| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09190679B2 |
Fuel cell system
A fuel cell system that is capable of suppressing temperature change of the fuel cell under a low temperature environment after the operation has stopped, suppressing freezing due to condensation, and ensuring a preferable start thereafter. The fuel cell system comprises: a fuel cell that generates electric power through an electrochemical reaction between air and a hydrogen gas; a gas supply section that supplies air and the hydrogen gas to an air supply path, a fuel supply path and a hydrogen circulation path which are connected to the fuel cell by a compressor and a hydrogen pump; a cooling section that cools the fuel cell by making a cooling path connected to the fuel cell to circulate by a pump the cooling water that is cooled by a radiator; and a control section. |
| US09190667B2 |
Graphene nanocomposites for electrochemical cell electrodes
A composite composition for electrochemical cell electrode applications, the composition comprising multiple solid particles, wherein (a) a solid particle is composed of graphene platelets dispersed in or bonded by a first matrix or binder material, wherein the graphene platelets are not obtained from graphitization of the first binder or matrix material; (b) the graphene platelets have a length or width in the range of 10 nm to 10 μm; (c) the multiple solid particles are bonded by a second binder material; and (d) the first or second binder material is selected from a polymer, polymeric carbon, amorphous carbon, metal, glass, ceramic, oxide, organic material, or a combination thereof. For a lithium ion battery anode application, the first binder or matrix material is preferably amorphous carbon or polymeric carbon. Such a composite composition provides a high anode capacity and good cycling response. For a supercapacitor electrode application, the solid particles preferably have meso-scale pores therein to accommodate electrolyte. |
| US09190656B2 |
Cathode current collector for electrical energy storage device and method for manufacturing the same
Disclosed is a cathode current collector for an electrical energy storage device and a method for manufacturing the same, which improves adhesion between a current collector and an electrode material and provide a high reaction surface area, thereby improving the performance of the electrical energy storage. In particular, a first alumina film is formed on the surface of an aluminum foil using an anodic oxidation process. Next, the first alumina film formed on a surface of the aluminum foil is removed through etching and a second alumina film is formed on the surface of the aluminum foil, from which the first alumina film is removed, using the anodic oxidation process again. Subsequently, a carbon layer is coated on a surface of the aluminum foil on which the second alumina film is formed. |
| US09190649B2 |
Shape memory polymer material compositions, methods and applications
A shape memory polymer material composition comprises: (1) a plurality of inorganic core nanoparticles as netpoints to which is connected; (2) a switching segment that comprises a polymer network. The polymer network comprises: (1) a corona component bonded to each inorganic core nanoparticle through a first chemical linkage; (2) a canopy component bonded to each corona component through a second chemical linkage; and (3) a plurality of cross-linking components cross-linking between different canopy components through a third chemical linkage. Given various selections for the inorganic core nanoparticles, the corona component, the canopy component, the cross-linking component, the first chemical linkage, the second chemical linkage and the third chemical linkage, various performance and composition characteristics of the shape memory polymer material compositions may be readily tailored. |
| US09190646B2 |
Rechargeable battery
A rechargeable battery including: an electrode assembly; and a case including a receiving portion to house the electrode assembly, a junction portion disposed around the receiving portion, formed by bonded films of the case, and gas outlet disposed in the junction portion. The gas outlet includes a first block portion, a second block portion, and a buffering space disposed between the first and second block portions. |
| US09190645B2 |
On-board battery assembly
An on-board battery assembly includes a cell stack, a blowing member, and a control component. The cell stack includes a plurality of cell modules. The cell stack has one side face that extends generally along a width axis orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the plurality of cell modules. The blowing member having a blow-out port that has a dimension generally equivalent to a dimension of the one side face. The blowing member includes a casing having a suction port and a flow channel. The flow channel has a width that becomes greater toward the blow-out port. The control component is provided in a space defined between the casing and a plane, which is perpendicular to the width axis, and which includes an end portion of the one side face. |
| US09190642B2 |
Contoured battery case based on cell shapes
A battery case houses a battery with a plurality of non-prismatic electrochemical cells and at least one electronic component. The battery case includes a plurality of cell housings and at least one electronic component housing that accommodates the at least one electronic component. The plurality of cell housings each (1) define an internal space sized to accommodate one of the electrochemical cells, and (2) include (a) an internal surface at least a portion of which is shaped to substantially correspond to a non-prismatic exterior surface of the one of the electrochemical cells to be housed by the cell housing, and (b) an external surface at least a portion of which follows contours of a corresponding portion of the inner surface. |
| US09190638B2 |
Sealing case
A sealing case includes a main body with an opening, the main body including a housing space therein, a cover configured to cover the opening of the main body, a first fastening portion along an outer circumferential portion of the opening of the main body, a second fastening portion on the cover and corresponding to the first fastening portion, and a sealing member interposed between the main body and the cover, the sealing member having a ‘U’ shape and being fitted between the first fastening portion on the main body and a second fastening portion on the cover. |
| US09190632B2 |
Power storage device usable at low temperatures
A power storage device includes a fuel cell (33), a battery holder (1) and an end plate (40) for sandwiching and binding the fuel cell, and an interposed member (11) disposed between the end plate (40) and the fuel cell (33). The battery holder (1) and the end plate (40) are made of resin, and have a positive coefficient of thermal expansion at a temperature lower than a predetermined temperature. The interposed member (11) is formed to have a substantially negative coefficient of thermal expansion at a temperature lower than the predetermined temperature. |
| US09190629B2 |
Flexible organic electroluminescent device and method for fabricating the same
Disclosed are a flexible organic electroluminescent device, and a method for fabricating the same. The flexible organic electroluminescent device comprises a non-active area formed outside an active area of a substrate; a switching thin film transistor and a driving thin film transistor on the substrate; an interlayer insulating layer formed on the substrate; a first electrode formed on the interlayer insulating layer; a bank formed in the non-active area of the substrate; an organic light-emitting layer formed on the first electrode; a second electrode formed on the organic light-emitting layer; a first passivation layer formed on the substrate; an organic layer formed on the first passivation layer; a partition wall pattern formed on the first passivation layer; a second passivation layer formed on the first passivation layer; and a barrier film disposed to face the substrate. |
| US09190628B2 |
Optoelectronic component and method for producing an optoelectronic component
An optoelectronic component may include: at least one layer of the optoelectronic component; at least one adhesive on the layer of the optoelectronic component; and a cover on the at least one adhesive; wherein the at least one adhesive is cured only in a partial region above at least one of a substrate and the layer. |
| US09190626B2 |
Organic light emitting diode having low driving voltage, high brightness, and excellent light emitting efficiencies
An organic electroluminescent device includes an anode, a cathode, a light emitting layer provided between the anode and the cathode, a first organic material layer being in physical contact with the anode and doped with a p-type dopant, and a second organic material layer being in physical contact with the cathode and doped with a p-type dopant. The concentration of the p-type dopant in the first organic material layer is 50% by weight or more and less than 100% by weight. |
| US09190622B2 |
Hybrid ambipolar TFTs
The present invention relates inter alia to an electronic device, preferably a thin film transistor (TFT) comprising layers with n-type and p-type semi conducting materials, wherein the p-type layer comprises at least one organic hole transport material. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of the electronic device according to the invention in an electronic equipment selected from an RFID and backplanes for a display, electronic book and electronic paper, and an electronic equipment comprising an electronic device according to the invention. |
| US09190618B2 |
Material for organic electronic device, and organic electronic device using same
The present invention provides a novel compound that is capable of largely improving a life time, efficiency, electrochemical stability, and thermal stability of an organic electronic device, and an organic electronic device that comprises an organic material layer comprising the compound. |
| US09190614B2 |
Non-volatile memory device
According to an embodiment, a non-volatile memory device includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and a resistance change layer provided between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer. The resistance change layer is capable of making a transition between a low-resistance state and a high-resistance state, and includes an oxide containing at least one of hafnium (Hf) and zirconium (Zr), at least one selected from the group consisting of barium (Ba), lanthanum (La), gadolinium (Gd) and lutetium (Lu), and nitrogen (N). |
| US09190613B2 |
Variable resistance memory device including phase change area defined by spacers
A variable resistance memory device and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The variable resistance memory device includes a multi-layered insulating layer including a plurality of holes formed on a semiconductor substrate, a lower electrode formed in a bottom of each of the holes, a first spacer formed on the lower electrode and a sidewall of each of the holes, a second spacer formed on an upper sidewall of the first spacer, a third spacer formed on a lower sidewall of the first spacer below the second spacer, a variable resistance part that is formed on the lower electrode has a height lower than a height of a top of each hole, and an upper electrode formed on the variable resistance part to be buried in each hole. |
| US09190612B1 |
Semiconductor structure, resistive random access memory unit structure, and manufacturing method of the semiconductor structure
A semiconductor structure, a resistive random access memory unit structure, and a manufacturing method of the semiconductor structure are provided. The semiconductor structure includes an insulating structure, a stop layer, a metal oxide layer, a resistance structure, and an electrode material layer. The insulating structure has a via, and the stop layer is formed in the via. The metal oxide layer is formed on the stop layer. The resistance structure is formed at a bottom of an outer wall of the metal oxide layer. The electrode material layer is formed on the metal oxide layer. |
| US09190603B2 |
Piezoelectric generating with location signaling
An apparatus including a piezoelectric convertor layer; at least one piezoresistive layer on the piezoelectric convertor layer; and electrical conductor outputs. The at least one piezoresistive layer includes a plurality of spaced apart piezoresistive electrodes. The apparatus is configured such that when the piezoelectric convertor layer is deformed to generate a charge, at least one of the piezoresistive electrodes is stressed, where the at least one piezoresistive layer is configured to control flow of charge from the piezoelectric convertor layer. The electrical conductor outputs are electrically connected to the piezoresistive electrodes. The outputs are configured to allow the charge from the piezoelectric convertor layer to flow out of the piezoresistive electrodes. The electrical conductor outputs are configured relative to the piezoresistive electrodes to allow identification of the at least one piezoresistive electrode which has been stressed based upon the charge on at least one of the electrical conductor outputs. |
| US09190595B2 |
Apparatus and method for harvesting energy in an electronic device
An apparatus, a method, and a computer program product are provided. The apparatus may be an electronic component. The electronic component includes at least one energy harvester coupled between at least one pair of hot and cold regions of the electronic component and configured to convert thermal energy to electrical energy in order to provide power to at least the electronic component, the at least one energy harvester including a radiative thermal channel or a conductive thermal channel. A first end of the conductive thermal channel is coupled to a first semiconductor material and a second end of the conductive thermal channel is coupled to a second semiconductor material, the first semiconductor material being coupled to the hot region and isolated from the cold region and the second semiconductor material being coupled to the cold region and isolated from the hot region. |
| US09190590B2 |
Light emitting element and production method for same, production method for light-emitting device, illumination device, backlight, display device, and diode
A light-emitting element includes a first conductivity type semiconductor base, a plurality of first conductivity type protrusion-shaped semiconductors formed on the semiconductor base, and a second conductivity type semiconductor layer that covers the protrusion-shaped semiconductors. |
| US09190589B2 |
Light emitting diode
The present invention provides a light emitting diode, which comprises a first LED die and a second LED die, each die comprising a first semi-conductive layer, a second semi-conductive layer, and a multiple quantum well layer disposed between the first and the second semi-conductive layers, wherein the first semi-conductive layer of the first LED die is coupled to the second semi-conductive layer of the second LED die so as to form a serially connected structure whereby the consuming current and heat generation of the light emitting diode are lowered so that the size of heat dissipating device for the light emitting diode can be reduced and illumination of the light emitting diode can be enhanced. |
| US09190588B2 |
Side-view type light emitting apparatus and package
A surface mount lateral light emitting apparatus, which includes a light emitting device; a first lead frame connected to the light emitting device; a second lead frame connected to the light emitting device; a first resin molding body in which a concave portion for mounting the light emitting device is formed and the first lead frame and the second lead frame are fixed; and a second resin molding body which covers the light emitting device to form a light emitting surface in the concave portion of the first resin molding body, wherein the first resin molding body contains a filler or a light diffusion agent; wherein in a periphery of the concave portion, a width of at least one side of the first resin molding body is not more than 0.2 mm; and wherein the first resin molding body and the second resin molding body are formed with a thermosetting resin. |
| US09190585B2 |
Light emitting device and lighting equipment
A light emitting device has a base comprising at least one pair of leads having a silver-containing layer on their surfaces and being secured by a resin molded body, a light emitting element mounted on said leads, a protective film made of an inorganic material that covers the upper surface of said base, and a sealing resin disposed on the base surface via said protective film. The sealing resin has a first resin that covers said light emitting element, and a second resin having a higher hardness than said first resin that covers the boundaries between said resin molded body and said leads. |
| US09190580B2 |
Phosphor and light emitting device having the same
Disclosed are a phosphor and a light emitting device including the same. The light emitting device includes a light emitting chip, a phosphor layer on the light emitting chip, and a phosphor added into the phosphor layer to absorb a light emitted from the light emitting chip and emit a central wavelength having a first blue color. The phosphor has a composition formula of LaxOySi6Al4N12:Ce3+z, a range of the x is 2≦x≦8, and a range of the y is 3≦y≦12. |
| US09190574B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting element
A semiconductor light emitting element that outputs emitted light having a predetermined emitted light peak wavelength λ includes: at least a substrate; a lower distributed Bragg reflector layer provided on the substrate; and a light emitting layer provided on the lower distributed Bragg reflector layer. At least one phase changing layer having a thickness of mλ/2n (wherein n is the refractive index of the phase changing layer, and m is an integer 1 or greater) is provided within the lower distributed Bragg reflector layer. |
| US09190572B2 |
Light emitting diode and fabrication method thereof
A light emitting diode includes: a substrate; a light-emitting epitaxial layer, from bottom to up, laminated by semiconductor material layers of a first confinement layer, a light-emitting layer and a second confinement layer over the substrate; a current blocking layer over partial region of the light-emitting epitaxial layer; a transparent conducting structure over the current blocking layer that extends to the light-emitting epitaxial layer surface and is divided into a light-emitting region and a non-light-emitting region, in which, the non-light-emitting region corresponds to the current blocking layer with thickness larger than that of the light-emitting region, thus forming a good ohmic contact between this structure and the light-emitting epitaxial layer and reducing light absorption; and a P electrode over the non-light-emitting region of the transparent conducting structure, which guarantees current spreading performance and reduces working voltage and light absorption. |
| US09190571B2 |
Light emitting device
A light emitting device includes a first semiconductor layer having a first conductive dopant, an active layer on the first semiconductor layer, an electron blocking layer on the active layer, a carrier injection layer between the active layer and the electron blocking layer, and a second semiconductor layer having a second conductive dopant on the electron blocking layer. The carrier injection layer includes the first conductive dopant and the second conductive dopant, and the first conductive dopant of the carrier injection layer has a concentration lower than a concentration of the second conductive dopant. |
| US09190569B2 |
Flip-chip light emitting diode and fabrication method
A flip-chip light emitting diode (LED) includes: a substrate having a P-type pad electrode and an N-type pad electrode; a light-emitting epitaxial layer flip-chip mounted over the substrate, including, from top down, an n-type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a p-type semiconductor layer. The n-type semiconductor layer is divided into a light-emitting region, an isolation region, and an electrode region. The light-emitting region and the electrode region are electrically isolated by the isolation region. The active layer and the p-type semiconductor layer are below the light-emitting region. The p-type semiconductor layer connects with the P-type pad electrode. The electrode region of the n-type semiconductor layer connects with the N-type pad electrode. A conductive connection portion on the n-type semiconductor layer connects the electrode region of the n-type semiconductor layer and the light-emitting region, realizing vertical current injection into the light-emitting epitaxial layer when an external power is connected. |
| US09190561B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting element and light emitting device
A semiconductor light emitting element includes an n-type semiconductor layer containing n-type impurities, a light emitting layer stacked on the n-type semiconductor layer, and a p-type semiconductor layer stacked on the light emitting layer and containing p-type impurities. The light emitting layer includes three or more well layers, and four or more barrier layers composed of a group-III nitride semiconductor having a larger band gap than that of the well layers, and each of the three or more well layers is sandwiched from both sides by neighboring two of the barrier layers. The three or more well layers include plural n-side well layers each having a first thickness to emit light of a common wavelength, and one or plural p-side well layers each having a second thickness larger than the first thickness and having a different composition from the n-side well layers to emit light of the common wavelength. |
| US09190559B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device, nitride semiconductor layer, and method for forming nitride semiconductor layer
According to an embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes a foundation layer, a first semiconductor layer, a light emitting layer, and a second semiconductor layer. The foundation layer has an unevenness having recesses, side portions, and protrusions. A first major surface of the foundation layer has an overlay-region. The foundation layer has a plurality of dislocations including first dislocations whose one ends reaching the recess and second dislocations whose one ends reaching the protrusion. A proportion of a number of the second dislocations reaching the first major surface to a number of all of the second dislocations is smaller than a proportion of a number of the first dislocations reaching the first major surface to a number of all of the first dislocations. A number of the dislocations reaching the overlay-region of the first major surface is smaller than a number of all of the first dislocations. |
| US09190556B2 |
Advanced hydrogenation of silicon solar cells
A method of hydrogenation of a silicon photovoltaic junction device is provided, the silicon photovoltaic junction device comprising p-type silicon semiconductor material and n-type silicon semiconductor material forming at least one p-n junction.The method comprises: i) ensuring that any silicon surface phosphorus diffused layers through which hydrogen must diffuse have peak doping concentrations of 1×1020 atoms/cm3 or less and silicon surface boron diffused layers through which hydrogen must diffuse have peak doping concentrations of 1×1019 atoms/cm3 or less; ii) Providing one or more hydrogen sources accessible by each surface of the device; and iii) Heating the device, or a local region of the device to at least 40° C. while simultaneously illuminating at least some and/or advantageously all of the device with at least one light source whereby the cumulative power of all the incident photons with sufficient energy to generate electron hole pairs within the silicon (in other words photons with energy levels above the bandgap of silicon of 1.12 eV) is at least 20 mW/cm2. |
| US09190555B2 |
Polycrystalline CdTe thin film semiconductor photovoltaic cell structures for use in solar electricity generation
Solar cell structures formed using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) that can achieve improved power efficiencies in relation to prior art thin film solar cell structures are provided. A reverse p-n junction solar cell device and methods for forming the reverse p-n junction solar cell device using MBE are described. A variety of n-p junction and reverse p-n junction solar cell devices and related methods of manufacturing are provided. N-intrinsic-p junction and reverse p-intrinsic-n junction solar cell devices are also described. |
| US09190553B2 |
Optoelectronic semiconductor component, method for producing same and use of such a component
An opto-electronic component includes a housing, a radiation-emitting semiconductor chip and a radiation-detecting semiconductor chip. A first cavity and a second cavity are formed in the housing, wherein the radiation-emitting semiconductor chip is arranged in the first cavity and is cast by means of a first casting compound. The radiation-detecting semiconductor chip is arranged in the second cavity and cast by means of a second casting compound, wherein absorber particles are embedded in the second casting compound which are suitable for at least partially absorbing the radiation emitted by the radiation-emitting semiconductor chip. |
| US09190550B2 |
Photodiode
According to one embodiment, a photodiode includes a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type, a third semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type, and a film. The second semiconductor layer is provided in the first semiconductor layer. The third semiconductor layer is provided in the first semiconductor layer so as to surround the second semiconductor layer. Each of one ends of the second and third semiconductor layers is located at an upper surface of the first semiconductor layer. The first to third semiconductor layers include first to third impurity concentrations respectively. The second and third impurity concentrations are higher than the first impurity concentration. The film is provided above the third semiconductor layer, and blocks light to enter into a neighborhood of the third semiconductor layer. |
| US09190545B2 |
Optical device including three-coupled quantum well structure having multi-energy level
An optical device is provided including an active layer having two outer barriers and a coupled quantum well between the two outer barriers. The coupled quantum well includes a first quantum well layer, a second quantum well layer, a third quantum well layer, a first coupling barrier between the first quantum well layer and the second quantum well layer, and a second coupling barrier between the second quantum well layer and the third quantum well layer. A thickness of the first quantum well layer and a thickness of the third quantum well layer are each different from a thickness of the second quantum well layer. Also, an energy level of the first quantum well layer and an energy level of the third quantum well layer are each different from an energy level of the second quantum well layer. |
| US09190543B2 |
Solution-processed inorganic photo-voltaic devices and methods of production
Methods of producing photo-voltaic devices include spray coating deposition of metal chalcogenides, contact lithographic methods and/or metal ion injection. Photo-voltaic devices include devices made by the methods, tandem photo-voltaic devices and bulk junction photovoltaic devices. |
| US09190541B2 |
Antireflection coating using self-assembly nano structure and manufacture method thereof
In an aspect of the present disclosure, there is disclosed a manufacture method of an antireflection coating using a self-assembly nano structure, which includes forming a first metal droplet on a substrate by means of droplet epitaxy, depositing a first non-metal on the formed first metal droplet, and forming a first nano compound crystal by means of self-assembly of the deposited first non-metal and the first metal droplet. |
| US09190539B2 |
Vertical conductive connections in semiconductor substrates
An embodiment of a die comprising: a semiconductor body including a front side, a back side, and a lateral surface; an electronic device, formed in said semiconductor body and including an active area facing the front side; a vertical conductive connection, extending through the semiconductor body and defining a conductive path between the front side and the back side of the semiconductor body; and a conductive contact, defining a conductive path on the front side of the semiconductor body, between the active area and the vertical conductive connection, wherein the vertical conductive connection is formed on the lateral surface of the die, outside the active area. |
| US09190537B2 |
Mechanical quantity measuring device
In a mechanical quantity measuring device (1) having a sensor chip (2) which outputs a sense output (S) corresponding to a mechanical quantity acting on the object to be measured (4), and a flexible wiring board (3) which supports the sensor chip (2) and has a wire (6) to lead out the sense output (S) to outside, and in which in measuring the mechanical quantity, the sensor chip (2) and the flexible wiring board (3) are attached to the object to be measured (4), a cutout (5) is provided on the flexible wiring board (3) near the sensor chip (2) and on the side where the wire (6) is arranged for the sensor chip (2). Thus, change in the sense output (S) with time can be restrained. |
| US09190536B1 |
Junction field effect transistor
A junction field effect transistor is disclosed. The junction field effect transistor includes a first doped region and a second doped region. The first doped region includes a source and a drain. The second doped region includes a gate. The first doped region and the second doped region have a U-shape PN junction there between. The U-shape PN junction is between the source and the drain. |
| US09190535B2 |
Bootstrap MOS for high voltage applications
A device includes a p-well region, and a first High-Voltage N-type Well (HVNW) region and a second HVNW region contacting opposite edges of the p-well region. A P-type Buried Layer (PBL) has opposite edges in contact with the first HVNW region and the second HVNW region. An n-type buried well region is underlying the PBL. The p-well region and the n-type buried well region are in contact with a top surface and a bottom surface, respectively, of the PBL. The device further includes a n-well region in a top portion of the p-well region, an n-type source region in the n-well region, a gate stack overlapping a portion of the p-well region and a portion of the second HVNW region, and a channel region under the gate stack. The channel region interconnects the n-well region and the second HVNW region. |
| US09190534B1 |
Enhancement mode normally-off gallium nitride heterostructure field effect transistor
A method of fabricating a normally “off” GaN heterostructure field effect transistor having a source and a drain including depositing a passivation layer patterned to cover a channel region between a source and a drain, forming a first opening in the passivation layer, the first opening for defining a gate area in the channel region and the first opening having a first length dimension along a direction of current flow between the source and the drain, and implanting ions in an implant area within the gate area, wherein the implant area has a second length dimension along the direction of current flow shorter than the first length dimension. |
| US09190533B2 |
Three-dimensional nonvolatile memory devices including interposed floating gates
Provided are three-dimensional nonvolatile memory devices and methods of fabricating the same. The memory devices include semiconductor pillars penetrating interlayer insulating layers and conductive layers alternately stacked on a substrate and electrically connected to the substrate and floating gates selectively interposed between the semiconductor pillars and the conductive layers. The floating gates are formed in recesses in the conductive layers. |
| US09190532B2 |
Method of making a split gate non-volatile floating gate memory cell having a separate erase gate, and a memory cell made thereby
A non-volatile memory cell has a single crystalline substrate of a first conductivity type with a top surface. A first region of a second conductivity type is in the substrate along the top surface. A second region of the second conductivity type is in the substrate along the top surface, spaced apart from the first region. A channel region is the first region and the second region. A word line gate is positioned over a first portion of the channel region, immediately adjacent to the first region. The word line gate is spaced apart from the channel region by a first insulating layer. A floating gate is positioned over another portion of the channel region. The floating gate has a lower surface separated from the channel region by a second insulating layer, and an upper surface opposite the lower surface. The floating gate has a first side wall adjacent to but separated from the word line gate; and a second side wall opposite the first side wall. The second side wall and the upper surface form a sharp edge, with the second side wall greater in length than the first side wall. The upper surface slopes upward from the first side wall to the second side wall. A coupling gate is positioned over the upper surface of the floating gate and is insulated therefrom by a third insulating layer. An erase gate is positioned adjacent to the second side wall of the floating gate. The erase gate is positioned over the second region and insulated therefrom. |
| US09190530B2 |
Thin film transistor in which the gate electrode has the same thickness as an insulating layer
A thin film transistor including a first insulating layer disposed on a substrate and having a first hole; a second insulating layer disposed on the substrate and having a second hole; a gate insulating layer disposed between the first and second insulating layers; a gate electrode formed in the first hole; a source electrode and second drain electrode formed at both sides of an inner portion of the second hole; and an activated layer formed between the source electrode and the second drain electrode of the inner portion of the second hole, and having a planarization layer. |
| US09190528B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
An object is to provide a transistor including an oxide layer which includes Zn and does not include a rare metal such as In or Ga. Another object is to reduce an off current and stabilize electric characteristics in the transistor including an oxide layer which includes Zn. A transistor including an oxide layer including Zn is formed by stacking an oxide semiconductor layer including insulating oxide over an oxide layer so that the oxide layer is in contact with a source electrode layer or a drain electrode layer with the oxide semiconductor layer including insulating oxide interposed therebetween, whereby variation in the threshold voltage of the transistor can be reduced and electric characteristics can be stabilized. |
| US09190526B2 |
Thin film transistor, display panel, and method for fabricating thin film transistor
A thin film transistor includes a gate electrode (11a), a gate insulating film (12a) covering the gate electrode (11a), a semiconductor layer (13a) made of an oxide semiconductor and provided on the gate insulating film (12a), a source electrode (16aa) and a drain electrode (16ab) provided on the semiconductor layer (13a) via easily reducible metal layers (15aa, 15ab) and spaced apart from each other, with a channel region (C) interposed therebetween, a conductive region (E) provided in the semiconductor layer (13a), and a diffusion reducing portion (13ca, 13cb) provided in the semiconductor layer (13a), for reducing diffusion of the conductive region (E) into the channel region (C). |
| US09190525B2 |
Semiconductor device including oxide semiconductor layer
The electrical characteristics of a transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer are varied by influence of an insulating film in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer, that is, by an interface state between the oxide semiconductor layer and the insulating film. A first oxide semiconductor layer S1, a second oxide semiconductor layer S2, and a third oxide semiconductor layer S3 are sequentially stacked, so that the oxide semiconductor layer through which carriers flow is separated from the gate insulating film containing silicon. The thickness of the first oxide semiconductor layer S1 is preferably smaller than those of the second oxide semiconductor layer S2 and the third oxide semiconductor layer S3, and is less than or equal to 10 nm, preferably less than or equal to 5 nm. |
| US09190524B2 |
Thin film transistor substrate, method for producing the same, and display device
An active matrix substrate (20a) includes: an insulating substrate (10a); a first thin film transistor (5a) including a first gate electrode (11b) located on the insulating substrate (10a) and a first oxide semiconductor layer (13a) having a first channel region (Ca); a second oxide semiconductor layer (13b) including a second gate electrode (11c) located on the insulating substrate (10a) and having a second channel region (Cb); a second gate insulating film (17) covering the first oxide semiconductor layer (13a) and the second semiconductor layer (13b); and a third gate electrode (25) located on the second gate insulating film (17) and facing the first channel region (Ca) and the second channel region (Cb) with the second gate insulating film (17) interposed therebetween. |
| US09190523B2 |
Oxide semiconductor, thin film transistor including the same, and thin film transistor array panel including the same
An oxide semiconductor includes a first material including at least one selected from the group consisting of zinc (Zn) and tin (Sn), and a second material, where a value acquired by subtracting an electronegativity difference value between the second material and oxygen (O) from the electronegativity difference value between the first material and oxygen (O) is less than about 1.3. |
| US09190521B2 |
Positive photosensitive resin composition and uses thereof
The invention relates to a positive photosensitive resin composition without color off after etching. The invention also provides a method for manufacturing a thin-film transistor array substrate, a thin-film transistor array substrate and a liquid crystal display device. |
| US09190519B2 |
FinFET-based ESD devices and methods for forming the same
A device includes a plurality of STI regions, a plurality of semiconductor strips between the STI regions and parallel to each other, and a plurality of semiconductor fins over the semiconductor strips. A gate stack is disposed over and crossing the plurality of semiconductor fins. A drain epitaxy semiconductor region is disposed on a side of the gate stack and connected to the plurality of semiconductor fins. The drain epitaxy semiconductor region includes a first portion adjoining the semiconductor fins, wherein the first portion forms a continuous region over and aligned to the plurality of semiconductor strips. The drain epitaxy semiconductor region further includes second portions farther away from the gate stack than the first portion. Each of the second portions is over and aligned to one of the semiconductor strips. The second portions are parallel to each other, and are separated from each other by a dielectric material. |
| US09190513B2 |
N-channel double diffusion MOS transistor with P-type buried layer under N-type drift layer, and semiconductor composite device
A MOS transistor includes a p-type semiconductor substrate, a p-type epitaxial layer, and an n-type buried layer provided in a boundary between the semiconductor substrate and the epitaxial layer. In a p-type body layer provided in a surface portion of the epitaxial layer, an n-type source layer is provided to define a double diffusion structure together with the p-type body layer. An n-type drift layer is provided in a surface portion of the epitaxial layer in spaced relation from the body layer. An n-type drain layer is provided in a surface portion of the epitaxial layer in contact with the n-type drift layer. A p-type buried layer having a lower impurity concentration than the n-type buried layer is buried in the epitaxial layer between the drift layer and the n-type buried layer in contact with an upper surface of the n-type buried layer. |
| US09190509B2 |
High mobility, thin film transistors using semiconductor/insulator transition-metal dichalcogenide based interfaces
Electronic devices and methods of forming an electronic device are disclosed herein. An electronic device may include a first 2D atomic crystal layer; a second 2D atomic crystal layer disposed atop the first 2D atomic crystal layer; and an interface comprising van-der-Waals bonds between the first 2D atomic crystal layer and the second 2D atomic crystal layer. A method of forming an electronic device may include depositing a first 2D atomic crystal layer; and depositing a second 2D atomic crystal layer atop the first 2D atomic crystal layer; wherein an interface is formed between the first 2D atomic crystal layer and the second 2D atomic crystal layer via van-der-Waals bonding. |
| US09190508B2 |
GaN based semiconductor device
A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes a first semiconductor layer of a first GaN based semiconductor, a second semiconductor layer of a second GaN based semiconductor having a band gap narrower than the first GaN based semiconductor, a third semiconductor layer of a third GaN based semiconductor having a band gap wider than the second GaN based semiconductor, a fourth semiconductor layer of a fourth GaN based semiconductor having a band gap narrower than the third GaN based semiconductor, a fifth semiconductor layer of a fifth GaN based semiconductor having a band gap wider than the fourth GaN based semiconductor, a gate dielectric provided directly on the third semiconductor layer, the fourth semiconductor layer, and the fifth semiconductor layer, a gate electrode provided on the gate dielectric, a source and drain electrodes provided above the fifth semiconductor layer. |
| US09190504B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes: a first semiconductor region; a second semiconductor region; a third semiconductor region; a fourth semiconductor region; an insulation film, which is arranged on an inner wall of a recess extending from an upper surface to the second semiconductor region; a control electrode, which is arranged on a region of the insulation film on a side surface of the recess; a first main electrode connected to the first semiconductor region; a second main electrode connected to the fourth semiconductor region; and a bottom electrode, which is arranged on the insulation film and is electrically connected to the second main electrode, and a length of the recess in an extension direction thereof is equal to or larger than a width of the recess, and the width of the recess is wider than an interval between the adjacent recesses. |
| US09190503B2 |
IGBT and method of manufacturing the same
An IGBT has an emitter region, a top body region that is formed below the emitter region, a floating region that is formed below the top body region, a bottom body region that is formed below the floating region, a trench, a gate insulating film that covers an inner face of the trench, and a gate electrode that is arranged inside the trench. When a distribution of a concentration of p-type impurities in the top body region and the floating region, which are located below the emitter region, is viewed along a thickness direction of a semiconductor substrate, the concentration of the p-type impurities decreases as a downward distance increases from an upper end of the top body region that is located below the emitter region, and assumes a local minimum value at a predetermined depth in the floating region. |
| US09190496B2 |
Method of making a FinFET device
A method for fabricating a fin-type field-effect transistor (FinFET) device includes receiving a precursor. The precursor has a plurality of fins over a substrate and a dielectric layer filling in a space between each of fins and extending above the fins. The method also includes forming a patterned hard mask layer having an opening over the dielectric layer, etching the dielectric layer through the opening to form a trench with vertical profile. A subset of the fins is exposed in the trench. The method also includes performing an isotropic dielectric etch to enlarge the trench in a horizontal direction. The method also includes performing an anisotropic etch to recess the subset of fins in the trench and performing an isotropic fin etch to etch the recessed subset of fins. |
| US09190495B2 |
Recessed channel array transistors, and semiconductor devices including a recessed channel array transistor
A recessed channel array transistor may include a substrate, a gate oxide layer, a gate electrode and source/drain regions. The substrate may have an active region and an isolation region. A recess may be formed in the active region. The gate oxide layer may be formed on the recess and the substrate. The gate oxide layer may include a first portion on an intersection between a side end of the recess and a sidewall of the active region and a second portion on a side surface of the recess. The first portion may include a thickness greater than about 70% of a thickness of the second portion. The gate electrode may be formed on the gate oxide layer. The source/drain regions may be formed in the substrate. Thus, the recessed channel array transistor may have a decreased leakage current and an increased on-current. |
| US09190494B2 |
Systems and devices including fin field-effect transistors each having U-shaped semiconductor fin
Disclosed are methods, systems and devices, including a system, having a memory device. In some embodiments, the memory device includes a plurality of fin field-effect transistors disposed in rows, a plurality of insulating fins each disposed between the rows, and a plurality of memory elements each coupled to a terminal of a fin field-effect transistor among the plurality of fin field-effect transistors. |
| US09190487B2 |
Prevention of fin erosion for semiconductor devices
A dielectric metal compound liner can be deposited on a semiconductor fin prior to formation of a disposable gate structure. The dielectric metal compound liner protects the semiconductor fin during the pattering of the disposable gate structure and a gate spacer. The dielectric metal compound liner can be removed prior to formation of source and drain regions and a replacement gate structure. Alternately, a dielectric metal compound liner can be deposited on a semiconductor fin and a gate stack, and can be removed after formation of a gate spacer. Further, a dielectric metal compound liner can be deposited on a semiconductor fin and a disposable gate structure, and can be removed after formation of a gate spacer and removal of the disposable gate structure. The dielectric metal compound liner can protect the semiconductor fin during formation of the gate spacer in each embodiment. |
| US09190480B2 |
Method and contact structure for coupling a doped body region to a trench electrode of a semiconductor device
A semiconductor body has a first surface, a second opposing surface, an edge, an active device region, and an edge termination region. A trench extends from the first surface into the semiconductor body in the edge termination region and includes sidewalls and an insulated electrode. A first conductivity type doped region extends from the first surface into the semiconductor body in the edge termination region and has a planar outer surface along the first surface that adjoins the trench at a corner of the trench sidewall and the first surface and has a side surface extending from the corner along the trench sidewall. A first interconnect contacts the trench electrode. A second interconnect contacts the outer surface and the side surface. A contact couples the first doped region to the trench electrode and has a bottom surface coplanar with the first surface from a contact edge to the corner. |
| US09190477B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method therefor
