness different from the first thickness along the second side. An asymmetric shield is provided on the asymmetric gap. The asymmetric shield includes a half side shield having a bottom between the top and the bottom of the main pole and terminating on the asymmetric gap.
US09153252B2	Dual reader structure Implementations described and claimed herein provide a stacked dual reader with a bottom sensor stack and a top sensor stack wherein the bottom sensor stack and the top sensor stack are mirrored along a down-track direction.
US09153251B2	Reader with decoupled magnetic seed layer An apparatus comprising a base shield, a sensor stack, and a base seed layer separating the base shield from the sensor stack. The base seed layer has a base coupled seed section that is coupled with the base shield, and a base uncoupled seed section that is uncoupled with the base shield, wherein the base uncoupled seed section covers a base window surrounding the sensor stack.
US09153240B2	Transform coding of speech and audio signals In a method of perceptual transform coding of audio signals in a telecommunication system, performing the steps of determining transform coefficients representative of a time to frequency transformation of a time segmented input audio signal; determining a spectrum of perceptual sub-bands for said input audio signal based on said determined transform coefficients; determining masking thresholds for each said sub-band based on said determined spectrum; computing scale factors for each said sub-band based on said determined masking thresholds, and finally adapting said computed scale factors for each said sub-band to prevent energy loss for perceptually relevant sub-bands.
US09153239B1	Differentiating between near identical versions of a song Identifying near identical versions of a probe sample from reference files comprises identifying discriminative regions of reference matches by generating a similarity matrix. The discriminative time frames are communicated to a client device and additional data associated with the probe sample can be retrieved having features of the discriminative regions. Based on the additional data, a single match can be generated to identify the probe sample.
US09153235B2	Text dependent speaker recognition with long-term feature based on functional data analysis One or more test features are extracted from a time domain signal. The test features are represented by discrete data. The discrete data is represented for each of the one or more test features by a corresponding one or more fitting functions, which are defined in terms of finite number of continuous basis functions and a corresponding finite number of expansion coefficients. Each fitting function is compressed through Functional Principal Component Analysis (FPCA) to generate corresponding sets of principal components. Each principal component for a given test feature is uncorrelated to each other principal component for the given test feature. A distance between a set of principal components for the given test feature and a set of principal components for one or more training features with the processing system is calculated. The test feature is classified according to the distance calculated with the processing system.
US09153228B2	Wireless telephone sending speech data in second packet secondary stage An IC processor circuit has an interface for a microphone and a packet switched network. A memory holds bits for converting audible speech from the microphone into digital data in each of successive frames. For each frame the converting includes forming LPC data, LTP lag data, parity check data, adaptive and fixed codebook gain data, and fixed codebook pulse data. The digital data representing the audible speech for the frames is placed into sequential packets, with each packet having a primary stage and a secondary stage. The placing includes arranging data from a first frame of speech in the primary stage of a first packet and arranging data from the first frame of speech in the secondary stage of a second packet, which follows the first packet. The data in the secondary stage includes only LPC data, LTP lag data, parity check data, and adaptive and fixed codebook gain data.
US09153227B2	System and method for making an electronic handheld device more accessible to a disabled person An electronic handheld device is described having an options module for providing a user with at least one option in the handheld device, each option associated with an enabling mode of operation of the handheld device. The device also includes an enabling module for implementing, in response to a particular option being selected by a user, an associated enabling mode of operation. Each enabling mode of operation makes the handheld device more accessible to a person having a corresponding disability.
US09153226B2	Adaptive noise control Adaptive noise control for reducing power of an acoustic noise signal radiated from a noise source to a listening position comprises providing an electrical reference signal correlated with the acoustic noise signal; filtering the electrical reference signal with an adaptive filter to provide an electrical output signal; multiplying the electrical output signal of the adaptive filter by a gain factor to provide a first electrical compensation signal; filtering and multiplying the electrical output signal of the adaptive filter by the inverse of the gain factor to provide a second electrical compensation signal, the second gain factor being equal to 1 subtracted by the first gain factor; radiating the first electrical compensation signal to the listening position with an acoustic transducer; sensing a residual electrical error signal at the listening position; adding the second electrical compensation signal to the electrical error signal to provide a compensated error signal; and adapting filter coefficients of the adaptive filter as a function of the compensated error signal and the reference signal.
US09153224B2	Enhanced sonar mount systems, structures and processes Enhanced sonar mount structures, systems, and associated processes provide accurate, precise, and repeatable alignment of a sonar head in relation to a vessel, whether in or out of water. The enhanced mount typically comprises a tilt mechanism, wherein the sonar head can be lifted to a stowable position, e.g. for any of vessel maneuvering, mooring, or trailering. The mount typically comprises a cross tube coupled to a clamp mechanism and to a Z tube. The clamp mechanism is operable to establish and maintain any of Z direction or pitch. The enhanced mount provides repeatable positioning of both the cross tube and the Z tube, and may preferably provide any of ship to ship interchangeability, lateral and vertical adjustability, break away clamping of the cross tube, quick release mechanisms, hingeable stowage, or manual or remote pan or tilt. An optional modular mounting kit aids in situ installations.
US09153222B1	Plucked string performance data generation device The present invention relates to a plucked string performance data generation device, including a MIDI input interface used for receiving MIDI data, a plurality of infrared emitters and a plurality of infrared receivers used for forming infrared strings distributed radially in form of a sector, and an infrared emitter and an infrared receiver used for a mute switch, a microcontroller used for generating MIDI data from chord data acquired from the MIDI input interface and interrupt data of the infrared strings, a MIDI output interface connected with the microcontroller, and touch pads mounted onto corresponding infrared receivers. The device has an infrared string layout in form of a sector and the touch pads arranged above infrared string sensors to form a dual sensors, where appropriate, a user may use different sensors to control the same target, whereby realizing simulation of sound of a string instrument and facilitating the use thereof.
US09153220B2	Electronic percussion instrument An electronic percussion instrument includes a head, a frame, and an impact sensor, and an air ventilation mechanism which includes a pair of cutouts which are distanced from each other and formed in the periphery of the head. The head is attached to the frame such that the periphery of the frame is externally enclosed with the periphery of the head precluding a pair of cutouts. Additionally, a pair of connecting parts with reduced thickness is linearly elongated across the back of the head in parallel. When the head is struck with a beater, a vibration is caused to occur in the head and detected by the impact sensor to produce an electric signal which is used to generate an electronic musical sound, wherein the air ventilation mechanism releases air from the back of the head so as to reliably secure noiselessness while reducing noise.
US09153219B1	Platter based electronic musical instrument An electronic musical instrument includes a platter, rotational position sensor, and a processor. The platter can be rotated about a center point by a user. The rotational position sensor senses rotation of the platter and provides a position signal indicative of the sense rotation of the platter. The buffer stores a sound sample. The processor receives the position signal from the rotational position sensor, determines a rotational position of the platter as a function of the position signal, retrieves a sound sample from a buffer, shifts a frequency of the sound sample as a function of the determined rotational position of the platter, and renders the frequency-shifted sound sample. The instrument may also include user inputs for selecting octaves per rotation and scale divisions within each octave which further define the frequency shift applied by the processor as a function of the determined rotational position of the platter.
US09153217B2	Simultaneously playing sound-segments to find and act-upon a composition A method, apparatus and system that enables a user to find and act-upon a sound-containing composition, in a group of compositions. One or more sound-segments, which are intended to prompt a user's memory, may be associated with each composition in a group of compositions. A recognition sound-segment may include a portion of its associated composition, which is more recognizable to users than the beginning part of its associated composition. A recognition-segment may contain one or more highly recognizable portion(s) of a composition. When the user is trying to locate or select a particular composition, the recognition-segments are navigated and played-back to the user, based upon a user-device context/mode. When a user recognizes the desired composition from its recognition-segment, the user may initiate a control action to playback; arrange; and/or act-upon, the composition that is associated with the currently playing recognition-segment.
US09153208B2	Systems and methods for image data management A system and method for image data management. A tiled representation of a data set is accessed. The tiled representation includes a plurality of high-resolution tiles and a plurality of reduced-resolution tiles. A request to access said data set from a computing device is received. An image display window is determined based on said request from the computing device, where the image display window corresponds to a displayable image for display on the display device. At least one overlapping image to send the computing device is determined based on said image display window, where the at least one overlapping image is selected from the scaled full images, the plurality of high-resolution tiles, and the plurality of reduced resolution tiles. At least a portion of the at least one overlapping image is sent to the computing device.
US09153202B2	Object display device, object display method, and object display program An object display device includes: an image acquisition unit for acquiring an image in real space; a shade computation unit for acquiring shade information indicating an appearance position of a shadow in real space; an image processing unit for correcting the image in real space or an image of a marker stored in advance, so as to eliminate the effects of a shadow, based on the shade information; a marker sensing unit for extracting the marker from the image in real space using the image in real space and the image of the marker at least one of which is corrected; and a display unit for overlaying a virtual object associated with the marker on the image in real space.
US09153198B2	Method and device for link over-training A method and device of over training a connection is provided. Noise is intentionally supplied and added to a signal that is subjected to a link training operation. The link training operation is used to obtain a link between a source device and a receiving device. The device includes a noise source from which noise is obtained and added to a signal to aid in link over-training.
US09153197B2	Storage apparatus and method for effectively addressing display memory There is provided a storage apparatus for providing an effective memory addressing method. The storage apparatus includes at least one memory and at least one controller coupled to the at least one memory to provide address information. Each of the controllers includes a first controller for providing on/off information of subfields included in one frame for driving pixels in a display panel, a third controller for horizontal position information corresponding to a selected scan line from scan lines of a display panel, and a second controller for providing vertical position information corresponding to a pixel on the selected scan line. On/off information of subfields for at least two pixels is stored in a cell located at the vertical position and the horizontal position in the at least one memory.
US09153193B2	Primitive rendering using a single primitive type Rendering different types of graphical content using a single primitive type. Embodiments enable graphical elements of different content types representing a scene to be rendered as a batch based on the single primitive type, thereby reducing data transfer and improving processing performance. For example, each graphical element in a batch of graphical elements can rendered based modifications to instances of a template shape, which represents a single primitive type usable for rendering different types of graphical content. The modifications to each instance can include modifying the instance according transformation data, clip data, and/or width and height data to position the instance in a scene, and filling the modified instance according to one or more of shape or brush data corresponding to the graphical element.
US09153191B2	Power management circuit and gate pulse modulation circuit thereof capable of increasing power conversion efficiency A power management circuit for a liquid crystal display device is disclosed. The power management circuit includes one or more power generating circuits, for receiving one or more input voltages and generating one or more output voltages, respectively; a gate pulse modulation circuit, coupled between a gate high-level voltage source and a discharging control terminal, for generating a gate control signal; and a discharging controller, coupled to the discharging control terminal, for providing a discharging path for the gate pulse modulation circuit, wherein one of the gate pulse modulation circuit and the discharging controller is further coupled to a power supply such that the gate pulse modulation circuit discharges to the power supply during a gate discharging period, and the power supply is one of the one or more input voltages and the one or more output voltages.
US09153190B2	Gate driver and display apparatus having the same A gate driver that comprises n shift registers, wherein n is an integer equal to or larger than 1, each of the n shift registers includes; a start stage which outputs a gate signal and starts its operation in response to a start signal, and a plurality of subsequent stages which are connected to each other in sequence, and which sequentially output a plurality of gate signals in response to a signal output from the start stage, wherein at least one stage of the plurality of subsequent stages is reset by the start signal.
US09153187B2	Driving method of an electric circuit A variation in threshold may be suppressed by structuring an analog switch by a MOS transistor and forming a signal synchronized to a clock by making the clock which is a common signal in continuity or discontinuity. An object of the present invention is to reduce the variation in the signal synchronized to the clock by the variation in threshold of the MOS transistor in a circuit which is synchronized to the clock.
US09153184B2	Method of processing data and display apparatus for performing the method A display apparatus includes a display panel, a timing control part and a data driving part. The display panel is divided into N display areas. The timing control part includes a serializing part to serializing N data received in parallel to generate an N-th frame data, a overdriving part to select one of the N-th frame data and a previous frame data stored depending on whether the received data are normal and to compensate the selected frame data to generate a compensation frame data, and an interface part to divide the compensation frame data and to output the N compensation data. A data driving part includes N data driving circuits to generate data driving voltages corresponding to the N compensation data to output the data driving voltage to the N display areas where N is a natural number.
US09153172B2	Method and system for programming and driving active matrix light emitting device pixel having a controllable supply voltage Method and system for programming and driving active matrix light emitting device pixel is provided. The pixel is a voltage programmed pixel circuit, and has a light emitting device, a driving transistor and a storage capacitor. The pixel has a programming cycle having a plurality of operating cycles, and a driving cycle. During the programming cycle, the voltage of the connection between the OLED and the driving transistor is controlled so that the desired gate-source voltage of a driving transistor is stored in a storage capacitor.
US09153170B2	Display device and method for driving the display device at different power source voltage levels A display device includes a display unit having a plurality of pixel, a scan driver that sequentially applies scan signals at a first voltage level to the plurality of pixels, a data driver that writes data by applying data signals to the plurality of pixels to correspond to the scan signals at the first voltage level, and a power source controller that supplies a first power source voltage and a second power source voltage to the plurality of pixels. The power source controller maintains the first power source voltage and the second power source voltage at the second voltage level while the data are written, and allows the plurality of pixels to which data are written to emit light by changing the first power source voltage into a third voltage level and the second power source voltage into the first voltage level after writing is complete.
US09153167B2	Organic light emitting display capable of displaying an image with desired brightness An organic light emitting display capable of displaying an image with desired brightness. The organic light emitting display includes a scan driver for supplying a first scan signal to first scan lines, for supplying a second scan signal to second scan lines, and for supplying emission control signals to emission control lines, a data driver for supplying data signals to data lines, horizontal power source lines extending in parallel with the first scan lines at horizontal lines, and configured to receive a fourth voltage in a first period of a period in which the first scan signal is supplied, and configured to receive a third voltage that is lower than the fourth voltage in a second period excluding the first period, and pixels positioned at crossing regions of the first scan lines and the data lines. Each of the pixels includes an OLED, a first transistor, and a storage capacitor.
US09153164B2	Organic light emitting display for adjusting data based on temperature compensation and driving method thereof A driving method of an organic light emitting display device includes sensing temperatures of a plurality of areas included in a pixel unit and, when a temperature difference between the respective areas is less than a predetermined reference value, outputting first data that is input from outside. When the temperature difference between the respective areas is equal to or greater than the reference value, the method includes generating second data by changing a grayscale of the first data such that the temperatures of the respective areas are similar to each other, and outputting the second data.
US09153161B1	Timing controller and display device A timing controller for a display device, the timing controller including a luminance control area detecting device configured to analyze image data and detect at least one candidate area of an active area of a display panel in the display device satisfying a luminance control area condition as a luminance control area; a luminance control reference setting device configured to set luminance control reference information on the luminance control area, based on an input luminance of the at least one candidate area; and a luminance controlling device configured to control a luminance of the luminance control area, based on the luminance control reference information.
US09153160B2	Organic light emitting diode display device with data modulator and a method for driving the same An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device and a method for driving the same, are capable of achieving an enhancement in response characteristics of OLEDs and an enhancement in display picture quality through application of an overdriving (or accelerated driving) method taking into consideration intrinsic response characteristics of OLEDs. The OLED display device includes an image display panel including a plurality of pixel regions, and a driving integrated circuit for converting digital image data into an analog image signal, generating a plurality of gamma voltage levels through modulation, for overdriving or accelerated driving of the analog image signal, and modulating gray levels of the digital image data such that the modulated gray levels correspond to the modulated gamma voltage levels, for display of an image according to the modulated image data on the image display panel.
US09153159B2	Display driving circuit and electronic device comprising the same A display driver integrated circuit includes a regulator configured to convert an externally supplied driving voltage to a working voltage corresponding to one of a plurality of power domains of the display driver integrated circuit, a graphic data processing unit configured to process image data input to the graphic data processing unit, and output the image data to a display panel, a control switch configured to control a supply of the working voltage to the graphic data processing unit, and a core logic unit configured to receive the working voltage from the regulator and control the control switch in response to a mode of operation of the display driver integrated circuit.
US09153158B2	Light emitting display device capable of minimizing a current driving capability deviation among driving switching elements Disclosed is a light emitting display device capable of minimizing a current driving capability deviation among driving switching elements. The light emitting display device includes pixels each including a first TFT for supplying data voltage to a first node in response to a scan signal, a second TFT for forming a current path between first and second nodes in response to an emission control signal, a driving TFT for forming a current path between a first driving voltage supply line and a third node in accordance with a voltage level of the second node, a third TFT for supplying a reference voltage to a fourth node in response to a sensing signal, a fourth TFT for supplying an initialization voltage to the third node in response to an initialization signal, and a fifth TFT for supplying the reference voltage to the second node in response to the initialization signal.
US09153155B2	Display apparatus and method for displaying high resolution images based on installation location An image signal source alternately outputs two types of image signal. A pixel shifting unit outputs an image as light displayed by a display element having a number of pixels corresponding to the image signal while alternately shifting the light by a distance of a ½ pixel horizontally and a ½ pixel vertically. A horizontal display control unit receives the image signal and, in response to an installation position, changes the received image signal so that an image corresponding to any one of the two types of image signal alternately outputted is horizontally shifted by one pixel. A display element drive unit receives the changed image signal and, in response to the installation position, controls the display element so that the display element displays an image obtained by horizontally inverting the image based on the received image signal.
US09153149B1	Illuminated hand-held road sign An illuminated road sign has reflective lettering on each side, a plurality of illumination devices, and a battery-powered controller. The illumination devices are arranged along the perimeter of each face of the sign, are powered by the battery or with solar cell in an alternate embodiment, and are controlled by switches located on the handle of the sign assembly. The sign may be supported by a tripod structure portion that enables the sign to be utilized in a stand-alone state.
US09153148B2	Signage system and method for displaying merchandise on shelves A signage system comprises a plurality of signs adapted to be mounted on a shelf or other such merchandise display device. The signs include a mounting portion, for attaching to the shelf, and a sign portion. The sign portions are provided with a shape corresponding to common shapes of traffic or road signs. The system of the invention may therefore be used to attract or direct customers to certain specific products.
US09153147B2	Rolling information display for roller grill A rolling information display system includes a heated roller grill having at least a first coated, heated roller positioned adjacent a second coated, heated roller, said at least first and second coated, heated rollers rotating together; and a tube comprising a plastic material resistant to temperatures at which the heater roller grill operates, the tube being open on both ends and further comprising rolling surfaces at opposing ends of the tube for rolling in contact with heated rolling surfaces of the heated roller grill and one or more recessed surfaces for bearing information about products provided on the heated roller grill. Information is printed in the one or more recessed surfaces, or is applied directly to or molded directly into the recessed surfaces. The rolling surface at opposing ends of the tube are integral with the tube. The products provided on the heated roller grill are food items.
US09153145B2	Kit of building blocks for constructing educational electronic circuits Kit of building blocks for constructing educational electronic circuits comprising a ferromagnetic base plate (10) with the diagram (21) of the circuit to construct. A transparent plastic sheet (30) covers the diagram. A group of magnets (40, 41) rest on the plastic sheet attracted by the plate (10). The surface of the magnets (40, 41) is electrically conducting. A plurality of building blocks can be detachably mounted on the magnets (40, 41), each magnet (41) connecting the steel sheets (702) of the building blocks that rest on it. The steel sheets of the blocks are designed so that the attraction forces that arise between the magnets and the sheets drive the modules exactly to a desired equilibrium position.
US09153144B2	Rapid approach detector A computer in a vehicle is configured to receive one or more data collector inputs, detect an object proximate to the vehicle based on the one or more inputs, determine a closure speed between the object and the vehicle, determine a change in speed of the object, compute an accountability factor; and determine whether to identify a potential incident based at least in part on the accountability factor and an incident value. The incident value is a function of at least one of the closure speed and a distance between the vehicle and the object. The accountability factor is based at least in part on the closure speed and the change in speed of the object.
US09153141B1	Recommendations based on progress data User content access events pertaining to a content item, such as an ebook, audio, video file, and so on, are collected and analyzed to determine progress data, including abandonment information about when the content item, or a portion thereof, has been abandoned. Once determined, recommendations may be presented based on the progress data from similar users.
US09153139B2	Steep approach performance improvements and optimization A flight control system can achieve a relatively steep descent (using drag devices such as flight spoilers) at relatively low speeds while retaining good airplane handling qualities from the pilot's point of view. The system and method optimize the drag device's positioning used to perform steep approach to improve performance.
US09153136B2	Providing data for predicting aircraft trajectory The present invention provides a system and method of producing a description of the flight intent of an aircraft expressed using a formal language. The description may be used to generate a predicted aircraft trajectory, for example by air traffic management. Rules are used in association with information provided to express the flight intent of the aircraft in a formal language. The flight intent describes a flight in terms of flight segments, and provides information of the path to be flown and how it is to be flown. The flight intent does not necessarily define unambiguously the aerodynamic configuration of the aircraft and the motion of the aircraft during the flight. The flight intent is used alongside other information to generate the aircraft intent that does describe unambiguously the aircraft's trajectory.
