最新美国发明专利
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US09203033B2 Nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds and organic electronic device comprising the same
The present disclosure provides a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound and an organic electronic device comprising the same. The organic electronic device according to the present disclosure shows excellent characteristics in terms of efficiency, driving voltage and lifespan.
US09203030B2 Recyclable organic solar cells on substrates comprising cellulose nanocrystals (CNC)
Recyclable organic solar cells are disclosed herein. Systems and methods are further disclosed for producing, improving performance, and for recycling the solar cells. In certain example embodiments, the recyclable organic solar cells disclosed herein include: a first electrode; a second electrode; a photoactive layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; an interlayer comprising a Lewis basic oligomer or polymer disposed between the photoactive layer and at least a portion of the first electrode or the second electrode; and a substrate disposed adjacent to the first electrode or the second electrode. The interlayer reduces the work function associated with the first or second electrode. In certain example embodiments, the substrate comprises cellulose nanocrystals that can be recycled. In certain example embodiments, one or more of the first electrode, the photoactive layer, and the second electrode may be applied by a film transfer lamination method.
US09203012B2 Ultrasound probe and manufacturing method thereof
An ultrasound probe including a backing layer provided with grooves in which a piezoelectric member is allowed to be installed and a manufacturing method thereof. The ultrasound probe includes the piezoelectric member, and the backing layer disposed on a rear-side surface of the piezoelectric member and provided, on a front-side surface thereof, with grooves in which the piezoelectric member is installed.
US09203011B2 Method and structure for thermoelectric unicouple assembly
Method for assembling thermoelectric unicouples is provided and applied with silicon-based nanostructure thermoelectric legs. The method includes preparing and disposing both n-type and p-type thermoelectric material blocks in alternative columns on a first shunt material. The method includes a sequence of cutting processes to resize the thermoelectric material blocks to form multiple singulated unicouples each having an n-type thermoelectric leg and a p-type thermoelectric leg bonded to a section of the first shunt material. Additionally, the method includes re-disposing these singulated unicouples in a serial daisy chain configuration with a predetermined pitch distance and bonding a second shunt material on top. The method further includes performing additional cutting processes to form one or more daisy chains of thermoelectric unicouples. The first shunt material is coupled to a cold-side heat sink and the second shunt material is coupled to a hot-side heat sink.
US09203007B2 Light emitting diode assembly
Disclosed is a light emitting diode assembly. The light emitting diode assembly comprised: a red light emitting diode chip; a short-wavelength light emitting diode chip emitting a light having a wavelength relatively shorter than that of a light emitted from the red light emitting diode chip; a first heat-dispersion member for dispersing most of the heat generated in the short wavelength light emitting diode chip; and a second heat-dispersion member for dispersing most of the heat generated in the red light emitting diode chip. Further, the second heat-dispersion member has heat dispersion performance relatively superior to that of the first heat dispersion member. Thus, spectrum movement in the red light emitted from the red light emitting diode chip may be prevented so as to prevent a color-coordinate transformation during the operation time of same.
US09203003B2 Light-emitting diode device
A light-emitting diode device comprises a substrate; a plurality of LED units formed on the substrate, each LED unit including a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer formed on the first semiconductor layer, and an active layer formed therebetween; and a first sidewall with a length of A microns; and a plurality of conductive connecting structures, spatially separated from each other, wherein one end of the conductive connecting structure are formed on the first sidewall of one of the LED units, and a spacing between two adjacent conductive connecting structures is less than 100 microns; wherein each conductive connecting structure comprises a first extending part formed on one LED unit and a second extending part formed on the adjacent LED unit, wherein lengths of the first and the second extending parts are different; wherein a number of the conductive connecting structures is an integer larger than (A/100)−1.
US09203002B2 Ultraviolet reflective silicone compositions, reflectors, and light sources incorporating the same
Disclosed herein are polysiloxane compositions that include a first polysiloxane and a second polysiloxane. The first and second polysiloxanes may be immiscible, and may exhibit differing refractive indices. The polysiloxane compositions may further include a curing agent and a catalyst. In some embodiments, the polysiloxane compositions significantly reflect light in at least the ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Reflectors and light emitting diode sources including the polysiloxane compositions are also disclosed.
US09203001B2 LED module for modified lamps and modified LED lamp
An LED module includes a printed circuit board (PCB) or a surface mount device (SMD) mount, an LED chip mounted on the PCB or the SMD mount, a cover mounted on the LED chip and a surface of the PCB or the SMD mount which surrounds the LED chip. The surface of the PCB or the SMD mount on which the spherical cover is mounted may be covered on its side walls with a white reflective material which is in contact with the LED chip.
US09203000B2 Light-emitting device package and method for manufacturing the same
A light-emitting device package is disclosed. The light-emitting device package includes a metal substrate. An insulating layer is on the metal substrate, wherein the insulating layer has at least one opening to expose the metal substrate. At least one light-emitting device is disposed in the at least one opening of the insulating layer. A sidewall of the at least one opening of the insulating layer is covered by an optical spacer. The disclosure also provides a method for manufacturing the light-emitting device package.
US09202997B2 Semiconductor nanocrystal-polymer micronized composite, method of preparing the same, and optoelectronic device
A semiconductor nanocrystal-polymer micronized composite that includes: at least one semiconductor nanocrystal; and a polymer surrounding the at least one semiconductor nanocrystal, wherein the polymer includes at least one functional group reactive with the semiconductor nanocrystal, and wherein the semiconductor nanocrystal-polymer micronized composite has a particle diameter of less than or equal to about 70 micrometers (μm) with a standard deviation of less than or equal to about 20 micrometers (μm), and an aspect ratio of more than about 1.0 and less than or equal to about 10.
US09202993B2 Method for producing a polychromatizing layer and substrate and also light-emitting diode having a polychromatizing layer
The invention relates to a method for applying a polychromatizing layer which contains at least one luminescent means on a semiconductor substrate, which layer is suitable for producing a monochromatic light. The polychromatizing layer is applied with a printing process, especially with a micro-contact printing process. Preferably the polychromatizing layer is applied structured.
US09202992B2 Semiconductor light emitting device having a fluorescent substance layer
A semiconductor light emitting device includes a semiconductor layer, a p-side and an n-side interconnect portions, a fluorescent substance layer and a transparent layer. The semiconductor layer has a first major surface, a second major surface, and a first side surface, the semiconductor layer including a light emitting layer. The p-side and n-side interconnect portions are electrically connected to the semiconductor layer. The fluorescent substance layer is provided on the first major surface side. The transparent layer is provided between the semiconductor layer and the fluorescent substance layer, and has a second side surface. The device further includes an insulating film covering the first side surface and the second side surface, and a reflecting member covering the first side surface and the second side surface via the insulating film.
US09202990B2 Light emitting diode package and backlight unit including the same
Provided are a light emitting diode package and a backlight assembly including the light emitting diode package. The light emitting diode package may comprise a package main body including a cavity; a light emitting diode (LED) chip positioned in the cavity; a lead frame installed in the package main body, positioned in the cavity at least partly, electrically connected to the light emitting diode chip mounted on the lead frame, and having one surface having a diffusion reflective layer thereon.
US09202988B2 Nitride semiconductor light-emitting element
A nitride semiconductor light-emitting element includes a layered semiconductor body which is made of a group III nitride semiconductor, and includes a light-emitting facet, and a multilayer protective film which is formed to cover the light-emitting facet of the layered semiconductor body, and includes a plurality of insulating films. The multilayer protective film includes a first protective film and a second protective film covering the first protective film. The first protective film is a crystalline film which is made of nitride containing aluminum, and is at least partially crystallized. The second protective film is a crystalline film which is made of oxide containing aluminum, and is at least partially crystallized.
US09202985B2 Light emitting diode and forming method thereof
A light emitting diode (LED) and a forming method thereof are provided. The LED includes a semiconductor substrate, a bonding layer formed on a surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a LED die formed on a surface of the bonding layer. The effective lighting area of the LED may be increased, heat radiation may be improved, and lighting efficiency may be enhanced.
US09202984B2 Light-emitting diode and method of fabricating the same
A light-emitting diode (LED) including a semiconductor stack structure including a first semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second semiconductor layer, the semiconductor stack disposed on a substrate, a conductive substrate disposed on the semiconductor stack structure, and an electrode disposed on the conductive substrate and in ohmic contact with the conductive substrate, wherein the electrode comprises grooves penetrating the electrode and a portion of the conductive substrate.
US09202977B2 Light emitting diode
A light emitting diode including a substrate, a first semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second semiconductor layer is provided. The first semiconductor layer includes a first surface and a second surface. The active layer and the second semiconductor layer are stacked on the second surface in that order, and a surface of the second semiconductor layer away from the active layer is configured as the light emitting surface. A first electrode electrically is connected with the first semiconductor layer. A second electrode is electrically connected with the second semiconductor layer. A number of first three-dimensional nano-structures are located on the second surface of the first semiconductor layer. A number of second three-dimensional nano-structures are located on a surface of the active layer contacting the second semiconductor layer, and a cross section of each of the three-dimensional nano-structures is M-shaped.
US09202975B2 Light emitting diode including graphene layer
A light emitting diode includes a substrate, graphene layer, a first semiconductor layer, an active layer, a second semiconductor layer, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a reflection layer. The first semiconductor layer, the active layer, and the second semiconductor layer are stacked on the substrate in sequence. The first electrode is electrically connected with the second semiconductor layer and the second electrode electrically is connected with the second part of the carbon nanotube layer. The graphene layer is located between the active layer and the second semiconductor layer. The reflection layer covers the second semiconductor layer.
US09202966B2 Photovoltaic module structure and method for producing an electrically conductive connection
The present invention relates to a photovoltaic module structure 1 and to a method for establishing an electrically conductive connection between two spaced contact layers 4″, 6′, in particular in the photovoltaic module structure 1 according to the invention. The production method is particularly simple and economical and the photovoltaic module structure 1 according to the invention enables a significant gain in efficiency.
US09202964B2 System and method for photovoltaic device temperature control while conditioning a photovoltaic device
A system and method for applying an electrical bias to a photovoltaic device in a temperature control chamber, in which the temperature of the photovoltaic device is controlled according to a temperature profile. The temperature profile may include at least one hot phase and at least one cool phase.
US09202960B2 Leakage pathway layer for solar cell
Leakage pathway layers for solar cells and methods of forming leakage pathway layers for solar cells are described.
US09202954B2 Nanostructure and photovoltaic cell implementing same
Nanostructures and photovoltaic structures are disclosed. Methods for creating nanostructures are also presented.
US09202952B2 Plasmon induced hot carrier device, method for using the same, and method for manufacturing the same
In general, the invention relates to a unit that includes a semiconductor and a plasmonic material disposed on the semiconductor, where a potential barrier is formed between the plasmonic material and the semiconductor. The unit further includes an insulator disposed on the semiconductor and adjacent to the plasmonic material and a transparent conductor disposed on the plasmonic material, where, upon illumination, the plasmonic material is excited resulting the excitation of an electron with sufficient energy to overcome the potential barrier.
US09202951B2 Integrated optoelectronic device and system with waveguide and manufacturing process thereof
An integrated electronic device, delimited by a first surface and by a second surface and including: a body made of semiconductor material, formed inside which is at least one optoelectronic component chosen between a detector and an emitter; and an optical path which is at least in part of a guided type and extends between the first surface and the second surface, the optical path traversing the body. The optoelectronic component is optically coupled, through the optical path, to a first portion of free space and a second portion of free space, which are arranged, respectively, above and underneath the first and second surfaces.
US09202950B2 Image sensor having 3D photoelectric conversion device
An image sensor includes a transfer gate formed over a substrate including front and back sides, a photoelectric conversion area formed in the substrate on one side of the transfer gate, a trench formed in the photoelectric conversion area and having a trench entrance located on the back side of the substrate, and a color filter formed over the backside of the substrate.
US09202948B2 Solar cell and method for manufacturing the same
A solar cell includes a substrate, a selective emitter region which is positioned at the substrate and includes a lightly doped region and a heavily doped region, a first dielectric layer which is positioned on the selective emitter region and includes a plurality of first openings, which are separated from one another, and a plurality of second openings positioned around the plurality of first openings, a first electrode connected to the selective emitter region through the plurality of first openings and the plurality of second openings, and a second electrode which is positioned on the substrate and is connected to the substrate. The plurality of first openings and the plurality of second openings each have a different plane shape. The plane shape of the first opening has a line shape, and the plane shape of the second opening has a dot shape.
US09202943B2 Niobium thin film stress relieving layer for thin-film solar cells
A photovoltaic device includes a thermal stress relieving layer on top of a substrate; a back ohmic contact on the thermal stress relieving layer; and a p-type semiconductor photon absorber layer on the back ohmic contact. The back ohmic contact comprises a metallic compound of the sacrificial back electrode metal layer and the absorber layer, in combination with the thermal stress relieving layer. The thermal stress relieving layer has a substantially similar thermal expansion coefficient with respect to the substrate and the absorber layer and a lower Young's modulus with respect to the sacrificial back electrode metal layer.
US09202939B2 Schottky diode and method for fabricating the same
A Schottky diode is disclosed. The Schottky diode includes: a substrate, a first-type buried layer in the substrate, a cathode region, an anode region surrounding the cathode region, and a first-type guard ring surrounding the anode region and connected to the first-type buried layer. The cathode region preferably includes a high-voltage second-type lightly doped drain in the substrate, a first-type well surrounding the high-voltage second-type lightly doped drain, and a first-type doping region in the first-type well and surrounding the high-voltage second-type lightly doped drain.
US09202934B2 Junction field effect transistor, and method of manufacture thereof
A method of forming a junction field effect transistor, the transistor comprising: a back gate; a channel; a top gate; a drain and a source in current flow with the channel; wherein the method comprises selecting a first channel dimension between the top gate and the back gate such that a significant current flow path in the channel occurs in a region of relatively low electric field strength.
US09202933B2 Flash memory using fringing effects and electrostatic shielding
Disclosed is a flash memory using fringing effects and an electrostatic shielding function. A gap between adjacent gate stacks is controlled by fringing effects, and an operation of each of the gate stacks is electrostatically shielded by a gate electrode extending to a tunneling insulation layer. Thus, coupling between the adjacent gate stacks is minimized by electrostatic shielding.
US09202929B2 Thin film transistor and method for manufacturing the same
An object is to increase the on-state current of a thin film transistor. A solution is to provide a projection in a back-channel portion of the thin film transistor. The projection is provided so as to be off a tangent in the back-channel portion between a source or a drain and a channel formation region. With the projection, a portion where electric charge is trapped and a path of the on-state current can be apart from each other, so that the on-state current can be increased. The shape of a side surface of the back-channel portion may be curved, or may be represented as straight lines in a cross section. Further, a method for forming such a shape by performing one etching step is provided.
US09202927B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
An object is to provide a transistor in which the state of an interface between an oxide semiconductor layer and an insulating film (gate insulating layer) in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer is favorable; and a method for manufacturing the transistor. In order to obtain the transistor, nitrogen is added to a region of the oxide semiconductor layer in the vicinity of the interface with the gate insulating layer. Specifically, a concentration gradient of nitrogen is formed in the oxide semiconductor layer, and a region containing much nitrogen is provided at the interface with the gate insulating layer. By the addition of nitrogen, a region with high crystallinity can be formed in the region of the oxide semiconductor layer in the vicinity of the interface with the gate insulating layer, so that a stable interface state can be obtained.
US09202921B2 Semiconductor device and method of making the same
A dual channel transistor includes a semiconductor island isolated by a first shallow trench isolation (STI) extending along a first direction and a second STI extending along a second direction, wherein the first direction intersect the second direction. The dual channel transistor further includes a gate trench recessed into the semiconductor island and extending along the second direction. A gate is located in the gate trench. A first U-shaped channel region is formed in the semiconductor island. A second U-shaped channel region is formed in the semiconductor island, wherein the second U-shaped channel region is segregate from the first U-shaped channel region by the gate. During operation, the gate controls two U-shaped channel regions simultaneously.
US09202919B1 FinFETs and techniques for controlling source and drain junction profiles in finFETs
Techniques and structures for shaping the source and drain junction profiles of a finFET are described. A fin may be partially recessed at the source and drain regions of the finFET. The partially recessed fin may be further recessed laterally and vertically, such that the laterally recessed portion extends under at least a portion of the finFET's gate structure. Source and drain regions of the finFET may be formed by growing a buffer layer on the etched surfaces of the fin and/or growing a source and drain layer at the source and drain regions of the fin. The lateral recess can improve channel-length uniformity along the height of the fin.
US09202918B2 Methods of forming stressed layers on FinFET semiconductor devices and the resulting devices
One method includes forming a raised isolation structure with a recess above a substrate, forming a gate structure above the fin, forming a plurality of spaced-apart buried fin contact structures within the recess and forming a stress-inducing material layer above the buried fin contact structures. One device includes a plurality of spaced-apart buried fin contact structures positioned within a recess in a raised isolation structure on opposite sides of a gate structure, a stress-inducing material layer formed above the buried fin contact structures and a source/drain contact that extends through the stress-inducing material layer.