A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate including a first surface; a body region positioned in the semiconductor substrate and positioned to be in contact with the first surface; a gate insulating film positioned to be in contact with the body region on the first surface; a gate electrode positioned on the gate insulating film; a first insulator film covering at least a portion of a side surface of the gate electrode; a contact region positioned to be in contact with the first surface at a position different from that of the gate electrode, in a plan view relative to the first surface, in the body region; and a second insulator film including a material different from that of the first insulator film, positioned on the body region, the gate electrode, and the first insulator film, and including a contact hole on the contact region. |
| US09190467B2 |
Semiconductor structure and manufacturing method of the same
A semiconductor structure and a manufacturing method of the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a stacked strip structure, and a tensile material strip. The stacked strip structure is formed vertically on the substrate, the stacked strip structure having compressive stress. The stacked strip structure comprises a plurality of conductive strips and a plurality of insulating strips, and the conductive strips and the insulating strips are interlaced. The tensile material strip is formed on the stacked strip structure, the tensile material strip having tensile stress. |
| US09190464B2 |
Nonvolatile memory devices with aligned trench isolation regions
A nonvolatile memory device includes a substrate, an elongate isolation region including a field insulation film disposed in a trench in the substrate, and a word line crossing the insulation region and including a tunneling insulation layer on an active region of the substrate adjacent the isolation region, a charge storage layer on the tunneling insulation layer and a blocking insulation layer on the charge storage layer. A first plane index of a bottom surface of the trench has a first interface trap density and a second plane index of a sidewall of the trench has a second interface trap density equal to or less than the first interface trap density. In some embodiments, the first plane index may be (100) and the second plane index may be (100) or (310). |
| US09190459B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display, manufacturing method thereof, and rotating device for circuit film
A manufacturing method of an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display includes: supplying a circuit film on the pad area of the display panel and bonding a first end portion of the circuit film to the pad area; vertically standing and inserting the display panel in a bonding device; holding a portion of the circuit film including a second end portion to be horizontal by using a rotating device including a vacuum absorbing portion; supplying a flexible printed circuit (FPC) into a space under the second end portion of the circuit film, and attaching the flexible printed circuit to the second end portion of the circuit film; and operating the rotating device to move the second end portion to a vertical position, and separating the circuit film from the vacuum absorbing portion. |
| US09190456B2 |
High resolution display panel with emissive organic layers emitting light of different colors
An arrangement for a high resolution active matrix display includes organic emissive layers of distinct colors each deposited across continuous regions so as to include more than one pixel emissive region. Color filters are situated to partially block light from at least some of the emissive regions such that primary additive colors are transmitted from distinct subsets of pixels. The emissive layers may be deposited in alternating parallel stripes along rows or columns of the display, or may be oriented perpendicularly with respect to one another such that the emissive layers overlap in the emissive regions of at least some pixels. In some examples, red, green, and blue of pixels are arranged in regular patterns across the display and with the emissive regions for the blue pixels forming a relatively larger area of the display than either the red or green pixels. |
| US09190454B2 |
Memory device
A memory device according to an embodiment, includes a substrate, two or more resistance change memory cells stacked on the substrate, two or more transistors stacked on the substrate, and two or more wirings stacked on the substrate. One of the memory cells and one of the transistors are connected to each other via one of the wirings. |
| US09190452B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device comprises a semiconductor substrate including a plane portion expanding in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a pillar portion formed on an upper surface of the plane portion and extending in a stacking direction, a first gate electrode formed on a first gate insulating layer on a lower side surface of the pillar portion, and extending in the first direction, a second gate electrode formed on a second gate insulating layer on an upper side surface of the pillar portion, and extending in the second direction, a variable-resistance element formed on an upper surface of the pillar portion, and an interconnection formed on an upper surface of the variable-resistance element. |
| US09190450B2 |
Light emitting device package including a substrate having at least two recessed surfaces
A light emitting device package is disclosed, which includes a first via hole and a second via hole disposed lower than a light emitting part, the first via hole and the second via hole are disposed at an outer area of the light emitting part, a bottom metal includes a first bottom metal, a second bottom metal, and a third bottom metal between the first bottom metal and the second bottom metal, a first conductive metal electrically connected to the first bottom metal through the first via hole and a second conductive metal electrically connected to the second bottom metal through the second via hole. Further, the first bottom metal, the second bottom metal are apart from the third bottom metal at a bottom surface of the substrate, and the third bottom metal is not electrically connected to the second conductive type metal layer. |
| US09190447B2 |
Marking system and method
A system for use in identifying a user includes a portable emitter transported with the user. The emitter includes a quantum cascade laser configured to emit a thermal beam identifying a location of the user in response to a command, the thermal beam having a wavelength between approximately 2 μm and approximately 30 μm. |
| US09190446B1 |
Sensing apparatus
A sensing apparatus that includes a plurality of sensing pixels is provided. The sensing pixels are arranged in an array, and each of the sensing pixels includes an active device and a sensing device. The sensing device is electrically connected to the active device, and the sensing device includes a first electrode layer, an amorphous silicon layer, a second electrode layer, and a graphene layer. The amorphous silicon layer is located on the first electrode layer. The second electrode layer is located on the amorphous silicon layer and has an opening. The graphene layer is in contact with the second electrode layer and the amorphous silicon layer. |
| US09190445B2 |
Semiconductor device
Provided is a semiconductor device having good properties. Particularly, the semiconductor device is provided which can improve imaging properties. The semiconductor device (CMOS image sensor) includes a plurality of pixels, each having a photodiode PD for generating a charge by receiving light, and a transfer transistor TX for transferring the charge generated by the photodiode PD. The semiconductor device further includes an active region AcTP with the photodiode, and an active region AcG located on an upper side of the region AcTP in the planar direction and having a contact Pg to which a ground potential is applied. A gettering region GET is disposed in the active region AcG. |
| US09190444B2 |
Stacked-chip imaging systems
Imaging systems may be provided with stacked-chip image sensors. A stacked-chip image sensor may include a vertical chip stack that includes an array of image pixels, analog control circuitry and storage and processing circuitry. The array of image pixels, the analog control circuitry, and the storage and processing circuitry may be formed on separate, stacked semiconductor substrates or may be formed in a vertical stack on a common semiconductor substrate. The image pixel array may be coupled to the control circuitry using vertical metal interconnects. The control circuitry may route pixel control signals and readout image data signals over the vertical metal interconnects. The control circuitry may provide digital image data to the storage and processing circuitry over additional vertical conductive interconnects coupled between the control circuitry and the storage and processing circuitry. The storage and processing circuitry may be configured to store and/or process the digital image data. |
| US09190441B2 |
Image sensor trench isolation with conformal doping
Provided is a semiconductor image sensor device. The image sensor device includes a substrate. The image sensor device includes a first pixel and a second pixel disposed in the substrate. The first and second pixels are neighboring pixels. The image sensor device includes an isolation structure disposed in the substrate and between the first and second pixels. The image sensor device includes a doped isolation device disposed in the substrate and between the first and second pixels. The doped isolation device surrounds the isolation structure in a conformal manner. |
| US09190439B2 |
Solid-state image pickup device
One disclosed aspect of the embodiments relates to a solid-state image pickup device including a first semiconductor region, a second semiconductor region, a third semiconductor region, and a fourth semiconductor region of a same conduction type arranged in order along a first direction in an active region, and a first conduction pattern, a second conduction pattern, and a third conduction pattern provided above an active region disposed between the patterns and the semiconductor regions corresponding thereto with an insulating member interposed therebetween and electrically isolated from each other and arranged in order along the first direction.The first semiconductor region, the first conduction pattern, and the third semiconductor region constitute the transfer transistor. The first semiconductor region, the second conduction pattern, and the second semiconductor region constitute the additional capacitor, and the second semiconductor region, the third conduction pattern, and the fourth semiconductor region constitute the reset transistor. |
| US09190433B2 |
Ambient light sensing with stacked photodiode structure with dual PN junction
A stacked photodiode structure comprises a first-conductivity-type substrate, a second-conductivity-type well region and a first-conductivity-type well region. The first-conductivity-type substrate has a first surface for light incidence and a grounding terminal. The second-conductivity-type well region is formed in the first-conductivity-type substrate and adjacent to the first surface. The first-conductivity-type well region is formed in the second-conductivity-type well region and adjacent to the first surface. A PN junction between the first-conductivity-type well region and the second-conductivity-type well region generates free electrons responsive to visible light spectrum. A PN junction between the second-conductivity-type well region and the first-conductivity-type substrate generates free holes and free electrons responsive to mainly IR light. The difference between a first photocurrent generated from an anode terminal of the first-conductivity-type well region and a second photocurrent generated from a cathode terminal of the second-conductivity-type well region represents the intensity of incident IR light. |
| US09190432B2 |
Oxide thin-film transistor array substrate, manufacturing method thereof and display panel
An oxide thin-film transistor (TFT) array substrate, a manufacturing method thereof and a display panel are provided. In the manufacturing method, a pattern of a gate insulating layer (13), an oxide active layer (14) and an etch barrier layer (15) is formed on a substrate (10) on which a pattern of a gate line (11) and a gate electrode (12) is formed, by one patterning process. |
| US09190430B2 |
Method of fabricating display panel
A method of manufacturing a display panel includes a sub-step of forming a photosensitive material layer for formation of a second layer on a first layer, a sub-step of disposing, over the photosensitive material layer, a photomask having a different degree of transparency in a first region and a second region thereof, the first region overlapping the photosensitive material layer, in plan view, at a location for formation of a second aperture, and the second region being a remainder of the photomask other than the first region, and a sub-step of exposing the photosensitive material layer via the photomask. In plan view, the area of the first region in the photomask is larger than the area of a first aperture in the first layer. |
| US09190428B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A first semiconductor substrate is used which has a structure in which a peeling layer is not formed in a section subjected to a first dividing treatment, so that the peeling layer is not exposed at the end surface of a second semiconductor substrate when the second semiconductor substrate is cut out of the first semiconductor substrate. In addition, a supporting material is provided on a layer to be peeled of the second semiconductor substrate before the second semiconductor substrate is subjected to a second dividing treatment. |
| US09190424B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A highly reliable display device which has high aperture ratio and includes a transistor with stable electrical characteristics is manufactured. The display device includes a driver circuit portion and a display portion over the same substrate. The driver circuit portion includes a driver circuit transistor and a driver circuit wiring. A source electrode and a drain electrode of the driver circuit transistor are formed using a metal. A channel layer of the driver circuit transistor is formed using an oxide semiconductor. The driver circuit wiring is formed using a metal. The display portion includes a pixel transistor and a display portion wiring. A source electrode and a drain electrode of the pixel transistor are formed using a transparent oxide conductor. A semiconductor layer of the pixel transistor is formed using the oxide semiconductor. The display portion wiring is formed using a transparent oxide conductor. |
| US09190423B2 |
Array substrate for fringe field switching mode liquid crystal display device and method for fabricating the same
The present invention relates to an array substrate for a fringe field switching (FFS) mode liquid crystal display device and a method for fabricating the same. The liquid crystal display device may include a gate line formed on the substrate; a data line crossed with the gate line to define a pixel region; a thin-film transistor (TFT) formed at an intersection of the gate and data line; an organic insulating layer formed to have an opening portion for exposing the TFT; a common electrode having an area formed at an upper portion of the organic insulating layer, and an auxiliary electrode pattern connected to the TFT through the opening portion; a passivation layer formed to expose the auxiliary electrode pattern connected to the TFT; and pixel electrodes electrically connected to the TFT through the exposed auxiliary electrode pattern. |
| US09190416B2 |
Three-dimensional structured memory devices
In various embodiments, a three-dimensional structured nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices and methods for manufacturing the devices are disclosed. One such device includes an n-type doped region at a source/drain region; a p-type doped region at the source/drain region; and a diffusion barrier material between the n-type doped region and the p-type doped region. The n-type doped region is substantially isolated from the p-type doped region. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US09190414B2 |
Semiconductor device
A well voltage supply cell includes third gate electrode group (including a third gate electrode corresponding to a first gate electrode) located symmetrically to first gate electrode group (including the first gate electrode constituting an access transistor) of a first SRAM cell, fourth gate electrode group (including a fourth gate electrode corresponding to a second gate electrode) located symmetrically to second gate electrode group (including the second gate electrode constituting an access transistor) of a second SRAM cell. a P-type impurity diffusion region located on a P well between the third gate electrode and the fourth gate electrode located opposite to each other, a first N-type impurity diffusion region located on the side of the third gate electrode closer to the first SRAM cell, and a second N-type impurity diffusion region located on the side of the fourth gate electrode closer to the second SRAM cell. |
| US09190413B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device with a novel structure in which stored data can be held even when power is not supplied and there is no limitation on the number of times of writing. In the semiconductor device, a plurality of memory cells each including a first transistor, a second transistor, and a capacitor is provided in matrix and a wiring (also called a bit line) for connecting one memory cell to another memory cell and a source or drain electrode of the first transistor are electrically connected to each other through a source or drain electrode of the second transistor. Accordingly, the number of wirings can be smaller than that in the case where the source or drain electrode of the first transistor and the source or drain electrode of the second transistor are connected to different wirings. Thus, the degree of integration of the semiconductor device can be increased. |
| US09190412B2 |
Three-dimensional offset-printed memory
The present invention discloses a three-dimensional offset-printed memory (3D-oP). Compared with a conventional three-dimensional mask-programmed read-only memory (3D-MPROM), it has a lower data-mask count and thereby a lower data-mask cost. The mask-patterns for different memory levels/bits-in-a-cell are merged onto a multi-region data-mask. At different printing steps, a wafer is offset by different values with respect to said data-mask. Accordingly, data-patterns are printed into different memory levels/bits-in-a-cell from a same data-mask. |
| US09190409B2 |
Replacement metal gate transistor with controlled threshold voltage
A method and structure for a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and an N-channel transistor and a P-channel transistor provided on the semiconductor substrate. Each of the N-channel transistor and the P-channel transistor has a gate dielectric film on the semiconductor substrate, and a gate electrode is formed on the gate dielectric. The gate electrode comprises a metal conductive layer. The oxygen concentration in the metal conductive layer for the N-channel transistor is different from that for the P-channel transistor. |
| US09190407B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
Semiconductor devices may include a semiconductor substrate with a first semiconductor fin aligned end-to-end with a second semiconductor with a recess between facing ends of the first and second semiconductor fins. A first insulator pattern is formed adjacent sidewalls of the first and second semiconductor fins and a second insulator pattern is formed within the first recess. The second insulator pattern may have a top surface higher than a top surface of the first insulator pattern, such as to the height of the top surface of the fins (or higher or lower). First and second gates extend along sidewalls and a top surface of the first semiconductor fin. A dummy gate electrode may be formed on the top surface of the second insulator. Methods for manufacture of the same and modifications are also disclosed. |
| US09190402B2 |
Semiconductor device comprising capacitor and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes an interlayer dielectric layer on a substrate, the interlayer dielectric layer having an upper surface, a lower plug extending down into the interlayer dielectric layer from the upper surface of the interlayer dielectric layer, the lower plug having an upper surface, a first dielectric layer pattern on the upper surface of the lower plug, at least a portion of the first dielectric layer pattern being directly connected to the upper surface of the lower plug, a first metal electrode pattern on the first dielectric layer pattern, a first upper plug electrically connected to the first metal electrode pattern, and a second upper plug on the lower plug, the second upper plug being spaced apart from the first upper plug. |
| US09190397B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor element is sandwiched between a lower and upper surface of a cooling body. A connection circuit and a communication device are provided on the lower surface of the cooling body. A drive circuit and a communication device are provided on the upper surface of the cooling body. These components are encapsulated by a resin. The connection circuit generates a control signal in response to a signal from outside. The communication device transmits the control signal. The communication device receives the control signal and supplies the control signal to the drive circuit, which drives the semiconductor element in response to the control signal. The resin electrically insulates the connection circuit and the communication device from the communication device and the drive circuit enabling prevention of breakdown of the connection circuit caused by an application of a high voltage from the drive circuit to the connection circuit. |
| US09190390B2 |
Stacked microelectronic packages having sidewall conductors and methods for the fabrication thereof
Methods for fabricating stacked microelectronic packages are provided, as are embodiments of a stacked microelectronic package. In one embodiment, the method includes arranging a plurality of microelectronic device panels in a panel stack. Each microelectronic device panel contains plurality of microelectronic devices and a plurality of package edge conductors extending therefrom. Trenches are created in the panel stack exposing the plurality of package edge conductors, and a plurality of sidewall conductors is formed interconnecting different ones of the package edge conductors exposed through the trenches. The panel stack is then separated into a plurality of stacked microelectronic packages each including at least two microelectronic devices electrically interconnected by at least one of the plurality of sidewall conductors included within the stacked microelectronic package. |
| US09190383B2 |
Semiconductor package including a power stage and integrated output inductor
In one implementation, a power semiconductor package includes a conductive carrier including a switch node segment and a power output segment. The power semiconductor package also includes an integrated output inductor stacked over the conductive carrier and configured to couple the switch node segment to the power output segment. The power semiconductor package further includes a power stage stacked over the integrated output inductor, the power stage including a pulse-width modulation (PWM) control and driver coupled to a control transistor and a sync transistor. |
| US09190380B2 |
High density substrate routing in BBUL package
Discussed generally herein are devices that include high density interconnects between dice and techniques for making and using those devices. In one or more embodiments a device can include a bumpless buildup layer (BBUL) substrate including a first die at least partially embedded in the BBUL substrate, the first die including a first plurality of high density interconnect pads. A second die can be at least partially embedded in the BBUL substrate, the second die including a second plurality of high density interconnect pads. A high density interconnect element can be embedded in the BBUL substrate, the high density interconnect element including a third plurality of high density interconnect pads electrically coupled to the first and second plurality of high density interconnect pads. |
| US09190370B2 |
Semiconductor device utilizing redistribution layers to couple stacked die
A method for a semiconductor device utilizing redistribution layers to couple stacked die is disclosed and may include bonding a first semiconductor die to a second semiconductor die, the first semiconductor die having a first surface comprising bond pads, a second surface opposite the first surface that is bonded to a first surface of the second semiconductor die, and sloped sides surfaces between the first and second surfaces of the first semiconductor die, such that a cross-section of the first semiconductor die is trapezoidal in shape. A passivation layer may be formed on the first surface and sloped side surfaces of the first semiconductor die and the first surface of the second semiconductor die. A redistribution layer may be formed on the passivation layer formed on the first surface and sloped side surfaces of the first semiconductor die and the first surface of the second semiconductor die. |
| US09190369B2 |
Using interrupted Through-Silicon-Vias in integrated circuits adapted for stacking
In an integrated circuit (IC) adapted for use in a stack of interconnected ICs, interrupted through-silicon-vias (TSVs) are provided in addition to uninterrupted TSVs. The interrupted TSVs provide signal paths other than common parallel paths between the ICs of the stack. This permits IC identification schemes and other functionalities to be implemented using TSVs, without requiring angular rotation of alternate ICs of the stack. |
| US09190368B2 |
Semiconductor device that attenuates high-frequency oscillation
According to embodiments, a semiconductor device includes an insulating substrate, a first electrode plate disposed on the insulating substrate, a second electrode plate disposed on the insulating substrate, a third electrode plate disposed on the insulating substrate, a first semiconductor element disposed on the first electrode plate, a first electrode of the first semiconductor element being electrically connected to the first electrode plate, a second semiconductor element disposed on the second electrode plate, a first electrode of the second semiconductor element being electrically connected to the second electrode plate, a first bonding wire electrically connecting a second electrode of the first semiconductor element to the third electrode plate, and a second bonding wire electrically connecting a second electrode of the second semiconductor element to the third electrode plate. |
| US09190367B1 |
Semiconductor package structure and semiconductor process
The semiconductor package includes a substrate, a plurality of components, an interposer, an electrical interconnect and a first package body. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. A first component is mounted on the first surface of the substrate, and a second component is mounted on the second surface of the substrate. The interposer has a first surface. The electrical interconnect connects the first surface of the interposer to the second surface of the substrate. The first package body is disposed on the second surface of the substrate and encapsulates the second component, the electrical interconnect and at least a portion of the interposer. |
| US09190366B2 |
Multi-chip package
A multi-chip package includes a single lead and a plurality of inner package chips. Each of the plurality of inner package chips includes at least one pad circuit and an internal circuit. The pad circuit is selectively coupled to the lead and configured to provide a chip address signal corresponding to a connection state to the lead. The inner package chip receives the chip address signal to identify a corresponding inner package chip. |
| US09190363B2 |
Semiconductor apparatus and substrate
A semiconductor apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate having a main surface, a multilayer structure circuit formed over the main surface of the semiconductor substrate, a protective wall formed in the same layer as an uppermost layer of the multilayer structure circuit so as to surround the multilayer structure circuit in plan view, and an alignment mark formed in the same layer as the uppermost layer. The alignment mark is formed so as to contact at least part of the protective wall. |
| US09190361B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a MRAM chip including a semiconductor substrate and a memory cell array area includes magnetoresistive elements which are provided on the semiconductor substrate, and a magnetic shield layer separated from the MRAM chip, surrounding the memory cell array area in a circumferential direction of the MRAM chip, and having a closed magnetic path. |
| US09190359B2 |
Scribe line structure for wafer dicing and method of making the same
A scribe line structure between die regions is disclosed. The scribe line structure includes a dielectric layer disposed on a substrate; and a plurality of metal structures arranged up-and-down in the dielectric layer on the substrate, the plurality of metal structures comprising metal layers and metal vias, wherein the metal vias are disposed on the dicing path and regions outside the dicing path and the metal vias on the dicing path have a lower metal density than the metal vias not on the dicing path. |
| US09190358B2 |
Methods and apparatus for congestion-aware buffering using voltage isolation pathways for integrated circuit designs with multi-power domains
A semiconductor apparatus is provided herein for buffering of nets routed through one or more areas associated with a first power domain that is different from a second power domain associated with the buffers and the buffered nets by limiting placement of these buffers in patterned areas associated with the second power domain. This provides for the routing of the buffered nets to be determined not only based on the shortest distance to travel from Point A to Point B, but also takes into account routing congestion on the semiconductor apparatus. Consequently, if an area on the semiconductor apparatus is congested, the buffered nets may be routed around the congestion. As such, although a path taken by a particular signal through the integrated circuit is not a direct route, it may still be of a distance to support a speed at which the particular signal needs to be transferred. |
| US09190351B2 |
Semiconductor device with webbing between leads
A quad flat package integrated circuit (IC) device has alternating inner and outer leads that protrude from a package body. The inner leads are j-shaped leads and the outer leads are gull-wing shaped leads. The package body is formed such that it includes plastic lead webbings between adjacent leads, which help prevent metal particles from getting lodged between the leads and causing electrical shorts. The webbings are made of the same molding compound as the package body and are formed together with the package body. |
| US09190349B1 |
Integrated circuit packaging system with leadframe and method of manufacture thereof
An integrated circuit packaging system and method of manufacture thereof including: providing an unplated leadframe having a contact protrusion; depositing a solder resist on the contact protrusion; forming a contact pad and traces by etching the unplated leadframe; applying a trace protection layer on the contact pad and the traces; removing the solder resist; forming a recess in the trace protection layer by etching a top surface of the contact pad to a recess distance below a top surface of the trace protection layer; and depositing an external connector directly on the top surface of the contact pad. |
| US09190341B2 |
Lidded integrated circuit package
A lid comprising a heat conductive substrate and a native silicon oxide layer connected to said substrate by at least one intermediate layer; a lidded integrated circuit package; and a method of providing a heat path through an integrated circuit package comprising providing a substrate with an exterior layer of native silicon oxide and interfacing the layer of native silicon oxide with a layer of thermal interface material. |
| US09190339B2 |
Method of limiting capillary action of gel material during assembly of pressure sensor
A method for applying a pressure-sensitive gel material during assembly of an array of pre-singulated packaged semiconductor devices. In the method, pressure-sensitive gel material is dispensed onto a first semiconductor device of the array, where the first semiconductor device is disposed within a first cavity. A first curing process is performed to partially cure the pressure-sensitive gel material in the first cavity. Pressure-sensitive gel material is then dispensed onto another semiconductor device of the array, where the other semiconductor device is disposed within another cavity. The first curing process is initiated before the dispensing of the pressure-sensitive gel material inside of the other cavity is completed and initially cures pressure-sensitive gel material for fewer than all of the pre-singulated packaged semiconductor devices of the array. |
| US09190333B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a main surface, a MONOS-type memory cell formed over the main surface and having a channel, an n-channel transistor formed over the main surface, and a p-channel transistor formed over the man surface. Nitride films are formed in a manner to contact the top surfaces of the MONOS-type memory cell, the n-channel transistor, and the p-channel transistor. The nitride films apply stress to the channels of the MONOS-type memory cell, the n-channel transistor, and the p-channel transistor. |
| US09190332B1 |
Method of fabricating integrated circuit transistors with multipart gate conductors
Metal-oxide-semiconductor transistors are provided. A metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor may be formed on a semiconductor substrate. Source and drain regions may be formed in the substrate. A gate insulator such as a high-K dielectric may be formed between the source and drain regions. A gate may be formed from multiple gate conductors. The gate conductors may be metals with different workfunctions. A first of the gate conductors may form a pair of edge gate conductors that are adjacent to dielectric spacers. An opening between the edge gate conductors may be filled with the second gate conductor to form a center gate conductor. A self-aligned gate formation process may be used in fabricating the metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor. |
| US09190329B1 |
Complex circuits utilizing fin structures
A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a multilayer lattice matched structure having an unstrained layer, a first strained layer, and a second strained layer formed between the unstrained and the first strained layer. A first opening in the multilayer structure is etched and a second strained fill material having a same material as the second strained layer is deposited. A second opening in the multilayer structure is etched and an unstrained fill material having a same material as the unstrained layer is deposited. A first strained fill material having a same material as the first strained layer is then deposited between the unstrained fill and the second strained fill. A second strained fin is formed from the deposited second strained fill material, a first strained fin is formed from the deposited first strained fill material, and an unstrained fin is formed from the deposited unstrained fill material. |
| US09190323B2 |
Semiconductor devices with copper interconnects and methods for fabricating same
Semiconductor devices having copper interconnects and methods for their fabrication are provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device is fabricated with a copper interconnect on substrate such as an FEOL processed substrate. The method includes forming a copper layer on a substrate. The copper layer is formed from grains. The copper layer is modified such that the modified copper layer has an average grain size of larger than about 0.05 microns. In the method, the modified copper layer is etched to form a line along the substrate and a via extending upwards from the line. |
| US09190322B2 |
Method for producing a copper layer on a semiconductor body using a printing process
A method for producing a metal layer on a wafer is described. In one embodiment the method comprises providing a semiconductor wafer including a coating, printing a metal particle paste on the semiconductor wafer thereby forming a metal layer and heating the metal layer in a reductive gas for sintering the metal particle paste or for annealing a sintered metal particle paste in an oven. |
| US09190321B2 |
Self-forming embedded diffusion barriers
Interconnect structures containing metal oxide embedded diffusion barriers and methods of forming the same. Interconnect structures may include an Mx level including an Mx metal in an Mx dielectric, an Mx+1 level above the Mx level including an Mx+1 metal in an Mx+1 dielectric, an embedded diffusion barrier adjacent to the Mx+1 dielectric; and a seed alloy region adjacent to the Mx+1 metal separating the Mx metal from the Mx+1 metal. The embedded diffusion barrier may include a barrier-forming material such as manganese, aluminum, titanium, or some combination thereof. The seed alloy region may include a seed material such as cobalt, ruthenium, or some combination thereof. |
| US09190319B2 |
Method for forming interconnect structure
A method for forming interconnect structures comprises forming a metal line made of a first conductive material over a substrate, depositing a dielectric layer over the metal line, patterning the dielectric layer to form an opening, depositing a first barrier layer on a bottom and sidewalls of the opening using an atomic layer deposition technique, depositing a second barrier layer over the first barrier layer, wherein the first barrier layer is coupled to ground and forming a pad made of a second conductive material in the opening. |
| US09190309B2 |
Tape for processing wafer, method for manufacturing tape for processing
In a wafer processing tape, circular or tongue-shaped notched parts facing the center of an adhesive layer, as seen in a plan view, are formed so as to correspond to a pasting region to a wafer ring to a depth that reaches a release substrate from the side of a base material film. Due to the formation of the notched parts, when a peeling force acts on the wafer processing tape, portions of a tacky material layer and the base material film which are more outward than the notched parts are peeled off first, and a portion that is more inward than the notched parts remains on the wafer ring in a protruding state. Accordingly, a peeling strength between the wafer processing tape and the wafer ring can be increased and the wafer processing tape can be suppressed from being peeled off from the wafer ring during processes. |
| US09190307B2 |
Apparatus for transferring a solar wafer or solar cell during its fabrication
An apparatus for transferring a solar wafer or cell is disclosed, which comprises: i) a rotary motor; ii) a gripper for holding the solar wafer or cell; and a rotary arm connected between the rotary motor and the gripper, the rotary arm being drivable by the rotary motor in a first rotary direction through a transfer angle for transferring the solar wafer or cell between different positions. In particular, the apparatus further comprises an angle-compensating device configured to drive the gripper through a same transfer angle as the rotary arm in a second rotary direction opposite to the first rotary direction, to ensure that an angular orientation of the solar wafer or cell remains constant during rotation of the rotary arm. |
| US09190303B2 |
Reducing wafer bonding misalignment by varying thermal treatment prior to bonding
A bonding layer of a first wafer article is thermally treated and a bonding layer of a second wafer article is thermally treated in accordance with first and second process parameters, respectively prior to bonding the first wafer article with the second wafer article. First and second grid distortion in the first and second wafer articles is measured and a difference is determined between the first and second grid distortions. A prediction is made for maintaining the difference within a prescribed tolerance. At least one of the first process parameters and the second process parameters is conditionally varied in accordance with the prediction. The thermal treating of the first and second wafer articles can then be performed with respect to another pair of the first and second wafer articles prior to bonding to one another through their respective bonding layers. |
| US09190300B2 |
Method of cleaning substrate processing apparatus
A spin base is caused to rotate at a number of revolutions of from 250 rmp to 350 rpm (first number of revolutions), and at the same time, a cleaning solution is supplied to a holding surface of a spin base while the upper end of a processing cup is placed below the holding surface. Thus, an outer upper surface of the processing cup is cleaned with the cleaning solution scattered from the holding surface. Then, the spin base is caused to rotate at a number of revolutions of from 350 rpm to 450 rpm (second number of revolutions) higher than the first number of revolutions, and at the same time, a cleaning solution is supplied onto the holding surface. Thus, a partition plate outside the processing cup is cleaned with the cleaning solution scattered from the rotating holding surface. |
| US09190299B2 |
Apparatus for manufacturing semiconductor device, method of manufacturing semiconductor device, and recording medium
An apparatus for manufacturing semiconductor devices is provided with a processing liquid supply part for supplying processing liquid into a processing chamber which houses a substrate, a heater part for heating the processing liquid in the processing chamber, and a substrate support part which is provided in the processing chamber and supports the substrate. |
| US09190296B2 |
Fabrication method of semiconductor package without chip carrier
A semiconductor package without a chip carrier formed thereon and a fabrication method thereof. A metallic carrier is half-etched to form a plurality of grooves and metal studs corresponding to the grooves. The grooves are filled with a first encapsulant and a plurality of bonding pads are formed on the metal studs. The first encapsulant is bonded with the metal studs directly. Each of the bonding pads and one of the metal studs corresponding to the bonding pad form a T-shaped structure. Therefore, bonding force between the metal studs and the first encapsulant is enhanced such that delamination is avoided. Die mounting, wire-bonding and molding processes are performed subsequently. Since the half-etched grooves are filled with the first encapsulant, the drawback of having pliable metallic carrier that makes transportation difficult to carry out as encountered in prior techniques is overcome, and the manufacturing cost is educed by not requiring the use of costly metals as an etching resist layer. |
| US09190288B2 |
Pattern forming method
A pattern forming method includes forming a coating film containing a hydrophilic first homopolymer having a first bonding group and a hydrophobic second homopolymer having a second bonding group capable of bonding with the first bonding group, forming a bond between the first and second bonding group to produce a block copolymer of the first and second homopolymers, and heating the coating film to microphase-separating the copolymer into a hydrophilic domain and a hydrophobic domain. The hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains are arranged alternately. The bond is broken, then selectively dissolving-removing either domain by a solvent to provide a polymer pattern of a remainder domain. |
| US09190286B2 |
Composition for advanced node front-and-back-end of line chemical mechanical polishing
The present disclosure is directed to a highly dilutable chemical mechanical polishing concentrate comprising an abrasive, an acid, a stabilizer, and water with a point-of-use pH ranging from 2.2-3.5 for planarizing current and next generation semiconductor integrated circuit FEOL/BEOL substrates. |
| US09190284B2 |
Process for treating a semiconductor-on-insulator structure for improving thickness uniformity of the semiconductor layer
The invention relates to a process for treating a structure of semiconductor-on-insulator type successively comprising a support substrate, a dielectric layer and a semiconductor layer having a thickness of less than or equal to 100 nm, the semiconductor layer being covered with a sacrificial oxide layer, comprising measuring, at a plurality of points distributed over the surface of the structure, the thickness of the sacrificial oxide layer and of the semiconductor layer, so as to produce a mapping of the thickness of the semiconductor layer and to determine, from the measurements, the average thickness of the semiconductor layer, selective etching of the sacrificial oxide layer so as to expose the semiconductor layer, and carrying out a chemical etching of the semiconductor layer, the application, temperature and/or duration conditions of which are adjusted as a function of the mapping and/or of the mean thickness of the semiconductor layer, so as to thin, at least locally, the semiconductor layer by a thickness identified as being an overthickness at the end of the measurement step. |
| US09190283B2 |
Method of depositing metallic layers based on nickel or cobalt on a semiconducting solid substrate; kit for application of said method
The present invention relates to a kit intended for the deposition of nickel or cobalt in the cavities of a semiconductor substrate intended to form through-silicon vias (TSV) for making interconnections in integrated circuits in three dimensions.The invention also relates to a method of metallization of the insulating surface of such a substrate which comprises contacting the surface with a liquid aqueous solution containing: at least one metal salt of nickel or cobalt; at least one reducing agent; at least one polymer bearing amine functions, and at least one agent stabilizing the metal ions. The step coverage of the layer of nickel or cobalt obtained can be greater than 80%, which facilitates subsequent filling of the vias with copper by electrodeposition. |
| US09190279B2 |
Semiconductor device and methods for forming the same
A semiconductor device is disclosed. An isolation structure is formed in a substrate to define an active region of the substrate, wherein the active region has a field plate region. A gate dielectric layer is formed on the substrate outside of the field plate region. A step gate dielectric structure is formed on the substrate corresponding to the field plate region, wherein the step gate dielectric structure has a thickness greater than that of the gate dielectric layer and less than that of the isolation structure. A method for forming a semiconductor device is also disclosed. |
| US09190277B2 |
Combining ZTCR resistor with laser anneal for high performance PMOS transistor
An integrated circuit containing a PMOS transistor may be formed by implanting boron in the p-channel source drain (PSD) implant step at a dose consistent with effective channel length control, annealing the PSD implant, and subsequently concurrently implanting boron into a polysilicon resistor with a zero temperature coefficient of resistance using an implant mask which also exposes the PMOS transistor, followed by a millisecond anneal. |
| US09190274B2 |
Methods of fabricating fine patterns
Methods of forming fine patterns are provided. The method includes reinforcing a hydrophobic property of a hard mask layer using a surface treatment process to form a neutral layer, forming a block co-polymer layer on the neutral layer, and phase-separating the block co-polymer layer into first domains and second domains. |