US09153135B2	Mobile computing device emergency warning system and method A warning system and method include a memory device configured to store one or more condition criteria. A monitoring device is configured to monitor a status of the one or more condition criteria. The monitoring device is triggered by a triggering event related to the status to generate a warning signal responsive to the triggering event. A mobile computing device is configured to communicate with the monitoring device and an external network to receive the warning signal and output a warning message on the external network to one or more designated entities.
US09153133B1	Motorcycle blind spot detector The present invention relates to an electronic device for monitoring the blind spot of a motorcycle driver. The device includes a lean detector to incorporate lean into the position of the motorcycle driver.
US09153131B2	Real-time drive assistance system and method A real-time drive assistance system and method are provided. The system includes a centralized architecture capable of determining and preventing, in real time, potentially dangerous road situations, increasing road safety. The system is based on a communication network obtained through specific portable mobile communication devices exchanging information related to the state of a plurality of vehicles in motion along a road network. The method includes periodical acquisition and sending of the information to a centralized processing unit using the wireless communication system of each portable mobile communication device; processing of the information in order to verify the occurrence of potential dangerous situations for the drivers of each vehicle; and sending of warning or danger signals to one or more of the portable mobile communication devices that can alert the drivers of the vehicles.
US09153129B2	In-vehicle drive pattern optimization for reduced road wear The present principles are directed to in-vehicle drive pattern optimization for reduced road wear. A method includes monitoring statuses of various vehicle functions. The method further includes controlling the various vehicle functions to optimize the vehicle drive pattern for reduced road wear, responsive to an output of the monitoring step and known information at least about a road segment currently being or about to be traversed.
US09153127B2	Video transmitting apparatus, video receiving apparatus, and video transmission system A video transmitting apparatus includes a providing unit configured to provide retransmission request information including information for retransmitting video information to be transmitted to a video receiving apparatus, a control unit configured to perform connection control for communication with the video receiving apparatus, a transmitting unit configured to transmit the retransmission request information provided by the providing unit and the video information to the video receiving apparatus, through communication for which connection control is performed by the control unit, a receiving unit configured to receive a retransmission request based on the retransmission request information, the retransmission request being transmitted from the video receiving apparatus, and a retransmitting unit configured to retransmit a specific part of the video information in accordance with the retransmission request received by the receiving unit.
US09153126B2	Smart switch and remote control system using the same A smart switch applied to a remote control system in a smart home is connected to a power and at least one electronic device. The smart switch includes a storage, and a communication unit receiving commands from a remote source which include the unique identification code of a target electronic device. A smart gateway, a remote unit, and a processor unit including a converting module and a control module are also included. The converting module converts the remote command to a control signal that can be recognized by the electronic device, and the control module controls the remote unit to send the control signal to the electronic device. A remote control system is also provided.
US09153124B2	Alarm sensor supporting long-range wireless communication An alarm sensor can be located at a premises, for example a smoke detector mounted to a wall or ceiling of a building. In response to an alarm event, such as detection of a level of smoke indicative of a fire hazard, the alarm sensor can send a wireless notification directly to a remote recipient that is offsite from the premises. The recipient could be a smart phone or other handheld cellular device carried by a homeowner on vacation, for example. The alarm sensor can be either originally manufactured with remote notification capabilities or retrofitted after installation for remote notification. In some cases, the alarm sensor can be networked with other alarm sensors located at the premises. For example, an alarm sensor having remote notification capabilities can receive alarm notifications from other alarm sensors for relay to the remote recipient.
US09153117B2	Systems and methods for activating a security system upon receipt of emergency alert messages An Emergency Alert System (EAS) alert message may be used to activate a security system. For example, a mobile device of a subscriber may receive an EAS alert message from a network provider of the mobile device. Upon receipt of the EAS alert message, the mobile device may send an indication of the EAS message to the security system. A component of the security system may be activated to provide notification of the EAS alert message to the subscriber.
US09153107B2	Multi-sensory alarming device An alarming device including: a power module, a trigger module, a heat module, a noise module, and a visual module. The trigger module is configured to detect an emergency and trigger an event. The heat module is functionally in communication with the power module and the trigger module and configured to project heat when triggered by the trigger module. The noise module is functionally in communication with the power module and the trigger module and configured to project sound when triggered by the trigger module. The visual module is functionally in communication with the power module and the trigger module and configured to project light when triggered by the trigger module.
US09153106B1	Automatically activated visual indicators on computing device A computing device includes one or more memory devices storing executable instructions, one or more processors configured to execute the instructions, a programmable display screen configured to display text-based information, a user activity sensor, a battery configured to provide power to the one or more processors, and a battery status visual indicator. The battery status indicator is located on a surface of the computing device and is configured to display, in response an indication from the user activity sensor of an interaction by a user with the computing device, non-text-based information indicating a status of the battery.
US09153103B2	Gaming machine A gaming machine with more gaming excitement is provided. The gaming machine includes: a symbol display device configured to display a result of a game by rearranging symbols in cells forming a matrix; and a controller used to start a base game requiring betting, a free game not requiring betting, and a plurality of types of bonus games. The controller is programmed to execute the steps of: executing a base game of randomly determining symbols to be rearranged in the symbol display device; determining whether a specific symbol is to be rearranged in a predetermined region of the symbol display device, the predetermined region including at least one cell; executing a free game of randomly determining symbols to be rearranged in the symbol display device; determining whether the specific symbol is to be rearranged in the predetermined region; and executing any one of the types of the bonus games.
US09153099B2	Progressive betting pools Progressive betting pools are provided. A betting administrator may define a set of competition-based events upon which to wager. For example, a set of six soccer matches that occur during a week may be defined as being available for wagering. Each wager may include specifications as to the winner of each of the selected matches. In some embodiments, the wagering individual may be requested to specify certain tie-breaking metrics (e.g., rank the teams by number of goals), which may be considered in the event of a tie between two or more wagers. The wager may be available for a limited window of time. Following which, the outcomes of the competition-based events may be decided and provided to a server, which determines one or more winners and calculates payouts for the determined winners.
US09153098B2	Method and apparatus for variable contribution progressive jackpots Methods and apparatuses for variable contribution multiple progressive jackpot games are disclosed. A variable contribution rate is determined as a function of a wager level. A contribution amount is determined by multiplying each wager by its corresponding contribution rate. The contribution amount is then added to at least two jackpot meters.
US09153097B2	Gaming reward and promotion system and gaming machines utilizing cash tickets having a feature trigger A casino gaming system includes gaming machines which are configured to accept and read tickets. The ticket may comprise cash-value tickets or non-cash value tickets. The tickets may also include secondary feature triggering indicia. A player may obtain a ticket from a system kiosk. The player may then present that ticket to a gaming machine, such as by inserting it into a media reader such as a bill acceptor. Associated monetary value or non-monetary credits may be credited to the machine. In addition, if the ticket includes a feature triggering indicia, when such an indicia is detected, the gaming machine preferably triggers or initiates the feature.
US09153088B2	RFID functionality for portable electronic devices A system for business wireless mobile transactions for electronic hand-held devices including a mobile electronic communication device including a dedicated communication component and a dedicated activatable component; a trigger, a good or service, and an application server; wherein the device and the dedicated communication component are operable for communication with RFID/NFC transceivers when the device is located within a predetermined proximity of a transceiver; and wherein the trigger activates the device to electronically initiate a business transaction for the good or service on the application server when the device detects activation of the dedicated activatable component by the trigger. The system can further include a financial transaction server. Methods of using the system for conducting business or social transactions are also included.
US09153086B2	Device for handling coins The invention relates to a device (10) for handling coins comprising a first supply unit (26) at a first side (22) of the device (10) for the input of coins, at least one coin processing unit (30) for processing the coins supplied via the first supply unit (26), comprising a coin storage system (32) that comprises at least two coin storages (54 to 68) for storing coins, wherein the coin processing unit (30) sorts the supplied coins at least according to one sorting criterion in the coin storages (54 to 58), and comprising a dispensing unit (28) provided at the first side (22) for dispensing the coins removed from the coin storage system (32). At a second side (42) a second supply unit (50) for the input of coins is provided, wherein the coins input via the second supply unit (50) can be supplied to the coin processing unit (30).
US09153084B2	Destination and travel information application Methods and systems for an improved navigation environment are provided. The navigation system can route users to preferred locations based on user profile data and past experience with the present driver and other drivers. The system provides more cost-effective and time-sensitive routing by incorporating other information about destinations. Further, the navigation system provides enhanced guidance in foreign or unfamiliar locations by incorporating experience from other drivers and other data.
US09153083B2	System and method for integrating and adapting security control systems A system for controlling access to one or more enclosed areas comprises at least one access card reader and controller powered via a Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) interface, each access card reader and controller being capable of controlling access through a particular entrance to a particular enclosed area and an access control server in communication with the at least one access card reader and controller, the access control server being capable of controlling the operation of the at least one access card reader and controller, and a signal converter disposed between the access card reader and the access control server. In a network mode of operation, the access control server is configured to perform authentication of a card identifier (ID) received from the at least one access card reader and controller and to signal the at least one access card reader and controller to unlock a door at the particular entrance to the particular enclosed area when the access control server has successfully authenticated the received card ID. In a standalone mode of operation, the at least one access card reader and controller is configured to perform local authentication of a received card ID independently of the access control server and to unlock a door at the particular entrance to the particular enclosed area when the at least one access card reader and controller has successfully authenticated the received card ID.
US09153082B2	Method and apparatus for zoned admission to performance events A method and a device are disclosed including a software or physical admission certificate configured to allow admission of a spectator to a special admission zone with a view to a performance stage for a predefined duration of time. The special admission zone is usable by multiple spectators in multiple successive time periods during the same performance. In various embodiments, the special admission zone is created by partitioning a general admission zone adjacent to the performance stage. In other embodiments, the special admission zone may be constructed as a “catwalk” around the stage to provide elevated viewing. In still other embodiments, the special admission zone may be formed near indoor or outdoor stages. In various embodiments, the admission certificate may be embodied in a computing device such as a smartphone, while in other embodiments the admission certificate may be in the form of a RFID equipped wristband.
US09153078B2	Graphical user interface capable of changing units of measurement A graphical user interface is provided that can be used on a diagnostic tool. The graphical user interface allows a technician to operate various functions of the diagnostic tool including searching for additional information on the Internet, receiving weather information that is relevant to certain diagnostic tests, and displaying in certain formats the retrieved vehicle data and when certain vehicles were last scanned or diagnosed.
US09153077B2	Systems and methods for collecting vehicle evidence Systems and methods to request and collect evidence elements from one or more evidence systems responsive to a triggering event are disclosed. An evidence request beacon may be generated based at least in part on information associated with the triggering event. The evidence request beacon may be received by one or more evidence systems and may be evaluated to determine if potentially relevant evidence is available from the evidence system. If potentially relevant evidence elements are available from the one or more evidence systems, then the potentially relevant evidence elements may be provided to the requesting system.
US09153073B2	Spatially registered augmented video A source video stream is processed to extract a desired object from the remainder of video stream to produce a segmented video of the object. Additional relevant information, such as the orientation of the source camera for each frame in the resulting segmented video of the object, is also determined and stored. During replay, the segmented video of the object, as well as the source camera orientation are obtained. Using the source camera orientation for each frame of the segmented video of the object, as well as target camera orientation for each frame of a target video stream, a transformation for the segmented video of the object may be produced. The segmented video of the object may be displayed over the target video stream, which may be a live video stream of a scene, using the transformation to spatially register the segmented video to the target video stream.
US09153072B2	Reducing the size of a model using visibility factors A computer-implemented method and system reduces size of a data structure of a computer-aided design (CAD) model. Given a CAD model formed of a plurality of modeling elements, the method and system provide one or more geometric entities defining modeling elements of the CAD model. The geometric entities have corresponding graphical entities configured to display the CAD model. For each modeling element, the method and system determine visibility of the modeling element and produce a reduced data structure by storing in the structure graphic data representing the graphical entities and geometric data of only certain ones of the geometric entities determined as a function of visibility of the corresponding modeling elements.
US09153068B2	Clipless time and lens bounds for improved sample test efficiency in image rendering A method for reducing the number of samples tested for rendering a screen space region of an image includes constructing a trajectory of a primitive extending in an image which is to be rendered. A bounding volume is constructed for a screen space region of the image, the bounding volume characterized as having a bound in a non-screen space dimension which is defined as a function of the primitive's trajectory. The bounding volume is further characterized as overlapping a portion of the screen space region which is to be rendered. One or more sample points which are located within the screen space region, and which are not overlapped by the bounding volume are excluded from testing.
US09153066B2	Image processing device, imaging device, and image processing method An image processing device for generating depth data, utilizing the a first image and a second image which are captured from different viewpoints, the image processing device including: a disparity value calculation unit which calculates, for each of plural representative pixels included in pixels in the first image, a disparity value of the representative pixel, based on a positional relationship between the representative pixel and a pixel corresponding to the representative pixel, in the second image; a segmentation unit which partitions the first image into plural segments, based on a similarity between pixel values; and a depth data generation unit which determines, for each segment, a disparity value of the segment, based on the disparity value of the representative pixel included in the segment to generate depth data indicative of depths corresponding to the plural segments.
US09153060B2	Method for estimating a GRAPPA reconstruction kernel A method for improving the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of TGRAPPA. The SNR of the ACS lines is proportional to the condition number of the GRAPPA kernel encoding equations. Therefore, the GRAPPA kernel estimated from higher SNR ACS lines amplifies the random noise in GRAPPA reconstruction. In TGRAPPA reconstruction of dynamic image series, a widely used method to acquire ACS lines is to average-all-frame (AAF). The present disclosure utilizes a tile-all-frame (TAF) as ACS lines to improve the SNR of the reconstructed images.
US09153051B2	Visualization of parallel co-ordinates Parallel co-ordinates associated with a business scenario represent underlying data of the business scenario. Based upon associated categorical variables, the parallel co-ordinates are divided into a plurality of segments. Each segment includes a pair of continuous variables represented as a pair of axes of the parallel co-ordinates. The pairs of axes of the parallel co-ordinates are fragmented to generate bi-variant bins. The bi-variant bines include continuous values corresponding to each fragment of the pair of axis. An associated backend database is queried to determine aggregated tuples of continuous values between each bi-variant bin of the corresponding pair of axes. Based on the aggregated tuples, a statistical visualization of the aggregated tuples between the bi-variant bins for the axes is generating. The statistical visualization includes a distribution of the tuples for the plurality of segments corresponding to the parallel co-ordinates.
US09153050B2	Borehole and well data visualization A visualization system for visualizing data obtained in a borehole includes a processor configured to process the data based on user input and instructions and provide output for display on a display device. The system may also include a computer-readable medium configured to store the instructions, the instructions including commands to output values of two or more types of parameters at two or more depth values. The instructions may include commands to provide a perspective top-down or bottom-up fly-through display of the borehole including a zoomed-in image of values closest to a user. The processor may also output a display of a photographic image at each of the two or more depth values based on a correspondence between the values of the two or more types of parameters and the plurality of parameters associated with the photographic image.
US09153047B1	Systems and methods for data and model-driven image reconstruction and enhancement Systems and methods are disclosed for image reconstruction and enhancement, using a computer system. One method includes acquiring a plurality of images associated with a target anatomy; determining, using a processor, one or more associations between subdivisions of localized anatomy of the target anatomy identified from the plurality of images, and local image regions identified from the plurality of images; performing an initial image reconstruction based on image acquisition information of the target anatomy; and updating the initial image reconstruction or generating a new image reconstruction based on the image acquisition information and the one or more determined associations.
US09153044B2	Image signal processing device, display device, and television for reducing uneven luminance image signals A liquid crystal display device 10 according to the present invention includes a processing device 12 configured to process an image signal D to be input into a pixel P of a liquid crystal panel 40 configured to provide a display based on light applied from LEDs 54 arranged in a peripheral area R2. The process device 12 includes a receiving section 22, a correction section 24, and a calculation section 28, for example. The calculation section is configured to calculate luminance components to be provided by the respective LEDs 54 to the pixel P based on a distance between each LED 54 and the pixel P, add a total luminance that is a sum of the luminance components to be provided by the LEDs 54 to a predetermined expected luminance to calculate an added luminance, and calculate a correction coefficient HP with respect to the pixel P based on a luminance ratio between the added luminance and the reference luminance.
US09153042B2	Image processing apparatus In an image processing apparatus, regarding plural character areas in the character image of each color, an image compressing unit 6 includes one of the character areas from which a distance to another one of the character areas is either equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value into a character image other than the character image in which the other one of the character areas is included, and compresses image data of the other one of the character areas separately from other image data.
US09153040B2	Image processing device and image processing method Provided is an image processing apparatus including a prediction section that generates a predicted value of a color difference component of a pixel of an image to be decoded by using a function of a value of a corresponding luminance component, a coefficient calculation section that calculates a coefficient of the function used by the prediction section by referencing a pixel around a block to which the pixel belongs, and a controller that controls a ratio of a number of reference pixels used by the coefficient calculation section to a block size of the block.
US09153039B2	Method for reducing and compressing raw detector data to be transmitted of a quanta-counting detector, detector transmission path and CT system A method is disclosed for reducing and compressing raw detector data to be transmitted of a quanta-counting detector. Count patterns are determined in the raw detector data, encoded with a reduced bit depth by comparison with the raw detector data, and the encoded count patterns are transmitted and decoded following the transmission. A data transmission path between a quanta-counting detector and a computer system is further disclosed, wherein program segments/modules are provided, which execute the afore-cited method steps during operation. Further, a CT system including such a data transmission path is also disclosed.
US09153038B2	Method for carrying out a dynamic range compression in traffic photography The invention relates to a method for carrying out a dynamic range compression in traffic photography for representation having greater detail fidelity in images created in connection with traffic monitoring installations. The problem addressed by the invention is that of finding a possibility for achieving, in the case of digitally obtained images in traffic photography, whilst precluding the different subjective influences on the part of the processing personnel, a representation of the dark regions with greater detail fidelity, without the information of the brighter regions being lost in the process. According to the invention, this problem is solved by means of a method for carrying out a specific dynamic range compression in traffic photography.
US09153037B2	Image decoding device, image encoding device, image decoding method, and image encoding method An image decoding device which decodes, by pipeline processing which includes plural processes, an encoded image obtained by encoding plural blocks of at least two sizes divided from the image includes: a first storage unit having a capacity for storing two or more blocks having a largest size of the at least two sizes; a first process unit which performs a first process among the plural processes on the plural blocks sequentially, and sequentially stores the plural blocks on which the first process has been performed into the first storage unit; and a second process unit sequentially extracts the plural blocks from the first storage unit, and performs a second process among the plural processes on the extracted plural blocks sequentially.
US09153036B2	Texture detection in image processing An embodiment relates to a method for the detection of texture of a digital image, including providing a raw data image of the image by means of Bayer image sensors, determining noise in at least a region of the raw data image and determining the texture based on the determined noise without using a high pass or low pass filter.
US09153033B2	Medical image processing apparatus and method thereof [Object] The invention is intended to provide a medical image processing apparatus in which improvement of accuracy of boundary detection of a heart is achieved.[Solving Means] A medical image processing apparatus acquires volume data of a heat, detects a three-dimensional left ventricle coordinate system composed of three axes including at least a left ventricle long axis of the heart from the volume data; uses a boundary model expressed in the left ventricle coordinate system and detects a left ventricle boundary from the volume data, and displays a cross-sectional image orthogonal to at least one axis of the three axes of the left ventricle coordinate system together with the detected left ventricle boundary on the cross-sectional image.
US09153031B2	Modifying video regions using mobile device input Apparatus and methods are disclosed for modifying video based on user input and or face detection data received with a mobile device to generate foreground regions (e.g., to separate a user image from background in the video). According to one disclosed embodiment, a method comprises receiving user input and/or face regions generated with a mobile device, producing an initial representation for segmenting input video into a plurality of portions based on the user input, where the initial representation includes probabilities for one or more regions of the input video being designated as foreground regions or background regions. Based on the initial representation, input video is segmented by designating one or more of the regions of the input video as foreground regions or background regions.
US09153024B2	Method and system for predicting spatial and temporal distributions of therapeutic substance carriers A method and system for predicting spatial and temporal distributions of therapeutic substance carriers within a body of a user, comprising: at a computing system, receiving an image dataset and a spectra dataset of a therapeutic substance carrier generated from at least one of an imaging model and a spectra-generating module; transforming the image dataset and the spectra dataset into a set of characteristics, wherein the set of characteristics comprises electrotopological characteristics and geometrical characteristics; generating a set of pharmacokinetic parameters and a set of pharmacodynamic parameters for the therapeutic substance carrier based upon the set of characteristics and a transformation model; and transforming the set of pharmacokinetic parameters and the set of pharmacodynamic parameters into a spatial distribution and a temporal profile of the therapeutic substance carrier, based upon a predictive model incorporating physiological parameters of the body, thereby predicting distributions of the therapeutic substance carrier within the body.