US09202916B2 Semiconductor device structure
Embodiments for forming a semiconductor device structure are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate and a gate stack structure formed on the substrate. The semiconductor device structure also includes gate spacers formed on sidewalls of the gate stack structure. The semiconductor device structure further includes an isolation structure formed in the substrate and a source/drain stressor structure formed adjacent to the isolation structure. The source/drain stressor structure includes a capping layer which is formed along the (311) and (111) crystal orientations.
US09202905B1 Digital alloy layer in a III-nitrade based heterojunction field effect transistor
Embodiments include apparatuses and methods related to an HFET. In embodiments, one or all of the buffer layer, the back-barrier layer, or the barrier layer may be formed of a digital alloy. In embodiments, the digital alloy may include alternating layers of alloys of aluminum, gallium, and nitrogen. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed herein.
US09202904B2 Power device chip and method of manufacturing the power device chip
According to example embodiments, a power device chip includes a plurality of unit power devices classified into a plurality of sectors, a first pad and a second pad. At least one of the first and second pads is divided into a number of pad parts equal to a number of the plurality of sectors. The first pad is connected to first electrodes of the plurality of unit power devices, and the second pad is connected to second electrodes of the plurality of unit power devices. The unit power devices may be diodes. The power device chip may further include third electrodes in the plurality of unit power devices, and a third pad may be connected to the third electrodes. In this case, the unit power devices may be high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs). Pad parts connected to defective sectors may be excluded from bonding.
US09202903B2 Tunnel junction field effect transistors having self-aligned source and gate electrodes and methods of forming the same
Methods of forming a transistor include providing a semiconductor epitaxial structure including a channel layer and barrier layer on the channel layer, forming a gate electrode on the barrier layer, etching the semiconductor epitaxial structure using the gate electrode as an etch mask to form a trench in the semiconductor epitaxial structure, and depositing a source metal in the trench. The trench extends at least to the channel layer, and the source metal forms a Schottky junction with the channel layer. Related semiconductor device structures are also disclosed.
US09202900B2 Method to bridge extrinsic and intrinsic base by selective epitaxy in BiCMOS technology
A method of forming a heterojunction bipolar transistor. The method includes providing a structure comprising at least an intrinsic base region and an emitter pedestal region. A stack is formed on the intrinsic base region. The stack comprises a polysilicon layer and a top sacrificial oxide layer. A trench is formed in the structure. The trench circumscribes the intrinsic base region and the stack. An extrinsic base is formed at two regions around the stack. The extrinsic base is formed by a selective epitaxial growth process to create a bridge over the trench. The bridge connects the two regions. An opening is provided in the stack. The opening exposes a portion of the intrinsic base region. An emitter is formed in the opening.
US09202898B2 Fabricating VTFT with polymer core
Fabricating a vertical transistor includes providing a structural polymer layer on a substrate. A patterned inorganic thin film is formed on the structural polymer layer, leaving exposed portions of the structural polymer layer not under the inorganic thin film. Exposed portions of the structural polymer layer and portions of the structural polymer layer between the patterned inorganic thin film and the substrate are removed to form a structural polymer post having an inorganic cap that extends beyond an edge of the structural polymer post defining a reentrant profile. A conformal conductive gate layer and a conformal dielectric layer on the gate layer are formed in the reentrant profile. A conformal semiconductor layer is formed on the dielectric layer. First and second electrodes are formed in contact with a first portion (over the cap) and a second portion (not over the post) of the semiconductor layer.
US09202896B2 TFT, method of manufacturing the TFT, and method of manufacturing organic light emitting display device including the TFT
A method of manufacturing a thin film transistor (TFT), including forming an oxide semiconductor pattern including a first region, a second region and a third region on a substrate, directly plasma processing the first region and the second region of the oxide semiconductor pattern, forming an insulating layer on the substrate to cover the oxide semiconductor pattern, forming a gate electrode on the insulating layer to overlap the third region, and forming a source electrode and a drain electrode that are insulated from the gate electrode and that contact the first region, the second region being disposed between the first region and the third region.
US09202893B2 U-shaped semiconductor structure
A method for forming a U-shaped semiconductor device includes forming trenches in a crystalline layer and epitaxially growing a U-shaped semiconductor material along sidewalls and bottoms of the trenches. The U-shaped semiconductor material is anchored, and the crystalline layer is removed. The U-shaped semiconductor material is supported by backfilling underneath the U-shaped semiconductor material with a dielectric material. A semiconductor device is formed with the U-shaped semiconductor material.
US09202885B2 Nanoscale silicon Schottky diode array for low power phase change memory application
Methods and devices associated with a phase change memory include Schottky diodes operating as selectors having a low turn-on voltage, low sneak current and high switching speed. A method of forming a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a diode array region and a peripheral device region, forming an N+ buried layer in the diode array region, forming a semiconductor epitaxial layer on the N+ buried layer, and forming deep trench isolations through the epitaxial layer and the N+ buried layer along a first direction. The method also includes forming shallow trench isolations in the diode array region and in the peripheral region along a second line direction. The method also includes forming an N− doped region between the deep and shallow trench isolations and forming a metal silicide on a surface of the N− doped region.
US09202876B2 Method for controlling concentration of donor in GA2O3-based single crystal
A β-Ga2O3-based single crystal, including a first region that has side and bottom surfaces and is controlled so as to have a first donor concentration; and a second region that surrounds the side and bottom surfaces of the first region and is controlled so as to have a second donor concentration lower than the first donor concentration.
US09202874B2 Gallium nitride (GaN) device with leakage current-based over-voltage protection
A gallium nitride (GaN) device with leakage current-based over-voltage protection is disclosed. The GaN device includes a drain and a source disposed on a semiconductor substrate. The GaN device also includes a first channel region within the semiconductor substrate and between the drain and the source. The GaN device further includes a second channel region within the semiconductor substrate and between the drain and the source. The second channel region has an enhanced drain induced barrier lowering (DIBL) that is greater than the DIBL of the first channel region. As a result, a drain voltage will be safely clamped below a destructive breakdown voltage once a substantial drain current begins to flow through the second channel region.
US09202873B2 Semiconductor wafer for semiconductor device having a multilayer
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor wafer includes a substrate, an AlN buffer layer, a foundation layer, a first high Ga composition layer, a high Al composition layer, a low Al composition layer, an intermediate unit and a second high Ga composition layer. The first layer is provided on the foundation layer. The high Al composition layer is provided on the first layer. The low Al composition layer is provided on the high Al composition layer. The intermediate unit is provided on the low Al composition layer. The second layer is provided on the intermediate unit. The first layer has a first tensile strain and the second layer has a second tensile strain larger than the first tensile strain. Alternatively, the first layer has a first compressive strain and the second layer has a second compressive strain smaller than the first compressive strain.
US09202872B2 Method of growing group III nitride crystals
The present invention provides a method of growing an ingot of group III nitride. Group III nitride crystals such as GaN are grown by the ammonothermal method on both sides of a seed to form an ingot and the ingot is sliced into wafers. The wafer including the first-generation seed is sliced thicker than the other wafers so that the wafer including the first-generation seed does not break. The wafer including the first-generation seed crystal can be used as a seed for the next ammonothermal growth.
US09202862B2 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 first well, a first heavily doping region, a field oxide, a first dielectric layer, and a conductive layer. The first well is disposed on the substrate, and the first heavily doping region is disposed in the first well. The field oxide is disposed on the first well and adjacent to the first heavily doping region. The first dielectric layer is disposed on the field oxide and covering the field oxide. The conductive layer is disposed on the first dielectric layer. The first well and the first heavily doping region have a first type doping.
US09202861B1 Structure of capacitor
A capacitor including a substrate, a conductive layer, a middle dielectric material layer, a first dielectric material layer, and a second dielectric material layer is provided. The conductive layer includes a first electrode and a second electrode, and the conductive layer is located over the substrate. The middle dielectric material layer is located between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first dielectric material layer is located between the middle dielectric material layer and the first electrode. The second dielectric material layer is located between the middle dielectric material layer and the second electrode. The dielectric constant of the middle dielectric material layer is different from the dielectric constants of the first dielectric material layer and the second dielectric material layer.
US09202860B2 Method for fabricating capacitor having rutile titanium oxide dielectric film
A method for fabricating a capacitor includes: (1) forming a bottom electrode on a substrate; (2) forming a template layer on the bottom electrode; (3) performing a plurality of atomic layer deposition (ALD) cycles by using water vapor as an oxidant thereby depositing a first TiO2 layer on the template layer; and (4) performing ozone pulse and purge step to transform entire thickness of the first TiO2 layer into rutile phase.
US09202858B2 Display apparatus
Disclosed herein is a display apparatus has a pixel array section including: pixel circuits which are each provided with a driving transistor and an electro-optical device and are laid out to form a matrix; and a draw wire provided in each of the pixel circuits to serve as a wire connecting the driving transistor to a power-supply providing line, wherein the resistance of the draw wire is relatively large in the pixel circuit close to a source applying a power-supply voltage to the power-supply providing line.
US09202857B2 Display device
A display device in which pixels each including an emission area are arranged in a form of a matrix, the display device including: a first electrode formed from the emission area of the pixels to a non-emission area on a periphery of the emission area; a second electrode formed so as to be common to the pixels; and a light emitting material layer formed between the first electrode and the second electrode; wherein film thickness in the non-emission area of at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is larger than film thickness in the emission area.
US09202849B2 Thin film semiconductor device and organic light-emitting display device
A thin film semiconductor device including a thin film transistor (TFT) that maintains a constant electrical characteristic and an organic light-emitting display device. The thin film semiconductor device includes: a substrate; and a thin film transistor (TFT) disposed on the substrate and comprising a semiconductor layer comprising a source region and a drain region, wherein a part of the source region is spaced apart from the drain region and partially surrounds the drain region, and wherein a part of the drain region is spaced apart from the source region and partially surrounds the source region.
US09202848B2 Organic light-emitting display apparatus
Provided is an organic light-emitting display apparatus, including a substrate, a first pixel electrode, a second pixel electrode, and a third pixel electrode, disposed on the substrate separated from one another, a red emission layer disposed corresponding to the first pixel electrode, a green emission layer disposed corresponding to the second pixel electrode, and a blue emission layer disposed corresponding to the third pixel electrode, an opposite electrode disposed over the red, green, and blue emission layers facing the first to third pixel electrodes, a first capping layer disposed on the opposite electrode corresponding to the first and second pixel electrodes, and a second capping layer disposed on the first capping layer corresponding to the first and second pixel electrodes and disposed on the opposite electrode to correspond to the third pixel electrode.
US09202846B2 Resistance random access memory device
A resistance random access memory device according to one embodiment includes an interlayer insulation film which a trench is made therein, an ion supply layer provided along a bottom surface and a side surface of the trench, a portion of the ion supply layer provided along the bottom surface is thicker than a portion of the ion supply layer provided along the side surface, and a resistance change layer provided at least below the ion supply layer.
US09202845B2 Memory device having a stacked variable resistance layer
A memory device includes a first electrode, a second electrode and a variable resistance layer. The second electrode includes a metal. The metal is more easily ionizable than a material of the first electrode. The variable resistance layer is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The variable resistance layer includes a first layer and a second layer. The first layer has a relatively high crystallization rate. The second layer contacts the first layer. The second layer has a relatively low crystallization rate. The first layer and the second layer are stacked along a direction connecting the first electrode and the second electrode.
US09202843B2 Sealed body, method for manufacturing sealed body, light-emitting device, and method for manufacturing light-emitting device
A highly productive method for sealing substrates with the use of glass frit is provided. A method for sealing substrates with the use of glass frit, which can be used for a substrate provided with a material having low heat resistance, is provided. A highly airtight sealed body which is manufactured by such a method is provided. A light-emitting device having high productivity and high reliability and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. A heat generation layer containing a conductive material which generates heat by induction heating is formed to overlap with a region where a paste including a frit material and a binder is applied. Alternatively, a conductive material which generates heat by induction heating is added to the paste itself. The paste is locally heated by induction heating to remove the binder included in the paste.
US09202837B2 Image-sensor device and method of manufacturing the same
An image-sensor device includes a first semiconductor substrate. The image-sensor device further includes a second semiconductor substrate under the first semiconductor substrate. The first semiconductor substrate has a first dopant concentration less than a second dopant concentration of the second semiconductor substrate. A ratio of a first resistance of the first semiconductor substrate to a second resistance of the second semiconductor substrate is larger than or equal to about 100. The image-sensor device also includes a diffusion layer positioned between the first semiconductor substrate and the second semiconductor substrate. A ratio of a first thickness of the diffusion layer to a second thickness of the first semiconductor substrate ranges from about 0.1 to about 1.
US09202835B2 Microscopy method and system incorporating nanofeatures
A lensfree imaging and sensing device includes an image sensor comprising an array of pixels and a substantially optically transparent layer disposed above the image sensor. Nano-sized features that support surface plasmon waves are populated on the substantially optically transparent layer separating the image sensor from the nano-sized features. The nano-sized features may include apertures through a substantially optically opaque layer (e.g., metal layer) or they may include antennas. An illumination source is provided that is configured to illuminate a sample. At least one processor is operatively coupled to the image sensor. Changes to the detected transmission pattern at the image sensor are used to sense conditions at or near the surface containing the nano-sized features. Conditions may include binding events or other changes to the index of refraction occurring near the surface of the device.
US09202830B2 Imaging element and camera system employing a high-concentration layer between a photodiode and an insulation layer, with the insulation layer being between the high-concentration layer and a well of an amplifying transistor
An imaging element includes an amplifying transistor. A signal charge from the photodiode is transferable to the gate of amplifying transistor, the photodiode being within a semiconductor substrate. The source and drain of the amplifying transistor are electrically isolated from a semiconductor substrate, wherein the source is within a well or the source and drain are within a silicon-on-insulator layer.
US09202829B2 Light sensors with infrared photocurrent suppression
A light sensor is formed by an array of photodiodes comprising a plurality of regions of a first conductivity type that have been formed in a semiconductor layer or a substrate of a second conductivity type, and deep trenches placed between regions of the first conductivity type. Trenches extend deep into the substrate and have a high density of interface traps at the trench-silicon interface. A large portion of photocarriers generated by infrared recombines at the trench-silicon interface, and as a result, the spectral sensitivity of the light sensor is diminished in the infrared spectrum.
US09202826B2 Pixel structure
A pixel structure including a substrate, an active device located on the substrate, a second reflective pattern, and a third reflective pattern is provided. The active device includes a gate, a channel, a source, and a drain. The source and the drain are connected to the channel and are separated from each other. The channel and the gate are stacked in a thickness direction. The second reflective pattern and the third reflective pattern are electrically connected to the drain of the active device. The second reflective pattern has second contact openings. The third reflective pattern is stacked on the second reflective pattern and covers the second contact openings of the second reflective pattern. The second reflective pattern is located between the third reflective pattern and the substrate. Moreover, other kinds of pixel structures are also provided.
US09202824B2 Display panel including roof layer having reduced thickness at opening thereof, and method of manufacturing the same
A display panel includes a substrate, a gate line, a color filter and a roof layer. The substrate includes a thin film transistor disposed thereon. The gate line extends along a first direction on the substrate and is connected to the thin film transistor. The color filter is disposed on the substrate. The roof layer is disposed on the color filter and is configured to define a tunnel-shaped cavity between the roof layer and the color filter. The tunnel-shaped cavity extends along a second direction crossing the first direction. A cross-sectional thickness of an area of the roof layer adjacent to the gate lines is smaller than a cross-sectional thickness of another area of the roof layer spaced apart from the gate lines.
US09202822B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
To manufacture a transistor whose threshold voltage is controlled without using a backgate electrode, a circuit for controlling the threshold voltage, and an impurity introduction method. To manufacture a semiconductor device having favorable electrical characteristics, high reliability, and low power consumption using the transistor. A gate electrode including a tungsten oxide film whose composition is controlled is used. The composition or the like is adjusted by a film formation method of the tungsten oxide film, whereby the work function can be controlled. By using the tungsten oxide film whose work function is controlled as part of the gate electrode, the threshold of the transistor can be controlled. Using the transistor whose threshold voltage is controlled, a semiconductor device having favorable electrical characteristics, high reliability, and low power consumption can be manufactured.
US09202818B1 Method for manufacturing three dimensional stacked semiconductor structure and structure manufactured by the same
A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional (3D) stacked semiconductor structure is provided, comprising. A multi-layer on a substrate is formed, and the multi-layer comprises plural first dielectric layers and second dielectric layers arranged alternately. The multi-layer is then patterned to form plural first patterned stacks and spaces between the first patterned stacks, wherein one of the first patterned stacks has a width of F0 while the one of the spaces has a width of Fs. In one embodiment, F0 is equal to or more than 2 times Fs. Parts of the second dielectric layers of one of the first patterned stacks are removed, so as to form plural first cavities in the first patterned stack. Then, the first cavities in the first patterned stack are filled with conductors.
US09202817B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, at least one split gate memory device, and at least one logic device. The split gate memory device is disposed on the substrate. The logic device is disposed on the substrate. At least one of a select gate and a main gate of the split gate memory device and a logic gate of the logic device are made of metal. The method for manufacturing the semiconductor device includes forming at least one split gate stack and at least one logic gate stack and respectively replacing at least one of a dummy gate layer and a main gate layer in the split gate stack and the dummy gate layer in the logic gate stack with at least one metal memory gate and a metal logic gate.