| US09190273B2 |
Pattern formation method
A pattern formation method for forming a micropattern includes a first step of causing a first pattern-formable area at which a first pattern is to be formed on a liquid-repellent, first film that is formed on a substrate and that has a lyophilic/lyophobic variable function to be lyophilic and to reduce in thickness; a second step of forming a second film having a flat surface on the first film; and a third step of forming the first pattern at the first pattern-formable area by drying the second film. |
| US09190270B2 |
Low-defect semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
Provided are a low-defect semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same. The method includes forming a buffer layer on a silicon substrate, forming an interface control layer on the buffer layer under a first growth condition, and forming a nitride stack on the interface control layer under a second growth condition different from the first growth condition. |
| US09190264B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device, method of processing substrate and non-transitory computer readable recording medium
A semiconductor manufacturing method includes forming an oxide film on a substrate by performing a first cycle a predetermined number of times, including supplying a first source gas, an oxidizing gas and a reducing gas to the substrate heated to a first temperature in a process container under a sub-atmospheric pressure; forming a seed layer on a surface of the oxide film by supplying a nitriding gas to the substrate in the process container, the substrate being heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the first temperature and equal to or lower than a second temperature; and forming a nitride film on the seed layer formed on the surface of the oxide film by performing a second cycle a predetermined number of times, including supplying a second source gas and the nitriding gas to the substrate heated to the second temperature in the process container. |
| US09190260B1 |
Topological method to build self-aligned MTJ without a mask
A method of forming a self-aligned MTJ without using a photolithography mask and the resulting device are provided. Embodiments include forming a first electrode over a metal layer, the metal layer recessed in a low-k dielectric layer; forming a MTJ layer over the first electrode; forming a second electrode over the MTJ layer; removing portions of the second electrode, the MTJ layer, and the first electrode down to the low-k dielectric layer; forming a silicon nitride-based layer over the second electrode and the low-k dielectric layer; and planarizing the silicon nitride-based layer down to the second electrode. |
| US09190255B2 |
Control of ions
A mass spectrometer comprises ion pulse means for producing ion pulses in a first vacuum chamber, ion trap means for receiving and trapping the ion pulses for mass analysis in a second vacuum chamber, and ion-optical lens means arranged between the ion pulse means and the ion trap means for receiving the ion pulses and outputting ions therefrom to the ion trap means. A first lens electrode and a second lens electrode collectively define an optical axis and are adapted for distributing a first electrical potential and second electrical potential therealong. Lens control means vary non-periodically with time the first electrical potential relative to the second electrical potential to control as a function of ion mass-to-charge ratio the kinetic energy of ions which have traversed the ion optical lens means. This controls the mass range of the ions receivable by the ion trap from the ion optical lens means. |
| US09190254B1 |
Ion trap mass analyzer apparatus, methods, and systems utilizing one or more multiple potential ion guide (MPIG) electrodes
In one aspect of the invention, an ion trap mass analyzer includes a variable- or multi-potential type ion guide (MPIG) assembly which has been pre-configured to produce a parabolic-type potential field. Each MPIG electrode has a resistive coating of designed characteristics. In one example the coating varies in thickness along the length of an underlying uniform substrate. The MPIG assembly can be a single MPIG electrode or an array of a plurality of MPIG electrodes. An array can facilitate delocalization for improved performance. This chemical modification of a uniform underlying substrate promotes cheaper and flexible instruments. The modified MPIG electrodes also allow miniaturization (e.g. micro and perhaps even nano-scale), which allows miniaturization of the instrument in which the single or plural modified MPIG electrode(s) are placed. This promotes portability and field use instead of limitation to laboratory settings. |
| US09190252B2 |
Electrode device with pre- and/or postfilters and manufacturing method therefor, as well as a mass spectrometer with such an electrode device
A method manufactures a multipolar electrode device, in particular a multipole for use in a mass spectrometer, wherein the electrode device includes at least one main filter and at least one pre- and/or postfilter. The electrode blanks are separated in several sections for producing the pre- and/or postfilters, which are thereby maintained by a holder in a constant relative position to each other. Moreover, an electrode device may be used in a mass spectrometer and a mass spectrometer may have such a multipolar electrode device. |
| US09190248B2 |
Dynamic electrode plasma system
A system for processing a substrate includes a plasma chamber to generate a plasma therein. The system also includes a process chamber to house the substrate, where the process chamber is adjacent the plasma chamber. The system also includes a rotatable extraction electrode disposed between the plasma chamber and substrate, where the rotatable extraction electrode is configured to extract an ion beam from the plasma, and configured to scan the ion beam over the substrate without movement of the substrate by rotation about an extraction electrode axis. |
| US09190246B2 |
Multi charged particle beam writing apparatus, and multi charged particle beam writing method
A multi charged particle beam writing apparatus includes a dose calculation unit to calculate a first dose resolving the resist of the target object, for a first beam of the multiple beams, corresponding to a pattern forming region, in which a pattern is arranged, and to calculate a second dose not resolving the resist, for a second beam of the multiple beams, corresponding to a no-pattern forming region, which surrounds the whole perimeter of the pattern and in which no pattern is arranged, and a deflection control unit to control a plural blankers so that a dose of the first beam is to be the first dose calculated and a dose of the second beam is to be the second dose calculated. |
| US09190245B2 |
Charged particle beam writing apparatus, and charged particle beam writing method
A charged particle beam writing apparatus includes an emission unit to emit a charged particle beam, a stage to mount thereon a target object to be written, an objective lens to focus the charged particle beam on a surface of the target object, a chamber to house the stage, a measurement unit to measure a partial pressure of a predetermined gas in the chamber in a state where a pressure inside the chamber is controlled to be lower than an atmospheric pressure, and an adjustment unit to adjust a focus position for focusing the charged particle beam on the target object, based on the partial pressure of the predetermined gas. |
| US09190241B2 |
Charged particle beam apparatus
The present invention provides apparatuses to inspect small particles on the surface of a sample such as wafer and mask. The apparatuses provide both high detection efficiency and high throughput by forming Dark-field BSE images. The apparatuses can additionally inspect physical and electrical defects on the sample surface by form SE images and Bright-field BSE images simultaneously. The apparatuses can be designed to do single-beam or even multiple single-beam inspection for achieving a high throughput. |
| US09190233B2 |
Solenoid device and electromagnetic relay
A solenoid device includes: at least one electromagnetic coil that generates a magnetic flux when the electromagnetic coil is energized; a yoke made of soft magnetic material, in which the magnetic flux flows; and a plurality of plungers, each of which includes at least a part made of soft magnetic material, and reciprocates when the electromagnetic coil is switched between energization and interruption of energization. The number of the plurality of plungers is larger than the number of the electromagnetic coil. The plurality of plungers reciprocate independently from each other. |
| US09190231B2 |
Removable shed sleeve for switch
A housing for a high voltage electrical switch includes a tubular body having a top portion and a bottom portion opposite the top portion and removable shed sleeves. A first shed sleeve is removably attached to an outside surface of the top portion, such that an interior surface of the first shed sleeve forms a dielectric interface between the outside surface of the top portion and the interior surface of the first shed sleeve. A second shed sleeve is removably attached to an outside surface of the bottom portion, such that an interior surface of the second shed sleeve forms a dielectric interface between the outside surface of the bottom portion and the interior surface of the second shed sleeve. The first and second shed sleeves are stretched over their respective portions of the tubular body and secured via an interference fit. |
| US09190230B2 |
Grounding switch
A grounding switch is comprised of a structural frame, at least one first contact, at least one second contact, at least one spacer, and a geared drive assembly. The opening and closing of the grounding switch is controlled by the geared drive assembly. The geared drive assembly is operable to rotate the at least one second contact around the axis of a connecting rod to move the at least one second contact into and out of contact with the at least one first contact. The closing of the grounding switch first and second contacts serve to connect a transformer or other electrical device to ground potential. |
| US09190225B2 |
Remotely operable electrical disconnect apparatus
An electrical disconnect apparatus includes a housing having an interior and an exterior, first and second conductors extending from the exterior into the interior, a movable conductor, and an actuator assembly coupled to the housing. The movable conductor has a connected position in which the movable conductor electrically connects the first conductor and the second conductor, and a disconnected position in which the first conductor is electrically disconnected from the second conductor. The actuator assembly is adapted to move the movable conductor between the connected position and the disconnected position, and can be actuated manually or automatically. |
| US09190218B2 |
Dye-sensitized solar cell including a porous insulation substrate and a method for producing the porous insulation substrate
The present invention relates to a dye-sensitized solar cell including a working electrode (1), a first conducting layer (3) for extracting photo-generated electrons from the working electrode, a porous insulation substrate (4) made of a microfibers, wherein the first conducting layer is a porous conducting layer formed on one side of the porous insulation substrate, a counter electrode including a second conducting layer (2) arranged on the opposite side of the porous substrate, and electrolyte for transferring electrons from the counter electrode to the working electrode. The porous insulation substrate comprises a layer (5) of woven microfibers and a layer (6) of non-woven microfibers disposed on the layer of woven microfibers. The present invention also relates to a method for producing a dye-sensitized solar cell. |
| US09190217B2 |
Method for forming a structural electrochemical capacitor
A structural electrochemical capacitor that includes at least one pair of electrodes and a solid electrolytic material disposed between the electrodes which, taken collectively, have sufficient mechanical strength to allow the electrochemical capacitor to be used as a structural component of an article of manufacture is described. The present invention also describes a method of capacitively storing electrical energy and conserving mass and/or volume in a device that includes the steps of: fabricating portions of the structure of a device with high-strength structural electrochemical capacitor that includes at least one pair of electrodes and a body of solid electrolytic material disposed between said electrodes wherein the body of solid electrolytic material accounts for a majority of the mass of a structural element or a majority of the volume of a structural element in the device. |
| US09190212B2 |
Method of manufacturing multilayer ceramic electronic component
A method of manufacturing a multilayer ceramic electronic component includes a step of preparing a first ceramic green sheet on which at least one of a first internal electrode pattern and a second internal electrode pattern are printed, a second ceramic green sheet on which at least one of a first dummy conductor pattern and a second dummy conductor pattern are printed, and a third ceramic green sheet on which at least one of a third internal electrode pattern and a fourth internal electrode pattern are printed, wherein a width of the third dummy conductor pattern is made less than a width of the first dummy conductor pattern, and a width of the fourth dummy conductor pattern is made less than a width of the second dummy conductor pattern. |
| US09190210B2 |
Laminated ceramic capacitor
The laminated ceramic capacitor has a laminate block made of alternately laminated ceramic dielectric layers and internal electrodes, a pair of cover layers, laminated on top and bottom of the laminate block, ceramic bodies formed on both side faces of the laminate block, and a pair of external electrodes that are electrically connected to the internal electrodes, wherein the average grain size of the ceramic dielectric grains constituting the ceramic body is smaller than the average grain size of the ceramic dielectric grains constituting the ceramic dielectric layer in the laminate block. |
| US09190208B2 |
Metal-insulator-metal capacitors on glass substrates
This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for metal-insulator-metal capacitors on glass substrates. In one aspect, an apparatus may include a glass substrate, with the glass substrate defining at least one via in the glass substrate. A first electrode layer may be disposed over surfaces of the glass substrate, including surfaces of the at least one via. A dielectric layer may be disposed on the first electrode layer. A second electrode layer may be disposed on the dielectric layer, with the dielectric layer electrically isolating the first electrode layer from the second electrode layer. |
| US09190205B2 |
Integral mold for a transformer having a non-linear core
A three-phase non-linear dry-type transformer has integral molds formed of a glass fiber-reinforced polymeric material. The low voltage coil is comprised of an inner low voltage mold formed around each of the at least three core legs, a low voltage conductor winding wound upon the inner low voltage mold and an outer low voltage mold formed around the low voltage winding. The high voltage coil is comprised of an inner high voltage mold disposed around the outer low voltage mold, a high voltage conductor winding wound upon the inner high voltage mold, and an outer high voltage mold formed around the high voltage conductor winding. An annular space between the inner and outer high voltage molds and the inner and outer low voltage molds is filled by an insulating polymeric material during a casting process. The molds are bonded to the coil windings by the insulating polymeric material and remain during the operation of the non-linear transformer as integral components of the non-linear transformer. |
| US09190203B2 |
Transformer cooling apparatus and transformer assembly including the same
Provided are a transformer cooling apparatus and a transformer assembly including the same. The transformer cooling apparatus includes a first plate on which a transformer including a magnetic member and a coil is seated, a second plate disposed on a side of the first plate, the second plate being spaced apart from the first plate, and a coolant passage in which a coolant flows, the coolant passage being defined between the first plate and the second plate. |
| US09190202B2 |
Laminated inductor
A laminated inductor includes a component body that provides a mounting surface on one of its faces, and at least a pair of external electrodes are formed on the mounting surface, wherein the component body has a laminate constituted by multiple insulator layers, a spiral coil conductor formed in the laminate, and leader parts that electrically connect the coil conductor and external electrodes; the coil conductor comprises conductor patterns formed in the insulator layers and via hole conductors that penetrate through the insulator layers and electrically connect the multiple conductor patterns, and also has a coil axis running roughly in parallel with the mounting surface and a turn unit having one or more sides running roughly in parallel with the mounting surface; and the via hole conductors are formed only on the side farthest away from the mounting surface among the one or more sides. |
| US09190200B2 |
Method and system for moving material
A method and system for moving magnetic material includes an electromagnet wherein known problems associated with DC power circuit interruptions are substantially reduced. The system includes a generator coupled to an electromagnet, the generator being powered by a power supply through a first set of contactors which are configured to open and close a first circuit between the power source and the generator coupled to the magnet to start and stop a lifting sequence, wherein the first circuit includes a first bridge rectifier, a reactance element, and a first resistance element. The system includes a second set of contactors configured to open and close a second circuit between the power source and the generator coupled to the magnet to start and stop a dropping sequence, wherein the second circuit includes a second bridge rectifier and at least one pair of contactors for discharging power from the generator, the at least one pair of contactors being configured to open and close a discharge circuit between at least the reactance element and the generator. |
| US09190197B2 |
Superconducting magnet operating in occasional idling mode
Methods and systems are disclosed for saving energy while a superconducting magnet system is not being used and for reducing the time required for the re-establishment of the operating conditions of the system. Traditionally, during an inactive time interval, the temperature of the magnet coils is not allowed to rise, and the system is kept ON, in operating conditions. This results in wasting a large amount of energy for keeping the magnet coils at cryogenic temperatures. Turning the system OFF has never been an option since re-establishment of the operating conditions is very time consuming and costly. The present disclosure offers methods and systems that allow idling of a system in temperatures higher than the magnet coils' intended operating temperature, which results in noticeable savings. |
| US09190195B2 |
Fe-group-based soft magnetic powder
The present invention provides a Fe-group-based soft magnetic powder that is used for the pressed powder magnetic cores for a choke coil, reactor coil, etc., and that has a higher magnetic permeability. At least one selected from Fe, Co, or Ni that is generally used is used as the main component of the Fe-group-based alloy (iron-based alloy) soft magnetic powder. The soft magnetic powder is produced by adding a small amount (0.05-4 wt %) of Nb, V, Ta, Ti, Mo, or W, to the molten metal and by means of an inexpensive method such as the water-atomizing method. |
| US09190192B2 |
Cable holder
A cable holder includes a pair of holding members that are relatively moved in a predetermined sliding direction to sandwich and hold a cable therebetween. The pair of holding members each include a plurality of guide planes each parallel to the sliding direction and a plurality of sliding contact surfaces parallel to the sliding direction. One of the pair of holding members is guided in the sliding direction by sliding the sliding contact surfaces thereof on the guide planes of the other holding member. The other holding member is guided in the sliding direction by sliding the sliding contact surfaces thereof on the guide planes of the one of the holding members. The pair of holding members are fixed to each other by a frictional force between the sliding contact surfaces and the guide planes in a state of holding the cable. |
| US09190188B2 |
Photonic sintering of polymer thick film copper conductor compositions
This invention provides a method for using a polymer thick film copper conductor composition to form an electrical conductor in an electrical circuit, the method subjecting the deposited thick film copper conductor composition to photonic sintering. The invention also provides a method for reducing the resistance of an electrical conductor formed from a polymer thick film conductor composition, the method comprising the step of subjecting the electrical conductor to photonic sintering. The invention further provides devices containing electrical conductors made by these methods. The invention also provides a polymer thick film copper conductor composition. |
| US09190187B2 |
Paste composition for solar cell electrode, electrode fabricated using the same, and solar cell including the same
A paste composition for solar cell electrodes includes conductive particles, a glass frit, an organic binder and a solvent. The conductive particles include at least two groups of conductive particle having different particle diameter distributions. The conductive particle may have an average particle diameter (D50′) of about 1.85 μm or less and a particle diameter (D90′) at 90% of the cumulative particle diameter distribution of about 3.10 μm or less. |
| US09190183B2 |
Apparatuses and systems for density gauge calibration and reference emulation
Apparatuses and systems for emulating electrical characteristics of a material having a known dielectric constant or property are disclosed for standardizing and calibrating of electromagnetic devices. The emulator apparatus can include an electrically non-conductive layer having a dielectric constant less than the material dielectric constant and an electrically conductive layer adjacent the non-conductive layer. Artificial dielectrics for emulating the dielectric constant of a material are also disclosed including a substrate matrix having a dielectric constant less than the material dielectric constant and an additive combined with the substrate, the additive having a dielectric constant higher than the material dielectric constant. Artificial dielectrics may simulate the frequency response of a material relating to a specific property. |
| US09190182B2 |
Radiation imaging apparatus
A radiation imaging apparatus comprising: a radiation detector; a field modulator that modulates the radiation that reaches the detector and is defined by a transmission function; a scanner system for changing the pose of at least the field modulator; and an image reconstruction section that receives a radiation reading from the radiation detector for each of a plurality of angular orientations of the field modulator, and is configured to process the received readings to derive an image representing the amount of radiation originating from each point in an image domain, wherein the transmission function of the field modulator comprises a low transmission region that attenuates radiation incident toward the detector from angular directions defined by that low transmission region, and a high transmission region that transmits to the detector radiation that is incident toward the detector from angular directions defined by that high transmission region, wherein said regions are arranged such that: for each incident angle in the high transmission region, there is at least one incident angle in the low transmission region that is separated therefrom by less than a first angle, wherein said first angle is 10 degrees; and for each incident angle in the high transmission region, the majority of other incident angles in the high transmission region are separated therefrom by more than a second angle, wherein said second angle is 20 degrees. |
| US09190172B2 |
Semiconductor device
To supply a signal in which the occurrence of delays is prevented to a storage circuit. To provide a novel semiconductor device in which a load applied to a logic circuit is low. The following structure is completed: a storage circuit to which a plurality of data signals and a selection signal are supplied connects two combination circuits, and a storage circuit has a function of selecting one of a plurality of data signals in accordance with the selection signal. A selection circuit is not necessarily provided between the storage circuit and the combination circuit. As a result, the combination circuit can supply a signal in which the occurrence of delays is prevented to the storage circuit. |
| US09190168B2 |
Magnetic memory and manufacturing method thereof
A magnetic memory includes a first magnetic line, an electrode, a write-in portion, a second magnetic line, and a spin-wave generator. The first magnetic line has a plurality of magnetic domains and domain walls, the domain wall separating the magnetic domain. The electrode is provided to both ends of the first magnetic line. The write-in portion is provided adjacent to the first magnetic line. The second magnetic line is provided so that the second magnetic line intersects with the first magnetic line. The spin-wave generator provided to one end of the second magnetic line. The spin-wave detector provided to the other end of the second magnetic line. |
| US09190166B2 |
Memory element, semiconductor device, and writing method
A memory element includes: an electrical fuse provided to be inserted between a first input node and a second input node; and an antifuse provided to be inserted between the second input node and a third input node. The third input node is configured to be a node to which a voltage is allowed to be applied separately from a voltage to be applied to the first input node. |
| US09190163B2 |
Operating method of nonvolatile memory device and operating method of memory controller controlling the nonvolatile memory device
An operating method of a memory controller controlling a nonvolatile memory device including a plurality of pages includes receiving a read request and a logical address from an additional device; determining a program state of an upper unselected word line of a selected word line corresponding to the received logical address; and transmitting a physical address corresponding to the logical address, state information, and a read command to the nonvolatile memory device according to a result of the determination in response to the read request, wherein the state information indicates a level of a first unselect read voltage the nonvolatile memory device is to apply to the upper unselected word line. |
| US09190162B2 |
Nonconsecutive sensing of multilevel memory cells
Apparatuses and methods for nonconsecutive sensing of multilevel memory cells include methods of sensing a unit of information from a multilevel memory cell (MLC) using a sensing signal. The unit of information can correspond to a page of information. The MLC can store a plurality of units of information corresponding to a plurality of pages of information. The sensing signal can change from a first sensing magnitude to a second sensing magnitude and from the second sensing magnitude to a third sensing magnitude. The second sensing magnitude can be nonconsecutive from the first sensing magnitude and/or the third sensing magnitude can be nonconsecutive from the second sensing magnitude with respect to a plurality of sensing magnitudes corresponding to a plurality of charge storage states of the MLC. |
| US09190161B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor includes a memory cell, a bit line, a word line, a sense amplifier, and a control circuit. The memory cell stores n levels (where n is a natural number of two or greater). The control circuit controls potentials of the word line and the bit line. In a read of k−1 levels (k≦n) stored in the memory cell, the control circuit, upon applying a given voltage to the word line, determines read data based on first data corresponding to the voltage of the bit line read at a first timing by the sense amplifier and second data corresponding to the voltage of the bit line read, by the sense amplifier, at a second timing different from the first timing. |
| US09190157B2 |
Semiconductor device including memory cell having charge accumulation layer
A semiconductor device includes MOS transistors, capacitor elements, a voltage generating circuit, a contact plug, and a memory cell. The MOS transistor and the capacitor element are formed on a first one of the element regions and a second one of the element regions, respectively. In the voltage generating circuit, current paths of the MOS transistors are series-connected and the capacitor elements are connected to the source or drain of the MOS transistors. The contact plug is formed on the source or the drain to connect the MOS transistors or one of the MOS transistors and one of the capacitor elements. A distance between the gate and the contact plug both for a first one of the MOS transistors located in the final stage in the series connection is larger than that for a second one of the MOS transistors located in the initial stage in the series connection. |
| US09190156B2 |
NAND flash memory employing bit line charge/discharge circuit
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor storage device includes a memory cell array where memory cells are arranged in a row direction and a column direction in a matrix shape; word lines which select the memory cell in the row direction; bit lines which select the memory cells in the column direction; a sense amplifier circuit which determines values stored in the memory cells based on states of the bit line; and a charge/discharge circuit which is formed in a well where the memory cell array is arranged and which charges or discharges the bit lines. |
| US09190155B2 |
Memory system
A memory system includes a flash memory including a block having first sub-blocks and second sub-blocks different from each other, the second sub-blocks including free pages only; and a controller configured to erase the flash memory in units of the sub-blocks, and in a garbage collection operation, the controller is configured to copy data of a valid page of the first sub-blocks to at least one of the second sub-blocks. |
| US09190150B2 |
Non-volatile memory device having 3D memory cell array with improved wordline and contact layout
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a memory cell array including a plurality of stacked memory cells, a plurality of first wirings electrically connected to the plurality of memory cells, a plurality of first contacts electrically connected to part of the plurality of first wirings and arranged in a first direction parallel to the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of second contacts electrically connected to part of the plurality of first wirings and arranged in the first direction alternately with the first contacts, a plurality of third contacts electrically connected to the first contacts and displaced from the first contacts in the first direction, and a plurality of fourth contacts electrically connected to the second contacts and displaced from the second contacts in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. |
| US09190146B2 |
Variable resistance memory system with redundancy lines and shielded bit lines
A memory system according to the embodiment comprises a cell array of unit cell arrays each including memory cells; and an access circuit, wherein the memory cell changes from a first resistance state to a second resistance state on application of a first polarity voltage, and changes from the second resistance state to the first resistance state on application of a second polarity voltage, the access circuit provides the first and second lines connected to an access-targeted memory cell with access potentials, and brings at least one of the first and second lines connected to an access-untargeted memory cell into a floating state to make access to the access-targeted memory cell, the unit cell array includes first spare lines to provide redundancy for the first lines, and an alignment of the first lines includes a certain number of the first spare lines arranged in a certain cycle. |
| US09190145B2 |
Drive method for memory element and storage device using memory element
In a drive method for a memory element that includes an insulating substrate, a first electrode and a second electrode provided on the insulating substrate, and an inter-electrode gap portion provided between the first electrode and the second electrode and having a gap of the order of nanometers where a phenomenon of a change in resistance value between the first and second electrodes occurs, and that can perform a transition from a predetermined low-resistance state to a predetermined high-resistance state and a transition from the high-resistance state to the low-resistance state, a current pulse is applied to the memory element by a constant current circuit upon the transition from the high-resistance state to the low-resistance state. |
| US09190144B2 |
Memory device architecture
Row electrode drivers and column electrode drivers for a memory device are distributed within a footprint share by a memory cell array. |
| US09190143B2 |
Variable resistance memory device and related method of operation
A method of operating a variable resistance memory device comprises determining a level of an access voltage based on a number of rows or columns of a cell array, and supplying the access voltage having the determined level to the cell array. |
| US09190141B2 |
Circuits for voltage or current biasing static random access memory (SRAM) bitcells during SRAM reset operations, and related systems and methods
Circuits for voltage or current biasing static random access memory (SRAM) bitcells during SRAM reset operations are disclosed. Related systems and methods are also disclosed. To reset a plurality of SRAM bitcells in a single reset operation, a biasing circuit is provided and coupled to the plurality of SRAM bitcells. The biasing circuit is configured to apply a voltage or current bias to the SRAM bitcells during a reset operation after power provided to the SRAM bitcells is collapsed to a collapsed power level below an operational power level. The bias is applied as the power to the SRAM bitcells is restored to an operational power level, thus forcing the SRAM bitcells into a desired state. In this manner, the SRAM bitcells can be reset in a single reset operation without need for an increased drive strength from a reset circuit and without need to provide specialized SRAM bitcells. |
| US09190138B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a first bank, a second bank disposed separately from the first bank along a first direction, a third bank disposed separately from the first bank along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, a fourth bank disposed separately from the second bank along the second direction and from the third bank along the first direction, a first row control region, which is disposed between the first bank and the second bank, suitable for controlling a row decoding operation of the first bank and the second bank, a second row control region, which is disposed between the third bank and the fourth bank, suitable for controlling a row decoding operation of the third bank and the fourth bank, and a refresh control unit suitable for controlling a refresh operation of the first to fourth banks. |
| US09190136B2 |
Ferroelectric memory device
A ferroelectric memory device includes a memory array including a plurality of ferroelectric memory cells, a code generating circuit configured to multiply write data and a parity generator matrix to generate check bits, thereby producing a Hamming code having information bits and the check bits arranged therein, the information bits being the write data, and a driver circuit configured to write the Hamming code to the memory array, wherein the parity generator matrix has a plurality of rows, and a number of “1”s in each of the rows is an even number. |
| US09190133B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for a memory die architecture including an interface memory
Apparatuses and methods for reducing capacitance on a data bus are disclosed herein. In accordance with one or more described embodiments, an apparatus may comprise a plurality of memories coupled to an internal data bus and a command and address bus, each of the memories configured to receive a command on the command and address bus. One of the plurality of memories may be coupled to an external data bus. The one of the plurality of memories may be configured to provide program data to the internal data bus when the command comprises a program command and another of the plurality of memories is a target memory of the program command and may be configured to provide read data to the external data bus when the command comprises a read command and the another of the plurality of memories is a target memory of the read command. |
| US09190130B2 |
Semiconductor memory device with sequentially generated delay signals
A semiconductor memory device includes a first signal generation unit configured to sequentially generate first and second delay signals in response to a first column control signal, the first and second delay signals having reflected a delay time and a multiplied delay time selected from a plurality of delay times in correspondence with an arrangement location of a unit memory region, through data is input/output, respectively, and a second signal generation unit configured to generate a second column control signal delayed by the selected delay time as compared with the first column control signal, to determine an activation time point of the second column control signal in response to the first delay signal, and to determine a deactivation time point of the second column control signal in response to the second delay signal. |
| US09190126B2 |
Transistor voltage threshold mismatch compensated sense amplifiers and methods for precharging sense amplifiers
Sense amplifiers and methods for precharging are disclosed, including a sense amplifier having a pair of cross-coupled complementary transistor inverters, and a pair of transistors, each one of the pair of transistors coupled to a respective one of the complementary transistor inverters and a voltage. The sense amplifier further includes a capacitance coupled between the pair of transistors. One method for precharging includes coupling input nodes of the sense amplifier to a precharge voltage, coupling the input nodes of the sense amplifier together, and coupling a resistance to each transistor of a cross-coupled pair to set a voltage threshold (VT) mismatch compensation voltage for each transistor. The voltage difference between the VT mismatch compensation voltage of each transistor is stored. |
| US09190124B2 |
Multi-level memory with direct access
Embodiments of a method, device, and system for implementing multi-level memory with direct access are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes designating an amount of a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) in a computer system to be utilized as a memory alternative for a dynamic random access memory (DRAM). The method continues by designating a second amount of the NVRAM to be utilized as a storage alternative for a mass storage device. Then the method re-designates at least a first portion of the first amount of NVRAM from the memory alternative designation to the storage alternative designation during operation of the computer system. Finally, the method re-designates at least a first portion of the second amount of NVRAM from the storage alternative designation to the memory alternative designation during operation of the computer system. |
| US09190122B2 |
Driver of semiconductor memory device and driving method thereof
A driver of a semiconductor memory device and driving method thereof is disclosed, which relates to a technology for reducing consumption of a leakage current not required for a driver circuit of a semiconductor memory device. The driver of the semiconductor memory device includes a drive controller configured to selectively provide a first voltage and a second voltage, that have different levels in response to a power-down signal, to a first node; an input driver configured to selectively output a voltage received from the first node in response to a decoding signal; and an output driver configured to be driven in response to an output voltage of the input driver. |
| US09190121B2 |
Semiconductor memory device, system having the same and method for generating reference voltage for operating the same
A semiconductor memory device and a method for generating a reference voltage needed for operating the same are disclosed. The semiconductor memory device includes a first decoder configured to generate a default set signal in response to a reset signal and a clock enable signal, a second decoder configured to generate a reference voltage set signal in response, and a reference voltage provider configured to generate an internal reference voltage. |
| US09190117B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a memory cell array having a plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix; a reference bit line; a reference source line; at least one reference cell including first and second transistors serially connected between these lines; a reference word line connected to the gate of the first transistor; and a reference driver circuit configured to control the gate voltage of the second transistor. |
| US09190115B2 |
Method of assembling a disk drive
A method of assembling a disk drive according to the invention comprises steps of: providing a base component of a housing of the disk drive; providing a cover component of the housing; mating the base component and the cover component to form an enclosed housing that encloses disk drive components for operation of the disk drive; and sealing the disk drive using low thermal energy bonding. A hermetically sealed disk drive of the invention comprises: a housing comprising a base and a cover; and disk drive components enclosed within the housing for operation of the disk drive, wherein the housing comprises a bondline continuously extending around a periphery of the housing for sealing the same. |
| US09190114B1 |
Disk drive filter including fluorinated and non-fluorinated nanopourous organic framework materials
A disk drive includes a disk drive base, a rotating spindle attached to the disk drive base, and a disk mounted on the rotating spindle. A disk drive cover is attached to the disk drive base to enclose the disk in a disk drive enclosure. A filter within the disk drive enclosure includes first and second nanoporous adsorbent materials, each being either a metal organic framework material or a covalent organic framework material. The first nanoporous adsorbent material is fluorinated, and the second nanoporous adsorbent material is not fluorinated. |
| US09190105B1 |
Radially-coherent reading and writing system and method for a magnetic disk
Radially-coherent data reading from, and data writing to, a magnetic disk use non-coherently written synchronization signals on the disk. In a form, the radially-coherent data reading and writing is performed using a magnetic head/disk tester which includes a spinstand for supporting a spinning magnetic disk, a magnetic head assembly, a write channel network for generating a write data signal for application to a write element of the magnetic head, a read channel for receiving a read-back signal from a read element of the magnetic head assembly, and a signal processing system that analyzes a read-back signal from a disk and provides synchronization signals for radially-coherent data reading and data writing. |
| US09190104B2 |
Systems and methods for data retry using averaging process
Embodiments are related to systems and methods for data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for calibration during data processing. As an example, a data processing system is discussed that includes a sample averaging circuit operable to average digital samples from an analog to digital converter circuit over multiple instances of an analog input to yield an X-average output, and a selector circuit operable to select one of the digital samples or the X-average output as a processing output. |
| US09190102B2 |
Disc clamp with balancers providing improved durability and balance and spindle motor having the same
A disc clamp and a spindle motor having the same is provided, the disc clamp according to an exemplary embodiment comprising: a disc clamp body; a first disc balancer projected from the disc clamp body in the horizontal direction and configured to have a first thickness; and a second disc balancer bent downwards from an end of the first disc balancer to fix the disc and configured to have a second thickness, wherein an angle between a horizontal surface of the first disc balancer and the second disc balancer is in the range of 92° to 95°. |
| US09190099B2 |
Higher order structured dyes with enhanced optical features
Organic dyes that are covalently bonded multimers or higher order symmetrical structures where one or more dye units may optionally contain deuterium substitutions are disclosed. The disclosed dyes are particularly useful for optical coatings, new optical nanomaterials, high density storage devices. The structural and optical characteristics of the disclosed dyes provide avenues for increased information-content through surface-enhanced Raman resonance spectroscopy. |
| US09190092B1 |
Magnetic recording medium and method for producing the same
A patterned magnetic recording medium, accessible by a magnetic recording head, including a plurality of tracks, a width direction of each track and that of the magnetic recording head being of a skew angle. The patterned magnetic recording medium includes a plurality of magnetic dots, each corresponding to a recording bit, formed on a non-magnetic material. The plurality of magnetic dots are arranged in a plurality of arrays, each array corresponding to one of the tracks. Every N adjacent magnetic dots of the array define a polygon, one side thereof being parallel to the corresponding track, and another side thereof being parallel to a direction determined by the skew angle of the corresponding track. |
| US09190090B1 |
Multi step lube blocking air bearing area configuration
A disk drive is provided having one or more structural air bearing surface (ABS) features that can block particulate matter, such as lube droplets that may enter the air bearing from the trailing edge or rearward portion of the slider. Moreover, such structural ABS features can influence air flow within or about the air bearing to prevent or at least reduce the accumulation of particles and/or droplets in one or more areas of the air bearing to reduce the reliability problems induced by particle contamination and lube pick-up. |
| US09190088B2 |
Aligning a first element coupled to an actuator with a second element of a main system
A control system for aligning a first element coupled to an actuator with a second element of a main system includes a position sensor that measures an absolute position of the first element relative to the main system as a sensor signal, a position error signal-based compensator that generates a second control signal as a function of a position error signal, wherein the position error signal indicates a relative position of the first element as a difference between the actual position of the first element and a target position of the first element relative to the second element, a sensor-based compensator that generates a first control signal as a function of the sensor signal and the second control signal, and an actuator that changes the position of the first element relative to the second element dependent on the first control signal to align the first element with the second element. |
