最新美国发明专利第2015-11-10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
US09184581B2	Device and method for estimating a touch current and protecting an electrical apparatus against such touch currents A device and method for protection of an electrical apparatus against touch currents, the device configured to be connected between a source of electrical power and a device onboard a motor vehicle, and including a circuit for detecting leakage currents and for estimating touch currents, configured to be connected to the electrical connection lines of the apparatus, a circuit measuring frame current, and a mechanism controlling operation of the apparatus according to the estimated level of the touch currents and the measured level of the frame current. The device and method can in one embodiment be used to protect against leakage currents during recharging of a hybrid or electrically driven motor vehicle.
US09184579B2	Wall grommet for power connection A wall grommet, which can be installed through the surfaces of walls to route wiring in the walls' interior spaces. In particular, the wall grommet is configured for running power cords inside walls and presenting the electrical connectors of a power cord in a manner such that power cords are hidden from view. The grommet may comprise a housing, which defines an interior space that is adapted to hold either the female connector or male connector of a power cord. The housing may be configured to enclose and secure the electrical connector of the power cord in the housing.
US09184576B2	Method and device for coating the junction area between at least two elongated elements, in particular between electric cables A method of coating the junction area between elongated elements, in particular between electric cables. This method includes the steps of: arranging a rigid tubular support having two axially separable tubular halves; mounting an elastic tubular sleeve in an elastically radially expanded condition on an outer surface of the support; interposing a lubricating material between the support and sleeve; arranging a circumferentially continuous sealing element between the halves to prevent the lubricant from percolating between the halves; positioning the support around the junction area; and moving the halves apart from each other to enable the sleeve to collapse on the junction area. A device for coating the junction area between elongated elements and a method of making the device and a joint for electric cables.
US09184570B2	Spark plug for internal combustion engine of motor vehicles A spark plug has a center electrode and an earth electrode. The center electrode is faced to the earth electrode so that a spark discharging gap is formed between the center electrode and the earth electrode. An electrode chip is formed on at least one of the center electrode and the earth electrode. The electrode chip has a composition containing 40 to 60 mol % of aluminum and iridium as a remainder thereof. In the composition of the electrode chip, it is possible to replace part of the iridium with 1 to 20 mol % of at least one metal selected from nickel, iron, cobalt, platinum and rhodium.
US09184566B2	Method for manufacturing semiconductor laser element A method for manufacturing a semiconductor laser element includes forming an etching end point detection layer on part of a substrate, forming an substrate exposed portion and forming a lower cladding layer, an active layer, and an upper cladding layer on the etching end point detection layer and on the exposed portion, forming an insulating film pattern at a distance corresponding to a clearance region, from directly above a boundary between the substrate exposed portion and the etching end point detection layer, etching the upper clad layer, the active layer, and the lower cladding layer using the insulating film pattern as a mask and stopping etching at a time when the etching end point detection layer is exposed or after a predetermined time duration after the time.
US09184565B2	Semiconductor light-emitting element In a semiconductor light-emitting element, a first cladding layer in a first conductive type, a quantum well active layer, and a second cladding layer in a second conductive type are stacked on a semiconductor substrate in this order. A ridge-shaped stripe formed at the second cladding layer forms a waveguide. RfWr are satisfied, where the width of the ridge-shaped stripe at a front end face from which laser light is output is represented by Wf, the width of the ridge-shaped stripe at a rear end face is represented by Wr, the reflectance of the front end face is represented by Rf, and the reflectance of the rear end face is represented by Rr. Light in a fundamental transverse mode, a first high-order transverse mode, a second high-order transverse mode, and a third high-order transverse mode is guided in the waveguide.
US09184561B2	Method to determine operating conditions of wavelength tunable laser diode and to control optical transmitter providing wavelength tunable laser diode A method to control a wavelength tunable laser diode (tunable LD) is disclosed. The tunable LD includes a SG-DFB region and a CSG-DBR region to tune the emission wavelength thereof. The CSG-DBR region includes three segments, where the refractive indices of respective segments are variable by heaters provided therein. When the electrical power supplied to two segments is optionally selected, the power supplied to the rest segment is corrected by an offset from a value reflecting physical dimensions of the heaters. The offset is determined such that the tunable LD shows the best side mode suppression ratio (SMSR).
US09184560B2	Semiconductor-laser-device assembly A semiconductor-laser-device assembly includes a mode-locked semiconductor-laser-element assembly including a mode-locked semiconductor laser element, and a dispersion compensation optical system, on which laser light emitted from the mode-locked semiconductor laser element is incident and from which the laser light is emitted; and a semiconductor optical amplifier having a layered structure body including a group III-V nitride-based semiconductor layer, the semiconductor optical amplifier configured to amplify the laser light emitted from the mode-locked semiconductor-laser-element assembly.
US09184559B2	Electron-beam-pumped light source The present invention is intended to provide an electron-beam-pumped light source capable of irradiating one surface of a semiconductor light-emitting device uniformly with an electron beam, and capable of obtaining a high light output without increasing an accelerating voltage of the electron beam and, in addition, capable of efficiently cooling the semiconductor light-emitting device. An electron-beam-pumped light source of the present invention includes: an electron beam source and a semiconductor light-emitting device excited by an electron beam emitted from the electron beam source, and characterized in that the electron beam source includes a planar electron beam emitting portion and arranged in the periphery of the semiconductor light-emitting device, and light exits from a surface through which the electron beam from the electron beam source of the semiconductor light-emitting device enters.
US09184555B2	Laser system and laser light generation method A laser system may include: a master oscillator configured to output pulsed laser light; an amplification device for amplifying the pulsed laser light from the master oscillator; a first timing detector configured to detect a first timing at which the master oscillator outputs the pulsed laser light; a second timing detector configured to detect a second timing at which the amplification device discharges; and a controller configured to, based on results of detection by the first timing detector and the second timing detector, control at least one of the first timing and the second timing so that the amplification device discharges when the pulsed laser light passes through a discharge space of the amplification device.
US09184553B2	Gate-tunable graphene-ferroelectric hybrid structure for photonics and plasmonics The invention relates to a novel type of gate-tunable photonics and plasmonics which utilizes doped large-scale graphene coupled with ferroelectric material. The graphene-ferroelectric hybrid structure paves the way for the realization of ultra-fast, low power consumption and multi-wavelength operation saturable absorbers for applications in ultra-fast laser systems and novel types of plasmonics for applications in infrared detection, single-photon quantum devices and ultrasensitive detectors.
US09184547B2	Plug conversion adapter Provided is a plug conversion adapter which can easily open a shutter even in the case of a BF type AC power plug socket and can also be used in other types of AC power plug sockets. The interval between a pair of electrode pins can be controlled by operating a pair of first movable members, and thus the plug conversion adapter can be used in a larger number of types of AC power plug sockets. The interval between the pair of first movable members is restricted by a second movable member at a maximum, and thus a shutter can also be easily opened even in the case of an AC power plug socket that has a structure in which the shutter is opened by pushing both corners of the pair of electrode pin insertion openings.
US09184543B2	Electrical connector A power-supplying electrical connector includes an engagement mechanism configured to engage a power-receiving electrical connector, the engagement mechanism having a pair of engaging members, and an indicator member configured to disengage from the engagement mechanism and move from a charging-disabled position to a charging-enabled position, when the engagement mechanism has engaged the power-receiving electrical connector. While the indicator member is held in the charging-disabled position, the engagement mechanism is configured to cause the first engaging member and the indicator member to disengage after a second engaging member of the pair of engaging members and the indicator member has engaged while the power-supplying electrical connector is attached to the power-receiving electrical connector, and while the power-supplying electrical connector and the power-receiving electrical connector remain attached and engaged, the engagement mechanism is configured to cause the second engaging member and the indicator member to disengage.
US09184542B2	Connector cover regulating rib and groove A connector with a cover (1) includes a connector housing (11) and a cover (21) fitted in the connector housing. The connector housing has a regulating rib (16) provided projecting in a second direction perpendicular to a first direction where the fitted cover is pulled away from the connector housing. The cover has a regulating groove (26) that is formed into a shape corresponding to the regulating rib, and into which the regulating rib is inserted when the cover is fitted in the connector housing. The regulating rib is formed to become larger in width in the first direction from a base end toward a tip in the second direction. Release of the fitting of the cover in the connector housing is regulated by the regulating groove and the regulating rib inserted into the regulating groove in a state where the cover is fitted in the connector housing.
US09184538B1	Replacement adaptor for broken clip on cable connector An improved electrical conduit is disclosed for conveying an electrical current between a male plug and a female receptacle. The electrical conduit comprises a substitute male plug for engaging with the female receptacle. A substitute locking clip is pivotably mounted to the substitute male plug engaging with the locking clip receiver for preventing inadvertent removal of the substitute male plug from the female receptacle. A substitute female clip engages with the male plug. A flexible electrical conduit couples the substitute male plug and the substitute female clip for transmitting the electrical current between the male plug and the female receptacle.
US09184536B2	Port including movable connector A port of a computing system includes a connector movable between a recessed position and an extended position. The connector is extended from the recessed position to the extended position in response to a plug.
US09184535B2	Electrical connector An electrical connector includes an outer conductive member including a cylindrical member and an outer lid portion for covering the cylindrical member; an insulation member disposed in the outer conductive member; and a terminal disposed in the insulation member. The insulation member includes a main body portion retained in the cylindrical member, a middle lid portion for pressing a center conductive member of a coaxial cable and a cut portion formed between the main body portion and the middle lid portion. The terminal includes a contact portion for contacting with the center conductive member and an engaging portion for engaging with a mating connector, so that the middle lid portion is bent at the cut portion to press the center conductive member against the contact portion when the outer lid portion is bent to cover the cylindrical member and push the middle lid portion.
US09184533B2	Offshore electrical plant installation method and system A method for electrically connecting an offshore first electrical plant to a second electrical plant, the offshore first electrical plant being an offshore wind turbine generator, the method comprising providing a transition cable terminated at one end with a first connector part, the transition cable being connected or connectable at the other end to the offshore wind turbine generator above the water surface, and providing a cable terminated at one end with a second connector part and connected or connectable at the other end to the second electrical plant, the second connector part being adapted to mate with the first connector part to form a connector.
US09184532B2	Socket with a cover lock A socket comprising a body having an opening in which a contact-holder is housed, a cover articulated to the body and movable between a closed position in which it closes said opening and an open position in which it is raised from said opening, a yoke articulated to the body and movable between a lowered position and a raised position, the yoke having two arms which, in the lowered position, are intended to cooperate with a shoulder of a plug to retain the plug inserted into the socket, and a latch member articulated to the yoke and movable with respect to the yoke between a locked position and an unlocked position, the latch member having at least one pawl which, in the locked position, engages a corresponding seat of the body and which, in the unlocked position, is disengaged from said seat, and a cover-lock element articulated to the body and movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein the latch member has at least one cam portion that cooperates with the cover-lock element for moving the cover-lock element from the engaged position to the disengaged position when the latch member moves from the locked position to the unlocked position.
US09184531B2	Receptacle connector A receptacle connector is provided and includes an insulating case, a securing device and a cover. The insulating casing includes a plurality of terminal receiving passageways, a plug receiving space, a pair of protrusions on two sides of the plug receiving space. A securing device receiving space is disposed on one of the two sides. The securing device includes a horizontal portion, a first vertical portion and a second vertical portion extending downward from the horizontal portion, a first soldering portion extending horizontally from the first vertical portion, a second soldering portion extending horizontally from the second vertical portion. An engagement portion is positioned between the first vertical portion and the second vertical portion. The cover is pivotally connected to the insulating casing and includes a first protrusion receiving passageway and a second protrusion receiving passageway which communicate with each other and correspond in position with the pair of protrusions.
US09184529B2	Electric contact spring, electric spring contact device as well as electric contact zone The invention relates to an electric contact spring having a resilient section, an assembly portion, and a transition portion. The resilient section includes a first resilient portion, a second resilient portion extending from the first resilient portion, and a third resilient portion extending from the second resilient portion. The assembly portion extends from the first resilient portion and includes a catch device. The transition portion extends downward from the assembly portion.
US09184528B2	Electronic component socket An electronic component socket includes a shield plate set forming an opening portion, a movement member including a conductive member having a contact portion capable of contacting an electrode terminal of an electronic component, an elastic member which is electrically connectable to a wiring substrate, and includes a biasing portion having a biasing force and a base portion fixing the biasing portion. The movement member is disposed to move vertically above the elastic member in the opening portion, and the biasing portion elastically contacts the movement member. The shield plate set includes a protrusion protruding in the opening portion, the movement member includes a concave portion which engages with the protrusion, the conductive member includes an inclined surface portion which extends so as to be inclined on an opposite side of the concave portion, and the biasing portion of the elastic member elastically contacts the inclined surface portion.
US09184523B2	Intermediate electrical connector An intermediate electrical connector is to be connected to a mating connecting member. The intermediate electrical connector includes an intermediate connecting member; a blade disposed in the intermediate connecting member; and a supporting member for supporting the intermediate connecting member. The intermediate connecting member includes a supported portion disposed on a side surface portion thereof and supported on the supporting member. The supporting member is formed of a plate member facing the side surface portion of the intermediate connecting member. The supporting member includes a supporting portion accommodated in the supported portion or receiving the supported portion with a space in between.
US09184516B2	Connection structure for ground terminal fitting A grounding member (20) is formed with a receiving hole (23), and a ground terminal fitting (10) is formed with a cantilevered lock (13) including a step (13B). The lock (13) is locked to the receiving hole (23) with the step (13B) contact with a stopper (24) of the receiving hole (23). In tightening a first bolt (51) at a first mounting hole (151) and a first female screw hole (51), a rotational force in a direction to bring the step (13B) into contact with the stopper (24) is applied to a terminal main body (11). Butting portions (14) protrude from side edges (13D) of the lock (13) and prevent following rotation of the terminal main body (11) by contacting receiving surfaces (25) when the first bolt (51) is tightened.
US09184514B2	Wiring structure improvement of insulation piercing connector A wiring structure improvement of an insulation piercing connector for electrical connection after plural signal lines (40) being inserted includes a connector body (1), plural terminals (2) disposed in the connector body (1), and a rotary cable coupler (3). The connector body (1) has a wiring end (11). Each of the terminals (2) has a terminal body (20) and a piercing member (21) formed at one end of the terminal body (20) and disposed at the wiring end (11). The rotary cable coupler (3) is sleeved around the wiring end (11) and has plural plug holes (30) corresponding to the piercing members (21). Thus, when the rotary cable coupler (3) is rotated, the signal lines (40) are pushed by the plug holes (30) towards the piercing members (21) correspondingly such that the piercing members (21) pierce the signal lines (40) for the electrical connection.
US09184512B2	Connection terminal, coaxial electrical connector and wiring structure thereof Disclosed is a connection terminal, a coaxial electrical connector and a wiring structure thereof which could ensure the reliability of the electrical connection between the connection terminal and a coaxial cable core. The connection terminal includes a terminal body, two contact resilient pieces formed by bending and extending from two sides of the terminal body, and a core connection resilient arm extending from a rear end of the terminal body in a direction remote from the contact resilient pieces. The cross-section of the core connection resilient arm is essentially “Z” shaped, and a contact surface for contacting the coaxial cable core is formed on the core connection resilient arm. The contact surface has an arcuate protrusion protruding in a direction remote from the contact resilient pieces. The coaxial electrical connector and the wiring structure thereof all include the above connection terminal.
US09184507B2	Multi-slot common aperture dual polarized omni-directional antenna Horizontally polarized and dual polarized antennas are described herein. In some examples, a horizontally polarized and dual polarized antenna may be mounted or operated with the physical vertical axis of the antenna being substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the surface of the earth, and emanate an electric field that is parallel to the surface of the earth. The antenna may have a multi-slot aperture that reduces a variation in the far field omni-directional pattern. The antenna may have various cross-sectional configurations, and may have a radome at least partially surrounding the antenna and a supporting structure.
US09184505B2	Dielectric cavity antenna There is provided a dielectric cavity antenna including: a multilayer substrate having an opening formed in at least a portion of a predetermined surface thereof; a dielectric cavity inserted into the multilayer substrate to radiate an electromagnetic wave signal through the opening; a feed line feeding power to the dielectric cavity; and at least one metal pattern formed in an inner portion of the dielectric cavity or on a surface thereof to thereby be electromagnetically coupled to the feed line.
US09184502B2	Antenna integrated into a touch sensor of a touchscreen display A touch sensor with a transparent conductive layer and a metalized border area at least partially bordering the transparent conductive layer and forming a far-field antenna.
US09184498B2	Extending beamforming capability of a coupled voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) array during local oscillator (LO) signal generation through fine control of a tunable frequency of a tank circuit of a VCO thereof A method includes implementing a coupled Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) array with a number of VCOs, and arranging a number of switched capacitor elements in a geometric proportion in a tank circuit of each VCO to provide for finesse in control of a tunable frequency of the tank circuit. The method also includes utilizing a voltage control input of a varactor element of the tank circuit solely for achieving phase separation between the each VCO and another VCO of the coupled VCO array based on the provision of finesse in the control of the tunable frequency of the tank circuit, and mixing Local Oscillator (LO) signals generated through the number of VCOs of the coupled VCO array with signals from antenna elements of an antenna array to introduce differential phase shifts in signal paths coupled to the antenna elements during performing beamforming with the antenna array.
US09184497B2	Lighting device with built-in RF antenna A lighting device, such as a replacement lighting device, comprising a light source (LS), e.g. LEDs, for producing light along an optical axis (OA). A heat sink (HS) made of a material with an electrical resistivity being less than 0.01 Ωm, e.g. a metallic heat sink being a part of the housing, transports heat away from the light source (LS). A Radio Frequency (RF) communication circuit (CC) connected to an antenna (A) serves to enable RF signal communication, e.g. to control the device via a remote control. Metallic components, including the heat sink (HS), having an extension larger than 1/10 of a wavelength of the RF signal are arranged below a virtual plane (VP) drawn orthogonal to the optical axis (OA) and going through the antenna (A). Hereby a compact device can be obtained, and still a satisfying RF radiation pattern can be obtained. The antenna can be a wire antenna or a PCB antenna, e.g. a PIFA or a IFA type antenna. In a special embodiment the antenna is formed on a ring-shaped PCB with a central hole allowing passage of light from the light source. Preferably, the antenna is positioned at least 2 mm in front of the heat sink (HS).
US09184494B1	Switchable Pi shape antenna A mobile device including a housing having a distal end, and electronics disposed in the housing configured to operate the mobile device. A connector is coupled to the electronics, and a Pi-shaped antenna has a coupling coupled to the connector to create a resonance using the connector. The Pi-shaped antenna and the connector are configured to wirelessly send and receive the wireless signals. An impedance matching network matches the impedance of the electronics to the Pi-shaped antenna. In some embodiments, the impedance matching network is switchable by the electronics and is configured to match an impedance of the electronics to the Pi-shaped antenna in at least two states, over multiple RF bands.
US09184493B2	Transmission line for mobile electronic device According to embodiments described in the specification, a method and mobile electronic device are provided for tuning an antenna. The mobile electronic device comprises an electrical ground member supporting at least one antenna; a housing containing the electrical ground member and having a conductive ring defining the perimeter of the housing; and a conductive tuning member disposed between the conductive ring and the electrical ground member, for transforming an impedance between the electrical ground member and the conductive ring; wherein the conductive tuning member is connected to the conductive ring by a first short, and to the electrical ground member by a second short.
US09184492B2	Radio device According to one embodiment, a radio device includes: a mounting board having a conductive plane; a semiconductor package mounted on the mounting board and having a interposer having a conductive plane, a semiconductor chip mounted on one surface of the interposer, and an antenna having a conductive element formed on the one surface and connected to the semiconductor chip; and a plurality of connection portions connecting the mounting board and the interposer. A first electrical length of the first connection portion which is nearest the conductive element among the plurality of connection portions or a second electrical length of the first connection portion including a conductive plane of the mounting board or interposer connected to the first connection portion is less than ½ wavelength of the operating frequency of the antenna.
US09184490B2	Medical device antenna systems having external antenna configurations A medical device includes an antenna external to a case, package, or encapsulant for the electronic systems of the medical device. In one embodiment, a diabetes infusion pump is enclosed within a metal case, the pump including a processor and a communication module for wireless communications. An antenna is disposed in the delivery tubing of the pump outside the case with an antenna feed interconnecting the external antenna with the internal communication module. In another aspect, a thin film antenna is formed on the outer surface of the case in which a physiological parameter sensor, such as a glucose sensor, is enclosed. Multiple antennas may be used for communications on different frequencies.
US09184484B2	Forward coupled directional coupler Described is a directional coupler for forward coupling energy from an input port to a coupling port. The directional coupler has a coupling factor and an operating frequency and an operating wavelength corresponding to the operating frequency.
US09184482B2	Dual-circular polarized antenna system In an example embodiment, an azimuth combiner comprises: a septum layer comprising a plurality of septum dividers; first and second housing layers attached to first and second sides of the septum layer; a linear array of ports on a first end of the combiner; wherein the first and second housing layers each comprise waveguide H-plane T-junctions; wherein the waveguide T-junctions can be configured to perform power dividing/combining; and wherein the septum layer evenly bisects each port of the linear array of ports. A stack of such azimuth combiners can form a two dimensional planar array of ports to which can be added a horn aperture layer, and a grid layer, to form a dual-polarized, dual-BFN, dual-band antenna array.
US09184477B2	Battery pack of excellent cooling efficiency Disclosed is a battery pack including battery modules arranged in two or more rows, each of the battery modules including a plurality of battery cells or unit modules, each of which has two or more battery cells mounted therein, stacked in an upright or upside-down fashion, wherein the battery modules are individually mounted in pack cases, the pack cases are provided at upper parts and lower parts thereof with coolant inlet ports and coolant outlet ports such that a coolant to cool the battery cells flows to one side to the other side of the battery modules in a direction perpendicular to the stacked direction of the battery cells or the unit modules, the pack cases are further provided with flow spaces (‘coolant introduction parts’).
US09184476B2	Battery module control system and battery module control method In order to provide a battery module control system able to reuse an arbitrary secondary battery module through a simple, inexpensive system, the present invention includes: a plurality of battery modules that are connected to each other in parallel; switch circuits that are provided on charge and discharge routes of a plurality of the battery modules; an average impedance value calculation section (control section) that calculates average impedance values of a plurality of the battery modules; a maximum allowable charge-and-discharge rate input section (input section) that inputs maximum allowable charge-and-discharge rates of a plurality of the battery modules; an allowable voltage difference calculation section (control section) that calculates allowable voltage differences of a plurality of the battery modules on the basis of the average impedance values calculated by the average impedance value calculation section and the maximum allowable charge-and-discharge rates input by the maximum allowable charge-and-discharge rate input section; a common voltage detection section (control section) that detects a voltage of a common charge and discharge route of a plurality of the battery modules; and a plurality of voltage detection sections (control section) that detect voltages of a plurality of the battery modules, wherein, when a difference between the voltage detected by the common voltage detection section and the voltage detected by the voltage detection section corresponding to a predetermined battery module is greater than an allowable voltage difference of the predetermined battery module, a switch circuit provided on a charge and discharge route of the predetermined battery module is so controlled as to be turned OFF.
US09184471B2	Light-weight bipolar valve regulated lead acid batteries and methods therefor Light-weight VRLA batteries comprise a thin lead substrate that is supported by non-conductive, preferably plastic frames that provide structural stability to accommodate stress and strain in the bipole assembly. In particularly preferred batteries, the plastic frames are laser welded together and phantom grids and electrode materials are coupled to the respective sides of the lead substrate. Where the phantom grid is an ultra-thin lead grid, the lead grid is preferably configured to provide a corrosion reserve of less than 10 charge-discharge cycles and the bipole assembly is charged in an in-tank formation process. Where the phantom grid is a non-conductive grid, the lead grid is preferably a plastic grid and the bipole assembly is charged in an in-container formation process. Consequently, weight, volume, and production costs are significantly reduced while specific energy is substantially increased.
US09184468B2	Combinations of fluorinated solvents with imide salts or methide salts for electrolytes Provided are electrochemical cells and electrolytes used to build such cells. The electrolytes include imide salts and/or methide salts as well as fluorinated solvents capable of maintaining single phase solutions at between about −30° C. to about 80° C. The fluorinated solvents, such as fluorinated carbonates, fluorinated esters, and fluorinated esters, are less flammable than their non-fluorinated counterparts and improve safety characteristics of cells containing these solvents. The amount of fluorinated solvents in electrolytes may be between about 30% and 80% by weight not accounting weight of the salts. Linear and cyclic imide salts, such as LiN(SO2CF2CF3)2, and LiN(SO2CF3)2, as well as methide salts, such as LiC(SO2CF3)3 and LiC(SO2CF2CF3)3, may be used in these electrolytes. Fluorinated alkyl groups enhance solubility of these salts in the fluorinated solvents. In some embodiments, the electrolyte may also include a flame retardant, such as a phosphazene, and/or one or more ionic liquids.
US09184465B2	Ion conductor and solid state battery A main object of the present invention is to provide an ion conductor which has excellent ion conductivity and high electrochemical stability. The present invention resolves the problem by providing an ion conductor represented by a general formula: (AxM1−x−yM′y)Al2O4 (“A” is a monovalent metal, “M” is a bivalent metal, “M′” is a trivalent metal, and “x” and “y” satisfy relations: 0
US09184461B2	Controlled radical copolymerization of fluorinated monomers by xanthate or trithiocarbonate The invention relates to a method of preparing a fluorinated copolymer, comprising a step of copolymerization of a fluorinated monomer (of the vinylidene fluoride type) with an α-trifluoromethacrylic acid monomer or derivative of α-trifluoromethacrylic acid, in the presence of a xanthate or trithiocarbonate compound. The invention also relates to copolymers obtained by this method as well as block copolymers comprising a copolymer block prepared according to this method.
US09184458B2	Device and method for processing exhaust gas from fuel cell An exhaust gas processing device (16) intermittently introduces anode off-gas from a fuel cell (12). The exhaust processing device (16) discharges the anode off-gas after diluting it with dilution gas. The exhaust gas processing device (16) includes a dilution container (25) and a partition plate (28), which divide the interior of the dilution container (25) into a first chamber (26) and a second chamber (27). The partition plate (28) has a clearance (29), which connects the first chamber (26) and the second chamber (27) to each other. The exhaust gas processing device (16) includes a discharge portion (32) provided in the first chamber (26), a dilution gas inlet portion (30) provided in the first chamber (26), and an anode off-gas inlet portion (31) provided in the second chamber (27).
US09184454B1	Mixing arrangement for a flow cell of an energy storage system An energy storage system according to the present disclosure includes a cell and an electrolyte supply arrangement for supplying an electrolyte to the cell. The cell has a flow chamber, an electrode and a mixing arrangement positioned in the flow chamber proximate the electrode. The mixing arrangement includes a plurality of ramps that each extend at an angle with respect to the electrode, and each respective ramp defines a void space between the respective ramp and the electrode. Furthermore, the ramps and the void spaces are configured to facilitate mixing of the electrolyte in the flow chamber.
US09184451B2	Power supply apparatus with reserve battery modules and method for providing backup power A power supply apparatus has at least one modular reserve battery magazine with a plurality of compartments. A plurality of reserve battery modules may be respectively replaceably provided in corresponding ones of the plurality of compartments, each of the plurality of reserve battery modules being configured to provide power when a reserve battery provided therein is activated. Each reserve battery module of the plurality of reserve battery modules includes a sleeve and a reserve battery provided within the sleeve, the sleeve being configured to fit within one of the plurality of compartments in a predetermined orientation. Each sleeve may be detachably connectable within any compartment of the plurality of compartments and includes electrical connections so that each reserve battery module of the plurality of reserve battery modules is separately replaceable while the power supply apparatus remains remotely located.
US09184449B2	Oxygen permeable film, oxygen permeable sheet, and cell including these An oxygen permeable film including an aggregate of water-repellent particles and having an average particle size of the particles of 0.01 to 50 μm has a contact angle with water of not less than 120° and super water repellency, and therefore has an excellent water vapor permeation inhibiting capability. As the particles, fluorocarbon resins such as polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinyl fluoride and polyvinylidene fluoride are suitable. The specific surface area of the oxygen permeable film is preferably not less than 0.1 m2/g and not more than 500 m2/g.
US09184448B2	Method of producing aluminum structure and aluminum structure Provided is a method of producing an aluminum structure using a porous resin molded body having a three-dimensional network structure, with which it is possible to form an aluminum structure having a low oxide content in the surface of aluminum (i.e., having an oxide film with a small thickness), and in particular, it is possible to obtain an aluminum porous body that has a large area. The method includes a step of preparing an aluminum-coated resin molded body in which an aluminum layer is formed, directly or with another layer therebetween, on a surface of a resin molded body composed of urethane, and a heat treatment step in which the aluminum-coated resin molded body is subjected to heat treatment at a temperature equal to or higher than 270° C. and lower than 660° C. to decompose the resin molded body.
US09184443B2	Cathode active material, method of preparing the cathode material, cathode, and lithium secondary battery including the same A cathode active material including at least two agglomerates of primary particles and a cathode and a lithium secondary battery containing the same are disclosed. In the cathode active material, a secondary particle includes a nickel-based lithium transition metal oxide, an average particle diameter of each primary particle is in a range from about 2 to about 3 μm, and an average particle diameter of the secondary particle is in a range from about 5 to about 8 μm.
US09184441B2	Battery electrode, nonaqueous electrolyte battery, and battery pack According to one embodiment, a battery electrode includes an active material layer and a current collector is provided. The active material layer contains particles of a monoclinic β-type titanium complex oxide and particles of a lithium titanate having a spinel structure. When a particle size frequency distribution of particles contained in the active material layer is measured by the laser diffraction and scattering method, a first peak P1 appears in a range of 0.3 μm to 3 μm and a second peak P2 appears in a range of 5 μm to 20 μm in the frequency distribution diagram. The ratio FP1/FP2 of the frequency FP1 of the first peak P1 to the frequency FP2 of the second peak P2 is 0.4 to 2.3.
US09184440B2	Electrodes and rechargeable batteries The present invention provides cathodes, methods of making cathodes, and electrochemical cells (e.g., batteries) that employ these cathodes having improved properties over traditional cathodes, methods, or electrochemical cells.
US09184436B2	Methods and energy storage devices utilizing electrolytes having surface-smoothing additives Electrodeposition and energy storage devices utilizing an electrolyte having a surface-smoothing additive can result in self-healing, instead of self-amplification, of initial protuberant tips that give rise to roughness and/or dendrite formation on the substrate and anode surface. For electrodeposition of a first metal (M1) on a substrate or anode from one or more cations of M1 in an electrolyte solution, the electrolyte solution is characterized by a surface-smoothing additive containing cations of a second metal (M2), wherein cations of M2 have an effective electrochemical reduction potential in the solution lower than that of the cations of M1.
US09184435B2	Electrode for electrochemical element and method for producing the same The method for producing an electrode for an electrochemical element of the present invention includes a slurry filling step of filling a slurry containing an active material into continuous pores of an aluminum porous body having the continuous pores, and a slurry drying step of drying the slurry filled, and in this method, after the slurry drying step, an electrode for an electrochemical element is produced without undergoing a compressing step of compressing the aluminum porous body having the slurry filled therein and dried. In the electrode, a mixture containing an active material is filled into continuous pores of an aluminum porous body having the continuous pores, and porosity (%) of the aluminum porous body, the porosity being represented by the following equation, is 15 to 55%. Porosity(%)={1−(volume of electrode material)/(apparent volume of electrode)}×100
US09184434B2	Battery pack A battery pack including a bare cell; a protection circuit module electrically coupled to the bare cell; an outer frame accommodating the bare cell and the protection circuit module, wherein a first surface of a first side of the outer frame contacts the protection circuit module; and a first projection on a second surface of the first side of the outer frame opposite to the first surface.
US09184433B2	Battery, battery system and method for connecting a plurality of batteries A battery includes a battery body and at least one terminal protruding from an outside surface of the battery body. The terminal is electrically conductively connected to one of the battery poles. The battery further includes at least one electrically conductive bending lug, which is electrically conductive, connected via the terminal to the battery pole. The bending lug has a length that is greater than a distance of the longitudinal axis of the terminal from the point of penetration through the outside surface up to a lateral edge of the outside surface.
US09184430B2	Battery pack for integrating multiple single batteries A battery integration module or pack includes a first positioning plate for positioning the multiple single batteries in formation for integration at one end of the battery formation, a second positioning plate for positioning the multiple single batteries in formation for integration at the opposite end of the battery formation, the first and second plates aligned together over the formation of batteries to form a battery holder frame, a first printed circuit board (PCB) mounted to the outside surface of the first positioning plate, and a second printed circuit board (PCB) mounted to the outside surface of the second positioning plate. The first and or second printed circuit boards include conductive contact surfaces accessible to the battery terminals of the multiple single batteries in formation wherein contact between the contact surfaces of the printed circuit boards and the battery terminals is mitigated by intermediate conductive components.
US09184429B2	Microporous membrane winding and method for manufacturing the same A microporous membrane winding includes a microporous membrane wound around a core. The core has an outer diameter of 5 inches or greater, and has an outer surface with a surface roughness of 3.0 μm or less. A microporous membrane that is excellent in thickness uniformity and is favorably used as a separator for a lithium-ion secondary battery can be obtained from the microporous membrane winding.