US09202816B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory having a word line bent towards a select gate line side
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory includes a cell unit having a select gate transistor and a memory cell connected in series, a select gate line connected to the select gate transistor, and a word line connected to the memory cell. One end of the word line is bent to the select gate line side, and a fringe is connected between a bent point and a distal end of the word line.
US09202812B2 Abrupt source/drain junction formation using a diffusion facilitation layer
A method of forming a field effect transistor (FET) device includes forming a diffusion facilitation layer on top of a semiconductor substrate; forming a doped, raised source/drain (RSD) layer on the diffusion facilitation layer; removing a portion of the diffusion facilitation layer, corresponding to a region directly above a channel region of the FET device; and performing an anneal so as to define abrupt source and drain junctions in the semiconductor substrate, wherein dopant atoms from the doped RSD layer diffuse within the diffusion facilitation layer at a faster rate than with respect to the semiconductor substrate.
US09202811B2 Cascode circuit integration of group III-N and group IV devices
In an exemplary implementation, an integrated assembly includes a printed circuit board, and a depletion mode III-Nitride transistor die and a group IV transistor die coupled to the printed circuit board. The depletion mode III-Nitride transistor die is situated on one side of the printed circuit board and the group IV transistor die is situated on an opposing side of the printed circuit board. At least one via in the printed circuit board electrically connects the depletion mode III-Nitride transistor die to the group IV transistor die. In some implementations, the depletion mode III-Nitride transistor die is in cascode with the group IV transistor die. Furthermore, the depletion mode III-Nitride transistor die can be situated over the group IV transistor die.
US09202810B2 Integration of analog transistor
An integrated circuit has two parallel digital transistors and a perpendicular analog transistor. The digital transistor gate lengths are within 10 percent of each other and the analog gate length is at least twice the digital transistor gate length. The first digital transistor and the analog transistor are implanted by a first LDD implant which includes a two sub-implant angled halo implant process with twist angles perpendicular to the first digital transistor gate edge and parallel to the analog transistor gate edge. The second digital transistor and the analog transistor are implanted by a second LDD implant which includes a two sub-implant angled halo implant process with twist angles perpendicular to the second digital transistor gate edge and parallel to the analog transistor gate edge. The first halo dose is at least 20 percent more than the second halo dose.
US09202807B2 Semiconductor structure for electrostatic discharge protection
A semiconductor structure includes a P well formed on a P type substrate; a first N type electrode area formed on a central region of the P well; a first insulating area formed on the P well and surrounding the first N type electrode area; a second N type electrode area formed on the P well and surrounding the first insulating area; a second insulating area formed on the P well and surrounding the second N type electrode area; and a P type electrode area formed on the P well and surrounding the second insulating area; wherein periphery outlines of the first N type electrode area and the second N type electrode area are both 8K sided polygons or circles, and K is a positive integer.
US09202805B2 LED package structure including dark-colored and light-transmissible encapsulant
An LED package structure includes: an insulating substrate that has a front bonding pad assembly; a dark-colored die-attach adhesive; blue and green LED chips mounted on the front bonding pad assembly via the dark-colored die-attach adhesive; and a dark-colored and light-transmissible encapsulant that is disposed on the insulating substrate and that encapsulates the blue and green LED chips. The encapsulant has a light transmittance that ranges from 7% to 28% for the blue light and has a light transmittance that ranges from 9% to 30% for the green light.
US09202804B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A semiconductor device including a semiconductor element; a pad electrode that is formed on the semiconductor element; an alignment mark that is formed on the semiconductor element; a connection electrode that is formed on the pad electrode; and an underfill resin that is formed to cover the connection electrode. The height of the alignment mark from the semiconductor element is greater than that of the connection electrode.
US09202803B2 Laser cavity formation for embedded dies or components in substrate build-up layers
An apparatus including a package substrate including a plurality of layers of conductive material, the package substrate including a cavity; and a device in the cavity, wherein an ultimate layer of the plurality of layers of conductive material defines contacts to contact points of the device. An apparatus including a package substrate comprising a plurality of conductive layers and a silicon bridge die disposed between ones of the plurality of conductive layers and an ultimate layer of the plurality of conductive layers defines contact points to contact points of the silicon bridge die; and a logic die coupled to the contact points of the ultimate layer of the plurality of layers of conductive layers.
US09202802B2 Semiconductor apparatus having through via capable of testing connectivity of through via
A semiconductor apparatus with a through via includes a semiconductor chip and a through via formed by penetrating through the semiconductor chip. The system further includes a first metal layer connected to a portion of the through via at an end of the through via and a second metal layer connected to another portion of the through via at the end of the through via.
US09202799B2 Temporary bonding scheme
A method includes filling a trench formed in a first integrated circuit carrier with temporary bonding material to form a temporary bonding layer. At least one chip is bonded over the temporary bonding layer.
US09202798B2 Power module package and method for manufacturing the same
Disclosed herein is a power module package including an external connection terminal; a substrate in which a fastening unit allowing one end of the external connection terminal to be insertedly fastened thereinto is buried at a predetermined depth in a thickness direction; and a semiconductor chip mounted on one surface of the substrate.
US09202794B2 Pad structure of a semiconductor device, method of manufacturing the pad structure and semiconductor package including the pad structure
A pad structure usable with a semiconductor device may include an insulating layer pattern structure, a plug, and a pad. The insulating layer pattern structure has a plug hole and at least one via hole. The plug is formed in the plug hole. The pad is formed on the insulating layer pattern structure. The pad is electrically connected with the plug and has a lower surface and an uneven upper surface. The lower surface includes a protruded portion inserted into the via hole. The uneven upper surface includes a recessed portion and an elevated portion- to provide high roughness and firm connection.
US09202792B2 Structure and method of providing a re-distribution layer (RDL) and a through-silicon via (TSV)
A method of providing a redistribution layer (RDL) and a through-silicon via (TSV) for a semiconductor package is disclosed. The method comprises preparing a wafer for bonding to a semiconductor package. The wafer comprises a low resistance substrate containing a RDL and a TSV for making an input/output (I/O) connection point of the semiconductor package available at another location. The RDL comprises a conduction path through the low resistance substrate that is bounded on two sides by an isolation trench. The TSV is bounded by the isolation trench and the RDL. Preparing the wafer for bonding may comprise preparing the isolation trench that bounds the conduction path for the RDL through the low resistance substrate and bounds a vertical conduction path in a pillar for the TSV in the low resistance substrate, filling the isolation trench with isolation trench material, and preparing a wafer bonding surface.
US09202791B2 ESD protection device
An ESD protection device includes a semiconductor substrate including input/output electrodes and a rewiring layer located on the top surface of the semiconductor substrate. An ESD protection circuit is provided in the top layer of the semiconductor substrate, and the input/output electrodes are connected to the ESD protection circuit. The rewiring layer includes interlayer wiring lines, in-plane wiring lines, and post-shaped electrodes. First ends of the interlayer wiring lines provided in the thickness direction are connected to the input/output electrodes provided on the top surface of the semiconductor substrate and the second ends are connected to first ends of the in-plane wiring lines extending in the plane direction. The distance between the centers of the first and second post-shaped electrodes is larger than the distance between the centers of the first and second input/output electrodes.
US09202789B2 Die package comprising die-to-wire connector and a wire-to-die connector configured to couple to a die package
Some novel features pertain to an integrated device package (e.g., die package) that includes a package substrate, a die, an encapsulation layer and a first set of metal layers. The package substrate includes a first surface and a second surface. The die is coupled to the first surface of the package substrate. The encapsulation layer encapsulates the die. The first set of metal layers is coupled to a first exterior surface of the encapsulation layer. In some implementations, the first set of metal layers is configured to operate as a die-to-wire connector of the integrated device package. In some implementations, the integrated device package includes a second set of metal layers coupled to the second surface of the package substrate. In some implementations, the integrated device package includes a second set of metal layers coupled to a second exterior surface of the encapsulation layer.
US09202788B2 Multi-layer semiconductor device structure
A semiconductor device structure and a method of fabricating a semiconductor device structure are provided. A first device layer is formed over a substrate, where an alignment structure is patterned in the first device layer. A dielectric layer is provided over the first device layer. The dielectric layer is patterned to include an opening over the alignment structure. A second device layer is formed over the dielectric layer. The second device layer is patterned using a mask layer, where the mask layer includes a structure that is aligned relative to the alignment structure. The alignment structure is visible via the opening during the patterning of the second device layer.
US09202785B2 Three dimensional integrated circuit capacitor having vias
A three dimensional integrated circuit capacitor that includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer above the first conductive layer and a semiconductor layer above the second conductive layer. The semiconductor layer has an inter layer via (ILV) through the semiconductor layer. A third conductive layer is above the semiconductor layer and a fourth conductive layer is above the third conductive layer. A first conductive plate has fingers on at least two of the first conductive layer, the second conductive layer, the third conductive layer and the fourth conductive layer. A second conductive plate has fingers on at least two of the first conductive layer, the second conductive layer, the third conductive layer and the fourth conductive layer. An insulating layer is between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate.
US09202782B2 Embedded package in PCB build up
An apparatus including a printed circuit board including a body of a plurality of alternating layers of conductive material and insulating material; and a package including a die disposed within the body of the printed circuit board. A method including forming a printed circuit board including a core and a build-up section including alternating layers of conductive material and insulating material coupled to the core; and coupling a package including a die to the core of the printed circuit board such that at least a portion of a sidewall of the package is embedded in at least a portion of the build-up section. An apparatus including a printed circuit board including a body; a computing device including a package including a microprocessor disposed within the body of the printed circuit board; and a peripheral device that provides input or output to the computing device.
US09202781B2 Wiring substrate, method for manufacturing wiring substrate, and semiconductor package
A wiring substrate includes a core layer, first and second wiring layers, and a first insulating layer. The core layer has one and another surfaces and includes a plate-shaped member formed of an aluminum oxide and multiple linear conductors penetrating the plate-shaped member in a thickness direction of the plate-shaped member. The first wiring layer is formed on the one surface of the core layer. The second wiring layer is formed on the other surface of the core layer. The first insulating layer has a same thickness as the first wiring layer and is formed in an area of the one surface of the core layer on which the first wiring layer is not formed. The first and second wiring layers are positioned superposing each other in a plan view. The first and second wiring layers are electrically connected by way of the multiple linear conductors.
US09202780B2 Three dimensional semiconductor device including pads
A semiconductor device includes a substrate in which a cell region and a contact region are defined, a pad structure including a plurality of first conductive layers and a plurality of first insulating layers formed alternately with each other in the contact region of the substrate, wherein an end of the pad structure is patterned stepwise, portions of the first conductive layers exposed at the end of the pad structure are defined as a plurality of pad portions, and the plurality of pad portions have a greater thickness than unexposed portions of the plurality of first conductive layers.
US09202779B2 Enforcement of semiconductor structure regularity for localized transistors and interconnect
A global placement grating (GPG) is defined for a chip level to include a set of parallel and evenly spaced virtual lines. At least one virtual line of the GPG is positioned to intersect each contact that interfaces with the chip level. A number of subgratings are defined. Each subgrating is a set of equally spaced virtual lines of the GPG that supports a common layout shape run length thereon. The layout for the chip level is partitioned into subgrating regions. Each subgrating region has any one of the defined subgratings allocated thereto. Layout shapes placed within a given subgrating region in the chip level are placed in accordance with the subgrating allocated to the given subgrating region. Non-standard layout shape spacings at subgrating region boundaries can be mitigated by layout shape stretching, layout shape insertion, and/or subresolution shape insertion, or can be allowed to exist in the final layout.
US09202773B2 Semiconductor module and module system having the same
Provided is a semiconductor module. The semiconductor module includes a substrate including a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. A semiconductor device is disposed on the first surface of the substrate. An airflow guide is disposed on the second surface of the substrate. The airflow guide includes a plate including an end portion distantly from the second surface.
US09202772B2 Heat pipe in overmolded flip chip package
The present invention is an improvement in a molded semiconductor package and the method for its manufacture. The package comprises a substrate, a semiconductor die mounted on the substrate, a molding compound encircling the die on the substrate, a lid on the molding compound, and a heat pipe extending between the semiconductor die and the lid. Preferably, the heat pipe is formed so that it encircles the die. The package is assembled by mounting the die on the substrate, applying the molding compound to the substrate while a channel is formed in the molding compound adjacent the semiconductor die, inserting a heat pipe material in the channel, and mounting the lid on the molding compound and the heat pipe material.
US09202765B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a functional block unit, external terminals and, and an external resin sealing body. The functional block unit includes an internal resin sealing body having an edge and an opposite edge. The edge side of the internal resin sealing body covers a first end of an internal terminal, but does not cover a second end of the internal terminal. The edge side of the internal resin sealing body covers a first end of an internal terminal, but does not cover a second end of the internal terminal. The external resin sealing body covers the root portion and a portion of the middle portion of the external terminal, but does not cover the terminal portion of the external terminal. The functional block unit and the external terminals and are integrally connected together and sealed by the external resin sealing body.
US09202762B2 Hybrid integrated semiconductor tri-gate and split dual-gate FinFET devices and method for manufacturing
A method for making an integrated circuit includes at least a tri-gate FinFET and a dual-gate FinFET. The method includes providing a semiconductor on insulator (SOI) substrate. The method also includes implanting impurities into the substrate for adjusting a threshold voltage. The method provides a nitride film overlying a surface region of the substrate and selectively etches the silicon nitride film to form a nitride cap region. The method etches the silicon layer to form a first and a second silicon fin regions. The nitride cap region is maintained on a portion of a surface region of the first silicon fin region. The method includes forming a gate dielectric, depositing a polysilicon film, and planarizing the polysilicon film by chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) using the nitride cap region as a polish stop. The method etches the polysilicon film to form gate electrodes. The method forms elevated source and drain regions.
US09202756B1 Method of forming a stacked low temperature transistor and related devices
A method of forming a stacked low temperature transistor and related devices. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising forming at least one integrated circuit device on a front surface of a bulk semiconductor substrate, and depositing an inter-layer dielectric on the at least one integrated circuit device. A semiconductor layer may then be deposited on the inter-layer dielectric. In some embodiments, a transistor is formed within the semiconductor layer. In some examples, the transistor includes a gate structure formed over the semiconductor layer as well as source/drain regions formed within the semiconductor layer disposed adjacent to and on either side of the gate structure. A metal layer may then be deposited over the transistor, after which an annealing process is performed to induce a reaction between the source/drain regions and the metal layer.
US09202755B2 Circuit connecting material and semiconductor device manufacturing method using same
Provided are a circuit connecting material able to provide good bonding with an opposing electrode, and a semiconductor device manufacturing method using the same. The present invention uses a circuit connecting material, in which a first adhesive layer to be adhered to the semiconductor chip side, and a second adhesive layer having a lowest melting viscosity attainment temperature higher than that of the first adhesive layer are laminated. When the semiconductor chip on which the circuit connecting material is stuck is mounted on a circuit board, a thickness of the first adhesive layer is within a range satisfying formula (1), thereby providing good bonding with the opposing electrode.
US09202754B2 Laser submounts formed using etching process
A wafer is formed having a plurality of laser-to-slider submount features on a first surface. An etching process is used to form scribe lines between the submounts on the first surface of the wafer. The wafer is separated at the scribe lines to form the submounts.
US09202753B2 Semiconductor devices and methods of producing these
A method includes applying a reinforcing wafer to a semiconductor wafer, thereby forming a composite wafer. Further the method includes dividing the composite wafer, thereby generating a plurality of composite chips each including a semiconductor chip and a reinforcing chip.
US09202751B2 Transistor contacts self-aligned in two dimensions
Embodiments of the present invention provide an improved semiconductor structure and methods of fabrication that provide transistor contacts that are self-aligned in two dimensions. Two different capping layers are used, each being comprised of a different material. The two capping layers are selectively etchable to each other. One capping layer is used for gate coverage while the other capping layer is used for source/drain coverage. Selective etch processes open the desired gates and source/drains, while block masks are used to cover elements that are not part of the connection scheme. A metallization line (layer) is deposited, making contact with the open elements to provide electrical connectivity between them.
US09202750B2 Stacked 3D memory with isolation layer between memory blocks and access conductors coupled to decoding elements in memory blocks
A memory can include a plurality of memory blocks, including a first block and a second block disposed over the first block. An isolation layer is disposed in this structure, between the first and second blocks to isolate the vertical conductors in the memory kernels of the first and second blocks. Access conductors are provided outside the kernels, such as adjacent the memory blocks or through regions of the blocks that only include decoding element. The access conductors are coupled to the decoding elements in the first and second blocks, and provide for connection of the memory cells to peripheral circuits.
US09202749B2 Process methods for advanced interconnect patterning
Methods for achieving advanced patterning of an interconnect dielectric material layer are provided in which the dimension, i.e., width, of an opening that is formed into a metallic hard mask layer is shrunk prior to extending the opening into the interconnect dielectric material layer. The shrinking of the dimension of the opening that is formed into the metallic hard mask layer can be achieved in the present application by forming at least a metallic hard mask spacer portion on a sidewall surface of each patterned metallic hard mask layer. The aforementioned basic principle can be applied to forming a line opening, a via opening and/or a combined via and line opening within an interconnect dielectric material layer, wherein each of the openings (line, via and/or via and line) has a reduced dimension as compared to that obtainable utilizing conventional lithography.