| US09190086B1 |
GSA suspension having slider clearance for shock performance
A dual stage actuated (DSA) suspension includes two PZT microactuators that are attached at their first ends to a non-gimbaled portion of the suspension, and are attached at their second ends to the gimbaled portion of the suspension such as the gimbal tongue through flexible connectors that can be formed integrally with the suspension's flexure. The flexible connectors are flexible enough so as not to interfere with the suspension's gimballing action. The flexible connectors transmit force from the PZTs to the gimbal as the PZTs expand and contract in order to rotate the gimbal and thus effect fine movements of the head slider. The flexible connectors are positioned laterally outwardly of the leading edge of the slider, thereby protecting both the connectors and the PZTs from damage induced by the slider striking the connectors during a shock event. |
| US09190085B1 |
Waveguide with reflective grating for localized energy intensity
An apparatus includes a waveguide with first and second sections, and a junction coupling the first and second waveguide sections together. The first waveguide section has a first reflective device and the second section comprising a second reflective device arranged to generate a standing wave in the waveguide with maximum energy wave intensity at a target region of the waveguide in response to an incident energy wave being provided into at least one of the waveguide sections. |
| US09190082B2 |
Dual reader structure
Implementations described and claimed herein provide a dual reader wherein a bottom shield is attached to side shields. |
| US09190079B1 |
Magnetic write pole having engineered radius of curvature and chisel angle profiles
A magnetic transducer has air-bearing surface (ABS) and includes a main pole and at least one coil. The coil(s) energize the main pole. The main pole includes a yoke and a pole tip having an ABS-facing surface. The pole tip includes a sidewall having a radius of curvature and a chisel angle. The chisel angle is measured between a yoke direction perpendicular to the ABS and a tangent the sidewall. The chisel angle for the pole tip continuously increases in the yoke direction to a maximum a first distance from the ABS-facing surface in the yoke direction. The radius of curvature for the pole tip has a minimum radius of curvature a second distance from the ABS-facing surface in the yoke direction. The first distance is greater than the second distance. |
| US09190078B2 |
Dual reader structure
Implementations described and claimed herein provide a stacked dual reader with a bottom sensor stack and a top sensor stack wherein the bottom sensor stack and the top sensor stack are mirrored along a down-track direction. |
| US09190073B2 |
Methods and systems for utilizing voice commands onboard an aircraft
Methods and systems are provided for utilizing audio commands onboard an aircraft. A method comprises identifying a flight phase for the aircraft, resulting in an identified flight phase, receiving an audio input, resulting in received audio input, filtering the received audio input in a manner that is influenced by the identified flight phase for the aircraft, resulting in filtered audio input, and validating the filtered audio input as a first voice command of a first plurality of possible voice commands. |
| US09190070B2 |
Signal processing method, information processing apparatus, and storage medium for storing a signal processing program
Provided is a noise suppressing technology capable of suppressing various noises including unknown noises without storing information relating to a large number of noises in advance. Noises in a degraded signal are suppressed and noise information is generated on the basis of a noise suppression result. The noises in the degraded signal are suppressed using the generated noise information. |
| US09190063B2 |
Multi-language speech recognition system
A speech recognition system includes distributed processing across a client and server for recognizing a spoken query by a user. A number of different speech models for different natural languages are used to support and detect a natural language spoken by a user. In some implementations an interactive electronic agent responds in the user's native language to facilitate an real-time, human like dialog. |
| US09190062B2 |
User profiling for voice input processing
This is directed to processing voice inputs received by an electronic device. In particular, this is directed to receiving a voice input and identifying the user providing the voice input. The voice input can be processed using a subset of words from a library used to identify the words or phrases of the voice input. The particular subset can be selected such that voice inputs provided by the user are more likely to include words from the subset. The subset of the library can be selected using any suitable approach, including for example based on the user's interests and words that relate to those interests. For example, the subset can include one or more words related to media items selected by the user for storage on the electronic device, names of the user's contacts, applications or processes used by the user, or any other words relating to the user's interactions with the device. |
| US09190054B1 |
Natural language refinement of voice and text entry
A data processing apparatus is configured to receive a first string related to a natural-language voice user entry and a second string including at least one natural-language refinement to the user entry; parse the first string into a first set of one or more tokens and the second string into a second set of one or more tokens; determine at least one refining instruction from the second set of one or more tokens; generate, from at least a portion of each of the first string and the second string and based on the at least one refining instruction, a group of candidate refined user entries; select a refined user entry from the group of candidate refined user entries; and output the selected, refined user entry. |
| US09190053B2 |
System and method for applying a convolutional neural network to speech recognition
A system and method for applying a convolutional neural network (CNN) to speech recognition. The CNN may provide input to a hidden Markov model and has at least one pair of a convolution layer and a pooling layer. The CNN operates along the frequency axis. The CNN has units that operate upon one or more local frequency bands of an acoustic signal. The CNN mitigates acoustic variation. |
| US09190049B2 |
Generating personalized audio programs from text content
Features are disclosed for generating text-to-speech (TTS) audio programs from textual content received from multiple sources. A TTS system may assemble an audio program from several individual audio presentations of user-selected network-accessible content. Users may configure the TTS system to retrieve personal content as well as publically accessible content. The audio program may include segues, introductions, summaries, and the like. Voices may be selected for individual content items based on user selections or on characteristics of the content or content source. |
| US09190043B2 |
Assisting conversation in noisy environments
A portable system for enhancing communication between at least two users in proximity to each other includes first and second noise-reducing headsets, each headset including an electroacoustic transducer for providing sound to a respective user's ear and a voice microphone for detecting sound of the respective user's voice and providing a microphone input signal. A first electronic device integral to the first headset and in communication with the second headset generates a first side-tone signal based on the microphone input signal from the first headset, generates a first voice output signal based on the microphone input signal from the first headset, combines the first side-tone signal with a first far-end voice signal associated with the second headset to generate a first combined output signal, and provides the first combined output signal to the first headset for output by the first headset's electroacoustic transducer. |
| US09190040B2 |
Bass drum
A bass drum 10 has a hollow cylindrical shell 11, a drumhead 12 mounted on an opening end of the shell 11 to form a striking surface, and a striking surface attachment 13 provided on the reverse side of the drumhead 12. The striking surface attachment 13 is formed of an elastic sheet. At least a part of an outer area of the striking surface attachment 13 is fixed to the drumhead 12 and a central area of the striking surface attachment 13 is not fixed to the drumhead 12. As a result, the bass drum 10 can generate a struck sound having both deep bass sound and clear attack. |
| US09190038B2 |
Tension adjustment hoop for a membrane of a musical instrument
A tension adjustment hoop (1) for tensioning a resonant skin (13) on a musical instrument (6, 25), the tension adjustment hoop (1) being formed by a ring (2) with a center axis (3) and with retention means (4) arranged to interact with coupling means (5) on the musical instrument (6, 25) for retention of the tension adjustment hoop (1), the tension adjustment hoop (1) having an opposing top side (7) and bottom side (8), where the tension adjustment hoop (1) comprises an inner fluid channel (17), provided with a pressure adjustment connection (26) in hydraulic connection with the fluid channel (17), and a plurality of pistons (10), each in hydraulic connection with the fluid channel (17), each with a free end (11) opposite the fluid channel (17), and each, under the influence of the pressure in the fluid channel (17), being displaceable in a direction parallel to the center axis (3) of the tension adjustment hoop (1) between a first extreme position, where the free end (11) is within or level with the bottom side (8), and a second extreme position, where the free end (11) is outside the bottom side (8). |
| US09190033B2 |
Capo
The present invention is directed to a capo for use with a stringed musical instrument and which is engaged from the bottom portion of the neck of the musical instrument. The capo has a generally L-shaped frame connected to a lever and a pincher configured so that pressure applied to the lever causes the pincher to move toward the lever, allowing the space between the pincher and free end portion of the frame to receive the neck of the musical instrument. The exterior of the frame is configured to received interchangeable inlays, and the free end portion of the frame is configured to receive changeable neck pads. |
| US09190032B2 |
Guitar string tuning and anchor system
An apparatus for securing one end of a guitar string to a guitar is disclosed. The apparatus includes a mount adapted to be secured to and extend upwardly from the bridge of the guitar, and where the mount defines a pivot axis above the bridge of the guitar. The apparatus also can include a string holder pivotally connected to the mount at the pivot axis, the string holder comprising an anchor to securely hold the end of the guitar string, the string holder having a first end and a second end, the first end positioning the guitar string below the saddle height of the bridge. Additionally, the apparatus can include a position adjuster operatively connected to the mount and the string holder, where the position adjuster can be used for adjusting the pivot angle of the string holder to adjust tension on the guitar string. |
| US09190025B1 |
Adapting display fonts for reflective displays
Techniques for utilizing different versions of a same font when rendering subsequent portions of a content item. For instance, envision that a user requests to open an electronic book. In response to this request, a display controller may display the first page of the electronic book using a flashing update and, therefore, may display the text using a regular weight of a particular font. However, when the user subsequently requests to turn to the second page of the electronic book, the display controller (utilizing a non-flashing update) may update the display using a version of the same font having a lesser weight. Given that some level of bleeding with likely occur when using the non-flashing update, the lesser weight coupled with the bleeding may result in text that approximates the weight of the text of the first page of the electronic book. |
| US09190023B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method of driving the same
A driving circuit for driving a liquid crystal display device having a plurality of gate lines, data lines and switch elements connected to the gate and data lines includes a data driver for applying a plurality of data signals to the date lines, a gate driver for applying a plurality of gate signals to the gate lines, a timing controller for providing a plurality of control signals to the data and gate drivers, a power supply for generating a power voltage, and a discharging circuit for applying a first signal and a second signal to the gate driver in accordance with the power voltage. |
| US09190022B2 |
Three-dimensional display device
A three-dimensional display device comprises a flat display panel and an image-converting sheet disposed on or above the display panel. The display panel comprises a matrix of unit display cells arranged as rows and columns and where the cells are spaced apart to have respective row and column direction pitches. The image-converting sheet comprises a plurality of inclined lenticular lenses where the inclination is set according to the row and column direction pitches so as to reduce perception of Moiré patterns when stereo-scopic images are projected through the image-converting sheet to an observer viewing the display panel as an upright panel having respectively different left and right stereo-scopic image projections. |
| US09190019B2 |
Image display apparatus
An image display apparatus makes the emission angle range of emitted light bilaterally symmetrical, at low cost, irrespective of the material refractive index of a prism composing a liquid crystal prism. The image display apparatus includes an image display panel , a backlight device located on a back surface side of the image display panel, a liquid crystal prism element located between the image display panel and the backlight device, an offset optical element located between the image display panel and the backlight device and configured to deflect light incident thereon, a position detection section configured to detect a viewing position of a viewer, and a control section configured to control a voltage applied to a liquid crystal prism element, in accordance with the viewing position detected by the position detection section. |
| US09190014B2 |
Data transmission using out-of-gamut color coordinates
Methods for transmitting additional information together with image data involve replacing pixel values to take in-gamut points to out-of-gamut points. The additional information may constitute metadata describing the image data and/or useful for controlling display and/or processing of the image data; watermark information; or other information. In some embodiments the image data is restored to its original form after extraction of the additional information. |
| US09190010B2 |
Displaying visual elements on a medical device
A medical system includes a medical device and a display for displaying a plurality of visual elements. The plurality of visual elements are associated with functions of the medical device. The medical system also includes a plurality of visual profiles for facilitating in controlling visual appearance of the plurality of visual elements displayed on the display, and a visual profile selector for selecting at least one of the plurality of visual profiles based on a state of the medical device. |
| US09190008B2 |
Gate driving module, display apparatus having the same and method of driving display panel using the same
A gate driving module includes a gate driver and a gate signal generator. The gate driver generates a vertical start signal, a plurality of gate clock signals and a plurality of inverse gate clock signals based on a vertical start control signal, a plurality of gate clock control signals, a gate on voltage, a first gate off voltage and a second gate off voltage. The number of the gate clock signals is P. The number of the inverse gate clock signals is P. The number of the gate clock control signals is P. P is a positive integer equal to or greater than two. The gate signal generator generates a gate signal based on the vertical start signal, the gate clock signals and the inverse gate clock signals. |
| US09190005B2 |
Display panel
A display panel comprises a display area, a plurality of scan lines and data lines, a data driving circuit and a demultiplexing unit. The scan lines and the data lines cross each other within the display area. At least two of the data lines have different capacitances. The data driving circuit outputs a plurality of control signal and a data signal. The demultiplexing unit includes a plurality of thin-film transistors coupled with the data driving circuit and the data lines. The thin-film transistors receive the data signal and transmit the data signal to the correspondingly coupled data lines through channel layers of the thin-film transistors according to the control signals. The channel layers of at least two of the thin-film transistors coupled with the at least two data lines have different widths. |
| US09190004B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
An LCD device is disclosed which includes: at least one sensor module configured to sense an amount of external light; a liquid crystal display panel configured to display images; at least one light source module disposed under the liquid crystal display panel and configured to emit light; and at least one light guide plate configured to convert light from the at least one light source module into two-dimensional light and apply two-dimensional light to the liquid crystal display panel. The at least one light source module includes infrared LEDs and visible LEDs which are selectively driven according to a sensed light quantity sensed by the at least one sensor module and allow infrared light and visible light to be selectively emitted. |
| US09190001B2 |
Liquid crystal display device, display apparatus, and gate signal line driving method
A control capacitor (CDown) is connected between a pixel electrode of a liquid crystal capacitor (CLC_Bn) in at least one sub-pixel and a common signal line (COM) through a TFT (3) whose gate electrode is connected to a gate signal line (Gn+1), and a control circuit selectively switches output modes in accordance with whether the pulse periods of a gate pulse to be output to the gate signal line (Gn) and a gate pulse to be output to the gate signal line (Gn+1) partially overlap or not. |
| US09189999B2 |
Signal processing device, liquid crystal device, electronic apparatus and signal processing method
A signal processing device using a liquid crystal device having a plurality of pixels includes a storage unit that stores a signal which controls a level of transmittance in a plurality of pixels, a detection unit that, based on the signal that is stored in the storage unit, detects a first pixel associated with a second value which indicates higher transmittance than a first value, and a second pixel adjacent to the first pixel and associated with a fourth value which indicates the higher transmittance than a third value; and a correction unit that corrects the second value so that a difference of the transmittance indicated by the second value and the fourth value decreases. The third value indicates the higher transmittance than the first value, and the fourth value indicates a higher transmittance than the second value. |
| US09189997B2 |
Display device
It is an object to provide a display device in which a problem of light leakage from a liquid crystal element in black display is reduced or overcome and the contrast is improved. It is another object to provide a pixel circuit having a function to control a lighting state of a backlight based on each pixel. These objects are achieved by turning off a light-emitting element in display of a black gray scale, and by providing a light-emitting element in each pixel and providing, in a pixel circuit, a function to individually control lighting and non-lighting of the light-emitting element depending on a gray scale to perform display. When a backlight is provided in each pixel, a light-emitting element that is a backlight is turned off when a black gray scale is displayed, whereby reduction in contrast due to light leakage from a liquid crystal element can be prevented. |
| US09189995B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling drive signals in spatial light modulator displays
Methods and systems are provided for processing control values for a backlight and/or a display modulation layer of a display. A ramping pattern is determined based on the difference between new and old control values. A blanking pattern is determined based on the motion detected in frame regions. The ramping pattern or blanking pattern may take into consideration the display modulation layer response characteristics. The ramping pattern and/or blanking pattern is applied to control values for the backlight and/or display modulation layer. |
| US09189994B2 |
Display device and electronic equipment
A display device including: a pixel array section; power supply lines; and auxiliary electrodes, wherein each pixel has an auxiliary capacitance, and one of electrodes of the auxiliary capacitance is connected to the source electrode of the drive transistor, and another electrode is connected to the auxiliary electrode for the pixel. |
| US09189992B2 |
Pixel, display device comprising the same and driving method thereof
A display device and a driving method thereof are disclosed. In one aspect, the display device includes a plurality of pixels, each including a driver which generates a driving current according to an input image data signal and a light emission portion formed of an organic light-emitting diode which emits light according to the driving current and at least one dummy pixel connected to a repair line that is connected to a light emission portion of at least one first pixel among the plurality of pixels. The dummy pixel includes a dummy pixel driver having the same structure as the drivers of each of the plurality of pixels, a dummy pixel light emission portion formed of an organic light-emitting diode, and a repair driver which transmits a driving current generated in the dummy pixel driver through the repair line when a driver of the first pixel fails. |
| US09189988B2 |
Management of display parameters in communications devices
Techniques involving the management of display parameters are disclosed. For example, an apparatus may include a display, a radio module, and a control module. The display employs various operational parameters, which can take on different values. Exemplary parameters include refresh rate and/or pixel clock rate. The radio module may receive a wireless signal at one or more reception frequencies. The control module may select values for these operational parameters of the display. This selection may be made according to characteristics of interference that would be emitted from the display at the one or more reception frequencies. Upon making this selection, the control module may direct the display to employ the selected parameter values. |
| US09189985B2 |
Mobile information terminal
A mobile information terminal that changes various settings associated with reproduction of a moving image content based on a type of the content so as to reduce power consumption. The mobile information terminal starts a television in response to operation by a user, and receives a moving image content of a selected broadcast program, and EPG data. When a power saving mode is ON, the type of the program is judged according to the EPG data. Subsequently, a default frame rate is changed to a value that has been preset for the program type. Hence, the mobile information terminal reproduces the program at a suitable frame rate. Such a change may be made to settings other than the frame rate. |
| US09189984B2 |
Apparatus and methods for arranging media items in a physical space based on personal profiles
Apparatus and methods for arranging a set of media items based on user profiles are disclosed. The apparatus includes a processor in communication with user identification ports and a plurality of surfaces for displaying media items. The processor in accordance with the invention receives a user identifier from one of the user identification ports, retrieves a user profile associated with the user identifier, calculates a preference vector for the media items within the set based on the user profile, and directs the plurality of surfaces to change an arrangement of the display of the set of media items from a first configuration to a second configuration based on the preference vector. The processor thereby changes which of the first set of media items is displayed on at least one of the plurality of surfaces. |
| US09189979B2 |
Display shield having a collapsible holder for a beverage
A display shield assembly adapted to hold a beverage. The display shield assembly construction includes a display shield and a collapsible beverage container frame. The collapsible beverage container frame comprises a substantially circular container stabilizer and a strap. The strap is integrally connected to the substantially circular container stabilizer. The strap includes at least one surface portion that is attached to the display shield. The collapsible beverage container frame supports a beverage container in wedged suspension under the force of gravity. |
| US09189978B2 |
Labels, label sheet assemblies, and related methods
The present invention relates to self-adhesive labels, label sheet assemblies, and related methods. The label sheet assembly includes a release liner assembly having a detachable portion, and a label releasably coupled to the release liner assembly and overlying the detachable portion. Weakened separation lines, a U-shaped cut, and a transverse cut define the detachable portion. The detachable portion is configured to remain coupled to the label as the label is peeled from the release liner assembly in a first direction, and the detachable portion is configured to remain part of the release liner assembly and separate from the label as the label is peeled from the release liner assembly in a second direction. |
| US09189974B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program for determining the location of a user in an area
Apparatus for orientating a user in a space wherein the space comprises a plurality of zones of which only certain zones constitute functional zones wherein each functional zone includes a first type device containing information relating to the position of the zone in the space and wherein the first type device is reactive to the presence of a second type device associated with the user to provide the user with the information to determine the orientation of the user in the space. A method of orientating the user within the space and guiding the user toward one or more features in the space is also disclosed. |
| US09189973B2 |
Systems and methods for providing feedback based on the state of an object
A device and method are provided for providing feedback based on the state of an object. In one implementation, an apparatus for processing images is provided. The apparatus may include an image sensor configured to capture real time images from an environment of a user and at least one processor device configured to initially process at least one image to determine whether an object is likely to change its state. If a determination is made that the object is unlikely to change its state, the at least one processor device may additionally process the at least one image and provide a first feedback. If a determination is made that the object is likely to change its state, the at least one processor device may continue to capture images of the object and alert the user with a second feedback after a change in the state of the object occurs. |
| US09189968B2 |
Network-probability recommendation system
A method/apparatus/system for generating a recommendation based on user interactions with nodes and associated tasks within a prerequisite graph. The recommendation is generated by identifying the user's current position within the prerequisite graph and identifying potential next nodes to which the user could move. Based on the user's past interactions with nodes and/or tasks within the prerequisite graph, the user's likelihood of successfully completing the potential next node is calculated, and a recommendation is made based on this calculated likelihood of the user successfully completing the potential next node. |
| US09189964B1 |
System, module, and method for presenting runway traffic information
A present novel and non-trivial system, module, and method for presenting runway traffic information are disclosed. A partitioned runway awareness zone is established using data received from a source of navigation reference data, where such data could represent runway information, runway awareness zone information, or partitioned runway awareness zone information. After traffic data is received from a source such as an ADS-B, each section of the partitioned runway zone occupied by traffic is determined. Based upon the determination, an advisory data set comprising traffic information is generated and provided to a presentation system, where the advisory data set could include alert data based upon a level of threat. A presentation system used to present traffic information could include a visual display unit(s), an aural alert unit, and/or a tactile alert unit. A portable device such as handheld may be used to present traffic information. |
| US09189963B2 |
Procedure for facilitating the approach to a platform
A procedure for facilitating the approach to a platform [PF] with an aircraft [1] including a construction stage [STP1] for a database [5] that includes, for each stored platform [PF], attributes that include at least one platform identifier, the coordinates of the platform, a landing height [HDECK] of a landing zone of the platform, and the radius (OR) of a circle within which the platform is inscribed. During a parameterization stage [STP2], the target platform to be reached is determined, along with a course (CRS) to be followed and a height parameter relative to a minimum decision altitude (MDA). During a construction stage [STP3], the position of an initial approach fix (IAF) is determined, along with the position of a final approach fix (FAF), an offset point (OIP), and a decision point (MAP), in response to the information and in response to the attributes. |
| US09189962B1 |
System and methods for generating alert signals in a terrain awareness and warning system
Novel and non-trivial systems and methods for generating and providing alerts in a terrain awareness and warning system (“TAWS”) are disclosed. The systems could be comprised of a navigation system, an airport-related database, a terrain database, a terrain alert processor, and crew alerting system. A phase of flight and flight attitude parameter may be determined based on the location to the nearest airport or runway environment, and a terrain clearance altitude associated with the phase of flight and flight attitude parameter may be added to the highest elevation of a terrain cell over which the aircraft is projected to operate to determine a minimum operating altitude of the terrain cell. If the aircraft altitude is less than any value of minimum operating altitude along the projected flight path, an alert signal is generated. |
| US09189961B2 |
Method and system for autonomous tracking of a following vehicle in the lane of a leading vehicle
A method and system for autonomous tracking of a following vehicle on the track of a leading vehicle. A lead message is received by the following vehicle and rejected by the following vehicle or confirmed with a follow message. After receipt of the follow message, a first element of coordination information for coordination of the autonomous tracking is sent to the following vehicle by the leading vehicle. A second element of coordination information is detected for coordination of the autonomous tracking by environment sensors of the following vehicle on the basis of movements of the leading vehicle. The first and second elements of coordination information are compared by the following vehicle. In the case of a matching comparison result, the autonomous tracking is performed corresponding to the first and second elements of coordination information and, in the case of a deviating comparison result, the autonomous tracking is ended. |
| US09189960B2 |
Computer-based technology for aiding the repair of motor vehicles
A computer-assisted inspection system provides computer architectures and software controlled algorithms to automatically provide vehicle inspections and repair recommendations including estimated repair time and cost of depression type damage such as dents. Features provided by a handheld wireless touchscreen based inspection device include flat car part picking, auto grading including seller grading, and automatic calculation of body and bumper dent repair parameters and directions. |
| US09189958B2 |
Predictive EHORIZON
A method for optimizing the provision of a predictive eHorizon in a driver assistance system. A method for providing a predictive eHorizon in a driver assistance system is provided, wherein a horizon provider in a driver assistance system makes information about an expected route course available to an assistance application. The horizon provider creates a planning table including information about the expected route course and/or including data to be provided as a function of the route course, associated with an expected position of the vehicle in the planning table. The planning table data to be provided by the assistance system application are taken at least partially from the planning table as a function of the current position of the vehicle. |
| US09189957B2 |
Single cycle offset adjustment for traffic signal controllers using a threshold percentage of the cycle length
Embodiments include a method for single cycle offset adjustment for a traffic signal includes receiving a current signal control plan and a new signal control plan. The method also includes calculating an offset between the current signal control plan and a new signal control plan and determining if the offset is less than a threshold percentage of a cycle length of the new signal control plan. If the offset is less than a threshold percentage of the cycle length, the method includes reducing a time period of each phase of a next cycle of the new signal control plan. If the offset is greater than the threshold percentage of the cycle length, the method includes increasing the time period of each phase of the next cycle of the new signal control plan. The method also includes executing the new signal control plan. |
| US09189953B2 |
RF dynamic power control and radio protection in metering devices
Techniques for dynamic power control of a radio of a utility data collection device (e.g., utility meter configured for wireless communications) are described that utilize a detection scheme applied to a Front End Module (FEM) in the utility data collection device. A utility data collection device measures a Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) presented to the FEM during transmission. The result of this measurement allows the utility data collection device to dynamically control the input power to a FEM transmit portion. Utilizing these techniques, the utility data collection device can adjust to environmental changes and conditions experienced in the field. |
| US09189952B2 |
Communication system and method
A vehicle system includes a vehicle communication module in the vehicle, a remote start system in the vehicle, and a vehicle processor. The vehicle processor is configured to determine if the vehicle is in a garage, and further configured to receive an indication of a remote start request from the remote start system, receive a garage door status from a garage door opener using the vehicle communication module, and determine, based on the received garage door status, if a garage door is closed. In response to determining that the garage door is closed, the vehicle systems transmits a remote command to the garage door opener formatted to cause the garage door opener to open the garage door. |
| US09189947B2 |
System and method for providing notification of a task
An apparatus for providing notification of a task includes a position component configured to determine user location information of a user of a mobile communication device, a communication component configured to provide the user location information to a communicatively coupled remote server for determining historical presence information based on at least one of a number of times a user is present at a location and an amount of time the user is present at the location, and a user interface configured to receive identification of task information including a task location and to present a notification of a task based on the historical presence information, the task location, and a current location of the user. |
| US09189944B2 |
System for providing real time locating and gas exposure monitoring
A system, method, and apparatus for gas exposure monitoring of a work area are described. The system may include components that receive an alarm data item from a sensor device. The alarm data item may be generated in response to a first user being exposed to a gas concentration measured by the sensor device. A processor may receive a location of the sensor device in the work area based on a location identifier of the sensor device. A second user located within a predetermined vicinity of the sensor device may be identified. The second user may be identified by the processor. The system may transmit an indication of the alarm data item received from the first user and the location of the sensor device in the work area to the second user. The transmission may be automatic on detection of the second user's location. |
| US09189938B2 |
Automatically locating fire alarms
In a building, an identification number and positioning of a fire alarm is automatically compared either in a control panel or a mobile communication device of a user to automatically locate a fire alarm. Because no manual entries are required, erroneous entries are avoided. |
| US09189936B2 |
Security tag for a container seal and container seal including a security tag
A security tag for being mounted to a container seal includes a sensor element having a sensor volume which is filled at least partly with an indicator material, an indication area arranged at the sensor volume, and a manipulator element configured to cause, with an abrupt mechanical deformation at the container seal, when opening same, an irreversible, physical and/or chemical alteration of the indicator material which may be perceived visibly or in a tactile manner in the indication area. |
| US09189932B2 |
Haptic notification apparatus and method
The present invention relates generally to a haptic notification apparatus and method which allows a user to be notified through a haptic interface allowing notifications to be perceived by a user as coordinated sensations. Preferably, the coordinated sensations are generated by providing a plurality of conducting electrode having at least one insulator per electrode, allowing skin nerve endings of user to be stimulated via capacitive coupling over said insulator. The apparatus and method also preferably includes a sensor which is configured to sense movement or rotation in any axis and sense electronic nerve signals or pressure from muscle contractions in order to allow a user to respond to a haptic notification. |
| US09189931B2 |
Circuitry with warning function
A circuitry with a warning function, adapted to an electronic device electrically connected to plural peripheral devices each of which has a connector, includes a mainboard, plural switches and a light-emitting device. The mainboard is electrically equipped with plural of sockets to be electrically plugged by the connectors respectively. The switches are located in the sockets respectively. The light-emitting device is electrically connected to the switches and a power supply for providing power thereto. When one of the connectors electrically plugs into the corresponding socket and turns on the corresponding switch, the corresponding light-emitting device reveals a first warning state, and when one of the connectors does not electrically plug into the corresponding socket and does not turn on the corresponding switch, the corresponding light-emitting device reveals a second warning state. Thus the error connection can be concluded and excluded immediately before the electronic device is turned on. |
| US09189928B2 |
Tablet based kiosk
A tablet based kiosk to securely support a tablet such as a personal computer to receive, transmit and display information or data comprising a tablet mount including a frame having a back frame member and a front frame member coupled together to retain or house the tablet therein and a card swipe scanner housing to operatively retain a card scanner or swipe to scan information from a card to transmit information from the tablet and card scanner such as payments to a remote site, and supported above the floor or other surface by a stand including a substantially vertical column coupled to the frame by an upper coupling assembly including a power supply housing and coupled to a base by a lower coupling assembly, and a lock mechanism to selectively lock the tablet and tablet mount to the stand. |
| US09189926B2 |
Gaming system and method providing a slot game in which different sets of symbols are randomly associated with different symbol display areas and used to determine an outcome
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing a slot game in which, for each play of the slot game, different sets of symbols are randomly associated with different symbol display areas and used to determine an outcome for that play of the slot game. Generally, for each play of the slot game, the gaming system does so by: (a) randomly associating each of a plurality of different sets of symbols with a different one of a plurality of different symbol display areas; (b) for each of the sets of symbols, randomly selecting one of the symbols of that set to determine an outcome for that play of the slot game; and (c) displaying the randomly selected symbols at the associated symbol display areas (i.e., displaying the determined outcome). |
| US09189925B2 |
Wagering game community environment
A wagering game community environment is described herein. In some embodiments, the environment includes a community server to provide services for a wagering game community. In some embodiments, the community server comprises a communications controller configured to receive communications from community terminals and to send the communications to wagering game machines. In some embodiments, the community server also includes a promotions controller configured to award promotional material to members of the virtual community based on their use of the community terminals, the promotional material being for use in wagering games available on the wagering game machines. |
| US09189923B2 |
Gaming system and method for offering simultaneous play of multiple games
Gaming apparatus and methods of conducting a wagering game of chance. A gaming machine is disclosed which is configured for mutually concurrent play of a plurality of games of chance on a single display screen. A method of conducting a wagering activity includes providing a player with a plurality of differing games of chance, at least some of which are mutually concurrently playable on a single screen display of a gaming device and enabling mutually concurrent play of the plurality of differing games of chance on the single screen display. Various other gaming machine configurations and methods of play related to multiple differing games of chance on a single display screen are also disclosed herein. Networked gaming machines are also disclosed. |
| US09189921B2 |
Progressive value tracking and publication in gaming systems
A gaming system harvests a current progressive value from available gaming devices. A protocol is implemented that incorporates the current progressive value with current geolocation data associated with the available plurality of gaming devices as a universal progressive data feed. The universal progressive data feed is published. |
| US09189914B2 |
Method for multi-player poker-type card game
The invention provides for methods of playing video poker type games in multi-player environments. Some embodiments adapt conventional video poker for use as a live table based community game. Alternate embodiments of the present invention are suitable for implementation through linked video poker machines. The common feature is that the initial hand of cards in play are shared by a plurality of players, giving each player the same starting hand and yet the means to individually select cards to hold according to their personal preference. In the preferred embodiment an initial community stud hand is dealt face up to a bottom row. All players make hold selections of the community cards in accordance with draw poker. A second community stud hand is dealt face up to a top row. A dealer moves each player's hold selections from the bottom community hand row into a provided blank center row. Unless a player elects to hold all cards from the initial community hand, the dealer will use cards from the second community stud hand in the top row to complete each player's final draw poker hand in the center row. The step is repeated for each player until all wagers are settled according to a draw pay table. Additionally a stud wager may be placed betting that either of the two community stud poker hands created during play of the draw game will qualify according to a multi-chance stud pay table. |
| US09189912B2 |
Compact lid dispenser
A lid dispenser receives a stack of drink cup lids within a housing tube, such that the frontmost lids extend through a front element opening and are retained by multiple pager assemblies, each of which has a frontwardly extending pager body post. The inside of the pager body has an engaging wall with an inclined surface directed radially inwardly. Flippers are pivoted to the posts and have wings which extend towards the front element, and have interior surfaces which are inclined radially outwardly. The flippers are biased radially inwardly, but are displaceable by a pressure applied axially towards the interior cavity. When adjusted so the pager body posts project radially over the front element opening, each pager body post inside wall is positioned to engage lids which extend from the front element opening, and direct them towards engagement with the pager flippers. |
| US09189910B2 |
Banknote processing device and mounting table therefor
A banknote processing device is mounted on a mounting table. The banknote processing device includes a stacking unit having an opening for removing banknotes. A dust collection vent is arranged in front of the opening of the stacking unit on the mounting table. A suction fan sucks dust dispersing from the opening of the stacking unit into a dust collection vent. A filter captures the dust from air that is sucked in. A duct expels a dust-free air from an exhaust vent provided in an exhaust passage formed around the suction fan. In another configuration, the dust collection vent is provided inside the stacking unit, and the dust generated inside the stacking unit is sucked in by the suction fan. |
| US09189909B2 |
Banknote handling apparatus