US09184428B2	Non-aqueous electrolytes for lithium ion batteries The present invention is generally related to electrolytes containing anion receptor additives to enhance the power capability of lithium-ion batteries. The anion receptor of the present invention is a Lewis acid that can help to dissolve LiF in the passivation films of lithium-ion batteries. Accordingly, one aspect the invention provides electrolytes comprising a lithium salt; a polar aprotic solvent; and an anion receptor additive; and wherein the electrolyte solution is substantially non-aqueous. Further there are provided electrochemical devices employing the electrolyte and methods of making the electrolyte.
US09184427B2	Battery assembly with high thermal conductivity The invention relates to a battery assembly with high thermal conductivity. The battery assembly comprises a metal case having a hollow accommodation cavity formed therein, a plurality of battery cores installed parallel to one another within the metal case, and a common electrode for connection to the other electrode in each of the battery cores. Each of the battery cores has two electrodes, with one of the electrodes that corresponds to those of the rest of the battery cores being connected in a thermally conductive manner to the metal case. The invention takes advantage of high thermal conductivity of metallic material and dissipates heat by connecting the metal case to the battery electrodes. The invention further comprises fixation troughs formed on the metal case, thereby reducing the size of the assembly.
US09184426B2	Battery connection member and battery module using the same A battery connection member 25 configured to connect a plurality of batteries 29 in parallel includes a main conductive path portion 25a and a plurality of connection terminals 25b each configured to connect the main conductive path portion 25a to one of electrodes of each battery 29. The connection terminals 25b include fuse portions 25c configured to be blown when a current equal to or higher than a predetermined value flows. When the plurality of batteries 29 are connected in parallel by the battery connection member 25, the fuse portions 25c are arranged in space between the main conductive path portion 25 and the batteries 29.
US09184425B2	Battery pack In a battery pack according to the embodiment of the present invention, when coupling bosses of a second case are coupled to coupling holes of a first case, the first case and the second case can be easily coupled to each other by reducing the thicknesses of some portions of a rib having the coupling holes before the coupling bosses are coupled to the coupling holes. In addition, the first case and the second case can be smoothly coupled to each other at the initial step of coupling the coupling bosses and the coupling holes to each other by opening the outermost portion of the first case facing the top end of the rib having the coupling holes.
US09184422B2	Rechargeable battery A rechargeable battery including: an electrode assembly that includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed therebetween; a case to house the electrode assembly; a cap assembly that is coupled to an opening of the case and electrically connected with the electrode assembly; and an insulating member that is installed between the case and the electrode assembly. The insulating member includes a body disposed on the electrode assembly and a rib that extends from the body and contacts the case.
US09184421B2	Pouch-type secondary battery having sealing margin for improved durability Disclosed is a pouch-type secondary battery having a sealing margin for improved durability, including a sealing area formed by melting sealing layers of an upper pouch film and a lower pouch film along edges of a pouch casing, characterized in that a sealing margin is greater than a movement distance of a sealing residue flowing out of the sealing area, the sealing margin being a distance measured from an intersection point of a first straight line and a second straight line to a boundary line of the sealing area, the first straight line extending horizontally from a surface of the sealing area, when viewed in cross section of the secondary battery, and the second straight line corresponding to a tangent line having an average gradient among possible tangent lines at each point on a cross-sectional slope line of the pouch casing adjacent to the sealing area.
US09184418B2	Organic light emitting diode (OLED) display and method of manufacturing the same An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display is disclosed. In one aspect, the display includes a substrate having a plurality of pixel areas, color filters respectively disposed in the pixel areas, a passivation layer disposed on the color filters, a first electrode disposed on the passivation layer. The display also includes a light emitting layer disposed on the first electrode and a second electrode disposed on the light emitting layer. At least a portion of the color filters is provided with a concavo-convex pattern formed on an upper surface thereof.
US09184414B2	Organic electroluminescent element and lighting device An organic EL device comprises: a light-transmissive substrate; a transparent electrode; an organic emitting layer; and an opposing electrode. A light-extraction layer provided by layering a high refractive index layer adjoining the transparent electrode and a low refractive index layer adjoining the light-transmissive substrate includes recess-protrusion units each provided by a protrusion and a recess at an interface between the high refractive index layer and the low refractive index layer. In at least one of the recess-protrusion units, a distance from the interface between the high refractive index layer and the low refractive index layer to an interface between the transparent electrode and the high refractive index layer is equal to or more than an optical coherence length and a height of the protrusion, a width of the protrusion and a gap between the protrusion and another protrusion adjoining the protrusion across the recess is 1 μm or more.
US09184410B2	Encapsulated white OLEDs having enhanced optical output Methods of making an integrated barrier stack and optical enhancement layer for protecting and improving the light out coupling of encapsulated white OLEDs are described. The method includes optimizing the thickness of various layers including one or more of the plasma protective layer, the initial organic layer, the initial inorganic barrier layer, and the inorganic barrier layer and polymeric decoupling layer for the barrier stack. The thickness is optimized for at least one of total efficiency, or intentional color point shift so that the encapsulated OLED has enhanced light outcoupling compared to the bare OLED.
US09184409B2	Flexible organic light emitting display and method in an in-cell structure having a touch electrode array for manufacturing the same Disclosed are an organic light emitting display that enables realization of a thin film shape and flexibility, and exhibits superior contact properties in touch pads based on an improved structure, and a method for manufacturing the same, wherein a distance between the outermost surface of the touch pad portion and the outermost surface of the dummy pad portion in the touch pad portion is smaller than the distance in a neighboring portion adjacent to the touch pad portion.
US09184408B2	Display panel and display device According to one embodiment, a display panel includes a substrate, a switching element, a pixel electrode, an organic light emitting layer, an opposite electrode, a detecting electrode, and an insulating layer. The substrate has a major surface. The switching element is provided on the major surface. The switching element includes a semiconductor layer. The pixel electrode is provided on the major surface. The pixel electrode is electrically connected to the switching element. The organic light emitting layer is provided on the pixel electrode. The opposite electrode is provided on the organic light emitting layer. The detecting electrode is provided between the substrate and at least a part of the pixel electrode. The detecting electrode includes at least one element included in the semiconductor layer. The insulating layer is provided between the pixel electrode and the detecting electrode.
US09184400B2	Methods of making organic photovoltaic cells having improved heterojunction morphology Methods of making a photovoltaic device with an organic liquid precursor having electron donor, electron acceptor, and liquid carrier are provided. The liquid precursor is applied to an electrode. A gas permeable layer/stamp contacts and applies pressure to the organic liquid precursor removing liquid carrier to form a solid active material with uniform interpenetrating network domains of electron donor/acceptor materials. A two-step process is also contemplated. A liquid precursor with either electron donor or acceptor is applied to an electrode, contacted under pressure with a first stamp having a nanoscale pattern, thus forming a solid with a patterned surface. Then, a second liquid precursor with the other of the electron donor or acceptor is applied to the patterned surface, contacted with a second stamp under pressure to form the active material. A transparent conducting electrode with material nanograting can be formed. The methods also include continuous processing, like roll-to-roll manufacturing.
US09184399B2	Asymmetric hosts with triaryl silane side chains Novel asymmetric host compounds containing an electron-transport moiety, a hole-transport moiety, an aromatic spacer, and a triaryl silane group are provided. These compounds are useful materials that can be incorporated into OLED devices.
US09184398B2	Light-emitting elements comprising iridium organometallic complexes comprising 4-arylpyrimidines Provided is a novel substance that can emit phosphorescence. Alternatively, provided is a novel substance with high emission efficiency. An organometallic complex in which a 4-arylpyrimidine derivative is a ligand and iridium is a central metal is provided. Specifically, an organometallic complex having a structure represented by a general formula (G1) is provided. In the general formula (G1), R1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms, R2 represents any of hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, R3 represents hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and Ar1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms.
US09184396B2	6H-indeno[2,1-B]quinoline derivative and organic light emitting diode using the same A 6H-indeno[2,1-b]quinoline derivative has a structure of formula (I). Each of Ar1 and Ar2 is a member selected from the group consisting of a substituted or non-substituted aryl group and a substituted or non-substituted heteroaryl group and R1 to R9 are substituents. The 6H-indeno[2,1-b]quinoline derivative of the present invention is provided with thermal stability. Chemical compounds of the present invention are adequate for the materials of the light-emitting layer of an OLED device with high device performance.
US09184395B2	Aromatic amine derivative and organic electroluminescent element using same To provide an organic EL element material that is capable of enhancing the light emission efficiency and the lifetime of the element as compared to an ordinary organic EL element material, and an organic EL element using the same. Specifically, to provide an aromatic amine derivative represented by Ar1Ar2Ar3N, and an organic EL element using the same. Representative compounds include the following.
US09184390B2	Polymers with tunable band gaps for photonic and electronic applications The present invention provides, among other things, a copolymer comprising at least one donor monomer and at least one acceptor monomer. The polymer may optionally further comprise at least one additional comonomer. The polymers are useful as a charge-transport, semiconducting, electrochemical conducting, photoconducting, or light emitting material. Microelectronic devices comprising such polymers (e.g., as a heterojunction therein) are also described.
US09184386B2	Variable resistance memory device and method of manufacturing the same A variable resistance memory device and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The variable resistance memory device includes a first insulating layer formed on a semiconductor substrate, the first insulating layer having a first hole formed therein. A switching device is formed in the first hole. A second insulating layer is formed over the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer includes a second hole. A lower electrode is formed along a surface of the second insulating layer that defines the second hole. A spacer is formed on the lower electrode and exposes a portion of the surface of the lower electrode. A variable resistance material layer is formed in the second hole, and an upper electrode is formed on the variable resistance material layer.
US09184383B2	Nonvolatile memory device having an electrode interface coupling region Embodiments of the invention generally relate to a resistive switching nonvolatile memory device having an interface layer structure disposed between at least one of the electrodes and a variable resistance layer formed in the nonvolatile memory device, and a method of forming the same. Typically, resistive switching memory elements may be formed as part of a high-capacity nonvolatile memory integrated circuit, which can be used in various electronic devices, such as digital cameras, mobile telephones, handheld computers, and music players. In one configuration of the resistive switching nonvolatile memory device, the interface layer structure comprises a passivation region, an interface coupling region, and/or a variable resistance layer interface region that are configured to adjust the nonvolatile memory device's performance, such as lowering the formed device's switching currents and reducing the device's forming voltage, and reducing the performance variation from one formed device to another.
US09184380B2	Electric element A temperature dependent electric element includes a phase change portion including at least one conductive phase change material having a predetermined phase transition temperature, a detector portion configured to detect a change in conductivity of the phase change material caused by a temperature change to a detect phase transition of the phase change material based on the detected change in conductivity of the phase change material, a temperature calibration part configured to conduct temperature calibration by adjusting a temperature at which the phase change material exhibits the phase transition detected by the detector portion based on the change in the conductivity of the phase change material to the predetermined phase transition temperature of the phase change material, and a substrate on which the phase change portion, the detector portion, and the temperature calibration part are integrally arranged.
US09184379B1	Capping thin-film resistors to control interface oxidation A thin cap of metal alloy or metal-silicon compound is formed over a ternary oxide or ternary nitride ReRAM embedded resistor. At least one metal in the cap is the same as a metal in the embedded resistor. If the cap oxidizes slightly (e.g., incidental to a vacuum break, anneal, or subsequent treatment or deposition), the overall resistance of the memory cell is much less affected than it would be by the same amount of oxidation directly on a surface of the uncapped oxide or nitride embedded resistor.
US09184377B2	Resistance variable memory cell structures and methods Resistance variable memory cell structures and methods are described herein. A number of embodiments include a first resistance variable memory cell comprising a number of resistance variable materials in a super-lattice structure and a second resistance variable memory cell comprising the number of resistance variable materials in a homogeneous structure.
US09184373B2	Manufacturing method of an ultrasonic generating device, and manufacturing method of an ultrasonic treatment device A manufacturing method of an ultrasonic generating device includes calculating performance value based on a first electromechanical coupling factor in thickness directions and a second electromechanical coupling factor in diametrical directions for each of existing piezoelectric elements, calculating, for each of temporary conditions, a temporary influence value on the basis of a deviation of temporary amplitude of the ultrasonic vibrations, generated by the supply of the current having the predetermined current value, from a target amplitude in a target condition. The manufacturing method includes selecting the corresponding mounted piezoelectric element to be mounted on each of the element mounting portions from the existing piezoelectric elements so that the sum of actual influence values of all the element mounting portions is within a predetermined range with respect to the target amplitude.
US09184371B2	Piezoelectric thin film, method for manufacturing same, inkjet head, method for forming image using inkjet head, angular velocity sensor, method for measuring angular velocity using angular velocity sensor, piezoelectric power generation element, and method for generating power using piezoelectric power generation element Provided is a piezoelectric thin film including a non-lead-containing (that is, lead-free) ferroelectric material and having high piezoelectric performance comparable to that of PZT, and a method of manufacturing the piezoelectric thin film. The piezoelectric film according to the present invention comprises a laminate structure. The laminate structure comprises an electric film and a (1-x)(Na,Bi)TiO3-xBaTiO3 film. x represents a value of not less than 0.03 and not more than 0.15. The (1-x)(Na,Bi)TiO3-xBaTiO3 film has a (110) surface orientation only. The (1-x)(Na,Bi)TiO3-xBaTiO3 film has an orthorhombic crystal structure only.
US09184369B2	Methods for manufacturing ultrasound transducers and other components The disclosed technology features methods for the manufacture of electrical components such as ultrasound transducers. In particular, the disclosed technology provides methods of creating an ultrasonic transducer by connecting one or more multi-layer printed circuits to an array of ultrasound transducer elements. In one embodiment, the printed circuits have traces in a single layer that are spaced by a distance that is greater than a pitch of the transducer elements to which the multi-layer printed circuit is to be connected. However the traces from all the layers in the multi-layer printed circuit are interleaved to have a pitch that is equal to the pitch of the transducer elements. The disclosed technology also features ultrasound transducers produced by the methods described herein.
US09184358B2	Lead frame and light emitting diode package having the same An exemplary lead frame includes a substrate and a bonding electrode, a first connecting electrode, and a second connecting electrode embedded in the substrate. A top surface of the bonding electrode includes a first bonding surface and a second bonding surface spaced from the first bonding surface. A top surface of the first connecting electrode includes a first connecting surface and a second connecting surface spaced from the first connecting surface. Top surfaces of the bonding electrode, the first connecting electrode and the second connecting electrode are exposed out of the substrate to support and electrically connect with light emitting chips. Light emitting chips can be mounted on the lead frame and electrically connect with each other in parallel or in series; thus, the light emitting chips can be connected with each in a versatile way.
US09184356B2	Light-emitting diode and fabrication method thereof A light emitting diode includes: a substrate of front and back main surfaces; a V-shaped groove, which has a reflecting surface, formed over front surface of the conductive substrate; a light-emitting epitaxial layer, the margin of which has its vertical projection between the bottom and the inner margin of the V-shaped groove, formed over the substrate, so that light emitted from the light-emitting epitaxial layer margin is incident to the mirror surface of the V-shaped groove and emits outwards. This structure can effectively improve extraction efficiency of device and control path of light at peripheral region of the light-emitting epitaxial layer.
US09184352B2	Phosphor dispersion liquid, and production method for LED device using same The purpose is to provide a phosphor particle dispersion liquid in which the phosphor particles do not settle out when the phosphor dispersion liquid is left to stand. The phosphor dispersion liquid contains phosphor particles, clay mineral particles, inorganic particles, and a solvent. The phosphor dispersion liquid has viscosity η1 of 10 to 500 mPa·s at a shear rate of 1000 (1/s) at 25° C., and viscosity η2 of 1.0×103 to 1.0×105 mPa·s at a shear rate of 1 (1/s) at 25° C.
US09184346B2	Ultraviolet reflective contact A contact including an ohmic layer and a reflective layer located on the ohmic layer is provided. The ohmic layer is transparent to radiation having a target wavelength, while the reflective layer is at least approximately eighty percent reflective of radiation having the target wavelength. The target wavelength can be ultraviolet light, e.g., having a wavelength within a range of wavelengths between approximately 260 and approximately 360 nanometers.
US09184345B2	Light emitting diode and light emitting diode lamp A light emitting diode is provided by the present invention which includes a pn junction-type light emitting unit having a light emitting layer (10) composed of n layers of a strained light emitting layer (12) and n−1 layers of a barrier layer (13), wherein when a barrier layer exists, the light emitting layer (10) has a structure in which one strained light emitting layer (12) and one barrier layer (13) are laminated alternately, n represents an integer of 1 to 7, and the thickness of the light emitting layer (10) is not more than 250 nm.
US09184344B2	Lighting-emitting device with nanostructured layer and method for fabricating the same A light emitting device has a nanostructured layer with nanovoids. The nanostructured layer can be provided below and adjacent to active region or on a substrate or a template below an n-type layer for the active region, so as to reduce strain between epitaxial layers in the light emitting device. A method of manufacturing the same is provided.
US09184341B2	Flexible and on wafer hybrid plasma-semiconductor transistors Preferred embodiment flexible and on wafer hybrid plasma semiconductor devices have at least one active solid state semiconductor region; and a plasma generated in proximity to the active solid state semiconductor region(s). A preferred device is a hybrid plasma semiconductor device having base, emitting and microcavity collector regions formed on a single side of a device layer. Visible or ultraviolet light is emitted during operation by plasma collectors in the array. In preferred embodiments, individual PBJTs in the array serve as sub-pixels of a full-color display.
US09184339B2	Deep ultraviolet light emitting diode A method of fabricating a light emitting diode, which includes an n-type contact layer and a light generating structure adjacent to the n-type contact layer, is provided. The light generating structure includes a set of quantum wells. The contact layer and light generating structure can be configured so that a difference between an energy of the n-type contact layer and an electron ground state energy of a quantum well is greater than an energy of a polar optical phonon in a material of the light generating structure. Additionally, the light generating structure can be configured so that its width is comparable to a mean free path for emission of a polar optical phonon by an electron injected into the light generating structure.
US09184334B2	LED structure A light emitting diode (LED) structure comprises a first dopant region, a dielectric layer on top of the first dopant region, a bond pad layer on top of a first portion the dielectric layer, and an LED layer having a first LED region and a second LED region. The bond pad layer is electrically connected to the first dopant region. The first LED region is electrically connected to the bond pad layer.
US09184331B2	Method for reducing tilt of optical unit during manufacture of image sensor A method for reducing the tilt of an optical unit during manufacture of an image sensor includes the steps of: providing a semimanufacture of the image sensor, carrying out a preheating process, carrying out an adhesive application process, carrying out an optical unit mounting process, and carrying out a packaging process. Due to the preheating process, the semimanufacture will be subjected to a stabilized process environment during the adhesive application process and the optical unit mounting process, so as for the optical unit to remain highly flat once attached to the semimanufacture. The method reduces the chances of tilt and crack of the optical unit and thereby contributes to a high yield rate.
US09184329B2	Photoelectric conversion device A photoelectric conversion device is disclosed. The photoelectric conversion device includes an electrode layer and a semiconductor layer. The semiconductor layer is located on the electrode layer and contains a group I-III-VI compound. In the semiconductor layer, an atomic ratio of a group I-B element to a group III-B element decreases from one principal surface side of the semiconductor layer on the electrode layer side to a central portion in a thickness direction and increases from the central portion to another principal surface side on a side opposite to the electrode layer.
US09184328B1	Solar panel enclosure unit A solar energy enclosure unit having a housing defining a central cavity in which there is located a turntable upon which is mounted a solar panel; the turntable and solar panel rotated at low revolutions per minute by an associated electric motor, the enclosure having a convex transparent dome covering the solar panel, the transparent convex dome having prismatic facets formed thereon for magnifying, concentrating, and focusing solar rays onto the solar panel regardless of the position of the sun, in the sky, relative to the housing.
US09184327B2	Formed photovoltaic module busbars A cell connection piece for a photovoltaic module is disclosed herein. The cell connection piece includes an interconnect bus, a plurality of bus tabs unitarily formed with the interconnect bus, and a terminal bus coupled with the interconnect bus. The plurality of bus tabs extend from the interconnect bus. The terminal bus includes a non-linear portion.
US09184326B2	Solar cell module A solar cell module, having a solar cell panel including a front-surface light-transmitting member, a rear-surface light-transmitting member, and a solar cell arranged between these members, and a terminal box for taking out an electric current from the solar cell panel, and further having a bus bar laid to transmit an electric current generated from the solar cell inside the solar cell panel through an end of the solar cell panel to a terminal plate inside the terminal box, wherein the terminal box is fitted to the panel in a manner so as to cover the end of the solar cell panel, through which the bus bar is passed, and further cover a light-receiving surface side region of the front-surface light-transmitting member, and a light-receiving surface side region of the rear-surface light-transmitting member, these regions being adjacent to the end.
US09184325B2	Solar module support for covering oblique object surfaces with homogeneous area coverage A solar module support for covering oblique object surfaces is disclosed. The solar module support has a lower lying continuous edge area, which acts as a lower overlap area between adjacent solar module supports, which adjoins at an upper edge and a lateral edge. At least one web runs on this edge area which forms a channel for water between the web and the receiving surface. On the underside of the respectively opposite edge, a recess is provided, which has a groove corresponding to the web and which acts as the upper overlap area between adjacent solar module supports. The recess and the groove are dimensioned such that the receiving surfaces lie in the same plane and the web in each case engages in the groove in such a manner that direct contact of the overlap areas is achieved on the web and an interspace remains between the overlap areas.
US09184319B2	Multi-terminal multi-junction photovoltaic cells Methods and apparatuses are provided in connection with a transparent electrode on organic photovoltaic cells. A layer of dissolvable material is formed on a substrate. A solution having conductive nanowires suspended therein is deposited on the layer of dissolvable material. The solution is evaporated to form a nanowire mesh. The nanowire mesh is heated to sinter junctions between nanowires in the nanowire mesh. The nanowire mesh is affixed on a layer of one or more organic photovoltaic cells. The layer of dissolvable material is dissolved to deposit the nanowire mesh on the layer of one or more organic photovoltaic cells.
US09184318B2	Solar cell element, process for manufacturing solar cell element, and solar cell module The present invention relates to a solar cell element that comprises: a semiconductor substrate; and a collector electrode including a plurality of conductor portions elongated in a first direction on one main surface of the semiconductor substrate, and the plurality of the conductor portions comprise: a linear first conductor region; and a linear second conductor region including a plated surface, the linear second conductor region being electrically connected to the first conductor region.
US09184315B2	Photoelectric materials and preparation thereof Receptor type oligothiopene compounds, methods of preparing the compounds, and use of the compounds in photoelectric materials.
US09184314B2	Shielded electrical contact and doping through a passivating dielectric layer in a high-efficiency crystalline solar cell, including structure and methods of manufacture Solar cell structures and formation methods which utilize the surface texture in conjunction with a passivating dielectric layer to provide a practical and controllable technique of forming an electrical contact between a conducting layer and underlying substrate through the passivating dielectric layer, achieving both good surface passivation and electrical contact with low recombination losses, as required for high efficiency solar cells. The passivating dielectric layer is intentionally modified to allow direct contact, or tunnel barrier contact, with the substrate. Additional P-N junctions, and dopant gradients, are disclosed to further limit losses and increase efficiency.
US09184311B2	Cloud tracking A cloud tracking system for photovoltaic power plant is disclosed. The cloud tracking system for photovoltaic power plant can include plurality of cloud shadow sensors positioned on the perimeter of the photovoltaic power plant.
US09184310B2	Connector device for building integrated photovoltaic device The present invention is premised upon a connector device and method that can more easily electrically connect a plurality of PV devices or photovoltaic system components and/or locate these devices/components upon a building structure. It also may optionally provide some additional sub-components (e.g. at least one bypass diode and/or an indicator means) and may enhance the serviceability of the device.
US09184304B2	Multi-source JFET device A junction field-effect transistor (JFET) device is provided. The JFET includes a drain region, a source region, and a junction gate region disposed between the drain region and the source region, and the source region includes two or more source terminals.
US09184301B2	Planar and nanowire field effect transistors An integrated circuit includes a plurality of gate-all-around (GAA) nanowire field effect transistors (FETs), a plurality of omega-gate nanowire FETs, and a plurality of planar channel FETs, wherein the plurality of GAA FETs, the plurality of omega-gate nanowire FETs, and the plurality of planar channel FETs are disposed on a single wafer.
US09184300B2	Transistor, method of manufacturing the same, and electronic device including transistor A transistor may include a hole blocking layer between a channel layer including oxynitride and an electrode electrically connected to the channel layer. The hole blocking layer may be disposed in a region between the channel layer and at least one of a source electrode and a drain electrode. The channel layer may include, for example, zinc oxynitride (ZnON). A valence band maximum energy level of the hole blocking layer may be lower than a valence band maximum energy level of the channel layer.
US09184296B2	Semiconductor device having c-axis aligned portions and doped portions The semiconductor device includes an oxide semiconductor film having a first region and a pair of second regions facing each other with the first region provided therebetween, a gate insulating film over the oxide semiconductor film, and a first electrode overlapping with the first region, over the gate insulating film. The first region is a non-single-crystal oxide semiconductor region including a c-axis-aligned crystal portion. The pair of second regions is an oxide semiconductor region containing dopant and including a plurality of crystal portions.
US09184292B2	Semiconductor structure with different fins of FinFETs A semiconductor structure for forming FinFETs is described. The semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of odd fins of the FinFETs on the substrate, and a plurality of even fins of the FinFETs on the substrate between the odd fins of the FinFETs. The odd fins of the FinFETs are defined from the substrate. The even fins of the FinFETs are different from the odd fins of the FinFETs in at least one of the width and the material, and may be further different from the odd fins of the FinFETs in the height.
US09184291B2	FinFET device and method of forming fin in the same A method for manufacturing a fin for a FinFET device includes providing a semiconductor substrate, forming a plurality of implanted regions in the semiconductor substrate, and epitaxially forming fins between two adjacent implanted regions. The method also includes forming an insulating structure between two adjacent fins.
US09184290B2	Method of forming well-controlled extension profile in MOSFET by silicon germanium based sacrificial layer The present disclosure provides a method to improve and control the source/drain extension profile, which is compatible with device scaling. First, a sacrificial layer portion interposed between a channel layer portion and an uppermost surface of a semiconductor substrate having trenches is laterally recessed to provide a lateral recess on each side of the sacrificial layer portion. After filling the lateral recesses and trenches with a doped semiconductor material, a source/drain extension region is formed by a subsequent anneal during which dopants in the doped semiconductor material diffuse into portions of the channel layer portion over the lateral recesses and portions of the semiconductor substrate adjacent the lateral recesses.
US09184288B2	Semiconductor structures with bridging films and methods of fabrication Semiconductor structures and fabrication methods are provided having a bridging film which facilitates adherence of both an underlying layer of dielectric material and an overlying stress-inducing layer. The method includes, for instance, providing a layer of dielectric material, with at least one gate structure disposed therein, over a semiconductor substrate; providing a bridging film over the layer of dielectric material with the at least one gate structure; and providing a stress-inducing layer over the bridging film. The bridging film is selected to facilitate adherence of both the underlying layer of dielectric material and the overlying stress-inducing layer by, in part, forming a chemical bond with the layer of dielectric material, without forming a chemical bond with the stress-inducing layer.
US09184286B2	Semiconductor device having a breakdown voltage holding region A semiconductor device of the present invention is a semiconductor device having a semiconductor layer comprising a wide band gap semiconductor, wherein the semiconductor layer includes: a first conductivity-type source region, a second conductivity-type channel region and a first conductivity-type drain region, which are formed in this order from the surface side of the semiconductor layer; a source trench lying from the surface of the semiconductor layer through the source region and the channel region to the drain region; a gate insulating film formed so as to contact the channel region; a gate electrode facing the channel region with the gate insulating film interposed therebetween; and a first breakdown voltage holding region of a second conductivity type formed selectively on the side face or the bottom face of the source trench, and the semiconductor device includes a barrier formation layer, which is joined with the drain region in the source trench, for forming, by junction with the drain region, a junction barrier lower than a diffusion potential of a body diode formed by p-n junction between the channel region and the drain region.
US09184284B2	Method for operating field-effect transistor, field-effect transistor and circuit configuration A method for operating a field-effect transistor having a source terminal, a drain terminal, a gate terminal, a drift region and a dielectric region adjoining the drift region, is provided. The method includes: connecting at least one of the drain terminal and the source terminal to a load; applying a sequence of voltage pulses between the gate terminal and the source terminal to repetitively switch the field-effect transistor such that the field-effect transistor is driven in an avalanche mode between the voltage pulses, during the avalanche mode avalanche multiplication occurring in the drift region close to the dielectric region; and applying at least one relaxation pulse to the field-effect transistor to reduce an accumulation of charges in the dielectric region due to hot charge carriers generated in the avalanche mode. Further, a field-effect transistor and a circuit configuration including the field-effect transistor are provided.
US09184278B2	Planar vertical DMOS transistor with a conductive spacer structure as gate A planar vertical DMOS transistor uses a conductive spacer structure formed on the sides of a dielectric structure as the gate of the transistor. The planar vertical DMOS transistor with a conductive spacer gate structure reduces the parasitic gate-to-bulk or gate-to-drain overlap capacitance by eliminating the conductive gate material that is formed above the bulk of the semiconductor layer. Meanwhile, the desired distance between the body regions formed on opposing sides of the conductive spacer gate structure is maintained.
US09184277B2	Super junction semiconductor device comprising a cell area and an edge area A super junction semiconductor device may include one or more doped zones in a cell area. A drift layer is provided between a doped layer of a first conductivity type and the one or more doped zones. The drift layer includes first regions of the first conductivity type and second regions of a second conductivity type, which is the opposite of the first conductivity type. In an edge area that surrounds the cell area, the first regions may include first portions separating the second regions in a first direction and second portions separating the second regions in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The first and second portions are arranged such that a longest second region in the edge area is at most half as long as a dimension of the edge area parallel to the longest second region.
US09184274B2	Semiconductor apparatus and manufacturing method of the semiconductor apparatus Provided is a semiconductor apparatus including a channel layer, an upper barrier layer that is provided on the channel layer, a first barrier layer that constitutes a boundary layer on a side of the channel layer in the upper barrier layer, a second barrier layer that is provided in a surface layer of the upper barrier layer, a low-resistance region that is provided in at least a surface layer in the second barrier layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode that are connected to the second barrier layer, at positions across the low-resistance region, a gate insulating film that is provided on the low-resistance region, and a gate electrode that is provided above the low-resistance region via the gate insulating film.
US09184273B2	Compound semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same An embodiment of a compound semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a compound semiconductor stacked structure of nitride over the substrate; a passivation film that covers the compound semiconductor stacked structure; a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode at a level above the compound semiconductor stacked structure; and an Si—C bond containing film that contains an Si—C bond and includes a part between the source electrode and the drain electrode. The part contacts at least a part of an upper surface of the compound semiconductor stacked structure or at least a part of an upper surface of the passivation film.
US09184270B2	Graphene based field effect transistor A semiconductor device comprising a graphene layer, a graphene oxide layer overlaying the graphene layer, and a high-k dielectric layer overlaying the graphene oxide layer is provided, as well as a method for producing the same. The method results in a graphene chemical functionalization that efficiently and uniformly seeds ALD growth, preserves the underlying graphene structure, and achieves desirable dielectric properties such as low leakage current and high capacitance.
US09184266B2	Transistor having graphene base A transistor device having a graphene base for the transport of electrons into a collector is provided. The transistor consists of a heterostructure comprising an electron emitter, an electron collector, and a graphene material base layer consisting of one or more sheets of graphene situated between the emitter and the collector. The transistor also can further include an emitter transition layer at the emitter interface with the base and/or a collector transition layer at the base interface with the collector. The electrons injected into the graphene material base layer can be “hot electrons” having an energy E substantially greater than EF, the Fermi energy in the graphene material base layer or can be “non-hot electrons” having an energy E approximately equal to than EF. The electrons can have the properties of ballistic transit through the base layer.
US09184265B2	Methods and apparatus for bipolar junction transistors and resistors Methods and apparatus for bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) are disclosed. A BJT comprises a collector made of p-type semiconductor material, a base made of n-type well on the collector; and an emitter comprising a p+ region on the base and a SiGe layer on the p+ region. The BJT can be formed by providing a semiconductor substrate comprising a collector, a base on the collector, forming a sacrificial layer on the base, patterning a first photoresist on the sacrificial layer to expose an opening surrounded by a STI within the base; implanting a p-type material through the sacrificial layer into an area of the base, forming a p+ region from the p-type implant; forming a SiGe layer on the etched p+ region to form an emitter. The process can be shared with manufacturing a polysilicon transistor up through the step of patterning a first photoresist on the sacrificial layer.
US09184264B2	Manufacturing method of semiconductor device To provide a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device including a memory cell having a higher reliability.First and second stacked structures in a memory cell formation region are formed so as to have a larger height than a third stacked structure in a transistor formation region, and then an interlayer insulating layer is formed so as to cover these stacked structures and then polished.
US09184261B2	Semiconductor device having field plate electrode and method for manufacturing the same According to one embodiment, in a semiconductor device, a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type has a first impurity concentration. A second semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type is formed on the first semiconductor layer and has a second impurity concentration lower than the first impurity concentration. A field plate electrode is formed in a lower portion of a trench formed in the second semiconductor layer through a first insulating film so as to bury the lower portion of the trench. A second insulating film is formed in the upper portion of the trench so as to be in contact with the top surface of the field plate electrode. A gate electrode is formed in the upper portion of the trench through a gate insulating film so as to bury the upper portion of the trench to sandwich the second insulating film.