US09153023B2	Diagnostic image change highlighter Systems and methods are disclosed which enable more accurate examination of industrial diagnostic images, for example x-ray, ultrasound and terahertz camera images. The systems and methods highlight anomalies that have changed between the collection times of two or more diagnostic images, and can also provide objective scoring of the degree of change.
US09153017B1	System and method for optimized chroma subsampling A method includes obtaining, at one or more computing devices, an input image; determining a first value of a quality metric for the input image; generating a first chroma subsampled representation of the input image; and generating a reconstructed image based on the chroma subsampled representation. The method also includes determining a second value of the quality metric for the reconstructed image; determining an error value based on the first value of the quality metric and the second value of the quality metric; and generating a second chroma subsampled representation of the input image based in part on the error value.
US09153012B2	Diagnostic image features close to artifact sources When correcting for artifacts on an attenuation map caused by an artifact source in a computed tomography image, nuclear images are reconstructed two or more times, each time using a different correction technique or uncorrected attenuation data. Corresponding voxels in the reconstructed images are compared to identify local areas that change, i.e., are fragile and therefore low-confidence, and areas that do not vary or exhibit little variance among the plurality of reconstructed images and are thus accorded a higher confidence. The reconstructed nuclear image is overlaid with color encoding indicative of the amount of confidence accorded to each voxel value obtained by attenuation-corrected tomographic reconstruction.
US09153008B2	Caching for reduced depth and/or color buffer bandwidth In accordance with some embodiments, caching may be improved for tiles on shared edges between triangles. In some embodiments, the technique may be used for either color and depth caches or both caches.
US09153004B2	Product image interpolating device, method and non-transitory information recording medium A product imaging device (121) is provided which facilitates a user to capture the image sequence of entire surroundings of a product. An image sensor unit (201) senses incident light from the external world where the product is disposed and outputs an image representing a result of the sensing. An instruction receiving unit (202) receives an image-capture instruction from the user. A memory unit (203) stores the image sensed by the image sensor unit (201) upon reception of an image-capture instruction. A finder display unit (204) synthesizes the image stored in the memory unit (203) with an image presently sensed by the image sensor unit (201) and displays a synthesized image on a finder screen.
US09153003B2	Generation and data management of a medical study using instruments in an integrated media and medical system In general, a computer-implemented method is described for receiving one or more requests to generate a medical study, retrieving from one or more data repositories one or more medical study instruments, receiving a selection of a particular medical study instrument to use in the medical study, generating by one or more computers a list of one or more research collaborators invited to review the medical study, and generating by one or more computers a list of one of more participants invited to join the medical study.
US09152996B2	Methods and system for visually designing trading strategies and execution thereof In one embodiment, the instant invention includes a computer-implemented method having steps of: providing a plurality of pre-programmed components; receiving an alert strategy, representing a strategy diagram made on a computer screen from the plurality of provided pre-programmed components; validating the alert strategy, where the validation includes generating, real-time, a smart chart for the alert strategy; receiving a selection of at least one trading instrument for which the alert strategy to be executed; executing the alert strategy for the trading instrument based, at least in part, on one of: i) historical market data and/or ii) real-time market data, where the execution of the at least one alert strategy automatically reflected in the generated smart chart; and generating a buy/sell alert when the execution of the alert strategy meets a condition pre-determined by the alert strategy.
US09152989B2	Business event processing In one example embodiment, a system comprises an event processing module accessible over a network; an event producer module associated with the event processing module and configured to monitor an action or directive of a consumer resource and, in response to a detected action or directive, generate an event and event metadata. The system further includes a conversion module associated with the event processing module and configured to acquire the event metadata and generate a generic event based on the acquired event metadata, and a transport module configured to distribute the generic event to a plurality of consumer resources.
US09152986B2	Apparatus, method and process of influencing information gathered by a tethered item and computer-readable medium thereof A tethered item is associated with an identifier that uniquely identifies the item, and one or more content processing devices execute obtaining an identifier of the item, and correlating the obtained item identifier with information related to the tethered item.
US09152983B2	Method of compensating a provider for advertisements displayed on a mobile phone A method and apparatus for advertising on a mobile phone. In one embodiment the method includes the steps of downloading an advertisement to the mobile phone using an advertisement server; selecting the downloaded advertisement on the mobile phone by a user of the mobile phone; providing by a server additional information in response to the user selection; and tracking the selection and additional information by the server. In another embodiment the compensation provided is in response to the display screen of said advertisement. In another embodiment the step of providing additional information includes the step of using space reserved, in the user interface of the mobile phone, for advertisements. Another aspect the invention relates to a system for displaying advertisements on a mobile phone. In one embodiment the system includes a server; and a mobile phone in communication with said server.
US09152980B2	Email-based e-commerce An electronic commerce (e-commerce) system may send advertisement emails to customers that are registered with the e-commerce system. The advertisement emails may include mailto hyperlinks. Each mailto hyperlink may be associated with a product that is being offered for sale, and each mailto hyperlink describes an email message that may be generated when that hyperlink is selected. When a mailto hyperlink is selected, the generated email message may include one or more parameters related to the product associated with the hyperlink, such as an identifier of the product. The generated email message may then be transmitted to the e-commerce system. The e-commerce system may receive the message and, based on the parameters in the received message, execute a transaction to purchase the identified product on behalf of the customer.
US09152979B2	Word recognition and ideograph or in-app advertising system A non-transitory processor readable medium storing processor executable instructions is described. The processor executable instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: receive application data indicative of text from a user device via a communications network; analyze the application data for one or more indicator being at least a portion of the text entered into the application and having one or more meaning; retrieve one or more selected ideograph from a database populated with ideographs received from and associated with one or more advertisers, the one or more selected ideograph being indicative of a graphical representation of the one or more meanings of the one or more indicator; transmit the one or more selected ideograph to the user device via the communications network; and charge a fee to at least one advertiser associated with the one or more selected ideograph.
US09152977B2	Click fraud detection Systems and methods for detecting instances of click fraud are disclosed. Click fraud occurs when, for example, a user, malware, bot, or the like, clicks on a pay per click advertisement (e.g., hyperlink), a paid search listing, or the like without a good faith interest in the underlying subject of the hyperlink. Such fraudulent clicks can be expensive for an advertising sponsor. Statistical information, such as ratios of unpaid clicks to pay per clicks, are extracted from an event database. The statistical information of global data is used as a reference data set to compare to similar statistical information for a local data set under analysis. In one embodiment, when the statistical data sets match relatively well, no click fraud is determined to have occurred, and when the statistical data sets do not match relatively well, click fraud is determined to have occurred.
US09152975B2	Wayfinding device The invention relates to wayfinding devices including an integral changeable space for advertisements which enable the municipality to provide pedestrian wayfinding and reduce or eliminate the cost of such wayfinding system. The wayfinding device includes a stylized compass and a message element. The stylized compass defines an inner space and is intended to be embedded in a concrete panel and installed in a sidewalk, building façade, kiosk bus stop shelter and/or planter among other possibilities. The advertising element is positioned within the inner space defined by the stylized compass and includes an inner element and a centerpiece removable from the inner element. The centerpiece has a surface having a message portion.
US09152974B1	Systems and methods for processing transactions The present disclosure includes a system, method, and article of manufacture for performing dispute resolution. The method may include retrieving an identifier that associates a funds request with a rewards currency request, crediting, based on the identifier, a transaction account based upon the funds request, and crediting, based on the identifier, a rewards account based upon the rewards currency request. The method may further comprise crediting the transaction account less a value associated with the rewards currency request and/or generating a first statement that shows a funds balance and a second statement that shows a rewards currency balance. A funds balance may be credited by an amount associated with the funds request, and a rewards currency balance may be credited by an amount associated with the rewards currency request.
US09152969B2	Recommendation ranking system with distrust A recommendation ranking system that computes trust for entities based on negative expressions of trust. Negative expressions of trust are used to reduce the trust of entities. However, the system may discount entities that in the aggregate are distrusted. The system may be used with a social network to provide accurate, personalized recommendations for members of the social network. The network may be modeled as a voting network, with each member of the social network represented as a node and expressions of trust between members represented as weights on edges between nodes. Values of trust may be computed for nodes in the network and used to generate a recommendation. Opinions expressed on a topic may be weighted by trust in the node expressing the opinion. The system may be applied in other settings that can be modeled as a voting network, including ranking of Internet search results.
US09152968B2	System for and method of acting on beverage bottles A system for and a method of acting on beverage bottles has a plurality of bottles each provided with a device selected from the group consisting of an electrical device and an electronic device integrated in each of the beverage bottles without interfering with a content of the bottle and providing a function; and a unit for remotely acting on the devices of at least some of the beverage bottles with the use of internet so that the devices produce corresponding functions.
US09152967B2	Image forming apparatus, consumables ordering system and consumables ordering method When a device desired to acquire emission right information is selected on a selection screen displayed on a display unit and a “SEND” icon is manipulated, a control unit causes the display unit to display consumables information of consumables granted with emission rights and consumables not granted with emission rights that is received from a server. When a user selects a consumable item that is desired to be ordered from among consumables indicated by the consumables information displayed on the display unit, and manipulates a “SEND ORDER SHEET” icon on the ordering screen, the control unit sends an order sheet to the server. The control unit causes the display unit to display, in the case of receiving order sheet receipt notification from the server in response to the sent order sheet, the received order sheet receipt notification.
US09152966B2	Data reporting framework across on-premise and hosted CRM services A data reporting framework that works across on-premise and hosted Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms enabling definition and execution of secure custom reports is provided. A fetch query language of a CRM platform is used along with reporting service tools and constructs to enable users to upload and execute custom fetch based reports with support for expressions, code, formatting, and drill through. Users are also enabled to build simple reports from within CRM and, if needed, enhance those reports using reporting service tools and re-upload in CRM. Furthermore, custom reports may be executed in a sandboxed environment to provide full security in a multi-tenant, hosted CRM system.
US09152965B2	Method and devices for inter-terminal payments A method for inter-terminal payment and corresponding devices and computer programs loadable into said devices is disclosed. The method comprises a transfer of financial value from a payment device of a payer (PDPr) to a payment device of a payee (PDPe) with the assistance and the supervision of a trusted third party (TTP). Payment relevant data of the payee is transmitted to the payment device of the payer (PDPr) which triggers the transaction of financial value at the trusted third party (TTP) by a message. The trusted third party (TTP) releases a payment confirmation for the payer and the payee providing a status information on the financial transaction for the payer and the payee, respectively, and sends this information in a confirmation transmission procedure to the payment device of the payer (PDPr) and the payment device of the payee (PDPe), respectively.
US09152964B1	System and method for biometric signature authorization A system and method of obtaining and storing a signed agreement authorizing the use of a user's biometric data for the purpose of offering legal consent to agreements and transactions with one or more operators. The present invention imparts a process by which merchants and other service providers can access a verifying agreement indicating a user's intent to submit biometric data as a substitute for a written signature and the user's consent to abide by the terms and conditions of any agreements entered into by the submission of biometric data.
US09152958B2	Wireless device detection A managed message, having a structured messaging element, may be sent to a plurality of devices. Detection that a recipient device has a wireless device capability with audible message presentation may be performed. The message data of the managed message may be transformed to be sent to the recipient device according to a wireless device capability specific file set into a format for audible presentation of the message data. A response aggregation message having a plurality of message statuses of the managed message may also be received.
US09152952B2	Spam filtering and person profiles Systems and methods to reduce false positives in spam filtering. In one aspect, a method includes automatically generating profiles for persons identified in messages, such as incoming and outgoing e-mails. Messages flagged as spam can be checked against the profile to identify false positives.
US09152948B2	Method and system for providing a structured topic drift for a displayed set of user comments on an article A method and system for providing a structured topic drift for a displayed set of user comments on an article. The method includes determining an ordered sequence of topical recommendations based on one or more properties of the displayed set of user comments and user characteristics using a sequential recommendation model. The method also includes sampling one or more user comments for each of the topical recommendations. Further, the method includes appending, one by one, the one or more user comments for each of the topical recommendations to bottom of the displayed set of user comments. Moreover, the method includes updating the sequential recommendation model based on a user response to the one or more user comments for each of the topical recommendations. The system includes one or more electronic devices, a communication interface, a memory, and a processor.
US09152947B2	Real-time social networking Techniques for exploring social connections in an in-memory database include identifying an attribute in a user profile associated with a first user; executing a query against a data element stored in an in-memory database, the query including the attribute in the user profile; identifying a second user from results of the query, the second user associated with the data element based on a relationship between the second user and the first user defined by the attribute; and generating displayable information associated with the second user.
US09152946B2	Apparatuses, methods and systems for a lead generating hub The APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR A LEAD GENERATING HUB (“HUB”) facilitates the generation, evaluation, and recording of information and activities related to property transactions and associated communications. In embodiments, the HUB may be configured to identify leads for users based on user-entered information, user contacts, and/or the properties associated with a user and/or in which a user is interested. Leveraging connectivity between contract relationship management functionality, property listing service features, intelligent inbox coordination capabilities, and/or the like, the HUB may identify connections between user requirements and/or assets and opportunities to fulfill those requirements and/or to transact those assets.
US09152945B2	Systems and methods for automated rental management Systems and methods for automated vacation rental management via a website configured to allow property owners to be able to list their home or unit and information about the home or unit on the site for users to view and book rentals. The system allows the home or unit owners to be able to administer their own pages that are listing their homes, e.g. by editing their profile, rates, etc. Users are able to search by location and book times to stay at the vacation home, without interaction with the owner. The system enables automated management of the vacation property, via online payment of deposits and rental fees, automated updating of booking calendars, and automated communication between renters, cleaners, owners and any other entities associated with the process.
US09152944B2	Generating rapidly rotatable dimensional view of data objects Embodiments relate to systems and methods for generating generating a rapidly rotatable dimensional view of data objects. A modeling client can host modeling logic and an application programming interface (API) to create, access, manipulate, and import/export modeling objects used in modeling applications, such as engineering, medical, financial, and other modeling platforms. The source data accepted into the modeling client can include consumer or business-level applications, whose spreadsheet, database or other content can be extracted and encapsulated in object-oriented format, such as extensible markup language (XML) format. A set of dimensions of each model object can be associated via a set of linkages. A rotator widget or other interface object can be presented to allow a user to traverse the linkages and rapidly rotate through dimensions in a view, without having to manually switch or configure planes or other database dimensions, enhancing viewing efficiency of large layers.
US09152940B2	Method and apparatus for optimized shipping strategies accounting for endpoint requirements The cartonization process in a distribution center can be modified to account for factors which influence the efficiency with which the products distributed from the distribution center can be stocked onto store shelves, such as layout (i.e., planogram) information indicating where the various products will actually be located in a store.
US09152938B2	Agricultural machine and operator performance information systems and related methods In one example, a system can comprise a first data gathering mechanism set and a data processing mechanism set. The a first data gathering mechanism set can be configured to gather a first operational data set during operation of a first agricultural machine set, and to transmit the first operational data set to a network. The first operational data set can comprise information representative of one or more characteristics of an agricultural crop during production. The a data processing mechanism can be configured to store a combined data set comprising the first operational data set, and generate one or more reports based on the combined data set. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.
US09152932B2	Work units for content processing A system may create work units, each work unit including at least one of an input port or output port, each work unit configured to modify data that is received via the input port. In addition, the system may compose a workflow by connecting an output port of a first of the work units to an input port of a second of the work units, receive a work order, select the workflow in response to the work order, decompose the workflow into constituent work units, instantiate tasks that correspond to the constituent work units, and execute a work unit process for each of the tasks.
US09152926B2	Systems, methods, and media for updating a classifier Systems, methods, and media for updating a classifier are provided, in some embodiments, systems for updating a classifier are provided, the systems comprising: a hardware processor that is configured to: receive a sample; for each of a first plurality of weak learners, classify the sample using the weak learner, determine an outcome of the classification, and determine an up-dated error rate of the weak learner based on the outcome of the classification and at least one of: (i) a count of positive samples used to update the classifier, and (ii) a count of negative samples used to update the classifier; select a first weak learner from the first plurality of weak learners based on the updated error rate of the first weak learner; and update tire classifier based on the first weak learner.
US09152925B2	Method and system for prediction and root cause recommendations of service access quality of experience issues in communication networks Embodiments of the invention utilize advanced statistical data analytics to predict and provide recommendations for root-cause analysis for service access QoE issues in networks, such as 3G/4G networks. Using FCAPS data as predictor variables, embodiments are configured to set up the problem as a predictive regression or classification problem to estimate service access QoE related indicators. Some embodiments perform training and tuning of various non-linear statistical modelling algorithms, based for example on tree and ensemble methods, using network deregistration information from RAN logs.
US09152922B2	Methods, apparatus, and computer program products for quantum searching for multiple search targets A first iterative Grover Search process is performed by causing at least one quantum computer to perform a first series of Grover Searches according to a characteristic function for varying numbers of iterations to identify a first search target. The characteristic function is modified according to the identified first search target. A second iterative Grover Search process is performed by causing the at least one quantum computer to perform a second series of Grover Searches according to the modified characteristic function beginning with a number of iterations determined based on a number of iterations required for at least one prior iterative Grover Search process to identify a second search target.
US09152917B2	Framework for the evolution of electronic neural assemblies toward directed goals Methods and systems for the evolution of electronic neural assemblies toward directed goals. A compact computing architecture includes electronics that allows users of such an architecture to create autonomous agents, in real or virtual world and add intelligence to machines. An intelligent machine is composed of four basic modules: one or more sensors, one or more motors, a (Reward Input Output System) RIOS and a cortex. A number of genetically evolved detectors can project both to cortex and RIOS. At first the neurons within the cortex evolve to predict the structure of the sensory data followed by the structure of proprioceptive activations of its own motor system. Finally, once the cortex has learned its sensory and motor programs, it evolves to predict the reward signals, which comes in multiple channels but is dominated by the detection of the acquisition of free-energy.
US09152915B1	Apparatus and methods for encoding vector into pulse-code output Optical flow for a moving platform may be encoded into pulse output. Optical flow contribution induced due to the platform self-motion may be cancelled. The cancellation may be effectuated by (i) encoding the platform motion into pulse output; and (ii) inhibiting pulse generation by neurons configured to encode optical flow component optical flow that occur based on self-motion. The motion encoded may be coupled to the optical flow encoder via one or more connections. Connection propagation delay may be configured during encoder calibration in the absence of obstacles so as to provide system specific delay matrix. The inhibition may be based on a coincident arrival of the motion spiking signal via the calibrated connections to the optical flow encoder neurons. The coincident motion pulse arrival may be utilized in order to implement an addition of two or more vector properties.
US09152911B2	Switching between internal and external antennas The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for switching between internal and external antennas. In some implementations, a system includes an antenna, a connector, and a housing. The antenna is configured to communicate wirelessly transactions with transaction terminals. The connector is connected to the antenna and configured to connect a transaction card to the antenna in response to at least insertion in the housing. The housing enclosing at least a portion of the antenna and at least a portion of the connector and including one or more elements that form an opening for receiving the transaction card. In addition, the housing is substantially rectangular and includes a first portion with a first thickness and a second portion with a second thickness different from the first thickness and at least the thickness of the transaction card.
US09152907B2	Method and memory card for wireless digital content management A memory card is described, the memory card having a wireless transceiver module, a central processor, and a storage module. The memory card when physically and operably engaged in and with a digital camera, is configured to export digital data captured by the digital camera to a remote camera through the wireless transceiver module in response to an instruction received by the central processor from an inbuilt processor of the digital camera, and receive digital data from the remote camera through the wireless transceiver module in response to an instruction received by the central processor from the inbuilt processor.
US09152905B2	Microdevice arrays formed by magnetic assembly Microdevices containing a predetermined preferential axis of magnetization are disposed in an array having discreet regions. Under influence of a magnetic field, the microdevices can have at least twelve discrete orientations, and can advantageously be flipped upside down in place. Microdevices can be coded in a manner that supports a coding space of at least 102, 103, 106 or even 1010 or more choices, and can include one or more chemically reactive sites. The regions can be defined by long and short bars, in which microdevices span gaps between the longer bars, and the shorter bars measure less than 60% of such gaps. Preferred embodiments are also provided to produce microfabricated microdevices for magnetic assembly-based arraying.
US09152896B2	Image forming apparatus and image forming method An image forming apparatus includes an image density detector, an image forming device, a rotator, an image density controller, and a timing correction data obtainer. The image density detector detects a toner density of an image formed on an image bearing member. An image forming device forms the image using a density adjustable element that adjusts the density of the image. The rotator forms an image pattern while the density adjustable element is changed, and a density thereof is detected by the image density detector. The image density controller controls the image forming device using a density correction data for the density adjustable element corresponding to a rotational period of the rotator. The timing correction data obtainer obtains timing correction data for correction of driving timing of the image forming device based on a change in the density of the image pattern detected by the image density detector.