To provide a banknote handling apparatus (1) capable of reducing a waiting time of a customer, as compared with a case in which a general banknote replenishing operation is performed when a banknote to be dispensed falls short in a dispensing process. The banknote handling apparatus (1) includes a memory unit (32) configured to record the stored-number of banknotes stored in the banknote handling apparatus (1) by denomination. Upon receipt of a command for dispensing a banknote(s) of one or more denominations, the number of dispensing being designated by denomination, the control unit (30) is configured to compare the designated-number with the stored-number recorded in the memory unit (32) corresponding to the denomination designated in the dispensing command, and to control the reception unit (11) and the transport unit (10) such that, if the stored-number is smaller than the designated-number, a banknote is fed out from the reception unit (11) and is recognized by the recognition unit (13), and that a banknote of a designated denomination is transported to the dispensing unit (12), in order that the number of banknotes of the designated denomination that have been transported to the dispensing unit matches the designated-number. |
| US09189905B2 |
Coin handling machine
The present invention provides a coin handling machine 11 which can handle a large amount of coins, has a transportation structure which can be simplified, reduced in size and cost, and can reduce the occurrence of trouble such as coin jams.The coin handling machine 11 includes a depositing and dispensing unit 13 which processes depositing and dispensing of coins, and a replenishing and collecting unit 14 which replenishes coins to the depositing and dispensing unit 13 and collects coins from the depositing and dispensing unit 13. The depositing and dispensing unit 13 includes a depositing and dispensing transport path 25, a depositing and feeding unit 31, a plurality of storing and feeding units 32, and an escrow unit 38. Each of the depositing and feeding unit 31 and the plurality of storing and feeding units 32 includes a rotary disk 60 which rotates at a position inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal direction, and a hopper which stores coins in an unaligned state on the surface side of the rotary disk 60. The replenishing and collecting unit 14 includes an overflow stacking unit 91 and a coin cassette 92, and includes a replenishment transport path 93 which transports coins fed out from the overflow stacking unit 91 and the coin cassette 92 to the depositing and dispensing unit 13. |
| US09189903B2 |
Extended user assistance
The invention relates to providing extended user assistance to the user of a portable electronic device. In particular, the invention relates to providing using assistance for a user of a portable electronic device, comprising a display and a Near Field Communication (NFC) circuit. The method comprises swiping the portable electronic device over an NFC tag comprising user assistance data, accessing user assistance information based on the user assistance data and displaying the user assistance information on the display. The application also relates to a method for providing context-based user assistance information and to a corresponding device. |
| US09189900B1 |
Methods and systems for assigning e-keys to users to access and drive vehicles
Methods and systems are provided. One method includes receiving a request, at a server, to grant e-keys to a recipient for use of a vehicle, the vehicle being pre-associated to a user account. The method further includes generating a unique access code, at the server, in response to receiving the request. The method then encrypts the access code, at the server, using a vehicle public key associated with the vehicle, the vehicle public key is associated with the user account. The method includes sending the encrypted access code to the recipient for receipt by a device of the recipient. The encrypted access code is defined for transmission to the vehicle by way of the device of the recipient, and the encrypted access code is associated with instructions to cause the vehicle to decrypt the access code using a private key of the vehicle and to transmit the access code after decryption back to the device of the recipient along with privilege settings for the use of the vehicle. The access code received from the vehicle functions as e-keys for the vehicle that enable access to use of the vehicle in accordance with conditions defined in the privilege settings. |
| US09189899B2 |
Method and system for tuning the effect of vehicle characteristics on risk prediction
A Method and System for Tuning the Effect of Vehicle Characteristics on Risk Prediction is disclosed. The system many incorporate many of those driver risk assessment system features previously disclosed by Assignee's Prior Applications. The present system provides a major functional distinction from those prior systems by adding the feature of real-time tuning of the risk assessment/prediction/analysis system in response to ongoing changes in vehicle motion characteristics. Specifically, system monitors the vehicle center of gravity for changes on a real-time basis, and then adjusts the risk prediction/assessment/analysis system responsively. The system executes an initialization feature that implements an initial, or series of initial vehicular motion profiles at the commencement of either a driving trip of the system being powered up. A catalog or index of “standardized” motion profiles are accessible for initial comparison to actual vehicle motion characteristics in order to streamline the tuning of the driver risk analysis system. The system determines if and when an offset in Center of Gravity (i.e. from where initialized) has occurred, after which the system responsively tunes the driver risk assessment/prediction/analysis/reporting system. |
| US09189889B2 |
Method for building a three-dimensional model and apparatus thereof
A method to build a 3D model for a physical object includes the following steps. First, depth information of a plurality of images is converted into a plurality of 3D point clouds. Then, the motion parameters of the camera to gather each image relative to a previous image are determined according to the 3D point clouds. Next, a registration energy estimate value of each image's 3D point cloud, as being integrated into a previous image's 3D point cloud, is determined according to corresponding motion parameters. Then, the motion parameters are varied to minimize the estimate value. An optimal camera path is determined according to the varied motion parameters. Finally, a 3D model of the physical object is built according the optimal camera path. |
| US09189886B2 |
Method and apparatus for estimating body shape
A system and method of estimating the body shape of an individual from input data such as images or range maps. The body may appear in one or more poses captured at different times and a consistent body shape is computed for all poses. The body may appear in minimal tight-fitting clothing or in normal clothing wherein the described method produces an estimate of the body shape under the clothing. Clothed or bare regions of the body are detected via image classification and the fitting method is adapted to treat each region differently. Body shapes are represented parametrically and are matched to other bodies based on shape similarity and other features. Standard measurements are extracted using parametric or non-parametric functions of body shape. The system components support many applications in body scanning, advertising, social networking, collaborative filtering and Internet clothing shopping. |
| US09189884B2 |
Using video to encode assets for swivel/360-degree spinners
A method and system for video encoding assets for swivel/360-degree spinners is disclosed. Still images of a 3D object from different perspectives about the 3D object may be stacked and then video encoded to generate video frames of the object from the different perspectives. The video-encoded assets may be stored on a server or other network-connected device, and later retrieved by a connected client device for display processing by a swivel/360-degree spinner on the client device. The swivel/360-degree spinner may utilize native video processing capabilities of the client device and/or of a browser running on the client device to display video motion of the object moving through different angular orientations in response to movement of an interactive cursor. |
| US09189876B2 |
Fanning user interface controls for a media editing application
Some embodiments provide a method of presenting several user interface (UI) controls for editing images. Upon receiving a selection of an image to edit, the method displays the image in a display area for displaying edits to the image. At a first location, the method receives input to activate a UI tool includes the several UI tools. In response to the input, the method displays, at a second location, a fanning animation that fans the several UI controls from a fanned closed layout to a fanned open layout. |
| US09189873B2 |
Method and apparatus for indicating historical analysis chronicle information
An apparatus, comprising a processor, memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, working with the processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: receiving historical analysis chronicle information associated with an analysis criteria, the analysis criteria being associated with a plurality of information sources, determining a graphical representation of at least part of the historical analysis chronicle, and causing display of the graphical representation. |
| US09189872B2 |
Bezier arc approximation spring system
In one aspect, the present disclosure can be embodied in a method that includes dividing a Bezier curve representing a portion of a vector image to be rendered on a display of a computing device into a set of curve segments. Each of the curve segments is approximated using a circular arc from a set of circular arcs. An approximation error for each of the curve segments is determined. A spring constant is calculated as a function of the respective approximation error determined for each of the curve segments in the set of curve segments. The spring constant represents a relative magnitude of the respective approximation errors calculated for the approximated curve segments. The lengths of curve segments are adjusted based on the respective spring constant calculated for each curve segment in the set of curve segments. |
| US09189870B2 |
Method, computer readable medium and system for tomographic reconstruction
The invention is a method for emission tomographic reconstruction from measurement data, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining the measurement data corresponding to activity of particle emissions of a volume from a tomographic imaging system, and performing at least one iteration step to obtain emission density data of particle emissions of the volume from the measurement data, wherein the at least one iteration step comprises a forward projection being a projection from the emission density data to the measurement data, and a back projection being a projection from the measurement data to the emission density data, and the at least one iteration step is carried out in a parallel hardware architecture, wherein both the forward projection and the back projection are of at least partially gathering type, and the measurement data is of binned type. The invention also relates to computer readable medium and a system for processing tomographic reconstruction from measurement data. |
| US09189866B2 |
Vascular tree from anatomical landmarks and a clinical ontology
A medical image processing apparatus, comprises a landmark identification unit configured to process a medical image data set to identify a landmark corresponding to a part of a branching structure according to a stored anatomical representation, and a spatial analysis unit configured to process the image data set to determine a spatial configuration of at least part of the branching structure. |
| US09189865B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method and computer readable storage medium
An image processing device includes an extraction unit, a judgment unit, a restoration unit and a specification unit. The extraction unit specifies a first same-color area having a color similar to a color of a pointer in a pre-pointed image of a subject not overlapped by the pointer to extract a pointer portion from a being-pointed image of the subject overlapped by the pointer on the basis of the first same-color area. The restoration unit restores a dividing portion of the pointer portion using a surrounding image of the dividing portion when the judgment unit judges that the pointer portion is divided. The specification unit specifies a pointed position pointed with the pointer on the subject on the basis of a shape of the restored pointer portion. |
| US09189864B2 |
Apparatus and method for characterizing texture
A method includes, using at least one processing device, obtaining an image of a surface having a texture and identifying a dominant size of the texture using a discrete auto-covariance function of the image. A first positive local maximum of the discrete auto-covariance function could be identified. The discrete auto-covariance function could include points associated with positive numbers of whole pixels, and the first positive local maximum of the discrete auto-covariance function could be identified at one of the points. Sub-pixel estimation could also be performed using the point associated with the first positive local maximum and one or more neighboring points. Performing the sub-pixel estimation could include fitting a polynomial curve to the point associated with the first positive local maximum and the one or more neighboring points and identifying a number of whole and fractional pixels associated with a maximum of the polynomial curve. |
| US09189863B2 |
Method and system for detecting motion capable of removing shadow by heat
A method and system for detecting a motion of a target object in a thermal image by removing a shadow by heat of the target object from the thermal image. The motion detecting system includes: a learning unit obtaining at least one of size and brightness of a shadow by heat of a reference object based on characteristics of the shadow by heat of the reference object by temperature; and a detecting unit removing a shadow region of the target object from the thermal image including the target object based on at least one of the size and the brightness of the shadow by heat of the object. |
| US09189856B1 |
Reduced homography for recovery of pose parameters of an optical apparatus producing image data with structural uncertainty
A reduced homography H for an optical apparatus to recover pose parameters from imaged space points Pi using an optical sensor. The electromagnetic radiation from the space points Pi is recorded on the optical sensor at measured image coordinates. A structural uncertainty introduced in the measured image points is determined and a reduced representation of the measured image points is selected based on the type of structural uncertainty. The reduced representation includes rays {circumflex over (r)}i defined in homogeneous coordinates and contained in a projective plane of the optical apparatus. At least one pose parameter of the optical apparatus is then estimated by applying the reduced homography H and by applying a condition on the motion of the optical apparatus, the condition being consonant with the reduced representation employed in the reduced homography H. |
| US09189853B1 |
Automatic pose estimation from uncalibrated unordered spherical panoramas
Methods and systems for automatically generating pose estimates from uncalibrated unordered panoramas are provided. An exemplary method of automatically generating pose estimates includes receiving a plurality of uncalibrated and unordered panoramic images that include at least one interior building image, and extracting, for each panoramic image, feature points. The method includes generating a match matrix for all the panoramic images based on the one or more feature points, constructing a minimal spanning tree based on the match matrix, identifying a first and second panoramic image, based on the minimal spanning tree, wherein the second panoramic image is associated with the first panoramic image providing a navigation from the first panoramic image to the second panoramic image. |
| US09189851B2 |
Method of motion compensation for trans-catheter aortic valve implantation
A method (10) to compensate for cardiac and respiratory motion in cardiac imaging during minimal invasive (e.g., trans-catheter) AVI procedures by image-based tracking (20, 25) on fluoroscopic images. |
| US09189850B1 |
Egomotion estimation of an imaging device
Described herein are techniques and systems to determine movement of an imaging device (egomotion) using an analysis of images captured the by imaging device. The imaging device, while in a first position, may capture a first image of an environment. The image may be a depth map, a still photograph, or other type of image that enables identification of objects, reference features, and/or other characteristics of the environment. The imaging device may then capture a second image from a second position within the environment after the imaging devices moves from the first position to the second position. A comparison of corresponding reference features from the first image and second image may be used to determine translation and rotation of the imaging device. |
| US09189847B2 |
2D visualization for rib analysis
An embodiment of the invention relates to a method of visualization, wherein a 2D transformed image is generated based on 3D image data. A corresponding computation unit, a system including a computation unit and a displaying unit, a medical imaging device, and a computer program are also disclosed. The method of visualization of an embodiment includes receiving 3D image data representing at least a portion of a spine and a plurality of ribs; and generating a 2D transformed image based on the three-dimensional image data, the 2D transformed image representing the plurality of ribs and the portion of a spine in a straightened configuration, and the angle of rotation of at least one of the ribs around its long axis being selected from a plurality of angles. Selecting an angle of rotation from a plurality of angles allows selecting the perspective for viewing the ribs in the 2D transformed image. |
| US09189845B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method of inspecting image, and recording medium storing image inspection control program
An image inspection apparatus for inspecting an image output on a recording medium by scanning the recording medium as a scanned image. The inspection apparatus having a display controller that controls display of a normal read image, which includes only permissible defects for each type of defect, in the normal image display area, and that controls display of an abnormal read image, which includes at least one impermissible defect for each type of defect, in the abnormal image area. The inspection apparatus also includes a defect permissible changing unit that receives a moving operation instruction, which moves the displayed image between the normal image display area and the abnormal image display area and that, in response to receiving the moving operation instruction, changes the permissible defect level of at least one type of defect. |
| US09189844B2 |
Detecting defects on a wafer using defect-specific information
Methods and systems for detecting defects on a wafer using defect-specific information are provided. One method includes acquiring information for a target on a wafer. The target includes a pattern of interest formed on the wafer and a known DOI occurring proximate to or in the pattern of interest. The information includes an image of the target on the wafer. The method also includes searching for target candidates on the wafer or another wafer. The target candidates include the pattern of interest. The target and target candidate locations are provided to defect detection. In addition, the method includes detecting the known DOI in the target candidates by identifying potential DOI locations in images of the target candidates and applying one or more detection parameters to images of the potential DOI locations. |
| US09189842B2 |
Paper identifying method and related device
A paper identifying method and a related device, used for accurately identifying soilage conditions of paper according to the recency degree of the paper. The method in an embodiment of the present invention comprises: obtaining a pixel gray value group of an image of input paper, the pixel gray value group being a combination of gray values of sampled pixels of a specified region of the input paper; obtaining an average value of gray values of all pixels in the pixel gray value group, and using same as a first average gray value; comparing the first average gray value with a recency threshold to determine the recency level of the input paper; obtaining the soilage depth of each of N regions of the input paper, the N being an integer greater than or equal to 1; and determining the soilage level of the input paper according to the soilage depth of the N regions, the region area and a soilage threshold, the soilage threshold corresponding to the recency level. |
| US09189840B2 |
Electronic drawing generation apparatus, method for generating electronic drawing, and program product
An electronic drawing generation apparatus includes: a shape determination section to determine a necessary part, which needs to be subjected to simulation, in a substrate serving as a simulation target; and a shape edit section to cut out the necessary part determined by the shape determination section from an input electronic drawing so as to prepare an output electronic drawing. The shape determination section includes a design rule check section to determine a design-rule violating part as the necessary part based on design rules stored in a design rule database. |
| US09189838B2 |
Method and apparatus for image processing
The present invention discloses a system and method of transforming a sample of content data by utilizing known samples in a learning phase to best determine coefficients for a linear combination of non-linear filter functions and applying the coefficients to the content data in an operational phase. |
| US09189835B2 |
Method and apparatus for robust estimation of non-uniform motion blur
A method and apparatus for robust estimation of a non-uniform motion blur that may reduce an amount of the non-uniform motion blur information, that is, a number of homographies by estimating non-uniform motion blur information about a blur in a predetermined area, thereby reducing an amount of time needed to remove the non-uniform motion blur, and may improve accuracy and stability of the non-uniform motion blur information by estimating homographies for an input image while increasing a number of the homographies, iteratively. |
| US09189829B2 |
Head mounted display, and image displaying method in head mounted display
Disclosed herein is A head mounted display including: (A) an eyeglasses frame-like frame to be mounted to an observer's head; (B) an image display device; (C) an image sensing device mounted to the frame; and (D) a correction section, wherein the image display device includes (B-1) an image generating device, and (B-2) see-through type light guide section which is mounted to the image generating device, on which beams emitted from the image generating device are incident, through which the beams are guided, and from which the beams are emitted toward an observer's pupil. |
| US09189813B1 |
Method and system for updating information on a merchandise catalog page
A method and system for updating information to a merchandise catalog page includes automatically regenerating a merchandise catalog page to include updated bid information if new bids have been placed relating to an item. According to another aspect of the invention, a merchandise catalog page for an item is automatically updated to reflect that an auction has closed, upon detecting that the auction for the item is closed. |
| US09189812B2 |
Kiosk and method for renting carpet cleaning machines
A kiosk for leasing carpet cleaning machines to customers comprises a storage unit and an electronic input device. The storage unit is configured to house a carpet cleaning device and comprises a locking portion and an electronically controlled lock. The electronically controlled lock is able to, alternatively, lock and unlock the locking portion. The storage unit is configured such that the carpet cleaning machine can be secured thereto by electronically locking the locking portion, and such that the carpet cleaning machine can be removed from or returned to the storage unit when the locking portion is unlocked. The electronic input device is adapted and configured to obtain a code key from a customer and to cause the electronically controlled lock to unlock the locking portion following the receipt of the code key without any remote communication with any other non-customer device external to the kiosk. |
| US09189810B2 |
Mining product recommendation from query reformulations
In various example embodiments, systems and methods to mine product recommendations from query reformulation is provided. In example embodiments, a query that corresponds to a particular product is received. Transition data for the particular product is accessed. The transition data includes values indicating a number of search transitions based on a change in queries between the particular product and other products in previous session sets of queries. One or more recommendations based on the transition data is determined and provided to the user. |
| US09189808B2 |
Monitoring apparatus, monitoring method, and storage medium for acquiring counter information from an image forming apparatus
A monitoring apparatus that acquires counter information from an image forming apparatus includes a transmission unit configured to transmit a snapshot generation job to the image forming apparatus, a reception unit configured to receive a completion notification indicating completion of the snapshot generation job, and an acquisition unit configured to acquire the snapshot indicating the counter information from the image forming apparatus in response to reception of the completion notification, wherein the snapshot generation job is managed with a queue for a job related to printing processing and is restricted from being canceled by general user authority. |
| US09189805B2 |
Method and system for automatically pausing advertisements based on user attention
A computer-implemented method for automatically pausing advertisements based on user attention includes rendering a digital video to a user, in response to the user initiating the digital video through a web multimedia player. The computer-implemented method also includes streaming an advertisement to the user once the user begins to watch the digital video and monitoring the user attention as the user watches the advertisement. The user attention is monitored based on keystrokes and mouse movements. Further, the computer-implemented method includes detecting one or more changes in the user attention. Furthermore, the computer-implemented method includes pausing the advertisement automatically at instance of detecting the one or more changes. Moreover, the computer-implemented method includes detecting the one or more changes that directs the user attention to the paused advertisement and resuming streaming of the advertisement. |
| US09189800B2 |
Method and system for selection, filtering or presentation of available sales outlets
Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods for the filtering, selection and presentation of vendors accounting for both user characteristics and vendor characteristics, such that the systems and methods may be used by both customer and vendor alike to better match customer needs with the resource-constrained vendors with whom a successful sale has a higher probability of occurring. Embodiments may include filtering, selecting and/or presenting vendors to a user sorted by the probability that the particular vendor will possess the characteristics that appeal to a particular customer and therefore result in a large probability of sale and suppress presentation of those vendors that are unlikely to be selected by the customer since their characteristics are less consistent with those needed by the customer and, therefore, are unlikely to result in a sale. |
| US09189798B2 |
Systems and methods for online website lead generation service
The field of the invention relates to systems and methods for operation of lead generation service, and more particularly to systems and methods that generate leads for website owners based on the behavioral engagement of the users of the websites. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes a lead generation server system coupled to a public network and accessible to one or more users. The lead generation server system includes a database that stores behavioral data associated with the one or more website users. The system is configured to respond to the one or more users based on the behavioral data, and to identify lead information for the website owner. |
| US09189797B2 |
Systems and methods for sentiment detection, measurement, and normalization over social networks
A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to provide the ability to detect, measure, aggregate, and normalize sentiments expressed by a group of users on a certain event or topic on a social network so that the normalized sentiments truly reflect the sentiments of the general public on that specific event or topic. Additionally, the collected and measured sentiments of an individual user expressed on a social network can also be normalized against a baseline sentiment that reflects in order to truly reflect the individual user's sentiment at the time of his/her expression. |
| US09189788B1 |
System and method for verifying identity
A system and method of identity verification at a point-of-identification verification (POV) using biometric-based identity recognition and an identity verifying score based upon a presenter's initial identification presentment and their subsequent action in the system. The system also provides tracking and evaluates verifier activity within the system through biometric-based identity recognition and a performance score based upon their actions and the results of their actions within the system. System users register at least one biometric identifier and personal and/or business identity-verifying data. Users present a biometric sample obtained from their person and their system ID number to conduct identification transactions. This data is used to authenticate the user's identity to a percentage of reliability and allows a user with consistently positive ID verifications to establish a higher ID score, strengthening their credibility within the system. Once enrolled, the system allows the user to be identified without presenting any token-based information, such as a driver's license or passport. In one embodiment, an identity verification score generated via the system can be employed in conjunction with online transactions, such as purchases, auctions, email, instant messaging, and the like. |
| US09189785B2 |
Debit network routing selection using a scannable code
Embodiments are directed to selecting a debit network using a quick response (QR) code and to processing a payment using a debit network selected according to information embedded in a QR code. In one scenario, a mobile computer system receives input indicating that a user has initiated a payment for various items sold by a provider of goods or services. The mobile computer system determines that the user or the provider has specified a preference indicating which debit network is to be used to process the payment. The mobile computer system then generates a QR code with the debit network selection and portions of the user's debit account information embedded in the QR code, and sends the generated QR code to a payment processing system. The payment processing system may be cloud-based, or may be run locally at the provider's point of sale. |
| US09189782B2 |
Information processing apparatus and information display method by the same
In accordance with one embodiment, an information processing apparatus comprises an acquisition module configured to acquire an image of a commodity, a detection module configured to detect the commodity from the image acquired by the acquisition module, a recognition module configured to compare the feature amount of the commodity detected by the detection module with the feature amount of each reference commodity to recognize the reference commodity of which the similarity degree is greater than a threshold value as a commodity candidate, a commodity candidate display module configured to display the commodity candidates recognized before a given waiting time period elapses in the descending order of similarity degree, and then successively display the commodity candidates recognized after the waiting time period elapses in sequence, and a reception module configured to receive an operation of selecting one from the displayed commodity candidates. |
| US09189781B2 |
Point of service transaction management for service facilities
The present invention enables the collection by credit/debit card payment of customer co-pay and self-pay charges via an integrated point-of-service transaction management system and method. The system and method of the present invention may assist health care facilities in the collection of co-pay and self-pay charges at the time service is rendered. The present invention can be implemented anywhere cash, checks, credit cards or debit cards are accepted for payment. |
| US09189771B2 |
Client apparatus, server apparatus, document management system, document management method, and medium storing program thereof
A client generates a list associating a document, an operation for the document, and a user and transmits the list to a server. When an operation for the document is received from a user, the client acquires information including a document, an operation for the document, and a user and transmits the information to the server. The server receives and stores the list from the client, receives the information from the client, searches storage unit for a list including information matching the information, and transmits the list to the client. The client receives and displays the searched list. |
| US09189770B2 |
Automatic tracking of contact interactions
In the context of recruitment and sales, it is difficult to ensure that there is a consistent level of activity tracking that occurs in a Customer Relationship Management or Applicant Tracking System (CRM/ATS, tracking application, or tracking system) from one user (e.g., recruiter or sales representative) to another within a single firm. This is due in large part to the manual and time consuming mechanics of logging the activity. Example embodiments of the present invention include a mail server component that automatically logs such activity. The system determines who the email is being sent to and from, as well as whether the email contains calendar event (e.g., appointment) information. The system then searches a database to determine if the recipients of the email message are contacts in the tracking application. If a match is found, the message is automatically added to the contacts activity record as either an inbound email, outbound email, or appointment. Activity tracking is, thus, consistently maintained among all users, ensuring a higher quality of activity-based metrics. |
| US09189767B2 |
Kiosk for receiving and delivering packages
A computer server for a network-based transaction system is coupled to a kiosk via a data communications network. The kiosk includes a computer processor, an input device, an electronic display unit, a plurality of compartments, and a data communications port. The computer server receives input from a seller of an item. The input includes a listing of the item for sale on the network-based transaction system. The server identifies an available compartment from the plurality of compartments based on the item for sale. The available compartment is configured to receive the item for sale from the seller. The server transmits an identification of the available compartment to the seller via the electronic display unit, and enables access to the available compartment by the seller. |
| US09189762B2 |
Process networking and resource optimization
A system for generating an optimal set of tasks to be performed includes an interface to receive from a user first and second processes and a priority criterion defining an objective of the first and second processes and a process converter configured to convert the first and second processes into tasks that make up the first process and the second process. The system further includes a task network modeler configured to determine relationships between the tasks and to generate a task network comprising the tasks of the first and second processes, the task network representing the relationships between the tasks of the first and second processes. The system further includes an optimization unit configured to generate, based on the priority criterion, an optimal set of tasks in the task network to be performed. |
| US09189761B1 |
Action flow client framework
Interface control(s) associated with declaratively defining an action flow are provided; the action flow includes a desired outcome of an action flow. Information associated with a user interface page is received; this information includes a state during which the user interface page is displayed. Information associated with a business service associated with a content management server is received; that information includes a state during which the business service is performed on the content management server. In the action flow definition, a first association between the user interface page and the state during which the user interface page is displayed and a second association between the business service and the state during which the business service is invoked on the content management server are recorded. |
| US09189760B2 |
System, method and computer readable medium for using performance indicators and predictive analysis for setting manufacturing equipment parameters
The method includes receiving first data from an in-memory computing module, the data including performance indicators, receiving second data from a enterprise resource planning database, predicting a target time per piece based on the first data and the second data, predicting a target cost per piece based on the first data and the second data, and setting an equipment speed based on the target time per piece and/or the target cost per piece. |
| US09189758B2 |
Administration of a network
A computer-implemented method to facilitate administration of a network of members. Members of a network are provided with access to a shared message stream such that the members of the network are able to monitor messages generated by other members of the network posted to the shared message stream, wherein at least some of the messages are indicative of operational conditions of particular other members which generated the messages. Responsive to a first member of the network identifying a specific operational condition of the first member, the shared message stream is monitored for a message related to the specific operational condition. Provided the shared message stream includes a message related to the specific operational condition identified by the first member, an association of the message with an indication that the first member identifies with the specific operational condition is established, wherein the first member is configured to establish the association. |
| US09189755B2 |
Available power estimator
A method of determining an estimated wind speed of a wind driving a wind turbine includes measuring a current power generated by the wind turbine, measuring a current rotor speed of a rotor of the wind turbine, and measuring a current blade pitch angle of a rotor blade of the rotor. Moreover, the method includes determining the estimated wind speed based on the current power, the current rotor speed and the current blade pitch angle. |
| US09189751B2 |
Automated presence detection and presence-related control within an intelligent controller
The current application is directed to intelligent controllers that use sensor output and electronically stored information, including one or more of electronically stored rules, parameters, and instructions, to determine whether or not one or more types of entities are present within an area, volume, or environment monitored by the intelligent controllers. The intelligent controllers select operational modes and modify control schedules with respect to the presence and absence of the one or more entities. The intelligent controllers employ feedback information to continuously adjust the electronically stored parameters and rules in order to minimize the number of incorrect inferences with respect to the presence or absence of the one or more entities and in order to maximize the efficiency by which various types of systems controlled by the intelligent controllers carry out selected operational modes. |
| US09189744B2 |
Coupling of rational agents to quantum processes
The present invention provides devices, methods, and systems for coupling a rational agent to a quantum process. In particular, the present invention provides rational agents configured to influence a quantum process, or to derive information from a quantum process, and methods and uses thereof. |
| US09189738B2 |
Automatic event analysis
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and system for automatic event analysis. In particular, according to embodiments of the present invention, there is disclosed a method for automatic event analysis, comprising: collecting information on events of a predetermined type occurring at, within a period of time, at least one location in a space; determining a predictability of the events of the predetermined type with respect to the at least one location based on the collected information and a predetermined condition(s) related to the events of the predetermined type; and determining the stability of predictable events with respect to the at least one location within the period of time. Further, there is disclosed a corresponding system. According to embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to classify an event associated with a service and analyze the service demands in a more efficient way. |
| US09189737B2 |
Determining a churn probability for a subscriber of a social network service
Systems and methods for reducing a churn rate associated with subscribers of social network services are described. In some example embodiments, the systems and methods may access activity information associated with a former subscriber of a social network service, compare the accessed activity information to activity information associated with subscribers of the social network service, identify one or more differences between the activity information associated with the former subscriber of the social network service and the activity information associated with the subscribers of the social network service, and perform an action based on the identified one or more differences. |
| US09189732B2 |
Method for non-supervised learning in an artificial neural network based on memristive nanodevices, and artificial neural network implementing said method
An unsupervised learning method is provided implemented in an artificial neural network based on memristive devices. It consists notably in producing an increase in the conductance of a synapse when there is temporal overlap between a pre-synaptic pulse and a post-synaptic pulse and in decreasing its conductance on receipt of a post-synaptic pulse when there is no temporal overlap with a pre-synaptic pulse. |
| US09189730B1 |
Modulated stochasticity spiking neuron network controller apparatus and methods
Adaptive controller apparatus of a plant may be implemented. The controller may comprise an encoder block and a control block. The encoder may utilize basis function kernel expansion technique to encode an arbitrary combination of inputs into spike output. The controller may comprise spiking neuron network operable according to reinforcement learning process. The network may receive the encoder output via a plurality of plastic connections. The process may be configured to adaptively modify connection weights in order to maximize process performance, associated with a target outcome. The relevant features of the input may be identified and used for enabling the controlled plant to achieve the target outcome. The stochasticity of the learning process may be modulated. Stochasticity may be increased during initial stage of learning in order to encourage exploration. During subsequent controller operation, stochasticity may be reduced to reduce energy use by the controller. |
| US09189727B2 |
RFID bridge antenna
A package for at least two objects includes RFID bridge antennas, having RF antenna elements, for wirelessly communicating data between a tag associated with each object and a reader. An electromagnetic carrier signal transmitted by the reader antenna is received by one of the RF antenna element and retransmitted to the tag antenna by the other RF antenna element, increasing the distance over which the tag can communicate with the reader. Where the tag is attached to a packaged object, the RFID bridge antenna may be included in the package to allow wireless data communication between the tag and a reader. The reader may also be located external to the package. For example, one of the RF antenna elements may be attached to a label on the package, allowing data stored in the tag to be extracted by the external reader. |
| US09189726B2 |
RFID tag including protection layers and having enhanced durability
Provided is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag including: a pattern layer which includes a first conductor having a pattern and an RFID chip electrically connected to the first conductor; an insulating layer which insulates the pattern layer from the radiation layer; a radiation layer which is attached to the insulating layer, and includes a second conductor having a radiation pattern inductively coupled to the first conductor; a lower protection layer disposed below a combination of the pattern layer, the insulating layer and the radiation layer; and an upper protection layer disposed above the combination of the pattern layer, the insulating layer and the radiation layer. |
| US09189723B2 |
Light-powered smart card for on-line transaction processing
In general, embodiments of the present invention relate to a light-powered smart card and associated methods for automated information (static and dynamic) exchange pursuant to a commercial transaction. In a typical embodiment, the card (e.g., a credit card, a debit card and/or a smart card) comprises (among other things) an energy component for providing power to the card. Upon powering up via a light source, including light from the interfacing terminal's backlight, a terminal (e.g., a point of sale terminal) will scan/read card information shared between the card and the card company (e.g., upon swiping or placing of the card), and generate a corresponding source validation code (SVC). An optional imager/image array positioned on the back of the card will scan/read the SVC, and card validation code (CVC) logic on the card will generate a CVC based on the SVC (e.g., based on a validation result of the SVC). |
| US09189716B2 |
Generating a threshold matrix to be compared with an original image for performing halftoning of the original image
An image obtained by shrinking an original image in a row direction is halftoned, and this halftone dot image is enlarged in the row direction and recorded at double speed. In order to determine a threshold value of a threshold matrix used for halftoning an image, prepared is a matrix space in accordance with writing positions used for actual recording of an image. In the matrix space, writing elements are set alternately with non-writing elements both in the row direction and in a column direction. In the matrix space, turn-on numbers are allocated to all the writing elements in avoidance of the non-writing elements. Then, in accordance with the turn-on numbers, respective threshold values for the writing elements are determined. By shrinking the threshold matrix in the row direction with omission of the non-writing elements, a threshold matrix for double speed is obtained. |
| US09189715B2 |
Image forming apparatus that prints out multi-gradation monochrome image maintaining gradation reproducibility, and image forming method