US09202747B2 Segmented conductive top layer for radio frequency isolation
A radio frequency (RF) module comprises a conductive top layer configured to improve RF interference-shielding functionality with respect to one or more RF devices disposed on the module. The conductive top layer may be segmented as to form one or more segments of the top layer that are at least partially electrically isolated from surrounding segments or devices. A module may have a plurality of devices disposed thereon, wherein separate, at least partially isolated, top conductive layers correspond to different devices of the module. The top layer may be etched or cut to achieve such segmentation.
US09202745B2 Directional SiO2 etch using low-temperature etchant deposition and plasma post-treatment
Methods for processing a substrate are described herein. Methods can include positioning a substrate comprising silicon in a processing chamber, delivering a plasma to the surface of the substrate while biasing the substrate, exposing the surface of the substrate to ammonium fluoride (NH4F), and annealing the substrate to a first temperature to sublimate one or more volatile byproducts.
US09202744B1 Methods of fabricating interconnection structures
A method of fabricating an interconnection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, includes patterning a dielectric layer to form a first recession region, including a first nest-shaped recession region having a first width and a first line-shaped recession region having a second width, which is less than the first width. A guide spacer layer is formed on sidewalls of the first recession region to provide a second recession region including a second nest-shaped recession region in the first nest-shaped recession region. A self-assembling block copolymer material is formed to fill the second nest-shaped recession region. The self-assembling block copolymer material is annealed to form a polymer block domain and a polymer block matrix, surrounding the polymer block domain. The polymer block domain is removed to expose a portion of the dielectric layer. The exposed portion of the dielectric layer is etched to form a via cavity.
US09202739B2 Holder for semiconductor wafers and flat substrates
A holder for a flat substrate, such as for example a semiconductor wafer or a glass slide, has a fixture with a sample insertion groove for holding the flat substrate, or multiple sample insertion grooves for holding multiple flat substrates. The fixture also has a channel milled perpendicular to the sample insertion groove. The channel may be machined such that two portions of the channel open to opposite sides of the fixture. Positioned in the channel of the fixture is a cantilever spring for securing the flat substrate in the sample insertion groove. The channel may contain a single cantilever spring that extends an entire length of the channel, or multiple cantilever springs. The fixture may include a post, dove tail, screw, or clamp for mounting the holder on a stage inside a vacuum chamber of an instrument.
US09202735B2 Wafer transport system
A substrate transport system includes a substrate cart inside a chamber and a linearly driven shuttle outside the chamber configured to levitate the substrate cart into a non contact, spaced relationship with respect to outwardly opposing sides of an interior wall of the chamber and to linearly drive the substrate cart within the chamber.
US09202733B2 Robot system with independent arms
A substrate handling robot drive includes a drive chassis for one or more robot arms. A first housing is movable with respect to the chassis and includes at least a first shaft and a first motor subsystem for driving the first shaft. A Z-axis drives the first housing. A second housing is movable with respect to the chassis and includes at least a second shaft and a second motor subsystem for driving the second shaft. A Z-axis drive for the second housing is independently movable with respect to the Z-axis drive for the first housing.
US09202731B2 Liquid processing apparatus, liquid processing method, and recording medium having program for executing liquid processing method recorded therein
Disclosed is a liquid processing apparatus that processes a substrate with a processing liquid. The processing apparatus includes: a substrate holder configured to hold the substrate; a processing liquid supply unit configured to supply the processing liquid to the substrate held by the substrate holder; a rinsing liquid supply unit configured to supply a rinsing liquid to the substrate; and a light emitting element configured to emit light of a wavelength range, which is absorbed only by the substrate, and irradiate the emitted light to the substrate.
US09202729B2 Hybrid chuck
Device and method for regulating the temperature of a substrate, in particular of a wafer, by means of a device comprising two temperature-regulating circuits that are operated with different temperature-regulating fluids.
US09202728B2 Substrate mounting mechanism, and substrate processing apparatus
A substrate mounting mechanism on which a target substrate is placed is provided. The substrate mounting mechanism includes a heater plate, which has a substrate mounting surface on which the target substrate is placed and has a heater embedded therein to heat the substrate to a deposition temperature at which a film is deposited. The substrate mounting mechanism also includes a temperature control jacket, which is formed to cover at least a surface of the heater plate other than the substrate mounting surface and adjusts the temperature to a non-deposition temperature below the deposition temperature.
US09202727B2 Susceptor heater shim
A substrate supporting assembly in a reaction space includes a heater, a substrate support member, and a shim positioned between the heater and the substrate support member. The shim may be removably secured between the heater and the substrate support member. The shim may further include an inner surface defining a perimeter of a gap. The gap may be further defined by a bottom surface of the substrate support member and a top surface of the heater. The substrate support member may further include a shoulder positioned radially outside of a substrate support position and wherein the shim inner surface is radially aligned with the substrate support member shoulder.
US09202721B2 Method and apparatus for plasma dicing a semi-conductor wafer
The present invention provides a method for plasma processing a substrate. The method comprising providing a process chamber having a wall; providing a plasma source adjacent to the wall of the process chamber; providing a work piece support within the process chamber; loading a work piece onto the work piece support, the work piece having a support film, a frame and the substrate; providing a cover ring above the work piece, the cover ring having at least one perforated region, and at least one non-perforated region; generating a plasma using the plasma source; and processing the work piece using the generated plasma.
US09202720B2 Method and apparatus for plasma dicing a semi-conductor wafer
The present invention provides a method for plasma dicing a substrate. The method comprising providing a process chamber having a wall; providing a plasma source adjacent to the wall of the process chamber; providing a work piece support within the process chamber; placing the substrate onto a support film on a frame to form a work piece work piece; loading the work piece onto the work piece support; providing a cover ring disposed above the work piece; generating a plasma through the plasma source; and etching the work piece through the generated plasma.
US09202718B2 Electrostatic chuck
An electrostatic chuck 1A includes a susceptor 11A having an adsorption face 11a of adsorbing a semiconductor, and an electrostatic chuck electrode 4 embedded in the susceptor. The susceptor 11A includes a plate shaped main body 3 and a surface corrosion resistant layer 2 including the adsorption face 2. The surface corrosion resistant layer 2 is made of a ceramic material comprising magnesium, aluminum, oxygen and nitrogen as main components. The ceramic material comprises a main phase comprising magnesium-aluminum oxynitride phase exhibiting an XRD peak at least in 2θ=47 to 50° by CuKα X-ray.
US09202716B2 Methods of fabricating fan-out wafer level packages and packages formed by the methods
A fan-out wafer level package may include at least two semiconductor chips; an insulating layer covering portions of a first semiconductor chip; a mold layer covering portions of a second semiconductor chip; a redistribution line pattern in the insulating layer; and/or an external terminal on the insulating layer. The first semiconductor chip may be stacked relative to the second semiconductor chip. The redistribution line pattern may be electrically connected to the at least two semiconductor chips. The external terminal may be electrically connected to the redistribution line pattern. A fan-out wafer level package may include at least three semiconductor chips; an insulating layer covering portions of first semiconductor chips; a mold layer covering portions of a second semiconductor chip; a redistribution line pattern in the insulating layer; and/or an external terminal on the insulating layer. The first semiconductor chips may be stacked relative to the second semiconductor chip.
US09202710B2 Method for defining a separating structure within a semiconductor device
A method includes depositing a material layer over a semiconductor substrate and using a first mask in a first exposure/patterning process to pattern the material layer thereby forming a plurality of first and second features. The first features include patterns for the semiconductor device and the second features include printing assist features. The method includes using a second mask in a second exposure/patterning process to effectively remove the second features from the material layer and to define at least one separating structure between two first features.
US09202709B2 Polishing liquid for metal and polishing method using the same
A liquid for polishing a metal is provided that is used for chemically and mechanically polishing a conductor film including copper or a copper alloy in production of a semiconductor device, and a polishing method using the metal-polishing liquid is also provided. The liquid includes: (a) colloidal silica particles having an average primary particle size of from 10 nm to 25 nm and an average secondary particle size of from 50 nm to 70 nm; (b) a metal anticorrosive agent; (c) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a surfactant and a water-soluble polymer compound; (d) an oxidizing agent; and (e) an organic acid.
US09202703B2 Ni-rich Schottky contact
Embodiments of a Nickel-rich (Ni-rich) Schottky contact for a semiconductor device and a method of fabrication thereof are disclosed. Preferably, the semiconductor device is a radio frequency or power device such as, for example, a High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT), a Schottky diode, a Metal Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MESFET), or the like. In one embodiment, the semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body and a Ni-rich Schottky contact on a surface of the semiconductor body. The Ni-rich Schottky contact includes a multilayer Ni-rich contact metal stack. The semiconductor body is preferably formed in a Group III nitride material system (e.g., includes one or more Gallium Nitride (GaN) and/or Aluminum Gallium Nitride (AlGaN) layers). Because the Schottky contact is Ni-rich, leakage through the Schottky contact is substantially reduced.
US09202699B2 Capping dielectric structure for transistor gates
The present description relates to the field of fabricating microelectronic transistors, including non-planar transistors, for microelectronic devices. Embodiments of the present description relate to the formation a recessed gate electrode capped by a substantially void-free dielectric capping dielectric structure which may be formed with a high density plasma process.
US09202697B2 Forming a gate by depositing a thin barrier layer on a titanium nitride cap
A method includes forming a gate structure by growing an interfacial layer on a substrate, depositing a High K layer on the interfacial layer, depositing a TiN Cap on the High K layer and forming a thin barrier layer on the TiN Cap. The gate structure is annealed.
US09202696B2 Method for designing antenna cell that prevents plasma induced gate dielectric damage in semiconductor integrated circuits
An antenna cell for preventing plasma enhanced gate dielectric failures, is provided. The antenna cell design utilizes a polysilicon lead as a gate for a dummy transistor. The polysilicon lead may be one of a group of parallel, nested polysilicon lead. The dummy transistor includes the gate coupled to a substrate maintained at VSS, either directly through a metal lead or indirectly through a tie-low cell. The gate is disposed over a dielectric disposed over a continuous source/drain region in which the source and drain are tied together. A diode is formed with the semiconductor substrate within which it is formed. The source/drain region is coupled to another metal lead which may be an input pin and is coupled to active transistor gates, preventing plasma enhanced gate dielectric damage to the active transistors.
US09202687B2 Fabrication of III-nitride layers
A method that includes implantation of dopants while a III-nitride body is being grown on a substrate, and an apparatus for the practice of the method.
US09202684B2 Graphene layer formation on a carbon based substrate
A system and method for forming graphene layers on a substrate. The system and methods include direct growth of graphene on diamond and low temperature growth of graphene using a solid carbon source.
US09202681B2 Methods for predictive automatic gain control for hybrid mass spectrometers
A method for mass analyzing ions comprising a restricted range mass-to-charge (m/z) ratios comprising performing a survey mass analysis using a mass analyzer to measure a flux of ions having m/z ratios within said restricted range and performing a dependent mass analysis of an optimal quantity of ions having m/z ratios within said restricted range, said optimal quantity collected for a time period determined by the measured ion flux, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT: the time period is determined using a corrected ion flux that accounts for one or more of: (a) imperfect restriction of collected ions to the range of m/z ratios, (b) inclusion of ions within the range of m/z ratios that are undetected by the survey mass analysis, (c) different mass analyzers used for the dependent and survey mass analyses, and (d) different ion pathways used during dependent and the survey mass analyses.
US09202680B2 Mass spectometry using laserspray ionization
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for mass spectrometry using laserspray ionization (LSI). LSI can create multiply-charged ions at atmospheric pressure for analysis and allows for analysis of high molecular weight molecules including molecules over 4000 Daltons. The analysis can be solvent-based or solvent-free. Solvent-free analysis following LSI allows for improved spatial resolution beneficial in surface and/or tissue imaging.
US09202679B2 Electrically connected sample interface for mass spectrometer
There is provided a sampling interface for use with a mass spectrometry apparatus. The sampling interface is arranged so as to enable the sampling of ions in a mass spectrometer. In one aspect, the sampling interface comprises an inlet for receiving a quantity of ions from an ion source, and a region downstream of the inlet for accommodating a gas through which the ions may pass, wherein a field having a selected bias voltage potential is provided in at least a portion of the downstream region through which the ions may pass.
US09202672B2 Apparatus and method for probe shape processing by ion beam
There is provided an apparatus and a method capable of preparing a standardized probe without need for working skill of probe processing. According to the present invention, a probe shape generation process of detecting a probe shape based on the probe incoming current detected by a probe current detection unit, a probe tip coordinate extraction process of detecting a tip position of the probe from the probe shape, a probe contour line extraction process of generating a probe contour line obtained by approximating a contour of the probe from the tip position of the probe and the probe shape, a probe center line extraction process of generating a center line and a vertical line of the probe from the probe contour line, a processing pattern generation process of generating a processing pattern based on the probe tip position, the probe center line, the probe vertical line, and a preset shape and dimension of a probe acute part, and an ion beam termination process of performing, based on the processing pattern, termination of ion-beam processing are performed.
US09202670B2 Method of investigating the wavefront of a charged-particle beam
A method of investigating a wavefront of a charged-particle beam that is directed from a source through an illuminator so as to traverse a sample plane and land upon a detector, an output of the detector being used in combination with a mathematical reconstruction technique so as to calculate at least one of phase information and amplitude information for the wavefront at a pre-defined location along its path to the detector, in which method: Said beam is caused to traverse a particle-optical lens system disposed between said sample plane and said detector; At a selected location in the path from said source to said detector, a modulator is used to locally produce a given modulation of the wavefront; In a series of measurement sessions, different such modulations are employed, and the associated detector outputs are collectively used in said mathematical reconstruction.
US09202669B2 Charged particle beam device and image display method for stereoscopic observation and stereoscopic display
According to the present invention, in a charged particle beam device having a charged particle source, an objective lens for focusing a primary-charged particle beam emitted from the charged particle source, a scan deflector for scanning the primary-charged particle beam on a sample, and a detector for detecting signal particles generated from the sample under scanning of the primary-charged particle beam, whereby a sample image is obtained by using the signal particles of the detector, the charged particle beam device comprises a deflector for deflecting an angle of irradiation of the primary-charged particle beam onto the sample, first and second independent power supplies for passing currents to the deflector, and a switch for switching over voltages applied from the two power supplies in unit of one line or one frame of scanning of the primary-charged particle beam.
US09202665B2 Charged particle beam apparatus for removing charges developed on a region of a sample
Provided is a charged particle beam apparatus adapted so that even when an additional device is not mounted in the charged particle beam apparatus, the apparatus rapidly removes, by neutralizing, a local charge developed on a region of a sample that has been irradiated with a charged particle beam.After charged particle beam irradiation for measurement of the sample, the apparatus controls a retarding voltage or/and an accelerating voltage at a stage previous to a next measurement, and then neutralizes an electric charge by reducing a difference between a value of the retarding voltage and that of the accelerating voltage to a value smaller than during the currently ongoing measurement.The charged particle beam achieves neutralizing without reducing throughput, since the local charge developed on the region of the sample that has been irradiated with the charged particle beam is removed, even without an additional device mounted in the apparatus.
US09202661B2 Electron beam device for shaping an electric field and a method of manufacturing said electron beam device the same
An electron beam device having a tubular body of elongate shape with an electron exit window extending in the longitudinal direction of the tubular body. The tubular body is at least partly forming a vacuum chamber, the vacuum chamber comprising therein a cathode comprising a cathode housing having an elongate shape, and at least one electron generating filament and a control grid both extending along the elongate shape of the cathode housing. The control grid and the cathode housing are attached to each other by attachment mechanisms. Free longitudinal end portions of either the control grid or the cathode housing are bent in a direction towards each other to form bulge-like shapes for the formation of electron beam shaping electrodes. The invention is further comprising a method of manufacturing the electron beam device.
US09202660B2 Asymmetrical slow wave structures to eliminate backward wave oscillations in wideband traveling wave tubes
In various embodiments, a traveling wave amplifier circuit is disclosed. The traveling wave amplifier circuit is configured to receive an RF wave and an electron beam. The traveling wave amplifier effects synchronized interaction between the RF wave and the electron beam. The traveling wave amplifier circuit comprises a waveguide. The waveguide comprises a plurality of asymmetric cells arranged periodically. The waveguide is configured to receive an electron beam. Each of the asymmetric cells comprises at least one asymmetrical structure within the asymmetric cell to modify the dispersion relation of the waveguide.
US09202659B2 Arrangement and method for cooling a plasma-based radiation source
An arrangements and methods for cooling a plasma-based radiation source having a revolving element which is to be cooled, particularly for application in EUV radiation sources, is disclosed. The revolving element is immersed in the metal coolant in a first vessel of a primary cooling circuit, and a secondary cooling circuit with a cooling liquid evaporating at the desired operating temperature of the metal coolant has a control unit for controlling at least one atomizing arrangement in a differentiated manner and for selectively controlling a heater in case the determined temperature falls below a minimum operating temperature of the metal coolant. The at least one atomizing arrangement in a cooling section selectively sprays individual wall regions of the first vessel with the cooling liquid depending on the determined temperature of the metal coolant.