US09152892B2	Global printing system and method for rendering encoding scheme independent labels having serialization data A system and method for parsing data formatted in a plurality of encoding schemes at a printer is provided. The method comprises receiving serialization data from at least one host computer at a printer where at least a portion of the serialization data is encoded in at least one encoding scheme. The method also includes converting the data into a first encoding scheme. The method also includes parsing the converted data into an array of combining semantic clusters based on a plurality of rules, each combining semantic cluster comprising a plurality of code points. The method also includes generating a plurality of labels for printing based on the array of combining semantic clusters where each of the plurality of labels are printed such that one or more elements within the array are at least one of incremented or decremented.
US09152889B2	Power supplier and image forming apparatus including the power supplier A power supplier includes a power supply to provide a supplied power to the power supplier, a first capacitor charged by a predetermined voltage corresponding to supplied power supply, a power state detector to detect an on-state or an off-state of the power supply, a first controller to generate a first discharge control signal that has a signal level varying according to the state of the power supply and controls discharging of the predetermined voltage charged in the first capacitor, and a discharger connected to the first capacitor in parallel and to discharge the predetermined voltage charged in the first capacitor in response to the first discharge control signal, thereby reducing discharge risks to a user.
US09152883B2	System and method for increasing the accuracy of optical character recognition (OCR) A system and/or method for increasing the accuracy of optical character recognition (OCR) for at least one item, comprising: obtaining OCR results of OCR scanning from at least one OCR module; creating at least one OCR seed using at least a portion of the OCR results; creating at least one OCR learn set using at least a portion of the OCR seed; and applying the OCR learn set to the at least one item to obtain additional optical character recognition (OCR) results.
US09152882B2	Location-aided recognition A mobile device having the capability of performing real-time location recognition with assistance from a server is provided. The approximate geophysical location of the mobile device is uploaded to the server. Based on the mobile device's approximate geophysical location, the server responds by sending the mobile device a message comprising a classifier and a set of feature descriptors. This can occur before an image is captured for visual querying. The classifier and feature descriptors are computed during an offline training stage using techniques to minimize computation at query time. The classifier and feature descriptors are used to perform visual recognition in real-time by performing the classification on the mobile device itself.
US09152879B2	Keypoint descriptor generation by complex wavelet analysis The present application relates to a method of generating a keypoint descriptor for identifying an object in an image or a sequence of images, the keypoint descriptor being substantially invariant to a transformation of the object in the image. The method includes receiving object data representing an object for identification in an image; processing the object data to generate at least one basis function representing a feature having undergone at least one transformation or a transformation sequence across several consecutive frames, optionally using transformations that are out of a plane of the image to recognize objects from multiple views; modifying a prototype wavelet function based on the at least one basis function to generate a plurality of modified wavelet functions; comparing the plurality of modified wavelet functions with the at least one basis function; selecting a modified wavelet function of the plurality of modified wavelet functions based on the comparison of the plurality of modified wavelet functions with the at least one basis function; and processing an input image or input orientation field according to the selected modified wavelet function to generate the keypoint descriptor. The present application further relates to a method of identifying an object in an image using a keypoint descriptor; and processing apparatus and computer program products for implementing a method of the present application.
US09152870B2	Computer vision as a service A computer vision service includes technologies to, among other things, analyze computer vision or learning tasks requested by computer applications, select computer vision or learning algorithms to execute the requested tasks based on one or more performance capabilities of the computer vision or learning algorithms, perform the computer vision or learning tasks for the computer applications using the selected algorithms, and expose the results of performing the computer vision or learning tasks for use by the computer applications.
US09152869B2	Biometric authentication systems and methods Biometric authentication devices, systems and methods are provided. The authentication device includes biometric reader configured for generating raw biometric data indicative of a physiological characteristic of a user; and processor operatively coupled to the biometric reader, the processor being configured for: receiving the raw biometric data, generating derivative biometric data by processing a portion of the raw biometric data relating to a pre-selected aspect of the physiological characteristic, the pre-selected aspect being suitable for identifying the user, the derivative biometric data being indicative of a plurality of instances of the pre-selected aspect in the raw biometric data, generating biometric identification data from the derivative biometric data, the biometric identification data being based upon relationships between the plurality of instances of the pre-selected aspect in the raw biometric data, and using the biometric identification data to identify the user.
US09152868B2	Personal identification combining proximity sensing with biometrics Described is a technology by which the identity of a person (e.g., a customer in a commercial transaction) is determinable without active identification effort, via biometric data is obtained without action by the person. Machine processing of the biometric data over a set of possible persons, determined from secondary proximity sensing, is used to determine or assist in determining the identity of the person.
US09152867B2	Use of relatively permanent pigmented or vascular skin mark patterns in images for personal identification Embodiments include methods, devices, software, and systems for identifying a person based on relatively permanent pigmented or vascular skin mark (RPPVSM) patterns in images. Locations of RPPVSMs in different images of people are point matched, and a correspondence probability that the point matched RPPVSMs are from different people is calculated. Other embodiments are also described. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US09152866B2	Lane departure warning system and method Provided is a lane departure warning system and method. The lane departure warning system includes an edge style classification map capture module, a road marker seed region detection module, a lane detection module, and a lane departure warning module, which can detect, by using an edge style classification map, and through road marker seed region detection and lane detection, lane edge pixels and identify real road marker edge pixels under a circumstance that there is no obvious gradient change or light is reflected or an obstacle exists, thereby determining a complete lane, and effectively finding a Region Of Interest (ROI) to simplify a procedure of lane detection.
US09152861B2	Individual product identification system, individual product identification method, and device and program used by same The present invention is an individual product identification method, comprising: previously storing epidermal pattern images in a predetermined scope with a predetermined location of a registered product taken as a reference; imaging the epidermal pattern in the predetermined scope with the predetermined location of the product, being a target of individual product identification, taken as a reference; correcting the imaged epidermal pattern image of the product, being a target of individual product identification to an image for collation with the registered product with the predetermined location of the product taken as a reference: and collating an image characteristic of the epidermal pattern image of the registered product with the image characteristic of the corrected epidermal pattern image, and identifying whether the product, being a target of individual product identification, is one of the registered products.
US09152860B2	Methods and apparatus for capturing, processing, training, and detecting patterns using pattern recognition classifiers A system, methods, and apparatus for generating pattern recognition classifiers are disclosed. An example method includes identifying graphical objects within an image of a card object, for each identified graphical object: i) creating a bounding region encompassing the graphical object such that a border of the bounding region is located at a predetermined distance from segments of the graphical object, ii) determining pixels within the bounding region that correspond to the graphical object, iii) determining an origin of the graphical object based on an origin rule, iv) determining a text coordinate relative to the origin for each determined pixel, and v) determining a statistical probability that features are present within the graphical object, each of the features including at least one pixel having text coordinates and for each graphical object type, combining the statistical probabilities for each of the features of the identified graphical objects into a classifier data structure.
US09152854B2	Image processing apparatus and method An image processing apparatus and method. The image processing apparatus includes: a data acquisition device for acquiring image data of a subject including a target bone; and a data processor for acquiring binary image data by performing thresholding based on the image data, segmenting the binary image data into a plurality of segments by labeling, determining one of the plurality of segments as a target image based on image characteristics of the target bone, and measuring a length of the target bone based on the target image.
US09152853B2	Gesture recognition in vehicles A method and system for performing gesture recognition of a vehicle occupant employing a time of flight (TOF) sensor and a computing system in a vehicle. An embodiment of the method of the invention includes the steps of receiving one or more raw frames from the TOF sensor, performing clustering to locate one or more body part clusters of the vehicle occupant, calculating the location of the tip of the hand of the vehicle occupant, determining whether the hand has performed a dynamic or a static gesture, retrieving a command corresponding to one of the determined static or dynamic gestures, and executing the command.
US09152851B2	Systems and methods for behavioral monitoring and calibration Systems and methods for the analysis of the diverse behaviors of animal subjects in defined areas are provided, including tools for filtering and analysis of high-resolution behavioral data. These systems and methods provide an opportunity to examine behavioral patterns with levels of precision and quantization that have not been previously achieved. Methods and systems for managing and analyzing the very large and unique datasets produced by behavioral monitoring systems, including quality assessment and control, archiving, data query, data reduction, analytical procedures and visualization techniques are provided. Such detailed analyses of spontaneous behavior provide fundamental insights into the neural organization of behavior and enable detection of genetic, pharmacological and environmental influences on brain function with high sensitivity.
US09152846B2	Authentication apparatus that authenticates object, authentication method, and storage medium An authentication apparatus capable of reducing erroneous authentication. A face detection section detects a face area of an object from an image. A feature information extraction processor extracts feature information (image data) indicative of a feature of the object. An authentication determination section performs authentication by comparing registered image data and feature information of a specific object. A registration information processor determines, when one of objects associated with registered image data items is selected as an object to which the feature information of the specific object is to be added, whether or not to additionally register the feature information of the specific object as image data for the selected object, according to a degree of similarity between image data of the selected object and the feature information of the specific object.
US09152845B2	Human attribute estimation system, human attribute estimation apparatus and human attribute estimation method To provide a human attribute estimation system capable of improving estimation accuracy irrespective of an environment-dependent attribute is provided. An age/gender estimation system as a human attribute estimation system is provided with: a monitoring camera photographing a human targeted by attribute estimation and generating an image; an age/gender estimating section estimating an attribute of the human shown in the image generated by the monitoring camera using an estimation parameter; and an environment-dependent attribute specifying section specifying an environment-dependent attribute, which is an attribute dependent on an installation environment of the monitoring camera. The age/gender estimating section uses a parameter generated on the basis of learning data having an environment-dependent attribute within a predetermined distance from the environment-dependent attribute acquired by the environment-dependent attribute specifying section in an environment-dependent attribute space, as the estimation parameter.
US09152842B2	Navigation assisted fingerprint enrollment An electronic device can include at least one fingerprint image sensor that obtains fingerprint image information, where the fingerprint information can include at least a first partial fingerprint image and a second partial fingerprint image. At least one fingerprint navigation sensor can be disposed to receive navigation information responsive to at least one of movement or orientation of a user's finger with respect to the at least one fingerprint image sensor. At least one processing unit can combine the first partial fingerprint image and the second partial fingerprint image into at least one combined fingerprint image utilizing the navigation information.
US09152841B1	Capacitive fingerprint sensor with improved sensing element The present invention relates to a capacitive fingerprint sensing device comprising a semiconductor substrate; and an array of sensing elements formed on the semiconductor substrate. Each of the sensing elements comprises a protective dielectric top layer; a sensing structure arranged underneath the top layer; and a charge amplifier connected to the sensing structure. The charge amplifier comprises a negative input connected to the sensing structure; a positive input; an output providing a sensing signal; a feedback capacitor; and a sense transistor having a gate constituting the negative input. The sense transistor is formed in an insulated well in the semiconductor substrate. The fingerprint sensing device further comprises excitation signal providing circuitry connected to the positive input of the charge amplifier and the well for changing electric potentials of the sensing structure and the well, to thereby reduce the influence of parasitic capacitances in the sensing element.
US09152836B2	Code scanning device and code scanning method using the same The present invention discloses a code scanning device including a code scanner, a supporting member and a data processing and controlling unit. The unit is configured for receiving data information of a scanned code and determining whether or not the data information is correct. If correct, the unit stops scanning of the code scanner and controls the supporting member to move so that a next code is shifted to a scanning position. Wherein when the data information is incorrect or the unit fails to receive data information, the unit controls the code scanner to keep on scanning, and when scanning time exceeds a second predetermined time and the unit fails to receive correct data information, the unit stops scanning and controls the supporting member to move so that a next given code is shifted to the scanning position. The scanning device has an improved scanning speed and a high scanning reliability.
US09152829B2	Method and system for determining information related to a drug reservoir using an electronic sensor A medical delivery device may include at least one electronic sensor and a decoding module. The at least one electronic sensor and the decoding module are configured to (i) identify a coding feature of a drug reservoir inserted in the medical delivery device and (ii) determine information related to the drug reservoir based on the identified coding feature.
US09152828B2	System and method for preventing cashier and customer fraud at retail checkout Systems and methods for preventing fraud during retail checkout are described. A system includes: item identifier acquisition devices to acquire identifiers (e.g., barcodes) of items to be transacted; cameras or imagers to acquire images of the items to be transacted; an object recognition component to perform visual recognition of the acquired items through comparison of the acquired images of the items with a database and obtain identifiers of items represented in the database that correspond to an acquired image according to a correspondence criterion; a comparison component to compare a set of identifiers acquired through the item identifier acquisition devices with a set of identifiers obtained through the object recognition component; and an alerting component to provide an alert in case of discrepancies between the two sets.
US09152827B2	Apparatus for performing matrix vector multiplication approximation using crossbar arrays of resistive memory devices An apparatus that performs the mathematical matrix-vector multiplication approximation operations using crossbar arrays of resistive memory devices (e.g. memristor, resistive random-access memory, spintronics, etc.). A crossbar array formed by resistive memory devices serves as a memory array that stores the coefficients of a matrix. Combined with input and output analog circuits, the crossbar array system realizes the method of performing matrix-vector multiplication approximation operations with significant performance, area and energy advantages over existing methods and designs. This invention also includes an extended method that realizes the auto-associative neural network recall function using the resistive memory crossbar architecture.
US09152826B2	Damage detection for an anti-theft interface An electronic device is provided, the electronic device having an anti-theft interface. If damage to the anti-theft interface is detected, the electronic device enters a user authentication mode.
US09152822B2	Method and apparatus for securing programming data of a programmable device Configuration data for a programmable integrated circuit device is at least partially encrypted according to at least one encryption scheme. A plurality of key stores store a plurality of decryption keys for the at least one encryption scheme. Control circuitry identifies a required key from the at least partially encrypted configuration data and generates a key selection signal. Key selection circuitry responsive to the key selection signal reads the plurality of key stores and provides the required key to the control circuitry. The control circuitry may include decryption circuitry that decrypts the at least partially encrypted configuration data using the required key. In some embodiments, different portions of the configuration data, which may represent separate partial reconfigurations of the device, require different decryption keys. Keys may be generated from combinations of the contents of the key stores.
US09152817B1	Methods and systems for performing data protection operations A method for performing a data protection operation. The method may include receiving a virtual node that identifies a plurality of physical nodes. The virtual node may be associated with a clustered database. The method may include receiving a request to perform a data protection operation on the clustered database. The method may also include using information from the virtual node to identify a first physical node in the plurality of physical nodes and attempting to perform the data protection operation on the clustered database through the first physical node. A computer-readable medium is also disclosed.
US09152811B2	Transparent real-time access to encrypted non-relational data Embodiments include a computer system, method and program product for encrypted file access. An access program module, connected to at least one file system, intercepts a data request for accessing a plaintext file with information stored physically and consecutively on a hard disk and having a pre-determined order and length expected by a program that sends the data request, wherein the plaintext file includes a plaintext record having a key field and a plaintext data field. The access program module determines an encrypted file, associated with the plaintext file, based on a configuration file and the data request, wherein the configuration file indicates the encrypted file associated with the plaintext file. The access program module determines one or more encryption keys based on the configuration file. The access program module accesses an encrypted data field within the encrypted file based on the encryption keys and the key field.
US09152809B1	Segmented architecture method and system A method and system for segmented architecture for managing access to electronic documents having private data and public data is disclosed herein. A request for an electronic document is sent to a segmentation server, and the request becomes two queries: one for the public or non-confidential data of the electronic document and one for the private or confidential data of the electronic document. The segmentation server determines if the request is made over a private network or a public network to determine whether private data should be sent in response to the request.
US09152806B2	Computer ecosystem providing privacy and tracking in sharing user-generated content by encrypting the UGC at the imaging source Methods and apparatus are disclosed for securely sharing user-generated content using DRM principles, and for tracking statistics of content viewing. In this way, a user can generate protected content that can still be shared among friends on, e.g., a social network.
US09152805B2	Security device A security device connected to a host device which includes a processor performing a scramble operation and a storage unit, the security device comprising: a storage unit in which the first authentication code is stored; a random number generation unit; an encryption unit; and a controller which performs a scramble operation, wherein the controller generates a first scramble key by performing the scramble operation on the random number and the first authentication code and transmits the first scramble key to the host device, and the controller receives, from the host device, scramble data generated by performing the scramble operation on encryption target data according to the random number, generates the encryption target data by performing the scramble operation on the scramble data and the random number, generates encryption data, and transmits the encrypted data to the host device.
US09152804B2	Media resource access control method and device A media resource access control method and device, where the method includes: receiving, by a universal plug and play (UPnP) media server, a media resource identifier sent by a control point and acquiring preset verification information corresponding to the media resource identifier; receiving a media resource acquisition request sent by a UPnP media player, where the media resource acquisition request contains to-be-verified information; and verifying the to-be-verified information by using the preset verification information, and if the verification is passed, sending a media resource corresponding to the media resource identifier to the UPnP media player.
US09152797B2	Device and method for secure memory access In a secure computing environment, a method, system and device are provided for loading stored encryption key data from a protected non-volatile memory of a portable device. A boot loader program is initiated after the portable device is powered on, encryption key data is loaded from the protected non-volatile memory of the portable device, and access to the protected non-volatile memory is disabled after a predetermined time after the portable device is powered on. In this way, the encryption key data is loaded from the protected non-volatile memory of a portable device before the boot operating system is loaded.
US09152792B2	Method and system for unlocking and deleting file and folder A method and system for unlocking and deleting a file or a folder. The method for unlocking the file or the folder comprises: receiving an unlock request of a file or a folder, wherein the unlock request includes an input parameter; verifying whether the input parameter complies with a preset condition; if the input parameter complies with the preset condition, correcting a deformed path format of the file or the folder and/or the special file name of the file or the special folder name of the folder according to a preset rule; determining whether restrictive setting of the corrected file or folder is present; and if yes, cleaning the restrictive setting of the file or the folder. The embodiments of the present invention relieves layer by layer the protections arranged by files infected with a virus by employing a plurality of means such as removing the read-only lock, removing the routine lock, adding the authority and closing the handle, thereby increasing the confrontation capacity of a security software against a malignant program.
US09152791B1	Removal of fake anti-virus software Lists of keywords by type are collected that are associated with fake antivirus software. One more rules are created including the keywords that likely indicate fake antivirus software. The keywords and rules are stored in a local database on a computer. Each executing process of a computer is scanned using the rules. A match indicates that the scanned process is likely fake antivirus software. A check is then performed to determine if the scanned process is actually legitimate antivirus software (using a digital certificate, a white list, or a call to a function). If the check fails a determination is made that the identified process is fake antivirus software. The process may then be displayed, cleaned, quarantined, or permanently removed from the computer. The cursor may be dragged into the window of an executing process in order to selectively scan that process only. Or, any number of executing processes may be selected to be scanned by the rules. A log function allows a computer user to view a history of actions taken by the above technique.
US09152789B2	Systems and methods for dynamic cloud-based malware behavior analysis A cloud-based method, a behavioral analysis system, and a cloud-based security system can include a plurality of nodes communicatively coupled to one or more users, wherein the plurality of nodes each perform inline monitoring for one of the one or more users for security comprising malware detection and preclusion; and a behavioral analysis system communicatively coupled to the plurality of nodes, wherein the behavioral analysis system performs offline analysis for any suspicious content from the one or more users which is flagged by the plurality of nodes; wherein the plurality of nodes each comprise a set of known malware signatures for the inline monitoring that is periodically updated by the behavioral analysis system based on the offline analysis for the suspicious content.
US09152785B2	Providing a flexible protection model in a computer system by decoupling protection from computer privilege level Methods and systems for providing a flexible protection model in a computer system by decoupling protection from privilege are described. Information describing a relationship between the two or more domains that define types of protection and portions of code is received. The portions of code with the multiple domains that provide fine granularities of protection can be executed in the same privilege level. The relationship is not required to be linear. In addition, the overhead associated with crossing protection domains is relatively low with respect to traditional operating system context switching overhead.
US09152784B2	Detection and prevention of installation of malicious mobile applications A combination of shim and back-end server applications may be used to identify and block the installation of malicious applications on mobile devices. In practice, a shim application registers with a mobile device's operating system to intercept application installation operations. Upon intercepting an attempted installation operation, the shim application identifies the application seeking to be installed, generates a key uniquely identifying the application, and transmits the key over a network connection to a back-end server. The back-end server may be configured to crawl the Internet to identify malicious applications and compile and maintain a database of such applications. Upon receiving a key from the shim application, the back-end server can search its database to locate a matching application and, if found, respond to the mobile device with the application's status (e.g., malicious or not). The shim application can utilize this information to allow or block installation of the application.
US09152778B2	Provisional administrator privileges A system grants “provisional privileges” to a user request for the purpose of provisionally performing a requested transaction. If the provisionally-performed transaction does not put the system in a degraded state, the transaction is authorized despite the user request having inadequate privileges originally.
US09152772B2	Device and portable storage device which are capable of transferring rights object, and a method of transferring rights object A device and a portable storage device which are capable of transferring a rights object (RO) and a method of transferring an RO are provided. The method includes enabling a device to transmit an installation request message to a portable storage device for installing a copy of an original RO present in the device in the portable storage device, enabling the device to install the copy of the original RO in the portable storage device, and enabling the device to receive an installation response message indicating that the copy of the original RO has been successfully installed in the portable storage device from the portable storage device.