The image forming apparatus includes an input luminance range recognition unit, an output luminance range recognition unit, and a luminance range expansion unit. The input luminance range recognition acquires input luminance information from multi-gradation monochrome image data, generates a luminance histogram, and determines, based on a minimum luminance value and a maximum luminance value of the luminance histogram, an input luminance range. The output luminance range recognition unit determines an output luminance range. The luminance range expansion unit performs a mapping process for mapping input luminance information of pixels within the image range into the output luminance range, and expands the input luminance range to a maximum luminance range. |
| US09189709B2 |
Information processing apparatus and information processing method
A probability at which a target object takes a target object state is acquired for each of target object states that the target object is allowed to take, and a distribution of the probabilities is acquired. A success rate is acquired, for each relative target object state being determined in advance for a position and orientation of an image capturing device, at which the target object is successfully identified from a captured image obtained by capturing the target object having the relative target object state, and a distribution of the success rates is acquired. A position and orientation that the device is to take is determined based on the distribution of the success rates acquired for each of a plurality of positions and orientations that the image capturing apparatus is allowed to take, and the distribution of the probabilities. |
| US09189703B2 |
Systems and methods for colorimetric and spectral material estimation
Systems, devices, and methods for generating signatures for an image obtain an image, estimate a spectral image of the obtained image, calculate one or both of a detection component of the image and a residual component of the image, wherein the detection component of the image is based on the spectral image, a spectral-power distribution for a specific illuminant, and spectral sensitivities of a detector, and wherein calculating the residual component of the image is based on the spectral image, the spectral power distribution for the specific illuminant, and the spectral sensitivities of the detector or, alternatively, based on the spectral image and the calculated detection component, and generate an image signature based on one or both of the detection component and the residual component. |
| US09189699B2 |
Augmented reality interaction implementation method and system
The present disclosure provides a method and system for realizing interaction in augmented reality. The method includes: collecting a frame image and uploads the frame image; recognizing a template image that matches the frame image and returning the template image; detecting a marker area of the frame image according to the template image; and superposing media data corresponding to the template image on the marker area and displaying the superposed image. |
| US09189697B1 |
System and method for detecting recording devices
A system comprising at least one processor; at least one sensor electronically connected to the at least one processor; and computer executable instructions readable by the at least one processor and operative to use the at least one sensor to detect a recording device. A method comprising: using at least one sensor to detect a recording device; and controlling a content played on a content playing device based on whether a recording device is detected. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method comprising: using at least one sensor to detect a recording device; and controlling content played on a content playing device based on whether a recording device is detected. |
| US09189695B2 |
Vector texturing for free-form drawing
Systems and methods for applying a vector texture to free-form drawing, writing, etc., and more particularly, for rendering a vector texture to touch-based, free-form drawing, writing, etc. |
| US09189693B2 |
Information processing apparatus and information processing method
An information processing apparatus encodes an input pattern to a code including a plurality of bits, calculates reliabilities for respective bits of the code, generates a similar codes each similar to the code based on the reliabilities, and recognizes the input pattern based on the code and the similar codes. |
| US09189692B2 |
Methods and systems for detecting driver attention to objects
Methods and systems are provided for detecting an attention of an occupant of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes calculating, by a processor, a first gaze vector in a three-dimensional space based on a first vehicle location, a first vehicle orientation, and a first gaze direction; calculating, by the processor, a second gaze vector in the three-dimensional space based on a second vehicle location, a second vehicle orientation, and a second gaze direction; and determining the attention of the occupant based on the first gaze vector and the second gaze vector. |
| US09189689B2 |
Robust scale estimation in real-time monocular SFM for autonomous driving
A method for performing three-dimensional (3D) localization requiring only a single camera including capturing images from only one camera; generating a cue combination from sparse features, dense stereo and object bounding boxes; correcting for scale in monocular structure from motion (SFM) using the cue combination for estimating a ground plane; and performing localization by combining SFM, ground plane and object bounding boxes to produce a 3D object localization. |
| US09189687B2 |
Assisted video surveillance of persons-of-interest
Methods, systems and media are described for computer-assisted video surveillance. Methods may support detection of moving persons in video frames, extraction of features of the detected moving persons and identification of which detected moving persons are likely matches to a person of interest. Identification of the likely matches may be determined using an attribute-based search, and/or using a specific person-based search. The method may include using likely matches confirmed as images of the person of interest to reconstruct a path of the person of interest. |
| US09189680B2 |
Authentication system
It is provided an authentication system, comprising: a reader for obtaining identification information assigned to an identification device held by a subject; an authentication device for authenticating the identification information obtained by the reader; a camera for photographing a facial image of the subject; and a management device which is coupled to a terminal for issuing an alarm and which includes an image database in which the facial image photographed by the camera is accumulated, in which the management device is configured to: search the image database by using information obtained by at least one of the reader and the camera on an occasion of the authentication; determine a reliability of the authentication based on a result of analyzing the retrieved facial image; and transmit data for issuing the alarm to the terminal in a case where it is determined that the reliability is low. |
| US09189676B2 |
Multi-sided card having a resistive fingerprint imaging array
Embodiments of the present invention provide an adaptive and intelligent fingerprint scanning device and approach for a multi-sided card. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention utilize DC resistive image scanning to reduce overall scanning time and energy consumption (e.g., by identifying a targeted scanning area). In a typical embodiment, a scanning device will be provided that includes a scanning area comprised of a set (e.g., at least one) of imaging pixel electrodes (e.g., arranged adjacent to one another in a grid-like or other fashion). As a user presses his/her finger against the scanning area, a first portion of the finger will contact a first electrode while a second portion of the finger will contact a second electrode. When this occurs, a voltage source of the device will apply an initial voltage across the first and second finger portions. A meter of the device will take an electrical measurement (e.g., resistance and/or charged skin voltage) across the two finger portions. Based on the electrical measurement, a location of the finger on the device will be identified, and the fingerprint will be scanned accordingly. Thus, the entire scanning surface need not be scanned, only the portions thereof where the finger was detected. |
| US09189671B2 |
Method, device and non-transitory storage medium storing program instructions to recognize magnetic ink characters utilizing reference and input waveform scaling
The recognition rate is improved when recognizing magnetic ink characters. The character recognition unit of a check reader scales and adjusts the waveform of the reference waveform data for each magnetic ink character referenced to a scaling point set in each character, recognizes the read magnetic ink character based on the difference between the reference waveform data after adjustment and the character waveform data, and when there are three peaks exceeding a specific level in the reference waveform data, sets two scaling points F1, F2 in the waveform of the reference waveform data and scales the waveform of the reference waveform data referenced to the two scaling points F1, F2. |
| US09189669B2 |
Distinctive notice for different symbology information
An indicia reader is adapted for hand held operation to read information bearing indicia (IBI) at a point of transaction (POT) and is operated by: configuring the indicia reader in a store to provide at least one store specific indicia read notice; reading an IBI at a POT with the indicia reader and providing the at least one store specific indicia read notice to a customer when each IBI is read. |
| US09189663B2 |
Battery operated device and tag for a battery operated tool
A device tag including a housing that includes a first connector structure constructed and arranged to engage with a battery operated device and a second connector structure constructed and arranged to slidingly engage with a battery such that the device tag is provided between the battery operated device and the battery. The device tag also includes an electrical connector carried by the housing and constructed and arranged to provide an electrical connection between the battery operated device and the battery. The device tag further includes an electronic device carried by the housing and constructed and arranged to transmit electrical signals. |
| US09189662B2 |
RFID reading system using RF grating
Apparatus for reading an RFID tag includes an RF-blocking enclosure having a port and adapted to receive through the port a non-RFID-active object having an RFID tag affixed thereto. An RFID reader has a reader antenna located outside the enclosure. The antenna transmits an RF downlink signal in a particular direction. An RF grating is arranged between the reader antenna and the port so that, after the enclosure receives the object having the tag, the port is located in the transmit direction from the reader antenna, and RF energy transmitted from the reader antenna has a selected linear polarization after passing through the grating. |
| US09189661B1 |
Apparatus for establishing a mesh network for reefer sensor architecture
The present invention provides a system and apparatus for monitoring temperature and airflow from multiple sensors node for maintaining proper conditions within a refrigerated tractor-trailer unit or reefer. The system provides a mesh network of multiple sensors, which communicate between sensors and with a processing unit of a reefer unit for monitoring the condition of transported goods. |
| US09189660B2 |
Imaging terminal having image sensor and lens assembly
There is set forth herein an imaging terminal having and image sensor including an image sensor array having a plurality of pixels. In one embodiment the imaging terminal can include a lens assembly for focusing light on the image sensor array. In one embodiment the lens assembly is a variable setting lens assembly having a first lens setting at which the terminal has a first plane of optimum focus and a second lens setting at which the terminal has a second plane of optimum focus. The imaging terminal can execute one or more processes for determining an operating parameter of the imaging terminal. |
| US09189658B2 |
System and method for detecting states
Systems and methods for detecting states are disclosed. An information handling system may include a processor and a plurality of information handling resources communicatively coupled to the processor via the common control line. The processor may be configured to produce a first signal on a common control line. Each of the plurality of information handling resources may include a tag having a signal threshold, the tag configured to communicate a second signal via the common control line indicating the presence of the particular information handling resource in response to the first signal exceeding the signal threshold of the tag. |
| US09189657B2 |
Information processing apparatus, method of controlling same, and storage medium
An information processing apparatus which is capable of ensuring mutual security in cases where security information is displayed in a state in which an image displayed on a display is open to the outside. A display displays an operation screen of the apparatus. An input section receives an operation instruction to the apparatus, and a network interface receives an operation instruction to the apparatus from an external device. A control section determines whether an instruction for displaying an operation screen containing security information is received from the input section or via the network interface. When determining that the instruction is received via the network interface, the control unit cause screen data for displaying the operation screen to be transmitted to the external device, and the operation screen containing the security information to be prevented from being displayed on the display. |
| US09189651B2 |
User information management apparatus and user information management method
A user information management apparatus stores various types of user information on a user in a storage unit, causes a providing unit to provide a user with an access code used to access the user information on the user stored in the storage unit, and when receiving the access code from the facility device installed in a facility that provides a service, causes the transmitting unit to transmit the user information corresponding to the service provided by the facility having the facility device among the various types of the user information stored in the storage unit. |
| US09189650B2 |
Privacy preserving method for summarizing user data
A method includes, in a server residing in a network of interconnected computers, receiving user data, dissecting the received user data into a plurality of key/value pairs, iterating through the plurality of key/value pairs, generating a new data structure in the memory of the server for each key/value pair that do not exist, inserting a UserID into a set associated for a specific key/value pair, storing the key/value sets, and destroying the received user data. |
| US09189645B2 |
Sharing content across applications and devices having multiple operation modes in an orchestration framework for connected devices
Aspects described herein allow multiple devices to function as a coherent whole, allowing each device to take on distinct functions that are complementary to one another. Aspects described herein also allow the devices function as a coherent whole when interconnected devices and their respective applications are configured to operate in various operation modes, when management policies are employed to control the operation of the interconnected devices and their respective applications, when transferring content between the interconnected devices and storing the content at those devices, when obtaining access credentials for the interconnected devices that enable the devices to access enterprise resources, when a policy agent applies management policies to control operation of and interaction between the interconnected devices, and when the interconnected devices are used to access an enterprise application store. |
| US09189644B2 |
Access requests at IAM system implementing IAM data model
Systems and methods are provided for provisioning access rights to physical computing resources using an IAM system implementing an IAM data model. The IAM data model may identify logical and physical computing resources. An access request handler may receive an access request and identify a set of logical permissions based on the access request. The access request handler may derive a set of logical entitlements based on the set of logical permissions. An entitlement translator may translate the set of logical entitlements to a physical entitlement specification based on a set of physical permission specifications associated with the set of logical permissions. A physical permission specification may be obtained by mapping a logical permission to one or more physical permissions. An access control manager may then provision access rights to at least one physical computing resource indicated in the physical entitlement specification. |
| US09189640B2 |
Methods and apparatus for re-provisioning a server of a data center
In a computer-implemented method for re-provisioning a server of a data center, and while the server is provisioned to a first virtual network of the data center, the server is provided 1) a pseudo-random data stream, and 2) instructions on how to overwrite substantially all of its data storage volumes using the pseudo-random data stream. Upon completion of the overwrite, the server is powered down, then moved to a second virtual network of the data center, and then caused to initiate a network boot from within the second virtual network. After the network boot of the server, one or more indications of the data stored at a number of addresses of the server's data storage volumes are requested from the server via the second virtual network. It is then determined whether the server is in a compromised state by, remotely from the server, comparing the provided indication(s) to one or more expected indications. |
| US09189638B1 |
Systems and methods for multi-function and multi-purpose cryptography
Systems and methods for multi-function and multi-purpose cryptography are described, including obtaining a message to be encrypted by a cipher engine configured to perform encryption using a plurality of predetermined tags with an encryption function; determining a tag of the plurality of predetermined tags based on the message; encrypting, by the cipher engine, the message using the tag to produce a ciphertext; and sending the ciphertext. |
| US09189636B2 |
Office machine security policy
An example system can comprise a memory to store machine readable instructions. The system can also comprise a processing unit to execute the machine readable instructions. The machine readable instructions can comprise a service layer to generate an office machine security policy for a heterogeneous fleet of office machines. The heterogeneous fleet of office machines can comprise two different office machines. The service layer can also generate a security configuration for each office machine of the office machine fleet. The security configuration for a given office machine of the heterogeneous fleet of office machines can comprise a security setting for the given office machine. The machine readable instructions can comprise can also comprise a device layer to translate the security configuration of the given office machine into security instructions that are executable by the given office machine. |
| US09189635B2 |
Computer system and its control method
A computer system and its control method capable of allocating resources to a plurality of users in a balanced manner and ensuring information security between the users even when the plurality of users are made to extensively manage a storage system are provided.The storage system includes: a plurality of resource groups defined by grouping of a plurality of resources; a storage area for storing management information of the plurality of resource groups and association information between the plurality of resources and the plurality of resource groups; and a plurality of user groups defined by grouping of the plurality of users, each of the user groups being allocated to at least one of the plurality of resource groups; wherein based on login of at least one user from among the plurality of users, a management device has the storage system execute operation permitted by an authority granted to the user group, to which the relevant user belongs, on the resource group allocated to the user group. |
| US09189633B2 |
Download management method and device based on android browser
The present disclosure provides a download management method and device based on Android browser. The download management method includes the following steps: obtaining a physical address of a network card of a television when a download request input from a user through the browser is received; and judging whether the television corresponding to the physical address is granted a download permission corresponding to the download request; if the physical address is granted the download permission, implementing the download according to the download request; otherwise, if the physical address is not granted the download permission, preventing the download. The method and device of the present disclosure can effectively control the download contents of the television and thus prevent random downloads from reducing the safety and stability of the system and further thus improves the user experience. |
| US09189625B2 |
Data management of potentially malicious content
In a data management system, examination of first data for malicious content by a malicious content scanner is initiated in response to a request to write first data to a data storage device. In response to the examination revealing no malicious content in the first data, the first data, a first signature representative of a version of the malicious content scanner at a time of the examination of the first data, and second data linking the first signature to the first data as read-only data are written to the data storage device. |
| US09189623B1 |
Historical behavior baseline modeling and anomaly detection in machine generated end to end event log
A bipartite graph is generated which includes one or more source vertices and one or more destination vertices. For a given source vertex, a temporal behavioral matrix is generated using the bipartite graph where a first dimension of the temporal behavioral matrix is associated with time and a second dimension of the temporal behavioral matrix is associated with at least some of the one or more destination vertices. For the given source vertex, a model is generated using at least some portion of the temporal behavioral matrix. Anomaly detection is performed on at least part of the temporal behavioral matrix using the model. |
| US09189616B2 |
Authentication method between client and server, machine-readable storage medium, client and server
An authentication method between a server and a client is provided. The authentication method includes transmitting, to the client, an inquiry message including a first modified secret key generated based on a first secret key and a first blinding value, receiving, from the client, a response message including a response value generated based on the first blinding value, a second secret key, and an error value, calculating the error value from the response value, and determining whether authentication of the client has succeeded based on the error value. |
| US09189611B2 |
Adapting content and monitoring user behavior based on facial recognition
The invention is directed to systems, methods and computer program products for adapting content and monitoring user behavior based on facial recognition. An exemplary method comprises: receiving, at a first device, image data from a second device; determining whether the image data substantially matches second image data in a database of image data; in response to determining the image data substantially matches the second image data, determining an account associated with the image data; determining a first set of data associated with the account; and transmitting the first set of data to the second device, wherein the first set of data is used to configure an application being executed on the second device. |
| US09189606B2 |
Information privacy system and method
The subject disclosure relates to systems and methods for providing privacy for information. In one non-limiting embodiment, a system includes an environment monitoring component configured to monitor an aspect of an environment; and a privacy component configured to: determine whether factors associated with the environment are triggered; and obscure access or provide access to data or a program associated with the factors based on determining that the factors are triggered. Factors can be based on the time and the location or network connectivity of a device associated with the system, the detected presence or absence of an authorized person other than the user logged into the device or the privacy state of the user logged into the device. Motion detectors, cameras, biometric sensors and other devices can be employed in the determination of whether to provide or obscure access to the information. |
| US09189605B2 |
Protected computing environment
A method of establishing a protected environment within a computing device including validating a kernel component loaded into a kernel of the computing device, establishing a security state for the kernel based on the validation, creating a secure process and loading a software component into the secure process, periodically checking the security state of the kernel, and notifying the secure process when the security state of the kernel has changed. |
| US09189602B2 |
Electronic custody and control system for human assay test samples
A system, method, and computer program for more quickly, accurately, and efficiently identifying, cataloging, and tracking human assay samples and creating documentation with respect to the human assay samples. The computer program and method include the steps of: storing donor information in a donor information database accessible by a computer; storing client information in a client information database accessible by the computer; retrieving client information necessary to determine a type of test to be performed on a specimen; storing collection facility information in a collection facility database accessible by the computer; administering a human analyte test using the computer program to guide a collector of the specimen and identify problematic exceptions; receiving the test result electronically and storing the result in a test result database accessible by the computer; and permitting authorized persons to electronically access the test result via a communications network. |
| US09189601B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for accurate dispensing of prescription medications
An apparatus for the recording and dispensing of medication has an electronic device having a screen and a base electronic unit with a space designed to allow insertion of a cassette housing medication to be dispensed. A first input device is coupled to the electronic device to send data to the electronic device to verify a particular user of the electronic device. A dispensing device is coupled to the electronic device for dispensing medication to the particular user once the electronic device has verified the particular user. |
| US09189590B2 |
Method and device for examining quality of dummy pattern insertion program used in circuit layout design
A method for examining quality of a dummy pattern insertion program may be implemented using a device that includes hardware. The method may include using the dummy pattern insertion program to generate a dummy-based circuit layout, a first dummy-inserted circuit layout, and a second dummy-inserted circuit layout. The method may further include determining whether the dummy-based circuit layout complies with a set of circuit layout design rules. The method may further include checking whether the first dummy-inserted circuit layout complies with at least one of a set of dummy pattern check rules and a set of pattern density rules. The method may further include examining whether the second dummy-inserted circuit layout complies with at least one of the set of circuit layout design rules, the set of dummy pattern check rules, and the set of pattern density rules. |
| US09189589B2 |
Pattern-based via redundancy insertion
Via redundancy insertion is described. A via layout is analyzed by identifying each via, and for each via, identifying a location therefore in the layout, whether the via is redundant and a layout configuration for the via. Each via is classified into a bin of similar layout configurations. For each bin of redundant vias, possible via replacement candidates are determined from a database of possible replacement vias, and the candidates are ranked according to rule-based, recommendation-based and/or model-based criteria. For each via in each bin having a replacement(s), an optimal replacement is identified from among the ranked candidates taken in ranked order that first satisfies another criteria, such as not violating an applicable design rule. The layout is then updated with the optimal replacement. |
| US09189588B2 |
Polygon-based optical proximity correction
Methods and systems for design of integrated circuits including performing OPC are discussed. In one embodiment, design data having a geometric feature is provided. A base feature is formed from the geometric feature, which has a substantially linear edge. A pseudo dissection point is determined on the base feature. Add or trim a polygon from the base feature to form a modified feature. An OPC process is performed on the modified feature to generate an output design. The output design is used to fabricate a semiconductor device on a semiconductor substrate. |
| US09189585B2 |
Pad over interconnect pad structure design
A design rule checker that performs a maximum pattern density check in a first intermediary metallization layer that underlies a top metallization layer and a pad opening in an integrated circuit. The maximum pattern density check is performed at least under some circumstances if a modulus of the primary metallization material is less than a modulus of a surrounding dielectric material. The maximum pattern density check verifies that the pattern density within the underlying portion is below a maximum pattern density that depends on the thickness of the access pad. A maximum metal width check may also be performed in this portion. |
| US09189582B2 |
Programmable pattern aware voltage analysis
This application discloses a voltage analysis tool to perform a static power aware analysis on a circuit design without having to simulate the circuit design. The voltage analysis tool can determine a set of components in the circuit design corresponds to a design pattern representing a voltage-transition device, and set an output voltage for the set of components based, at least in part, on characteristics of the voltage-transition device. The voltage analysis tool can propagate the output voltage to other portions of the circuit design, and determine whether the portions of the circuit design receiving the output voltage have a rule violation. |
| US09189581B2 |
Equivalence checking between two or more circuit designs that include division circuits
Methods and apparatuses are described for proving equivalence between two or more circuit designs that include one or more division circuits and/or one or more square-root circuits. Some embodiments analyze the circuit designs to determine an input relationship between the inputs of two division (or square-root) circuits. Next, the embodiments determine an output relationship between the outputs of two division (or square-root) circuits based on the input relationship. The embodiments then prove equivalence between the circuit designs by using the input and output relationships. |
| US09189578B1 |
System, method, and computer program product for power supply network visualization
Embodiments of the present disclosure may include receiving, at one or more computing devices, the electronic circuit design, wherein the electronic circuit design includes at least one Unified Power Format file. Embodiments may further include generating, using the one or more computing devices, a schematic of a power supply network, based upon, at least in part, the at least one Unified Power Format file, the schematic including one or more power supply network components. |
| US09189577B2 |
Simulation method, simulation program, processing unit, and simulator
A simulation method allowing an information processing unit to perform calculation, the calculation includes: decomposing each of a plurality of incident fluxes into flux components in respective unit vector directions that are orthogonal to each other, the plurality of incident fluxes entering, at an arbitrary position, a surface of a processing target that is a target of a predetermined processing; summing up the flux components for each of the plurality of unit vector directions; and synthesizing a plurality of flux components into one vector, the plurality of flux components being summations in the respective unit vector directions and being orthogonal to each other, and thereby calculating a normal vector at the arbitrary position on the surface of the processing target. |
| US09189574B2 |
Computer based models of hook and loop fastening systems
Methods of modeling hook and loop fastening systems are disclosed. |
| US09189571B2 |
Automated re-use of structural components
Systems, methods, and apparatus allow for easy and efficient structural design and/or reconfiguration while using existing stock components. One or more implementations allow a designer to import a stock file containing an inventory of stock components that are usable as part of a structural design. In particular, one or more implementations allow the stock components to be used in a structural design while tracking, in real-time, the availability of stock components. Furthermore, one or more implementations automatically correlate stock components with existing components of a structural design or with new components as a designer inserts them into the structural design. Additionally, one or more implementations visually distinguish between new components in the structural design and stock components in the structural design. Furthermore, one or more implementations auto-select or modify surrounding components in the structural design to match an inserted stock component. |
| US09189562B2 |
Apparatus, method and program product for classifying web browsing purposes
A web browsing purpose classification apparatus, including a display unit which displays a webpage and a document retrieval unit which retrieves document data from the displayed webpage. A keyword extraction knowledge unit stores knowledge necessary for keyword extraction. This knowledge is used by a keyword extraction unit to extract keywords from the document data. A webpage format determination knowledge unit stores knowledge necessary for the determination of webpage formats which is used by a webpage format determination unit to determine webpage formats. A web browsing history storage unit stores the keywords and webpage formats as web browsing history. A browsing purpose classification knowledge unit stores knowledge necessary for the classification of browsing purposes which is used by a browsing purpose classification unit to classify browsing purposes. |
| US09189558B2 |
Multi-prefix query optimizations
The present invention includes systems and methods for retrieving information via a flexible and consistent targeted search model that employs interactive multi-prefix, multi-tier and dynamic menu information retrieval techniques that provide context-specific functionality tailored to particular information channels, as well as to records within or across such channels, and other known state information. Users are presented with a consistent search interface among multiple tiers across and within a large domain of information sources, and need not learn different or special search syntax. A thin-client server-controlled architecture enables users of resource-constrained mobile communications devices to locate targeted information more quickly by entering fewer keystrokes and performing fewer query iterations and web page refreshes, which in turn reduces required network bandwidth. |
| US09189557B2 |
Language-oriented focused crawling using transliteration based meta-features
A web page identified by a URL stored in a downloads queue is downloaded, and hyperlinks in the downloaded web page are identified. Each hyperlink is screened by parsing the hyperlink (optionally only the URL of the hyperlink) to identify features comprising character strings, computing for each feature values for one or more meta-features indicative of the hyperlinked web page being in a target language, aggregating the meta-feature values to generate a score for the hyperlink, and adding the URL of the hyperlink to the downloads queue conditional upon the score satisfying a screening criterion. The downloading, identifying, and screening are iteratively repeated to perform web crawling, and an index of web pages in the target language is constructed based on analysis of content of the downloaded web pages. The meta-features may include a transliterated target word meta-feature, a language code meta-feature, a country code meta-feature, or so forth. |
| US09189553B2 |
Methods and systems for prioritizing a crawl
Methods and systems for prioritizing a crawl are described. One aspect of the invention includes a method for identifying a plurality of storage locations each comprising a plurality of articles, ranking the plurality of storage locations based at least in part on events associated with the plurality of articles, and crawling the storage locations based at least in part on the ranking. Another aspect of the invention includes identifying a plurality of storage locations each comprising a plurality of articles, identifying a plurality of types of the plurality of articles, ranking the plurality of storage locations based at least in part on the plurality of types of the plurality of articles; and crawling the storage locations based at least in part on the ranking. |
| US09189552B2 |
Modifying a custom search engine for a web site based on custom tags
Automatically creating and modifying a search engine for a website. User input may be received specifying an address of a website. A search engine may be automatically created for the website based on the user input. Webpages of the website may specify a plurality of tags specifying custom attributes of the webpages. During creation of the search engine, these custom attributes may be incorporated into the search engine index. Additional user input may be received customizing the search engine for various search engine contexts, e.g., based on the custom attributes of the webpages. Search engine results for the website may be based on various ranking functions, potentially including social impact of webpages of the website. |
| US09189551B2 |
Method and apparatus for category based navigation
Embodiments of the invention relate to a category based navigation system obtaining user data related to a plurality of users relevant to the primary user. The method further comprises obtaining entity data associated with an entity in a plurality of entities. The category based navigation system then determines one or more entities relevant to the primary user, and determines an initial order of relevance of a set of relevant entities. The method further comprises categorizing and displaying the set of relevant entities with an initial categorization on a user device to the primary user. The category based navigation system may then obtain, via the user device, user feedback, adjust the initial categorization and initial order of relevance based on the user feedback; and display the adjusted categorization and adjusted order of relevance of the set of relevant entities to the primary user on the user device. |
| US09189549B2 |
Presenting actions and providers associated with entities
Computer-readable media, computer systems, and computing devices method of facilitating presentation of actions and providers associated with entities. The method includes determining a query intent of a received query. Entity sets having an entity that matches the determined query intent are recognized. Each entity set includes an entity, an action, and a provider. Actions and/or providers associated with the entity that matches the determined query intent are identified. The actions and/or the corresponding providers associated with the entity are provided for integration with a representation of the associated entity on a search results page. |
| US09189548B2 |
Document search engine including highlighting of confident results
A search engine includes a decision component that determines whether documents that are returned in response to a user search query are likely to be very relevant to the search query. Links that refer to documents that the search engine determines to likely be very relevant may be displayed with visual cues that assist the user in browsing the links. The decision component may base its decision on a number of parameters, including: (1) the position of the document in a ranked list of search results, (2) the click through rate of the document, (3) relevance scores for the document and other documents that are returned as hits in response to the search query, and (4) whether the document is classified as a pornographic document (the search engine may refrain from showing visual cues for potentially pornographic documents). |
| US09189543B2 |
Predicting service request breaches
An approach for prioritizing work requests to resolve incidents in an information technology (IT) infrastructure is presented. Historical data of work requests to resolve incidents in the IT infrastructure is divided into first and second data sets. A first set of data fields of work requests in the first data set is used to generate incident concept(s). The incident concept(s) are combined with a second set of data fields of the work requests in the first data set to form a set of predictive variables. Utilizing the predictive variables, a statistical model is generated for predicting whether or not work requests will be resolved in accordance with a service level target. The statistical model is validated using the second data set. The statistical model is deployed to the IT infrastructure. |
| US09189541B2 |
Evidence profiling
Evidence profiling, in one aspect, may receive a candidate answer and supporting pieces of evidence. An evidence profile may be generated, the evidence profile communicating a degree to which the evidence supports the candidate answer as being correct. The evidence profile may provide dimensions of evidence, and each dimension may support or refute the candidate answer as being correct. |
| US09189537B2 |
Extraction of critical information from database
Some embodiments of extraction of critical information from a database in a networked system have been presented. In one embodiment, a subset of data from the database in the networked system is extracted. The subset of data is indexed to generate an index. Using the index, a preview of the subset of data may be provided to users in response to a user request without accessing the database. |
| US09189534B2 |
Online repair of a replicated table
Techniques are provided for resynchronizing instances of a replicated table. In one embodiment, a database server is provided as a member of a plurality of communicatively coupled database servers. Each database server is configured to support a replicating mode of operation and a non-replicating mode of operation. The instances of the replicated table are resynchronized responsive to a user request, without stopping any of the plurality of database servers and without requiring any of the plurality of database servers to operate in the non-replicating mode of operation. |
| US09189530B2 |
Information processing device, computer-readable recording medium, and node extraction method
A process includes selecting a node associated with an extracted node and a node associated with the node accepted by an acceptance unit accepting a node from nodes included in a node link obtained from text relating to a specific matter, accepting a first item in which a registered content of an analysis target is registered, from items in a table relating to the specific matter, accepting the registered content of the analysis target, a second item for use in calculating degrees of association between registered contents in the first item in the table and nodes; calculating the degrees of association between each of the registered content in the first item in the table and the nodes selected, according to a registered content in the second item in the table; and extracting a node associated with the analysis target from the selected nodes, according to the calculated degrees of association. |
| US09189524B2 |
Obtaining partial results from a database query
A database query governor determines when a query cannot be executed within a defined time threshold, but still executes the query or some variant of the query so partial results for the query may be returned to the user after executing for less than the defined time threshold, instead of an error message indicating the query was not executed at all. The partial results provide information to the user that may be sufficient for some applications, or may indicate to the user how the query could be modified to run in less time. |
| US09189523B2 |
Predicting performance of multiple queries executing in a database
One embodiment is a method that generates query vectors from query plans and performance vectors from data collected while executing multiple queries in a database. A machine learning technique (MLT) computes distances between two query vectors and two performance vectors and then predicts performance of plural queries executing in the database. |
| US09189513B1 |
Distributed, transactional key-value store
In one embodiment, a system for implementing a distributed, transactional key-value store is provided. The system includes a set of nodes, where each node is communicatively coupled with one or more storage devices storing a set of data log files, and where each data log file including key-value pairs for a key namespace. Each node is configured to execute, using a transaction log file specific to the node, transactions for modifying or retrieving key-value pairs in the set of data log files, where the transaction log file includes state information for the transactions. The transactions are executed in a manner that ensures the atomicity and durability of each transaction. |
| US09189512B2 |
Device and method for acquiring resource lock
A lock control device receives a lock acquisition request from an application and transmits a lock acquisition request to a DBMS, receives a lock acquisition response from the DBMS, and transmits a lock acquisition response to the application, and each time, acquires statistical time information including the lock request counter, subsequent lock request counter, lock request time, lock acquisition time, initial lock acquisition time, and subsequent lock request time. The statistical processing device calculates the lock request count for each resource, subsequent lock request count for each resource, average lock wait time, and average lock acquisition delay expectation time, based on the statistical time information. Based on these values, the statistical processing device calculates an evaluation value which is the degree of expectation for the time eliminated from the lock wait time when lock acquisition is postponed, and outputs the lock order of the resources arranged in order of smallest evaluation value to a lock order table. |
| US09189509B1 |
Storing graph data representing workflow management