US09184259B2	Semiconductor structure and method of forming the same A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a second III-V compound layer over a first III-V compound layer, wherein a carrier channel is located between the first III-V compound layer and the second III-V compound layer. The method further includes forming a source feature and a drain feature over the second III-V compound layer. The method further includes forming a gate dielectric layer over the second III-V compound layer, wherein the gate dielectric layer is over a top surface of the source feature and over a top surface of the drain feature. The method further includes treating a portion of the gate dielectric layer with fluorine, wherein treating the portion of the gate dielectric layer comprises performing an implantation process using at least one fluorine-containing compound. The method further includes forming a gate electrode over the portion of the gate dielectric layer.
US09184258B2	GaN based semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same A semiconductor device according to one embodiment includes an n-type first GaN-based semiconductor layer, a p-type second GaN-based semiconductor layer on the first GaN-based semiconductor layer. The second GaN-based semiconductor layer includes a low impurity concentration region and a high impurity concentration region. An n-type third GaN-based semiconductor layer is provided on the second GaN-based semiconductor layer. The device includes a gate electrode being located adjacent to the third GaN-based semiconductor layer, the low impurity concentration region, and the first GaN-based semiconductor layer intervening a gate insulating film. The device includes a first electrode on the third GaN-based semiconductor layer, a second electrode on the high impurity concentration region, and a third electrode on the opposite side of the first GaN-based semiconductor layer from the second GaN-based semiconductor layer.
US09184256B2	MOS varactor optimized layout and methods Apparatus and methods for a MOS varactor structure are disclosed. An apparatus is provided, comprising an active area defined in a portion of a semiconductor substrate; a doped well region in the active area extending into the semiconductor substrate; at least two gate structures disposed in parallel over the doped well region; source and drain regions disposed in the well region formed on opposing sides of the gate structures; a gate connector formed in a first metal layer overlying the at least two gate structures and electrically coupling the at least two gate structures; source and drain connectors formed in a second metal layer and electrically coupled to the source and drain regions; and interlevel dielectric material separating the source and drain connectors in the second metal layer from the gate connector formed in the first metal layer. Methods for forming the structure are disclosed.
US09184254B2	Field-effect transistor and fabricating method thereof A field-effect transistor comprises a substrate, a gate dielectric layer, a barrier layer, a metal gate electrode and a source/drain structure. The gate dielectric layer is disposed on the substrate. The barrier layer having a titanium-rich surface is disposed on the gate dielectric layer. The metal gate electrode is disposed on the titanium-diffused surface. The source/drain structure is formed in the substrate and adjacent to the metal gate electrode.
US09184252B2	Flash memory embedded with HKMG technology An integrated circuit structure includes a flash memory cell and a logic MOS device. The flash memory cell includes a floating gate dielectric, a floating gate overlying the floating gate dielectric, a control gate overlying the floating gate, a word-line on a first side of the floating gate and the control gate, and an erase gate on a second side of the floating gate and the control gate. The logic MOS device includes a high-k gate dielectric, and a gate electrode over the high-k gate dielectric. The gate electrode, the control gate, the word-line, and the erase gate are formed of a same metal-containing material, and have top surfaces coplanar with each other.
US09184251B2	Semiconductor device A semiconductor device includes a substrate and a plurality of transistors arranged on the substrate in an array. The transistor includes a first electrode, a plurality of second electrodes, and a gate electrode. The second electrodes are arranged around the first electrode. The gate electrode is located between the first electrode and the second electrodes. The first electrode is a circle or polygon. The gate electrode is around the first electrode, and an edge of the gate electrode facing the first electrode has a shape corresponding to that of the first electrode.
US09184250B1	Semiconductor arrangement and formation thereof A semiconductor arrangement and methods of formation are provided. The semiconductor arrangement includes a first contact having first contact dimensions that are relative to first gate dimensions of at least one of a first gate or a second gate, where relative refers to a specific relationship between the first contact dimensions and the first gate dimensions. The first contact is between the first gate and the second gate. The first contact having the first contact dimensions relative to the first gate dimensions has lower resistance with little to no increased capacitance, as compared to a semiconductor arrangement having first contact dimensions not in accordance with the specific relationship. The semiconductor arrangement having the lower resistance with little to no increased capacitance exhibits at least one of improved performance or reduced power requirements than a semiconductor arrangement that does not have such lower resistance with little to no increased capacitance.
US09184247B2	Power semiconductor device capable of maintaining a withstand voltage Disclosed herein is a power semiconductor device. The power semiconductor device includes a second conductive type first junction termination extension (JTE) layer that is formed so as to be in contact with one side of the second conductive type well layer, a second conductive type second JTE layer that is formed on the same line as the second conductive type first JTE layer, and is formed so as to be spaced apart from the second conductive type first JTE layer in a length direction of the substrate, and a poly silicon layer that is formed so as to be in contact with the second conductive type well layer and an upper portion of the second conductive type first JTE layer.
US09184236B2	Method of transferring graphene using trench and substrate for receiving graphene A method of transferring graphene includes patterning an upper surface of a substrate to form at least one trench therein, providing a graphene layer on the substrate, the graphene layer including an adhesive liquid thereon, pressing the graphene layer with respect to the substrate, and removing the adhesive liquid by drying the substrate.
US09184232B2	Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same A semiconductor device includes an isolation layer defining an active region formed in a semiconductor substrate. A first recessing process is performed on the isolation layer to expose edge portions of the active region. A first rounding process is performed to round the edge portions of the active region. A second recessing process is performed on the isolation layer. A second rounding process is performed to round the edge portions of the active region.
US09184231B2	Semiconductor device, method of manufacturing the same, and power module A semiconductor device includes an n-type drain layer, an n-type base layer provided on the n-type drain layer, a p-type base layer and an n-type source layer partially formed in surface layer portions of the n-type base layer and the p-type base layer, respectively, a gate insulation film formed on a surface of the p-type base layer between the n-type source layer and the n-type base layer, a gate electrode formed on the gate insulation film facing the p-type base layer across the gate insulation film, a p-type column layer formed within the n-type base layer to extend from the p-type base layer toward the n-type drain layer, a depletion layer alleviation region arranged between the p-type column layer and the n-type drain layer and including first baryons converted to donors, a source electrode connected to the n-type source layer, and a drain electrode connected to the n-type drain layer.
US09184227B1	Methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices having self-aligned contact pads A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a field area that defines active areas, gate trenches in the substrate and extending in a first direction, a buried gate in a respective gate trench, gate capping fences in a respective gate trench over a respective buried gate, the gate capping fences protruding from top surfaces of the active areas and extending in the first direction, bit line trenches in the gate capping fences, a respective bit line trench crossing the gate capping fences and extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, an insulator structure on inner walls of a respective bit line trench, bit lines and bit line capping patterns stacked on the insulator structures in a respective bit line trench, contact pads self-aligned with the gate capping fences and on the substrate between the adjacent bit lines, and a lower electrode of a capacitor on a respective contact pad.
US09184223B2	Display apparatus and method manufacturing the same A display apparatus includes a plurality of pixels, a signal transmission line, a pad and a buffer. The pixels display an image. The signal transmission line is electrically connected to at least one of the pixels to transmit a signal. The pad is electrically connected to the signal transmission line. The pad has greater width than the signal transmission line. The buffer is disposed between the signal transmission line and the pad. A first end of the buffer adjacent to the pad is wider than a second end of the buffer adjacent to the signal transmission line.
US09184221B2	Method of manufacturing semiconductor device An object of the invention is to provide a method for manufacturing semiconductor devices that are flexible in which elements fabricated using a comparatively low-temperature (less than 500° C.) process are separated from a substrate. After a molybdenum film is formed over a glass substrate, a molybdenum oxide film is formed over the molybdenum film, a nonmetal inorganic film and an organic compound film are stacked over the molybdenum oxide film, and elements fabricated by a comparatively low-temperature (less than 500° C.) process are formed using existing manufacturing equipment for large glass substrates, the elements are separated from the glass substrate.
US09184218B2	Semiconductor memory device having three-dimensional cross point array A semiconductor memory device includes pillars extending upright on a substrate in a direction perpendicular to the substrate, a stack disposed on the substrate and constituted by a first interlayer insulating layer, a first conductive layer, a second interlayer insulating layer, and a second conductive layer, a variable resistance layer interposed between the pillars and the first conductive layer, and an insulating layer interposed between the first pillars and the second conductive layer.
US09184215B2	RRAM structure at STI with Si-based selector An RRAM at an STI region is disclosed with a vertical BJT selector. Embodiments include defining an STI region in a substrate, implanting dopants in the substrate to form a well of a first polarity around and below an STI region bottom portion, a band of a second polarity over the well on opposite sides of the STI region, and an active area of the first polarity over each band of second polarity at the surface of the substrate, forming a hardmask on the active areas, removing an STI region top portion to form a cavity, forming an RRAM liner on cavity side and bottom surfaces, forming a top electrode in the cavity, removing a portion of the hardmask to form spacers on opposite sides of the cavity, and implanting a dopant of the second polarity in a portion of each active area remote from the cavity.
US09184214B2	Semiconductor device exhibiting reduced parasitics and method for making same A semiconductor device includes a substrate and a gate stack disposed on the substrate. An upper layer of the gate stack is a metal gate conductor and a lower layer of the gate stack is a gate dielectric. A gate contact is in direct contact with the metal gate conductor.
US09184208B2	Solid-state imaging apparatus and electronic device with improved image quality and increased yield Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging apparatus including: a semiconductor base; a photodiode created on the semiconductor base and used for carrying out photoelectric conversion; a pixel section provided with pixels each having the photodiode; a first wire created by being electrically connected to the semiconductor base for the pixel section through a contact section and being extended in a first direction to the outside of the pixel section; a second wire made from a wiring layer different from the first wire and created by being extended in a second direction different from the first direction to the outside of the pixel section; and a contact section for electrically connecting the first and second wires to each other.
US09184205B2	Solid-state image pickup unit, method of manufacturing solid-state image pickup unit, and electronic apparatus There is provided a back-illuminated type solid-state image pickup unit, in which a pad wiring line is provided on a light reception surface, capable of improving light reception characteristics in a photoelectric conversion section by thinning an insulating film in the back-illuminated type solid-state image pickup unit. A solid-state image pickup unit according to the present technology to accomplish such a purpose includes a sensor substrate having a pixel region in which photoelectric conversion sections are formed in an array, and a drive circuit is provided on a surface opposed to a light reception surface for the photoelectric conversion sections of the sensor substrate. Moreover, a through hole via reaching the drive circuit from the light reception surface of the sensor substrate is provided in a peripheral region located outside the pixel region. Further, a pad wiring line directly laminated on the through hole via is provided on the light reception surface in the peripheral region.
US09184197B2	Backside illumination image sensor and image-capturing device A backside illumination image sensor that includes a semiconductor substrate with a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and a read circuit formed on a front surface side of the semiconductor substrate, and captures an image by outputting, via the read circuit, electrical signals generated as incident light having reached a back surface side of the semiconductor substrate is received at the photoelectric conversion elements includes: a light shielding film formed on a side where incident light enters the photoelectric conversion elements, with an opening formed therein in correspondence to each photoelectric conversion element; and an on-chip lens formed at a position set apart from the light shielding film by a predetermined distance in correspondence to each photoelectric conversion element. The light shielding film and an exit pupil plane of the image forming optical system achieve a conjugate relation to each other with regard to the on-chip lens.
US09184194B2	Multiband photodetector utilizing serially connected unipolar and bipolar devices Multi-band photodetectors can be formed by series connecting unipolar and, optionally, bipolar semiconductor structures, each having different photodetection bands. Under default mode of operation, the detector with highest resistance and lowest current will be the current limiting device and will be the active photodetector. When the active photodetector is illuminated with strong light in its own detection band it will be optically biased. This active photodetector will no longer be the highest resistance device, and the next photodetector will be the active photodetector. Repeating this operation pattern, allows switching photodetection bands of the multi-band photodetector. The resistances, dark current and photocurrent of the devices should be engineered to have proper switching. Moreover, the illuminating surface, and photodetector placement should be optimized for proper light biasing. The current passing through the device will always be equal to the current of the active photodetector.
US09184193B2	Camera module and manufacturing method thereof The present disclosure relates to a camera module including a PCB (Printed Circuit Board, an image sensor and a lens assembly, wherein the PCB formed with an opening, a staircase sill formed at an edge of the opening to insert a lens assembly, and an accommodation structural unit provided at a lower distal end of the opening to insert the image sensor, and wherein the image sensor is assembled to the accommodation structural unit of the PCB, and the lens assembly is inserted into the staircase sill of the PCB for assembly.
US09184191B2	Method providing an epitaxial photonic device having a reduction in defects and resulting structure A method of forming a photonic device and resulting structure are described in which the photonic device is epitaxially grown over a substrate surface vertically, and laterally over trench isolation regions formed in the substrate surface.
US09184189B2	Semiconductor device, display device, and electronic appliance To reduce adverse effects on actual operation and to reduce adverse effects of noise. A structure including an electrode, a wiring electrically connected to the electrode, an oxide semiconductor layer overlapping with the electrode in a plane view, an insulating layer provided between the electrode and the oxide semiconductor layer in a cross-sectional view, and a functional circuit to which a signal is inputted from the electrode through the wiring and in which operation is controlled in accordance with the signal inputted. A capacitor is formed using an oxide semiconductor layer, an insulating layer, and a wiring or an electrode.
US09184186B2	Display device and driving method thereof To provide a display device and a driving method thereof, where variations in the threshold voltage of transistors can be compensated and thus variations in luminance of light-emitting elements can be suppressed. In a first period, initialization is performed; in a second period, a voltage based on the threshold voltage of a first transistor is held in first and second storage capacitors; in a third period, a voltage based on a video signal voltage and the threshold voltage of the first transistor is held in the first and second storage capacitors; and in a fourth period, voltages held in the first and second storage capacitors are applied to a gate terminal of the first transistor to supply a current to a light-emitting element, so that the light-emitting element emits light. Through the operation process, a current obtained by compensating variations in the threshold voltage of the first transistor can be supplied to the light-emitting element, thereby variations in luminance can be suppressed.
US09184185B2	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing semiconductor device An object is to reduce the manufacturing cost of a semiconductor device. An object is to improve the aperture ratio of a semiconductor device. An object is to make a display portion of a semiconductor device display a higher-definition image. An object is to provide a semiconductor device which can be operated at high speed. The semiconductor device includes a driver circuit portion and a display portion over one substrate. The driver circuit portion includes: a driver circuit TFT in which source and drain electrodes are formed using a metal and a channel layer is formed using an oxide semiconductor; and a driver circuit wiring formed using a metal. The display portion includes: a pixel TFT in which source and drain electrodes are formed using an oxide conductor and a semiconductor layer is formed using an oxide semiconductor; and a display wiring formed using an oxide conductor.
US09184183B2	Liquid crystal display device A first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, a fourth transistor are provided. In the first transistor, a first terminal is electrically connected to a first wiring; a second terminal is electrically connected to a gate terminal of the second transistor; a gate terminal is electrically connected to a fifth wiring. In the second transistor, a first terminal is electrically connected to a third wiring; a second terminal is electrically connected to a sixth wiring. In the third transistor, a first terminal is electrically connected to a second wiring; a second terminal is electrically connected to the gate terminal of the second transistor; a gate terminal is electrically connected to a fourth wiring. In the fourth transistor, a first terminal is electrically connected to the second wiring; a second terminal is electrically connected to the sixth wiring; a gate terminal is connected to the fourth wiring.
US09184182B2	Array substrate and display panel An array substrate and a display panel are disclosed. The array substrate includes at least one data line, at least one scanning line, and a pixel cell defined by the data line and the scanning line. The pixel cell includes an ITO thin film and at least one metallic layer below the ITO thin film. The ITO thin film electrically connects to the metallic layer via a through hole. The ITO thin film includes a slit arranged between the ITO thin film and the through hole, and the slit is arranged to avoid the disclination lines so as to improve the display performance.
US09184179B2	Thin channel-on-insulator MOSFET device with n+ epitaxy substrate and embedded stressor A method of forming a field effect transistor (FET) device includes forming a recess in a PFET region of a starting semiconductor substrate comprising a bulk semiconductor layer an epitaxial n+ layer formed on the bulk semiconductor layer, a buried insulator (BOX) layer formed on the epitaxial n+ layer, and an active semiconductor or silicon-on-insulator (SOI) layer formed on the BOX layer, the recess being formed completely through the SOI layer, the BOX layer, and partially into the epitaxial n+ layer; epitaxially growing a silicon germanium (SiGe) transition layer on the epitaxial n+ layer, the SiGe transition layer having a lower dopant concentration than the epitaxial n+ layer; and epitaxially growing embedded source/drain (S/D) regions on the SiGe transition layer and adjacent the SOI layer in the PFET region, the embedded S/D regions comprising p-type doped SiGe.
US09184178B2	Vertical memory devices and methods of manufacturing the same A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a plurality of insulating layers vertically stacked on the substrate, a plurality of channels arranged in vertical openings formed through at least some of the plurality of insulating layers, and a plurality of portions alternatingly positioned with the plurality of insulating layers in the vertical direction. At least some of the portions are adjacent corresponding channels of the plurality of channels. Each of the portions includes a conductive barrier pattern formed on an inner wall of the portion, a filling layer pattern positioned in the portion on the conductive barrier pattern, and a gate electrode positioned in a remaining area of the portion not occupied by the conductive barrier or filling layer pattern.
US09184177B2	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes a stacked body, a second insulating film, a third insulating film and a plurality of contacts. The stacked body includes alternatively stacked electrode films and first insulating films, and has an end portion in which a terrace is formed for each pair of the electrode film and the first insulating film. The second insulating film covers the upper faces and the lower faces of the electrode films in the end portion of the stacked body. The second insulating film has a composition different from the composition of the first insulating film. The third insulating film is provided on the end portion of the stacked body. The third insulating film has a composition different from the composition of the second insulating film. The contact passes through the third insulating film and the second insulating film, and contacts the electrode film.
US09184176B2	Semiconductor device, memory system including the same, and method of manufacturing the same The semiconductor device includes a vertical channel layer formed on a substrate; conductive layer patterns and insulating layer patterns alternately formed around a length of each of the vertical channel layer; and a charge storing layer pattern formed between each of the vertical channel layers and the conductive layer patterns, where each of the charge storing layer patterns is isolated by the insulating layer patterns.
US09184173B2	Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof The invention provides a semiconductor device and its manufacturing method in which a memory transistor and a plurality of thin film transistors that have gate insulating films with different thicknesses are fabricated over a substrate. The invention is characterized by the structural difference between the memory transistor and the plurality of thin film transistors. Specifically, the memory transistor and some of the plurality of thin film transistors are provided to have a bottom gate structure while the other thin film transistors are provided to have a top gate structure, which enables the reduction of characteristic defects of the transistor and simplification of its manufacturing process.
US09184172B2	Non-volatile memory devices and methods of manufacturing the same A non-volatile memory device includes a field region that defines an active region in a semiconductor substrate, a floating gate pattern on the active region, a dielectric layer on the floating gate pattern and a control gate on the dielectric layer. The control gate includes a first conductive pattern that has a first composition that crystallizes in a first temperature range, and a second conductive pattern that has a second composition that is different from the first composition and that crystallizes in a second temperature range that is lower than the first temperature range, the first conductive pattern being between the dielectric layer and the second conductive pattern.
US09184171B2	Semiconductor integrated circuit and method of producing the same Provided is a semiconductor integrated circuit that uses a novel vertical MOS transistor that is free of interference between cells, that enables the short-channel effect to be minimized, that does not have hot electron injection, and that does not require the formation of shallow junction. Also provided is a method of producing the semiconductor integrated circuit. A memory cell 1 in the semiconductor integrated circuit is provided with: a semiconductor pillar 2 that serves as a channel; a floating gate 5 that circumferentially covers the semiconductor pillar 2 via a tunnel insulation layer 6 on the outer circumference of the semiconductor pillar 2; and a control gate 4 that circumferentially covers the semiconductor pillar via an insulating layer 8 on the outer circumference of the semiconductor pillar 2, and that circumferentially covers the floating gate 5 via an insulating layer 7 on the outer circumference of the floating gate.
US09184170B2	Method for FinFET SRAM ratio tuning A semiconductor device and method of forming the same include a substrate having a plurality of memory cells formed thereon. A memory cell includes pass-gate transistors, pull-up transistors, and pull-down transistors. The pass-gate transistors and a portion of the pull-down transistors have different doping concentrations.
US09184166B2	Manufacturing method of capacitor structure and semiconductor device using the same The instant disclosure relates to a semiconductor device which includes a semiconductor substrate, at least one patterned reinforcing layer, a plurality of lower electrodes, and a supporting layer. The at least one patterned reinforcing layer is arranged above the semiconductor substrate, wherein the at least one patterned reinforcing layer has a plurality of reinforcing structures configured to define a plurality of alignment apertures. The lower electrodes are arranged on the semiconductor substrate, wherein N of the lower electrodes pass through each of the alignment apertures, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The supporting layer is arranged above the at least one patterned reinforcing layer and between the lower electrodes.
US09184165B2	1T SRAM/DRAM One-transistor (1T) volatile memory devices and manufacturing methods thereof are provided. The device includes a substrate having top and bottom surfaces and an isolation buffer layer disposed below the top substrate surface. The isolation buffer layer is an amorphized portion of the substrate. An area of the substrate between the isolation buffer layer and the top substrate surface serves as a body region of a transistor. The device also includes a transistor disposed over the substrate. The transistor includes a gate disposed on the top substrate surface, and first and second diffusion regions disposed in the body region adjacent to first and second sides of the gate.
US09184164B2	Nonvolatile memory devices A nonvolatile memory device includes a string selection transistor, a plurality of memory cell transistors, and a ground selection transistor electrically connected in series to the string selection transistor and to the pluralities of memory cell transistors. First impurity layers are formed at boundaries of the channels and the source/drain regions of the memory cell transistors. The first impurity layers are doped with opposite conductivity type impurities relative to the source/drain regions of the memory cell transistors. Second impurity layers are formed at boundaries between a channel and a drain region of the string selection transistor and between a channel and a source region of the ground selection transistor. The second impurity layers are doped with the same conductivity type impurities as the first impurity layers and have a higher impurity concentration than the first impurity layers.
US09184161B2	Vertical gated access transistor A method of forming an apparatus includes forming a plurality of deep trenches and a plurality of shallow trenches in a first region of a substrate. At least one of the shallow trenches is positioned between two deep trenches. The shallow trenches and the deep trenches are parallel to each other. A layer of conductive material is deposited over the first region and a second region of the substrate. The layer of conductive material is etched to define lines separated by gaps over the first region of the substrate, and active device elements over the second region of the substrate. The second region of the substrate is masked and the lines are removed from the first region of the substrate. Elongate trenches are etched where the lines were removed in the while the second region of the substrate is masked.
US09184160B2	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same A semiconductor device having high electric characteristics and in which a capacitor is efficiently formed even if the semiconductor device has a miniaturized structure. In a top-gate (also referred to as staggered) transistor using an oxide semiconductor film as its active layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode has a two-layer structure (a first electrode film and a second electrode film). Then, a capacitor is formed using a film formed using a material and a step similar to those of the first electrode film, a gate insulating film, and a gate electrode. Accordingly, the transistor and the capacitor can be formed through the same process efficiently. Further, the second electrode is connected onto the oxide semiconductor film between a first electrode and a channel formation region of the transistor. Accordingly, resistance between source and drain electrodes can be reduced; therefore, electric characteristics of the semiconductor device can be improved.
US09184157B2	Semiconductor device, display device, and electronic apparatus To prevent an electrostatic damage on a display device formed with a driving circuit. Protective circuits are provided not only at input terminal parts, but also at intermediate parts of a circuit or at the ends of wiring lines. Otherwise, the protective circuits are provided at the ends of the wiring lines and at the places immediately before and after the input terminals, respectively, and then the circuit is interposed therebetween. Further, the protective circuits are provided around a circuit with a large current consumption.
US09184156B2	Semiconductor packages and electronic systems including the same A plurality of semiconductor chips may be stacked on the substrate, and each of them may include at least one electrode pad. At least one of the plurality of semiconductor chips may include at least one redistribution pad configured to electrically connect with the at least one electrode pad.
US09184155B2	Semiconductor package A semiconductor package includes: a plurality of lead members disposed with a space therebetween over a surface of a substrate, a first semiconductor chip disposed in a face-up manner over the first surface of the substrate between at least two of the plurality of lead members; a second semiconductor chip disposed in a face-up manner over the first semiconductor chip and the at least two lead members, and a connection member for connecting the substrate, the at least two lead members, the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip with one another.
US09184154B2	Methods for fabricating integrated passive devices on glass substrates A method includes forming a plurality of dielectric layers over a semiconductor substrate; and forming integrated passive devices in the plurality of dielectric layers. The semiconductor substrate is then removed from the plurality of dielectric layers. A dielectric substrate is bonded onto the plurality of dielectric layers.
US09184152B2	Dual lead frame semiconductor package and method of manufacture A semiconductor package and a method for making the same are provided. In the method, a clip is used to conduct a lead frame and at least one chip. The clip has at least one second connection segment, at least one third connection segment, and at least one intermediate connection segment. The second connection segment is electrically connected to a second conduction region of the chip and a second pin of the lead frame respectively, and the third connection segment is electrically connected to a third conduction region of the chip and a third pin of the lead frame respectively. The intermediate connection segment connects the at least one second connection segment and the at least one third connection segment, and is removed in a subsequent process. Thereby, the present invention does not need to use any gold wire, which effectively saves the material cost and the processing time.
US09184151B2	Mixed wire bonding profile and pad-layout configurations in IC packaging processes for high-speed electronic devices A method and apparatus for mixed wire bonding and staggered bonding pad placement. A first plurality of bonding pads is arranged on a semiconductor device. A second plurality of bonding pads is also arranged on the semiconductor device. The bonding pads of the second plurality of bonding pads are arranged in a staggered pattern, such that the first and second pluralities of bonding pads form one of a plurality of double rows of bonding pads on the semiconductor device.
US09184147B2	Stacked semiconductor package A stacked semiconductor chip includes a main substrate supporting a semiconductor chip module, wherein the semiconductor module comprises at least two sub semiconductor chip modules each having a sub substrate in which a first semiconductor chip is embedded and at least two second semiconductor chips are stacked on the sub substrate.
US09184145B2	Semiconductor device package adapter A semiconductor device packaged adapter for electrically coupling contacts on a first circuit member to contacts on a second circuit member. The adapter typically includes first and second substrates, each with arrays of terminals. Proximal ends of the first terminals on the first substrate are arranged to be soldered to the contacts on the first circuit member and proximal ends of the second terminals on the second substrate are arranged to be soldered to the contacts on the second circuit member. Complementary engaging structures located on distal ends of the first and second terminals engage to electrically and mechanically couple the first circuit member to the second circuit member.
US09184144B2	Interconnect pillars with directed compliance geometry Pillars having a directed compliance geometry are arranged to couple a semiconductor die to a substrate. The direction of maximum compliance of each pillar may be aligned with the direction of maximum stress caused by unequal thermal expansion and contraction of the semiconductor die and substrate. Pillars may be designed and constructed with various shapes having particular compliance characteristics and particular directions of maximum compliance. The shape and orientation of the pillars may be selected as a function of their location on a die to accommodate the direction and magnitude of stress at their location. A method includes fabricating pillars with particular shapes by patterning to increase surface of materials upon which the pillar is plated or deposited.
US09184141B2	Electrostatic discharge protection device An electrostatic discharge protection device includes first and second wells of a first conductivity type, the first and second wells having different impurity doping concentrations, respectively, a gate formed on the first well, a source region of a second conductivity type formed at one side of the gate in the first well, a drift region of the second conductivity type formed at the other side of gate and over both of the first well and the second well, and a drain region of the second conductivity type formed in the drift region of the second well.
US09184137B2	Semiconductor chip and semiconductor package having the same A semiconductor chip includes a semiconductor substrate having one surface, the other surface which faces away from the one surface, and an integrated circuit which is formed on the one surface; and a shielding layershielding layer formed in the semiconductor substrate to correspond to the other surface.
US09184127B2	Semiconductor package A semiconductor package having a metal frame includes a frame-shaped conductive member which has an opening portion, mounted on a substrate, and a semiconductor element disposed within the opening. A ring-shaped wiring pattern is provided on a portion of the substrate outwards from the opening portion of the conductive member. The electrostatic coupling capacity of the ring-shaped wiring pattern and the conductive member is not less than the electrostatic coupling capacity of a semiconductor metal wiring layer and the conductive member. The ring-shaped wiring pattern and the ground wiring of the semiconductor metal wiring layer are electrically connected.
US09184123B1	Package substrate with current flow shaping features Techniques and structures for achieving a more uniform current density in solder ball contact areas for a ball-grid-array semiconductor package are presented. Current density may be made more uniform by introducing electrically non-conductive regions into one or more areas that form a dedicated power rail within a package substrate that is configured to be connected with a die. Additionally or alternatively, the number of μvias that connect each solder ball contact area with conductive areas within the package substrate may be individually tailored based on the desired current density at each solder ball contact area.
US09184122B2	Integrated circuit packaging system with interposer and method of manufacture thereof A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing an interposer having an interposer bottom side and an interposer top side; attaching a base integrated circuit to the interposer bottom side; attaching a lead to the interposer bottom side, the lead adjacent the base integrated circuit and entirely below the interposer; and forming an encapsulation partially covering the lead and exposing the interposer top side.
US09184121B2	Stacked synchronous buck converter having chip embedded in outside recess of leadframe A power supply system (200) has a QFN leadframe with leads and a pad (201, switch node terminal); a pad surface having a portion recessed with a depth (270) and an outline suitable for attaching a semiconductor chip. A first FET chip (220) is vertically stacked to the opposite pad surface. A clip (240) is vertically stacked on the first FET chip and tied to a lead (202, grounded output terminal). A second FET chip (210) has its source terminal attached to the recessed portion and its drain (210a, input terminal) and gate (210b) terminals co-planar with the un-recessed portion. A driver-and-controller chip (230) is attached to the clip. Packaging compound (290) encapsulates the parts but leaves a pad surface and the drain and gate terminals of the second FET chip un-encapsulated.
US09184119B2	Lead frame with abutment surface A lead frame device may include an integral die pad member, two separate finger members, a central body portion, each of the finger members have a top and a bottom surface connected by a peripheral edge surface. The lead frame also has a first ear portion, and a second ear portion, each has an ear top surface and an ear bottom surface coplanar with the top surface and bottom surface of the central body portion. The lead frame also has a first longitudinally extending groove and second longitudinally extending groove separate the first ear portion and the second ear portion from the central portion. The first ear portion and the second ear portion each have an abutment surface.
US09184114B2	Lead carrier with print-formed terminal pads A lead carrier provides support for an integrated circuit chip and associated leads during manufacture as packages containing such chips. The lead carrier includes a temporary support member with multiple package sites. Each package site includes a plurality of terminal pads surrounding a die attach region. The pads are formed of sintered electrically conductive material. A chip is placed at the die attach region and wire bonds extend from the chip to the terminal pads. The pads, chip and wire bonds are all encapsulated within a mold compound. The temporary support member can be peeled away and then the individual package sites can be isolated from each other to provide completed packages including multiple surface mount joints for mounting within an electronic system board. Edges of the pads are contoured to cause the pads to engage with the mold compound to securely hold the pads within the package.
US09184113B1	Methods of forming coaxial feedthroughs for 3D integrated circuits Methods of forming coaxial feedthroughs for 3d integrated circuits that provide excellent isolation of signal paths from the substrate and from adjacent feedthroughs. One method is to form a recess in a substrate and deposit alternate layers of insulation and conductive layers and then thin the substrate to make the layers available from both sides of the substrate, with the first metal layer forming the coaxial conductor and the second metal layer forming the central conductor. Alternatively the coaxial feedthroughs may be formed using a modified pillar process to form the coaxial conductor at the same time as the center conductor is formed so that the coaxial feedthrough is formed without requiring extra steps. Both processes are low temperature processes.
US09184112B1	Cooling apparatus for an integrated circuit A chip fabricated from a semiconductor material is disclosed. The chip may include active devices located below a first depth from a chip back side and a structure configured to remove heat from the chip. The structure may include microvias electrically insulated from the active devices and having a second depth, less than the first depth, from the back side towards the active devices. Each microvia may also have a fill material having a thermal conductivity greater than a semiconductor thermal conductivity. The structure may also include thermally conductive material regions on the back side of the chip in contact with sets of microvias. The structure may also include through-silicon vias electrically connected to the active devices, and extending from the back side to an active device side of the chip and configured to remove heat from the active devices to the back side of the chip.
US09184111B2	Wafer-level chip scale package A wafer-level chip scale package is disclosed, including a chip including a substrate and a GaN transistor disposed on the substrate. The GaN transistor includes a first electrode, a dielectric layer disposed on the chip, and a redistribution trace disposed on the first dielectric layer and electrically connected with the first electrode, wherein the redistribution trace has a linear side and a curved side on opposite sides along its longitudinal direction.