US09202655B2 Trip unit and method for producing one such trip device
The trip unit (10) according to the invention is capable of being connected to a circuit breaker and includes a first block (12) and a second block (14). The first block (12) comprises a first case (16) and a circuit breaker trip member (20) accessible from outside the first case (16). The second block (14) comprises a second case (26) and at least one member (28) for detecting an electric fault. The first block (12) and the second block (14) are two distinct blocks relative to one another and the first case (16) and the second case (26) are capable of being mechanically assembled to one another in an assembled configuration of the trip unit (10). Each contact end (62) is capable of mechanically cooperating with the trip member (20), when the corresponding detecting member (28) detects an electric fault.
US09202650B2 Quick disconnect connector assembly
A quick-disconnect connector assembly includes a housing having a bore that extends up to but not through a first end of the housing. The connector assembly also includes a proximity switch disposed within the bore, and the proximity switch includes a switch body, a first contact member, and a second contact member. A portion of each of the first and second contact members extends from the switch body towards a second end of the housing. In a first switch position, a contact of a displaceable switching assembly is in contact with the first contact member, and in a second switch position, the contact is in contact with the second contact member. The connector assembly also includes an external connection assembly including a first pin that is electrically coupled to the first contact member and a second pin that is electrically coupled to the second contact member.
US09202649B2 Operation device
An operation device includes three contact circuits each including fixed terminals and a slider as a movable contact for selectively changing a state between the fixed terminals to an ON/OFF state, a determination unit to which the contact circuits are connected, and an operation signal generation unit that outputs a signal indicating that an operation unit is in a state of ON operation. In response to an ON operation, the slider moves from an initial position where all contact circuits are in an OFF state to an end position where all contact circuits are turned on. Assuming that one of the contact circuits is a reference contact circuit and the others are output contact circuits, the reference contact circuit is provided such that a distance from the initial position to a position where the reference contact circuit is turned on is smaller than that for the output contact circuits.
US09202648B2 Electrical device with axial control
Electrical device with axial control, such as switch, double-pole switch, toggle switch, inverter or the like, including a box-like containment structure (20) in insulating material, in which are housed: at least two connection terminals (31, 32), at least one fixed electrical contact (35) connected to one (31) of the connection terminals, at least one rocker arm element (36) carrying at least one mobile electrical contact (37) and connected electrically to another (32) of the connection terminals, and an axial actuation member (70) kinematically connected via a first oscillating support (50) to the rocker arm element (36), so as to make it oscillate between two predetermined stable positions, wherein on the first oscillating support (50) acts a second oscillating support (60) which is made to oscillate in one direction or in the other at each actuation of the axial actuation member (70).
US09202646B2 Circuit breaker lockout
The present invention is directed to a circuit breaker lockout. The circuit breaker lockout includes a base, a screw positioned within the base and a jaw. The base has a top and a bottom. The jaw has a top, a bottom and sides that define an open center having a first length. The base is positioned between the sides of the jaw in the open center. The bottom of the base extends in the open center and the top of the base extends above the top of the jaw. The jaw slides with respect to the base when the screw is actuated to decrease the first length of the open center to a second length thereby enabling the lockout to surround the switch of a circuit breaker.
US09202643B2 Pole operating device in a medium-voltage electric control apparatus
The present invention relates to a device D for controlling the poles of an electric protective apparatus capable of driving a shaft (1), called the first shaft, for supporting the movable contacts between an open position of the pole in which the movable contacts and the fixed contacts of the apparatus are separated and a closed position of the pole in which these movable and fixed contacts are closed, the said device D comprising a closure spring (2) controlled by an operating shaft (3), called the second shaft, the said spring (2) being capable of transmitting closure energy to the said shaft called the first shaft (1) after compression and passing of the said spring (2) beyond a neutral point line of passage, by means of a cam (8) rotated by the said shaft called the second shaft (3), and interacting with a roller (5) secured to the shaft called the first shaft (1), means (13) for holding the control shaft called the first shaft in the closed position, and means (18, 5) for unlocking the aforementioned holding means (13) allowing the rapid opening of the contacts of the apparatus, this device being characterized in that the aforementioned holding means (13) are supported by the said cam (7, 8).
US09202642B2 Magnetic contactor
Disclosed is a magnetic contactor. A free space in which a DC converting circuit is provided is in a product can be secured by changing shapes of the movable core and the fixed core, and thus, in association with a low-capacity product, external AC power may be converted into DC power even without enlarging a size of a product. Also, a normal position member may be included in a movable core, and may induce the movable core to the original position, and thus, a mechanical mechanism relationship between the switch manipulating part included in the movable core and the other element is maintained.
US09202637B2 Lithium ion capacitor
The present invention has as its object the provision of a lithium ion capacitor having high capacity and high output characteristics and also having high safety that allows suppression of an increase in surface temperature even when an internal short circuit accidentally occurs.The lithium ion capacitor of the present invention comprises: a lithium ion capacitor element formed by overlaying a positive electrode sheet and a negative electrode sheet on top of one another with a separator interposed therebetween; an electrolyte solution; and an outer container that contains the lithium ion capacitor element and the electrolyte solution, a porous layer is formed on an outer surface of the lithium ion capacitor element, and the lithium ion capacitor satisfies following relational expressions (1) and (2): 35≦T×R/C  relational expression (1): 0.01≦R/C≦5  relational expression (2): where C is a capacitance [kF] of the lithium ion capacitor, R is a direct current resistance value [mΩ] of the lithium ion capacitor, and T is a thickness [μm] of the porous layer.
US09202636B2 Photoelectric conversion element and dye-sensitized solar cell
A photoelectric conversion element comprising: a substrate; a first electrode; a photoelectric conversion layer comprising a semiconductor layer containing a dye and a semiconductor and a charge transport layer; and a second electrode, in this order, wherein the photoelectric conversion layer comprises a compound represented by Formula (1), wherein R1 and R2 each represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group which may have a substituent, X, Y and Z each represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, wherein at least one of X, Y and Z is an electron withdrawing group.
US09202630B2 Multilayer ceramic capacitor and mounting board therefor
There is provided a multilayer ceramic capacitor including a ceramic body, first and second capacitor parts, first and second internal connection conductors, and first to fourth external electrodes, wherein the first capacitor part is connected to the first connection conductor in series, and the second capacitor part is connected to the second connection conductor in series, the second connection conductor being connected to the first connection conductor in series.
US09202629B2 Multilayer ceramic electronic component
There is provided a multilayer ceramic electronic component including, a ceramic body including dielectric layers, internal electrodes disposed in the ceramic body to face each other with the dielectric layers interposed therebetween, and having an average thickness of 1.0 μm or less, and external electrodes formed on outer surfaces of the ceramic body and electrically connected to the internal electrodes, wherein at least one of the internal electrodes is formed of only a conductive metal.
US09202628B2 Laminated ceramic capacitor
laminated ceramic capacitor which has favorable moisture resistance includes an inner layer section that has dielectric ceramic layers and internal electrodes stacked alternately, and outer layer sections formed outside the inner layer section. The dielectric ceramic layers have a perovskite-type compound including a main constituent containing Ca and Zr, and an additive containing Si and Mn. The average grain size in the dielectric ceramic layers constituting the outer layer sections is smaller than the average grain size in the dielectric ceramic layers constituting the inner layer section. The Si/Mn molar ratio in the dielectric ceramic near the interfaces between the internal electrodes and the dielectric ceramic layers is ≦15.
US09202617B2 Low profile, surface mount electromagnetic component assembly and methods of manufacture
A low profile surface mount electromagnetic component such as a power inductor includes first and second core pieces arranged side by side and having longitudinal side walls facing one another. A preformed coil winding includes vertical legs that are received in vertical slots of the facing longitudinal sidewalls of the component. Inset depressed sections are provided in the top surfaces of the first and second magnetic core pieces and receive a main winding section of the coil winding. Surface mount terminal tabs extend on the bottom surfaces of both the first and second magnetic core pieces.
US09202616B2 Intelligent magnetic system
An intelligent magnetic system includes a first piece of ferromagnetic material having magnetically printed field sources having a multi-polarity pattern that extend from a first side to a second side that is magnetically attached to a second piece of ferromagnetic material, where a shunt plate disposed on the first side that routes magnetic flux through the first piece of ferromagnetic material from said first side to said second side. The system also includes at least one simple machine for amplifying an applied force into a detachment force that creates an angled spacing between the first piece of ferromagnetic material and the second piece of ferromagnetic material, at least one sensor for producing sensor data; and a control system for monitoring the sensor data and managing the use of the first piece of ferromagnetic material.
US09202615B2 System for detaching a magnetic structure from a ferromagnetic material
A detachment system includes a first piece of ferromagnetic material, a shunt plate, and at least one simple machine. The first piece of ferromagnetic material has a first side and a second side opposite the first side and has magnetically printed field sources that extend from the first side to the second side. The magnetically printed field sources have a first multi-polarity pattern. The first side of the first piece of ferromagnetic material is magnetically attached to a second piece of ferromagnetic material. The shunt plate is disposed on the second side of the first piece of ferromagnetic material. The shunt plate routes magnetic flux through the first piece of ferromagnetic material from the second side to the first side of the first ferromagnetic material. The at least one simple machine is configured to amplify an applied force into a detachment force to create an angled spacing between the first piece of ferromagnetic material and the second piece of ferromagnetic material.
US09202614B2 Superconducting levitation surfaces
Apparatus, consisting of a substrate and planar tapes which have respective mutually-opposing first and second faces. The tapes have edges connecting the faces, and each tape has a superconducting material on at least the first face thereof. The tapes may be arranged on the substrate so as to define at least a first set of at least one of the planar tapes overlying a surface of the substrate so that the edges of adjacent sections of the tapes in the first set butt together along a first direction over the surface. The tapes may also be arranged so that a second set of at least another one of the planar tapes overly the first set so that the edges of adjacent sections of the tapes in the second set butt together along a second direction that is different from the first direction.
US09202611B2 Arrangement with three superconductive phase conductors
An arrangement is provided with three superconductive phase conductors each with a conductor, a dielectric and an electrically conductive screen surrounding the dielectric. The three phase conductors are arranged in a cryostat which conducts a cooling agent and which is made from a pipe with a thermal insulation. The screens of each of the conductors are for forming three, or a whole number multiple of three, sections arranged successively in the longitudinal direction by partial screens in a first, a second and a third section at two locations or at two locations spaced apart from each other. The partial screen of a first section of each phase conductor is electrically conductively connected in series to the partial screens of the second section and further to the third section of the two other phase conductors.
US09202606B2 Functional nanostructured “jelly rolls” with nanosheet components
The present disclosure relates to multilayered materials that are designed to roll spontaneously into micron-sized, cylindrical “jelly roll” or scroll structures. Specifically in this disclosure, at least one of the layers is comprised of a nanosheet material.
US09202603B2 Sputtering target, transparent conductive film and transparent electrode
A sputtering target including indium, tin, zinc and oxygen, and including a hexagonal layered compound, a spinel structure compound and a bixbyite structure compound.
US09202602B2 Production of isotopes using high power proton beams
The invention provides for a method for producing isotopes using a beam of particles from an accelerator, whereby the beam is maintained at between about 70 to 2000 MeV; and contacting a thorium-containing target with the particles. The medically important isotope 225Ac is produced via the nuclear reaction (p,2p6n), whereby an energetic proton causes the ejection of 2 protons and 6 neutrons from a 232Th target nucleus. Another medically important isotope 213Bi is then available as a decay product. The production of highly purified 211At is also provided.
US09202600B2 Method for production of radioisotope preparations and their use in life science, research, medical application and industry
The present invention relates to an universal method for the large scale production of high-purity carrier free or non carrier added radioisotopes by applying a number of “unit operations” which are derived from physics and material science and hitherto not used for isotope production. A required number of said unit operations is combined, selected and optimized individually for each radioisotope production scheme. The use of said unit operations allows a batch wise operation or a fully automated continuous production scheme. The radioisotopes produced by the inventive method are especially suitable for producing radioisotope-labelled bioconjugates as well as particles, in particular nanoparticles and microparticles.
US09202597B2 Zirconium alloys for a nuclear fuel cladding having a superior corrosion resistance by reducing an amount of alloying elements and methods of preparing a zirconium alloy nuclear fuel cladding using thereof
Disclosed are a zirconium alloy for a nuclear fuel cladding having a good corrosion resistance by reducing an amount of alloying elements and a method of preparing a zirconium alloy nuclear fuel cladding using thereof. The zirconium alloy includes 0.2 to 0.5 wt % of niobium (Nb); 0.2 to 0.6 wt % of iron (Fe); 0.3 to 0.5 wt % of chromium (Cr); 0.1 to 0.15 wt % of oxygen (O); 0.008 to 0.012 wt % of silicon (Si) and a remaining amount of zirconium (Zr). The total amount of the niobium, the iron and the chromium is 1.1 to 1.2 wt %. A good oxidation resistance of the nuclear fuel cladding may be confirmed under accident conditions as well as normal operating conditions of a reactor, thereby improving economic feasibility and safety.
US09202594B2 Device and method to perform a parallel memory test
The invention relates to a semiconductor device including N memory modules, N being greater than or equal to three, each module having an array of memory cells arranged in rows and columns, a write circuit coupled to each module and configured to write data in the memory cells, a read circuit coupled to each module and configured to supply output data from the memory cells, a module selection circuit configured to individually select one memory module in a regular operation mode, and to collectively select two or more of the modules in a parallel mode, and a comparator circuit coupled to the N modules and configured to compare, in the parallel mode, the output data supplied by the N modules.
US09202592B2 Systems and methods for memory management in a dynamic translation computer system
Systems and methods for managing memory in a dynamic translation computer system are provided. Embodiments may include receiving an instruction packet and processing the instruction packet. The instruction packet may include one or more instructions for obtaining a block of virtual memory for use in an emulated operating environment from a slab of virtual memory in a host environment, maintaining a mapping between the block of virtual memory and physical memory when the block is returned to the host environment, and for filling the block of virtual memory with zeros and a pattern based, at least in part, on a detected fill type.
US09202586B2 Non-volatile memory programming
Some embodiments include a memory device and a method of programming memory cells of the memory device. One such method can include applying a signal to a line associated with a memory cell, the signal being generated based on digital information. The method can also include, while the signal is applied to the line, determining whether a state of the memory cell is near a target state when the digital information has a first value, and determining whether the state of the memory cell has reached the target state when the digital information has a second value. Other embodiments including additional memory devices and methods are described.
US09202577B2 Solid state drive management in power loss recovery
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe devices, methods, computer-readable media and systems configurations for solid state drive management in power loss recovery. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US09202574B2 Memory device having a different source line coupled to each of a plurality of layers of memory cell arrays
In an embodiment, a memory device may have a plurality of layers of memory cell arrays. Each layer may have a plurality of strings of memory cells and a different source line coupled to each layer of the plurality of layers.
US09202573B2 Partial voltage read of memory
A partial voltage level read is made on memory cells of a solid state memory device during a voltage settling time after the memory cells are charged (e.g., by a pulse from a charge pump). Digital values representing partial voltage levels are checked for errors (e.g., by an error correction code (ECC) engine). If the values can be corrected, then the values are released for host access. If the values cannot be corrected, then a full voltage read is performed on the memory cells after the voltage levels have substantially settled. Digital values corresponding to the full voltage reads can be released for host access. The use of partial voltage reads results in faster read of solid state memory devices.
US09202570B2 Three-dimensional semiconductor device
A three-dimensional semiconductor device includes a substrate having a cell array region between first and second contact regions. A first stack includes a plurality of first electrodes vertically provided on the substrate, and a second stack includes a plurality of second electrodes vertically provided on the first stack. The second stack is arranged to expose end portions of the first electrodes on the first contact region and overlap end portions of the first electrodes on the second contact region.
US09202567B2 Memory circuit
The present invention provides a memory circuit in which, while the power is not supplied, a data signal that has been held in a memory section corresponding to a volatile memory can be held in a capacitor in a memory section corresponding to a nonvolatile memory. In the nonvolatile memory section, a transistor whose channel is formed in an oxide semiconductor layer allows a signal to be held in the capacitor for a long period. Thus, the memory circuit can hold a logic state (data signal) even while the power supply is stopped. A potential applied to a gate of the transistor whose channel is formed in an oxide semiconductor layer is raised by a booster circuit provided between a wiring for carrying power supply potential and the gate of the transistor, allowing a data signal to be held even by one power supply potential without malfunction.
US09202563B2 Storage controlling apparatus, storage apparatus and processing method
A storage controlling apparatus includes a command decoder and command processing section. The command decoder decides whether or not a plurality of access object addresses of different commands included in a command string correspond to words different from each other in a same one of blocks of a memory cell array which have a common plate. The command processing section collectively and successively executes, when it is decided that the access object addresses of the commands correspond to the words different from each other in the same block of the memory cell array, those of operations in processing of the commands in which an equal voltage is applied as a drive voltage between the plate and a bit line.