A method and system for storing complex graph data. The graph data is represented by triples, quadruples, quintuples, etc. In order to speed up storage and retrieval of graph data, the data is stored in a form of triples, quadruples, quintuples, etc. in a B-tree. The B-trees are data structures that allow operations on dynamic data sets. The operations can be search, search for minimum and maximum values, insert, delete, reference to parent or child directory. The tree can be used as a dictionary or as a prioritized chain. The speed of tree operations is proportional to the height. The data is read as blocks from the same location. If a tree node is moved to an operational memory, an allocated memory block is moved and the operation executes very fast. |
| US09189508B2 |
Inferring relevance based on user interactions with email
Embodiments are directed towards employing an index of relevant items to determine and provide items that are relevant to a query. A data store that includes a plurality of items may be generated for each user. The user data store may be employed to generate an index of relevant items for each user. Relevant items may be pre-ranked in the index based on a degree of relevancy to a corresponding item. The index of relevant items may be employed to determine ranked relevant items associated with at least one item associated with a query. In response to the query, the relevant items may be further ranked or re-ranked based on at least a current time of the query and a time decay function associated the relevant items. A subset of the determined ranked relevant items may be provided to a client device for display to the user. |
| US09189507B2 |
System and method for supporting agile development in an enterprise crawl and search framework environment
Systems and methods for providing an enterprise crawl and search framework, including features such as use with middleware and enterprise application environments, pluggable security, search development tools, user interfaces, and governance. In accordance with an embodiment, the system includes an enterprise crawl and search framework which abstracts an underlying search engine, provides a common set of application programming interfaces for developing search functionalities, and allows the framework to serve as an integration layer between one or more enterprise search engines and one or more enterprise applications. A plurality of searchable objects which are sets of data derived from enterprise applications are used to make view objects available for full text search. |
| US09189503B2 |
Database scale-out
A method for scaling out database information may include creating second database instantiation. The method may include configuring one or more partitions of a first database for transfer to the second database and configuring the second database for receiving the one or more first database partitions. The method may also include transferring the one or more first database partitions to the second database. |
| US09189502B2 |
Techniques for moving data files without interrupting access
Techniques for moving data files without interrupting access are described. A first process moves a database file from a first location to a second location while the database file is accessible to one or more other processes for read or write operations. According to one technique, the first process communicates a move status and a copy range into the database file to one or more database server instances executing the one or more other processes. The one or more other processes then perform input/output (IO) operations on the database file based at least in part on the move status and the copy range communicated by the first process. |
| US09189499B2 |
Information processing apparatus and information processing method
An information processing apparatus acquires a first metadata value of first metadata from a content to be assigned metadata, performs a first search from contents by the first metadata using the first metadata value as a search condition, acquires a second metadata value of second metadata different from the first metadata from one or more contents included in a set of a result of the first search, performs a second search from the contents by the second metadata using the second metadata value as a search condition, finds a degree of similarity between the set of the result of the first search and a set of a result of the second search, and assigns, according to the degree of similarity, the second metadata value as metadata of the content to be assigned metadata. |
| US09189495B1 |
Replication and restoration
Embodiments are directed towards replication and restoration of file system objects stored on file system clusters. Modified file system objects may be tracked using a snapshot tracking file corresponding to a snapshot. The snapshot tracking file may be employed to generate a snapshot change set. The snapshot change set may be used to restore a file system cluster to a version corresponding to a snapshot by reversing the changes in the snapshot change set. Also, a snapshot change set may be used to replicate file system objects by committing the included changes on another file system cluster. If a primary file system cluster becomes unavailable the file system may failover to the secondary file system cluster. If the primary file system cluster later becomes available it may be restored by using snapshot change sets generated on the secondary file system cluster. |
| US09189488B2 |
Determination of landmarks
Hash values corresponding to a file are processed in windows to determine a minimum hash value for each window. Each window may begin at a minimum hash value determined for a previous window and end after a fixed number of hash values. If a hash value is less than a threshold hash value, it is added to a buffer that is used to store the hash values in sorted order for a current window. If a hash value is greater than the threshold, it is added to another buffer whose hash values are not stored in sorted order. At the end of the current window, the minimum hash value in the first buffer is selected as the landmark for the window. If the first buffer is empty, then the hash values in the other buffer are sorted and the minimum hash value is selected as the landmark for the window. |
| US09189484B1 |
Automatic transcoding of a file uploaded to a remote storage system
A computer-implemented method for uploading and storing a file. The file is automatically transcoded to the format(s) of registered device(s) associated with an entity. The transcoded files are thus prepared for download and access by the registered devices. |
| US09189483B2 |
System and method for enhancing voice-enabled search based on automated demographic identification
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for approximating responses to a user speech query in voice-enabled search based on metadata that include demographic features of the speaker. A system practicing the method recognizes received speech from a speaker to generate recognized speech, identifies metadata about the speaker from the received speech, and feeds the recognized speech and the metadata to a question-answering engine. Identifying the metadata about the speaker is based on voice characteristics of the received speech. The demographic features can include age, gender, socio-economic group, nationality, and/or region. The metadata identified about the speaker from the received speech can be combined with or override self-reported speaker demographic information. |
| US09189480B2 |
Smart content feeds for document collaboration
Example embodiments relate to smart content feeds for document collaboration. In example embodiments, a user may use a system to perform a search of a document repository in order to identify related content for adding to a target document. In response to a user approving the related content identified in the search, the system may create a reference data entry that includes a timestamp and a storage location of a source document that contains the related content. The system may then use the timestamp to detect that a modification of the source document has occurred and generate a notification for the user that describes the modification. |
| US09189479B2 |
Semantic web portal and platform
An application that enables users to effectively utilize and manage knowledge and data the user posses and allows other users to effectively and seamlessly benefit from the user's knowledge and data over a computer network is also disclosed. A method of processing content created by a user utilizing a semantic, ontology-driven portal on a computer network is described. The semantic portal application provides the user with a content base, such as a semantic form or meta-form, for creating a semantic posting. The semantic portal utilizes a knowledge data structure, such as a taxonomy or ontology, in preparing a semantic posting based on the information provided by the user via the content base. The semantic portal application prepares a preview of a semantic posting for evaluation by the user. The semantic posting is then either modified by the user or accepted and posted by the user for external parties to view. |
| US09189478B2 |
System and method for collecting data from an electronic document and storing the data in a dynamically organized data structure
A method for automatically and dynamically collecting new data entered into an electronic document includes the step of providing a database having initial data and an initial data structure. The new data is retrieved as the new data is entered into the electronic document. The new data includes a data value and one or more data descriptors corresponding to the data value. One of the one or more data descriptors is assigned as a data item. The data item defines a variable the value of which varies based on the data value. One or more dimensions of the data value are determined based on at least one of the one or more data descriptors. The initial data structure is reorganized into a modified data structure based on the at least one or more dimensions and the data item, so that the new data may be stored in the modified data structure in a manner that allows the initial data and the new data to be later retrieved from the modified data structure. The new data is stored in the modified data structure. |
| US09189477B2 |
Managing direct attached cache and remote shared cache
Managing direct attached cache and remote shared cache, including: receiving from an enclosure attached server, by an enclosure that includes enclosure cache, a request for data; determining, by the enclosure, whether the data has been requested by a predetermined number of enclosure attached servers; and responsive to determining that the data has been requested by a predetermined number of enclosure attached servers, marking, by the enclosure, the data as enclosure level cacheable. |
| US09189476B2 |
Translation apparatus and method thereof for helping a user to more easily input a sentence to be translated
Translation apparatus and method thereof for helping a user to more easily input a sentence to be translated. The translation apparatus has a speech input unit that receives a speech of a first language from a user, a control unit that generates sentences to be translated of the first language from the speech of the first language input from the speech input unit, a communication unit that transmits the sentences to be translated of the first language to a translation server and receives the sentences to be translated of a second language from the translation server, a display unit that displays the translated sentences of the second language along with previously translated sentences, a memory that stores a translation history including the sentences to be translated of the first language and the translated sentences of the second language, and a user input unit that receives an operation input of the previously translated sentences from a user. |
| US09189467B1 |
Method and apparatus for annotating an electronic document
A method and apparatus to mark-up an electronic document (i.e., a second electronic document) that is superimposed on a first electronic document keeping the first electronic document unchanged. The second electronic document is optionally viewed concurrently with the first electronic document. The second electronic document is capable of being viewed or modified using different application programs so long as the different application programs process the format used by the second electronic document. The second electronic document is saved as a separate document independent of the first electronic document. |
| US09189465B2 |
Documentation of system monitoring and analysis procedures
A method, computer system, and computer program product to document system analysis procedures. The method includes a computer receiving text in a text editor and determining that the received text is a command relevant to a system under analysis. The method further includes the computer receiving a request to execute the command, and then requesting, from the system under analysis, the output data from the executed command. The output data is then inserted into the text editor. |
| US09189464B2 |
Method and system for XML multi-transform
A method of performing XSLT processing is disclosed. The method involves defining a binary tree, each node representing either an XML document or XSLT stylesheet, each leaf representing a an existing file, and each non-leaf node having two child nodes, one representing an XML document, and one representing an XSLT stylesheet, performing a post-order traversal of the binary tree, each non-leaf node being constructed by transforming the non-leaf node's respective XML document child node using the non-leaf node's respective XSLT stylesheet to create the non-leaf node, and creating a final text document as the root node. |
| US09189462B2 |
Bidirectional text checker
Methods and systems for checking bidirectional text in text content, such as in a web page, are provided. A method for checking bidirectional text may include determining intrinsic and declared text directions of text content. The method may also include generating a bidirectional text error based on a mismatch between the intrinsic text direction and the declared text direction. Bidirectional text errors may be reported. A system may include a walker, a bidirectional text checker and a bidirectional error reporter. |
| US09189459B2 |
Document image layout apparatus
An apparatus includes a protrusion determination unit that determines a protrusion of print data with respect to a data arrangement area, an attribute determination unit that determines whether the attribute of the print data is text or non-text, a segmentation unit that segments text data into block data that can be arranged on at least two or more of data arrangement areas adjacent to each other when the print data is text data, and an arrangement order determination unit that determines an arrangement order of the plurality of block data after segmentation processing with respect to the plurality of data arrangement areas based on the arrangement order of text data prior to segmentation processing. |
| US09189457B2 |
Method for distributing computing load in a data processing system
A method and an arrangement for distributing processor load in a data processing system while executing of block-based computing instructions, as well as a corresponding computer program and a corresponding computer-readable storage medium, which can be used to uniformly distribute the processor load in processors for periodically occurring computing operations. The block-based computing instructions are divided into blocks. Each block requires a number of time-sequential incoming input values. The number can be predetermined for each block. A particular area of application is the field of digital processing of multimedia signals, such as audio signals, video signals, and the like. For distributing the processor load in a data processing system during execution of block-based computing instructions, the operations of the computing instruction to be performed in a block are divided into at least two computing steps, and the computing steps within a block are sequentially processed. |
| US09189455B2 |
Adaptive weighted stochastic gradient descent
A system and method for solving an optimization problem are disclosed which are based on adaptive weighted stochastic gradient descent. The method includes receiving data to be sampled in optimizing an integral of a second function and, for a number of iterations, sampling the data according to a modified distribution function which depends on at least one parameter, updating at least one parameter of the second function, and updating at least one parameter of the modified distribution function. In a subsequent one of the iterations, the modified distribution function used in sampling the data is based on the updated at least one parameter of the distribution function. Information is output, which can be based on the integral function with the at least one updated parameter. |
| US09189454B2 |
Two-wheeled motor vehicle and control device therefor
A two-wheeled motor vehicle includes a control device and is configured such that a radius of curvature of a cross-section of a tire mounted on one of the front wheel and the rear wheel is larger than a radius of curvature of a cross-section of a tire mounted on the other wheel. The control device includes a sensor arranged to detect a rotation speed of the one wheel, a sensor arranged to detect a rotation speed of the other wheel, and a turn determining section programmed to determine that the vehicle is turning based on a condition that a value corresponding to a bank angle of the vehicle is higher than a threshold. The value corresponding to the bank angle of the vehicle is a value indicating the relative amount of the rotation speed of the one wheel relative to the rotation speed of the other wheel. |
| US09189452B2 |
Method and a device for generating artificial driving noises of a vehicle
A device and a method for generating artificial driving noises for a motor vehicle, and to a computer program for carrying out the method is provided. Environmental conditions, objects and/or other road users are recorded via an environmental sensor unit. Depending thereupon and, as required, depending upon vehicle-internal information driving noises are generated with special properties. In this way other road users can be alerted to otherwise quietly driving vehicles. |
| US09189450B2 |
Method and system for collecting, analyzing and displaying fleet performance data
A method and system for collecting, analyzing and displaying fleet performance data are described. An embodiment of the system and method includes receiving a plurality of data streams comprising disparate data, storing, in real-time, the disparate data in a first database, organizing the disparate data stored in the first database into an organized structure in a second database, the data in the second database organized according to a predefined parameter, exposing the organized data in the second database as a subset of data stored in a third database, querying the subset of data in the third database according to a script, the script configured to associate the subset of data according to the predefined parameter, and providing the associated subset of data in the third database to an analysis engine configured to display the associated subset of data from a perspective defined by the predefined parameter. |
| US09189449B2 |
Memory management in a streaming application
One embodiment is directed to a method for processing a stream of tuples. The method may include receiving a stream of tuples to be processed by a plurality of processing elements operating on one or more computer processors. Each of the processing elements has an associated memory space. In addition, the method may include monitoring the plurality of processing elements. The monitoring may include identifying a first performance metric for a first processing element. The method may include modifying the first processing element based on the first performance metric. The modifying of the first processing element may include employing memory management of the associated memory space. |
| US09189447B2 |
Data communications for a collective operation in a parallel active messaging interface of a parallel computer
Algorithm selection for data communications in a parallel active messaging interface (‘PAMI’) of a parallel computer, the PAMI composed of data communications endpoints, each endpoint including specifications of a client, a context, and a task, endpoints coupled for data communications through the PAMI, including associating in the PAMI data communications algorithms and bit masks; receiving in an origin endpoint of the PAMI a collective instruction, the instruction specifying transmission of a data communications message from the origin endpoint to a target endpoint; constructing a bit mask for the received collective instruction; selecting, from among the associated algorithms and bit masks, a data communications algorithm in dependence upon the constructed bit mask; and executing the collective instruction, transmitting, according to the selected data communications algorithm from the origin endpoint to the target endpoint, the data communications message. |
| US09189446B2 |
Immutable sharable zero-copy data and streaming
The environment and use of an immutable buffer. A computing entity acquires data or generates data and populates the data into the buffer, after which the buffer is classified as immutable. The classification protects the data populated within the immutable buffer from changing during the lifetime of the immutable buffer, and also protects the immutable buffer from having its physical address changed during the lifetime of the immutable buffer. As different computing entities consume data from the immutable buffer, they do so through views provided by a view providing entity. The immutable buffer architecture may also be used for streaming data in which each component of the streaming data uses an immutable buffer. Accordingly, different computing entities may view the immutable data differently without having to actually copy the data. |
| US09189445B2 |
Method and device for synchronizing data broadcasts for system-on-chip
A method and a device for synchronizing broadcast of streaming data by a transmitting data processing unit to a plurality of receiving data processing units is provided. After a data word has been sent, a synchronizer in the transmitting data processing unit collects an acknowledge signal from each of the receiving data processing units and then generates an indication that the next data word can be transmitted. This allows to speed-up data delivery to parallel working processing units in a system-on-a-chip since data delivery has no longer to account for a maximum predictable latency of the respective receiving units. |
| US09189436B2 |
Abstracting special file interfaces to concurrently support multiple operating system levels
Some embodiments of the inventive subject matter are directed to detecting a request, from an application for a first instance of an operating system (OS) running a first version of the OS, to access a symbol via a special file that accesses kernel memory directly. A second instance of the OS, which manages the first OS, receives the request. The second instance of the OS runs a second version of the OS and includes a kernel shared between the first and second instances of the OS. Some embodiments are further directed to detecting data associated with the symbol, where the data is in a first data format that is compatible with the second version of the OS but incompatible with the first version of the OS and reformatting the data from the first data format to a second data format compatible with the second version of the OS. |
| US09189433B2 |
Tracking a relative arrival order of events being stored in multiple queues using a counter
An order controller stores each received event in a separate entry in one of at least two queues with a separate counter value set from an arrival order counter at the time of storage, wherein the arrival order counter is incremented after storage of each of the received events and on overflow the arrival order counter wraps back to zero. The order controller calculates an absolute value of the difference between a first counter value stored with an active first next entry in a first queue from among the at least two queues and a second counter value stored with an active second next entry in a second queue from among the at least two queues. The order controller compares the absolute value with a counter midpoint value to determine whether the first counter value was stored before the second counter value. |
| US09189425B2 |
Protecting look up tables by mixing code and operations
In the field of computer enabled cryptography, such as a cipher using lookup tables, the cipher is hardened against an attack by a protection process which obscures the lookup tables using the properties of bijective functions and applying masks to the tables' input and output values, for encryption or decryption. This is especially advantageous in a “White Box” environment where an attacker has full access to the cipher algorithm, including the algorithm's internal state during its execution. This method and the associated computing apparatus are useful for protection against known attacks on “White Box” ciphers, by obfuscating lookup table data, thereby increasing the cipher's complexity against reverse engineering and other attacks. |
| US09189418B2 |
Computer system, server module, and storage module
An exemplary computer system includes a server module including a first processor and first memory, a storage module including a second processor, a second memory and a storage device, and a transfer module. The transfer module retrieves a first transfer list including an address of a first storage area, which is set on the first memory for a read command, from the server module. The transfer module retrieves a second transfer list including an address of a second storage area in the second memory, in which data corresponding to the read command read from the storage device is stored temporarily, from the storage module. The transfer module sends the data corresponding to the read command in the second storage area to the first storage area by controlling the data transfer between the second storage area and the first storage area based on the first and second transfer lists. |
| US09189417B2 |
Speculative tablewalk promotion
A method includes performing a speculative tablewalk. The method includes performing a tablewalk to determine an address translation for a speculative operation and determining whether the speculative operation has been upgraded to a non-speculative operation concurrently with performing the tablewalk. An apparatus is provided that includes a load-store unit to maintain execution operations. The load-store unit includes a tablewalker to perform a tablewalk and includes an input indicative of the operation being speculative or non-speculative as well as a state machine to determine actions performed during the tablewalk based on the input. The apparatus also includes a translation look-aside buffer. Computer readable storage devices for performing the methods and adapting a fabrication facility to manufacture the apparatus are provided. |
| US09189415B2 |
EDRAM refresh in a high performance cache architecture
A method for implementing embedded dynamic random access memory (eDRAM) refreshing in a high performance cache architecture. The method includes receiving a memory access request, via a cache controller, from a memory refresh requestor, the memory access request for a memory address range in a cache memory. The method also includes detecting that the cache memory located at the memory address range is available to receive the memory access request and sending the memory access request to a memory request interpreter. The method further includes receiving the memory access request from the cache controller, determining that the memory access request is a request to refresh contents of the memory address range in the cache memory, and refreshing data in the memory address range. |
| US09189414B1 |
File indexing using an exclusion list of a deduplicated cache system of a storage system
A computer-implemented method for indexing content stored in a cache memory device is disclosed. The method starts with maintaining a file index having a plurality of extent entries, each extent entry corresponding to one of a plurality of file extents stored in a cache memory device that caches data stored in a persistent storage device of a storage system. In response to receiving a request to read a first file region of a first file, the method continues with retrieving first data block from the persistent storage device that contains the first data block, caching the first data block at a first storage location of the cache memory device; and creating a first extent entry in the file index having at least a first node, where the first node includes an address of the first storage location and a first bitmap indicating which data blocks are valid. |
| US09189412B2 |
Apparatus and method for operating a processor with an operation cache
A processor includes a computation engine to produce a computed value for a set of operands. A cache stores the set of operands and the computed value. The cache is configured to selectively identify a match and a miss for a new set of operands. In the event of a match the computed value is supplied by the cache and a computation engine operation is aborted. In the event of a miss a new computed value for the new set of operands is computed by the computation engine and is stored in the cache. |
| US09189409B2 |
Reducing writes to solid state drive cache memories of storage controllers
Methods and structure are provided for reducing the number of writes to a cache of a storage controller. One exemplary embodiment includes a storage controller that has a non-volatile flash cache memory, a primary memory that is distinct from the cache memory, and a memory manager. The memory manager is able to receive data for storage in the cache memory, to generate a hash key from the received data, and to compare the hash key to hash values for entries in the cache memory. The memory manager can write the received data to the cache memory if the hash key does not match one of the hash values. Also, the memory manager can modify the primary memory instead of writing to the cache if the hash key matches a hash value, in order to reduce the amount of data written to the cache memory. |
| US09189406B2 |
Placement of data in shards on a storage device
A method, system and computer program product for placing data in shards on a storage device may include determining placement of a data set in one of a plurality of shards on the storage device. Each one of the shards may include a different at least one performance feature. Each different at least one performance feature may correspond to a different at least one predetermined characteristic associated with a particular set of data. The data set is cached in the one of the plurality of shards on the storage device that includes the at least one performance feature corresponding to the at least one predetermined characteristic associated with the data set being cached. |
| US09189404B2 |
PDSE dynamic directory optimization for caching
A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for optimizing a Partitioned Data Set Extended (PDSE) directory. In various embodiments, b-tree directory structure entries associated with members of the PDSE are reordered to place members with the highest access counts within the same leaf nodes. This allows these members to share a directory path, which in turn increases the chance that the most frequently accessed member's directory path is in cache while minimizing storage footprint. |
| US09189402B1 |
Method for packing and storing cached data in deduplicated cache system of a storage system
A computer-implemented method for caching content in a cache memory device is disclosed. The method starts with receiving, at a cache manager, one or more data chunks to be cached in a cache memory device, where the one or more data chunks are retrieved from a persistent storage disk of a storage system in response to a read request of a region of a file. Then the one or more data chunks of a file extent is compressed using a predetermined compression algorithm, and the file extent is packed into a write-evict unit (WEU) maintained in a random-access memory (RAM) that has been open to store a plurality of file extents. In response to determining that the WEU is full, the cache manager writes the WEU from the RAM into the cache memory device. |
| US09189399B2 |
Stack cache management and coherence techniques
A processor system presented here has a plurality of execution cores and a plurality of stack caches, wherein each of the stack caches is associated with a different one of the execution cores. A method of managing stack data for the processor system is presented here. The method maintains a stack cache manager for the plurality of execution cores. The stack cache manager includes entries for stack data accessed by the plurality of execution cores. The method processes, for a requesting execution core of the plurality of execution cores, a virtual address for requested stack data. The method continues by accessing the stack cache manager to search for an entry of the stack cache manager that includes the virtual address for requested stack data, and using information in the entry to retrieve the requested stack data. |
| US09189398B2 |
Apparatus and method for memory-mapped register caching
A processor is described comprising: an architectural register file implemented as a combination of a register file cache and an architectural register region within a level 1 (L1) data cache, and a data location table (DLT) to store data indicating a location of each architectural register within the register file cache and/or the architectural register region within the L1 data cache. |
| US09189396B2 |
Snapshot coordination
In one embodiment, a method performed by one or more computing devices includes receiving at a host cache, a first request to prepare a volume of the host cache for creating a snapshot of a cached logical unit number (LUN), the request indicating that a snapshot of the cached LUN will be taken, preparing, in response to the first request, the volume of the host cache for creating the snapshot of the cached LUN depending on a mode of the host cache, receiving, at the host cache, a second request to create the snapshot of the cached LUN, and in response to the second request, creating, at the host cache, the snapshot of the cached LUN. |
| US09189395B2 |
Method and apparatus for adjustable virtual addressing for data storage
Methods and apparatuses for adjusting the size of a virtual band or virtual zone of a storage medium are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a data storage device including a data storage medium having a physical zone; and a processor configured to receive a virtual addressing adjustment command, and adjust a number of virtual addresses in a virtual band mapped to the physical zone based on the virtual addressing adjustment command. In another embodiment, a method may comprise providing a data storage device configured to implement virtual addresses associated with a virtual band mapped to a physical zone of a data storage medium of the data storage device, receiving at the data storage device a virtual addressing adjustment command, and adjusting a number of virtual addresses in a virtual band based on the virtual addressing adjustment command. |
| US09189394B2 |
Memory-link compression for graphic processor unit
A graphic processing unit having multiple computational elements flexibly interconnected to memory elements provides for data compressors/decompressors in the memory channels communicating between the computational elements and memory elements to provide an effective increase in bandwidth of those connections by the compression of data transferred thereon. |
| US09189390B2 |
Wear leveling for erasable memories
In accordance with some embodiments, wear leveling may be done based on the difference in age of discarded blocks and engaged blocks. Data is moved to an older discarded block from a younger engaged block. Two wear leveling bits may be used for each logical block, such that the wear leveling bits are used in alternating cycles. |
| US09189389B2 |
Memory controller and memory system
A memory controller having a plurality of channels according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a valid page information management unit that manages, for each of the channel, identification information of a valid page; a write buffer that stores data to be written to the memory; a garbage collection control unit that executes a garbage collection process; and a channel controller capable of executing multi-plane read. The garbage collection control unit controls multi-plane read of the channel controller based on the identification information to level a total number of valid pages read from each of the channel. |
| US09189387B1 |
Combined memory and storage tiering
Techniques for combined memory and storage tiering. For example, in one example, a method for managing placement of data in a data memory and storage system environment including at least one host computing device and at least one storage array includes the following steps. A memory and storage tier architecture is maintained across the data memory and storage system environment including one or more tiers resident on the host computing device and one or more tiers resident on the storage array. A user is enabled to: (i) specify on which of the one or more tiers resident on the host computing device and the one or more tiers resident on the storage array to store data associated with the execution of an application program; and/or (ii) specify a level of service by which the system automatically manages which of the one or more tiers resident on the host computing device and the one or more tiers resident on the storage array to store data associated with the execution of the application program. |
| US09189380B2 |
Systems and methods to save and restore a write gather pipe
Systems and methods for efficient data transfer in a data processing system that includes saving and restoring residual data of a write gather facility. Specifically, a method is provided for data processing that includes writing an address to a register. The method further includes initiating a save operation of residual data within the write gather facility. The writing of the address to the register causes the initiation of the save operation. The residual data is one byte to any number of bytes less than a predetermined number of bytes gathered in the write gather facility. |
| US09189378B1 |
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for testing mobile device applications
Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to systems and methods for facilitating optimization of mobile application testing. In one embodiment, a mobile application testing system (MATS) allows simultaneous communication to a plurality of devices regardless of device type and operating system. Accordingly, the MATS performs mobile testing without “jail-breaking” or removing various components of the user device. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the MATS enables users to securely test mobile applications by supporting data routing behind a security firewall utilizing a transition of communications protocols. Further, various protocols provide a data tunnel allowing multiple concurrent testing sessions for multiple users via an authentication scheme. Additionally, concurrent testing sessions may include single app testing on multiple devices or a plurality of apps testing on a plurality of devices. |
| US09189372B2 |
Trace coverage analysis
A method and apparatus for estimating coverage of a computer program from traces, the method comprising: receiving trace data generated by an execution of an executable unit; and estimating coverage of the executable unit from the trace data, wherein estimating coverage comprises estimating trace coverage. |
| US09189366B2 |
System and method for generating a user callstack trace
A system and method for constructing a user callstack trace in a computer to monitor a user defined Function of a user program in relation to one or more predetermined events is provided. The system and method provides generating a user callstack trace for display to the user from data in memory in relation to a predetermined event of interest to the user. The user callstack trace communicates information corresponding to the execution of the Function for the predetermined event independent of the plurality of outlined functions. The plurality of outlined functions are artificially generated in response to compiling the user program having the Function. |
| US09189365B2 |
Hardware-assisted program trace collection with selectable call-signature capture
Hardware-assisted program tracing is facilitated by a processor that includes a root instruction address register, a program trace signature computation unit and a call signature register. When a program instruction having an address matching the root instruction address register is executed, a program trace signature is captured in the call signature register and capture of branch history is commenced. By accumulating different values of the call signature register, for example in response to an interrupt generated when the root instruction is executed, software that performs program tracing can obtain signatures of all of the multiple execution paths that lead to the root instruction, which is also specified by software in order to set different root instructions for program tracing. In an alternative implementation, a storage for multiple call signatures is provided in the processor and read at once by the software. |
| US09189364B2 |
Selective monitoring of software applications
An application monitoring system autonomously selects routines for performance monitoring based on characteristics of the content of the routines. These characteristics are preferably related to aspects of routines that are likely candidates for performance improvement, such as repetitive loops, event waits, synchronized blocks, and on. Routines that appear to be relatively un-improvable are excluded from initial monitoring, and routines that are subsequently determined to be relatively un-improvable, based on performance analysis and/or user feedback, are excluded from future monitoring. The determination of each routine's candidacy for monitoring is maintained over time, so that each subsequent monitoring session need not repeat the determinations. Changed routines are routinely re-monitored and/or re-assessed to affirm or modify the routine's candidacy for subsequent monitoring. |
| US09189354B2 |
Pseudo dedicated debug port with an application interface
A method is shown to provide remote access to one or more debug access points whose functions include capabilities other than accessing memories across an application interface such as USB, IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet) and other protocols. The capabilities available include all or many of the capabilities provided by a dedicated debug interface. |
| US09189352B1 |
Flight test onboard processor for an aircraft
A method and apparatus are present for processing information. Raw information is received from a sensor network and a number of systems in an aircraft during a test of the aircraft performed during operation of the aircraft. The raw information is placed in a memory and is processed using processes run by a processor unit that accesses the memory to form processed information while new raw information is being received in the memory. The raw information and the processed information are both present in the memory. The raw information and the processed information are stored in a storage system. A determination is made as to whether additional tests are needed for the aircraft using the processed information prior to a conclusion of the operation of the aircraft. At least one of the raw information and the processed information are sent to a remote location using a wireless communications link. |
| US09189349B2 |
Distributed blade server system, management server and switching method
A distributed blade server system, a management server and a switching method are provided. The method includes: determining a standby blade of a first blade when it is determined that the first blade is in abnormal operation; delivering, based on an access relationship between a startup card of the first blade and a first storage partition, a first configuration command to a storage system, the first configuration command including information of an access relationship between a startup card of the standby blade and the first storage partition, so that the storage system configures the access relationship between the startup card of the standby blade and the first storage partition; and delivering a startup command to the standby blade. |
| US09189348B2 |
High availability database management system and database management method using same
Provided is a method of managing a database (DB) using a high availability database management system (DBMS), which continuously provides a service when an error occurs in the DBMS. The DB management method in the high availability DBMS including a plurality of broker nodes and a plurality of server nodes may include an operation (a) to enable one of the plurality of broker nodes to access a main server node of the plurality of server nodes when a DB change request is received from an application server, and an operation (b) to enable the main server node to process the DB change request when the broker node succeeds in accessing the main server node, and to enable the broker node to access one of sub-server nodes so that the sub-server node processes the DB change request when the broker node fails to access the main server node due to an error in the main server node. |
| US09189347B2 |
High reliability redundant voting system for a signal received by voting processors in a communication system
Disclosed are methods and systems for providing improved reliability via redundant voting systems. The voting systems are operable to vote on a signal received by a plurality of base stations in a communication system. A first voting processor transmits a message to the plurality of base stations indicating a return base station to voting processor (BS-VP) multicast address. A plurality of multicast messages addressed to the return multicast address are then received from the plurality of base stations and associated with a particular signal received from a signal source by each of the plurality of base stations. The first voting processor determines a recovered signal, and responsive to the first voting processor determining that the second voting processor is no longer operational, transmits the recovered signal to a voting processor to infrastructure (VP-IN) multicast address associated with an infrastructure device and the first and second voting processors. |
| US09189346B2 |
Management computer used to construct backup configuration of application data
According to the present invention, it is possible to construct a backup configuration of a particular application data, without influencing data of another application. A management computer is coupled to a host computer on which an application operates, and to a storage apparatus that includes a plurality of volume groups each having one or more logical volumes. At least one of the logical volumes is allocated to the application. The management computer includes a volume group overlapping use determination part and a backup policy determination part. When the backup of the volume group to which one logical volume belongs is configured, the volume group overlapping use determination part determines whether there is another application that uses the volume group. The backup policy determination part determines whether there is set, for another volume group, backup policy information same as that set for the application. |
| US09189338B2 |
Disaster recovery failback
Pursuant to execution of a predetermined failback policy, if a storage device is not preexistent in a source storage system operable in the computing environment, and an owner of the storage device is one of a DR storage system and a storage system having previously withdrawn from a replication grid, and the DR storage system has authorization to transfer ownership of the storage device by a replacement operation, and an instance of the storage device is replicated to the source storage system to generate a replicated instance of the storage device on the source storage system. |