US09184102B2	Method and system for measuring patterned structures A method and system are presented for determining a line profile in a patterned structure, aimed at controlling a process of manufacture of the structure. The patterned structure comprises a plurality of different layers, the pattern in the structure being formed by patterned regions and un-patterned regions. At least first and second measurements are carried out, each utilizing illumination of the structure with a broad wavelengths band of incident light directed on the structure at a certain angle of incidence, detection of spectral characteristics of light returned from the structure, and generation of measured data representative thereof. The measured data obtained with the first measurement is analyzed, and at least one parameter of the structure is thereby determined. Then, this determined parameter is utilized, while analyzing the measured data obtained with the second measurements enabling the determination of the profile of the structure.
US09184101B2	Method for removing semiconductor fins using alternating masks A mask set and method for forming FinFET semiconductor devices provides a complementary set of fin-cut masks that are used in DPT (double patterning technology) to remove fins from non-active areas of a semiconductor device, after the fins are formed. Adjacent fins, or adjacent groups of fins, are removed using pattern features from different ones of the multiple fin-cut masks.
US09184098B2	Bidirectional heterojunction compound semiconductor protection devices and methods of forming the same A protection circuit including a multi-gate high electron mobility transistor (HEMT), a forward conduction control block, and a reverse conduction control block is provided between a first terminal and a second terminal. The multi-gate HEMT includes an explicit drain/source, a first depletion-mode (D-mode) gate, a first enhancement-mode (E-mode) gate, a second E-mode gate, a second D-mode gate, and an explicit source/drain. The drain/source and the first D-mode gate are connected to the first terminal and the source/drain and the second D-mode gate are connected to the second terminal. The forward conduction control block turns on the second E-mode gate when a voltage difference between the first and second terminals is greater than a forward conduction trigger voltage, and the reverse conduction control block turns on the first E-mode gate when the voltage difference is more negative than a reverse conduction trigger voltage.
US09184097B2	Semiconductor devices and formation methods thereof A semiconductor device is provided and includes a substrate of a first conductivity type, a deep well of a second conductivity type, and a first high-side device. The deep well is formed on the substrate. The first high-side device is disposed within the deep well and includes an insulation layer of the second conductivity type, a well of the first conductivity type, first and second regions of the second conductivity type, and a first poly-silicon material. The insulation layer is formed on the substrate. The well is formed within the deep well. The first and second regions are formed within the well. The first poly-silicon material is disposed between the first region and the second region and on the deep well.
US09184092B2	Chip package and method for forming the same A method for forming a chip package, by providing a substrate having a plurality of conducting pads below a lower surface, and a dielectric layer located between the conducting pads, forming a recess in an upper surface of the substrate, forming a hole extending through the bottom of the recess, forming an insulating layer on the sidewall of the recess and in the hole, exposing a portion of the conducting pads through the insulating layer, and forming a conducting layer on the insulating layer and through the hole to contact with the conducting pads.
US09184089B2	Mechanism of forming a trench structure Embodiments of a mechanism for forming a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure filled with a flowable dielectric layer are provided. The mechanism involves using one or more low-temperature thermal anneal processes with oxygen sources and one or more microwave anneals to convert a flowable dielectric material to silicon oxide. The low-temperature thermal anneal processes with oxygen sources and the microwave anneals are performed at temperatures below the ranges that could cause significant dopant diffusion, which help dopant profile control for advanced manufacturing technologies. In some embodiments, an implant to generate passages in the upper portion of the flowable dielectric layer is also used in the mechanism.
US09184083B2	Apparatus, hybrid laminated body, method and materials for temporary substrate support A hybrid laminated body is provided that includes a light-transmitting support, a latent release layer disposed upon the light-transmitting support, a joining layer disposed upon the latent release layer, and a polyamide thermoplastic priming layer disposed upon the joining layer. The hybrid laminated body can further include a substrate to be processed such as, for example, a silicon wafer to be ground. Also provided is a method for manufacturing the provided laminated body.
US09184075B2	Apparatus for storing substrates An apparatus for storing a substrate on which a pattern is formed includes a main body storing the substrate, a first pad located at the bottom of the main body and including a first groove supporting one edge of the substrate, a second pad neighboring the first pad and including a second groove supporting the center of the substrate, and a third pad spaced from the first pad, the second pad being disposed between the first and third pads, the third pad including a third groove supporting the other edge of the substrate.
US09184073B2	Substrate processing apparatus A substrate processing apparatus is disclosed. The substrate processing apparatus includes: a first process unit including a plurality of first process stations configured to perform a first process in a first atmosphere; a second process unit including a plurality of second process stations configured to perform a second process in a second atmosphere different from the first atmosphere; and a transformation unit between the first process unit and the second process unit. The first process unit, the transformation unit, and the second process unit are arranged in a line. The transformation unit includes a plurality of transformation stations configured to transform an atmosphere between the first atmosphere and the second atmosphere. Thus, the efficiency of processing a substrate can be improved, and the area or length in which the substrate processing apparatus is installed can be reduced.
US09184072B2	Advanced multi-workpiece processing chamber An apparatus and method are described for processing workpieces in a treatment process. A multi-wafer chamber defines a chamber interior including at least two processing stations within the chamber interior such that the processing stations share the chamber interior. Each processing station includes a plasma source and a workpiece pedestal for exposing one of the workpieces to the treatment process using a respective plasma source. The chamber includes an arrangement of one or more electrically conductive surfaces that are asymmetrically disposed about the workpiece at each processing station in a way which produces a given level of uniformity of the treatment process on a major surface of each workpiece. A shield arrangement provides an enhanced uniformity of exposure of the workpiece to the respective one of the plasma sources that is greater than the given level of uniformity that would be provided in an absence of the shield arrangement.
US09184071B2	Multi-story substrate treating apparatus with flexible transport mechanisms and vertically divided treating units A treating section includes a plurality of treating blocks juxtaposed horizontally. Each treating block is vertically divided into stories. Each story includes treating units and a main transport mechanism. Substrates are transportable between the same stories of the treating blocks. Further, the substrates are transportable between different stories. Thus, the apparatus can transport the substrates flexibly between the treating blocks.
US09184066B2	Chip arrangements and methods for manufacturing a chip arrangement A chip arrangement is provided, the chip arrangement including: a carrier; a chip disposed over the carrier, the chip including one or more contact pads, wherein a first contact pad of the one or more contact pads is electrically contacted to the carrier; a first encapsulation material at least partially surrounding the chip; and a second encapsulation material at least partially surrounding the first encapsulation material.
US09184065B2	Method of molding semiconductor package A method of molding a semiconductor package includes coating liquid molding resin or disposing solid molding resin on a top surface of a semiconductor chip arranged on a substrate. The solid molding resin may include powdered molding resin or sheet-type molding resin. In a case where liquid molding resin is coated on the top surface of the semiconductor chip, the substrate is mounted between a lower molding and an upper molding, and then melted molding resin is filled in a space between the lower molding and the upper molding. In a case where the solid molding resin is disposed on the top surface of the semiconductor chip, the substrate is mounted on a lower mold and then the solid molding resin is heated and melts into liquid molding resin having flowability. An upper mold is mounted on the lower mold, and melted molding resin is filled in a space between the lower molding and the upper molding.
US09184062B2	Metal filling device A metal filling apparatus fills molten metal into a minute space formed on a surface of a semiconductor wafer. The apparatus has a processor body with a chamber in which the wafer is held, a molten metal supply, and a molten metal recovery mechanism. The supply includes a tank in which molten metal is stored, a supply pipe connected between the chamber and the tank, a supplier interposed in the supply pipe to supply molten metal from the tank to the processing chamber, and the recovery mechanism recovers molten metal from the processing chamber.
US09184061B2	Systems and methods for forming zirconium and/or hafnium-containing layers A method of forming (and apparatus for forming) a zirconium and/or hafnium-containing layer on a substrate, particularly a semiconductor substrate or substrate assembly, using a vapor deposition process and one or more silicon precursor compounds of the formula Si(OR)4 with one or more zirconium and/or hafnium precursor compounds of the formula M(NR′R″)4, wherein R, R′, and R″ are each independently an organic group and M is zirconium or hafnium.
US09184048B2	Method of manufacturing cellular electrophysiology sensor chip A cellular electrophysiology sensor is adapted to measure an electrical change of a test cell. A chip for the sensor includes a diaphragm, and a thermally-oxidized film mainly containing silicon dioxide on the diaphragm. The diaphragm includes a silicon layer and a silicon dioxide layer on an upper surface of the silicon layer. A through-hole passing through the silicon layer and the silicon dioxide layer is formed. The through-hole has an opening which opens at the silicon dioxide layer and is adapted to capture the test cell. The thermally-oxidized film is provided on an inner wall surface of the through-hole, and unified with the silicon dioxide layer at the opening of the through-hole. This cellular electrophysiology sensor chip can stably capture the test cell and provides a gigaseal stably even if test cells have different properties.
US09184047B2	Multi-step system and method for curing a dielectric film A multi-step system and method for curing a dielectric film in which the system includes a drying system configured to reduce the amount of contaminants, such as moisture, in the dielectric film. The system further includes a curing system coupled to the drying system, and configured to treat the dielectric film with ultraviolet (UV) radiation and infrared (IR) radiation in order to cure the dielectric film.
US09184044B1	Method for manufacturing semiconductor device A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided with filling a trench by supplying trichlorosilane gas to a substrate where the trench is formed. A relation between a gas concentration of trichlorosilane gas and a film formation speed includes a concentration countergradient condition in which the film formation speed decreases as the gas concentration increases. The filling of the trench is performed under the concentration countergradient condition.
US09184039B2	Mass spectrometer with corrugations, wells, or barriers and a driving DC voltage or potential A mass analyzer (2) is provided comprising a plurality of electrodes having apertures through which ions are transmitted in use. A plurality of seudo-potential corrugations are created along the axis of the mass analyzer (2). The amplitude or depth of the pseudo-potential corrugations is inversely proportional to the mass to charge ratio of an ion. One or more transient DC voltages are applied to the electrodes of the mass analyzer (2) in order to urge ions along the length of the mass analyzer (2). The amplitude of the transient DC voltages applied to the electrodes is increased with time and ions are caused to be emitted from the mass analyzer (2) in reverse order of mass to charge ratio.
US09184038B2	Ion focusing The invention generally relates to apparatuses for focusing ions at or above ambient pressure and methods of use thereof. In certain embodiments, the invention provides an apparatus for focusing ions that includes an electrode having a cavity, at least one inlet within the electrode configured to operatively couple with an ionization source, such that discharge generated by the ionization source is injected into the cavity of the electrode, and an outlet. The cavity in the electrode is shaped such that upon application of voltage to the electrode, ions within the cavity are focused and directed to the outlet, which is positioned such that a proximal end of the outlet receives the focused ions and a distal end of the outlet is open to ambient pressure.
US09184037B2	Mass spectrometer and mass analyzing method A mass spectrometer including a sample attaching member of attaching a sample, an ionizing chamber including an introductory port of the sample attaching member and an ionization source of generating a sample ion, a vacuumed chamber having a mass analyzer of analyzing the sample ion, and an opening/closing mechanism provided between the ionizing chamber and the vacuumed chamber, in which the opening/closing mechanism is controlled from a closed state to an open state after introducing the sample attaching member into the ionizing chamber to thereby enable to perform ionization with inconsiderable fragmentation at a high sensitivity with a high throughput.
US09184036B2	Synchronization of ion generation with cycling of a discontinuous atmospheric interface The invention generally relates to methods and devices for synchronization of ion generation with cycling of a discontinuous atmospheric interface. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a system for analyzing a sample that includes a mass spectrometry probe that generates sample ions, a discontinuous atmospheric interface, and a mass analyzer, in which the system is configured such that ion formation is synchronized with cycling of the discontinuous atmospheric interface.
US09184035B2	Data acquisition system for a spectrometer using an ion statistics filter and/or a peak histogram filtering circuit A data acquisition system and method are described that may be used with various spectrometers. The data acquisition system may include an ion detector, an initial processing module, and a spectra processing module. The initial processing module is provided for processing the ion detection signals and for supplying processed signals to the spectra processing module. The spectra processing module generates spectra from the processed signals and supplies the generated spectra to an external processor for post-processing. The spectra processing module may include an ion statistics filter and/or a peak histogram filtering circuit.
US09184034B2	Photomultiplier tube with extended dynamic range The disclosure is directed to a photomultiplier tube with extended dynamic range. According to various embodiments, a repulsive electric field is introduced between a photocathode and a plurality of dynodes in order to repel or block low-energy electrons from reaching and being multiplied by the dynodes. As a result, time intervals between current peaks and drops may be decreased because the photomultiplier current will be primarily affected by high-energy electrons emitted by the photocathode in response to incident illumination versus low-energy electrons, some of which may result from dangling bonds or slow surface states after illumination no longer impinges the photocathode. Dynamic range and optical responsiveness of the photomultiplier tube are increased accordingly.
US09184033B2	Electron multiplying structure for use in a vacuum tube using electron multiplying as well as a vacuum tube using electron multiplying provided with such an electron multiplying structure An electron multiplying structure for use in a vacuum tube using electron multiplying, the electron multiplying structure having an input face intended to be oriented in a facing relationship with an entrance window of the vacuum tube, an output face intended to be oriented in a facing relationship with a detection surface of the vacuum tube, wherein the electron multiplying structure at least is composed of a semi-conductor material layer adjacent the detection windows. Also disclosed is a vacuum tube using electron multiplying with an electron multiplying structure.
US09184031B2	Plasma equipment and methods of using the same Plasma equipments are provided. The plasma equipment includes a chamber in which a plasma reaction occurs, a detector outputting a spectrum signal in response to light generated from the plasma reaction, and a plasma monitoring module determining whether the spectrum signal includes an arcing signal or a hunting signal. Related methods are also provided.
US09184027B1	Matched multiple charged particle beam systems for lithographic patterning, inspection, and accelerated yield ramp The present application discloses methods, systems and devices for using charged particle beam tools to pattern and inspect a substrate. The inventors have discovered that it is highly advantageous to use write and inspection tools that share the same or substantially the same stage and the same or substantially the same designs for respective arrays of multiple charged particle beam columns, and that access the same design layout database to target and pattern or inspect features. By using design-matched charged particle beam tools, correlation of defectivity is preserved between inspection imaging and the design layout database. As a result, image-based defect identification and maskless design correction, of random and systematic errors, can be performed directly in the design layout database, enabling a fast yield ramp.
US09184024B2	Selectable coulomb aperture in E-beam system A selectable Coulomb aperture in charged particle system comprises a non-magnetic conductive plate with a plurality of holes therein. The plurality of holes has variant sizes or diameters to select different beam currents of primary beam in the charged particle system. The charged particle system may include a charged particle source for emitting a primary beam, a condenser lens for receiving the primary beam and condensing the primary beam, an objective lens for receiving the primary beam and focusing the primary beam on a surface of a specimen. The selectable Coulomb aperture is positioned between the charged particle source and the condenser lens.
US09184023B2	Transmission electron microscope micro-grid A transmission electron microscope micro-grid includes a support ring and a sheet-shaped carbon nanotube structure. The support ring has a through hole defined therein. The sheet-shaped carbon nanotube structure has a peripheral edge secured on the support ring and a central area suspended above the through hole. The sheet-shaped carbon nanotube structure includes at least one linear carbon nanotube structure or at least one carbon nanotube film.
US09184021B2	Predictive method of matching two plasma reactors Etch rate distribution non-uniformities are predicted for a succession of hardware tilt angles of the RF source applicator relative to the workpiece, and the behavior is modeled as a non-uniformity function for each one of at least two plasma reactors. An offset Δα in tilt angle α between the non-uniformity functions of the two plasma reactors is detected. The two reactors are then matched by performing a hardware tilt in one of them through a tilt angle equal to the offset Δα.
US09184015B2	Carbon nanotube based field emission devices and methods A method of fabricating a cathodic portion of a field emission display includes the steps of producing an array of substantially parallel carbon nanotubes attached at one end to a substantially planar substrate. Then, embedding the nanotubes in a polymer matrix that extends to a plane of attachment of the nanotubes to the planar substrate, wherein the polymer matrix allows an end of the nanotubes distal from the ends attached to the planar substrate, uncovered by the polymer matrix in order to allow electrical contact with each other and with an attached conductor. Next, detaching the array from the planar substrate, thus producing a surface having the formerly attached ends of the nanotubes substantially in a plane, and then attaching the conductor to the array of nanotube ends, uncovered by the polymer matrix and distal to the plane.
US09184013B2	Conductor guide member for a circuit breaker terminal assembly A conductor guide member for a circuit breaker terminal assembly includes a body having at least one conductor guide surface configured and disposed to facilitate alignment between at least one terminal connection member of the terminal assembly and at least one conductor. The at least one conductor guide surface gradually slopes from a first end to a second end. The second end defines a recess.
US09184011B2	Method of manufacturing small fuse Disclosed are a small fuse and a method of manufacturing the same. A cover made from thermosetting resin is coupled with is a base to receive a fusing element therein. The fusing element does not cause damage to the cover even if the fusing element makes contact with an inner wall of the cover due to size reduction of the cover.
US09184010B2	Rapid tri-state bidirectional switching device The invention relates to a rapid tri-state bidirectional switching device with three switching states of forward, backward and idle connection positions, comprising a shell and a movable electrode arranged within the shell for switching among the three states, wherein the movable electrode is provided with a movable contact point at either end thereof, the shell is provided with a fixed contact point at the front and rear sides thereof respectively corresponding to the movable contact points, a driving solenoid shaft is arranged above and connected to the movable electrode housing, and provided with a front locking notch and a rear locking notch, the device further comprises a release lock cooperating with a front locking notch and a rear locking notch to lock the movable electrode housing. The rapid bidirectional tri-state switching device is advantageous for its short switching time, small size and contact reliability.
US09184008B2	Relay for a defibrillator A relay for a defibrillator, including a support base on which a coil and a contacting unit having a contact assembly are mounted. The contacting unit can be actuated by an armature and at least one additional mechanical connecting link as a result of the electrical excitation of the coil. The contact assembly has contacts supported on contact carriers. The contacts can be connected to each other by activating the coil. In order to optimize the contacting, at least one connecting link can be designed as a rotating lever coupled to the armature, which rotating lever is pivotably coupled to a contact carrier, and another contact carrier is pivotably coupled to an additional rotating lever or directly to the armature, wherein both contact carriers having the contacts to be contacted are moved towards each other during contacting.
US09184003B2	Circuit breakers A circuit breaker comprising a first dc line electrically connectable to first incoming and first outgoing dc lines, wherein the first dc line comprises a first fault-interrupting switch contact system and a first switching aid network. The first switching aid network comprises first and second rectifier strings, wherein each rectifier string comprises one or more series connected reverse blocking power electronic devices that define a first H-bridge rectifier. The first switching aid network further comprises a snubber string, the snubber string comprising at least one series connected power electronic devices capable of being turned on by gate control and a capacitor. The first switching aid network further comprises a pre-charge string comprising at least one series connected power electronic devices capable of being turned on by gate control and a resistor, and a surge arrester connected between the first and second dc output terminals of the first H-bridge rectifier.
US09184000B2	Light-emitting keyboard, illuminating structure thereof, and keycap thereof A light-emitting keyboard includes a keycap, a frame and a solid-state lighting source. The keycap has a light-entrance portion formed on the periphery thereof, and a touch surface for pressing by user. The keycap is made of light-guiding material and defines a light-guiding path from the light entrance portion to the touch surface. The frame is arranged adjacent to the keycap and surrounds the periphery of the keycap. The frame is made of light-guiding material and forms at least one light-outputting surface. The at least one light-outputting surface is contiguous to the light-entrance portion. The solid-state lighting source is fixed to the frame and emits light from the light-outputting surface into the light-entrance portion by the light-guiding path, and exits from the touch surface of the keycap. The instant disclosure also provides an illuminating structure of the keyboard, and a keycap thereof.
US09183998B2	Tap changer having an improved vacuum interrupter actuating assembly An on-load tap changer is provided having a vacuum interrupter actuatable by a shaft. A movable shuttle is connected to an impact mass by springs such that the impact mass tends to follow the shuttle when the shuttle moves. A pawl assembly is operable to hold and then release the impact mass when the shuttle starts moving. The holding of the impact mass when the shuttle starts to move causes the springs to store both a compression force and a tension force, which are released when the impact mass is released.
US09183993B2	One-pot synthesis of Nb2O5-doped TiO2 nanoparticles A one-pot synthesis of Nb5+-doped TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) with low cost and high efficiency for dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is disclosed in the present invention. The Nb5+-doped TiO2 NPs with Nb dopants of 0˜5 mol % are prepared by directly mixing TiO2 slurry with Nb2O5 gel obtained by UV treatment of a mixture of NbCl5 powder, ethanol and water in a certain ratio, following by heat treatment without using hydrothermal method. The as-prepared NPs exhibit well-crystallized pure anatase TiO2 phase with uniform particle distribution. The incorporation of Nb5+ leads to a stronger and broader light absorption in visible light range and a decrease of band gap with increasing Nb dopant content, which enhances the efficiencies of light-harvesting and electron injection and suppresses the charge recombination. The present method provides a simple and cost-effective mass-production route to synthesize n-type metallic ion doped TiO2 nanoparticles as excellent photoanode materials.
US09183988B2	Chip component, substrate and electronic apparatus A chip component is provided with a block including a dielectric, input and output terminals, which are the first and second terminals that are provided on the surface of the block, an adjustment terminal that is a third terminal that includes an internal electrode extended into the block and that is provided on the surface of the block, and at least two inter-terminal circuits that are provided in the block and that are connected between at least two sets of two terminals of the first, second, and third terminals.
US09183981B2	Reactor and manufacturing method thereof A reactor comprises a reactor core in which two U-shaped core members are connected in a ring shape with a gap section therebetween, a primary insert-molded resin part provided covering at least an outer peripheral surface of a leg part of the core member other than an adhesion surface of the core member, a coil placed around the gap section and the leg part of the core member, and a secondary insert-molded resin part made of a thermoplastic resin and which is insert-molded around the coil to fix the coil on the reactor core and fix the leg parts of the core members in a connected state. A positioning section which determines a relative position of opposing leg parts and a window section which allows a melted thermoplastic resin for forming the secondary insert-molded resin part to flow into the gap section are formed on an end of the primary insert-molded resin part connected in a state where core members are placed connected in a ring shape.
US09183978B2	Filter for removing noise The present invention discloses a filter for removing noise, which includes: a lower magnetic body; primary and secondary patterns spirally provided on the lower magnetic body in parallel to each other; an insulating layer for covering the primary and secondary patterns; and an upper magnetic body provided on the insulating layer, wherein the primary and secondary patterns are formed to have a ratio of vertical thickness (T) to horizontal width (W) of 0.27≦T/W≦2.4. According to the present invention, it is possible to improve performance and capacity by implementing high common-mode impedance in the same frequency and reduce manufacturing costs by simplifying structures and processes.
US09183974B1	Bobbin apparatus for reducing gap losses in magnetic components A bobbin apparatus and associated magnetic component is configured to reduce gap losses associated with a core air gap in a bobbin-wound magnetic component such as an inductor or transformer. The bobbin includes a step structure protruding from the winding surface between bobbin ends. The step is operable to provide spacing between the conductive windings disposed on the bobbin and the core air gap inside the bobbin axial passage. The spacing reduces stray flux interactions with the conductive winding, thereby reducing gap losses and preventing undesirable heating of the winding and core. Additional winding configurations and methods for use with the bobbin apparatus are also provided.
US09183971B1	Layer by layer removal of graphene layers A method for controllable layer-by-layer removal of graphene layers is provided. The method includes the steps of: disposing a single-layer or multi-layer graphene on a heat source, arranging graphene layer or layers in a sealed chamber filled with ozone gas, and removing a targeted area of graphene with a laser. The method provides low-temperature removal of graphene layer-by-layer. The heat source, laser, and the highly oxidizing ozone gas selectively control the removal of graphene layers.
US09183970B2	Coated high-temperature superconducting wire and high-temperature superconducting coil including the same In a coated high-temperature superconducting wire 1 in which a superconducting yttrium-based wire (high-temperature superconducting wire) 2 having a rectangular cross section is coated by an insulating layer 6, the insulating layer 6 is an electrodeposited film made of block copolymerized polyimide which contains siloxane bonds in a polyimide main chain and which has molecules with anionic groups. A coil formed from the superconducting yttrium-based wire 2 is impregnated with epoxy resin, and the epoxy resin is cured. The coil is configured such that the epoxy resin is completely separated from the superconducting yttrium-based wire 2 by the insulating layer 6.
US09183969B2	Insulation composition for DC power cable and DC power cable prepared by using the same The present invention relates to an insulation composition for a DC power cable and the DC power cable prepared using the same. Specifically, the present invention relates to an improved insulation composition for a DC power cable, which can prevent decrease of DC dielectric strength and decrease of impulse strength caused by accumulation of space charges, and the DC power cable prepared using the same.
US09183966B2	Composite resinous particles, method of producing composite resinous particles, composite resin molded body, and method of producing same A composite resin material particle is produced by a method including the steps of: forming a mixed slurry containing a resin material particle and carbon nanotubes; supplying the mixed slurry to a pressure vessel, followed by supplying carbon dioxide with stirring an inside of the pressure vessel; holding the inside of the pressure vessel at a temperature and at a pressure which allow the carbon dioxide to be maintained in a subcritical or supercritical state; and transferring the carbon dioxide to the outside of the pressure vessel.
US09183964B2	Crystalline metallic nano-particles and colloids thereof Crystalline metallic nano-particles (nano-crystallites) are formed by a non-explosive application of electrical energy to a conductive wire. The nano-particles take the form of platelets having a diameter of 2-8 nm and a thickness in the range of 3-5 atomic layers.
US09183963B2	Method for assembling an electron exit window and an electron exit window assembly The present invention refers to a method for arranging a window foil to an electron exit window assembly of an electron beam generating device, comprises the steps of: arranging a foil support plate on a housing of the electron beam generating device, bonding a window foil to the foil support plate along a continuous bonding line, attaching a skirt of said window foil extending radially outside of the bonding line to the housing along a continuous attachment line. The invention also relates to an electron exit window assembly of an electron beam generating device.
US09183962B2	Ceramic scintillator body and scintillation device A scintillation device includes a ceramic scintillator body that includes a polycrystalline ceramic scintillating material comprising gadolinium. The polycrystalline ceramic scintillating material is characterized by a pyrochlore crystallographic structure. A method of producing a ceramic scintillator body includes preparing a precursor solution including a rare earth element precursor, a hafnium precursor, and an activator (Ac) precursor. The method also includes obtaining a precipitate from the solution and calcining the precipitate to produce a polycrystalline ceramic scintillating material including the rare earth element, hafnium, and the activator, and having a pyrochlore titrating the precursor solution into the precipitant solution structure.
US09183960B2	Betavoltaic power converter die stacking A power converter comprises a first die and a second die. Each die comprises a semiconductor substrate comprising a junction for converting nuclear radiation particles to electrical energy, the junction of each semiconductor substrate comprising a first side and a second side, a first electrode comprising a nuclear radiation-emitting radioisotope deposited on the semiconductor substrate, the first electrode being electrically connected to the first side of the junction, and a second electrode deposited on the semiconductor substrate, the second electrode being electrically connected to the second side. A bond is formed between one of the first electrode or the second electrode of the first die and one of the first electrode or the second electrode of the second die, wherein the bond forms an electrical contact between the bonded electrodes.
US09183954B2	Systems and method for reducing tritium migration A system and method for reducing tritium migration. In one aspect, the invention is a method of reducing tritium mitigation from a spent nuclear fuel pool containing a body of tritiated water having an exposed surface, the method comprising hermetically sealing the exposed surface of the body of tritiated water with a cover movable between an open-state and a close-state.
US09183953B2	Liquid fuel nuclear fission reactor Disclosed embodiments include nuclear fission reactors, nuclear fission fuel pins, methods of operating a nuclear fission reactor, methods of fueling a nuclear fission reactor, and methods of fabricating a nuclear fission fuel pin.
US09183949B2	Semiconductor device A device includes a decoder, a selector, and a plurality of registers. The decoder is configured to generate a plurality of test signals. The selector is coupled to the decoder. The selector is configured to sequentially select a test signal from the plurality of test signals and to sequentially output the test signal selected. The plurality of registers is coupled in series to each other. The plurality of registers includes a first stage register. The first stage register is coupled to the selector to sequentially receive the test signal from the selector.
US09183945B2	Systems and methods to avoid false verify and false read In a nonvolatile NAND memory array, a NAND block may be falsely determined to be in an erased condition because of the effect of unwritten cells prior to the erase operation. Such cells may be programmed with dummy data prior to erase, or parameters used for a verify operation may be modified to compensate for such cells. Read operations may be similarly modified to compensate for unwritten cells.
US09183942B2	Inter-cell interference cancellation A read module reads memory cells along a first word line by applying a plurality of threshold voltages to the first word line; generates first information about a first memory cell located along the first word line and a first bit line indicating a location of a threshold voltage distribution of the first memory cell relative to the plurality of threshold voltages; reads a second memory cell located along the first word line, a second word line near the first word line, or a second bit line near the first bit line; and generates second information about the second memory cell indicating a state of the second memory cell causing interference to the first memory cell. A compensation module compensates for the interference by assigning one or more of a log-likelihood ratio and a hard decision to the first memory cells based on the first information and the second information.
US09183941B2	Thermal treatment of flash memories A memory controller can provide current to a heater in a flash memory to reduce cycling induced errors. If necessary, after heating, the memory may be refreshed. In non-battery powered systems, data may be removed from the memory prior to heating and restored to the memory after heating.
US09183939B2	Nonvolatile memory device, a memory system having the same, and a read method thereof, the read method applying a read pass voltage to a selected wordline after a sensing A method of reading a nonvolatile memory device including: applying a read voltage to a selected wordline of the nonvolatile memory device; applying a read pass voltage to unselected wordlines of the nonvolatile memory device; sensing a state of a memory cell connected to the selected wordline; and applying the read pass voltage to the selected wordline after the sensing.
US09183936B2	Semiconductor memory device for storing multivalued data Data storage circuits are connected to the bit lines in a one-to-one correspondence. A write circuit writes the data on a first page into a plurality of 5 first memory cells selected simultaneously by a word line. Thereafter, the write circuit writes the data on a second page into the plurality of first memory cell. Then, the write circuit writes the data on the first and second pages into second memory cells adjoining 10 the first memory cells in the bit line direction.
US09183930B2	Method of programming a non-volatile resistive memory A method for pre-programming a matrix of resistive non-volatile memory cells, the cells including a dielectric material between two conducting electrodes and being initially in an original resistive state, the dielectric material being electrically modified to bring a cell from the original state to another resistive state wherein the resistance of the cell is at least twice and preferably at least ten times lower than the resistance of the cell in the original state. The method includes, prior to mounting a component containing the matrix on a support, programming the matrix by electrically bringing cells from the original state to the other state, leaving the other cells in their original state, and after mounting the component, applying to all the cells an intermediate voltage, to keep in the original state the cells in this state and returning or keeping to/in another state the cells not in the original state.
US09183929B2	Systems, methods and devices for programming a multilevel resistive memory cell Embodiments disclosed herein may relate to programming a multi-level memory cell with programming pulse sequences that comprise forward-biased and reverse-biased programming pulses.
US09183928B2	Descending set verify for phase change memory Subject matter disclosed herein relates to a memory device, and more particularly to write performance of a phase change memory.
US09183923B2	Semiconductor storage device A memory cell power supply circuit for each column includes a first PMOS transistor and a second PMOS transistor connected together in series between a first power supply and a second power supply. A connection point between the first and second PMOS transistors is output as a memory cell power supply. A control signal which is based on a column select signal and a write control signal is input to a gate terminal of the first PMOS transistor. A signal which is an inverted version of the signal input to the gate terminal of the first PMOS transistor is input to a gate terminal of the second PMOS transistor.
US09183918B2	Stacked semiconductor apparatus for generating refresh signal A stacked semiconductor apparatus includes a plurality of chips which are stacked one upon the other. One chip of the plurality of chips may be configured to generate a plurality of refresh period signals for performing refresh operations within the plurality of chips, and may be configured to transmit the plurality of refresh period signals to the plurality of chips excluding the one chip. The plurality of chips may respectively receive refresh period signals allocated to them according to chip ID signals, and may perform the refresh operations.
US09183917B1	Memory device, operating method thereof, and system having the memory device A method of operating a memory device including a plurality of memory cells may include counting a number of times that the plurality of memory cells during a first time period, comparing the number of times to a reference number, and controlling a refresh interval of a refresh operation for the plurality of memory cells based on a result of the comparison.
US09183913B2	Methods of operating a magnetic memory device Provided is a data writing method of a magnetic memory device. The method may include flowing first and second currents near left and right sides, respectively, of a selected memory cell to apply an ambient magnetic field to the selected memory cell. Here, directions of the first and second currents may be anti-parallel to each other.
US09183910B2	Semiconductor memory devices for alternately selecting bit lines A semiconductor memory device includes a cell array including one or more bank groups, where each of the one or more bank groups includes a plurality of banks and each of the plurality of banks includes a plurality of spin transfer torque magneto resistive random access memory (STT-MRAM) cells. The semiconductor memory device further includes a source voltage generating unit for applying a voltage to a source line connected to the each of the plurality of STT-MRAM cells, and a command decoder for decoding a command from an external source in order to perform read and write operations on the plurality of STT-MRAM cells. The command includes a combination of at least one signal of a row address strobe (RAS), a column address strobe (CAS), a chip selecting signal (CS), a write enable signal (WE), and a clock enable signal (CKE).