US09152771B2	Apparatus and method of managing a licensable item An apparatus and method of managing a licensable item includes accessing a licensing policy related to managing a licensable item, and a license agent making a determination to act to enforce the licensing policy or to first communicate with a server before acting to enforce the licensing policy. Further, the apparatus and method include enforcing the licensing policy in accordance with the determination to act to enforce the licensing policy or to first communicate with a server before acting.
US09152770B2	Content reproduction system, information processing terminal, media server, secure device, and server secure device A content reproduction system includes an information processing terminal and a secure device. The information processing terminal receives a copyright protection application program from an application distribution server. The copyright protection application program includes a first program having a first execution format executable in the information processing terminal and a second program having a second execution format different from the first execution format and executable in the secure device. The second program is encrypted with a program key held in the secure device. By extracting and executing the first program, the information processing terminal extracts the second program and transmits the second program to the secure device. The secure device receives the second program from the information processing terminal, decrypts the second program using a program key stored in a key storing unit, and executes the second program.
US09152766B2	Computer-assisted infusion planning and simulation A method for planning an infusion of a medical liquid by an infusion apparatus comprising an infusion device, wherein the method comprises the steps of: acquiring planning scan data which represent a medical image of at least a body region (3) of a patient and are obtained by a planning scan before the infusion device is positioned; determining a planned device position from the planning scan data; acquiring verification scan data which represent a medical image of the region of the patient after the infusion device has been positioned; determining a source volume of the liquid from the verification scan data; and determining infusion parameters from the verification scan data and the source volume.
US09152760B2	Smart 3D PACS workflow by learning Methods and systems to provide a hanging protocol including three-dimensional manipulation for display of clinical images in an exam are disclosed. An example method includes detecting selection of a new image exam for display by a user. The example method includes automatically identifying at least one of a) a previously learned hanging protocol saved for the user and b) a saved hanging protocol associated with a prior image exam corresponding to the new image exam. The example method includes applying the saved hanging protocol to the new image exam, the saved hanging protocol including three-dimensional manipulation to be automatically applied to the new image exam as part of the hanging protocol configuration for display. The example method includes facilitating display of the new image exam based on the saved hanging protocol.
US09152758B2	Method and system for determining whether a drug will be effective on a patient with a disease A process of determining whether a patient with a disease or disorder will be responsive to a drug, used to treat the disease or disorder, including obtaining a test spectrum produced by a mass spectrometer from a serum produced from the patient. The test spectrum may be processed to determine a relation to a group of class labeled spectra produced from respective serum from other patients having the or similar clinical stage same disease or disorder and known to have responded or not responded to the drug. Based on the relation of the test spectrum to the group of class labeled spectra, a determination may be made as to whether the patient will be responsive to the drug.
US09152757B2	Method and system for patient-specific modeling of blood flow Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart, and create a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the patient's heart based on the patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may be further configured to create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic of the patient's heart and determine a fractional flow reserve within the patient's heart based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model.
US09152756B2	Group based routing in programmable logic device Various techniques are provided to route connections within a programmable logic device (PLD). In one example, a method includes determining timing slacks for connections described in a netlist for a programmable logic device (PLD). The method also includes determining a plurality of priority groups. The connections are associated with one or more of the priority groups based on the timing slacks. The method also includes routing the connections associated with each priority group, from a highest priority group to a lowest priority group. Each priority group is iteratively routed to remove routing conflicts before lower priority groups are routed. Additional methods, systems, machine-readable mediums, and other techniques are also provided.
US09152746B2	Quantum annealing simulator A quantum annealer simulator approximates unitary quantum dynamics of a quantum annealer on a non-quantum computing device such as a conventional computing device. The quantum annealer simulator may utilize algorithms that may efficiently approximate unitary time evolution of a quantum system, where the quantum system corresponds to a problem for which an optimized solution is sought.
US09152744B2	Methods, systems, and computer readable media for generating a non-destructive inspection model for a composite part from a design model of the composite part Methods, systems, and computer readable media for generating a nondestructive inspection model are provided, where such methods, systems and computer readable media are particularly suitable for use with aerospace parts or components. The method can include occurring at a computing platform with a memory and a processor, and analyzing, by the processor, a design model file stored in the memory to determine one or more properties of a composite part, the design model file describing one or more physical characteristics of the composite part. The method also can include generating, by the processor, a non-destructive inspection model for the composite part based on the one or more properties of the composite part determined by analyzing the design model file.
US09152737B1	Providing notifications to a user Electrical usage of devices in a building may be monitored to determine information about the operation of the devices in the building, and the information about the devices in the building may be used to provide notifications to a user. An electrical signal may be processed to determine a state change of a device. A notification score may then be determined using information about the state change of the device and a notification event model. A notification may then be sent to the user based at least in part on the notification event score.
US09152736B2	Efficient indexing and searching of access control listed documents Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for storing a plurality of documents in computer-readable memory, each document of the plurality of documents having a corresponding access control list (ACL), each ACL defining a plurality of users that are authorized to access a respective document, generating an index based on the plurality of users, the index comprising a plurality of partitions, each partition corresponding to a user of the plurality of users, and, for each document of the plurality of documents: ranking the users of the plurality of users, selecting a user as an indexing user based on the ranking, and storing the document in a partition of the index, the partition corresponding to the indexing user.
US09152732B2	Browser cache assist for accessing web-based content A web application residing in a client device generates a user interface containing data objects hosted on a remote server. The web application contains a web app cache storing the data objects rendered in a web page. As additional data objects are needed, the web application searches for them first in the web app cache, then a browser cache, before utilizing a web browser to retrieve the data objects from the remote server.
US09152729B2	Auditing of webpages A method of performing an audit of auditable objects within webpages of a website includes identifying an auditable object marker and crawling a portion of a website to identify multiple webpages of the website that each include the auditable object marker. The method may further include configuring an audit rule to determine a property of an auditable object of each of the webpages where the auditable object marker is associated with the auditable object. The method may further include performing an audit of each of the webpages according to the audit rule to determine the property of the auditable object for each of the webpages and grouping the webpages based on the property of the auditable object for each of the webpages.
US09152724B1	Method, medium, and system for quality aware discovery supression Disclosed are various embodiments for a search result suppression application. A search result suppression application selects items from an electronic catalog. Suppression rules are selected and applied to the selected items. Items which meet conditions defined in the suppression rules are excluded from search results responsive to search queries subsequently applied to the electronic catalog.
US09152720B2	Search engine for a video recorder The present invention is directed to a search engine for a video recorder. One embodiment of the present invention operates in an environment that includes one or more set-top boxes connected to or integrated within one or more output devices. The set-top boxes are used to transfer shows from a broadcast input source to one or more types of storage devices and to play back the shows from the storage devices to the output devices, either in a delayed-live fashion or at a later time of the user's choosing. The set-top box displays a graphical user interface (GUI), which gives the user the ability to watch and/or record timeslot based programming, to order on-demand programming, and to playback previously recorded shows that reside on a local or remote storage device. A search engine is added to the GUI that lets the search for shows and receive results in an enhanced manner.
US09152713B1	Finding web pages relevant to multimedia streams A media stream, such as a news broadcast, is supplemented with documents that are relevant to the media stream. The documents may be web pages returned from a search engine. A search query generation component generates search queries for the search engine based on the media stream. A post processing component may re-rank and/or filter the documents to enhance the viewing experience for the user.
US09152710B2	Apparatus and method for search and retrieval of documents A system for the support and management of search for documents is presented. The system includes knowledge-database, query interface and communication to a database of documents to be searched. Information generated during a search session is collected by the system and is added to the knowledge-database. The information is ranked automatically according to the usage of that information by the user. During successive search sessions, or during search made by other users, the system uses the knowledge-database to support the users with keywords, queries and reference to documents.
US09152706B1	Anonymous identification tokens Surveillance data is received from a source such as a traffic camera. The data is hashed and the signature is stored in a database. The data itself may be discarded after it is hashed. In an embodiment, extrinsic information such as time and location are associated with the signature. Identification data may be received and hashed. The signature belonging to the identification data may be compared to the database to determine if there is any matching surveillance data. If a match is found, the extrinsic information may be returned.
US09152705B2	Automatic taxonomy merge A method for merging two taxonomies is disclosed. Top levels of first and second taxonomies are merged. For the second taxonomy nodes are evaluated and selectively merged with nodes of the first taxonomy according to comparison of scores for these nodes with a threshold. The score for a node of the first taxonomy is a combination of one or more of a lineage quality score, Jaccard distance, string edit distance, and category depth score. After an iteration, mergings between nodes of the first and second taxonomies may be reversed if child nodes of the merged nodes were not likewise merged. Iterations may be repeated until no nodes are merged in an iteration.
US09152703B1	Systems and methods for clustering data samples A computer-implemented method for clustering data samples may include (1) identifying a plurality of samples, (2) identifying a plurality of candidate features, (3) identifying a plurality of candidate distance functions, (4) selecting a distance function by (i) selecting a set of features based on determining that a result of clustering a training set of samples using the set of features and the distance function fits an expected clustering of the training set of samples more closely than results from using an alternative set of features and (ii) determining that the result of clustering the training set using the set of features and the distance function fits the expected clustering of the training set of samples more closely than a best result of any other distance function, and (5) clustering the plurality of samples using the set of features and the distance function. Various other methods and systems are also disclosed.
US09152697B2	Real-time search of vertically partitioned, inverted indexes Provided are techniques for processing a query. A query including constraints for at least two vertically partitioned, inverted indexes is received. The constraints in the query are separated based on the vertically partitioned, inverted indexes. A document identifier iterator is obtained for each of the constraints, wherein each document identifier iterator is associated with a posting list, and wherein each posting list is ordered by document identifier order. A run-time join of the posting lists is performed to obtain a final result set.
US09152696B2	Linkage information output apparatus, linkage information output method and computer-readable recording medium A linkage information output apparatus includes: a linkage information retrieval unit for acquiring, upon receiving source information, destination information linked with the source information, a frequency of occurrence of the source information, a frequency of occurrence of linked each of the destination information, and a frequency of occurrence of a link of the source information and each of the destination information from a linkage information accumulation unit; a recognition degree calculation unit calculating, based on each acquired frequency of occurrence, a recognition degree of the source information, a recognition degree of each acquired destination information, and a recognition degree of each link; and a high interest information narrowing unit selecting destination information to output from among each destination information based on a combination of two or more among a recognition degree of the source information, a recognition degree of the destination information, and a recognition degree of the link.
US09152695B2	Generation of metadata and computational model for visual exploration system Various mechanisms are described for generating metadata describing relationships among data sets. Quantitative data can be analyzed to determine relationships, and metadata representing the determined relationships can then be stored. Visualizations can then be generated from the metadata, and a navigational model can be defined based on the generated set of visualizations. The navigational models can provide robust visual mechanics for implementing intuitive navigational schemes that facilitate interaction with data on any suitable output device, include small screens as found on smartphones and/or tablets.
US09152691B2	System and method for performing set operations with defined sketch accuracy distribution Techniques are provided for improving the speed and accuracy of analytics on big data using theta sketches, by converting fixed-size sketches to theta sketches, and by performing set operations on sketches. In a technique for performing a set operation, two sketches are analyzed to identify the maximum value of each sketch. The maximum values of the two sketches are compared. Based the comparison, one or more values are removed from the sketch whose maximum value is greater. After the removal, a set operation (e.g., union, intersection, or difference) is performed based on the modified sketch and the unmodified sketch. A result of the set operation is a third sketch, which may be used to estimate a cardinality of the larger data sets that are represented by the two input sketches.
US09152688B2	Summarizing a stream of multidimensional, axis-aligned rectangles A method for estimating aggregates over a stream of axis-aligned rectangles, includes: decomposing the stream along one-dimensional intervals, wherein vertices for the rectangle are located in a predetermined grid; assigning each grid row to buckets, wherein the one-dimensional intervals are placed into buckets according to the corresponding rows in which the one-dimensional intervals are positioned; and estimating a sum of a number of grid points touched by at least one of the rectangles in each row of the grid to approximate a volume of the axis-aligned rectangles by: using pairwise-independent hash functions in a multi-dimensional algorithm to determine buckets that include a first interval corresponding to a given rectangle, wherein the interval has hash function results that meet a predetermined threshold; and inserting a second interval for the rectangle corresponding to the first interval into a one-dimensional algorithm for the corresponding bucket meeting the predetermined threshold.
US09152686B2	Asynchronous replication correctness validation A method for backing up a client data set on a computer by generating a manifest of the client data set and storing the manifest on a remote server along with a server data set corresponding to the client data set; taking a snapshot of the server manifest and data set; and comparing the manifest to the remote server data set and synchronizing the client dataset if a difference is detected.
US09152683B2	Database-transparent near online archiving and retrieval of data Method, program products and apparatus are disclosed for optimizing access to a data table. A value-existence structure is used to determine whether the data table contains rows for a given database query. The value-existence structure may be useful, for example, for managing transparent access to an online database and a nearline database.
US09152667B1	Cloud search analytics Systems and methods of analyzing search metrics are disclosed. System users are provided with insight into the query or search activity in their system domains. Disclosed systems can enable continuous monitoring of search engine logs for search events (i.e., searches performed by applications using the search engine. Collected data regarding search events is used to derive various metrics such as the total number of queries performed in a relevant period, the total number of queries without results; the top N queries with counts; the top N queries which produced no results, with counts; and the top N documents in results, with counts. In at least one embodiment of the disclosure all such metrics are computed for a last full hour period and all metrics, except in some cases a top-N report, are available for user viewing on an hourly basis.
US09152665B2	Labeling versioned hierarchical data A system includes generation of a first interval encoding of a first version of a hierarchy of nodes, determination of a second version of the hierarchy of nodes, and determination of a first interval delta based on the first interval encoding and the second version of the hierarchy of nodes.
US09152663B2	Fast approach to finding minimum and maximum values in a large data set using SIMD instruction set architecture Systems and methods may determine a boundary value data unit in a large data set in parallel with determining an associated index of the determined boundary value data unit into the large data set using a single instruction multiple data (SIMD) instruction set architecture and a specialized data layout of array entries. In one example, the specialized data layout of array entries combines a data value and its associated index to an array into a single array entry.
US09152658B2	System, method and computer program product for providing a team object in association with an object In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for providing a team object in association with an object. These mechanisms and methods for providing a team object in association with an object can allow for centralized management of a team in association with an object. For example, members of the team may be automatically identified (e.g. without manual intervention) for receiving notifications in association with an object.
US09152657B1	Indexing to extract homogeneous arrays from heterogeneous arrays A device receives, in a technical computing environment (TCE), a heterogeneous array that includes columns and rows, and receives a command that references multiple columns and one or more rows of the heterogeneous array. The device determines, based on the command, that the referenced multiple columns of the heterogeneous array include a same data type. The device creates, based on the command and based on determining that the referenced multiple columns of the heterogeneous array include the same data type, a homogeneous array that includes the referenced multiple columns and the referenced one or more rows of the heterogeneous array. The device outputs the homogeneous array for further processing.
US09152654B2	System and method for managing images over a network Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for managing image files over a network. In an embodiment, a notification is received from a remote server. The notification may comprise an identifier of an image file that comprises scanned slide data and is stored at the remote server. In response to the notification, the identifier of the image file may be added in association with an indication that the image file is stored at the remote server to a stored catalog of image files, and a file-transfer operation may be initiated to transfer a copy of the image file from the remote server to a central database. Following completion of the file-transfer operation, the stored catalog may be updated to indicate that the image file is stored in the central database, and a request may be sent to the remote server to delete the image file at the remote server.
US09152652B2	Sub-query evaluation for image search Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for identifying images responsive to a search phrase are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes identifying a set of responsive images for a search phrase that includes two or more terms. Interaction rankings are determined for images in the set of responsive images. Two or more sub-queries are created based on the search phrase. Sub-query model rankings are determined for images in the set of responsive images. A search phrase score is determined for the image relevance model. Based on the search phrase scores for the sub-queries, one of the sub-query models is selected as a model for the search phrase.
US09152640B2	Determining file allocation based on file operations A storage system may store files on multiple nodes. One or more logs may indicate operations performed on the files stored in the storage system and may identify the nodes that requested the operations. A new allocation or file placement scheme may be determined to reduce network traffic.
US09152638B1	Method and apparatus for file backup A file backup method, which can be implemented on a virtual machine system or applied to backup files of a virtual machine, is herein described. The virtual machine system may include a virtual machine server and be associated with a backup server. Changes to a storage media are tracked through change block tracking. A location where file system records reside on the storage media is identified. Changed file system records are identified among the tracked changes to the storage media. Copies are made of the files that the changed file system records are pointing to.
US09152635B2	Method of and system for multilevel creation of consolidated dynamic playlist and utilization thereof A method and system that includes an aggregation of clients' playlists, separate item names, and a systems own playlists that are converted to request lists. A consolidated dynamic playlist is created by a computer algorithm, which provides an order of priority depending on input variables. Depending on a system mode, consolidated dynamic playlist of a lower level can participate in higher level session of the system.
US09152634B1	Balancing content blocks associated with queries Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for enhancing selecting relevant and diverse advertisements. In one aspect, a method includes receiving an initial query, selecting one or more additional queries relating to the initial query, identifying one or more content items for each query, forming a content block, balancing each content block, and providing, for each query, a content block along with search results associated with the initial query for display or other processing by a device.
US09152633B2	Device and process for remote management of a network of audiovisual information reproduction systems Management device for a network of audiovisual information reproduction systems or jukeboxes, including a database with a plurality of sets of arrays, each array containing grouped information either about the composition of a jukebox, or the use of the jukebox, or the payment of fees. The database is managed by a computer server connected with the audiovisual information reproduction systems to receive messages sent by each audiovisual information reproduction device and containing information necessary to update determined sets of arrays in the database, and update data or the program for each audiovisual information reproduction device with information stored in at least one set of arrays in the database and transmitted in this message.
US09152632B2	Information management system An information management system creates data structures based entirely on the content of source files, then compares these data structures to discover synergies and commonalities. In one embodiment, the system accepts a first collection of source files, and extracts text from each source file. The text is compared to tags in one or more dictionaries, which comprise hierarchical listing of tags. Tags matching the text are associated with each source file. The system then generates a virtual relational network in which each source file having matching tags is a node. Tags associated with two or more source files are links between the nodes. This virtual relational network may be compared with another virtual relational network to discover common nodes or links. Source files later added to a collection are massively linked by associating all tags from all source files with the newly added source file, and vice versa.
US09152631B2	Document management system, method for controlling the same, and storage medium A document management system determines that a plurality of versions to be managed is a version to be stored in a file server or in a document management apparatus, the version that is determined to be stored in the file server apparatus and the property information are registered in the file server apparatus, and the version that is determined to be stored in the document management server apparatus and the property information are registered in the document management server apparatus. Information about registration destination in the version registered in the file server is stored in the document management server apparatus. Such a configuration reduces the amount of use of a storage disk in the document management server apparatus to suppress the operation cost. Even if a management system is different, a document management system capable of managing data is provided.
US09152630B1	Modified database transaction scopes during software testing While testing a software application that is associated with a database during a testing technique, a computer system may take over transaction scopes of transactions with the database so that data generated by the software application during the testing and communicated to the database is not persisted in the database (even though this data may be persisted in the database during normal operation). Furthermore, after the testing is completed, the computer system may restore the database to an initial state prior to the testing by rolling back the data which was not persisted.
US09152628B1	Creating copies of space-reduced files in a file server having a redundant data elimination store A file server having a redundant data elimination store responds to requests from clients for copies of space-reduced files. For reduced storage requirements and reduced processing time, a baseline version of unshared data blocks is created in the file server, and then the baseline version is space reduced by conversion to a stub version of shared data blocks, and then the file server responds to a request from a client for creation of one or more space-reduced copies by cloning the stub version. The file server may also respond to a request for creation of a modified space-reduced copy having specified data written at a specified offset. For example, the file server creates a respective modified copy of a virtual server image file for use by each client of the file server.
US09152627B2	Automatic rule generation In an example embodiment, a method of automatically generating data validation rules from data stored in a column of a table is provided. Outliers for the data are determined by analyzing a profiling statistic for the data, the profiling statistic having a type. Then it is determined if a predefined limit is exceeded, based on a quantity of the outliers determined for the data through the analysis of the profiling statistic. A data validation rule is then automatically generated based on non-outliers detected in the data through the analysis of the profiling statistic, the generated data validation rule also being based on the type of the profiling statistic. The data validation rule can then be applied to data subsequently entered for the column, causing at least a portion of the data subsequently entered for the column to be rejected.
US09152625B2	Microblog summarization Various embodiments provide summarization techniques that can be applied to blogs or microblogs to present information that is determined to be useful, in a shortened form. In one or more embodiments, a procedure is utilized to automatically acquire a set of concepts from various sources, such as free text. These acquired concepts are then used to guide a clustering process. Clusters are ranked and then summarized by incorporating sentiment and the frequency of words.