| US09189336B2 |
Method and apparatus for nested dispersed storage
A method begins by a DS processing module generating a plurality of encoded slices from a data segment using an error encoding function. The method continues with the DS processing module identifying a plurality of DS storage units for storing the plurality of encoded slices. The method continues with the DS processing module selecting an encoded slice of the plurality of encoded slices for sub-slicing using a sub-slicing encoding function to produce a selected encoded slice. The method continues with the DS processing module outputting the plurality of encoded slices to the plurality of DS storage units. The method continues with the DS processing module outputting a command to a DS storage unit of the plurality of DS storage units corresponding to the selected encoded slice, wherein the command includes an instruction to sub-slice the selected encoded slice. |
| US09189335B2 |
Fast data recovery from HDD failure
A storage system comprises a first storage device having a first plurality of hard disk drives and a first controller. The first controller stores data in the first plurality of hard disk drives by stripes. Each stripe includes M data and N parity data allocated to M+N hard disk drives of the first plurality of hard disk drives. A first hard disk drive includes data or parity data of both a first stripe of the stripes and a second stripe of the stripes, while a second hard disk drive includes data or parity data of only one of the first stripe or the second stripe. During data recovery involving failure of one of the first plurality of hard disk drives, the data in the failed hard disk drive is recovered for each stripe by calculation using data and parity data in other hard disk drives for each stripe. |
| US09189334B2 |
Memory management system and method
A memory system and method of operating the same is described, where the memory system is used to store data in a RAIDed manner. The stored data may be retrieved, including the parity data so that the stored data is recovered when the first of either the stored data without the parity data, or the stored data from all but one memory module and the parity data, has been received. The writing of data, for low write data loads, is managed such that only one of the memory modules of a RAID stripe is being written to, or erased, during a time interval. |
| US09189329B1 |
Generating error correcting code (ECC) data using an ECC corresponding to an identified ECC protection level
A memory controller provides error correcting code (ECC) capability for a memory. In some implementations, the controller is configured to identify an ECC protection level from a plurality of ECC protection levels for data that is to be stored in the memory device, generate ECC data for the data that is to be stored in the memory device using an ECC corresponding to the identified ECC protection level, store the generated ECC data in the cache, and store the data in the memory device. |
| US09189328B2 |
Memory controller and method of operating the same
A memory controller includes a register configured to store a parity check matrix, and an error correcting code (ECC) decoder configured to perform error bit correction on data supplied from a non-volatile memory device using the parity check matrix. The parity check matrix includes N column matrices, where N is a natural number. Each of the N column matrices includes multiple sub-matrices, and a last sub-matrix of the multiple sub-matrices of each column matrix, which is a non-zero valued matrix that comes last in an decoding sequence of the ECC decoder, is an identity matrix. |
| US09189326B2 |
Detecting and correcting hard errors in a memory array
Hard errors in the memory array can be detected and corrected in real-time using reusable entries in an error status buffer. Data may be rewritten to a portion of a memory array and a register in response to a first error in data read from the portion of the memory array. The rewritten data may then be written from the register to an entry of an error status buffer in response to the rewritten data read from the register differing from the rewritten data read from the portion of the memory array. |
| US09189324B2 |
Data archive system, data recording/reproducing apparatus and data library apparatus
In a data recording and reproducing apparatus that includes a host computer and a drive in order to improve data reliability, in data recording, the host computer appends a first error correction code to the data and the drive appends a second error correction code to the data. When a failure has occurred in error correction performed by the drive using the second error correction code, the drive reads out the first error correction code and performs error correction using the first error correction code. Since error correction using the first error correction is possible even when error correction using the second error correction code ends in failure, the reliability of data is improved. |
| US09189320B2 |
Handling intermittent recurring errors in a network
Embodiments relate to a computer for transmitting data in a network. The computer includes at least one data transmission port configured to be connected to at least one storage device via a plurality of paths of a network. The computer further includes a processor configured to detect recurring intermittent errors in one or more paths of the plurality of paths and to disable access to the one or more paths based on detecting the recurring intermittent errors. |
| US09189312B2 |
Generic programming for diagnostic models
A system for compiling a machine operable diagnostic system includes a header unit, a component unit, an effects unit, a test unit, and an instantiation unit. The header unit identifies general properties of a system from a generic description in an electronic format which includes at least one category of a plurality of variations. The component unit identifies a plurality of components of a modeled system from the generic description, and adds and separates the plurality of variations to the plurality of components, and each identified component includes at least one type of failure and a probability of the at least one type of failure. The effects unit identifies from the generic description a plurality of observable effects. The test unit identifies a plurality of tests and test outcomes designed to elicit the observable effects. The instantiation unit constructs a procedural instantiation of the machine operable diagnostic system. |
| US09189308B2 |
Predicting, diagnosing, and recovering from application failures based on resource access patterns
Technologies are described herein for differentiating normal operation of an application program from error conditions to predict, diagnose, and recover from application failures. Access to resources by the application program is monitored, and resource access events are logged. Resource access patterns are established from the logged resource access events utilizing computer pattern recognition techniques. If subsequent access to resources by the application program deviates from the established patterns, then a user and/or administrator of the application program is notified of a potential error condition based on the detected deviation. In addition, sequences of resource access events that deviate from the established resources access patterns are correlated with an error condition based on a temporal proximity to the time of occurrence of the error to provide diagnostic information regarding the error. |
| US09189307B2 |
Method of improving the performance of an access network for coupling user devices to an application server
A system is provided for improving the performance of an access network for coupling user devices to an application server. The system includes a user device coupled to an intermediate server via the access network. The user device has a processor adapted to encode data using a network performance enhancing coding (NPEC), and to transmit the encoded data via the access network to the intermediate server. The intermediate server is adapted to receive the encoded data and has a processor adapted to decode the encoded data using the NPEC, and to transmit the decoded data to the application server. |
| US09189303B2 |
Shadow queues for recovery of messages
A method, system and computer program product for handling an electronic message in a data processing system are disclosed. The method comprises receiving an electronic message and storing the electronic message in a message store. An address of the electronic message is stored in a primary queue and the address of the electronic message is stored in one or more configured shadow queues. Responsive to successful completion of one or more tasks related to the electronic message, the address of the electronic message is deleted from the associated queue, and responsive to completion of all tasks related to the electronic message, the electronic message is deleted from the message store. |
| US09189300B2 |
Dynamic service discovery
When an application is launched, a framework scanning module scans a plurality of frameworks linked against by the application to generate a list of available services. When the application makes a request of a particular service, a service verification module compares the requested service to the list of available services and if the requested service is found in the list of available services, sends a signal to the application, the signal allowing access to the requested service for the application. Otherwise, access to the requested service is denied. |
| US09189290B2 |
Distributing processing of array block tasks
A technique includes distributing a plurality of tasks among a plurality of worker nodes to perform a processing operation on an array. Each task is associated with a set of a least one data block of the array, and an order of the tasks is defined by an array-based programming language. Distribution of the tasks includes, for at least one of the worker nodes, selectively reordering the order defined by the array-based programming language to regulate an amount of data transferred to the worker node. |
| US09189284B2 |
Systems and methods for managing computing resources within a network
An information handling system may include a first subsystem operable to receive data associated with computing resources from at least one computing resource provider. The system may further include a second subsystem in communication with the first subsystem, the second subsystem operable to provide the computing resources to at least one computing resource customer, wherein the at least one computing resource provider receives compensation paid by the at least one computing resource customer for completion of a workload. A method for managing a computing resource within an information handling system may include receiving data associated with the computing resource from at least one computing resource provider and providing the computing resources to at least one computing resource customer. The at least one computing resource provider may receive compensation paid by the at least one resource customer for completion of a workload. |
| US09189280B2 |
Tracking large numbers of moving objects in an event processing system
Techniques for tracking large numbers of moving objects in an event processing system are provided. An input event stream can be received, where the events in the input event stream represent the movement of a plurality of geometries or objects. The input event stream can then be partitioned among a number of processing nodes of the event processing system, thereby enabling parallel processing of one or more continuous queries for tracking the objects. The partitioning can be performed such that each processing node is configured to track objects in a predefined spatial region, and the spatial regions for at least two nodes overlap. This overlapping window enables a single node to find, e.g., all of the objects within a particular distance of a target object, even if the target object is in the process of moving from the region of that node to the overlapping region of another node. |
| US09189275B2 |
System and method for topology-aware job scheduling and backfilling in an HPC environment
A method for job management in an HPC environment includes determining an unallocated subset from a plurality of HPC nodes, with each of the unallocated HPC nodes comprising an integrated fabric. An HPC job is selected from a job queue and executed using at least a portion of the unallocated subset of nodes. |
| US09189272B2 |
Information processing apparatus, computer program, and method for controlling execution of jobs
An information processing apparatus submits jobs for execution on a server. Jobs are classified into a plurality of groups, and these groups are ranked in ascending order of workload that the groups of jobs impose on the server. A processor in the information processing apparatus counts ongoing jobs that are currently executed on the server and belong to a specified number of top-ranked groups. The processor designates pending jobs that belong to other groups than the specified number of top-ranked groups and suspends submission of processing requests of the designated pending jobs to the server, when the number of ongoing jobs is greater than or equal to a threshold and when there are one or more pending jobs that belong to the specified number of top-ranked groups. |
| US09189268B2 |
Limiting simultaneous data transfers and efficient throttle management
A network storage server implements a method to limit simultaneous data transfers and efficient throttle management. The number of processes that can be simultaneously performed in the network storage server is limited. For the processes that do not exceed the limiting number, and are therefore allowed to be simultaneously performed, a throttle control is implemented on each of the processes to limit the amount of system resources that can be allocated to each of the processes. The processes are performed on the network storage server, and a total amount of system resources allocated to these processes does not exceed the available system resources of the network storage server. |
| US09189265B2 |
Storage architecture for virtual machines
Some embodiments of the present invention include a method comprising: accessing units of network storage that encode state data of respective virtual machines, wherein the state data for respective ones of the virtual machines are stored in distinct ones of the network storage units such that the state data for more than one virtual machine are not commingled in any one of the network storage units. |
| US09189264B1 |
Notification propagation in virtual computing environment
Systems and methods are disclosed for propagating notifications between computing environments, such as virtual computing environments. A computing device includes a processor configured to execute a user application in a first virtual computing environment, intercept notification information associated with a notification event associated with the user application, and provide the notification information to a second virtual computing environment. |
| US09189262B2 |
Methods and systems for recommending solutions to performance issues in a print production environment
A method of recommending one or more solutions to a performance issue may include receiving operations information associated with a print production environment, determining one or more performance metrics associated with the print production environment based on at least a portion of the received operations information, and determining whether a performance issue associated with the print production environment exists based on one or more of the performance metrics. The method may include, in response to determining that a performance issue exists, identifying a cause of the performance issue, identifying a different configuration of production devices for the print production environment, running a simulation on the different configuration using historical job information associated with the print production environment to determine whether the different configuration mitigates the performance issue, and in response to determining that the different configuration mitigates the performance issue, recommending the different configuration to a user. |
| US09189260B2 |
Resource allocation for virtual machines and logical partitions
A computer determines that a utilization level of a resource has satisfied a threshold. The computer scales the allocation of the resource to the furthest of the current allocation of the resource plus a parameter and of a historical limit. The computer determines if the scaled allocation of the resource is outside the historical limit and if so, sets the historical limit equal to the scaled allocation of the resource. The computer determines whether the scaling of the allocation of the resource will result in an allocation oscillation. The computer determines if the scaled allocation of the resource is outside a boundary parameter and if so, sets the allocation of the resource equal to the boundary parameter. |
| US09189258B2 |
Reconfigurable sensing platform for software defined instrumentation
A reconfigurable sensor front-end includes a logic block having a storage circuit to store hardware description information and a reconfigurable block including a plurality of circuits. The plurality of circuits are to be set in a first configuration based on the hardware description information and are to be set in a second configuration when the hardware description information changes. The first hardware description information corresponds to a first sensor and the changed hardware description information corresponding to a second sensor. |
| US09189255B2 |
System and methods for generating runtime messages
A method for generating a runtime message of an application (20) comprising the steps of generating a unique message identification for the runtime message, generating a message content, providing an XML repository (30), which stores the unique message identification and the message content in an XML format and including a call for the message in the application (20) using the unique message identification so that the XML repository (30) is accessed during runtime for display of the message content. |
| US09189253B2 |
Reentrant window manager
Systems, methods, and computer readable media for implementing reentrant compositing window manager applications are described. In general, techniques are disclosed for using a second application to composite portions of hierarchically structured objects and the window manager to composite certain other portions of the same object. More particularly, a window manager application may be used to composite objects of a first type (e.g., application backing store bitmaps) and then call or invoke a second application to composite objects of a second type (e.g., hierarchically structured objects). The second type of object includes information (e.g., a reference) of the composite window manager's output buffer at the time the second application was invoked. This knowledge may be used by the second application to call back into the window manager in a manner that permits the generation of unique visual effects without violating modern memory management scriptures regarding the separation of application memory spaces. |
| US09189252B2 |
Context-based device action prediction
The described implementations relate to automatically performing device actions. One implementation can obtain a contextual value of a contextor. The implementation can decide, using a decision engine, whether to perform an action on a computing device based on the contextual value. In an instance when the decision engine decides that the action is to be performed, the implementation can perform the action on the computing device. The implementation can also update the decision engine using feedback related to the action. As a specific example, the action can be prelaunching an application before a user has requested to execute the application. Prelaunching the application can reduce application latency relative to waiting for the user to request to execute the application before launching the application. |
| US09189251B2 |
Method and apparatus for adjusting window display status
The invention discloses a method for adjusting a window display status, which relates to a technology for adjusting the window display status while facilitating an adjustment for the existing window display status. The method includes: receiving an instruction including an adjustment parameter and a window ID; determining an application corresponding to the window ID based on the window ID, wherein the application having a corresponding window once the application is executed; and adjusting a display status item in the application window based on the adjustment parameter. The present invention further discloses an apparatus for implementing the method as described above. |
| US09189250B2 |
Method and system for re-invoking displays
A method (600) for recovering a set of display screen windows (402, 404, 406, 408) in a multi-window display screen (304). The method involves retaining window information as stored window information (SWI). The SWI includes a first arrangement for a first set of display screen windows (DSWs) displayed on the multi-window display screen at a first time. Each of the DSWs has respective content (420, 422, 424, 426). The method also involves using the SWI for redisplaying the first set of display screen windows in the first arrangement on the multi-window display at a second time. The second time is after the first time and follows an event causing the first set of display screen windows to be removed from the multi-window display screen. The redisplayed DSWs contain at least a portion of the respective content. |
| US09189249B2 |
Method for automatically defining icons
A method for generating a graphical icon to represent a software module is disclosed. The method includes the steps of processing a description of the module stored within a database through a glossary to obtain a normalized description, parsing the normalized description to abstract the module and identify at least one component of the module, obtaining at least one icon component for the at least one module component, and assembling the at least one icon component into the graphical icon. |
| US09189247B2 |
Method for switching between virtualized and non-virtualized system operation
A method performed by an embedded system controlled by a CPU and capable of operating as a virtualized system under supervision of a hypervisor or as a non-virtualized system under supervision of an operating system, is provided. The embedded system is executed in a normal mode if no execution of any security critical function is required, where the normal mode execution is performed under supervision of the operating system. If a security critical function execution is required, where protected mode execution is performed under supervision of the hypervisor, the operating system is switching execution of the embedded system from normal mode to protected mode, by handing over the execution of the embedded system from the operating system to the hypervisor. When execution of the security critical function is no longer required by the system is switched from protected mode to normal mode, under supervision of the hypervisor. |
| US09189237B2 |
Bitstream buffer manipulation with a SIMD merge instruction
Method, apparatus, and program means for performing bitstream buffer manipulation with a SIMD merge instruction. The method of one embodiment comprises determining whether any unprocessed data bits for a partial variable length symbol exist in a first data block is made. A shift merge operation is performed to merge the unprocessed data bits from the first data block with a second data block. A merged data block is formed. A merged variable length symbol comprised of the unprocessed data bits and a plurality of data bits from the second data block is extracted from the merged data block. |
| US09189236B2 |
Speculative non-faulting loads and gathers
According to one embodiment, a processor includes an instruction decoder to decode an instruction to read a plurality of data elements from memory, the instruction having a first operand specifying a storage location, a second operand specifying a bitmask having one or more bits, each bit corresponding to one of the data elements, and a third operand specifying a memory address storing a plurality of data elements. The processor further includes an execution unit coupled to the instruction decoder, in response to the instruction, to read one or more data elements speculatively, based on the bitmask specified by the second operand, from a memory location based on the memory address indicated by the third operand, and to store the one or more data elements in the storage location indicated by the first operand. |
| US09189227B2 |
Systems, methods, and computer program products for a software build and load process using a compilation and deployment service
Systems, methods, and computer program products for a software build and load process using a compilation and deployment service. A method for a software build and load process using a compilation and deployment service includes receiving, at the service, new software. The method further includes comparing, at the service, the received new software with data in a database, wherein the data comprises active software. The method further includes merging, at the service said new software and active software into one or more load modules based on the comparison. The method further includes deploying the one or more load modules to one or more target processing units. |
| US09189226B2 |
Software logistics protocols
Techniques for using a software logistics protocol include initiating, using the software logistics protocol, a software logistics process, the software logistics protocol being a common application programming interface (API) for controlling and managing the life cycle and operation of a plurality of different software logistics processes; monitoring, using the software logistics protocol, the progress of execution of the software logistics process; and gathering, using the software logistics protocol, output information from the software logistics process after the software logistics process finishes executing. |
| US09189225B2 |
Secure, non-disruptive firmware updating
Firmware updates for, e.g., thin client devices may be achieved in a seamless, non-disruptive manner using a two-stage firmware loader, including a base loader pre-installed on the device and a caching loader downloaded, by the base loader, from a firmware server and thereafter responsible for downloading and updating other firmware application packages. |
| US09189224B2 |
Forming an upgrade recommendation in a cloud computing environment
A method, system, and computer program product for forming cloud upgrade recommendations. The method commences by initiating an environment monitoring agent to run on a plurality of nodes within a cloud environment. The monitoring agent checks periodically for changes in the environment. When changes are detected, a process forms an upgrade recommendation, and sends the upgrade recommendation to recipients. An instance image includes a runnable copy of an environment monitoring agent, and nodes run respective instances of the environment monitoring agent. An upgrade recommendation comprises an upgrade path, which in turn includes recommendation of a processor model, or a device, and/or an operating system version, a software component, a middleware component, or a driver. The upgrade recommendation is formed based on a detected presence of at least one of, a directory on a file system, or a file on a file system or on the basis of detected port usage. |
| US09189222B1 |
Updating a computer system
Updating a computer system. An update root environment is created on the computer system by copying an operational root environment of the computer system. The resources of the computer system used by the update root environment and said operational environment are managed, wherein a first portion of the resources are dedicated to at least the operational root environment. At least one update is performed on the update root environment. |
| US09189218B2 |
Processing packets by generating machine code from pre-compiled code fragments
A packet switching device can process packets by linking pre-compiled code fragments corresponding to actions to be performed for a packet flow, in order to generate a flow function. Once generated, the packet switching device can invoke this flow function for one or more packets in the packet flow. For example, a linker could use a flow table to determine the actions to be performed for a packet flow. Those actions may correspond to code fragments which have already been compiled and make use of symbols as placeholders for parameters yet to be defined. To generate a flow function, the pre-compiled code fragments corresponding to the actions of a flow can be sequenced and linked together. The parameter values of the actions can then replace the placeholder symbols. Once fully assembled, the flow function can be written to memory and executed any time a packet for the corresponding flow needs to be routed. |
| US09189217B2 |
Method for exploiting massive parallelism
A method of statically testing dependence in a dataflow program is provided, the method comprising receiving a dataflow program which provides parameters, including consumption rates, production rates on connections between actors in the program and a number of initial samples (delays) on the connections, generating from the parameters a model of a precedence graph for the dataflow program representing dependence constraints between distinct firings of the number of actors. For the model, determining a feedback distance between multiple firings of a same actor, determining sets of parallel regions comprising a given number of actor firings of a same actor, composing mutually independent component regions comprising at least a part of the sets of parallel regions, and composing one or more composite regions comprising one or more component regions and/or one or more sets of parallel regions, being composed so that a pre-determined criteria is satisfied. |
| US09189213B2 |
Automatic configuration of project system from project capabilities
A project system is automatically configured from project capabilities determined from an instance of a build system by a project capabilities analyzer. A flexible configuration based build system defines the consuming project system. Results of an evaluated project file are used to define the overall capabilities of the build system. The capabilities are used to dynamically load and assemble the project system code. Changes in the project capabilities due to a reevaluation of a result of a build can then redefine and reassemble the project system code. Hence project system configuration is data-driven rather than user-defined and utilizes a flexible, configuration based build system to define the consuming project system. |
| US09189206B2 |
System and method for managing immutable objects
A system and method of managing immutable objects includes monitoring new object construction, detecting construction of an object, determining a key for the object, looking the key up in a persistent storage system, when the key is found in the persistent storage system, loading the object from the persistent storage system, and when the key is not found in the persistent storage system constructing the object, determining whether the object is immutable, and storing the object in the persistent storage system when the object is immutable. In some examples, determining whether the object is immutable includes examining each primitive type data member of the object, examining each reference type constructor parameter of the object to determine whether the reference type constructor parameter is defensively copied, examining all function calls used by the object to determine whether the function calls preserve immutability, and recursively examining each reference type data member of the object. |
| US09189204B2 |
Static analysis of computer software applications having a model-view-controller architecture
Preparing a computer software application for static analysis by identifying a control flow within a model portion of a computer software application having a model-view-controller architecture, where the control flow passes a value to a controller portion of the computer software application, analyzing a declarative specification of the controller portion of the computer software application to identify a view to which the controller portion passes control based on the value, and synthesizing a method within the computer software application, where the method calls the view. |
| US09189203B1 |
Solution modeling and analysis toolset for enterprise software architecture and architecture roadmaps
Generating an architecture roadmap includes receiving a plurality of desired business capabilities, the desired business capabilities related to an enterprise architecture; determining a plurality of requirements corresponding to the plurality of desired business capabilities. In addition the following steps may be performed, identifying a plurality of technology components, wherein each of the technology components supports at least a corresponding one of the plurality of requirements; and outputting an architecture roadmap related to fulfilling the plurality of desired business capabilities, the architecture roadmap comprising an ordered technological solution comprised of at least a subset of the plurality of technology components. |
| US09189200B1 |
Multiple-precision processing block in a programmable integrated circuit device
A specialized processing block in a programmable integrated circuit device is configurable to perform floating-point arithmetic operations at selectable different precisions. The specialized processing block includes a plurality of different respective types of floating-point arithmetic operator structures. For each respective type of floating-point arithmetic operator structure, respective control circuitry for partitions the respective type of floating-point arithmetic operator structure to select between a first precision for which the respective type of floating-point arithmetic operator structure is not partitioned, and at least a second precision, less than the first precision, for which the respective type of floating-point arithmetic operator structure is partitioned into at least two smaller ones of the respective type of floating-point arithmetic operator structure. |
| US09189199B2 |
Folded FIFO memory generator
Synthesizable code representing first-in-first out (FIFO) memories may be used to produce FIFO memories in a hardware element or system. To more efficiently use a memory element that stores the data in a FIFO, a code generator may generate a wrapper that enables the FIFO to use a memory element with different dimension (i.e., depth and width) than the FIFO's dimensions. For example, the wrapper enables a 128 deep, 1 bit wide FIFO to store data in a memory element with 16 rows that store 8 bits each. To any system communicating with the FIFO, the FIFO behaves like a 128×1 FIFO even though the FIFO is implemented using a 16×8 memory element. To do so, the code generator may generate a wrapper which enables the folded memory element to behave like a memory element that was not folded. |
| US09189198B2 |
Data similarity calculation method and data similarity calculation apparatus
There is provided a data similarity calculation method. The method includes: (a) acquiring a first waveform; (b) storing time series data; (c) converting the stored time series data into a waveform on two-dimensional coordinates, wherein the two-dimensional coordinates consists of a time axis and an a value axis representing values of the time series data, and the time axis is orthogonal to the value axis; (d) shifting the converted waveform in both directions of the time axis and the value axis so as to generate a second waveform; (e) calculating a similarity between the first waveform and the second waveform; and (f) extracting a shift amount in the direction of the time axis and a shift amount in the direction of the value axis when the similarity is the highest by repeatedly performing steps (d) and (e). |
| US09189197B1 |
Multiple shell multi faceted graphical user interface
A multi faceted graphic user interface with multiple shells or layers may be provided for interaction with a user to speech enable interaction with applications and processes that do not necessarily have native support for speech input. The shells may be components of an operating system or of a parent application which supports such shells. Each shell has multiple facets for displaying applications and processes, and typically speech and other input is directed the application or process in the facet which has focus within the active shell. These multiple shells lend themselves to grouping of input or grouping of related applications and processes. For example, input from a speech recognizer, a mouse and a keyboard may each be directed at different shells; or a user may group related windows within various shells, such that all documents are displayed in one shell and all windows of an instant messaging application are displayed in another, thereby enabling better organization of work and work flow. |
| US09189196B2 |
Compartmentalized self registration of external devices
A device may receive, from a peripheral device, information for controlling the peripheral device. The information for controlling the peripheral device may include information identifying a voice command associated with the peripheral device and information identifying a function corresponding to the voice command. The device may receive, from a user, the voice command. The device may cause the peripheral device to perform the function based on receiving the voice command. |
| US09189195B2 |
Integrity monitoring
Systems and methods are described here to provide a degree or level of certification to a resident application such as an operating system, e.g., Linux®. In a Linux® implementation, the operating system provides a robust environment including many seasoned communication stacks, e.g., TCP/IP, USB, and the like. However, Linux® is not certified to the level necessary to be a part of many avionics applications. To eliminate the need to certify all of such an operating system, such certification being highly costly, the avionics application itself may be protected so that the operating system cannot alter the application's operating environment, e.g., application code and data, once the application is loaded and running. In this case, only the application requires certification at the highest level, and not the operating system such as Linux®. |
| US09189194B2 |
Display device that separately controls first and second display windows for indicating connection statuses of plurality of instruments on display device
A displaying device includes a first storing portion that stores first connection data indicating connection statuses of a plurality of instruments and a controlling system, a second storing portion that stores second connection data indicating connection statuses of a plurality of instruments and an instrument controlling device, a displaying portion that displays the first connection statuses through the first connection data and the second connection statuses through the second connection data, and a display controlling portion that causes the first connection statuses and the second connection statuses to be displayed separately on the displaying portion. |
| US09189192B2 |
Driverless printing system, apparatus and method
Systems, apparatuses and methods for submitting a print job to a specified printer are provided which include means for and/or steps of (i) converting a document created with a specific application and to be printed, into a print-ready form that is independent of the specific printer and independent of computing platform, and (ii) submitting the print job to the specified printer, without using a printer driver. |
| US09189189B2 |
Mobile terminal, printing apparatus and computer-readable recording medium storing program therefor
A mobile terminal establishes a long distance wireless communication with a printing device in accordance with identification information communicated between the mobile terminal and the printing device using the near field communication. The mobile terminal transmits a print command to the printing device using one of the near field communication unit and the long distance communication unit. The mobile terminal determines, after the print command was transmitted, and transmits, to the printing device, using the long distance communication unit, a print termination command, when the mobile terminal is spaced from the printing device by the first distance. |
| US09189188B2 |
Method and system for message delivery using a secure device and simple output without the use of a personal computer
Communication systems and methods for enhancing communications between users featuring a central service which formats messages into a printer-friendly format. The format of the delivered message is based on preference settings established by the recipient or an authorized agent of the recipient. The messages are delivered to a device, such as a printer. Messages can be sent to the service in any format and can include text, photographs, URLs, and/or a variety of file types. The messages are then parsed by the service and formatted for delivery to the device. |
| US09189186B2 |
Method and system for custom designing nail wraps
A method for generating customer designed nail prints for printing on a computer-controlled printer can comprise transmitting to a remote computer interface at least a portion of a digital nail wrap design studio. The portion of the digital nail wrap design studio can comprise a visual representation of a nail wrap template and one or more design tools. The method can also comprise receiving over a network connection a user generated nail wrap design. Further, the method can comprise generating, from the user generated nail wrap design, a printer file configured to communicate to the computer controlled printer the necessary instructions for printing the user generated nail wrap design onto a nail wrap material. |
| US09189182B2 |
Method and apparatus for activating device
Method and apparatus for activating a slave device are provided. The method including: receiving communication medium scan signals comprising a slave device identifier; controlling a main power supply when the slave device is in an inactive state; determining whether the slave device is completely booted; and executing an upper layer communication when the slave device is completely booted. |
| US09189180B1 |
Converting page description language to enhance the capabilities of multifunction peripherals
A converter peripheral for converting an electronic document for output by a multifunction includes a network interface for receiving the electronic document, the electronic document in a page description language unsupported by the multifunction peripheral, a processor for accessing configuration data in order to determine at least one page description language supported by the multifunction peripheral, for accessing local license data to confirm authorization to perform a conversion, and for converting the electronic document into a page description language supported by the multifunction peripheral, and an output interface for transmitting the converted electronic document to the multifunction peripheral for output. |
| US09189178B2 |
Image forming system, image forming apparatus and non-transitory computer readable medium
An image forming system includes plural image forming apparatuses that form images, and a second memory that stores user identification information for identifying a user and apparatus identification information for identifying an image forming apparatus storing image data corresponding to the user identification information so as to be correlated with each other, wherein each of the image forming apparatuses includes a first memory, a reception component, a first acquisition component, a second acquisition component, a storage controller, and an image forming component that forms an image corresponding to image data acquired by the first acquisition component or the second acquisition component. |
| US09189177B2 |
Content outputting method, content server and mediation server
A content outputting system includes a client, a content server, a mediation server and an outputting apparatus. Upon reception of a request for outputting content data, the client transmits a request for outputting, which includes a storage location of the content, to the mediation server, so that the mediation server transmits a request for acquisition of the content data to the content server. The content server retrieves the content data from a storage section thereof, and transmits the retrieved content data to the mediation server. The mediation server creates output data on the basis of the received content data, and then, transmits the created output data to the outputting apparatus. |
| US09189176B2 |
Identifying newly connected printers
In one embodiment, actual usage data is obtained for a printer connected to a network. The actual usage data is compared to a usage model for a newly connected printer. The printer is identified as newly connected in response to determining the actual usage data is consistent with the usage model. Information that the printer is newly connected is displayed. |
| US09189175B2 |
Systems and methods for carbon footprint job based accounting
A system may include a processor, a printing device, a communication interface operably connected to the processor, and a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the processor. The computer-readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions for identifying a carbon credit account associated with at least a user, receiving a print job request from the user, receiving a carbon emission value for the print job request, determining whether to accept the print job request based on the carbon emission value and the carbon credit amount, and performing, via the printing device, the print job request in response to accepting the print job request. The carbon credit account may include a carbon credit amount. |
| US09189172B1 |
High priority read and write
The disclosure is related to data storage devices employing file-aware drivers. In one example, a device may comprise a driver configured to retrieve file system information related to an input/output (I/O) command, select priority attributes identifying whether the I/O command originated from a user-level application based on the file system information, and prioritize execution of the I/O command based on the priority attributes. Another embodiment may be a method comprising inspecting characteristics of a data input/output (I/O) request, choosing priority attributes for the I/O request based on the characteristics and a program initiating the I/O request, and executing operations in an order based on the priority attributes. |
| US09189171B2 |
Storage system and method for controlling storage system
A storage system includes a plurality of control devices each including an interface unit and an arithmetic processing unit. The arithmetic processing unit stores, when requested to execute saving processing for saving dump data of a specific interface unit in which an error has occurred, the dump data collected from the specific interface unit into a storage unit. The arithmetic processing unit calculates an execution time of the saving processing. The arithmetic processing unit compresses, when the execution time exceeds a time limit and before a remaining time is reached, part of the dump data stored in the storage unit and save the compressed dump data into a saving unit. The arithmetic processing unit saves, when the execution time exceeds the time limit and after the remaining time has been reached, rest of the dump data stored in the storage unit into the saving unit without compression. |