US09183904B2	Apparatuses, memories, and methods for facilitating splitting of internal commands using a shared signal path Apparatuses, memories, and methods for facilitating splitting of internal commands using a shared signal path are described. In an example shared signal path, a command circuit is configured to receive a command and an indicator signal. A lockout circuit is coupled to the command circuit and configured to give precedence to a chosen command type by masking the indicator signal. In another example, a counter circuit is coupled to the lockout circuit and configured to force the lockout circuit to sample the indicator signal at regular intervals.
US09183901B2	Nonvolatile memory devices with on die termination circuits and control methods thereof Non-volatile memory devices including on-die termination circuits connected to an input/output circuit and an on-die termination control logic detecting a preamble of a strobe signal based on a command and a control signal and activating the on-die termination within the preamble period.
US09183900B2	Data paths using a first signal to capture data and a second signal to output data and methods for providing data Data paths, memories, and methods for providing data from memory are disclosed. An example read data path includes a delay path, and a clocked data register. The data path has a data propagation delay and is configured to receive data and propagate the data therethrough. The delay path is configured to receive a clock signal and provide a delayed clock signal having a delay relative to the clock signal that models the data propagation delay. The clocked data register is configured to clock in data responsive at least in part to the delayed clock signal. The clocked data register is further configured to clock out data responsive at least in part to the clock signal.
US09183897B2	Circuits and methods of a self-timed high speed SRAM Circuits and methods for precisely self-timed SRAM memory are disclosed to track the wordline and/or bitline/bitline bar (BL/BLB) propagation delays. At least one reference cell can be placed near the far end of a driver to drive a selected wordline or a reference wordline. When a wordline and/or a reference wordline is turned on, the reference cell can be selected not earlier than any selected SRAM cells and can activate a reference bitline (RBL) not later than any selected SRAM cells activating the BL or BLB. The activation of the RBL can be used to trigger at least one sense amplifier. The RBL can also be used to de-select wordline or reference wordline after the sense amplifier operation is complete to save power.
US09183896B1	Deep sleep wakeup of multi-bank memory A deep sleep wakeup signal is received at a first memory bank. A first gated memory array supply voltage is increased in response to the receiving the deep sleep wakeup signal at the first memory bank. The first memory array supply voltage is applied to a first memory array. The deep sleep wakeup signal is forwarded to a second memory bank in response to determining the first gated memory array supply voltage has reached a specified voltage.
US09183893B2	Semiconductor memory device According to example embodiments of inventive concepts, a semiconductor memory devices includes: a plurality of memory blocks that each include a plurality of stack structures, global bit lines connected in common to the plurality of memory blocks, block selection lines configured to control electrical connect between the global bit lines and one of the plurality of memory blocks, and vertical selection lines configured to control electrical connected between the global bit lines and one of the plurality of stack structures. Each of the plurality of stack structures includes a plurality of local bit lines, first vertical word lines and second vertical word lines crossing first sidewalls and second sidewalls respectfully of the plurality of stack structures, first variable resistive elements between the plurality of stack structures and the first vertical word lines, and second variable resistive elements between the plurality of stack structures and the second vertical word lines.
US09183884B2	Downloading video bookmark generating data A method comprising initializing playback of a video, the video comprising navigation data, at least one menu, at least one trailer, and a movie; obtaining an identifier of the video; downloading, responsive to the identifier and from a remote source, bookmark generating data that identifies a menu selection that is required to advance towards a playing of the movie; generating, responsive to the bookmark generating data, a bookmark for the movie to be utilized by a navigator, the generating enabling a user to avoid to manually navigate past a menu and a trailer provided with the video; and playing, responsive to the bookmark, the movie.
US09183881B2	System and method for semantic trick play A semantic based trick play method and system in a media player is provided in which a semantic trick play command is received from a user while the user is experiencing a current content of a media item. Metadata is detected with respect to a current playback position of the media item, and at least one further playback position is determined in the current content of the media item or a related content in another media item. The further playback position is semantically related to the metadata of the current playback position. Playback is then moved to the at least one further playback position, so that the user experiences a media content of the at least one further playback position.
US09183879B2	Suspension board with circuit A suspension board with circuit for mounting a slider unit including an electron device, the electron device being mounted so as to form, when projected in the thickness direction with respect to the slider provided with a magnetic head, an overlapping portion that overlaps with the slider, and a protruding portion that protrudes from the slider. The suspension board with circuit is formed with a first opening penetrating in the thickness direction and accommodates the overlapping portion, and a second opening that communicates with the first opening and accommodates the protruding portion.
US09183877B1	Data storage device comprising two-dimensional data dependent noise whitening filters for two-dimensional recording A data storage device is disclosed wherein a first 2D data dependent noise whitening (DDNW) filter is configured to perform 2D DDNW of first and second 2D equalized samples to generate first 2D noise whitened samples. A second 2D DDNW filter is configured to perform 2D DDNW of the first and second 2D equalized samples to generate second 2D noise whitened samples. A 2D sequence detector is configured to detect a first data sequence recorded in a first data track from the first and second 2D noise whitened samples and to detect a second data sequence recorded in a second data track from the first and second 2D noise whitened samples.
US09183875B2	Module self-discovery in a storage library Embodiments include systems and methods for detecting logical presence and location of modules, detecting physical presence and location of modules, and mapping the logical and physical locations together for use by the storage library. For example, when an expansion module is installed, it is connected to a network and it reports its logical presence and logical network location to a base controller in the base module. A robotic mechanism is used to trigger one or more presence sensors to detect physical presence and location of the installed expansion module. The base controller or another component generates and stores a mapping between the logical location and the physical location. The storage library can use the mapping to translate between logical and physical functionality.
US09183869B2	Perpendicular magnetic recording medium and method of manufacturing perpendicular magnetic recording medium A perpendicular magnetic recording medium 100 having a magnetic recording layer 122, wherein a particle diameter of crystal grains in layer 122 improves a SNR while a high coercive force is maintained. There also is at least a ground layer 118, a first magnetic recording layer 122a, and a second magnetic recording layer 122b in this order on a disk base 110. The first layer 122a and the second layer 122b are ferromagnetic layers, each having a granular structure in which a grain boundary part made of a non-magnetic substance is formed between crystal grains each grown in a columnar shape, and A
US09183868B2	Method of manufacturing a glass substrate for a magnetic disk and method of manufacturing a magnetic disk A method of manufacturing a glass substrate for a magnetic disk includes a polishing step of polishing a main surface of a glass substrate by sandwiching the glass substrate between a pair of surface plates each having a polishing pad on its surface and by supplying a polishing liquid containing polishing abrasive particles between the glass substrate and the polishing pads. In the polishing step, the polishing liquid and each polishing pad are adjusted so that the friction coefficient falls in a range of 0.02 to 0.05.
US09183862B1	Load/unload ramps for multiple disk-stack, shared actuator hard disk drive A load/unload ramp configured for a multiple disk-stack, shared actuator hard disk drive (HDD) includes two ramp parts configured to swivel-engage together. Each of the two ramp parts may have a sleeve configured for positioning over a swivel pin and a locking pin configured for positioning and movement within a corresponding receptacle constituent to an HDD base. Thus, each ramp part can be positioned to a respective initial locking position onto the base, a first disk stack installed, a first ramp part swiveled to a final locking position engaged with the first disk stack, and fixed to the base. Then an actuator assembly can be inserted and the corresponding actuator arms parked onto the first ramp part, a second disk stack installed, then the second ramp part swiveled to its final locking position engaged with the second disk stack, and fixed to the base.
US09183860B2	Suspension board with circuit and head gimbal assembly A suspension board with circuit includes a piezoelectric element mounting portion for mounting thereon a piezoelectric element. The conductive pattern is configured to be electrically connected to the piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element mounting portion includes a facing portion placed on one side of a bonding agent for bonding the piezoelectric element to the piezoelectric element mounting portion in an expanding/contracting direction of the piezoelectric element so as to face the bonding agent. The facing portion is configured to be pressed by the bonding agent when the piezoelectric element bonded to the piezoelectric element mounting portion expands/contracts.
US09183859B1	HAMR writer pole length characterization The present disclosure generally relates to a HAMR head and techniques and apparatus for HAMR writer pole length characterization. One or more bits may be magnetically written on a disk using a leading edge of the writer pole at a first polarity. The disk may be moved under a body of the writer pole to magnetically write the one or more bits in the disk at a second polarity that is opposite to the first polarity to generate a feedback pulse having a signal amplitude. The signal amplitude of the feedback pulse may be measured as a function of writing frequency. A first effective length of the writer pole may be determined based on the measurements.
US09183856B1	System and method for integration of magnetic lip and near field transducer in heat assisted magnetic recording write heads A system, according to one embodiment, includes a near field transducer having a conductive metal film and an aperture, and a magnetic lip adjacent the aperture. A back edge of the magnetic lip is positioned farther from a media facing surface than an upper portion of a back edge of the conductive metal film. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.
US09183854B2	Method to make interferometric taper waveguide for HAMR light delivery A method for making an interferometric taper waveguide (I-TWG) with high critical dimension uniformity and small line edge roughness for a heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) head, wherein the method includes creating an I-TWG film stack with two hard mask layers on top of an I-TWG core layer sandwiched between two cladding layers, defining a photoresist pattern over the I-TWG film stack using deep ultraviolet lithography, transferring the pattern to the first hard mask layer using reactive ion etching (RIE), forming a temporary I-TWG pattern on the second hard mask layer using RIE, transferring the temporary pattern to the I-TWG core using RIE, refilling the cladding layer, and planarizing using chemical mechanical planarization (CMP).
US09183853B2	Magnetic write head having a stacked coil architecture for high data rate performance Approaches for a magnetic write head having a stacked coil architecture. Embodiments utilize the better process control capability available with thin films' thicknesses, compared to the control capability of vertical gap-filling processes, which provides for better scalability to shorter yoke length magnetic write heads, which are faster at writing data bits than are magnetic write heads having a longer yoke length.
US09183851B2	Locating data stored on a magnetic medium A set of lateral positions, of the magnetic medium with respect to the tape reel and a set of longitudinal positions of the magnetic medium with respect to the beginning of the magnetic medium as the magnetic medium comes off the first tape reel, are identified. A record is stored, on a non-volatile storage medium, of the set of lateral positions of the magnetic medium and the set of longitudinal positions of the magnetic medium. The record, of the set of lateral positions of the magnetic medium and the set of longitudinal positions of the magnetic medium as the magnetic medium comes off a second tape reel, is read. A tape head is moved laterally, to the lateral positions in response to the reading of the record of the set of lateral positions of the magnetic medium and the set of longitudinal positions of the magnetic medium.
US09183849B2	Audio matching with semantic audio recognition and report generation System, apparatus and method for determining semantic information from audio, where incoming audio is sampled and processed to extract audio features, including temporal, spectral, harmonic and rhythmic features. The extracted audio features are compared to stored audio templates that include ranges and/or values for certain features and are tagged for specific ranges and/or values. The semantic information may be associated with audio signature dataExtracted audio features that are most similar to one or more templates from the comparison are identified according to the tagged information. The tags are used to determine the semantic audio data that includes genre, instrumentation, style, acoustical dynamics, and emotive descriptor for the audio signal.
US09183847B2	Apparatus and method for encoding and decoding signal for high frequency bandwidth extension An apparatus and method for encoding and decoding a signal for high frequency bandwidth extension are provided. An encoding apparatus may down-sample a time domain input signal, may core-encode the down-sampled time domain input signal, may transform the core-encoded time domain input signal to a frequency domain input signal, and may perform bandwidth extension encoding using a basic signal of the frequency domain input signal.
US09183840B2	Apparatus and method for measuring quality of audio Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for measuring quality of audio. The apparatus includes a distorted signal generation unit, an extraction unit, a distortion level measurement unit, a distortion function generation unit, and a search and measurement unit. The distorted signal generation unit generates a plurality of distorted signals with respect to audio in compliance. The extraction unit extracts a fingerprint and AV information corresponding to the audio and fingerprints and AV information corresponding to the plurality of distorted signals. The distortion level measurement unit measures fingerprint distance differences, and arousal and valence (AV) distance differences. The distortion function generation unit generates a fingerprint distortion function and an AV distortion function. The search and measurement unit measures the quality of the audio by extracting a fingerprint and AV information from query audio and then comparing extraction results with the fingerprint distortion function or AV distortion function.
US09183835B2	Speech-based user interface for a mobile device A method of providing hands-free services using a mobile device having wireless access to computer-based services includes carrying out a completed speech session via a mobile device without any physical interaction with the mobile device, wherein the speech session includes receiving a speech input from a user, and obtaining from a cloud service a service result responsive to the speech input, and providing the service result as a speech response presented to the user.
US09183834B2	Speech recognition tuning tool Systems and methods for tuning a dictionary of a speech recognition system includes accessing a voice mail record of a user, accessing a recorded audio file of a name of the user in the voice mail record spoken by the user, providing the audio file to a speech recognition system, processing the audio file in the speech recognition system and obtaining a text result, determining whether a confidence score of the text result is below a predetermined threshold, and adding, at least, the name of the user to a list of low confidence names. Alternate spellings for the low confidence names can then be added to the dictionary.
US09183833B2	Method and system for adapting interactions A method and system for adapting automated interactions that allows the interactive behavior of an automated system, or the nature of the interaction elements implemented thereon, to be adapted to properties and/or behaviors of users of such systems in order to enhance operating convenience. Interaction adaptation is performed with reference to user groups to which the users are allocated.
US09183829B2	Integrated accoustic phase array A system includes a processor and a phased array, coupled to the processor, having an arrayed waveguide for acoustic waves to enable directional sound communication.
US09183827B2	PID controller An adaptive control unit is described for receiving an analog input signal containing at least an indication of a parameter to be controlled to generate an analog output signal for control of the parameter. The analog input signal contains a fed back component resulting from the analog output signal. The adaptive control unit comprises an analog filter having an adjustable gain, a gain adjuster for adjusting the gain of the analog filter using a feedforward adjustment method, and a filter for compensating for the fed back component in the analog input signal.
US09183826B2	Apparatus and method for providing passive amplification An apparatus comprises a substantially horn shaped structure configured to amplify sound from a speaker of a device wherein the apparatus comprises packaging of the device.
US09183825B2	Noise reduction apparatus The noise reduction apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of loudspeakers, control sound signal generating units, and a plurality of error microphones. Each of the control sound signal generating units generates control sound signal based on the error sound detected by a corresponding error microphone of the plurality of error microphones. The noise reduction apparatus further including an input switching unit that, when a level of the noise at a predetermined position is higher than the predetermined threshold value, feeds an error audio signal at a predetermined control point of the plurality of control points or a control point that is newly set based on the plurality of control points into each of the control sound signal generating units, the number of the newly set control point being less than the number of the plurality of control points.
US09183822B2	Music selection and adaptation for exercising Methods, devices, systems, and computer programs are presented for providing music while exercising. One method includes an operation for receiving a request for a music segment from a computing device. The request includes the pace of exercise of a user associated with the computing device. The music segment is selected based on the pace, and the music segment is modified to correlate the tempo of the music segment to the pace of exercise. The modified music segment is sent to the computing device to be played in one or more speakers to provide music that is correlated to the exercise.
US09183818B2	Musical instrument laser tracking device A musical instrument laser tracking device comprises a musical instrument digital interface adapted to be connected to a musical instrument digital interface port of a musical instrument. A computer system electronically connected to the musical instrument digital interface and incorporating software adapted to produce electronic signals to control a laser projector. A digital-to-analog converter electronically connected to the computer system and adapted to convert the electronic signals from a digital format to an analog format, and a laser projector electronically connected to the digital-to-analog converter and adapted to receive the electronic analog signals from the digital-to-analog converter, generate laser beams accordingly, and shine the laser beams on predetermined objects in predetermined patterns.
US09183803B2	Display device and driving method thereof A display device capable of reducing power consumption and preventing luminance changes, and a driving method thereof are provided. The display device includes: a display panel displaying a still image and a motion picture; a signal controller controlling signals for driving the display panel; a graphic processing unit transmitting input image data to the signal controller; a light source unit irradiating the display panel with light; and a light source driver controlling signals for driving the light source unit, in which the signal controller includes a frame memory storing the input image data and controls the display panel so as to be driven at a first frequency or a second frequency, and the light source driver drives the light source unit at a first ratio when the display panel is driven at the first frequency and at a second ratio when the display panel is driven at the second frequency.
US09183800B2	Liquid crystal device and the driven method thereof A liquid crystal device (LCD) and a driving method thereof are disclosed. The LCD includes a display panel, a data driven circuit configured for providing data voltages to the data lines, and a power reducing module. The display panel includes data lines, scanning lines intersecting with the data lines, and a matrix of pixels arranged in intersections of rows and columns. The power reducing module is configured for storing a most-reload-image, comparing the data of the most-reload-image and the data of an input image, determining if the input image is a reload image increasing a power consumption of the data driven circuit, and changing a polarity inversion method of a timing controller. By changing the polarity inversion method of the timing controller basing on the input images, the display performance is guaranteed and the power consumption of the data driven circuit is reduced at the same time.
US09183796B2	Image signal processing method Provide a set of first RGB (red, green, blue) brightness levels of a set of pixels in a display panel. Generate a set of saturation levels according to the set of first RGB brightness levels. Generate a set of mapping ratios according to the set of saturation levels and the set of first RGB brightness levels. Generate a set of second RGB brightness levels according to the set of first RGB brightness levels and a minimum mapping ratio of the set of mapping ratios. Generate a set of RGBW (red, green, blue, white) brightness levels according to the set of second RGB brightness levels and a set of brightness levels of white sub-pixels of the set of RGBW brightness levels. And convert the set of RGBW brightness levels to generate a set of RGBW gray levels of the set of pixels.
US09183792B2	Electrophoretic display A display apparatus comprises pixels (18) associated with intersections of select electrodes (17) and data electrodes (11) and having a bistable operation. A select driver (16) supplies select voltages (VG) to the select electrodes (17) to select a group of pixels (18). A data driver (10) supplies data voltages (VD) to the data electrodes (11) to supply the data voltages (VD) to the group of pixels (18) being selected. A common driver (25) supplies a backplane voltage (VB) to a common electrode (6) common for the group of pixels (18). A controller (15) controls the select driver (16), the data driver (10) and the common driver (25), in the order mentioned: (a) to change the select voltage (VG) to its on-level (on) at which the group of pixels (18) are selected, after the backplane voltage (VB) and the data voltage (VD) for the group of pixels (18) have a same first non-zero level (+15V), or before the backplane voltage (VB) and the data voltage (VD) for the group of pixels (18) are simultaneously changed to the same first non-zero level (+15V), (b) to change the data voltages (VD) in accordance with display data (13) defining an optical state of the individual pixels (18) of the group of pixels (18), (c) to change the select voltage (VG) to its off-level (off) at which the group of pixels (18) are not selected, (d) to change the select voltage (VG) to its on-level (on), after the backplane voltage (VB) and the data voltage (VD) for the group of pixels (18) have a same second non-zero level (−15V), or before the backplane voltage (VB) and the data voltage (VD) for the group of pixels (18) are simultaneously changed to the same second non-zero level (−15V), and (e) to change the data voltages (VD) in accordance with the display data (13).
US09183791B2	Driving method for image display apparatus and driving method for image display apparatus assembly Disclosed herein is a driving method for an image display apparatus which includes an image display panel and a signal processing section; the driving method including the steps, further carried out by the signal processing section, of calculating a third subpixel output signal to a (p,q)th first pixel, based at least on a third subpixel input signal to the (p,q)th first pixel and a third subpixel input signal to the (p,q)th second signal, and outputting the third subpixel output signal to the third subpixel of the (p,q)th first pixel; and further calculating a fourth subpixel output signal to the (p,q)th second pixel based at least on the third subpixel input signal to the (p,q)th second pixel and the third subpixel input signal to the (p+1,q)th first pixel and outputting the fourth subpixel output signal to the fourth subpixel of the (p,q)th second pixel.
US09183790B2	Liquid crystal display with controllable backlight for increased display quality and decreased power consumption A liquid crystal display device and a controlling method thereof are provided. The liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel screen divided into a plurality of areas; a plurality of backlight sources to selectively irradiate light respectively to the divided areas of the screen; and a controller to obtain at least one intermediate brightness value associated with data for at least one of the divided areas and to control a brightness of at least one of the backlight sources corresponding to the at least one divided area according to the at least one intermediate brightness value.
US09183787B2	Devices and methods for processing image data A module processes image data to provide gray level signals to be used for displaying an image. The module may include a scale value control member for determining a first scale value. The module may further include a brightness control member for determining a controlled brightness value using a requested brightness value, a brightness control parameter, and a baseline brightness value. The module may further include a modification member for determining a modified scale value using the first scale value and the controlled brightness value. The module may further include a scaler for generating the gray level signals using the image data and at least one of the modified scale value and a damped scale value, the damped scale value being determined using the modified scale value. The module may further include hardware circuitry for implementing at least one of the aforementioned components.
US09183785B2	Organic light emitting display device and method for driving the same An organic light emitting display device comprising a display panel and a panel driver is disclosed. The display panel includes pixels and sensing lines respectively coupled to the pixels. Each pixel includes an organic light emitting device and a driving transistor to control a current flow in the organic light emitting device. The panel driver is configured to receive an input image data, to generate a sensing data by sensing a characteristic variation of the driving transistor, to generate a peak luminance data to limit peak luminance of an input image, to generate a corrected data by correcting the input image data based on the sensing data, to convert the corrected data to a data voltage based on a plurality of reference gamma voltages set based on the peak luminance data, and to supply the data voltage to the pixels.
US09183783B2	Organic EL display device and method of driving the same Provided is an organic EL display device including an array of pixel circuits 10 each having: organic EL element 32; storage capacity 33 that holds a voltage corresponding to an image signal; drive transistor 34 that applies a current corresponding to the voltage of storage capacity 33 to the organic EL element 32; and current switch 35 that either connects or disconnects the drive transistor 34 with the organic EL element 32. The organic EL display device also includes an inter-pixel switch 15 that connects or disconnects a node between organic EL element 32(p, j) and current switch 35(p, j) in one pixel circuit 10(p, j) out of the pair of the pixel circuits 10 that are adjacent to each other, and a node between organic EL element 32(p+1, j) and current switch 35(p+1, j) in the other pixel circuit 10(p+1, j) out of the pair of the pixel circuits 10.
US09183779B2	AMOLED light sensing The present disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for estimating ambient light conditions for an OLED display. Embodiments of the method and apparatus use one or more columns of OLEDs in the display to perform two functions: their typical function of emitting light in a display mode, and the additional function of sensing light in a sense mode. To perform the additional sense mode functionality, the one or more columns of OLEDs in the display are temporarily placed into a photovoltaic and/or photoconductive mode. A sensing circuit is used to measure this current produced by the one or more columns of OLEDs while operating in the sense mode and report it back to a controller. The controller can then use this information to estimate the ambient light conditions of the environment where the OLED display is currently operating and to perform a touch and/or proximity sensing function.
US09183771B2	Projector with enhanced resolution via optical pixel sharing A projector configured to provide higher resolution output without increasing pixel resolution in a light modulator is disclosed. The projector may introduce an optical element between a light modulator and an imaging lens. The optical element may provide pixel sharing of a target image. The pixel sharing may be produced by, for example, making smaller copies of pixels. Selected copies of pixels may be passed to the imaging lens to display an output image with selected areas of higher density pixels.
US09183769B2	Autograph ball The present invention adds a feature to the autograph ball in which the sports figure of interest adds a recorded message in addition to his or her autograph to the ball—for instance, personalizing the autograph ball; or simply recording a standard message such as “This is Ted Williams, the greatest hitter ever!” for posterity. In one embodiment, a ball shaped device is provided. The ball comprises an inner core that contains a recording means, a playback means, and advantageously, a switch that prevents erasure of the recorded message. The outer surface of the ball comprises a surface area suitable for placement of an autograph. With the ball of this invention, the sports fan is provided with not only the desired autograph, but also the recorded voice of the sports figure in question.
US09183767B2	High-performance signage system The disclosure provides apparatus and methods of use pertaining to the display of yard or lawn signage. One embodiment provides a two-part system for displaying signage. The system includes a flexible sign panel having installation tabs and a rigid, injection-molded stake having holding portions configured to receive and retain the installation tabs of the sign panel. The rigid stake also includes retention barbs to facilitate ground stability and a strike pad designed to absorb and distribute impact forces applied during stake installation. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US09183766B2	Metallized shrinkable label The present invention is a metallized shrinkable label and a method for producing the same. The label of the invention is composed of a shrinkable film base and a graphic. The graphic is created by combining pigmented inks, a metallic coating and a shrink-resistant coating which is printed in a predetermined pattern with gaps so that upon exposure of the label to heat, the gaps close thereby forming a continuous graphic layer. Advantageously, the shrink-resistant coating minimizes discoloration and pleating of the metallic coating.
US09183764B2	Method for manufacturing three-dimensional molded model and support tool for medical treatment, medical training, research, and education Provided is a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional molded model that can reproduce the feel of an organ. A three-dimensional shape of a body site subject to molding is extracted from brightness information of two-dimensional data obtained from medical diagnostic devices, and three-dimensional molding data of the body site and the internal structure site thereof is created. The three-dimensional shape data is edited using a modeling function. Respective touch equivalent parameter tables are created. The material type and the formulation ratio of the modeling material used for molding each body site and internal structural site are defined, and added to the touch equivalent parameter tables. Primitive shape data is generated from the parameters of the touch equivalent parameter tables, and a Boolean operation is performed on the body site data and internal structure site data as well as on the primitive shape data. Molding is performed using the defined materials.
US09183760B2	Method and apparatus for recognizing sign language using electromyogram sensor and gyro sensor Provided are a method and apparatus for recognizing sign language using an electromyogram sensor and a gyro sensor. The method includes the steps of (a) receiving a gyro measurement signal and an electromyogram measurement signal from the gyro sensor and the electromyogram sensor which are attached to the body of a subject, (b) determining to which of groups clustered with similar fingerspelling motions the gyro measurement signal belongs, (c) acquiring a Gaussian model for the electromyogram measurement signal, and (d) comparing the acquired Gaussian model with Gaussian candidate models for candidate fingerspelling motions which belong to the group determined in step (b), and recognizing the candidate fingerspelling motion corresponding to the Gaussian candidate model that is most similar to the acquired Gaussian model as the fingerspelling motion of the subject.
US09183759B2	Braille display system and method for operating a refreshable Braille display A Braille display system and a method for operating a refreshable Braille display 14 is provided. A string of characters is assigned to a drive signal for specifying the activation or deactivation of a tuple of dots which are raised through holes in a touch and sense surface of the Braille display 14 upon activation and which are retracted upon deactivation. The Braille display 14 is driven by a drive signal which is configured to activate and/or to deactivate the tuple of dots so as to generate a dynamic tactile display of said string of characters. The time dependent characteristic of activation and/or deactivation of the tuple of dots is defined by the string of characters.
US09183756B2	Vestibular stimulation systems and methods of use A method of motor reflex training a subject is provided. The method includes rotating a subject in a multi-axis rotational device comprising a pitch axis of rotation and a yaw axis of rotation. The rotation of each said pitch and yaw axis is independent of the other axis of rotation. The rotation velocity and acceleration around each said pitch and yaw axis controlled by a computer system. Said rotational device is configured to allow continuous rotation through more than 360 degrees around each said axis of rotation independently and simultaneously, while the subject performs a response test.
US09183753B2	Variation and control of sensory work playback Methods and systems are shown which may enable users to create custom playback schemes for sensory works, including television shows, where a community of users may share thin time-based metadata edit control structures that are processed to enable playback devices to reproduce reference programming material according to the edits or cuts made any user.
US09183751B2	Travel control device and travel control method A travel control device includes rear obstacle detection sensors; side obstacle detection sensors; a warning unit providing warning about an obstacle detected by the sensors; and a control unit controlling the warning unit so that the warning is provided if a distance to an obstacle detected by the rear obstacle detection sensors is equal to or less than a first risk, or if a parameter based on a distance to the obstacle detected by the sensors is equal to or less than a second risk. If the parameter based on the distance to the obstacle detected by the sensors is greater than the second risk, the control unit increases a first warning threshold until a hold time elapses after the sensors become unable to detect the obstacle.
US09183749B2	Rear vision system for a vehicle A camera vision system for a vehicle includes a rear backup video camera at a rear portion of the vehicle. A display device includes a video screen operable to display video images captured by the camera for viewing by a driver of the vehicle. Video images captured by the camera are displayed by the display device when the vehicle transmission is shifted into reverse gear. An overlay is displayed with captured video images to assist the driver during the rear backup maneuver. A control includes an image processor that image processes captured video images in order to detect objects that are within the rearward field of view of the camera. The vehicle is further equipped with a sensor system selected from the group consisting of (i) a radar sensor system and (ii) an ultrasonic sensor system, and the sensor system monitors a region external to the vehicle.
US09183742B2	Methods, systems and processor-readable media for optimizing intelligent transportation system strategies utilizing systematic genetic algorithms Methods, systems and processor-readable media for modeling and optimizing multiple ITS (Intelligent Transportation System) strategies utilizing a systematic genetic algorithm. A traffic simulation model can be configured in conjunction with a genetic algorithm based optimization engine for optimizing the transportation models. An origin-destination matrix that minimizes discrepancies between a simulated and an observed link traffic count can be estimated by considering a road network and a traffic count with respect to a region. A driver behavior can then be determined utilizing the origin-destination matrix via calibration so that the simulation model can replicate a freeway traffic flow in the region. An optimal parameter with respect to the ITS strategies can be determined to optimize a set goal with respect to a given constraint. Such an approach meets a level of service (LOS) metric as well as a revenue target under the applied ITS strategies.
US09183741B2	Estimation of arrival times at transit stops Embodiments of the disclosure include a method for providing a consolidated estimated time of arrival in a scheduled transportation system. The method includes receiving at least one of a scheduled time of arrival, a real-time estimated time of arrival and a predictive estimated time of arrival and assigning a weight to each of the scheduled time of arrival, the real-time estimated time of arrival and the predictive estimated time of arrival. The method also includes calculating a confidence level and the consolidated estimated time of arrival based on the weights and the scheduled time of arrival, the real-time estimated time of arrival and the predictive estimated time of arrival.
US09183740B2	Travel pattern generation device A travel interval division part and a low fuel consumption travel pattern generation part are included, the travel interval division part dividing, based on a reference travel pattern indicating a speed and a travel time period in a case where a vehicle travels without consideration of energy consumption and based on travel route information indicating a travel route that the vehicle travels, the travel route into a plurality of travel intervals at a plurality of reference points, the low fuel consumption travel pattern generation part determining a low fuel consumption travel pattern in which a travel time period of each travel interval falls within a predetermined range of a travel time period of each travel interval of the reference travel pattern and a cumulative speed increase amount in each travel interval is smaller than that of the reference travel pattern.
US09183739B2	Bridge safety monitoring integrated system with full optical fiber and the method for sensing thereof The present invention provides an integrated system of full optical complete bridge safety monitoring with speech warming for smart phones. The Integrated system of full optical complete bridge safety monitoring includes a stabilizing device, optical sensing device and communication device. The basic structure involves cable and optical fiber connecting two ends and joined by heat shrink tubes. A measuring segment is located between two heat shrink tubes. The stabilizing device provides a pre-determined tensile strength to the measuring segment. The optical fiber sensing device detects a response via a Fiber Bragg grating in the optical fiber's measuring segment. When the measuring segment receives a response, it changes from first phase to second phase and creates a signal change from the reflected signals. Signal processing device converts the signal changes to physical parameters. The communication device sends warning signals to users. Warning signals are sent to users' smart phones, to proactively inform the bridge's safety status with speeches.
US09183737B1	Smoke detector testing A testing device is provided that may be attachable and detachable from a smoke detector. The testing device may have a rod that pushes a testing button on the smoke detector. The testing device may have a light detector which will actuate the rod to push the testing button if the light from an appropriate remote control or other light source is directed onto it, in order to verify that the smoke detector is operating properly without manually pushing the testing button. The testing device may store a unique identifier (ID) and generate and transmit data pertaining to results of the testing of the smoke detector.
US09183735B1	Methods and systems for remote management of security systems In one embodiment, the method of these teachings includes the steps of utilizing a remote server to manage security alerts, utilizing the remote server to administer security system updates and utilizing the remote server to configure the security system.
US09183734B2	Computer-implemented system and method for providing multi-locational curbside valet parking services A computer-implemented system and method for providing multi-locational curbside valet parking service is provided. A multiplicity of motor vehicle parking spaces are managed by a server. A plurality of smart parking devices and vehicle occupancy sensors are interfaced with the server. Use of a plurality of the parking spaces is reserved for a valet service. A reservation request for the use of the plurality of the parking spaces is accepted for use by the valet service for a period of time. Occupancy of the reserved parking spaces by a motor vehicle is sensed through the vehicle occupancy sensor. A valet drop-off location of at least one of the parking spaces that is reserved for the use of the valet service and is not occupied by a motor vehicle is identified. The valet drop-off location and a location of a lock box are provided to the motorist through a user interface.