US09152615B2	Method and system for inserting data in a web page that is transmitted to a handheld device Disclosed is a system and method that adds additional data (a banner, footer or a header, for example) to a web page while the data is transferred toward a mobile device. An exemplary system can comprise an intermediate node between a surfer and the Internet. Such an intermediate node element can reside at a service provider premises (SPP), for example. The service provider can be a telecom operator, such as but not limited to, a cellular service provider, a satellite communication service provider, a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) operator, an access network service provider, etc. Alternatively, other exemplary embodiments can comprise elements which reside at an Internet Service Provider (ISP) premises.
US09152612B2	Input control processing A system and method for facilitating the processing of an expansion list. A script associated with an HTML document performs actions to process the expansion list. Actions include detaching the list of input controls from the HTML DOM when the list is not displayed and reattaching the list when it is displayed. Actions may also include maintaining the value of each input control, and processing each input control selection to update the value. The script may send value data to a server using a technique such as a hidden field or another element in the HTML DOM.
US09152609B2	Vehicle state detection This application describes the detection of the state of a vehicle and various actions to be performed based on the detected state. The detection of the state is done by a portable device, carried by the user, which uses onboard sensors to receive operations indicators, and uses rules in a predetermined criteria to determine the operational state of the vehicle. Various methods are described for detecting the states of the vehicle and applications based upon it.
US09152606B2	Task switching and inter-task communications for multi-core processors The invention provides hardware based techniques for switching processing tasks of software programs for execution on a multi-core processor. Invented techniques involve a hardware logic based controller for assigning, adaptive to program processing loads, tasks for processing by cores of a multi-core fabric as well as configuring a set of multiplexers to appropriately interconnect cores of the fabric and program task specific segments at fabric memories, to arrange efficient inter-task communication as well as transferring of activating and de-activating task memory images among the multi-core fabric. The invention thereby provides an efficient, hardware-automated runtime operating system for multi-core processors, minimizing any need to use processing capacity of the cores for traditional operating system software functions. Additionally, such low overhead hardware based operating system for multi-core processors provides significant cost-efficiency and performance advantages, including data processing throughput maximization across all programs dynamically sharing a given multi-core processor, and hardware based security.
US09152604B2	System and method for event logging in a technical installation or a technical process An exemplary logging system and a method are for detecting, conditioning and presenting installation-specific and/or process-specific operator control actions, process reports, alarm reports, system events, installation parameters and digital text messages for a technical installation or a technical process. The logging system having at least one input apparatus that automatically converts audible and/or spoken information and information that is present in written form into digital text messages and provides the information, together with information relating to operator control actions, information relating to navigation steps performed and further text information that is present in digitized form, for a processing unit, that can automatically attribute timestamps.
US09152601B2	Power-efficient nested map-reduce execution on a cloud of heterogeneous accelerated processing units An approach and a method for efficient execution of nested map-reduce framework workloads to take advantage of the combined execution of central processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs) and lower latency of data access in accelerated processing units (APUs) is described. In embodiments, metrics are generated to determine whether a map or reduce function is more efficiently processed on a CPU or a GPU. A first metric is based on ratio of a number of branch instructions to a number of non-branch instructions, and a second metric is based on the comparison of execution times on each of the CPU and the GPU. Selecting execution of map and reduce functions based on the first and second metrics result in accelerated computations. Some embodiments include scheduling pipelined executions of functions on the CPU and functions on the GPU concurrently to achieve power-efficient nested map reduce framework execution.
US09152598B2	Connecting multiple slave devices to a single master controller in bus system A device comprising: a bus master, including a bi-directional data and clock lines, configured to produce a select signal output for enabling data transmission on the bi-directional data line to first/second different data busses supporting multiple slave devices configured to receive/transmit data over a respective data bus and to receive a clock signal from the bus master from the clock line; and a de-multiplexer including an input, first and second outputs and a control input, the input coupled to the bi-directional data line of the bus master, first/second outputs of the de-multiplexer coupled to first/second data busses, respectively, and the control input configured to receive the select signal from the bus master that is configured to communicate to a first slave device when the select signal is in a first state, and a second different slave device when the select signal is in a second different state.
US09152596B2	Architected protocol for changing link operating mode In one embodiment, a device having a link training state machine including a reconfiguration logic to perform a dynamic link reconfiguration of a physical link coupled between the device and a second device during a run-time in which the physical link does not enter a link down state, including transmission of a plurality of bandwidth change requests to the second device, each of the plurality of bandwidth change requests to request a bandwidth change from a first bandwidth to a second bandwidth. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09152594B2	Semiconductor memory device for high speed reading and writing A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array section including a plurality of memory cell arrays, a peripheral circuit section, and an internal bus connecting the plurality of memory cell arrays and the peripheral circuit section. The peripheral circuit section includes external input/output buffers, and bus interface circuits. The bus interface circuits execute conversion between data inputted/outputted in parallel to/from the memory cell arrays through the internal bus and data inputted/outputted in serial through the plurality of external input/output buffers. The bus interface circuits are densely arranged between the internal bus and the input/output buffers, so that a width d1 of the area of the plurality of bus interface circuits being arranged is narrower than a width d2 of the area of the external input/output buffers being arranged and a bus width maximum value d3 of the internal bus.
US09152593B2	Universal PCI express port Methods and systems are disclosed herein for providing a universal PCIe port. In one example, the same port is configured to accept a PCIe connection as a host or an endpoint symmetrically. Downstream transactions towards an endpoint can be intercepted and a virtual address in the downstream transaction can be translated to a local address using a mapping. The downstream transactions can be forwarded to the endpoint using the local address instead of the virtual address. For endpoints that share the same local address with multiple hosts, a reverse lookup may be provided to determine which one of the hosts a local address corresponds when forwarding upstream transactions. PCIe over Ethernet is provided as one embodiment for allowing remote PCIe endpoints to be associated with a local host transparently.
US09152589B2	Memory data transfer method and system A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing a DMA process. Accordingly, a DMA process is initiated for moving data from contiguous first locations to contiguous second locations and to a third location or third locations. Within the DMA process the data from each of the contiguous first locations is retrieved and stored in a corresponding one of the contiguous second locations and in the third location or corresponding one of the third locations. The DMA process is performed absent retrieving the same data a second other time prior to storing of same within the corresponding one of the contiguous second locations and in the third location or corresponding one of the third locations.
US09152588B2	Race-free level-sensitive interrupt delivery using fabric delivered interrupts In an embodiment, a system includes at least one peripheral device, an interrupt controller, a memory controller, at least one CPU, and an interrupt message circuit coupled to the peripheral device. The interrupt message circuit may be coupled to receive the interrupt signal from the peripheral device, and may be configured to generate an interrupt message for transmission on a communication fabric. In some embodiments, there may be multiple peripherals which have independent paths through the fabric for memory operations to the memory controller. Each such peripheral may be coupled to an instance of the interrupt message circuit. In an embodiment, the interrupt is level sensitive. The interrupt message circuit may be configured to transmit interrupt set messages an interrupt clear messages to the interrupt controller, to indicate the levels.
US09152583B2	Method for operating flash memories on a bus Enable a read command of a first flash memory. After the read command of the first flash memory is enabled, a ready/busy signal of the first flash memory enters a busy waiting time, and a read command of a second flash memory starts to be enabled. Start to read data of the first flash memory when the busy waiting time is over. Enable the read command of the first flash memory again upon completion of reading the data of the first flash memory. Start to read data of the second flash memory after the read command of the first flash memory is enabled again. And enable the read command of the second flash memory again upon completion of reading the data of the second flash.
US09152582B2	Auto-configuration of a docked system in a multi-OS environment A mobile computing device with a mobile operating system and desktop operating system running concurrently and independently on a shared kernel without virtualization. The mobile operating system provides a user experience for the mobile computing device that suits the mobile environment. The desktop operating system provides a full desktop user experience when the mobile computing device is docked to a secondary terminal environment. The mobile computing device configures the mobile operating system and/or the desktop operating system to take advantage of a docked secondary terminal environment. The mobile computing device may be a smartphone running the Android mobile OS and a full desktop Linux OS distribution on a modified Android kernel.
US09152581B2	Chip storing a value that represents adjustment to output drive strength An integrated circuit device includes a transmitter circuit including an output driver. The integrated circuit device includes a first register to store a value representative of a drive strength setting associated with the transmitter circuit such that the output driver outputs data in accordance with the drive strength setting. The integrated circuit device also includes a second register to store a value representative of an equalization setting associated with the transmitter circuit such that the output driver outputs data in accordance with the equalization setting. The integrated circuit device further includes a third register to store a value representative of a slew rate setting associated with the transmitter circuit such that the output driver outputs data in accordance with the slew rate setting.
US09152580B1	Method and apparatus for transferring data between a host and an embedded device Methods, systems and computer program products are described for transferring aggregated data packets over an I/O interface from a host to a multiport embedded device. For example, a method includes receiving, by the device from the host, a single write command that (i) specifies two or more ports from among multiple ports of the device, and (ii) includes two or more data packets to be respectively written to the specified ports. The multiple ports of the device are mapped to corresponding locations of memory of the device. The method further includes saving, by the device in response to the single write command, the two or more data packets at two or more memory locations to which the specified ports are mapped. Additionally, the method includes sending, upon saving the data packets, a single notification to the host indicating that the device is ready to receive another write command.
US09152573B2	Sharing memory pages having regular expressions within a virtual machine A lightweight technique for sharing memory pages within a virtual machine (VM) is provided. This technique can be used on its own to implement intra-VM page sharing or it can be augmented with sharing across VMs. Memory pages whose content can be described by some succinct grammar, such as a regular expression or simple pattern, are identified for sharing within a VM. If the content of a page matches some simple pattern, it is proposed to share such a page, but only in the scope of the VM to which it belongs, i.e., intra-VM sharing. All other pages, i.e., those that are not simple patterns, can be candidates for sharing in the scope of all currently active VMs, i.e., inter-VM sharing. Either fully functional page sharing across VMs and/or page sharing in the context of each VM can be implemented.
US09152572B2	Translation lookaside buffer for multiple context compute engine Some implementations disclosed herein provide techniques and arrangements for an specialized logic engine that includes translation lookaside buffer to support multiple threads executing on multiple cores. The translation lookaside buffer enables the specialized logic engine to directly access a virtual address of a thread executing on one of the plurality of processing cores. For example, an acceleration compute engine may receive one or more instructions from a thread executed by a processing core. The acceleration compute engine may retrieve, based on an address space identifier associated with the one or more instructions, a physical address associated with the one or more instructions from the translation lookaside buffer to execute the one or more instructions using the physical address.
US09152565B2	Adaptive file readahead technique for multiple read streams A storage system implements a storage operating system configured to concurrently perform speculative readahead for a plurality of different read streams. Unlike previous implementations, the operating system manages a separate set of readahead metadata for each of the plurality of read streams. Consequently, the operating system can “match” a received client read request with a corresponding read stream, then perform readahead operations for the request in accordance with the read stream's associated set of metadata. Because received client read requests are matched to their corresponding read streams on a request-by-request basis, the operating system can concurrently perform readahead operations for multiple read streams, regardless of whether the read streams' file read requests are received by the storage system in sequential, nearly-sequential or random orders. Further, the operating system can concurrently perform speculative readahead for the plurality of different read streams, even when the read streams employ different readahead algorithms.
US09152564B2	Early cache eviction in a multi-flow network processor architecture Described embodiments provide an input/output interface of a network processor that generates a request to store received packets to a system cache. If an entry associated with the received packet does not exist in the system cache, the system cache determines whether a backpressure indicator of the system cache is set. If the backpressure indicator is set, the received packet is written to the shared memory. If the backpressure indicator is not set, the system cache determines whether to evict data from the system cache in order to store the received packet. If an eviction rate of the system cache has reached a threshold, the system cache sets a backpressure indicator and writes the received packet to the shared memory. If the eviction rate has not reached the threshold, the system cache determines an available entry and writes the received packet to the available entry in the system cache.
US09152563B2	Method and apparatus for processing slow infrequent streams A method for efficiently processing write data from a storage controller to a striped storage volume is provided. The method includes receiving, by the storage controller, a host write request including a host write request size, calculating, by the storage controller, that a time to fill a stripe including the host write request is not less than a host guaranteed write time, and processing, by the storage controller, the host write request as a write-through host write request. The time to fill the stripe is a size of the stripe divided by a data rate of a host write stream comprising the host write request. The host guaranteed write time is the maximum latency that the storage controller guarantees host write requests are committed to one of a storage controller write cache and the striped storage volume.
US09152561B2	Maintaining processor resources during architectural events In one embodiment of the present invention, a method includes switching between a first address space and a second address space, determining if the second address space exists in a list of address spaces; and maintaining entries of the first address space in a translation buffer after the switching. In such manner, overhead associated with such a context switch may be reduced.
US09152558B2	Mapping different portions of data to different pages of multi-level non-volatile memory An apparatus includes, in at least one aspect, a memory interface configured to connect with a plurality of multi-level memory cells and a circuitry coupled with the memory interface. The plurality of multi-level memory cells include a first page and a second page. The first page is associated with bits of a first significance. The second page is associated with bits of a second significance. The circuitry is configured to map a first portion of an encoded data sector to the first page and map a second portion of the encoded data sector to the second page. The first portion excludes the second portion and the second portion excludes the first portion such that each of the first page and the second page contains different data from the encoded data sector.
US09152557B2	Program method, data recovery method, and flash memory using the same A program method for a multi-level cell (MLC) flash memory is provided. The memory array includes a plurality of pages and a plurality of paired pages, which correspond to the respective pages. The program method includes the following steps. Firstly, a program address command is obtained. Next, whether the program address command corresponding to any one of the paired pages is determined. When the program address command corresponds to a first paired page, which corresponds to a first page among the pages, among the paired pages, data stored in the first page to a non-volatile memory are copied. After that, the first paired page is programmed.
US09152556B2	Metadata rebuild in a flash memory controller following a loss of power A method of rebuilding metadata in a flash memory controller following a loss of power is provided. The method includes reading logical address information associated with an area of flash memory, and using time stamp information to determine if data stored in the flash memory area are valid.
US09152555B2	Data management with modular erase in a data storage system A system and method of data management with modular erase in a data storage system with a memory array having an erase block and a target block with the target block in a logical unit separate from the erase block including: performing an erase operation on the erase block, the erase operation having an operation matrix configured for partial erasing of the erase block; updating a command status for the erase block; enabling an intervening command on the target block based on the command status indicating an incomplete erase status with the intervening command updating the command status; performing an erase optimization based on the command status; performing an additional erase operation based on the erase optimization; and updating the command status to an erase complete status based on the additional erase operation.
US09152553B1	Generic command descriptor for controlling memory devices The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to controlling memory devices with a generic command descriptor. In some implementations, an apparatus, systems, or methods can include a memory controller including an interface configured to connect with a NAND memory device and circuitry configured to receive a descriptor of a command sequence including multiple segments for managing the NAND memory device. The descriptor can include option information corresponding to each segment of the command sequence. The circuitry can also be configured to generate the command sequence for managing the NAND memory device based, at least in part, on the option information of the descriptor.
US09152550B1	Storage system with dynamic transfer of block file system ownership for load balancing A storage system uses a block-level file system to manage physical storage of data blocks of logical units, the file system being mounted on an owning one of a set of storage processors. The storage processors redirect received storage requests to the owning storage processor, and periodically the amount of redirection is evaluated. If the amount of redirection is higher than a threshold, then the file system is dismounted at the owning storage processor and mounted at another storage processor to reduce the amount of redirection.
US09152548B2	Controlling access to a privileged resource in user-mode system level mobile virtualization using a ptrace () system call One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates user-mode system-level virtualization in a mobile device. During operation, a hypervisor intercepts a virtual machine's attempt to access a privileged resource. The hypervisor manages the virtual machine and runs on a host system in a user mode. Furthermore, the hypervisor emulates the privileged resource using a user-mode system call provided by the host system. In addition, the hypervisor provides access to the emulated privileged resource to the virtual machine, thereby allowing the virtual machine to operate with the emulated privileged resource without directly accessing actual privileged resources on the host system.
US09152544B2	Method and system for upgrading a firmware of a chip and baseboard management controller by waiting until an idle state of a connected system to finish upgrade The present invention relates to the field of communications, and in particular, to a method and a system for dynamically upgrading a chip and a baseboard management controller. The method includes: obtaining an upgrade file that is used for upgrading a chip; upgrading, based on the upgrade file, data in a flash memory that is used for storing data of the chip, and not performing a reset operation on the chip at this time; and when it is acquired through detection that the state of a service system that is connected to the chip is a service idle state, replicating the upgraded data in the flash memory to a random access memory in the chip, and performing a reset operation on the chip. According to the present invention, the availability and maintainability of the system are improved.
US09152543B1	Symbolic execution with automatic abstractions A method of testing software may include generating a symbolic value for a return value of a software function of a software program during mixed symbolic and abstraction execution (“mixed execution”) of the software program. Additionally, the mixed execution may maintain symbolic values, abstract values, and constraints of one or more variables of the software function. The method may also include deriving, during the mixed execution, an abstraction for the symbolic value. The abstraction may constrain the symbolic value and may be derived based on the return value of the paths that satisfy the abstraction. Further, the method may include exploring, during the mixed execution, the one or more paths of the software function that correspond to the return value based on the symbolic value, as constrained by the abstraction, such that a number of the one or more paths explored during the symbolic execution is constrained by the abstraction.
US09152540B2	System and methods for generating and managing a virtual device Embodiments of the present disclosure may be configured to permit development and validation of a device driver or a device application program by using improved virtual devices. Such improved virtual devices may facilitate driver development without use of physical devices or hardware prototypes. In various embodiments, advanced validation of a device-driver combination may be permitted that would be difficult to achieve even with a physical device. Certain embodiments also may detect inconsistencies between virtual and physical devices, which may be used to improve drivers and device application programs and increase compatibility of such drivers and device application programs with physical devices.
US09152538B2	Method and system for problem notification and processing A notification of a problem associated with an application may be received. A difference may be determined between a problem version of the application and an operational version of the application to identify a change associated with the problem. A person associated with the change may be determined. A task of resolving the problem may be assigned to the person associated with the change. A person may be notified of the problem and of the assigning of the task based on the identified change. A modification may be performed to resolve the problem associated with the change based on the determining of the difference.
US09152533B1	Asynchronous programming system Various embodiments are disclosed herein including systems and methods for managing the asynchronous and parallel execution of computer programs. Embodiments implement asynchronous execution in a distributed environment. Single-threaded execution of multiple routines can proceed without thread blocking. Asynchronous variable and routine classes are provided to facilitate development of asynchronous systems using substantially the same development techniques as used for synchronous systems. In some embodiments, the systems and methods for managing asynchronous execution of programs are applied to workflow processing systems.
US09152531B2	Post-compile instrumentation of object code for generating execution trace data The invention is directed to instrumenting object code of an application and/or an operating system on a target machine so that execution trace data can be generated, collected, and subsequently analyzed for various purposes, such as debugging and performance. Automatic instrumentation may be performed on an application's object code before, during or after linking. A target machine's operating system's object code can be manually or automatically instrumented. By identifying address space switches and thread switches in the operating system's object code, instrumented code can be inserted at locations that enable the execution trace data to be generated. The instrumentation of the operating system and application can enable visibility of total system behavior by enabling generation of trace information sufficient to reconstruct address space switches and context switches.
US09152528B2	Long term load generator A method and system for long-term load generation is described.
US09152526B2	Method and apparatus for state of health estimation of object sensing fusion system A method and system for estimating the state of health of an object sensing fusion system. Target data from a vision system and a radar system, which are used by an object sensing fusion system, are also stored in a context queue. The context queue maintains the vision and radar target data for a sequence of many frames covering a sliding window of time. The target data from the context queue are used to compute matching scores, which are indicative of how well vision targets correlate with radar targets, and vice versa. The matching scores are computed within individual frames of vision and radar data, and across a sequence of multiple frames. The matching scores are used to assess the state of health of the object sensing fusion system. If the fusion system state of health is below a certain threshold, one or more faulty sensors are identified.
US09152523B2	Batching and forking resource requests in a portable computing device In a portable computing device having a node-based resource architecture, resource requests are batched or otherwise transactionized to help minimize inter-processing entity messaging or other messaging or provide other benefits. In a resource graph defining the architecture, each node or resource of the graph represents an encapsulation of functionality of one or more resources controlled by a processor or other processing entity, each edge represents a client request, and adjacent nodes of the graph represent resource dependencies. A single transaction of resource requests may be provided against two or more of the resources. Additionally, this single transaction may become forked so that parallel processing among a client issuing the single transaction and the resources handling the requests of the single transaction may occur.
US09152509B2	Transactional memory conflict management A computing device initiates a transaction, corresponding to an application, which includes operations for accessing data stored in a shared memory and buffering alterations to the data as speculative alterations to the shared memory. The computing device detects a transaction abort scenario corresponding to the transaction and notifies the application regarding the transaction abort scenario. The computing device determines whether to abort the transaction based on instructions received from the application regarding the transaction abort scenario. When the transaction is to be aborted, the computing device restores the transaction to an operation prior to accessing the data stored in the shared memory and buffering alterations to the data as speculative alterations to the shared memory. When the transaction is not to be aborted, the computing device enables the transaction to continue.