US09202559B2 Semiconductor memory device and method of controlling the same
A semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment comprises: a plurality of memory cells; a word line; a plurality of first bit lines and a plurality of second bit lines; and a control circuit. The control circuit is capable of executing: a determining operation that determines whether the memory cell which is to be a write-target includes an erase-target cell whose threshold voltage is to be the erase state, or not; and an inverting operation that inverts selection or unselection of the bit line connected to one of the two memory cells adjacent to the erase-target cell, in the first write operation and the second write operation.
US09202557B2 Three-dimensional two-port bit cell
A semiconductor memory includes a read port array disposed on a first layer of a three-dimensional integrated circuit and a bit cell array disposed on a second layer of the three-dimensional integrated circuit. The second layer being vertically positioned above or below the first layer. At least one bit cell of the bit cell array is coupled to at least one read port cell of the read port array by a via extending from the first layer to the second layer.
US09202556B1 Semiconductor devices
The semiconductor device includes a power control signal generator, a fuse controller and a fuse array portion. The power control signal generator generates a power control signal enabled during a predetermined period from a termination moment of a power-up period and enabled in response to a test mode signal. The fuse controller generates a boot-up signal enabled if a reboot-up signal is inputted during an enablement period of the power control signal. The fuse controller also generates a fuse reset signal enabled if a reset signal is inputted after a clock training operation. The fuse array portion generates a plurality of fuse data initialized if the fuse reset signal is enabled. The plurality of fuse data are programmed according to electrical open/short states of fuses in response to the power control signal.
US09202553B2 Semiconductor storage device
Provided is a semiconductor storage device including first and second load transistors, first and second drive transistors, first and second transfer transistors, and first and second cell node lines each serving as a storage node. A portion where a cell node line and a bit line corresponding to the cell node line overlap each other when viewed from above is formed between the cell node line and the bit line.
US09202550B2 Appatuses and methods for precharge operations and accumulated charge dissipation
Examples described include precharge operations and circuitry for performing precharge operations. Digit lines may be driven to ground during a portion of example precharge operations. By driving the digit lines to ground, charge accumulating in bodies of vertical access devices may be discharged to the digit lines in some examples. To drive the digit lines to ground, a dynamic reference may be used where the reference is ground during one portion of the precharge operation and another value, which may be between two supply voltages (e.g. VCC/2), during another portion of the precharge operation.
US09202549B2 Semiconductor memory device and memory system including the same
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of word lines each of which are connected to a plurality of memory cells, a row control unit suitable for sequentially activating and precharging a word line corresponding to a target address and a predetermined (N) number of adjacent word lines during a target activation mode, and a mode exit control unit suitable for counting the number of activation operations by the row control unit during the target activation mode to determine whether or not to exit from the target activation mode.
US09202548B2 Efficient PCMS refresh mechanism
An apparatus is described having invert determination logic circuitry to determine if a read data path that transports data read from a PCMS memory device is to be inverted or not inverted as a function of whether information represented by the data was last written in an inverted or non inverted logical state to the PCMS memory device during a refresh of said PCMS memory device.
US09202544B2 Multi-bit magnetic memory cell
A device (20) for storing data includes at least first and second ferromagnetic films (F1, F2) and a sensing circuit (28). The ferromagnetic films both have perpendicular magnetic anisotropy that is configured responsively to the stored data, and are connected so that an electrical current traverses the first and second ferromagnetic films and generates respective first and second extraordinary Hall voltages therein. The sensing circuit is configured to read out the stored data by measuring the first and second extraordinary Hall voltages.
US09202538B2 Wordline activation
Methods and devices are disclosed where a voltage on a wordline is changed from a first voltage to a second voltage via a plurality of intermediate voltages.
US09202533B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device changing the number of selected bits and/or the number of selected bays at data write operation
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprises: a memory cell array including first interconnections, second interconnections intersecting the first interconnections, and memory cells having a variable resistance element and being provided at respective intersections of the first interconnections and the second interconnections, the memory cell array being divided into bays including a predetermined number of the memory cells; and a control circuit configured to execute a first write step and a second write step executed after the first write step at a data writing operation, wherein the control circuit is configured to change over the number of simultaneously selected bits and/or the number of simultaneously selected bays depending upon whether a write step is the first write step or the second write step.
US09202530B2 Semiconductor device including power-on reset circuit and operating method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a power-on reset circuit configured to receive a power voltage and generate a power-on reset signal varying with a voltage level of the power voltage, an internal circuit configured to be initialized and operated in response to the power-on reset signal and generate a hold signal based on an operation mode of the internal circuit, and a reset protection circuit configured to deactivate the power-on reset circuit in response to the hold signal and provide a replacement signal for replacing the power-on reset signal to the internal circuit when the power-on reset circuit is deactivated.
US09202529B2 Semiconductor memory device having vertical transistors
A device includes first and second regions including first and second amplifiers, respectively and a memory cell array region formed between the first and second regions and includes first and second conductive layers each extending in a first direction, and a plurality of first pillar elements arranged in line in the first direction on the first conductive layer, each of the first pillar elements being coupled to the first conductive layer at one end thereof, and the first pillar elements comprising a plurality of first elements and a second element, and a plurality of second pillar elements arranged in line in the first direction on the second conductive layer, each of the second pillar elements being coupled to the second conductive layer at one end thereof, and the second pillar elements comprising a plurality of third elements and a fourth element.
US09202526B2 System and method for viewing videos and statistics of sports events
A portable computing device for enabling user to view video content of sports activity such as basketball or ice hockey. The computing device is configured to receive video content, video clips, statistics of the game as well as spatial position data of players and position data of for example a ball used in the game as functions of time. Spectators can use the portable computing device to view spatial position of the players and the ball at given time of the game or view spatial position of the players and/or the ball based on set filters by the user. User can for example select to see spatial position of players in at the times when the team scored or according to other statistics. The user/spectator can use the user interface to select an icon of a player to see corresponding video clip of actions in the sports field.
US09202524B2 Electronic programming guide
An indication of user interest of a program of a particular television channel may be identified based on user interaction with a programming guide that displays first content. A selectable icon positioned in association with a descriptor that identifies the particular television channel may be generated in response to identifying the indication of user interest and for display within the programming guide. An interactive pane that identifies at least one particular program that is stored within an omnibus channel file containing a plurality of programs broadcast consecutively on the particular television channel over a predefined period of time may be generated in response to user selection of the selectable icon for display within the programming guide.
US09202518B2 Combined soft detection/soft decoding in tape drive storage channels
In one embodiment, a method includes executing a first forward loop of a detection algorithm on a block of signal samples during a first time interval, executing a first reverse loop of the detection algorithm on the block during a second time interval to produce first soft information, executing a decoding algorithm on the block during a third time interval using the first soft information to produce second soft information, executing a second forward loop of the detection algorithm on the block during a fourth time interval using the second soft information, executing a second reverse loop of the detection algorithm on the block during a fifth time interval to produce third soft information, executing the decoding algorithm on the block during a sixth time interval using the third soft information to produce a decoded block of signal samples, and outputting the decoded block of signal samples.
US09202517B1 Disk drive calibrating defect threshold based on statistical quality metric measured for reference tracks
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of data tracks. First data is written to a first data track, and the first data is read from the first data track to measure a first quality metric representing a recording quality of the first data. Second data is written to a second data track, and the second data is read from the second data track to measure a second quality metric representing a recording quality of the second data. The first and second quality metrics are processed to generate a first statistical quality metric. A first defect threshold is generated based on the first statistical quality metric, and at least part of the disk is scanned for defects based on the first defect threshold.
US09202516B1 Diagnostic method and apparatus for a tape storage system
A diagnostic method and system comprising writing to a tape location of a tape medium using a first tape head as the tape medium is transported in a first direction, reading from the tape location using a second tape head as the tape medium is transported in the first direction, detecting an occurrence of a tape system failure, performing a diagnostic tape operation selected from a group consisting of writing to the tape location using the second tape head as the tape medium is transported in the first direction and reading from the tape location using the first tape head as the tape medium is transported in the first direction, differentially diagnosing a tape medium failure or a tape head failure depending on whether the tape operation failure is observed in response to performing the diagnostic tape operation, and posting a corresponding error code.
US09202515B1 Apparatus and method for adjusting a phase of a data clock signal using a predetermined bit pattern
A read/write channel module for writing data to and reading data from a storage medium. A servo channel module is configured to recover a servo field from the storage medium in accordance with a read signal read from the storage medium and a first clock signal. A locator module is configured to determine, based on a location of the servo field recovered from the storage medium, a location of a predetermined bit pattern that is located subsequent to the servo field on the storage medium. A phase error calculator module is configured to estimate a phase error of a second clock signal based on the location of the predetermined bit pattern, wherein a phase and a frequency of the second clock signal are different than a phase and a frequency of the first clock signal, and adjust the phase of the second clock signal based on the estimated phase error.
US09202514B1 Gated noise-predictive filter calibration
An apparatus for calibrating a noise predictive filter includes a noise-predictive filter operable to filter digital data samples to yield filtered data samples, a calibration circuit operable to calculate tap coefficients for the noise-predictive filter based at least in part on the digital data samples, and a gating circuit operable to select a portion of the digital data samples for use by the calibration circuit in calculating the tap coefficients.
US09202511B1 Current-based environment determination
Provided is an apparatus including a motor configured to rotate a rotating member at a rotational speed based on an applied current; and a controller configured to modify one or more operating parameters in response to determining whether a change in an environment has occurred based on the applied current.
US09202510B2 Vibration cancellation for data storage
Methods and apparatus for vibration cancellation are disclosed. Vibration data from one or more vibration detectors associated with a storage device is collected. The vibration data represents vibrations experienced by the storage device. In response to the vibration data from the one or more vibration detectors, one or more movements for respective ones of one or more counter-vibration actuators to at least partially cancel of the vibrations experienced by the storage device is calculated. The one or more counter-vibration actuators perform the one or more movements.
US09202508B2 Optical disk drive configured to incline a chuck pulley relative to a turntable
Provided is an optical disk drive including a turntable on which an optical disk is mounted and which rotates the optical disk, a chuck pulley movable in the direction of an axis of the turntable between a first pulley position spaced from the turntable and a second pulley position which is close to the turntable and in which the chuck pulley grips the optical disk together with the turntable, the chuck pulley being attracted toward the turntable by a magnetic force, and a pulley operating mechanism for moving the chuck pulley between the first pulley position and the second pulley position. The pulley operating mechanism, at the time of moving the chuck pulley between the first pulley position and the second pulley position, inclines the chuck pulley in relation to the turntable, and brings the chuck pulley closer to or away from the turntable.
US09202507B1 Dynamic tape storage library for data management
Embodiments of the present invention provides systems for a tape library shelf. In one embodiment, a tape library shelf is disclosed including a chassis, which contains tape cartridge slots for storing one or more tape cartridges. The tape library shelf includes at least one tape drive module, a control unit, and a moving device coupled to the chassis. The moving device is operatively connected to the control unit to move the chassis according to instructions received from the control unit.
US09202506B1 Current boost profile applied to laser during heat-assisted magnetic recording
A power level is applied to a laser that heats a heat-assisted recording medium is increased during recording for a plurality of iterations. Each iteration involves writing test data to a plurality of sequential tracks of the recording medium using the power level and determining bit error rates of the test data. Based on the bit error rates of the iterations, a power boost profile is determined. The power boost profile starts at a baseline level at a first track of a plurality of sequentially-written tracks, incrementally increases to a steady-state level over a first portion of the tracks, and remains at the steady-state level over subsequent ones of the tracks. The power boost profile is applied to the laser when recording to the recording medium.
US09202502B2 Magnetic particles and method of manufacturing the same, and usage thereof
An aspect of the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing magnetic particles, which comprises adding a carboxylic acid compound to a water-based magnetic liquid, wherein the water-based magnetic liquid comprises magnetic particles dispersed in an acidic water-based solvent, and the carboxylic acid compound is selected from the group consisting of aromatic compounds and aliphatic compounds having one or more carboxylic acid (salt) groups denoted by: —COOM wherein M denotes a hydrogen atom or an alkali metal atom, when the number of the carboxylic acid (salt) group contained within the molecule thereof is 1, the number of carbon atoms, excluding the carboxylic acid (salt) group portion, ranges from 1 to 13; and then collecting the magnetic particles from the water-based magnetic liquid to obtain the magnetic particles the surfaces of which have been modified by being coated with the carboxylic acid compound.
US09202499B2 Contact detection using laser modulation
An apparatus is arranged to detect contact between an air bearing surface of a transducer and a medium using a modulated thermal sensor signal. A laser source produces modulated laser light. A thermal sensor is disposed at or near the air bearing surface and is subject to cyclic heating by the modulated laser light. The thermal sensor is configured to produce the modulated sensor signal in response to the cyclic heating.
US09202495B2 Method and apparatus for detecting proximity contact between a transducer and a medium
A method and apparatus are provided for positioning a transducer relative to a track of a data storage medium and inducing lateral modulation of transducer the relative to the track. An element of the transducer is actuated toward the storage medium during the lateral modulation, and atomic interaction is detected between the element and the storage medium because of a change in a response to the lateral modulation of the transducer due to the atomic interaction.
US09202494B1 Split-ring resonator (SRR) NFT design for use in HAMR
An NFT is used in a HAMR magnetic write head. The NFT functions as a resonant circuit when in operation. The resonant circuit, which comprises the NFT, is a split-ring resonator (SRR) that has a capacitive portion and an inductive portion. The inductance and the capacitance results in a very well focused ultra-small spot-size concentrated on the magnetic media. The focus occurs at the capacitive area of the NFT with minimal to no impact upon the write pole of the HAMR magnetic head.
US09202492B2 Waveguide power sensor structures free of optical coherence effects in a HAMR drive
Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a HAMR device for use in a magnetic reading system. The HAMR device has a primary waveguide extending from a media facing surface to a surface opposite the media facing surface. In one embodiment, the HAMR head has a secondary waveguide having a first and second end positioned within the HAMR head. The secondary waveguide is positioned near the primary waveguide, and the first and second ends of the secondary waveguide are non-reflecting. A thermal sensor is coupled to the secondary waveguide, and responds only to optical power fluctuations in the primary waveguide. In another embodiment, the HAMR head has a second thermal sensor rather than a secondary waveguide. The first thermal sensor and the second thermal sensor are coupled together to act as one optical power sensor and are disposed on the primary waveguide.
US09202491B2 Planar plasmon generator with thickened region and peg region
An apparatus (e.g., a heat assisted magnetic recording read/write element) that has an optical component that extends to a location adjacent a media-facing surface of a slider body. The apparatus further includes a planar plasmon antenna that is disposed between the tip portion of the magnetic write pole and the optical component. The planar plasmon antenna can be formed of a plasmonic material operationally capable of a plasmonic excitation in response to an evanescent coupling with an optical mode of the optical component. In some instances, the planar plasmon antenna includes an enlarged region spaced from the optical component and a peg region formed in the enlarged region. The peg region has a thickness in a direction substantially transverse to the optical component that is less than a thickness of a portion of the enlarged region that spaces the peg region from the optical component.
US09202487B2 Light source alignment for heat assisted magnetic recording
An approach for aligning a light source on a slider involves filtering light emerging from the air bearing surface of a (ABS) of a heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) slider. A first portion of the emerging light is emitted by a near field transducer in response to optical excitation and has a component having a first polarization state. A second portion of the emerging light including stray light has polarization states different from the first polarization state. The polarizing filter substantially transmits light having the first polarization state and substantially rejects light having a polarization state orthogonal to the first polarization state. Alignment coordinates for the light source are determined based on the light transmitted through the polarizing filter.
US09202485B1 Load balancing and space efficient big data tape management
A tool for movement of a tape from a first tape library to a second tape library retrieving one or more tapes from one or more tape library frames in the first tape library. The tool inserts the one or more tapes into a passing tunnel module in the one or more tape library frames in the first tape library. The tool transfers the one or more tapes from the passing tunnel module in the one or more tape library frames in the first tape library to a passing tunnel module in one or more tape library frames in the second tape library.
US09202484B1 Magnetic head provided spin torque oscillator with low drive voltage for microwave assisted magnetic recording
Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a MAMR head. The MAMR head includes an STO. The STO has a first surface at a media facing surface, and a portion of the first surface has a trapezoidal shape. Having this configuration, the acute angles of the trapezoidal shaped portion provide a greater width of the STO at the media facing surface, which protect the main pole from over-etching during the fabrication of the STO. In addition, the acute angles of the trapezoidal shaped portion of the first surface are large enough to keep a low STO driving voltage and provide the MAMR head with a long operation lifetime and higher reliability.
US09202482B2 Magnetic sensor having an extended pinned layer with stitched antiferromagnetic pinning layer
A magnetic sensor having a novel pinning structure resulting in a greatly reduced gap spacing. The sensor has a magnetic free layer structure that extends to a first stripe height and a magnetic pinned layer structure that extends to a second stripe height that is longer than the first stripe high. A layer of anti-ferromagnetic material is formed over the pinned layer structure in the region beyond the first stripe height location. In this way, the antiferromagnetic layer is between the pinned layer and the second or upper shield and does not contribute to gap spacing.