US09183731B1	Emergency detection and alert device and system utilizing a mobile communication device A wireless emergency detection and alert system includes a primary wireless emergency communication device having an emergency detection and alert application to determine the presence of an emergency condition, based on information received indicating an emergency condition from a sensor associated with the primary wireless emergency communication device, and to execute at least one of a visual or sensual alarm of the at least one detected emergency condition by the primary wireless emergency communication device and to wirelessly transmit an alert signal and an alert message of the detected emergency condition to at least one secondary communication device, the alert message including at least to one of an SMS message, a text type message or a voicemail. The primary wireless emergency communication device also generates an audible alert, a visual alert, or a tactile alert, an alert message or combination thereof, in response to the detection of an emergency condition.
US09183730B1	Method and system for mitigating invasion risk associated with stranger interactions in a security system environment A security system can mitigate invasion risk faced by a homeowner or other person responding to a stranger who is seeking to interact with the responder or to gain premises access, for example when a supposed deliveryman approaches the front door. The homeowner can make an entry into a user interface of the security system in preparation for interacting with the stranger, such as to answer the front door. If the user does not make a second entry within a specified period of time indicating that the interaction was safely completed, the security system can raise an alarm or otherwise dispatch help. If the stranger turns out to be an intruder and forces the homeowner to make the second, all-clear entry, the homeowner can make a duress entry that appears to be an all-clear entry but in fact triggers a silent alarm or otherwise summons help.
US09183728B2	Self-detection of lost device status using device-to-device communications with one or more expected neighboring devices Methods and apparatus are provided for self-detection of lost device status using device-to-device communications with one or more expected neighboring devices. A device can detect when the device itself is lost, by determining one or more expected neighboring devices for one or more time periods; monitoring a local environment for one or more of the expected neighboring devices using device-to-device communication; detecting when the device is lost based on device-to-device communication and whether a threshold criteria of the expected neighboring devices in proximity to the device for a given interval of time; and sending at least one relay message to notify an owner of the lost device. The threshold criteria comprises, e.g., whether a minimum number of expected neighboring devices are nearby or whether at least one fixed neighboring device is nearby. The device-to-device communications employ one or more of short range relay communications and low-power mesh communications.
US09183726B1	Digital measuring device A digital measuring device includes a housing, at least one measuring head, at least one measuring sensor, at least one digital measurement circuit, and at least one power supply unit. The measuring head is arranged outside the housing. The measuring head functions to carry out an operation of tightening a tire valve core, connecting a valve stem, or measuring tire tread. The measuring sensor is arranged inside the housing and coupled to the measuring head to measure and detect a detection signal indicating an output of a tire valve core tightening torque, a tire pressure, or a tire tread depth. The digital measurement circuit is connected to the measuring sensor for computing, displaying, and issuing an alarm regarding the tightening torque that the measuring head applies to tighten a tire valve core, the tire pressure, or the tire tread depth. The power supply unit supplies a desired direct-current working power to the measuring sensor and the digital measurement circuit. As such, a device that is capable of digital measurement, displaying, and issuing an alarm regarding the tire valve core tightening torque, the tire pressure, or the tire tread depth is formed.
US09183723B2	Filter clog detection and notification system A gas filter clogging detection system for monitoring filter performance and condition based on indicators of the accumulation of dirt and other particles on a filter positioned in a gas conduit, in which a notification system provides alerts and reports when the amount of clogging reaches a pre-determined threshold.
US09183718B2	Security tag detacher with user-controllable dwell time and method therefor System for detaching an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag includes a detaching element to selectively unlock a locking element of an EAS tag when the EAS tag is placed in a detachment position. A control system is arranged to cause the detaching element to transition from a deactivated state, in which the tag in the detachment position will remain locked, to an activated state in which the tag is unlocked. This transition will result in beginning or starting a dwell time. The control system is maintains the detaching element in the activated state while awaiting receipt from a user interface of a user manually initiated termination signal. The termination signal indicates a user intention to terminate the dwell time. In response to the termination signal, the control system causes the detaching element to transition from the activated state to a deactivated state.
US09183717B1	RFID loss-prevention using synthesized-beam readers An RFID loss-prevention system (LPS) based on synthesized-beam readers (SBRs) permits authorized items to leave a facility and may perform a security action if an unauthorized item leaves the facility. A checkout reader first authorizes an item tagged with an RFID tag to exit a facility by reading an identifier from the tag, obtaining an exit authorization, and sending the identifier to a database. An SBR configured to direct at least two beams along a facility exit path reads tagged items exiting the facility, determines at least one of a travel direction and a tag location, and uses the determination to indicate that a tag is exiting or has exited the facility. The LPS then uses the database to determine if the exiting/exited tag is authorized to leave the facility.
US09183716B2	System and method for managing moving surveillance cameras An approach that manages moving surveillance cameras is described. In one embodiment, there is a system for managing images generated from a movable camera. In this embodiment, the system comprises a motion estimation component configured to determine camera motion. A camera motion alert component is configured to generate an alert in response to a determination that the camera has moved or the camera has ceased moving.
US09183710B2	Localized multimodal electromechanical polymer transducers A localized multimodal haptic system includes one or more electromechanical polymer (EMP) transducers, each including an EMP layer, such as an electrostrictive polymer active layer. In some applications the EMP transducer may perform an actuator function or a sensor function, or both. The EMP polymer layer has a first surface and a second surface on which one or more electrodes are provided. The EMP layer of the EMP actuator may be 5 microns thick or less. The EMP transducers may provide local haptic response to a local a stimulus. In one application, a touch sensor may be associated with each EMP transducer, such that the haptic event at the touch sensor may be responded to by activating only the associated EMP transducer. Furthermore, the EMP transducer may act as its own touch sensor. A variety of haptic responses may be made available. The EMP transducers may be used in various other applications, such as providing complex surface morphology and audio speakers.
US09183706B2	Reel-type games and gaming machines Games such as reel-type slot games may have various features, including: an attribute accumulate feature which a player attempts to form combinations of collectable special symbols; a geometric pattern feature in which symbols within a geometric pattern or area may take on special attributes or features; a moving trigger feature; a symbol-triggered game transformation feature using logical rules; a player symbol selection in which reel symbols are player selected; and a reel-locking feature.
US09183696B2	Merchandiser and method of controlling game thereof A merchandiser and a method of controlling a game thereof are disclosed. The merchandiser includes prize cartridges that have transparent partitions among which prizes are contained, drive parts that move the respective prize cartridges, a gaming device that executes a game provided for each of identification numbers of the prize cartridges, and a controller that controls the drive part so that the prize of the prize cartridge is dropped to a prize discharge part according to a result of playing the game. Thereby, since a designated prize can be acquired according to the result of playing a game, an interest in the game can be increased.
US09183694B2	Gaming machine A gaming machine has an armrest for a player to rest his/her arm(s) thereon. The armrest has a woofer specialized in low-pitched sound output inside the armrest. Vibrations produced with the sound output of the woofer are transmitted to the player through the armrest.
US09183691B2	Banknote pay-in/pay-out device and banknote processing machine A banknote pay-in/pay-out device and a banknote processing machine having a simpler pay-in/pay-out port section mechanism than hitherto. During paying in, out of banknotes inserted into a pay-in/pay-out port section, a pay-in reject banknote that has been determined to be unsuitable for paying in is conveyed to a sorting conveyance path, and temporarily retained in the sorting conveyance path. So doing enables, for example, the pay-in reject banknote to be temporarily retained in the sorting conveyance path until, for example, pay-in counting processing has been completed, with the pay-in reject banknote being replaced in the pay-in/pay-out port section to be returned to a user after the pay-in counting processing has been completed, without providing a partitioning plate to the pay-in/pay-out port section as hitherto.
US09183682B2	Universal vehicle input/output transceiver and method of operation thereof A vehicular diagnostic tool configured to interface with a plurality of vehicular computing systems that each utilize a different communications protocol. The tool includes a transceiver that itself includes a voltage threshold controller and a current threshold controller. Also, a method of using a single vehicular diagnostic tool to communicate with a plurality of vehicular computing systems that each utilize a different communications protocol.
US09183676B2	Displaying a collision between real and virtual objects Technology is described for displaying a collision between objects by an augmented reality display device system. A collision between a real object and a virtual object is identified based on three dimensional space position data of the objects. At least one effect on at least one physical property of the real object is determined based on physical properties of the real object, like a change in surface shape, and physical interaction characteristics of the collision. Simulation image data is generated and displayed simulating the effect on the real object by the augmented reality display. Virtual objects under control of different executing applications can also interact with one another in collisions.
US09183675B2	Apparatus and method for augmented reality Disclosed is a method for augmented reality. A real world image including a marker is generated, the marker is detected from the real world image, an object image corresponding to the detected marker is combined with the real world image, and the combined image is displayed.
US09183674B2	Designing a three-dimensional modeled assembly of objects in a three-dimensional scene The invention is directed to a computer-implemented method for designing a three-dimensional modeled assembly of objects in a three-dimensional scene, wherein the method comprises the steps of: positioning and orienting a predefined set of trihedrals in the three-dimensional scene, each trihedral defining a position and an orientation; providing a set of objects; attaching each object of the set of objects to one corresponding trihedral of the predefined set of trihedrals; and positioning and orienting each object according to the position and the orientation of the corresponding trihedral of the predefined set of trihedrals.
US09183672B1	Embeddable three-dimensional (3D) image viewer Methods and systems for providing a three-dimensional (3D) image viewer in a webpage are provided. According to an example method, a webpage may be provided, and the webpage may include embedded language that identifies a 3D image viewer to be provided within the webpage. Based on the embedded language, a computer having a processor and a memory may request information associated with rendering a 3D object data model in the 3D image viewer. The method may also include providing the 3D image viewer within the webpage, and receiving information associated with rendering the 3D object data model. Additionally, the 3D object data model may be rendered in the 3D image viewer based on the received information. Additional example systems and methods are described herein.
US09183667B2	Out-of-core ray tracing with memory-efficient page generation In one embodiment, a method comprising grouping by a processor primitives that comprise a scene into plural clusters, each cluster comprising a subset of the primitives that are proximal to each other relative to the other of the primitives; and allocating an equal size memory block for each respective cluster for the plural clusters, wherein all the plural clusters comprise one scene representation, wherein each cluster can contain up to M primitives, where M is an integer number.
US09183666B2	System and method for overlaying two-dimensional map data on a three-dimensional scene A method for augmenting a three-dimensional (3D) scene with two-dimensional (2D) map data includes receiving 3D map data having a 3D geometry data and imagery texture data. For a specified perspective of a virtual camera in a 3D coordinate system, geometry of the 3D scene is rendered using the 3D geometry data, wherein the specified perspective includes a position and orientation relative to the 3D scene. A map texture is generated using the 2D map data in accordance with the perspective of the virtual camera in the 3D coordinate system, and the imagery texture and map texture are applied to the rendered geometry.
US09183664B2	Tiled forward shading with improved depth filtering An image may be divided into tiles, each tile including a multitude of pixels. For each tile, a list of primitive groups that intersect the tile and an initial list of volumes that intersect the tile may be generated. For each primitive group in the list of primitive groups, a per-primitive group list of volumes may be generated. The per-primitive-group list of volumes may include volumes from the initial list of volumes whose depth range overlaps with a depth range of the primitive group. Pixels in the tile which intersect the primitive group may be shaded using the per-primitive-group list of volumes.
US09183663B1	System for and method of classifying and translating graphics commands in client-server computing systems A client-server computing system includes a server that has a virtual display driver that classifies and, if necessary, translates graphics application programming interface (API) functions to a cross-platform format. Classification involves determining whether the graphics command(s) are platform-specific and/or client-supported functions. After classification and translation, the graphics command(s) are marshaled and transmitted to a client via a network. The client includes a client display driver that executes the functions using a client 3D library and renders the resulting image data to a display.
US09183661B2	Application programming interfaces for synchronization The application programming interface operates in an environment with user interface software interacting with multiple software applications or processes in order to synchronize animations associated with multiple views or windows of a display of a device. The method for synchronizing the animations includes setting attributes of views independently with each view being associated with a process. The method further includes transferring a synchronization call to synchronize animations for the multiple views of the display. In one embodiment, the synchronization call includes the identification and the number of processes that are requesting animation. The method further includes transferring a synchronization confirmation message when a synchronization flag is enabled. The method further includes updating the attributes of the views from a first state to a second state independently. The method further includes transferring a start animation call to draw the requested animations when both processes have updated attributes.
US09183657B2	Composition manager camera A system and method may be provided to access images through a camera service, where the images are generated by a non-sensor image source, such as a composition manager. The system may include the camera service and the non-sensor image source. The non-sensor image source may generate a processed image from a source other than a sensor. The camera service may provide the processed image generated by the non-sensor image source to an image consuming application.
US09183655B2	Visual scenes for teaching a plurality of polysemous symbol sequences and corresponding rationales A method includes displaying a second electronic screen overlay on a display, in response to an initial selection of one of provided polysemous symbols, the second electronic screen overlay being the electronic screen overlay associated with the selected polysemous symbol; storing, in the memory, a plurality of visual scenes, each respective one of the plurality of visual scenes being stored in association with at least two symbol sequences beginning with the initially selected polysemous symbol; and displaying one of the plurality of visual scenes on the display, in response to selection of one of the symbols on the displayed second electronic screen overlay, the displayed visual scene being stored in the memory in association with at least two symbol sequences including, in sequence, the initially selected polysemous symbol and the selected one of the symbols on the displayed second electronic screen overlay.
US09183654B2	Live editing and integrated control of image-based lighting of 3D models The present invention relates to a system, method, and apparatus that include a novel connection between a 3D raytracing application and an editing application to allow live editing of an image representing the lighting of a 3D model. Further embodiments include a novel pin control in the editing application that allows pin control of lighting of a specific portion of the lighting image and 3D model to adjust the intensity, color, and blur of the environment within a given region. The pins can also be used to copy regions of data from the lighting image to new locations. The pins can be placed either directly by clicking in the lighting image or by clicking on the 3D model in the raytracing application to indicate where the illumination should fall or reflect.
US09183653B2	Extensions for modifying a graphical object to display data A graphical manipulation tool to create and/or make modifications to a graphical object suitable for visually representing data. The graphical manipulation tool analyzes the graphical object to determine parameters of visual characteristics of the graphical object that can be used to visually represent data. A computing system, through the graphical manipulation tool, may generate metadata that defines a capacity for visual characteristics to represent data. In some cases, a preview is displayed on a user interface indicating to a user how the metadata, if incorporated with the graphical object, may result in the visual characteristics of the graphical object being used to visually represent data. If incorporating the metadata with the graphical object is desirable, the user may provide to include the additional metadata with the graphical object.
US09183650B2	Data point calculations on a chart Data point calculations on a chart are provided. A user control may be displayed adjacent to a chart by a computing device. A selection of data points on the chart may then be received the user control. A calculation may then be performed by the computing device on the data points selected by the user control. The results of the calculation may then be displayed by the computing device on the chart.
US09183649B2	Automatic tuning of value-series analysis tasks based on visual feedback A method for selecting an analysis procedure for a value series, including displaying a value series on a computer display monitor, receiving one or more sequences of user provided annotations, where the annotations overlay at least a sub-interval of the value series on the computer display monitor, using the sequences of user provided annotations to select an optimal value series analysis method from a set of value series analysis methods, where selecting an optimal value series analysis method includes determining parameter values for the optimal value series analysis method, and presenting the selected optimal value series analysis method and parameters, and the optimal reconstruction of the annotation sequences to the user.
US09183648B2	Method and system for high-resolution transforms of frequency-space and image/audio/video-space data A method and system for data processing and reconstruction, uses arbitrary frequency-space or image/audio/video-space (inverse frequency-space) sample points in N dimensions. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a subset of optionally pre-processed and pre-conditioned N-dimensional frequency-space (or image/audio/video-space) data is acquired (102) by a processing device (360), the data is optionally transformed (115) by region scaling factors, and the data is optionally reduced (116) in numerical significant digits. A “horizontal key” of data elements is calculated (120) on a processor (361), preferably in parallel, for each of an arbitrary set of x-coordinates in image/audio/video-space (or frequency-space). Image/audio/video-space “color” data (or frequency-space data) are calculated (130) on a processor (361), preferably in parallel, at the x-coordinates corresponding to the horizontal keys. The image/audio/video-space coordinates (or the frequency-space coordinates) are arbitrary, and the reconstruction's calculated image/audio/video data (or the deconstruction's calculated frequency-space data) are optionally transposed (141) (such as for display purposes), and are thus formed (150) in a memory (363) or on an output device (365). The method can be applied to other subsets, such as in the N-dimensional case.
US09183647B2	Imaging, data acquisition, data transmission, and data distribution methods and systems for high data rate tomographic X-ray scanners The present invention is an X-ray system having a source-detector module, which includes X-ray sources and detectors, for scanning an object being inspected, a scan engine coupled to the source-detector module for collecting scan data from the source detector module, an image reconstruction engine coupled to the scan engine for converting the collected scan data into one or more X-ray images, and a scan controller coupled with at least one of the source detector module, the scan engine, and the image reconstruction engine optimize operations of the X-ray system.
US09183646B2	Apparatus, systems and methods to generate electronic records of underground facility marking operations performed with GPS-enabled marking devices A technician performs a locate operation of an underground utility in a dig area of proposed excavation by applying one or more physical colored markers (e.g., paint, flags, other colored markers) to ground, pavement or other surface to indicate a presence or an absence of the underground utility in the dig area. A digital image of a geographic area comprising the dig area is displayed on a display device, and one or more electronic colored markers corresponding to the physical colored marker(s) are added to the displayed digital image so as to generate a marked-up image. Information relating to the marked-up image is electronically transmitted and/or electronically stored so as to document the locate operation.
US09183645B2	System and method for fast manipulation of graphical objects A method of repeatedly rendering to a page a group of objects represented by edges, by identifying a first occurrence of the group in a display list by an identifier, associating the identifier with a display list representation of the group, using the identifier to determine locations on the page where the group is to be repeated, determining if the display list representation of the group is to be used to repeat the group at the locations, repeating in the display list the occurrence of the display list representation of the group, the repeated display list representations comprising (a) transformations of the starting locations of the edges making up the group, shared by each of the repeated edges, and (b) fill and level information accessed by reference associated with each of the edges.
US09183642B2	Graphical data processing A method of controlling graphical data compression levels for a series of images of varying area in order to maintain a consistent image quality, irrespective of image area. An image of a first area is compressed using a first compression value. When the first image is decompressed for display, it is associated with a first image quality. When a new image with a different area is generated, it is compressed using a new compression value derived from the first compression value. The new compression value is suitable for delivering an image quality, when the new image is decompressed for display, substantially the same as the image quality of the first image.
US09183640B2	Method of and apparatus for low-complexity detection of periodic textures orientation A method includes calculating a Fourier transform of an image, extracting a plurality of arrays, from the Fourier transform utilizing, for each of the plurality of arrays, one of a plurality of templates each of said templates corresponding to a texture orientation, calculating a maximum value for each of the plurality of arrays, identifying each of the plurality of arrays having a calculated maximum value greater than a predetermined threshold and determining, for each of the plurality of identified arrays, the texture orientation of the template utilized to extract the identified one of the plurality of arrays.
US09183639B2	Image frame processing including usage of acceleration data in assisting object location Apparatuses, methods and storage medium associated with computing, including processing of image frames, are disclosed herein. In embodiments, an apparatus may include an accelerometer and an image processing engine having an object tracking function. The object tracking function may be arranged to track an object from one image frame to another image frame. The object tracking function may use acceleration data output by the accelerometer to assist in locating the object in an image frame. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09183638B2	Image based position determination A method and apparatus for identifying a position of a platform. Features are identified in a series of images generated by a camera system associated with the platform while the platform is moving. A shift in a perspective of the camera system is identified from a shift in a position of the features in the series of images. A change in the position of the platform is identified based on the shift in the perspective.
US09183637B2	Image processing apparatus, method, and program An image processing apparatus, including a filtering unit that performs filtering on an image using a second order partial differential and calculates a Hessian matrix and an evaluation unit that discriminates a structure included in the image using eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the Hessian matrix, in which the filtering unit includes a correction unit that performs filtering on the image using a first order partial differential of a function representing a hollow sphere having the same radius as the radius of the solid sphere and obtains first order partial differential vectors, and carries out correction to cancel out one of response waveforms of the function representing the solid sphere in each direction, the response waveforms appearing at two positions symmetrically separated with respect to the center of the solid sphere, using values obtained by projecting the first order partial differential vectors onto directions of the eigenvectors.
US09183636B1	Line segmentation method A line segmentation method which starts with determining a first starting point coordinate and generating a list of potential character widths dependent on a maximum character width stored in a database and on characteristics of the portion of the line of text corresponding to the maximum character width. The method determines a second portion of the line of text corresponding to the first starting point coordinate and the first width on the list of potential character widths. On the second portion, a classification method is applied providing a likelihood of error for the first width and a candidate character. The likelihood of error is compared with a first threshold determined by a trade-off between speed and accuracy, and if the likelihood of error corresponding to the first width is lower than the threshold value, the candidate character is selected as the character meaning that a segment is known.
US09183635B2	Method for reconstructing 3D lines from 2D lines in an image A method for reconstructing—three-dimensional (3D) lines in a 3D world coordinate system from two-dimensional (2D) lines in a single image of scene detects and clusters the 2D lines using vanishing points. A constraint graph of vertices and edges is generated, wherein the vertices represent the 2D lines, and the edges represents constraints on the 2D lines, then identifying the 3D lines that satisfy the constraints and reconstructing the 3D lines using the identified constraints.
US09183633B2	Image processing apparatus and image processing method An image processing apparatus is an image processing apparatus which derives an angle of inclination of an image and includes: an edge angle calculation unit which calculates a plurality of edge angles corresponding to a plurality of pixels in the image by calculating, in each of the pixels, an edge angle that is an angle of an edge; a use angle identification unit which identifies one or more use angles that are each the edge angle and are each a candidate for the angle of inclination, using the edge angles and a plurality of depth values that correspond to the pixels and each indicate a depth of a corresponding one of the pixels; and an inclination angle derivation unit which derives the angle of inclination from the one or more use angles.
US09183626B2	Systems and methods for accelerated arterial spin labeling using compressed sensing Systems and methods for accelerated arterial spin labeling (ASL) using compressed sensing are disclosed. In one aspect, in accordance with one example embodiment, a method includes acquiring magnetic resonance data associated with an area of interest of a subject, wherein the area of interest corresponds to one or more physiological activities of the subject. The method also includes performing image reconstruction using temporally constrained compressed sensing reconstruction on at least a portion of the acquired magnetic resonance data, wherein acquiring the magnetic resonance data includes receiving data associated with ASL of the area of interest of the subject.
US09183624B2	Detecting defects on a wafer with run time use of design data Methods and systems for detecting defects on a wafer are provided. One method includes creating a searchable database for a design for a wafer, which includes assigning values to different portions of the design based on patterns in the different portions of the design and storing the assigned values in the searchable database. Different portions of the design having substantially the same patterns are assigned the same values in the searchable database. The searchable database is configured such that searching of the database can be synchronized with generation of output for the wafer by one or more detectors of a wafer inspection system. Therefore, as the wafer is being scanned, design information for the output can be determined as fast as the output is generated, which enables multiple, desirable design based inspection capabilities.
US09183621B2	Image processing apparatus and radiographic apparatus having the same Provision can be made of a high-speed image processing apparatus that eliminates poor visibility in a dotted configuration or a superimposed portion of two streaks upon removing a false image due to statistical noise. That is, provision can be made of a high-speed image processing apparatus capable of outputting a processed image of high visibility in accordance with a shape of a configuration of a subject appearing in an original image upon removing a false image associated with the statistical noise. A band image noise extract generating unit performs image processing by superimposing a band image, an isotropic blur image, and an anisotropic blur image while changing weighting for each pixel in accordance with edge reliability. Such a construction eliminates poor visibility in the dotted configuration or the superimposed portion of two streaks upon removing the false image in the original image.
US09183620B2	Automated tilt and shift optimization In a method for calculating corrections for tilt in an image, one or more processors receive a digitized image from a camera. The one or more processors initiate display of the digitized image in a screen on the camera, the screen having user-selectable focus points. The one or more processors receive from a user a focus point selection of an area of the displayed image to correct for tilt, and in response, the one or more processors correct the digitized image for tilt in the area such that an object is in focus in the area.
US09183617B2	Methods, devices, and computer readable mediums for processing a digital picture Embodiments provide a method for processing a digital picture, wherein the digital picture comprises a plurality of pixels. The method comprises dividing the digital picture into a plurality of blocks, each block comprising a plurality of pixels. The method further comprises determining a type of block for each block. The method further comprises associating each block with a filtering mode of a plurality of different filtering modes according to the type determined for the block. The method further comprises filtering each block using the associated filtering mode associated with the block.
US09183612B2	Wearable display device use-based data processing control Techniques are described for controlling operation of both a host device and a wearable display device connected to the host device based on a use status of the wearable display device. The techniques include automatically determining a use status of a wearable display device based on feedback from one or more touch sensors within the wearable display device that indicates whether the wearable display device is worn by a user. Based on the determined use status, the wearable display device controls its own operation (e.g., controls operation of display screens of the wearable display device, a communication session with the host device, and display processing of data received from the host device). The wearable display device also sends an indication of the use status to the host device. The host device then controls its own data processing for the wearable display device based on the indicated use status.
US09183609B2	Programmable blending in multi-threaded processing units A technique for efficiently rendering content reduces each complex blend mode to a series of basic blend operations. The series of basic blend operations are executed within a recirculating pipeline until a final blended value is computed. The recirculating pipeline is positioned within a color raster operations unit of a graphics processing unit for efficient access to image buffer data.
US09183606B1	Trusted processing location within a graphics processing unit A method of extending trust from a trusted processor to a graphics processing unit to expand trusted processing in an electronic device comprises inserting a trusted kernel into the graphics processing unit, monitoring the activity level of the graphics processing unit, suspending graphics processing on at least a portion of the graphics processing unit, repurposing a portion of the graphics processing unit to perform trusted processing, and releasing the portion of the graphics processing unit from trusted processing.
US09183605B2	Image projecting apparatus, image processing method, and computer-readable storage medium An image projecting apparatus includes an image projecting unit configured to project received original image data on an image projection surface; an area identifying unit configured to identify an obstruction area in which different content is displayed as compared to a normal projection surface to be projected based on the original image data; and a layout modifying unit configured to modify a layout of an object included in the original image data that is projected, on the basis of the object and the obstruction area on the image projection surface.
US09183603B2	Displaying a barcode on a display of an infusion pump An infusion pump system includes an infusion channel, and a display associated with the infusion channel. The display is for rendering a scannable barcode.
US09183600B2	Technology prediction Embodiments of the invention relate to technology prediction. A technical dictionary of technical terms is constructed based on a collection of documents. The technical terms are partitioned into equivalence classes. A table is generated that correlates technical terms across equivalence classes based on temporal co-occurrence of the technical terms across the equivalence classes. For a given technical term the table is accessed to determine a first set of technical terms that correlate to the given technical term. The table is accessed again to determine a second set of technical terms that correlate to the first set of technical terms. It is predicted that the second set of technical terms will correlate to the given technical term in the future.
US09183599B2	Mapping relationships between members in a social network A system, method, and computer program for social mapping is provided. Data about a plurality of social network members is received. A first member of the plurality of social network members is allowed to identify a second member of the plurality of social network members with whom the first member wishes to establish a relationship. The data is then sent to the second member about the first member based on the identification. Input from the second member is received in response to the data. The relationship between the first member and the second member is confirmed based on the input in order to map the first member to the second member.
US09183596B2	System and method for managing access rights to a project team area for a community development asset A system and method for managing access rights to a project team area for a community development asset. The system includes an asset consumption dependency generator and a behavior pattern activity analyzer. The asset consumption dependency generator identifies a member of a project team area for a community development asset. The project team area defines access rights of individuals to the community development asset. The behavior pattern activity analyzer identifies a user within a collaborative development network associated with the identified member of the project team area. The behavior pattern activity analyzer also grants an access right to the identified user to access the community development asset based on a social map dependency between the identified user and the identified member.
US09183593B2	Customizable insurance system An automated insurance quote system allows users to apply for one or more insurance quotes through a self-service communication channel. The system includes an interface that may receive applicant data from a remote location. A front-end processor selectively passes applicant data to a record keeping system retained in a memory. A controller or quote processors selects and transmits one or more insurance policies that are allowed under a user's governmental law and are tailored to the user's price and/or coverage preferences. The system conveys coverage details to users through the interface.
US09183590B2	System and method for managing postal accounting data using transient data collectors Methods and systems using a single centralized database to manage postal accounting data are provided. The central database may interface with remote postal meters by way of one or more transient data collectors, which cache data from associated meters and transmit the data to the central database. The data collectors also validate postage accounts to the associated meters. The use of local transient data collectors allows for a single centralized database to be used without requiring data replication among databases local to each computer that manages postal meters.
US09183586B2	System and method for supporting the processing of location specific orders, requests, and demands The present invention is an applications gateway that offers multiple functions and features for specific geographic venue locations, while providing easy access to advertising, purchasing, and redemption opportunities for that specific geographic venue location. Venue locations can be stadiums, shopping malls, amusement parks, open air spaces where people can congregate, and/or buildings, which most often require the presence of a concentration of people. The venue location may correlate to the location of the hand-held mobile unit or it may be a remote geographic venue location not near the location of the hand-held mobile unit. Access to the gateway application is through a hand-held mobile unit, which can include a mobile phone, smartphone device, or portable computer having a wireless radio transmission connection. (e.g. iPhone, Droid, iPad, Slate, etc.)
US09183584B2	System and method for providing information based on geographic position A system and method for providing position information using a three-dimensional based grid is provided. The position information may be relayed to an electronic device by providing location information to a database and receiving location-centric information at the electronic device. The system may include a network for continuously updating the database in real-time.
US09183575B2	Pay per look billing method and system for out-of-home advertisement Methods, apparatuses and systems for calculating an amount to be billed in respect of running an out-of-home advertisement during a period of time.
US09183573B2	Überfeed In one embodiment, a computing device may collect a plurality of information items of a plurality of types relevant to a user; rank the plurality of information items based on their respective degrees of relevance to the user; construct an information feed that includes the plurality of information items in an order of their respective ranks; and send the information feed to a user device associated with the user for presentation of the plurality of information items to the user in the order of their respective ranks.
US09183570B2	Location based content matching in a computer network Systems and methods of providing information via a computer network responsive to a request are provided. Keyword terms including a content keyword and a geographic location operator can be received via a computer network. A geographically modified keyword can be determined from the keyword terms. The geographically modified keyword indicates a product or service, and indicates a geographic location associated with the geographic location operator. A search query can be received from a user interface of a computing device, and a geographic location term in the search query can be identified. A geographic location term in a search query can be matched with the geographically modified keyword, with the geographic location term being a variant of the geographic location operator. Content can be obtained and provided from a data processing system to the user interface via the computer network, for display at the user interface.
US09183566B2	Systems and methods for displaying advertisements in an advertisement unit A method for supporting multiple advertisement sizes in a single advertisement unit includes receiving a format preference for an advertisement unit and a selected advertisement and size for the selected advertisement. The method further includes applying editing properties to determine additional visual content for the selected advertisement. The additional visual content is determined based on the format preference of the advertisement unit and the size of the selected advertisement. The method further includes rendering the selected advertisement and the additional visual content in the advertisement unit based on the editing properties.
US09183565B2	Directing wireless customers to a network service using an incentive Architecture for offering enticements to cellular customers that will lead the customers to use the available services at times away from peak usage. For example, the provider can offer incentives (or enticements) that direct users to make phone calls during off-peak times of the hour or day. An incentive can include charging customers reduced minutes (e.g., 0.75 minutes) for each minute used from the customer plan when the customer uses services during off-peak time of the day. This applies to text messaging where users can attach files such as images and short video clips for communication to other cellular users, and to cellular devices via which users can access websites. In general, any services supported by the wireless provider can benefit by providing incentives to move users away from times of high network usage during the day.
US09183560B2	Reality alternate Among other things, we describe a reality alternative to our physical reality, named the Expandaverse, that includes multiple digital realities that may be continuously created, broadcast, accessed, and used interactively. In what we call an Alternate Reality Teleportal Machine (ARTPM), some elements of the digital reality(ies) can be implemented using and providing functions that include: devices, architectures, processing, sensors, translation, speech recognition, remote controls, subsidiary devices usage, virtual Teleportals on alternate devices, presence, shared planetary life spaces, constructed digital realities, reality replacements, filtered views, data retrieval in constructed views, alternate realities machine(s), multiple identities, directories, controlled boundaries, life space metrics, boundaries switching, property protection, publishing/broadcasting, digital events, events location/joining, revenues, utility(ies), infrastructure, services, devices management, business systems, applications, consistent customizable user interface, active knowledge, optimizations, alerts, reporting, dashboards, switching to “best”, marketing and sales systems, improvement systems, user chosen goals, user management, governances, digital freedom from dictatorships, photography, and entertainment.
US09183558B2	Audio/video companion screen system and method Systems and methods disclosed herein include systems and methods for delivering secondary content to a plurality of portable devices, the secondary content comprising events synchronized to primary content, the process including delivering an application to a plurality of portable display devices, the application configured to execute events on the portable display devices; and causing the events executed on the portable display devices to be synchronized with primary content.