US09152506B2	Management apparatus and management method Management apparatus and method to prevent a drop in the service quality of data. In a computer system which replicates and holds data which is stored in a storage apparatus by a communication terminal in other storage apparatuses, physical position information of the storage apparatuses and the communication terminal is collected and, at the time of the disaster recovery processing, a storage apparatus for which the data of the secondary system is to be switched to the primary system is selected from among the storage apparatuses which hold the data of the secondary system on the basis of physical position information in a first predetermined period among the collected physical position information of the communication terminal, and a policy preconfigured for the data, and an instruction is issued to the selected storage apparatus to switch the data of the secondary system held by the storage apparatus to the primary system.
US09152504B1	Staged restore of a decremental backup chain Staged restore of a decremental backup chain. In one example embodiment, a method includes, first, restoring a first backup of a source storage to a restore storage. Next, a second backup of the source storage in a decremental backup chain of the source storage is identified. Then, a third backup of the source storage in the decremental backup chain of the source storage is identified. Next, blocks in the decremental backup chain that were newly allocated in the source storage between the first point in time and the second point in time are identified. Then, the newly-allocated blocks are restored to the restore storage. Next, blocks in the decremental backup chain that were changed in the source storage between the first point in time and the second point in time are identified. Lastly, the changed blocks are restored to the restore storage.
US09152501B2	Write performance in fault-tolerant clustered storage systems Embodiments of the invention relate to supporting transaction data committed to a stable storage. Committed data in the cluster is stored in the persistent cache layer and replicated and stored in the cache layer of one or more secondary nodes. One copy is designated as a master copy and all other copies are designated as replica, with an exclusive write lock assigned to the master and a shared write lock extended to the replica. An acknowledgement of receiving the data is communicated following confirmation that the data has been replicated to each node designated to receive the replica. Managers and a director are provided to support management of the master copy and the replicas within the file system, including invalidation of replicas, fault tolerance associated with failure of a node holding a master copy, recovery from a failed node, recovered of the file system from a power failure, and transferring master and replica copies within the file system.
US09152500B1	Hash collision recovery in a deduplication vault Hash collision recovery in a deduplication vault. In one example embodiment, a method for hash collision recovery in a deduplication vault includes creating first parity data for all unique blocks of a source storage at a point in time. The first parity data includes both the unique blocks as well as an order of block positions of the unique blocks as stored in the source storage. Next, a hash value is generated for each of the unique blocks. Then, a backup is stored in a deduplication vault including each of the unique blocks together with its corresponding hash value. Next, second parity data is created for all of the unique blocks of the backup. Then, the first parity data is compared to the second parity data to determine whether one or more hash collisions occurred resulting in one or more missing unique blocks.
US09152498B2	Raid storage systems having arrays of solid-state drives and methods of operation RAID storage systems and methods adapted to enable the use of NAND flash-based solid-state drives. The RAID storage system includes an array of solid-state drives and a controller operating to combine the solid-state drives into a logical unit. The controller utilizes data striping to form data stripe sets comprising data (stripe) blocks that are written to individual drives of the array, utilizes distributed parity to write parity data of the data stripe sets to individual drives of the array, and writes the data blocks and the parity data to different individual drives of the array. The RAID storage system detects the number of data blocks of at least one of the data stripe sets and then, depending on the number of data blocks detected, may invert bit values of the parity data or add a dummy data value of “1” to the parity value.
US09152493B2	Error check and correction circuit and semiconductor memory An error check and correction circuit includes a Chien search unit. The Chien search unit includes a calculation circuit and a plurality of Chien search circuits. The calculation circuit is configured to calculate a first bit stream by multiplying a value of (n−k) bits by a plurality of elements and a second bit stream by multiplying a value of k bits by the plurality of elements. The plurality of Chien search circuits configured to calculate the element by connecting the first bit stream and the second bit stream, and substitute the calculated element into the error correction search equation.
US09152488B2	Storage module and low-complexity methods for assessing the health of a flash memory device A storage module and low-complexity methods for assessing the health of a flash memory device are disclosed. In one embodiment, data is written to a subset of memory cells in a memory of a storage module. Error statistics for the subset of memory cells are determined, and cell error rate parameters for the memory are estimated by fitting the determined error statistics for the subset of memory cells with a parametric statistical model. Other embodiments are possible, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.
US09152486B2	Evaluating reliability of a software module using development life cycle Reliability of one or more software modules is projected according to a current state in a development life cycle of the software modules and any of various additional indicators. Preferably, a data processing support provider separate from the service-providing enterprise maintains historical field support data concerning significant field defect events with respect to various resources, and uses this data for projecting reliability of the resources. Preferably, software module reliability projections are used to support an analysis of risk of degradation of a service specified in a service requirements specification when provided by a configuration of data processing resources specified in a configuration specification.
US09152485B2	Evaluating service degradation risk for a service provided by data processing resources In one aspect, a service requirements specification specifies data processing resources required to provide a service, and a configuration specification specifies a configuration of data processing resources for providing the service. The service requirements specification and configuration specification are analyzed using resource reliability data for the specified resources to determine a composite risk of degradation of the service. In another aspect, reliability of one or more software modules is projected according to a current state in a development life cycle of the software modules and any of various additional indicators. Preferably, a data processing support provider separate from the service-providing enterprise maintains historical field support data concerning significant field defect events with respect to various resources, and uses this data for projecting reliability of the resources.
US09152481B2	Processing posted receive commands in a parallel computer Processing posted receive commands in a parallel computer, including: posting, by a parallel process of a compute node, a receive command, the receive command including a set of parameters excluding the receive command from being directed among parallel posted receive queues; flattening the parallel unexpected message queues into a single unexpected message queue; determining whether the posted receive command is satisfied by an entry in the single unexpected message queue; if the posted receive command is satisfied by an entry in the single unexpected message queue, processing the posted receive command; if the posted receive command is not satisfied by an entry in the single unexpected message queue: flattening the parallel posted receive queues into a single posted receive queue; and storing the posted receive command in the single posted receive queue.
US09152480B2	Method for storing application data and terminal device Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for storing application data and a terminal device, and relate to the field of communications, so that installation of an application having a default specified path and storage of data that is generated after the application is run are enabled to be located in the same storage space. The method includes: receiving an instruction for running a local application, wherein the instruction is triggered by a user; determining an actual path of a storage space in which the application is installed; running the application, and acquiring data that is generated after the application is run; and storing the data that is generated after the application is run in the actual path of the storage space in which the application is installed. The embodiments of the present disclosure are applied to use of a mobile phone.
US09152476B2	Interface for displaying content supporting hardware acceleration One or more application programming interfaces (APIs) are exposed by a host program running on a device to facilitate a control program displaying content in a window in which the host program displays content. As part of an API, a method is exposed that the control program can invoke to pass to the host program a definition of a surface presenter to be created by the host program. Additionally, the control program can store content that the control program desires to have presented in a buffer of the surface presenter, and invoke another method exposed as part of an API to pass to the host program an indication of the content that the control program desires to have displayed in the window in which the host program displays content.
US09152474B2	Context aware synchronization using context and input parameter objects associated with a mutual exclusion lock Examples are disclosed for context aware synchronization. A mutual exclusion (mutex) lock object or monitor may be created to enable threads to acquire a lock to access a shared data structure when executing a critical section of code. The mutex lock object may have at least a first input associated with a context via which the one or more threads execute the given critical block of code. The mutex lock object may then be stored in a shared memory and an indication as the where the mutex lock object was stored in the shared memory may be provided to a thread. The thread may use the mutex lock object to acquire the lock to access the shared data structure. Other mutex lock objects may be created in a similar manner to allow additional threads to acquire locks to access the shared data structure. Other examples are described and claimed.
US09152473B2	Table driven multiple passive trip platform passive thermal management Methods and apparatus relating to table driven multiple passive trip, platform passive thermal management are described. In one embodiment, the power consumption limit of one or more components of a platform is modified based on one or more thermal relationships between one or more power consuming components of the platform and one or more heat generating components of the platform. Furthermore, a first relationship of the one or more thermal relationships indicates a mapping between a plurality of temperature thresholds and a corresponding plurality of performance limits. Other embodiments are also claimed and disclosed.
US09152472B2	Load distribution system A load distribution system for allocating a job to one of a plurality of arithmetic devices includes a temperature data acquirer, a candidate selector, and a job allocator. The temperature data acquirer acquires temperature data indicating temperature of each of the plurality of arithmetic devices. The candidate selector selects at least one of the plurality of arithmetic devices as a candidate for a device to which the job is to be allocated. The job allocator allocates the job to the selected candidate.
US09152470B2	Systems and methods for computing applications Systems and methods for dynamic development and deployment of computing applications including a development framework, a visual design subsystem, and a deployment subsystem, where at runtime the deployment subsystem is operable to dynamically deploy a computing application by sending a request at runtime for graphs and components identified in the computing application.
US09152462B2	Parallel processing device, parallel processing method, optimization device, optimization method and computer program A parallel processing device improves operation rates of cores in a computation device having a plurality of processor cores in a process in which there are a large number of tasks that can be processed in parallel even though parallelism within the tasks is low. The device acquires tasks into which an application has been divided, sets the number of simultaneously executed tasks in each thread array, sets the number of threads in each thread array, sets the total number of arrays, generates the threads and thread arrays, secures a resource for the number of simultaneously executed tasks in each of the thread arrays, determines the task to be processed by each thread and causes the task thus determined to be executed by each of the threads.
US09152460B1	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.
US09152457B2	Processing request management A method for executing a plurality of processing requests performed by a physical computing system that is programmed to execute the processing requests for clients includes, with the physical computing system, assigning an identification number to a new processing request; with the physical computing system, placing the new processing request into a process eligible group if the identification number of the new processing request meets a criterion; and with the physical computing system, placing the processing request into a queued group if the identification number of the processing request does not meet the criterion.
US09152456B2	Efficient per-thread safepoints and local access Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that implements a safepoint for a thread, which includes a compiler and a runtime environment. During compilation of an application to be executed by the thread, the compiler obtains a register to be associated with the thread and inserts safepoint code into the application, wherein the safepoint code includes an indirect load from a memory location stored in the register to the register. During execution of the application by the thread, the runtime environment writes a thread-specific value for the thread to the register, wherein the thread-specific value corresponds to an enabled value, a triggered value, or a disabled value. In these embodiments, executing the indirect load by the thread causes the thread to trap if the thread-specific value corresponds to the triggered value.
US09152454B2	Method for enabling sequential, non-blocking processing of statements in concurrent tasks in a control device A method for enabling sequential, non-blocking processing of statements in concurrent tasks in a control device having an operating system capable of multi-tasking, in particular a programmable logic controller, is disclosed. At least one operating system call, which causes the operating system to interrupt the particular task according to an instruction output by the statement in favor of another task, is associated with at least one statement.
US09152452B2	Transactional memory that performs a CAMR 32-bit lookup operation A transactional memory (TM) receives a lookup command across a bus from a processor. The command includes a base address, a starting bit position, and a mask size. In response to the command, the TM pulls an input value (IV). A selecting circuit within the TM uses the starting bit position and the mask size to select a first portion of the IV. The first portion of the IV and the base address value are summed to generate a memory address. The memory address is used to read a word containing multiple result values and multiple reference values from memory. A second portion of the IV is compared with each reference value using a comparator circuit. A result value associated with the matching reference value is selected using a multiplexing circuit and a select value generated by the comparator circuit. The TM sends the selected result value to the processor.
US09152451B2	Method of distributing processor loading between real-time processor threads A method of distributing processor loading in a real-time operating system between a high frequency processing task and a lower frequency processing task, the method including: making a processing request to the high frequency processing task from the lower frequency processing task, the processing request including a plurality of discrete processing commands; queuing the plurality of discrete processing commands; and executing a subset of the queued processing commands with the execution of each of a plurality of high frequency processing tasks such that the execution of the plurality of discrete processing commands is distributed across the plurality of high frequency processing tasks.
US09152447B2	System and method for emulating shared storage A system and method of emulating a shared storage device includes determining a storage unit identifier (SUID) associated with a first local storage device in a first node of a distributed computing system, updating a first path handler to intercept storage requests including the SUID and being made on the first node and forwarding the storage requests to drivers for an emulated shared storage device, associating a second local storage device in a second node of the distributed computing system with the SUID, updating a second path handler to intercept storage requests including the SUID and being made on the second node and forwarding the storage requests to the drivers for the emulated shared storage device, and intercepting storage requests including the SUID and being made on the second node and forwarding the storage requests to the drivers for the emulated shared storage device.
US09152444B2	Techniques used by a virtual machine in communication with an external machine and related virtual machine system A method used by a virtual machine in communication with an external machine includes providing a single sharing page that is shared between a plurality of virtual machines and a particular virtual machine, wherein the particular virtual machine and the plurality of virtual machines run on a same physical machine; writing into the single sharing page a data packet to be sent by the virtual machine to the external machine; scheduling a page swap between the single sharing page and a blank memory page of the particular virtual machine; and sending, to the external machine, the data packet in the memory page of the particular virtual machine subsequent to the page swap.
US09152437B2	Dynamically installing image processing Methods, computer-readable media, and systems are provided for dynamically installing an image processing filter. One method for dynamically installing an image processing filter includes starting to obtain image information by infrastructure of an image processing device and processing the obtained image information with an application. After starting to obtain image information, receiving an operating system (OS) application programming interface (API) allowing just-in-time (JIT) bytecode to be executed as a filter during processing the obtained image information.
US09152435B2	Generating a set of linked rotational views of model objects Embodiments relate to systems and methods for generating a set of linked rotational views of a model object. A modeling client can host modeling logic and an application programming interface (API) to create, access, manipulate, and import/export modeling objects used in modeling applications, such as engineering, medical, financial, and other modeling platforms. The source data accepted into the modeling client can include consumer or business-level applications, whose spreadsheet, database or other content can be extracted and encapsulated in object-oriented format, such as extensible markup language (XML) format. A set of layers of the model objects can be associated via a set of linkages. A rotator widget or other interface object can be presented to allow a user to traverse the linkages and rapidly rotate through layers in a view, without having to switch tabs, planes, database dimensions, or manually operate other dimensional control, enhancing viewing efficiency of large layers.
US09152422B2	Apparatus and method for compressing trace data An apparatus and method for compressing trace data is provided. The apparatus includes a detection unit configured to detect trace data corresponding to one or more function units performing a substantially significant operation in a reconfigurable processor as valid trace data, and a compression unit configured to compress the valid trace data.
US09152421B2	Assembling long instruction encapsulated in short instructions according to method identified by format bits A method of encapsulating a long instruction in a set of short instructions for execution on a processor, the long instruction having k bits and each short instruction having l bits where l
US09152417B2	Expediting execution time memory aliasing checking Embodiments of apparatus, computer-implemented methods, systems, and computer-readable media are described herein for expediting execution time memory alias checking. A sequence of instructions targeted for execution on an execution processor may be received or retrieved. The execution processor may include a plurality of alias registers and circuitry configured to check entries in the alias register for memory aliasing. One or more optimizations may be performed on the received or retrieved sequence of instructions to optimize execution performance of the received or retrieved sequence of instructions. This may include a reorder of a plurality of memory instructions in the received or retrieved sequence of instructions. After the optimization, one or more move instructions may be inserted in the optimized sequence of instructions to move one or more entries among the alias registers during execution, to expedite alias checking at execution time. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US09152415B2	Abstracting benefit rules from computer code A method that includes: obtaining a computer code usable to process insurance claims; building a computer readable directed graph representing a control flow of the code and comprising nodes connected by edges, some of the nodes being decision nodes associated with decisions and some of the nodes being action nodes associated with actions; determining, on the graph, benefit action nodes that are each associated with at least one monetary outcome of a specified insurance claim; identifying all logic paths that lead to each benefit action node by traversing the graph from each benefit action node backwards, each logic path comprising a sequence of preceding decision nodes and action nodes connected by edges, each set of paths being associated with a specified benefit action node representing a benefit rule; and outputting all benefit rules by presenting each specified benefit action in relation to grouped logic paths associated with the specified benefit action.
US09152413B2	Bi-directional communication between change management tool and implementation tools Task implementation tools are registered to interface with a change management tool. The change management tool configures a plurality of tasks to implement a change to an information technology infrastructure's configuration, and sends a plurality of task instructions to the plurality of task implementation tools for performing the plurality of tasks. Each task instruction is directed to a targeted task implementation tool for performing a particular task and includes task-related information for the targeted implementation tool to perform the particular task. Registering the plurality of task implementation tools to interface with the change management tool includes registering each the plurality of task implementation tools to accept the task instruction for the particular task directed to it from the change management tool, to know what to do with the task instruction and to know how to respond to the task instruction.
US09152406B2	Rapid provisioning of virtual machines based on multi-dimensional user request patterns in a cloud A method for pre-provisioning a virtual machine instance includes 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.
US09152387B2	System integrator and method for mapping dynamic COBOL constructs to object instances for the automatic integration to object-oriented computing systems A system integrator for modeling an object instance of a COBOL data set, the object instance including representations of OCCURS DEPENDING ON clauses or REDEFINE clauses. The system comprises a client interface module, an import module, an object model module and modeler module. The client interface module generates an interface and receives a copybook selection and a set of REDEFINE criteria. The import module receives the copybook selection and imports a copybook from a database. The object model module receives the copybook and the set of REDEFINE criteria, and creates a customized object model for the copybook. The modeler module receives the customized object model and a set of COBOL data, and forms an object instance equivalent to the set of COBOL data, the object instance including representations of a OCCURS DEPENDING ON clause or REDEFINE clause.
US09152386B1	Method and system for rapid upgrade through transactional analysis A process for identifying functional and detailed design decisions in a core software architecture across multiple applications and clients includes comparing the results of two independent review sub processes to rapidly build an upgrade testing matrix. The two sub process include an independent functional review and a regression analysis using data extracts from historical data generated from client use of the core software architecture.
US09152385B2	Systems and methods for generating high-quality formal executable software feature requirements Systems and methods for generating formal software requirements using an informal requirements document having informal requirements and annotations associated with the informal requirements. The systems and methods extract syntax from the annotations and generate artifacts as a function of the syntax.
US09152384B2	System and method for referencing a dynamic module system within a component oriented application development framework A system and method can support a hybrid application development environment. The system allows a client application in the application runtime environment to obtain a reference to a framework instance for a dynamic module system. Furthermore, the system can configure a bundle in the dynamic module system to be a gateway bundle based on the framework instance, and the client application can access the dynamic module system using the gateway bundle.
US09152380B2	Interrupt driven hardware random number generator A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for generating and processing random numbers are provided. An apparatus comprises a processing system that includes a processor, a random number generator and a pair of buffers. A first buffer receives low-entropy random numbers generated by the random number generator and a second buffer provides high-entropy random numbers directly to a processing system. The processing system may directly access the second buffer in response to an instruction executed by the processing system. The processing system responds to an interrupt based on occupancy levels of the buffers by conditioning low-entropy random numbers read from the first buffer to obtain high-entropy random numbers that are then stored in the second.
US09152374B2	Control and capture of audio data intended for an audio endpoint device of an application executing on a data processing device A method includes implementing an audio framework to be executed on a data processing device with a virtual audio driver component and a User Mode Component (UMC) communicatively coupled to each other. The virtual audio driver component enables modifying an original default audio endpoint device of an application executing on the data processing device to an emulated audio device associated with a new audio endpoint in response to an initiation through the application in conjunction with the UMC. The virtual audio driver component also enables registering the new audio endpoint as the modified default audio endpoint with an operating system executing on the data processing device. Further, the virtual audio driver component enables capturing audio data intended for the original default audio endpoint device at the new audio endpoint following the registration thereof to enable control of the audio data.
US09152373B2	Gesture visualization and sharing between electronic devices and remote displays The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates interaction between an electronic device and a remote display. The system includes a first application and an encoding apparatus on the electronic device, and a second application and a decoding apparatus on the remote display. The encoding apparatus obtains graphical output for a display of the electronic device and a first set of touch inputs associated with the graphical output from a first touch screen. Next, the encoding apparatus encodes the graphical output, and the first application transmits the graphical output and the first set of touch inputs to the remote display. Upon receiving the graphical output and the first set of touch inputs at the remote display, the decoding apparatus decodes the graphical output. The second application then uses the graphical output and a visual representation of the first set of touch inputs to drive the remote display.
US09152369B2	Electronic apparatus, control method, and storage medium According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a virtual identification information generator and a display controller. The virtual identification information generator generates a virtual identification information item to virtualize the display, for each of two or more external devices wirelessly connected to the electronic apparatus by use of a wireless communication module, based on specific identification information of the display including information indicative of properties of the display. The display controller displays image signals transmitted from the external devices on a display. The display image signals are generated by the external devices based on the virtual identification information items.