US09202481B1 Near-field transducer with compositionally graded material for heat assisted magnetic recording
Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a HAMR head. The HAMR head includes a main pole, a waveguide and a NFT disposed between the main pole and the waveguide. The NFT includes an antenna, and the antenna is made of a compound that has a composition that varies based on the location within the antenna. In one embodiment, the antenna has a surface at a media facing surface (MFS) and the surface has an apex, and the composition of the compound varies from the apex in a direction away from the apex. The apex has the highest temperature during the operation of the HAMR head, and having a composition that is thermally stable at the apex helps achieve higher reliability.
US09202476B2 Method and background estimator for voice activity detection
The present invention relates to a method and a background estimator in voice activity detector for updating a background noise estimate for an input signal. The input signal for a current frame is received and it is determined whether the current frame of the input signal comprises non-noise. Further, an additional determination is performed whether the current frame of the non-noise input comprises noise by analyzing characteristics at least related to correlation and energy level of the input signal, and background noise estimate is updated if it is determined that the current frame comprises noise.
US09202474B2 Effecting voice communication in a sound-restricted environment
A headset is provided for use by a user to effect voice communication in a sound-restricted environment. The headset includes a microphone that converts the user's voice at a first sound level to produce a first audio signal. The headset also includes an apparatus with circuitry that amplifies the first audio signal to produce a second audio signal representing that produced by conversion of the user's voice at a greater, second sound level by the microphone, and outputs the second audio signal for communication to a telecommunications device or sound recording device. The circuitry also receives a third audio signal and measures a third sound level thereof. The circuitry produces a feedback signal in at least one instance in which the third sound level is greater than a threshold sound level that is less than the second sound level, and outputs the feedback signal for communication to the user.
US09202472B1 Magnitude ratio descriptors for pitch-resistant audio matching
Systems and methods for generating unique pitch-resistant descriptors for audio clips are provided. In one or more embodiments, a descriptor for an audio clip is generated as a function of relative magnitudes between interest points within the audio clip's time-frequency representation. A number of techniques for leveraging the relative magnitudes to generate descriptors are considered. These techniques include ordering of interest points as a function of ascending or descending magnitude, creation of binary vectors based on magnitude comparisons between pairs of points, and calculation of quantized magnitude ratios between pairs of points. Descriptors generated based on relative magnitudes according to the techniques disclosed herein are relatively invariant to common transformations to the original audio clip, such as pitch shifting, time stretching, global volume changes, equalization, and/or dynamic range compression.
US09202467B2 System and method for voice activating web pages
A method for processing a voice request for data specifying a web page, the request including a rule-based grammar statement, the method comprising identifying a grammar associated with the rule-based grammar statement, determining whether a first connection identified as being associated with the grammar is specified in a data structure identifying one or more connections, and processing the request in at least a portion of a window capable of presenting the web page and associated with the first connection if a first connection identified as being associated with the grammar is specified in the data structure.
US09202458B2 Methods and systems for adapting a model for a speech recognition system
A method for model adaptation for a speech recognition system includes determining an error rate, corresponding to either recognition of instances of a word or recognition of instances of various words, without using a transcript of words input to the system. The method may further include adjusting an adaptation, of the model for the word or various models for the various words, based on the error rate. Apparatus are disclosed for identifying possible errors made by a speech recognition system without using a transcript of words input to the system. An apparatus for model adaptation for a speech recognition system includes a processor adapted to estimate an error rate, corresponding to either recognition of instances of a word or recognition of instances of various words, without using a transcript of words input to the system. The apparatus may further include a controller adapted to adjust an adaptation of the model for the word or various models for the various words, based on the error rate.
US09202457B2 Apparatus for driving two-dimensional transducer array, medical imaging system, and method of driving two-dimensional transducer array
An apparatus for driving a two-dimensional transducer array, a medical imaging system and a method of driving a two-dimensional transducer array are provided. An apparatus for driving a two-dimensional (2D) transducer array including one or more transducers includes one or more drivers configured to respectively drive the transducers, each of the drivers including a register, a comparator, a pulse frequency setter, a multi-pulse controller, a transmission signal generator, a signal transceiver, a transmission and reception switch, and a reception signal amplifier, and a driving controller configured to control the drivers.
US09202456B2 Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media for automatic control of active noise cancellation
Active noise cancellation is combined with spectrum modification of a reproduced audio signal to enhance intelligibility.
US09202455B2 Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products for enhanced active noise cancellation
Uses of an enhanced sidetone signal in an active noise cancellation operation are disclosed. In one example, a method of audio signal processing includes producing an anti-noise signal based on information from a first audio signal. A target component of a second audio signal is separated from a noise component of the second audio signal to produce at least one among a separated target component and a separated noise component. Based on at least one among the separated target component and the separated noise component, an audio output signal is produced.
US09202454B2 Method and apparatus for audio encoding for noise reduction
A method and apparatus for audio signal encoding for noise reduction are provided. The method includes: receiving an audio signal and performing modified discrete cosine transformation (MDCT) on the audio signal to convert the audio signal into a long block or a short block; reducing noise included in the audio signal in accordance with the long block or the short block; and performing advanced audio coding (AAC) on the long block or the short block in which noise is reduced.
US09202452B2 Musical sound generation device, storage medium, and musical sound generation method
An address for reading, from a waveform memory connected by a bus, waveform data to be assigned to each of a plurality of sound generation channels for generating a musical sound, is calculated, by time division, for each sound generation channel, and the calculated address and the sound generation channels are associated and stored in an address memory. When the bus is in an empty state, an address stored in the address memory is read, and waveform data is read from the waveform memory based on the read address; the read waveform data is assigned to the corresponding sound generation channel, and generation of a musical sound is prescribed for the sound generation channel to which the waveform data is assigned.
US09202451B2 Detachable electronic drum
Various embodiments of a detachable electronic drum are described. In one aspect, an electronic drum includes a main support base having a central portion and a periphery surrounding the central portion, a striking unit disposed on the central portion of the main support base, an annular top cover disposed over and around the striking unit such that the striking unit is disposed between the main support base and the annular top cover, and an annular elastic collar coupled to the periphery of the main support base. The annular elastic collar is configured to hook to a drum hoop of a conventional drum when the electronic drum is attached to the conventional drum and disposed over a drumhead of the conventional drum such that no other portion of the electronic drum is in contact with the conventional drum.
US09202447B2 Persistent instrument
Disclosed is a musical instrument including a persistent memory, persistent clock, a device connection interface and one or more processors configured to send a practice session alert message to remind a user that a practice session is scheduled.
US09202444B2 Generating translated display image based on rotation of a display device
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for generating address information to translate the order in which memory locations are accessed in a video buffer, to maintain a desired orientation in a rotated display. A video buffer is filled with display data to drive a CRT, LCD, or other display screen, starting with the upper-left corner. When the user rotates the display screen, the display screen continues to scan from the same starting corner, resulting in a misaligned orientation. In embodiments, a correct orientation can be automatically generated by determining a scan direction for the rotated display. The physical location of the new logical starting pixel is determined, and the rows and columns of the display image are rendered in a revised logical order which compensates for the amount and direction of rotation.
US09202442B2 Display and display control circuit
A display control circuit of a display performs generation of overdrive processed data and detection of a proper direction of overdriving from current frame uncompressed compressed data obtained by performing compression processing and uncompression processing on compressed data corresponding to image data of a current frame, and previous frame uncompressed compressed data obtained by performing the compression processing and the uncompression processing on image data of a previous frame, and generates post-correction overdrive processed data by correcting the overdrive processed data according to the detected proper direction. The display control circuit transmits post-correction compressed data obtained by compressing the post-correction overdrive processed data to a driver as transfer compressed data.
US09202440B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and data structure of content file
Information is configured in a tree structure comprising a root node, internal nodes, and leaf nodes, and an image is prepared for each node. Links to images of internal nodes are set in a root node image. When a display area satisfies a predetermined link condition the display target is switched from the root node image to an image of an internal node. A link to a leaf node image is set in each of the internal node images. Further, an order is defined for the leaf node images so that the images can be successively accessed. When the display is switched from a link area of an internal node image to a leaf node image and the display is to return to the internal node after images of leaf nodes are accessed, the image area of the internal node is displayed according to the number of images traversed.
US09202438B2 Image formats and related methods and apparatuses
Image data may be color graded, distributed and viewed on target displays. Mappings that preserve mid-range points and mid-range contrast may be applied to view the image data for color grading and to prepare the image data for display on a target display. The image data may be expanded to exploit the dynamic range of the target display without affecting mid-tone values.
US09202435B2 Correction device for display device and correction method for display device
A correction device for a display device includes a detection unit which detects the measured XYZ values of a CIE1931 color system; a first conversion unit which calculates the measured X10Y10Z10 values of a CIE1964 color system based on the measured XYZ values with reference to the characteristics of the display device; a second conversion unit which calculates the target X10Y10Z10 values of the CIE1964 color system based on the target XYZ values representing tristimulus values of a target color in the CIE1931 color system; a correction value calculation unit which compares the measured X10Y10Z10 values with the target X10Y10Z10 values so as to produce a correction value which allows those values to match each other; a correction value calibration unit which rewrites the correction value with a correction value of the CIE1931 color system; and a compensation unit which performs color correction on the display device.
US09202427B2 LCD and method for driving the same
An LCD includes multiple pixel units and a processing unit. The pixel units are used for displaying 2D or 3D images upon receiving 2D image signals or 3D image signals. The processing unit is used for outputting the plurality of 2D/3D image signals upon receiving a 2D/3D image enbaling signal. Each pixel unit includes a first pixel electrode, a second pixel electrode, and a third pixel electrode. The first pixel electrode is used for receiving a first voltage signal in response to the 2D or 3D image enbaling signal. The second pixel electrode is used for receiving the first voltage signal in response to the 2D image enbaling signal or for receiving a second voltage signal when corresponding to the 3D image enbaling signal. The third pixel electrode is used for receiving the plurality of 2D or 3D image signals. The first, second, and third pixel electrodes are disposed on the same substrate and are not connected to one another.
US09202422B2 Liquid crystal display device
A pixel of a liquid crystal panel is constituted by three subpixels. When the gradation of the pixel can be represented by only the subpixel, with setting the gradations of the subpixels to their minimum gradations, the gradation of the subpixel is determined. When the gradation of the pixel is represented by the subpixels, with setting the gradation of the subpixel to its maximum gradation and setting the gradation of the subpixel to its minimum gradation, the gradation of the subpixel is determined so that the ratio of the transmittance of the subpixel to the transmittance of the pixel is less than a limit value. When the gradation of the subpixel cannot be determined to satisfy a condition, with setting the gradation of the subpixel to its minimum gradation, the gradations of the subpixels are determined to obtain a gradation higher than or equal to the gradation of the pixel.
US09202421B2 Display device and method for controlling display device for reducing current requiremeents for driving light source units
A display device has a display panel and a backlight unit. The backlight unit includes first and second light source units, and a control unit that outputs a drive signal to the light source units to drive the first and second light source units during first and second drive periods in one frame period respectively. The control unit drives the light source units so that the one frame period has an overlapped period, in which the first and second drive periods overlap. The control unit outputs PWM signals to turn the light source units on and off to the light source units respectively. The control unit shifts a phase of the PWM signal to be outputted to the first light source unit and a phase of the PWM signal to be outputted to the second light source unit from each other.
US09202418B2 Projection system with additional series connected light valve for enhanced contrast
A projection system is provided that uses an additional light valve in series with the conventional color splitting-converging prism in order to increase the contrast of a projected image, wherein bit sequences are generated for the additional light valve that do not result in interference with the conventional color light valve bit sequences.
US09202415B2 OLED-based display device including a pixel circuit, and driving methods thereof
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) based display device including a pixel circuit that includes: an OLED to be connected to a first power terminal, a transistor connected to the OLED, a first capacitor connected to the transistor, a second capacitor connected to the first capacitor and the transistor, a first switch receiving a data signal and a scanning signal and connected to the first capacitor, a second switch connected to the transistor and receiving an enable signal, a third switch connected to the transistor and receiving a compensation signal, and a switching unit configured to transmit one of the enable signal, voltage at a terminal of the first capacitor, a reference signal and the scanning signal to a terminal of the transistor when operated in a conductive state.
US09202414B2 Organic light-emitting diode pixel circuit, display panel and display device
An organic light-emitting diode pixel circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes a signal loading module, an organic light-emitting diode, a drive transistor connected to the signal loading module and configured to provide a current to the organic light-emitting diode. The circuit also includes a storage capacitor connected to the drive transistor, and first and second switch modules configured to selectively control current to and from the drive transistor. In addition, a display panel including the organic light-emitting diode pixel circuit and a display device comprising the display panel are also disclosed.
US09202413B2 Drive method of display device
A drive method of a display device includes the steps of: performing threshold voltage cancel processing at least once, which changes a potential of a second node of a display device toward a potential obtained by subtracting a threshold voltage of a drive transistor from a potential of a first node by applying a given drive voltage to one source/drain region of the drive transistor from a feeding line while maintaining the potential of the first node; and then, performing writing processing which applies a video signal to the first node from a data line through a write transistor, wherein the sum of lengths of periods in which the threshold voltage cancel processing is performed is so set as to be shorter as a frame frequency becomes higher.
US09202411B2 Organic light emitting display device and method of driving the same
Disclosed is an organic light emitting display device. The organic light emitting display device includes a display panel including a plurality of pixels formed in intersection areas between a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines, and a plurality of sensing lines, a gate driver supplying a gate signal to the gate lines, a plurality of data driving ICs including a data driver, supplying data voltages to the data lines, and a sensing unit including a plurality of ADCs that each sense characteristic change of a driving transistor included in a corresponding pixel to generate sensing data, a memory storing a gain error and offset error of each ADC, and a timing controller correcting the sensing data on a basis of the gain error and offset error, modulating input data on a basis of the corrected sensing data, and supplying the modulated data to the data driving ICs.
US09202404B2 Display apparatus, display driving apparatus, and method of driving the display apparatus
A display driving apparatus for outputting control signals to a number of driver integrated circuits (ICs). The plurality of driver ICs are connected in a cascade manner such that, when a first control signal is input to a first driver IC, a transmission signal corresponding to the first control signal is transmitted to a subsequent driver IC using a cascade method. The display driving apparatus includes a restoration signal generation unit for generating restoration signals with respect to the first control signal and transmission signals of the number of driver ICs; an error detection unit for detecting an abnormal driver IC that does not operate normally from among the plurality of driver ICs; and a restoration signal output unit for outputting a restoration signal to the abnormal driver IC.
US09202397B1 Modularized lighting display system
A lighting display system is described and has multiple longitudinal tubes, each having a translucent face, the longitudinal tubes being co-aligned in a longitudinal direction, multiple sequentially interconnected base units having thereon at least one luminaire, at least one control unit associated with the base units, and wherein at least some of the base units are configured to self-address.
US09202393B1 Shelf channel product marking system and method
A product display marking system for use with product shelves that have plural shelf channels, which receive product markers, and wherein each shelf channel has a channel length. The system includes a bulk product marker that is configured as a continuous strip of material that has a width selected to fit the plural shelf channels, and that has plural tear lines oriented transverse to the continuous length, and which are spaced apart by a strip length that is an integer divisor of the plural channel lengths. One or more strip lengths of the bulk product marker, which are selected to equal a selected one of the plural channel lengths, are selected and torn along one of the plural tear lines, for insertion into the selected one of the plural shelf channels, thereby marking the product disposed thereon.
US09202392B2 Label for wet applications
A label for a bottle where the label is comprised of a laminate where an outer layer (3) is a material susceptible to losing opaqueness when made wet, and an inner layer (5) behind this first layer which is a material that is opaque, and such that it will maintain such opaqueness when wet.
US09202386B2 Center of gravity shifting training system
A center of gravity shifting training system includes a display device having a display screen, a measurement device configured to measure a center of gravity position of the user, and a control device. The control device has a training mode and a setting mode of preparing setting data indicating a position of the target image in the display screen. In the setting mode, the control device performs estimation of a deviation of the center of gravity position based on the center of gravity position measured, and prepares the setting data indicating the position of the target image according to a result of the estimation. In the training mode, the control device displays the operation image on the screen in accordance with the center of gravity position measured, and displays the target image on the screen based on the setting data prepared through the setting mode.
US09202380B1 System and method for electronically recording a taxi clearance on an aircraft display unit
Present novel and non-trivial methods for electronically recording a taxi clearance on a display unit are disclosed. In one method, an interactive surface map is displayed from which selections of an assigned takeoff runway and taxiway(s) stated in a taxi clearance may be made electronically through advanced gesturing techniques. These selections highlight the surfaces stated in the taxi clearance. The selections may be made through a series of touch screen taps and/or by the grabbing, dragging, and releasing of a “rubber band” which snaps into place over the selected surface. In another method, an auto-route generating algorithm may be employed to create a preliminary taxi clearance after a presumed runway for takeoff has been selected by the pilot. Then, as the taxi clearance is being received, changes may be made through the pilot's interaction with the graphical user interfaces commensurate with the actual taxi clearance.
US09202379B2 Convoy travel apparatus
A convoy travel apparatus in a self vehicle of a convoy organizes plural convoys of traveling vehicles in consideration of a non-convoy vehicle that desires to pass the plural convoys when the plural convoys are traveling in parallel on a multi-lane road. The apparatus determines whether the plural convoys are traveling in parallel with each other on a multi-lane road, and if an in-parallel travel state of the convoys is determined, the self vehicle in one of the convoys may be accelerated or decelerated to allow the non-convoy vehicle to pass the plural convoys.