US09183557B2	Advertising targeting based on image-derived metrics Advertising targeting metrics for individuals can be derived from images associated with those individuals. Such advertising targeting metrics can include physical attributes, as well as preferences based on prior activity, or history. Public images associated with specific user identities can be processed and advertising targeting metrics can be derived therefrom to more accurately tailor the advertisements displayed to the individuals associated with those user identities. Additionally, non-public images can be likewise processed, either remotely or, for greater privacy, locally if so allowed by the user. Advertisers can then utilize the greater breath of advertising targeting metrics that can be derived from images to more accurately target advertisements to specific groups. In doing so, advertisers can submit their own images of exemplary targeted users, and the targeting metrics for those advertisers' advertisements can be automatically derived from the submitted images utilizing equivalent algorithms.
US09183553B2	Once card number generation and validation method and apparatus A once card transaction system comprises a once card embedded with a once card number generator. The embedded once card number generator is able to communicate a once card number with a swipe card reader through the magnetic stripe emulator interface on the back of the card for in-store transaction or display it at the front of the card for online transaction. The embedded once card number generator is capable of generating an unpredictable once card number inside the once card without communicating with a central server. This distributedly generated once card number can be approved by an authentication entity by a valid OCN hashing list, and once the number is transacted, it is put on a rejection list.
US09183552B2	Method and apparatus for providing automated payment with an audio token An approach is provided for conducting transactions via an audio token base payment system. An audio payment manager receives a request, at a device, for payment to a merchant, the request including a password. In response, the audio payment manager retrieves a personal identification number from a user of the device, an identifier associated with the user, a session code, or a combination thereof. The audio payment manager then generates an audio token at the device based, at least in part, on the password, the personal identification number, the identifier associated with the user, the session code, or the combination thereof, and causes, at least in part, conveyance of the audio token to the merchant to initiate the payment.
US09183550B2	System and method to facilitate purchases on mobile devices System and method to enable and facilitate purchases through mobile communications on mobile devices, smartphones, feature phones, tablet computers, etc by allowing the user to interact with native interface and/or by eliminating the need of entering the MSISDN identifier by the user. MSISDN value is required to identify mobile subscriber and request a mobile billing transaction through carrier's infrastructure. A system comprises at least one data computing facility, which is connected to mobile carrier billing, short code and networking infrastructure and a plurality of converters to communicate and interface with a plurality of controllers for various mobile device types and platforms.
US09183548B2	Accessibility content copyright permission A copyright server receives a copyright request from a requester, such as a portal server. The copyright request corresponds to a user requesting a particular content to be transcoded. The copyright server identifies content copyright permissions associated with the requested content that indicate whether it is permissible to transcode the requested content. If the copyright server does not locate content copyright permissions associated with the requested content, the copyright server identifies the owner of the content and sends a message to the content owner requesting content copyright permission. The copyright server receives a response from the content owner, stores the response on a local storage area, and forwards the response to the requester. The content copyright permissions may include an amount of a transcoding fee that the content owner requires in order to transcode the requested content.
US09183544B2	Generating a relationship history Systems and methods for generation of a relationship history. In one embodiment, a method includes: scanning, by a computing device, a set of messages to or from a user to generate a plurality of profiles for persons associated with the messages, each person being a sender or a recipient of at least one of the set of messages, and the persons including a first person; generating, via the computer, a relationship history using the plurality of profiles, wherein the relationship history is for a relationship between the user and the first person; and presenting the relationship history to the user.
US09183543B2	Tracking digital content objects Embodiments include methods, apparatus, and systems associated with tracking display of digital content objects, and in particular digital content objects in delivered electronic messages. Digital content objects may be identified and associated with a digital content item. Digital content objects may be presented together in digital container. Different presentation layers containing one or more digital containers may be defined and transmitted in electronic messages. A digital content object tracking system may identify delivered and displayed digital content objects, and associate the display with digital content objects contained therein. The digital content object tracking system may compare displays or activations of one or more digital content objects with reference to co-displayed digital content objects. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09183534B2	Devices with profile-based operating mode controls A device (e.g., a phone) can be provided by an entity (e.g., a business) to a user (e.g., an employee). The device includes a profile manager that allows the user to configure a personal profile comprising any of applications, settings, and stored data. The device is also configurable with an entity profile determined by the entity that also may include applications, settings, and stored data. The user can select from operating modes comprising at least a personal mode, and a unity mode; an entity mode also may be available for selection. The profile manager, based on the selected mode, determines whether entity profile data and applications are available to the user, and which applications from either profile may conduct user-perceptible activities. The profile manager may periodically verify entity profile rights with a server, and if verification fails, then the profile manager can restrict entity profile data and applications access, regardless of operating mode.
US09183532B2	Method and device for detecting and determining the presence of objects in storage locations by means of a bar code reading device A method for detecting and determining a presence of at least one object in at least one storage location without a special reflection surface includes providing a bar code reading device which is connected to a control unit configured to manage an allocation of the at least one object to the at least one storage location. The bar code reader is used in an attempt to detect a bar code in the at least one storage location. Using information from which a grey value is derivable, it is determined whether the at least one object is in the at least one storage location upon the bar code reader being unsuccessful in detecting the bar code. A result is provided to the control unit.
US09183528B2	Generating a compliance data model for IT control Techniques are described herein that are capable of generating a compliance data model for information technology (IT) control. The compliance data model is capable of capturing data from technologies (e.g., software programs, file systems, etc.) and/or developers of those technologies for determining compliance of the technologies with regulations. The compliance data model may be used to automate generation of artifacts. Each artifact is machine-readable code that includes instructions regarding how to implement a control. A control is a software container that is associated with one or more elements, such as a control objective, a control activity, a control activity test, etc. The artifacts are usable by management systems to obtain data regarding installed technologies, settings of the technologies, configurations of the technologies, events that are being utilized by the technologies, etc. The management systems may use the data to generate reports regarding compliance of the technologies with the regulations.
US09183524B2	Imaged-based method for transport and authentication of virtualized workflows Techniques for virtualized workflow processing are presented. A processing state of workflow within a first processing environment is imaged and configured for a second processing environment. The image is received in the second processing environment where it is authenticated and initiated within the second processing environment as a virtual machine.
US09183522B2	Demand response management system A demand response management system which may be implemented with demand response logic. The system may be used by utilities, independent system operators, intermediaries and others to manage operations of demand response programs relative to customers, clients, participants, and users of outputs from the utilities, independent system operators, and the like. Demand response logic of the demand response management system may provide demand signal propagation and generation from demand response events.
US09183518B2	Methods and systems for scheduling a predicted fault service call Disclosed is a fault prediction system and method that uses non-fatal event data received from a terminal to make predictions concerning future fatal faults for the terminal and to schedule a predicted service call. A complex fault pattern associated with a fault is applied to the non-fatal event data to predict the fault. A corrective action is provided for each predicted fault and historical data is used to predict a time to the predicted fault to govern the type of service response to create to prevent the fault.
US09183516B2	Systems and methods for locating and prioritizing cargo Methods and systems for use in locating and prioritizing cargo are provided. The system includes a communications unit configured to receive location information and content information for each of a plurality of pieces of cargo from a cargo location and classification sensor (CLCS). The system also includes a cargo pickup planner module configured to determine a priority listing of pieces of cargo based on mission information, the location information, and the content information. The system also includes a cargo approach planner module configured to transmit a set of waypoints for specified pieces of cargo selected from the priority listing to a control system (FCS) configured to maneuver a vehicle to a position above a specified piece of cargo. The system further includes a cargo pickup overlay generator module configured to generate an overlay for a pilotage system (PS) display to assist a user in maneuvering the vehicle above each piece of cargo for pickup.
US09183515B2	Share box for endorsements In one aspect, a system for presenting a share box with content information in response to an endorsement includes an endorsement sharing module that is responsive to user input and creates a sharing box having content derived from the user context and input request. The endorsement sharing module receives a user request to share information. In response, this endorsement sharing module determines the context of the user, retrieves content based on the context, filters the content based on publisher information, personalizes the share box content, and adds the content to a share box. The endorsement sharing module also adds one or more actions to the share box after which the share box is provided for display to the user.
US09183513B2	Aggregration, standardization and extension of social networking contacts to enhance a television consumer experience A system and method for the aggregation, standardization and extension of social networking contacts to enhance a television consumer experience are described. An embodiment of a system includes a device connected to one or more devices with social networking technology. The device is accessed by a user to invite one or more contacts to join an aggregated social network via an aggregated social networking contact list. The aggregated social networking contact list is to include all contacts associated with the one or more social networking technology devices. The device is to receive and store aggregated social network content and to receive main content. The device is to cause the display of the stored aggregated social network content overlayed on the main content via a user interface on a display device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09183509B2	Database of affective response and attention levels A data structure stored in memory including: token instances representing stimuli that influence a user's affective state; the token instances are spread over a long period of time that spans different situations, and a plurality of the token instances have overlapping instantiation periods; data representing levels of user attention in some of the token instances used by an application program to improve the accuracy of a machine learning based affective response model for the user; annotations representing emotional states of the user; the annotations are spread over a long period of time that spans different situations; and linkage information between the token instances, the data representing levels of user attention, and the annotations.
US09183504B2	System and method for providing recommendations with a location-based service A mobile application is provided that provides intelligent recommendations based on the knowledge of where the user has been, and what venues the user would like to visit. Further, such an application may be capable of determining where people in a user's social network have been and what venue locations these related users would like to visit. Also, in another implementation, the application may be capable of determining where people with similar tastes have been, and where they would like to go. Some or all of this information may be used by a mobile application that provides recommendations to a user. For instance, in one implementation, a user having a mobile device such as a cell phone wishes to locate a venue based on one or more parameters, and some or all of this information may be used to order or rank recommendations within the interface.
US09183503B2	Sparse higher-order Markov random field Systems and methods are provided for identifying combinatorial feature interactions, including capturing statistical dependencies between categorical variables, with the statistical dependencies being stored in a computer readable storage medium. A model is selected based on the statistical dependencies using a neighborhood estimation strategy, with the neighborhood estimation strategy including generating sets of arbitrarily high-order feature interactions using at least one rule forest and optimizing one or more likelihood functions. A damped mean-field approach is applied to the model to obtain parameters of a Markov random field (MRF); a sparse high-order semi-restricted MRF is produced by adding a hidden layer to the MRF; indirect long-range dependencies between feature groups are modeled using the sparse high-order semi-restricted MRF; and a combinatorial dependency structure between variables is output.
US09183502B2	Rule based content modification and interaction platform A rule input to generate a rule is received. The rule provides an action for an event. A content experience engine generates the rule for a set of content. The content experience engine receives an interaction input based upon the set of content from the content experience configuration. The content experience engine generates an enhanced set of content based upon the rule and the interaction input.
US09183500B2	Logic model for media customization with item association A computing device receives a plurality of media files. Further, the computing device associates an item with a media file from the plurality of media files according to an association. The item is displayed during display of the media file. The association has a predetermined playback time during playback of the media file at which item data is displayed in addition to the display of the media file. In addition, the computing device generates a hierarchical logic model for media playback. The hierarchical logic model organizes the plurality of media files for playback into a hierarchy according to a predetermined set of conditions. A set of code is provided to a media player for media playback based upon the logic model and the association between the item and the media file.
US09183492B2	Composite IC card Provided is a composite IC card including: a card base having a recess; an antenna sheet arranged inside the card base; an IC module arranged in the recess of the card base. The IC module includes an IC chip having a module substrate provided with an external terminal, and a first coupling coil. The antenna sheet includes an antenna coil configured to perform reception of electric power and transmission and reception of signals with an external reader, and a second coupling coil connected to the antenna coil. The first coupling coil and the second coupling coil are arranged so as to be capable of achieving close coupling therebetween and configured to couple the IC module with the antenna sheet in a non-contact manner by trans coupling. The second coupling coil of the antenna sheet is arranged outside a region in which the recess of the card base is formed.
US09183490B2	System and method for providing contactless payment with a near field communications attachment A system and method in accordance with exemplary embodiments may include an attachment with a near field communication antenna, a secure element, a plug capable of connecting the attachment to an audio jack on a mobile device. Further, a system and method in accordance with exemplary embodiments may include receiving a payment initiation instruction from a customer, using a near field communication antenna, sending payment information to a point of sale device, using one or more computer processors, encoding data related to the payment as audio data, and transmitting the data related to the payment through an audio jack.
US09183488B2	Antenna sheet, data carrier with non-contact IC, and method for manufacturing antenna sheet A method for manufacturing an antenna sheet, includes: a pressing step in which an overlapped portion of an antenna coil and/or a connection pattern formed from a metal material and provided on one surface of a substrate formed from a thermoplastic resin, and a conductive member formed from a metal material and provided on the other surface of the substrate is pressed using a pressing unit at least from the surface of one side of the substrate; and a welding steps in which the overlapped portion of the antenna coil and/or the connection pattern and the conductive member is welded.
US09183487B2	Multi chip smart card A smart card assembly with at least two chips. In some embodiments, the at least two chips are on the same major surface and define mutually-perpendicular, respective directions of insertion with respect to a standard reciprocating card reader. In some embodiments, the at least two chips are respectively mounted on opposite major surfaces of the smart card body.
US09183485B2	Microcircuit module of reduced size and smart card comprising same A microcircuit module for a smart card includes a generally rectangular carrier film (101) provided with eight contact pads on a first face thereof and with an electronic component on a second face, the electronic component being equipped with connection terminals to which the contact pads are connected via the carrier film. The eight contact pads are disposed in two parallel series of three contact pads (C1, C2, C3, C5, C6, C7), with two other contact pads (C′4, C′8) being disposed therebetween and each being positioned close to the contact pads from the ends of each of the series. The contact pads each measure at least 1.7 mm×2 mm. The contact pads of the two parallel series comply with ISO standard 7816 and the eight contact pads border each of the sides of the carrier film.
US09183478B2	Method and apparatus for performing automatic switching of media An image formation apparatus includes: a tray selection unit configured, based on print size information designated in print data, to select one of medium trays; an edit region setup unit configured, when the size of the print medium in the selected medium tray is different from print medium corresponding to the designated print medium size, to analyze the print data based on an orientation of the print medium in the selected medium tray and to set an edit region of the print data; a drawing unit configured, on the basis of the print data and the edit region, to create image data within the edit region; and an image formation unit configured to print the image data on the print medium fed from the selected medium tray.
US09183475B2	Image processing method and apparatus configured for printing a plurality of monochrome images having different parameters An image processing apparatus acquires monochrome image data and, for a pattern of each parameter, converts the acquired monochrome image data into intermediate image data. The intermediate image data is expressed in a set of signal values of a plurality of color elements.
US09183474B2	Image forming apparatus for adjusting boundary data An image-forming apparatus that generates print image data for a printing apparatus including a printing unit for each color, on which, as the printing unit, at least a low-resolution printing unit having a relatively low resolution and a high-resolution printing unit having a relatively high resolution are mounted, includes: a color conversion processing unit that converts colors of an original image into color data for the printing apparatus; a rasterizing unit that generates data about a shape corresponding to a resolution of the printing unit from the original image; and an adjustment processing unit that generates overwriting image data about an overwriting-side object by synthesizing the color data generated by the color conversion processing unit and the data relating to the shape generated by the rasterizing unit, and generates the print image data by performing an overwriting process of overwriting base image data with the overwriting image data.
US09183472B2	Control apparatus, control method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium A control apparatus, comprising a reception unit configured to receive image data, a setting unit configured to set an operation mode, an image processing unit configured to generate print data based on the image data, a print control unit configured to cause a printing unit to perform printing on a printing medium based on the print data, a determination unit configured to determine whether reception of all the image data is complete before the printing unit completes predetermined printing, and a change unit configured to change the set operation mode to another operation mode in a case where the set operation mode is an operation mode in which printing based on the print data starts if the image processing unit generates the print data.
US09183468B2	Device for reading magnetic stripe and/or smart cards and method for preventing skimming attacks A device (10) for reading a magnetic stripe card and/or smart card (22) comprising a slot (12) for feeding the magnetic stripe card and/or smart card (22). A rotary unit (18) for rotating a fed magnetic stripe card and/or smart card (22) from the feeding plane (24) into a reading plane (32) extending at a predetermined angle (W1) relative to the feeding plane (24) is arranged behind the slot (12) as viewed in feed direction (P1). Further, the invention relates to a method for preventing skimming attacks.
US09183466B2	Correlating videos and sentences A method of testing a video against an aggregate query includes automatically receiving an aggregate query defining participant(s) and condition(s) on the participant(s). Candidate object(s) are detected in the frames of the video. A first lattice is constructed for each participant, the first-lattice nodes corresponding to the candidate object(s). A second lattice is constructed for each condition. An aggregate lattice is constructed using the respective first lattice(s) and the respective second lattice(s). Each aggregate-lattice node includes a scoring factor combining a first-lattice node factor and a second-lattice node factor. respective aggregate score(s) are determined of one or more path(s) through the aggregate lattice, each path including a respective plurality of the nodes in the aggregate lattice, to determine whether the video corresponds to the aggregate query. A method of providing a description of a video is also described and includes generating a candidate description with participant(s) and condition(s) selected from a linguistic model; constructing component lattices for the participant(s) or condition(s), producing an aggregate lattice having nodes combining component-lattice factors, and determining a score for the video with respect to the candidate description by determining an aggregate score for a path through the aggregate lattice. If the aggregate score does not satisfy a termination condition, participant(s) or condition(s) from the linguistic model are added to the condition, and the process is repeated. A method of testing a video against an aggregate query by mathematically optimizing a unified cost function is also described.
US09183465B2	Data difference guided image capturing Methods and apparatuses are disclosed. Previously stored images of one or more geographic areas may be viewed by online users. A new low-resolution image may be acquired and aspects of the new low-resolution image may be compared with a corresponding one of the previously stored images to determine an amount of change. A determination may be made regarding whether to acquire a new high-resolution image based on the determined amount of change and a freshness score associated with the one of the previously stored images. In another embodiment, a new image may be captured and corresponding location data may be obtained. A corresponding previously stored image may be obtained and compared with the new image to determine an amount of change. The new image may be uploaded to a remote computing device based on the determined amount of change and a freshness score of the previously stored image.
US09183462B2	Comparison method and comparator for graphic comparison of targets A method, a data network arrangement and a computer program product by which a comparator can be implemented in a data network. The user of the comparator stores his evaluation of the properties included in the targets to be evaluated in a database in the server in the data network using a graphic one- or two-dimensional evaluation frame. In the comparator the comparator user's evaluations are compared to property evaluations given by a reference user. When calculating the total accuracy percentage of the comparison the evaluations given by the comparator user are weighted with a weighting coefficient, which is obtained by normalizing first the importance evaluations of all the properties given by the reference user and by using the normalized importance evaluation of a certain property as the weighting coefficient for this property.
US09183460B2	Detecting modified images Methods, systems and apparatus for identifying modified images based on visual dissimilarity to a first image. In an aspect, a method includes determining, for each of a first image and a second image, a respective set of local image feature descriptions; determining one or more unmatched regions of the images that include unmatched image features and that correspond to one or more same respective regions in both the first image and the second image; determining, for each of the one or more unmatched regions of the images, a modification measure based on the image data corresponding to the unmatched region in the first image and the image data corresponding to the unmatched region in the second image; and determining that the second image is a modification of the first image when one of the modification measures meets a modification measure threshold.
US09183458B2	Parameter selection and coarse localization of interest regions for MSER processing An attribute is computed based on pixel intensities in an image of the real world, and thereafter used to identify at least one input for processing the image to identify at least a first maximally stable extremal region (MSER) therein. The at least one input is one of (A) a parameter used in MSER processing or (B) a portion of the image to be subject to MSER processing. The attribute may be a variance of pixel intensities, or computed from a histogram of pixel intensities. The attribute may be used with a look-up table, to identify parameter(s) used in MSER processing. The attribute may be a stroke width of a second MSER of a subsampled version of the image. The attribute may be used in checking whether a portion of the image satisfies a predetermined test, and if so including the portion in a region to be subject to MSER processing.
US09183452B2	Text recognition for textually sparse images A text recognition server is configured to recognize text in a sparse text image. Specifically, given an image, the server specifies a plurality of “patches” (blocks of pixels within the image). The system applies a text detection algorithm to the patches to determine a number of the patches that contain text. This application of the text detection algorithm is used both to estimate the orientation of the image and to determine whether the image is textually sparse or textually dense. If the image is determined to be textually sparse, textual patches are identified and grouped into text regions, each of which is then separately processed by an OCR algorithm, and the recognized text for each region is combined into a result for the image as a whole.
US09183446B2	Image processing apparatus and image processing method Out of regions extracted from a frame image, regions assigned the same identification information as that of a region unselected in a past frame immediately before the frame are defined as nonselection regions, and nonselection regions in number equal to or smaller than a predetermined number are selected out of the nonselection regions.
US09183439B2	Method of searching for parameterized contours for comparing irises A method for detecting outlines for iris comparison comprises a step of selecting N candidate outlines of circular form by applying a circle search technique to an image of edges of an iris. It also comprises a step of optimizing the form and the position of the N candidate outlines, the optimized candidate outlines being determined by using parametric models, a set of parameters being determined for each candidate outline by minimizing a quantity of energy E(C). The method also comprises a step of selecting the best optimized candidate outline.
US09183438B1	Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for determining a salient region of a geographic map Provided are systems, methods, and computer-readable media for determining a salient region of a geographic map. Areas defined by map coordinates and corresponding to viewports from previously executed user queries are determined. The areas are overlaid on a geographic map portion having a fixed grid of points. Each point is assigned a weighted scores based on the number of areas that overlay each point. A polygon enclosing a set of points having weighted scores above a threshold is determined, and the region enclosed by the polygon is identified as a salient region of the geographic map.
US09183437B2	Area search device and area search method A dynamic area search device includes: a search condition obtainment unit that obtains information on search objects and a condition for a search scope for searching for the search objects; an on-map operation detection unit that detects a first user-specified point on a map displayed on a display; a content search unit that searches for elements associated with locations on the map, based on the information on the search objects; a display area determination unit that determines a first area that has the user-specified point at the center, and includes, among the elements searched for by the content search unit, elements that meet the condition for the search scope; and an area boundary display unit configured to dynamically display, on the map, the user-specified point and the first area determined by the display area determination unit.
US09183436B2	Matching text to images Text in web pages or other text documents may be classified based on the images or other objects within the webpage. A system for identifying and classifying text related to an object may identify one or more web pages containing the image or similar images, determine topics from the text of the document, and develop a set of training phrases for a classifier. The classifier may be trained and then used to analyze the text in the documents. The training set may include both positive examples and negative examples of text taken from the set of documents. A positive example may include captions or other elements directly associated with the object, while negative examples may include text taken from the documents, but from a large distance from the object. In some cases, the system may iterate on the classification process to refine the results.
US09183429B2	Method and apparatus for facial recognition Apparatus and methods for facial detection are disclosed. A plurality of images of an observed face is received for identification. Based at least on two or more selected images of the plurality of images, a template of the observed face is generated. In some embodiments, the template is a subspace generated based on feature vectors of the plurality of received images. A database of identities and corresponding facial data of known persons is searched based at least on the template of the observed face and the facial data of the known persons. One or more identities of the known persons are selected based at least on the search.
US09183419B2	Passive RFID assisted active RFID tag A radiofrequency identification (RFID) device includes an active RFID tag that includes a power source and a passive RFID tag reader, the passive RFID tag reader electrically coupled to the power source of the active RFID tag.
US09183415B2	Regulating access using information regarding a host machine of a portable storage drive Described herein are techniques for regulating access to a portable storage drive, that stores an operating system securely, using information regarding a host machine. In accordance with some of the techniques described herein, when a portable storage drive that stores an operating system securely is to be accessed by a host machine, information regarding the host machine, such as information regarding the hardware of the host machine, may be retrieved and evaluated to determine whether to grant access to the host machine. When the host machine is granted access, the host machine may access secured data stored on the portable storage drive in any suitable manner. In some cases, accessing the secured data may include decrypting the secured data and transferring decrypted data to another storage of the host machine. The decrypted information may include an operating system that is booted by the host machine.
US09183410B2	Computer or microchip with an internal hardware firewall and a master controlling device A computer or microchip including protected and network portions; an internal hardware firewall between the protected and network portions, and hardware communications components in the network portion. The firewall denies access to the protected portion from the network. The network portion has a connection for a network of computers including the World Wide Web and/or the Internet. Microprocessor(s) that are not hardware network communications components are located in the network portion and are separate from the firewall. One or more microprocessors and a volatile memory are located in the protected portion. A master controlling device is configured to control the computer or microchip, the non-volatile memory and the microprocessor(s) located in the network and protected portions. The firewall permits unrestricted access by the network of computers to the network portion so that processing operations, other than network communications and firewall operations are executed by microprocessor(s) in the network portion.
US09183408B2	Information monitoring apparatus and information monitoring method The present invention provides an information monitoring apparatus and an information monitoring method which make it possible to prevent personal information from being acquired by a disclosure requester for the purpose of an unfair use thereof. The information monitoring apparatus includes: a means for storing therein acquired attribute information corresponding to at least one acquired attribute which has already been acquired by an acquisitor, a means for, on the basis of the acquired attribute information and disclosed attribute information corresponding to a disclosed attribute targeted for disclosure to the acquisitor, determining whether or not attribute synthetic information resulting from synthesizing the acquired attribute and the disclosed attribute satisfies each of predetermined one or more determination conditions, and a means for executing predetermined protection processing on an attribute on the basis of the result of the determination.
US09183405B1	Method, manufacture, and apparatus for content protection for HTML media elements A method, apparatus, and manufacture for content protection for HTML media elements is provided. A client media player is employed to determine whether media content is protected. The client media player includes an application, and further includes a media engine that is a distinct program from the application. Upon determining that the media content is protected, the application is employed to get a key and/or a license for the protected media content. The application is employed to instruct the media engine to play the media content. The key and/or the license is sent from the application to the media engine.
US09183404B2	Image sending apparatus and authentication method in image sending apparatus An image sending apparatus includes a first authentication unit configured to perform processing for first authentication to authenticate a user, a storage unit configured to store authentication information used when the first authentication unit authenticates the user, a sending unit capable of sending image data by a plurality of kinds of sending methods, a destination setting unit configured to set a destination to which the sending unit sends the image data, a second authentication unit configured to perform processing for second authentication required for the sending unit to send the image data to the destination set by the destination setting unit, and a determination unit configured to determine whether to use the authentication information stored in the storage unit when the second authentication unit performs the processing for the second authentication, based on the sending method by which the sending unit sends the image data to the destination.
US09183403B2	Key retrieval Key retrieval can include accessing a password for a keystore from a source. Key retrieval can include placing the password in memory. Key retrieval can include deleting the password from the source. Key retrieval can include retrieving an encryption key from the keystore with the password in memory.
US09183396B2	Detecting exploitable bugs in binary code Systems and methods for performing hybrid symbolic execution to detect exploitable bugs in binary code are described. In some example embodiments, the systems and methods determine that resources associated with an execution client performing symbolic execution of a target program are below, at, or above a threshold performance level, generate checkpoints for active executing paths of the online symbolic execution, and cause the execution client to perform symbolic execution in response to the determination that the resources are at or above the threshold performance level.
US09183392B2	Anti-malware tool for mobile apparatus A method, apparatus, and computer program for monitoring security of a mobile apparatus are disclosed. The method includes executing a security application in a mobile apparatus; monitoring, by the security application, user interface locking status of the mobile apparatus; determining, as a result of said monitoring, that the user interface has been locked; identifying an application that has caused said locking of the user interface; checking a reputation status of the identified application; upon detecting, as a result of said reputation status check, that the identified application has a bad reputation status, restricting operation of the identified application and unlocking the user interface.
US09183391B2	Managing device driver cross ring accesses Technologies managing cross ring memory accesses by a device driver on a computing device includes configuring a memory page table associated with the device driver to disable cross ring memory accesses by the device driver, trapping attempted cross ring memory accesses by the device driver, and denying the attempted cross ring memory access if the device driver is determined to be malicious. If the device driver is determined not to be malicious, the memory page table is updated to allow the attempted cross ring memory access. The device driver may be analyzed to determine whether the device driver is malicious by comparing the device driver and the attempted cross ring memory access to security data, such as a device driver fingerprint and/or cross ring memory access heuristics, stored on the computing device.
US09183388B2	Injustice detecting system, injustice detecting device and injustice detecting method The present invention provides an injustice detecting system enabling detection of an injustice that is performed through an operation that cannot be distinguished from normal operation. This injustice detecting system is provided with: a history recording unit for recording operation history information of a monitored device; an audit information disclosure unit for disclosing audit information including at least information indicating that an audit for detecting an injustice is to be implemented; and an injustice detecting unit for detecting the injustice on the basis of pre-disclosure operation history information which is operation history information generated before the audit information is disclosed, and post-disclosure operation history information, which is operation history information generated after the audit information is disclosed.
US09183385B2	Automated feedback for proposed security rules A computer receives entry of a proposed security rule during a security rule entry or editing session and determines that the proposed security rule requires review of a type of security data. The number of matches of the proposed security rule to the logged security data is determined and a user is notified as to the number of matches. The computer searches the security data and applies the proposed security rule to the security data to determine the predicted performance of the proposed security rule. The computer generates a report that may include warnings, recommendations, and information correlated to the security data. The report is presented to a user during the rule editing session, and based on the report a modification to the proposed security rule can be made.
US09183384B1	Leveraging indexed document matching to automatically train SVM classifiers A method and apparatus for automatically training a data loss prevention (DLP) agent deployed on an endpoint device is described. In one embodiment, the method includes monitoring information content on a client computer system for violations of a policy. The method further includes determining, with the client computer system, whether a violation of the policy has occurred for the information content based on a classifier. The method may also include transmitting monitored data indicative of a policy decision and the information content to a remote system and receiving a response from the remote system including an updated classifier, wherein the updated classifier was automatically generated by the remote system utilizing fingerprint matching.
US09183382B2	Method for blocking a denial-of-service attack A server receives a first echo request message which complies with an Internet control message protocol, extracts filtering information from hear information of the received first echo request message, and when a second echo request message which complies with the Internet control message protocol is received, compares header information of the received second echo request message and the extracted filtering information so as to determine whether to block an attacking packet for the received second echo request message. According to the present invention, the server blocks the attacking packet using the Internet control message protocol, thereby blocking a denial-of-service attack.
US09183381B2	Apparatus, system, and method for detecting tampering of fiscal printers An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for detecting tampering of devices such as fiscal printers. A memory module includes a volatile memory that stores multi-bit data. An operation module allows operation of an electronic device, such as a fiscal printer, in response to determining that the predefined multi-bit data is stored in the volatile memory. A detection module detects an attempt to access the enclosed device where access to the enclosed device is restricted by an enclosure. A tamper switch module disconnects power to the volatile memory such that the predefined multi-bit data stored in the volatile memory is erased in response to the detection module detecting an attempted access to the enclosed device. A shutdown module disables operation of the electronic device in response to determining that the predefined multi-bit data is not stored in the volatile memory.
US09183377B1	Unauthorized account monitoring system and method A possibly pre-infected system is inspected for the existence of tracked application-specific accounts. In a tracked application-specific account is found, the system is further audited to verify that only authorized processes are using the account and that the authorized account creation application is installed on the host computer system.
US09183376B2	Communication system, client apparatus, relay apparatus, and computer-readable medium A communication system includes a client apparatus and a relay apparatus. The client apparatus includes an acquisition unit and a request unit. The acquisition unit acquires permission information indicating permission to access a service provider apparatus, from the service provider apparatus. The request unit transmits the permission information and user identification information which has been input, to the relay apparatus so as to request access to the service provider apparatus. The relay apparatus includes a storage controller and an access unit. The storage controller stores the permission information and the user identification information which are received from the client apparatus, in a storage unit in such a manner that the permission information and the user identification information are associated with each other. The access unit accesses the service provider apparatus by using the permission information stored in the storage unit.
US09183375B2	Use of resource up to extension value by subscription device A pin associated with an identification number (ID) of a subscription device and a sequence number of a credit is output to a user. The pin is inputted to the subscription device. The subscription device is to allow the user to use a resource up to an extension value stored in the subscription device, if the entered pin correlates to a stored pin of the subscription device.
US09183374B2	Techniques for identity-enabled interface deployment Techniques for providing identity-enabled interfaces for deployment are presented. Specifically, an agent of an enterprise infrastructure authenticates and acquires an agent identity for interacting with a cloud processing environment. Once the agent is deployed in the cloud processing environment, enterprise policy can be enforced within the cloud processing environment on actions occurring within the cloud. The agent acts as an Application Programming Interface between the enterprise and the cloud processing environment. The reverse is also achievable, where a cloud deploys an agent to the enterprise to deploy a cloud interface within the enterprise for policy enforcement.
US09183373B2	Secure input via a touchscreen A method and apparatus is provided for securely obtaining input from a touchscreen. A secure execution environment may be implemented (e.g., at a processor), where the secure execution environment may include a touchscreen driver. A keypad image may be sent from the secure execution environment to be displayed by a touchscreen. An input location may be received at the secure execution environment from the touchscreen driver. Such input location may be converted at the secure execution environment into a character, symbol, or a request to change the keypad image displayed at the touchscreen. In one implementation, the secure execution environment may further implement a display driver which sends the keypad image to the touchscreen. The secure execution environment may implement driver keypad image mapping function that maps the keypad image to a character set.