US09152366B2	Remote printing management for cloud printing A print server may include an application manager configured to receive a print job from a user and associate the print job with a printer. The print server may include a presence manager configured to provide a presence code for the print job and the printer, and to receive the presence code from the user in conjunction with a physical presence of the user at the printer, and a print job router configured to release the print job for printing by the printer, based on the receipt of the presence code.
US09152364B2	Media processing device, control method for a media processing device, and recording medium storing a program executed by a control unit that controls a media processing device Media processing devices, media processing device control methods, and computer-readable recording mediums storing programs that can be executed by control units that control media processing devices are provided. In one embodiment, a media processing device has a plurality of operation units that process roll paper and checks as a plurality of recording media, and a central processing unit (CPU) that controls the operation units by executing commands received from a host computer. When the CPU detects during a normal operating mode that commands for any of the operation units cannot be executed, the CPU switches to a limited operation mode in which commands for that operation unit cannot be executed, but commands from the host computer can be received and commands for other operation units can be executed.
US09152363B2	Print control apparatus controlling deletion of print job history and job data based on a set retention period An information processing apparatus 101 processes a print job based on job data inputted from a PC 103 to a hot folder and retains print job history information and job data relating to the print job history information. The information processing apparatus 101 receives an instruction from a user and determines a dependency relation between the job history information and the job data to set a retention period of the print job history information and a retention period of the job data so that the retention period of the print job history information is over the retention period of the job data. The information processing apparatus 101 deletes the print job history information and the job data based on the set retention period of the print job history information and the retention period of the job data.
US09152362B2	Managing print jobs Systems and methods for managing print jobs associated with multiple customers. Customer-editable design templates for printed products and design software tools enabling creation by customers of custom print product designs are provided, via a network, to multiple customers operating corresponding electronic devices. Individual print jobs corresponding to custom print product designs created by multiple different customers via the electronic devices are received and automatically aggregated into an aggregate print job comprising individual print jobs from different customers. The aggregated individual print jobs in the aggregate print job are printed simultaneously on one or more units of a shared substrate when the aggregate print job is printed.
US09152359B2	Image forming apparatus that selects appropriate power saving mode for each time slot An image forming apparatus includes an operation panel, a printing device, a storage device, a job management unit, a power-saving mode setting unit, and an operation mode control unit. The power-saving mode setting unit that: (a) specifies the job log where the start time point of the job execution belongs to an identical time slot in a past for a predetermined time slot; and (b1) sets the power-saving mode for the predetermined time slot to the first power-saving mode when a proportion of the number of the executing jobs where the job types of the specified job log belong to the first job type group to the number of the executing jobs where the job types of the specified job log belong to the first job type group or the second job type group exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
US09152348B2	Data transmitting method, memory controller and data transmitting system A data transmitting method for a memory controller is provided. A host system executes threads to transmit commands through a human interface device (HID) interface. The method includes: receiving a command packet from the host system; executing an operation corresponding to a command according to the command packet to generate responding data, which is divided into at least one responding data packet by the memory controller; transmitting a responding packet and the responding data packet to the host system by the memory controller; determining if one of the at least one responding data packet is lost according to the responding packet by the host system; if a responding data packet is lost, transmitting a retransmitting packet to the memory controller by the host system to request the memory controller to retransmit the lost responding data packet. Accordingly, the data transmission amount is improved, and the integrity of data is ensured.
US09152345B2	Data stream filters and plug-ins for storage managers A storage manager and related method and computer program product manages client data on a data storage resource and includes the ability to utilize many different types of data stream filters that are neither built into the storage manager nor require a custom programming effort. A storage manager user may readily implement filtering by simply identifying a data stream filter the user wishes the storage manager to use for filtering the user's data. The filter can be an off-the-shelf program that is not part of the storage manager and which does not require client application or storage manager domain knowledge (e.g., knowledge of protocols or data types or formats used by the application or storage manager). The storage manager invokes the identified filter as part of a requested data stream operation and receives a data stream from a data stream source. The data stream is provided to the filter, which filters the data stream. Following filtering, the storage manager receives the data stream from the filter and sends it to a data stream destination.
US09152342B1	Read-write access in a read-only environment In one example, a method for writing data includes receiving a write request that includes one or more data blocks, and has an offset and an end. Next, a data structure is examined and an offset of a leading data block residing in the data structure is identified. The last position of the leading data block is then calculated. If the last position of the leading data block is less than the offset of the write request, the one or more data blocks of the write request are stored in the data structure. Alternatively, if the last position of the leading data block is equal to or greater than the offset of the write request, then the one or more data blocks of the write request are merged with the leading data block to produce a merged, defragmented data block, which is then stored in the data structure.
US09152336B1	System and method for LUN adjustment A method, computer program product, and computing system for comparing at least one performance benchmark to at least one performance indicator for a front end LUN. If the at least one performance indicator exceeds the at least one performance benchmark, the failure domain of the front end LUN is reduced. If the at least one performance indicator does not exceed the performance benchmark, the failure domain of the front end LUN is increased.
US09152332B2	Storage system and method for reducing energy consumption A system and method that include configuring local disk drives of a local storage system so that at any given point of time, a first part of the local disk drives operate in a low power state and a second part of the local disk drives operate in an active state; and in response to a read request of a data portion on a local disk drive of the local disk drives: determining whether the local disk drive currently operates in the low power state; reading the data portion from the local disk drive, if the local disk drive does not currently operate in the low power state; if the local disk drive currently operates in the low power state, enquiring if a remote mirror disk drive that stores a copy of the data portion currently operates in the low power state; wherein the remote mirror disk drive is comprised in a remote storage system that is coupled to the local storage system; and if the remote mirror disk drive does not currently operate in the low power state, requesting from the remote storage system to read the copy of the data portion from the remote minor disk drive.
US09152328B2	Redundant array of independent disks volume creation Methods and structure for automatic creation of Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) volumes are provided. The system comprises A RAID controller that includes a memory and a processor. The memory stores information describing storage devices of a storage system. The processor is able to receive a request to generate a RAID volume, to access the memory to identify a first group of storage devices that each have a first storage capacity, and to determine an expected size of a volume implemented by the first group. The processor is further able to access the memory to identify a second group of storage devices that each have a second storage capacity, to determine an expected size of a volume implemented by the first group and the second group, and to select one or more of the groups to create the requested volume based on the expected sizes.
US09152325B2	Logical and physical block addressing for efficiently storing data One method includes assigning a pointer from multiple logical blocks to the same original physical block if the multiple logical blocks include the same data. The method further includes receiving a command to write data to the first logical block and determining if the first logical block is a frequently accessed logical block. If the first logical block is a frequently accessed logical block, ownership of the original physical block is assigned to the first logical block. If ownership is established, the method includes copying any data stored in the original physical block to a new physical block, assigning a pointer from a second logical block to the new physical block, and performing the write command on the original physical block. A system includes a processor for performing the above method. One computer program product includes computer code for performing the method described above.
US09152324B2	Discoverability and navigation of hyperlinks A user may discover and navigate among hyperlinks through the use of a keyboard. For example, a user may press a tab key to discover and navigate to a first hyperlink that is part of a hypertext document. The first hyperlink is, in response, given focus and a focus shape is drawn around the text or graphics for the hot region of the hyperlink. If the user again presses the tab key, the next hyperlink is given focus and a focus shape (i.e., an outline that surrounds the next hyperlink) is drawn around the next hyperlink. A user may also tab to a placeholder for an image in order to make a decision whether the image should be downloaded or not.
US09152314B2	Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed, by which a terminal can be used in further consideration of user's convenience. The present invention includes displaying at least one object on a display unit of a touchscreen type provided to a front side of a housing of a bar type, if a first touch gesture is performed on the object, enabling the object to move from the main display unit via a first subdisplay unit provided to one lateral side of the housing to a second subdisplay unit of the touchscreen type provided to a backside of the housing, and if a second touch gesture is performed on the object displayed on the second subdisplay unit, enabling the object to move to the main display unit via the first subdisplay unit from the second subdisplay unit. Accordingly, when a touchscreen is attached to at least two sides of a mobile terminal, a terminal user is facilitated to use the mobile terminal in a manner of utilizing how to display the touchscreen provided to the at least two sides.
US09152307B2	Systems and methods for simultaneously displaying clustered, in-line electronic messages in one display Systems and methods for displaying electronic messages are disclosed. In some implementations, a method includes, at a computing device, displaying a user interface for a messaging application, comprising an electronic message list. The message list comprises a plurality of objects. Each respective object in the plurality of objects is visually distinct in the message list and represents one or more corresponding electronic messages. The method includes detecting user selection of an object in the message list and in response to detecting user selection of the object, toggling display of the first object from a first state to a second state. The method includes moving a first subset of objects vertically upward, where the first subset of objects comprises one or more objects above the selected object, and moving a second subset of objects vertically downward, where the second subset of objects comprises one or more objects below the selected object.
US09152304B2	Systems and methods for virtual control of a non-destructive testing system A non-transitory computer readable medium may comprise instructions configured to display a virtual joystick, a virtual control pad, or a combination thereof and to derive control data based on a manipulation of the virtual joystick, the virtual control pad, or the combination thereof. The instructions may be further configured to communicate the control data to control a component of a non-destructive testing (NDT) device.
US09152298B2	Display apparatus and displaying method thereof A display apparatus and a displaying method thereof are provided. A storage unit stores installed items, a UI generator generates a UI including a first area to display the installed items and a second area to display installable items, a display unit displays the generated UI, and, if one of the items displayed on the second area is selected, a controller displays a process of moving the selected item moved to the first area.
US09152297B2	Interactive content creation system According to various embodiments, a user interface (UI) includes a precedence graph area and an icon list displaying multiple types of program icons. A user selection of one of the program icons is received, the user selection corresponding to moving the selected program icon to the precedence graph area, the selected program icon referencing a composer UI to generate content of a specific media type. The selected program icon is characterized as a first program-content-pairing icon that references the content created by the composer UI. Thereafter, a user interaction with a plurality of program-content-pairing icons in the precedence graph area is detected, the user interaction corresponding to specifying an ordering of the plurality of program-content-pairing icons. A program flow precedence graph referencing a program flow of an interactive program is the generated, based on the ordering of the program-content-pairing icons in the precedence graph area.
US09152296B2	Method and system for controlling a scheduling order A scheduling order can be designated for the delivery and playback of media content (e.g., music, news, other audio, advertising, etc) with respect to particular slots within the scheduling order. The broadcast day is divided into blocks of time that include multiple time slots. One of those time slots, a transition slot, is adjacent to another block of time. The transition slot can be scheduled using a different algorithm than the one used for scheduling the other slots in the same block. At least the transition slot can be scheduled to satisfy both horizontal and vertical adjacency requirements. The remaining slots can be scheduled by selecting a next available media item from one or more categories of media items associated with the block being scheduled.
US09152294B2	Electronic apparatus, display control method for the electronic apparatus, graphical user interface, and display control program An electronic apparatus, display control method thereof, graphical user interface, and display control program are provided. The electronic apparatus includes a total-number obtaining unit to obtain information about a total number of items to be provided from a source; a first display unit to display undetermined representation images on a screen if it is determined that some of the representation images displayed on the screen have been changed; a determining unit to determine whether change of the representation images displayed on the screen has stopped; and a second display unit to display the representation images by obtaining, from the source, information to display the representation images to be newly displayed on the screen if the determining unit determines that change of the representation images displayed on the screen has stopped.
US09152293B2	Server IP addressing in a computing-on-demand system A method and system may provide a graphical user interface to a user via a web portal. A representation of a provisioned server device may be provided via the graphical user interface, wherein a primary Internet protocol (IP) address is associated with the provisioned server device. A selection of the provisioned server device may be received. A request to assign a secondary IP address to the selected server device may be received, wherein the secondary IP address is different from the primary IP address. The secondary IP address to the selected server device may be assigned based on the request.
US09152289B2	Installation structure of thin-type display and resistive film type touch panel, resistive film type touch panel unit with front-surface protrusions, and thin-type display unit with back-surface protrusions An installation structure of electronic paper and a resistive film type touch panel, includes electronic paper, a resistive film type touch panel disposed on a back surface side of the electronic paper, and a multitude of protrusions that are disposed between the electronic paper and the resistive film type touch panel, and that are fixed to at least one of the electronic paper and the resistive film type touch panel.
US09152281B2	Manufacturing method for touch screen panel In one aspect, a method of manufacturing a touch screen panel including forming sensing electrodes for touch sensing on a substrate; forming metal patterns for electrical connection of the sensing electrodes on the sensing electrodes; forming a first protective layer including any one of silicon nitride (SiN) and silicon oxide (SiO) on the metal patterns; and forming a second protective layer including the other of the silicon nitride (SiN) and the silicon oxide (SiO) on the first protective layer is provided.
US09152270B2	Methods and systems for improving touch sensitivity of touch-based devices The present disclosure discloses methods and systems for improving touch detection of a touch screen device. The method includes determining touch coordinates when the touch screen device is touched. Subsequently, a sampling time is adjusted, depending on the touch coordinates relative to initial coordinates of the touch screen device.
US09152268B2	Touch screen response method and device A device and method are provided for increasing touch screen response.
US09152265B2	Touch sensitive display A touch sensitive display includes: an upper substrate, a lower substrate, an organic light-emitting component, and a touch sensing component. The lower substrate is disposed below the upper substrate and the organic light-emitting component is disposed above the lower substrate. The touch sensing component designed by a single layer structure is disposed under or above the upper substrate. Therefore, the present invention can achieve the purpose of lightening the touch sensitive display and simplifying manufacturing process of the touch sensitive display.
US09152261B2	Display input device, and image forming apparatus including touch panel portion A display input device includes a display portion and a touch panel portion. The display portion displays a screen on which objects are provided. The touch panel portion is provided on the display portion and detects a plurality of touched positions being touched by a user. After a multipoint touching operation of touching a plurality of points on the touch panel portion at the same time, when an operation of moving objects that are movement targets among the objects being displayed is performed on the touch panel portion, if the distance between two points among the plurality of points touched by the multipoint touching operation is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold distance, the display portion collectively moves all the objects that are the movement targets.
US09152258B2	User interface for a touch screen A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor of an electronic device that includes a touch sensitive and pressure sensitive display, cause the processor to enable a user interface of the electronic device, by which a glide gesture along the display and an amount of pressure applied to the display both generate the same user interface command.
US09152257B2	Low swing voltage mode driver An output driver includes control logic configured to switch on a pull-up circuit and a pull-down circuit to provide an output impedance for a logic low on a transmission line. The output driver includes a variable pull-up resistor. The control logic is configured to switch on the pull-up circuit to a first value of impedance to drive a logic high on the transmission line. The control logic is configured to switch on the pull-up circuit to a second value of impedance and to switch on the pull-down circuit to provide the output impedance to drive a logic low on the transmission line. The system could alternatively be configured for the inverse to switch on a combination of pull-up and pull-down circuits for a logic high, where the pull-down circuit is switched on for a logic low.
US09152255B2	Management and application methods and systems for touch-sensitive devices, and computer program products thereof Management and application methods and systems for an electronic apparatus having touch-sensitive devices are provided. First, at least one sensing electrode of a touch-sensitive device is scanned. It is determined whether a sensed value corresponding to the sensing electrode is greater than a first threshold value and whether the sensed value corresponding to the sensing electrode is greater than a second threshold value, wherein the second threshold value is greater than the first threshold value. When the sensed value is greater than the first threshold value, and is not greater than the second threshold value, it is determined that a first event is detected by the touch-sensitive device, for example, an object is close to the touch-sensitive device. When the sensed value is greater than the second threshold value, it is determined that a second event is detected by the touch-sensitive device, for example, the touch-sensitive device is touched by the object.
US09152254B2	Electrical connection for active-stylus electrode In one embodiment, an active stylus includes one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic for wirelessly communicating with a device through a touch sensor of the device. The active stylus also includes an electrode for wirelessly receiving or transmitting signals through the touch sensor of the device to enable the communication, wherein the electrode is disposed at or near a tip of the active stylus. The active stylus further includes a conductive element providing at least a portion of a connection between the electrode and the media. The conductive element is made of a single piece of conductive material and includes a first end connected to a circuit board of the active stylus that the media is disposed on. The conductive element also includes a second end that includes a deformable ring configured to fit within an interior portion of the electrode.
US09152252B2	Display device and driving method thereof A display device comprising a display panel including a plurality of pixels configured to write a first image data signal corresponding to a corresponding frame for a first frame and emits light according to driving current depending on a second image data signal corresponding to a previous frame is disclosed. In one aspect, the first frame includes a reset period of resetting data voltage according to the second image data signal, a compensating period of compensating threshold voltages of driving transistors of the pixels, a data writing period of transferring scan signals corresponding to the pixels in sequence, writing the first image data signal, and a light emitting period of simultaneously emitting light according to the second image data signal, wherein the data writing period and the light emitting period frame are overlap each other.
US09152248B1	Method and system for making a selection in 3D virtual environment Techniques for selecting a portion of a 3D virtual environment are disclosed, where the portion of the 3D virtual environment may be one or more objects in the 3D virtual environment or one of scenes in the 3D virtual environment. A motion sensitive device (controller) is used. The controller generates sensor data sufficient to derive position and orientation of the controller in six degrees of freedom. In one embodiment, when selecting the portion of the 3D virtual environment, the controller generates a ray to an interaction of a display screen provided to display the 3D virtual environment, wherein the ray is further projected into the 3D virtual environment by a ray tracing technique as if the user had a real laser pointer that crosses from the physical world into the 3D virtual environment being displayed. Further a user is optionally to use a secondary input device to select one or more points or objects in a 3D space to control a distance along the ray being used.
US09152244B2	Image display apparatus and method for operating the same According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for operating an image display device using a pointing device includes receiving, from the pointing device, a first signal and a second signal to display a pointer at a particular location on a screen of the image display device, wherein the first signal initiates displaying of the pointer in accordance with a first input selection of the pointing device, determining whether coordinates corresponding to the second signal to display the pointer are outside an active area, wherein the active area is greater than an actual size of the screen, and resetting the coordinates to new coordinates corresponding to a pre-designated area of the screen and displaying the pointer at the pre-designated area of the screen when the coordinates are determined to be outside the active area.
US09152243B2	Object tracking using background and foreground models Various arrangements for modeling a scene are presented. A plurality of images of the scene captured over a period of time may be received, each image comprising a plurality of pixels. A plurality of background models may be created using the plurality of images. At least one background model may be created for each pixel of the plurality of pixels. A plurality of foreground models may be created using the plurality of images. A foreground model may be created for each pixel of at least a first subset of pixels of the plurality of pixels. The background models and the foreground models may be indicative of the scene over the period of time.
US09152241B2	Method and apparatus for efficient data input Visual and/or audible cues are used to assist users with data input on keyboards having keys associated with multiple input symbols or functions. Each input symbol or function has a correspondence to an input object, such as a finger. During key actuation, one or more input objects are detected. Candidate input symbols or functions are determined based on identification of the key being actuated. The candidate input symbols or functions are presented to the user in the form of cues having visual and/or audible features. The detected input objects may be optionally identified and presented to the user in the form of cues having visual and/or audible features as well.
US09152236B2	Apparatus for remotely controlling another apparatus and having self-orientating capability An apparatus for communicating with a target device includes: a sensing portion for sensing points of user contact with the apparatus and user gestures; a transmitting device for sending signals representative of user commands to the target device; a controller; and a memory including instructions for configuring the controller to perform a self-orientation process to determine a forward direction of a plane of operation for defining the user gestures.
US09152230B1	Tactile user interface device A computer system includes a computer processor, an operating system operative in connection with the computer processor, and a display responsive to the operating system. The system also has a pointing device that includes a position sensor and a tactile actuator. A pointing device driver is responsive to the position sensor, and the tactile actuator is responsive to the pointing device driver. A general-purpose application is responsive to the pointing device driver and to the operating system and in communication with the display, and the pointing device driver is also responsive to the general purpose application. The system further includes a profile that maps region changes associated with material displayed on the screen to tactile signals to be sent to the tactile actuator.
US09152225B2	Mobile terminal having flexible display and control method for the mobile terminal A mobile terminal including a flexible display unit and a related control method are provided. The mobile terminal may include a flexible display unit configured to display first screen information that is flexible in response to an external physical force, a sensing unit configured to sense flexure of the flexible display unit and a controller configured to control the flexible display unit to output second screen information containing information associated with the first screen information on one region of the flexible display unit in response to the flexure.
US09152215B2	Power control circuit and electronic device A basic and simple power control circuit for selectively controlling power to an electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a power module, a system power port, and a processing unit, the processing unit includes a first and a second power control pins. The power control circuit includes a power switch, a trigger signal producing sub-circuit, a trigger-receiving sub-circuit, and a switch controlling sub-circuit. The switch is connected between the power module and the system power port. The trigger signal producing sub-circuit produces a trigger signal. When receiving a trigger signal, the trigger-receiving sub-circuit follows a first control signal output by the second power control pin to output the first control signal. The switch controlling sub-circuit turns off the power switch when receiving the first control signal.

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