US09183372B2	Mobile terminal and control method thereof A mobile terminal for receiving a message and a control method thereof are provided. The mobile terminal includes: a wireless communication unit configured to receive at least one of authentication information and a message from an external electronic device; an authenticating unit configured to perform user authentication by using the authentication information received from the electronic device; and a controller configured to perform a control operation in response to a control command included in the received message when the user authentication is performed, and transmit a message indicating the result of performing the control operation to the electronic device.
US09183369B2	Thumb drive guest user A method and system for managing a computer user, comprising initiating a user session for the computer user based on user data stored in one partition on a removable computer readable medium. The user data is associated with a user ID, and the user ID is stored on a second partition of the removable computer readable medium. The user ID is used to identify the user data to the computer user. The computer user is authenticated as being associated with the user data based in part on the user ID. Also described is an article of manufacture for creating a partition on a removable computer readable medium for storing user data and associating it with a second partition storing an associated user ID on the removable computer readable medium.
US09183357B2	Recording/reproducing system, recording medium device, and recording/reproducing device A memory card and a recording/playback device are provided that are capable of deterring a memory card manufacturer from illicitly storing a same media ID on a plurality of memory cards. A memory card (100) includes a media ID storage module unit (610) and a memory unit (120). The media ID storage module unit (610) includes a media ID storage unit (611) that stores therein a media ID that is specific to the memory card, and a certification unit (609) that generates certification information that certifies the validity of the memory card based on the media ID. The memory unit (120) includes an encrypted content storage unit (122) for storing encrypted digital content. The recording/playback device (200) includes a memory card verification unit (200) that acquires the certification information from the memory card (100), verifies the validity of the memory card (100) based on the acquired certification information, and when the verification has failed, prohibits decrypting an encrypted content or encrypting a content, and a content encryption unit (209) that, when the verification has succeeded, encrypts the digital content or decrypts the encrypted digital content.
US09183356B2	Method and apparatus for providing biometric information A method and apparatus for providing biometric information are provided. The method includes measuring biometric information corresponding to at least one body part of a user; processing the biometric information based on at least one of a type of the biometric information and a type of the body part; and displaying the processed biometric information over at least one of image data obtained by photographing the body part and the body part.
US09183354B2	Systems and methods for image guided surgery Systems and methods for image guided surgery are disclosed herein. An example method can include: receiving a plurality of 2D projection images of an object at a plurality of projection angles during a first period of time; and receiving a position of an instrument relative to a tracking coordinate system during the first period of time. The method can also include registering the plurality of 2D projection images relative to the tracking coordinate system to obtain a transformation function that defines a relationship between a coordinate system of the plurality of 2D projection images and the tracking coordinate system; receiving an adjusted position of the instrument relative to the tracking coordinate system during a second period of time that is subsequent to the first period of time; and estimating an adjusted position of the instrument relative to the plurality of 2D projection images using the transformation function.
US09183350B2	Quantitatively characterizing disease morphology with cell orientation entropy Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with objectively predicting biochemical recurrence (BCR) with cell orientation entropy (COrE) are described. One example apparatus includes a set of logics that associate directional disorder with a risk of biochemical recurrence in a tissue. A first logic detects a cell in the tissue, segments boundaries of the cell, and calculates a cell direction for the cell. A second logic constructs a localized sparsified subgraph whose nodes represent centroids of the cells, defines pairwise spatial relationships between the cells, and constructs a directional co-occurrence matrix based on the spatial relationships. A third logic derives second order statistical features from the co-occurrence matrix, and produces a BCR risk score as a function of the second order statistical features. The second order statistical features include the entropy of the directional organization of the cells.
US09183345B2	Apparatus and method for generating a power delivery network An apparatus and method for generating a power delivery network (PDN) of a circuit system is provided. The apparatus performs a power diagnostics on the PDN of a circuit system. According to result of the power diagnostics, a number of areas are generated and divided into at least three subsets. At least one area is selected from each of the at least three subsets, and one node is selected from each of the selected areas, and the nodes are connected sequentially to form an interconnection with at least three nodes in the PDN.
US09183343B1	Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for implementing high current carrying interconnects in electronic designs Various embodiments implement high current carrying multi-strands of interconnects between two pins in a region of interest within an electronic circuit by performing area-based searches for viable routing solutions using valid intervals. Certain pins that are within a predetermined proximity to each other may be optionally clustered to form a single, wide pin. The region of interest may be first processed to form one or more sets of spacetiles, or the geometries in the region of interest may be projected onto a boundary of the region of interest, to determine the valid interval(s) on along the boundary. The valid intervals may then be used by a router to implement the multi-strands of interconnects. The router also considers the physical, electrical, and manufacturing requirement(s) in implementing the multi-strands of interconnects.
US09183342B2	Multi-dimensional physical arrangement techniques using bin-packing with per-branch combination tries A recursive solution to a bin-packing algorithm provides efficient placement of objects in a physical layout. The algorithm determines requirement vectors for the objects that specify requirement for placement of the object in multiple dimensions, thereby forming a multi-dimensional bin-packing problem. The algorithm assigns the objects to physical partitions or “bins” by recursively exploring partial solutions that place the objects in the partitions by extending the partial solutions via recursion until the objects are placed. The bin-packing algorithm tests requirements vectors for remaining unassigned ones of the objects for both assignment and non-assignment to a current partition in a current partial solution until the current partial solution becomes a complete solution that satisfies the requirement vectors for the plurality of objects.
US09183339B1	System and method for preparing partially reconfigurable circuit designs A circuit design is created in a computer memory in response to user input to a computer processor. The circuit design has a static portion. A virtual socket is instantiated in the circuit design in response to user input, and one or more reconfigurable modules are instantiated in the virtual socket in response to user input. The static portion of the circuit design is coupled to the one or more reconfigurable modules, and configuration data are generated from the circuit design. The configuration data include a configuration bitstream corresponding to the static portion of the circuit design and one or more partial configuration bitstreams corresponding to the one or more reconfigurable modules.
US09183336B1	Automatic asynchronous signal pipelining An electronic design automation (EDA) tool alters a user's netlist to provide timing success for distribution of asynchronous signals. Distribution networks are used with the addition of pipeline registers before and/or after the distribution buffer. Or, a tree of pipeline registers is inserted between the asynchronous source and the destination registers. Or, any number of distribution networks are stitched together and pipeline stages may be inserted before and/or after each distribution buffer. Or, beneficial skew is utilized by introducing a delay component that skews a clock signal. The skewed clock signal drives a pipeline register that is inserted before a distribution buffer in order to improve timing margin. Any of various compilation techniques may be used within the EDA tool to solve the problem of distributing high-speed, high-fanout asynchronous signals. The technique has utility for high-performance FPGAs and structured ASIC families, as well as for low-cost FPGAs and other types of logic devices.
US09183332B2	Method for simulation of partial VLSI ASIC design A system and method for an automated way of running spice on a small portion of a design is presented. The system includes a sub-circuit netlist generation processor and an analog simulation processor. The sub-circuit netlist generation processor generates a sub-circuit netlist based, at least in part, on a HDL netlist, a parasitic capacitance database and trace rules. The sub-circuit netlist contains significantly fewer paths than the HDL netlist of an entire design so that its simulation time is much quicker. The analog simulation processor generates analog simulation results of the sub-circuit netlist based, at least in part, on dynamic inputs.
US09183331B1	Formalizing IP driver interface A system and method that tests an IP component of a hardware design generates an abstract model of the IP component based on knowledge of the design and one or more protocols implemented with the IP component. A generic driver and associated interfaces are additionally generated or selected to test the IP component within the hardware design.
US09183329B2	Debugging simulation with partial design replay A virtual platform simulates behavior of a modular circuit based on a circuit design including both high-level and low-level models of circuit modules. A compiler that converts the high-level and low-level models into executable models prior to an initial simulation also generates a separate “replay engine” corresponding to each low-level module for use during subsequent replay simulations. During the initial simulation, the virtual platform simulates circuit behavior by concurrently executing the high-level and low-level executable models and recording data representing behavior of output signals of the low-level design modules modeled by the executable models. To speed up subsequent replays of the simulation, the virtual platform executes one or more of the replay engines in lieu of executing their corresponding low-level executable models. Each executed replay engine simulates behavior of each output signal of a corresponding low-level module in response to the data recorded during the initial simulation representing the behavior of that output signal.
US09183322B2	Increasing internet protocol version 6 host table scalability in top of rack switches for data center deployments Techniques are provided for optimizing storage of address information in switch device databases. A control packet is received from a source host. An address associated with a host is determined. The address comprises a first and second address component. The first address component is stored in a first database and is mapped to an index value that is stored in the first database. The index value is also stored in a second database along with the second address component. The first database may also be examined to determine whether the first address component is stored in the first database. If the first address component is stored in the first database, the index value mapped to the first address component is retrieved. The second database is examined to determine whether the index value and the second address component are stored in the second database.
US09183317B1	System and method for exporting report results from a reporting system A technique for exporting results from a reporting system report in a format type including a datamart, PDF file, flat file, Excel™ file, HTML file, and XML file or in another relational database management system (RDBMS) format. In one embodiment, the technique is realized through a method and a system for automatically exporting results from a business intelligence, OLAP, or other reporting system. One embodiment of the present invention involves a method of enabling a user to designate a report desired for execution as an export-report. When the report is processed, the report is exported into a datamart or other format and made available for access by the user through one or more different types of user devices. The user may then further manipulate or export the results from the datamart to a file type as desired.
US09183316B2	Providing action links to share web content Action links for a web document may be dynamically generated by a third party. In one implementation, a method may include receiving a request from a client device relating to a document being processed by the client device, the request including a request for content in which the content defines action links that are to be inserted into the document. Action links may be determined for the document based on preferences of a user and content may be generated that describes the determined action links.
US09183315B2	Method and apparatus for dynamically presenting content in response to successive scans of a static code QR codes or the like are used in hardlink applications, by which different users may receive different information in response to a scan of the same code that is displayed at one or more locations in the real world. The content delivered to a particular user may be dependent on the time of the scan, the geographic location of the user, a weather condition at the geographical location, personal information associated with the user, a number of previous scans of the code by prior individuals, and any combination of the these or other variables, which may be determined by an originator of the QR code or other party.
US09183309B2	System to generate related search queries Systems and methods described herein may operate to receive, at a search service, a first query from a user device corresponding to a current user of the search service, analyze existing search queries performed by users of the search service, and selectively provide, to the user device, a second query of the existing search queries as at least one of: a refinement of the first query based on determining that the second query includes all keywords in the first query, or an alternative to the first query based on determining that the second query lacks at least one keyword in the first query.
US09183308B1	Method and apparatus for searching the internet A method and apparatus for searching the Internet is provided. In one embodiment, a computer implemented method of searching the Internet automatically creates a search query derived from a topic model used by a real time information retrieval service, where the real time information retrieval service produces real time information related to the topic model. The method uses a search engine for searching the Internet for non-real time information related to the search query.
US09183306B2	Automated selection of appropriate information based on a computer user's context A system filters received messages (e.g., unsolicited advertisements) to determine if they are appropriate for a user based on the non-static, constantly evolving, context of the user. The system can track the user's context by monitoring various environmental parameters, such as related to the user's physical, mental, computing and data environments, and can model the current context of the user based at least in part on the monitoring. The system selects a set of one or more filters to apply to incoming messages based on the user's context, and the selected filters can be updated as the user's context changes. Messages that survive the filters are then evaluated against the user's context to determine whether they should be presented immediately or stored for delayed presentation.
US09183304B2	Method of and system for displaying fact check results based on device capabilities An efficient fact checking system analyzes and determines the factual accuracy of information and/or characterizes the information by comparing the information with source information. The efficient fact checking system automatically monitors information, processes the information, fact checks the information efficiently and/or provides a status of the information.
US09183301B2	Search engine optimization performance valuation A way to promote a web site is via search engine optimization (SEO). Traditionally, SEO practitioners have charged a fixed fee for performing SEO services. An analyzer can determine a first probability that a search query for a campaign term will result in a referral from a search engine, determine second probabilities that are associated with a plurality of particular positions in a search engine results page, combine the search query volume information, the first probability, and the second probability for the position with a monetary value to generate an organic price, combine the organic prices for the plurality of positions to value the SEO services for the campaign term. The analyzer evaluates the effectiveness of SEO activities and can generate a volume-based value for SEO services. In addition, disclosed techniques can also be used to identify candidate terms for future SEO activities.
US09183296B1	Large scale video event classification Systems and methods are provided herein relating to video classification. A text mining component is disclosed that automatically generates a plurality of video event categories. Part-of-Speech (POS) analysis can be applied to video titles and descriptions, further using a lexical hierarchy to filter potential classifications. Classification performance can be further improved by extracting content-based features from a video sample. Using the content based features a set of classifier scores can be generated. A hyper classifier can use both the classifier scores and the content-based features of the video to classify the video sample.
US09183290B2	Method and system for disambiguating informational objects The present invention provides a Distinct Author Identification System (“DAIS”) for disambiguating data to discern author entities and link or associate authorships with such author entities. The invention provides powerful disambiguation processes applied across one or more databases to yield a disambiguated authority database of authors. An entire database of publications may be processed by the DAIS to group/link authorships and to identify author entities. The author entities may then be matched or associated with actual authors to establish an authority database of authors. After initial evaluation, the DAIS may be used to reevaluate some or all of the database(s) and/or the authority database established by the DAIS may be used to add or update information. DAIS may use “hierarchical clustering” to link authorships and identify authors based on authorship similarity. DAIS evaluates the likelihood that authorships are from the same author.
US09183288B2	System and method of structuring data for search using latent semantic analysis techniques The disclosed embodiments provide a system and method for using modified Latent Semantic Analysis techniques to structure data for efficient search and display. The present invention creates a hierarchy of clustered documents, representing the topics of a domain corpus, through a process of optimal agglomerative clustering. The output from a search query is displayed in a fisheye view corresponding to the hierarchy of clustered documents. The fisheye view may link to a two-dimensional self-organizing map that represents semantic relationships between documents.
US09183285B1	Data clustering system and methods Data having some similarities and some dissimilarities may be clustered or grouped according to the similarities and dissimilarities. The data may be clustered using agglomerative clustering techniques. The clusters may be used as suggestions for generating groups where a user may demonstrate certain criteria for grouping. The system may learn from the criteria and extrapolate the groupings to readily sort data into appropriate groups. The system may be easily refined as the user gains an understanding of the data.
US09183280B2	Methods and systems using demand metrics for presenting aspects for item listings presented in a search results page Methods and systems for using a demand metric for disambiguating a keyword entered from a client machine, the keyword identifying a product brand and ambiguously identifying a product category of the product brand; computing the dominant product category that indicates the probable identity of the product category; and providing signals representing selectable images of aspects of the dominant product category for rendering at the client machine.
US09183276B2	Electronic device and method for searching handwritten document According to one embodiment, an electronics device generates first and second index information, the first index information including codes of character strings corresponding to strokes, the second index information including characteristic quantity of strokes. The device executes at least either one of a first search and a second search, according to character string likelihood of first strokes which is a search key. The first search is performed by using the second index information and characteristic quantity of the first strokes. The second search is performed by using the first index information and a code of a character string corresponding to the first strokes.
US09183275B2	Data profiling method and system A data profiling method and system for reading an input data entry set and labeling semantic fragments according to fragments of data entries and semantic features of fragments and, based on the labeled semantic fragments performing a semantic-level data analysis of the input data entry set to obtain analysis results. According to the method and system of the present invention, it is able to obtain better data analysis of free text and make corresponding statistics and analysis of free-text data entry sets according to semantics.
US09183274B1	System, methods, and data structure for representing object and properties associations Systems, methods, and data structures are disclosed for discovering and representing object-properties associations using textual data. The object can be a physical object or an abstract object. A system comprises a storage medium configured to store a data package containing one or more terms each comprising a word or phrase as names of properties or attributes associated with the object. The terms in the data package can collectively serve as an associative representation of the object. The data package can be used in a system for searching and classifying information based on concepts. The data package can be obtained by analyzing a plurality of text contents each containing a term defined as the object name, and other terms that are not the object name, and counting the number of occurrences of the text contents containing the object name and non-object name, or using a weighting co-efficient based on the grammatical roles of the terms, or using the frequencies of the terms in the external documents.
US09183270B2	Social genome Systems and methods are provided for processing a data stream in real time to identify connections between one or more social elements social elements and aggregating and storing the identified connections over a rolling time window. Social elements may be stored as nodes and connection between social elements may be stored as labeled connections between nodes.
US09183268B2	Partition level backup and restore of a massively parallel processing database Techniques to perform an incremental backup of a large-scale distributed database, such as a massively parallel processing (MPP) database, are disclosed. In various embodiments, a set of table partitions each of which satisfies one or more criteria to be included in a current incremental backup is determined at backup time, at least in part by comparing a current table partition meta-information with corresponding meta-information from a prior backup. The table partitions in the set are included in the incremental backup, while other table partitions not in the set are not backed up. In some embodiments, certain tables are designated to be of a type such that existing records are not modified. Tables are partitioned in a manner that isolates changes, e.g., added rows, in a relative few table partitions, leaving others unchanged and therefore able to be omitted from subsequent incremental backups.
US09183262B2	Methodology for building and tagging relevant content Systems and methods for content tagging and creation within an information system are described herein. Content tagging may include the processing of unstructured data as input and the transformation of the unstructured data into structured data that has context relative to a user or a group of users. The content may include an action statement suggesting at least one action for the user to perform. The tagging process may associate the action statement with a tag provided from a hierarchy of tag classifications, the tag being relevant to motivating the user to perform at least one action contained in the action statement (for example, the performance actions facilitating the user's achievement of a health goal). The content and associated tagging data may then be stored in the information system for consumption by the content suggestion engine. Further techniques for tagging and accessing tagged data are also described.
US09183259B1	Selecting content based on social significance Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, and including a method for displaying content. The method comprises receiving content items that are publishable to an activity stream in a social networking application for a user in a social network. The method further comprises evaluating the received content items using social criteria, including determining a social quality score for each content item. The method further comprises filtering the received content items to remove content items having social quality scores below a predetermined threshold. The method further comprises ranking remaining content items according to their associated social quality scores. The method further comprises publishing the remaining content items in the activity stream for the user in an order based at least in part on the ranking.
US09183257B1	Using web ranking to resolve anaphora The specification relates to a method of receiving a first query and a second query. The method analyzes the second query for a presence of anaphora. If anaphora is present, the method analyzes the first query for a presence of an entity that can be associated with the anaphora. If the analysis analyzing the first query returns two or more associated entities, the method forms a third query wherein the anaphora of the second query is replaced with one of the associated entities and forms a fourth query wherein the anaphora is replaced with the other of the associated entities. The third query and the fourth query are sent to a query-ranking engine. The third query and the fourth query receive a ranking and the higher-ranked query is sent to a search engine.
US09183244B2	Rule modification in decision trees A system, apparatus, and method are provided for modifying rules in-place atomically from the perspective of an active search process using the rules for packet classification. A rule may be modified in-place by updating a rule's definition to be an intersection of an original and new definition. The rule's definition may be further updated to the rule's new definition and a decision tree may be updated based on the rule's new definition. While a search processor searches for one or more rules that match keys generated from received packets the in-place rule modification prevents periods of incorrect rule matching of the keys thereby preventing packet loss and preserving throughput.
US09183240B2	Distributed indexing system for data storage A distributed indexing system spreads out the load on an index of stored data in a data storage system. Rather than maintain a single index, the distributed indexing system maintains an index in each media agent of a federated data storage system and a master index that points to the index in each media agent. In some embodiments, the distributed indexing system includes an index server (or group of servers) that handles indexing requests and forwards the requests to the appropriate distributed systems. Thus, the distributed indexing system, among other things, increases the availability and fault tolerance of a data storage index.
US09183239B2	Optimizing a content index for target audience queries Apparatus and methods are provided for indexing electronic content to be served to users' mobile and/or stationary communications and computing devices. An index is composed of multiple slices, with each slice storing multiple entries and each entry representing one content item or one campaign or collection of content items. An entry is populated with tokens representing attribute/value pairs of a target audience of the content item and/or property/value pairs of the item or the item's campaign. A query or request to identify content items for serving to a particular user is similarly formatted with tokens representing attribute/value pairs of the user and/or item/campaign. Queries can then be executed rapidly across any or all index entries in any or all slices. Within a slice, entries may be sorted by value or score, and integer components within an individual entry may be sorted to facilitate rapid comparison with a query.
US09183233B2	Nomadic data collection and management method including pessimistic locking of data A method of managing a central data repository including updating the central data repository from a disconnected nomadic device by receiving a request from a first nomadic device for access at the central data repository, authorizing the first nomadic device and sending a check out template to the first nomadic device. The server receives a checkout selection from the first nomadic device, authenticates the first nomadic device, and presents a list of authorized items to the first nomadic device; receives a request for selected items from the list and check out the selected items to the first nomadic device. This prohibits other nomadic devices from checking out the selected items checked out to the first selected nomadic device. The first nomadic device is disconnected and the checked out selected items are updated. After updating, a check in request is received at the central data repository from the first nomadic device for the updated checked out selected items The device is and authenticated and authorized, and the updated checked out selected items are returned to the central data repository.
US09183231B2	Interactive table to present multi-level relationships between data items In one embodiment, a first selection of a data item in an interactive table is received. Further, one or more data items related to the first selected data item in the interactive table are identified. The interactive table is modified to render the data items identified as related to the first selected data item. Furthermore, a second selection of a data item within the data items identified as related to the first selected data item is received and one or more data items related to the second selected data item within the data items identified as related to the first selected data item are identified. Further, the previously modified interactive table is again modified to render the data items identified as related to the second selected data item.
US09183230B2	Content analytics system configured to support multiple tenants Techniques are disclosed for a software as a service (SaaS) provider to host a content analytics tool used to evaluate data collections for multiple customers (referred to as tenants) using one dedicated and expandable computing infrastructure, without requiring that the service provider obtain, install, license, and manage a separate copy of the content analytics tools for each tenant. Customers are provided access to resources dedicated to their enterprise, but do not have access, or even awareness, of data collections or analytics resources hosted for other customers. That is, embodiments presented herein allow a provider to host content analytics tools used by customers to evaluate their enterprise data in a secure and timely manner.
US09183228B2	Image retrieval method, real-time drawing prompting method, and devices thereof An image retrieval method is provided. The method includes detecting an outline of an image and obtaining an outline feature of the image, generating an index list in an image database according to the outline feature, and obtaining a sketch input by a user and retrieving images containing the sketch from the index list. The various embodiments of the present disclosure also provide an image retrieval device and a real-time drawing prompting method and device. The various embodiments of the present disclosure can rapidly and precisely retrieve image information based on contents, and the user can rapidly retrieve desired images by inputting a sketch. The real-time drawing prompting method and device can provide the limner with real-time guidance based on the retrieval of a sketch map.
US09183223B2	System for non-deterministic disambiguation and qualitative entity matching of geographical locale data for business entities There is provided a method that includes (a) receiving data that describes a location, (b) extrapolating, from the data, an address associated with the location, (c) identifying a segment of a thoroughfare that includes the address, (d) defining a polygon that has a perimeter that encompasses a geographic region that is in a vicinity of the segment, (e) obtaining geo-coordinates of a point within the polygon, (f) identifying an address at the geo-coordinates, and (g) identifying an entity that is associated with the address at the geo-coordinates. There is also provided a system that performs the method, and a storage device that contains instructions that control a processor to perform the method.
US09183221B2	Component and method for overlying information bearing hexagons on a map display The disclosure relates to a computer implemented method and component defining a plurality of data structures, each data structure having a plurality of data elements. The method and component associate the plurality of data structures with a geographic area wherein each data structure of the plurality corresponds to its own unique sub-part of the geographic area. Each data structure of the plurality is rendered as a corresponding one of a plurality of adjacent, non-overlapping, mathematically regular hexagonal shapes. Each data structure is configured for programmatic loading of the plurality of data elements and display characteristics of each hexagon are specified based on data stored in the data elements of the data structure corresponding to each hexagon.
US09183220B2	Hierarchical structured data organization system A method in a data processing system and apparatus for organizing files or web pages, structured or unstructured, of multiple users stored across one or more server computers into hierarchical file structures on a recordable medium of a data processing system. A user-defined metalabel is assigned to each of the electronic files or web pages. The electronic files or web pages are organized as a function of the metalabels into the hierarchical file structures.
US09183214B2	Method and apparatus for data storage and downloading The present invention discloses a data storage method, a data downloading method, and a related apparatus. The data storage method includes: receiving a storage request containing a uniform resource locator (URL) for a storage operation; acquiring the URL in the storage request; determining whether a URL schema corresponding to the URL is in a storage, the URL schema corresponding to different URLs for a same file under a same domain name; when the URL schema is in the storage, completing the storage operation without storing the URL; when the URL schema is not in the storage, determining a hash value of a file corresponding to the URL and a hash value of the URL schema, and storing mapping relationship information between the file hash value and the URL schema hash value in the URL index database. The storage resource usage of the URL index database is reduced.
US09183211B1	Cooperative storage of shared files in a parallel computing system with dynamic block size Improved techniques are provided for parallel writing of data to a shared object in a parallel computing system. A method is provided for storing data generated by a plurality of parallel processes to a shared object in a parallel computing system. The method is performed by at least one of the processes and comprises: dynamically determining a block size for storing the data; exchanging a determined amount of the data with at least one additional process to achieve a block of the data having the dynamically determined block size; and writing the block of the data having the dynamically determined block size to a file system. The determined block size comprises, e.g., a total amount of the data to be stored divided by the number of parallel processes. The file system comprises, for example, a log structured virtual parallel file system, such as a Parallel Log-Structured File System (PLFS).
US09183208B1	Fileshot management Many applications and computing environments, such as data storage systems, provide data backup and restoration features. It may be advantageous to provide file level backups that may be accessible to a user through a directory structure of a file system. Accordingly, fileshots comprising backup data of a file may be stored as metadata of the file. For example, a fileshot may be stored within a stream directory as a hidden stream linked off of the file. Fileshots may be associated within a directory interface (e.g., a command prompt or graphical user interface), which may be presented to a user. In this way, the user may access and/or manage fileshots through the directory interface (e.g., the user may create fileshots, restore files with fileshots, copy fileshots, etc.). Additionally, fileshot metadata may be maintained for fileshots. The fileshot metadata may be used to locate fileshot and/or perform fileshot commands.
US09183205B1	User-based backup Various systems and methods for creating a user-based backup. For example, one method can involve receiving a request to perform a backup operation. The request includes information that identifies a user. The method also involves selecting a set of data objects based on detecting that the set of data objects is associated with the user. The set of data objects is a subset of the objects stored on one or more storage devices. The generated user-based backup will include only the data objects in the set, that is, only data objects that are associated with the user identified in the request to perform the backup operation.
US09183204B2	Method and system for generating grammar rules An information retrieval system, including a natural language parser (3) for parsing documents of a document space (1) to identify key terms of each document based on linguistic structure, and for parsing a search query to determine the search term, a feature extractor (4) for determining an importance score for terms of the document space (1) based on distribution of the terms in the document space (1), an index term generator (5) for generating index terms using the key terms identified by the parser (3) and the extractor (4) and having an importance score above a threshold level, and a query clarifier (16) for selecting from the index terms, on the basis of the search term, index terms for selecting at least one document from the document space (1). A speech recognition engine (12) is used to generate the query, and a bi-gram language module (6) generates grammar rules for the speech recognition engine (12) using the index terms.
US09183202B2	Notification methods for non-programmatic integration systems Methods and systems for retrieving information from an unrelated application that includes receiving automatically, non-programmatically collected application data from a mapped location of a mapped source reference of the unrelated application; querying a computer-readable storage medium collected application data without user intervention; retrieving identifying data associated with documents stored in the computer-readable storage medium based upon the query; monitoring the collected application data from the mapped location for a change in the collected application data; and upon detecting the change, re-querying the computer-readable storage medium using the changed collected application data and retrieving identifying data associated with the documents based upon the re-query.
US09183201B1	Policy based over sampling with replacement A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for process data. In some embodiments, this includes receiving a desired sample size from a user, increasing the desired sample size based on a policy, using the increased desired sample size to determine a number of samples to take from a database segment, wherein the database segment includes a portion of a dataset, generating a sub-dataset based on the determined number of samples to take from the database segment, wherein the sub-dataset only includes identifiers, joining the generated sub-dataset with the dataset, and storing the joined dataset in a storage device.
US09183199B2	Communication device for multiple language translation system A communication device for a multiple language translation system is disclosed. The communication device allows users to communicate with others using their own preferred language and the communication device provides a translation for each user in their preferred language. The communication device comprises a wireless transceiver for communicating with other users, networks, and the Internet. Operation switches are provided for controlling operation of the communication device. Signal indicators visually show status or conditions. A user hears the translation via an earphone or sees the translation on a display. A remote control allows the communication device to be controlled remotely.
US09183197B2	Language processing resources for automated mobile language translation Automated language translation often involves language translation resources of significant size (e.g., 50-gigabyte phrase tables) and significant computational power exceeding the capabilities of many mobile devices. Remotely accessible servers capable of near-realtime, automated translation may be inaccessible or prohibitively costly while traveling abroad. Presented herein are adaptations of language translation techniques for offline mobile devices involving reducing the size and raising the efficiency of the language modeling resources. A word index may be provided that stores respective string representations of the words of a language, and maps respective words to a location (e.g., address or offset) of respective word representations within the word index. Language translation resources (e.g., phrase tables) may then specify logical relationships using the word index addresses of the involved words, rather than the string equivalents. This technique significantly condenses the language resources and provides faster, bidirectional access to the word representations of the language.
US09183196B1	Parsing annotator framework from external services A language processing system uses annotation services that are external to the language processing system to identify n-grams that identify entities in an input sentence. The n-grams are annotated by the annotation services. The annotations are used to determine which n-grams, if any, correspond to instances of an entity type (e.g., values for a variable or terminals for a non-terminal). After determining which n-grams correspond to entity types, parse initializations are generated for parsing rules and parses for each rule are attempted. The rules that successfully parse are used to determine whether the input sentence invokes a specific action, and if so, what arguments are to be passed to the invocation of the action.
US09183195B2	Autocorrecting text for the purpose of matching words from an approved corpus System, method, and computer program product to autocorrect text for the purpose of matching words from an approved corpus, by: responsive to receiving a text input comprising a first word, validating the first word against a content corpus, wherein the content corpus comprises a plurality of words approved for display in an online chat, validating the first word against a set of rules, and upon determining that the first word of the text input is not validated against at least one of the content corpus and the set of rules, modifying the text input by replacing the first word with a first approved word from the content corpus.
US09183194B2	Document analysis, commenting, and reporting system A method includes identifying a first term in a document structure instance that matches a first permissible term in a glossary and identifying a second term in the document structure instance that matches a second permissible term in the glossary. A determination is made whether the document structure instance establishes an interaction between the first term and the second term. The method also includes generating, with a processor, a relationship map. The relationship map includes a first object that represents the first term, a second object that represents the second term, and an interaction object that represents whether the instance establishes the interaction between the first term and the second term.
US09183187B2	Advertisement display program, advertisement display apparatus, advertisement display method, recording medium, and advertisement display system Advertisement information (45, 46) and a character string which is set in advance are stored in association with each other (S2), display data are obtained (S3), link information including a character string is specified from among link information included in the obtained display data (S8), a display position 42 for displaying the specified link information is specified (S9), an advertisement display area for displaying advertisement information is specified on the basis of the specified display position (S10), advertisement information corresponding to a character string included in the specified link information is specified (S11), and the specified advertisement information is displayed in the specified advertisement display area (43, 44) (S14).
US09183185B2	Inserting content and exclusion zone(s) into a page Information relating to an exclusion zone to be provided on a page is received (102), where the exclusion zone defines a corresponding area of the page that is free of content to be inserted in the page. A layout defining plural partitions on the page is produced (104), where the layout includes the exclusion zone and the content having a plurality of elements that are inserted by recursively defining the plural partitions on the page, where the exclusion zone and content elements are provided in respective ones of the plural partitions, and where recursively defining the plural partitions considers presence of the exclusion zone.
US09183182B2	System and method for determining a probability of well success using stochastic inversion A system and a computer implemented method for determining a best well location from a plurality of possible well locations are described herein. The method includes drawing a plurality of earth models from a posterior distribution, wherein the posterior distribution is generated by stochastic inversion of existing data; calculating a well production at a plurality of proposed well locations within an earth model in the plurality of earth models using a relationship between the well production and earth parameters; calculating from the plurality of earth models, cost distributions using the relationship between well cost and the earth parameters; and calculating probability weighted values for the proposed well locations using probabilities from location dependent stochastic inversions as weights.
US09183179B2	Stablization method for vehicles Stabilization method and system for performing dynamic chassis control in a vehicle. An electronic stability control (ESC) includes an ESC sensor set; at least one chassis actuator; and a dynamic controller operably connected to at the least one chassis actuator. The ESC sensor set generates one or more sensor fault signals. Then, the method employs a dynamic controller to evaluate the signals corresponding to the sensor fault at least after a first fast fault signal, or a second slow fault signal. If the first fast fault signal is detected, the dynamic controller generates a signal for at least one of partially or completely temporarily switching off the at least one chassis actuator, while maintaining ESC in an active state. Conversely, if the second slow fault signal is detected, the dynamic controller generates a signal for temporarily switching off the ESC.

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