US09202377B2 Object determination apparatus and collision avoidance assistance apparatus
An object determination apparatus includes: a sensing device that is mounted in a host vehicle, and that sends detection wave and receives the detection wave reflected from an object, and that detects the object; a detection unit that detects the state of reflection intensity of the detection wave received by the sensing device which changes with the distance to the object; and a determination unit that determines that the object is a vehicle other than the host vehicle when a peak of the reflection intensity exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Peaks of the reflection intensity change in accordance the distance to the object, but the peaks regarding vehicles tend to be higher than the peaks regarding on-road structures. Hence, by comparing a peak of the reflection intensity with the predetermined threshold value, it can be determined whether the detected object is a vehicle other than the host vehicle.
US09202367B2 Low power transmitter for remote control
A transmitter for remote control includes a first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to receive a first audio signal from a electronic device and convert the first audio signal to a first direct-current (DC) signal, a first boost circuit connected to the first ADC to receive and amplify the first DC signal, a second ADC receives a second audio signal from the electronic device and converts the second audio signal to a second DC signal, a second boost circuit connected to the second ADC to receive and amplify the second DC signal, an energy storage element and a transmission module is powered by the energy storage element and generates a carrier signal, the transmission module receives the amplified first DC signal from the first boost circuit, the amplified first DC signal modulates the carrier signal generated by the transmission module, and the amplified second DC signal charges the energy storage element.
US09202363B1 Audio monitoring and sound identification process for remote alarms
In a method for remote monitoring of alarms, a user interface of a mobile computing device enables a user to enter an alarm descriptor associated with an alarm device, and indicate timing of triggering the alarm device. After the timing is indicated, a microphone of the mobile computing device is utilized to detect an audio test signal generated by the alarm device. The audio test signal is processed to generate alarm identification data, and the alarm descriptor and alarm identification data are transferred to an alarm monitoring system. At the alarm monitoring system, when the alarm device generates an audio signal in response to detecting an alarm condition, the audio signal is sensed and processed to identify the alarm device using the alarm identification data and the alarm descriptor. A notification that the alarm device has been triggered is caused to be sent to one or more individuals or entities.
US09202360B1 Methods for remote assistance of disabled persons having at least two remote individuals which receive different indications
A mobile terminal is used to assist individuals with disabilities. A mobile terminal such as a “smartphone”, tablet or other commercially available wireless handheld device may be loaded with software. The software may be configured to: (i) store criteria for managing communications between a disabled user of the mobile terminal and a remote caregiver and a second remote individual, (ii) determine whether a criterion is satisfied, and if so (iii) initiate a communication from the mobile terminal to the remote caregiver, and (iv) initiate a second alert to the second remote individual via a second alert type. Thus, through this software, the mobile terminal may dynamically facilitate communications with specific remote caregivers based on specific situations that may confront disabled individuals.
US09202358B2 Method and system for transmitting video images using video cameras embedded in signal/street lights
A method and system of video surveillance by using existing street light, traffic light and other household or outdoor light assemblies. A video camera is mounted in the light assembly and is powered through power lines of the light assembly. A converter is used to convert images captured by the video camera into Internet Protocol (IP) video data. A combiner then combines the IP video data into the power stream for transmission through the power lines. Both the converter and the combiner are housed in the light assembly. The IP video data travels through the power lines and is separated from the power stream at a collection point. The separated IP video data is transmitted wirelessly or through existing cables over the Internet for viewing.
US09202356B1 Shutter for limiting image capturing area
A shutter apparatus limits an image capturing area of an image-capturing apparatus for capturing an image. The shutter apparatus includes a base in which a hole is formed, and a restricting member that surrounds the image-capturing apparatus, wherein the restricting member is divided into a plurality of members, each being operated independently, and received and protruded through the hole of the base.
US09202355B2 Self adapting haptic device
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed that allow an electronic device to autonomously adapt one or more user alerts of the electronic device. For example, some embodiments may include a method for operating a haptic device including driving a haptic device using a control signal, measuring a frequency related to the operation of the haptic device and comparing the measured frequency with a target frequency. A control signal is adjusted based on the comparison to drive the haptic device to the target frequency.
US09202352B2 Automatic haptic effect adjustment system
A system is provided that automatically adjusts a haptic effect. The system generates a haptic effect based on one or more haptic parameters. The system measures an affective state of a user that experiences the haptic effect. The system adjusts at least one haptic parameter of the one or more haptic parameters based on the measured affective state. The system generates a new haptic effect based on the one or more haptic parameters, where the at least one haptic effect parameter causes the new haptic effect to be different from the haptic effect.
US09202344B1 Pair 9 poker plus
Pair 9 Poker Plus is a card game wherein a five card hand is dealt and a single card discard made such that a first and a second two card hand remains of the selected four cards to be held by a player. Wagers and payouts in physical items are provided for which may be electronic, currency or virtual currency that are validated, and, if accepted, establish credit for game play and are likewise utilized for payout. The first two card hand is ranked according to poker and so a pair of aces is high and the second two card hand is ranked according to baccarat rules where a ten, jack, queen or king are zero, the tens digit of the sum of two cards is not part of a point value and so a nine is the highest ranking hand by point value. A virtual dealer uses artificial intelligence from memory stored game rules to make a choice of discard and first and second two card hands to play.
US09202342B2 Video poker system and method
An electronic gaming machine configured to allow play of at least two hands of video poker where the two hands intersect and share a common card between the hands. The electronic gaming machine comprises at least one display device, at least one input device, a memory and at least one computer processor configured to display at least a first hand and a second hand of at least three cards. After the at least two hands are displayed, the player is provided an opportunity to slide the cards in either or both hands to select the common card shared between the two hands to optimize the combination of cards in either or both hands.
US09202339B2 Gaming system, gaming device, and gaming method for shifting symbols from a staging area to a symbol matrix
A gaming device displays a symbol matrix including a plurality of symbol positions and at least two symbol staging areas, each symbol staging area including at least one supplemental symbol potentially shiftable into the symbol matrix. The gaming device displays a symbol staging area indicator. For a play of a game, the gaming device generates a symbol in each symbol position of the symbol matrix. Upon an occurrence of a triggering condition, the gaming device indicates one of the symbol staging areas using the symbol staging area indicator and removes at least one symbol from at least one symbol position of the symbol matrix. The gaming device re-populates the empty symbol positions by shifting any appropriate symbols of the symbol matrix any appropriate empty symbol positions, and thereafter shifting at least one supplemental symbol from the indicated symbol staging area into at least one remaining empty symbol position.
US09202338B2 Gaming method and device involving progressive wagers
A method of gaming is disclosed wherein progressive award values may be increased in response to certain pre-established game outcomes, wager amounts or random events. The increased progressive award values may be based on a primary game or secondary game outcome. Another innovation is the resetting of progressive awards upon completion of a bonus event whether or not award actually won in said bonus event. Player tracking systems permit progressive award values to be linked to a particular player such that the progressive award values remain personal to the player. Re-setting increased progressive award values is also disclosed.
US09202336B2 Systems and methods for issuing bonuses in a gaming environment
Certain embodiments provide systems and methods for promotional or bonus awards in a gaming environment. Certain embodiments provide, in a gaming system having one or more gaming devices for play by players, a method for awarding promotional awards. The method includes detecting an award at a gaming device in the gaming system. The method also includes determining satisfaction of one or more promotional criterion by the award. The method further includes initiating, upon satisfaction of the one or more promotional criterion, a promotional award to a group of one or more players satisfying one or more eligibility criterion.
US09202330B2 Portable object including a display and application for carrying out electronic transactions
A smart portable object including a safety component and a display, wherein the display is directly or indirectly interactive between a user and the safety component. The smart portable object also relates to implementing an electronic transaction, including a display step for displaying all or some of the information that is useful to a user for the transaction and/or a step of interacting with the user, wherein the display and/or interaction step is carried out via the interactive display.
US09202329B2 Electronic vouchers
A method for distributing and reliably redeeming electronic cash value vouchers that uses existing POS terminals. The vouchers may be distributed via mobile telephones. The voucher comprises an alphanumeric code which is entered into the standards compliant POS terminal. The system checks that the voucher is valid and provides a redemption value to the POS which can be credited by the retailer. The transaction can then be completed by the retailer using known methods.
US09202327B2 Method for checking the production quality of an optical security feature of a value document
A method for checking the production quality of a prescribed optical security feature in or on a prescribed portion of a value document on the basis of pixel data of pixels of an image of the prescribed portion which are respectively associated with places in or on the portion and render optical properties of the value document at the places whether a first number or share of those pixels, whose pixel data, according to a first prescribed criterion, lie within a first reference region prescribed for the security feature exceeds a first minimum hit value, and whether a first scatter of the pixel data of those pixels lying within the first reference region for the pixel data according to the first criterion exceeds a first minimum scatter prescribed for the security feature. A quality signal from the check represents an indication of a sufficient printing quality according to certain criteria.
US09202323B2 Secure electronic compartment identifier system
A latch, or tag that can be used on luggage, baggage, trunks, rail cars, trailers or any compartment that can be opened and closed that establishes profile data that is associated with the latch or tag and is adapted to store personal data and an identifier in the latch mechanism or on the tag. The profile data can be used to establish a risk factor with the luggage or compartment and/or a person associated with the luggage or compartment.
US09202316B1 Emergency vehicle climate apparatus and method
At least one environmental parameter is received from at least one environmental sensor located in or at a vehicle. Based upon the at least one environmental parameter, a determination is made as to whether an abnormal condition exists within or at a vehicle. When the abnormal condition exists, at least one vehicle component is actuated until the abnormal condition no longer exists within the vehicle.
US09202315B2 Three-dimensional video image processing device and three-dimensional video image processing method
A displacement map generation section generates, for a stereoscopic image, a displacement map indicating a displacement of a second viewpoint image relative to a first viewpoint image. A first new image generation section performs rotation processing in accordance with a given rotation angle on the first viewpoint image to generate a new first viewpoint image. A displacement map correction section performs correction processing on the displacement map on the basis of the rotation angle to generate a corrected displacement map. A second new image generation section generates a new second viewpoint image from the new first viewpoint image on the basis of the corrected displacement map.
US09202308B2 Methods of and apparatus for assigning vertex and fragment shading operations to a multi-threaded multi-format blending device
An exemplary aspect relates generally to graphics processing systems and more specifically relates to executing vertex and fragment shading operations to a pixel blender device. The technology is at least applicable to graphics processing systems in which vertex and fragment shading operations are executed by dedicated fragment and vertex units or by unified shading units. The graphics processing unit driver is responsible to determine if a shading operation can be assigned to a multi-threaded, multi-format pixel blender. Based on the determination, the fragment shading operations or the vertex shading operations or both are assigned to the pixel blender for execution; the execution of the fragment and/or vertex shading operations by the shader unit(s) is skipped. The determination is based on a code analysis. Forwarding shading operations from the fragment and vertex shaders, i.e., bypassing the shading units, to a programmable, multi-threaded and multi-format pixel blender may save electrical power consumption because a programmable, multi-threaded, and multi-format pixel blender is a less complex circuit compared to a fragment or a vertex or a unified shading unit.
US09202294B2 Clinical collaboration and medical computing framework
A method of clinical collaboration between a clinical site and an analysis site includes receiving scan data from a scanner via a first reconstruction computer system at the clinical site, implementing a reconstruction procedure on the received scan data using a second reconstruction computer system at the analysis site and configured in accordance with a reconstruction configuration parameter, the analysis site being remote from the clinical site, and transmitting data indicative of the reconstruction configuration parameter to the first reconstruction computer system to configure the first reconstruction computer system in accordance with the reconstruction configuration parameter.
US09202292B2 Image processing apparatus having a plurality of image processing blocks that are capable of real-time processing of an image signal
An image processing apparatus is provided which offers higher versatility than conventional image processing apparatuses. When an input signal to a spatial filtering block is a monochrome signal that contains Y component only, a selector selects its input terminal and a selector selects its input terminal. Then, a low-pass filter output signal of a programmable spatial filter is inputted to a spatial filter, and a low-pass filter output signal of the spatial filer is inputted to a spatial filter. That is, the programmable spatial filter and the spatial filters are connected in series (in cascade), and the cascade-connected three spatial filters perform filtering operation. In this example, low-pass filters with 5H5 taps are connected in cascade in three stages, which enables low-pass filtering with 13H13 taps.
US09202291B1 Volumetric cloth shader
In various embodiments, an ray-marched-tangent space shader is provided which uses adaptive, curved ray marching of an implicit weave/thread procedural texture to create the appearance of individual cloth yarns complete with sub-fibers which separate rather than stretch over the surface. The volumetric surface shader shades cloth by performing adaptive curved ray marching of an implicit tangent space distance field.
US09202289B2 Method for coding and decoding target block partition information using information about neighboring blocks
The present invention relates to image encoding and image decoding. A method for encoding images according to the present invention comprises the steps of: acquiring division information from peripheral blocks of an encoding target block with respect to the peripheral blocks; predicting the division of the encoding target block on the basis of the acquired division information; encoding information on the difference between the practical division information of the encoding target information and the predictive division information predicted in the predicting process; and transmitting the encoded information. The present invention can encode/decode the division information of the encoding/decoding target blocks using the information about the peripheral blocks.
US09202288B2 Method, apparatus and computer program product for processing of image frames
In accordance with an example embodiment a method, apparatus and computer program product are provided. The method comprises receiving color image frames and panchromatic image frames associated with a scene. The color image frames correspond to the panchromatic image frames. The method further comprises computing registration information based on a panchromatic image frame and one or more panchromatic image frames from among the panchromatic image frames. A color image frame corresponding to the panchromatic image frame is modified based on the registration information.
US09202287B2 Apparatus and method for processing color image using depth image
Provided is an image processing apparatus and method for adjusting a color image using a depth image. The image processing apparatus may include a color image segmenting unit to segment a color image into a plurality of color segments, using a color layer of the color image, a depth image segmenting unit to segment a depth image into a plurality of depth segments, using a depth layer of the depth image, and a layer boundary adjusting unit to adjust a boundary value of the color layer, using the plurality of color segments and the plurality of depth segments.
US09202285B2 Image processing apparatus, method, and program
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, method, and program that can extract an object from an input image more easily and more accurately.A face detecting unit (31) detects a face from an input image, a mask area setting unit (33) sets a mask area which masks a person in the input image based on a position of the face detected by the face detecting unit (31), a background model updating unit (51) updates a background image by learning areas other than the mask area in the input image as the background image, and a separating unit (54) separates the input image into the background image and a foreground image which is an area of the person in the input image based on the background image updated by the background model updating unit (51) and the input image. The present invention can be applied to, for example, an image processing apparatus that extracts a person from an input image.
US09202282B2 Boundary extraction method and apparatus
The present invention discloses a boundary extraction method and apparatus, the method including: a gradient estimation step of estimating a gradient of each pixel in a captured image; a gradient adjustment step of adjusting, by enhancing a gradient of a target boundary of an object contained in the captured image and weakening a gradient of a noise boundary, the estimated gradient, so that the adjusted gradient is considered as a current gradient; and a boundary extraction step of extracting a boundary of the object based on the current gradient. According to the embodiments of the invention, in a case of using a non-contact imaging device to capture an image, it is possible to more accurately extract a boundary of an object contained in the captured image.
US09202280B2 Position estimation based rotation of switched off light source
Methods and systems are described for determining eye position and/or for determining eye movement based on glints. An exemplary computer-implemented method involves: (a) causing a camera that is attached to a head-mounted display (HMD) to record a video of the eye; (b) while the video of the eye is being recorded, causing a plurality of light sources that are attached to the HMD and generally directed towards the eye to switch on and off according to a predetermined pattern, wherein the predetermined pattern is such that at least two of the light sources are switched on at any given time while the video of the eye is being recorded; (c) analyzing the video of the eye to detect controlled glints that correspond to the plurality of light sources; and (d) determining a measure of eye position based on the controlled glints.
US09202273B2 Methods and systems for color flow dynamic frame persistence
Methods and systems for color flow dynamic frame persistence in ultrasonic imaging are provided.
US09202272B2 Method and apparatus for image enhancement in magnetic resonance imaging using motion corrupted data
An apparatus and method process image data, including motion corrupted data, from a magnetic resonance imaging procedure to obtain and reconstruct images for cardiac, cardiovascular, coronary arterial, and/or pulmonary vein diagnoses in a subject. The apparatus and method include a processor operating predetermined software which receives the image data, classifies the received image data as accepted image data or rejected image data, and applies a predetermined relationship between the accepted image data and the rejected image data to correct for motion of the subject and to generate and output a reconstructed image of the subject corrected for the motion from the image data, with the reconstructed image having a relatively high signal-to-noise ratio.
US09202266B2 Method, apparatus and computer program product for processing of images
In accordance with an example embodiment a method, apparatus and computer program product are provided. The method comprises determining a plurality of first pixels having resemblance with a second pixel associated with an image based on a depth information of the image. The method further comprises replacing the second pixel by at least one first pixel of the plurality of first pixels based on a determination that the at least one first pixel is not associated with the at least one image defect.
US09202265B2 Point spread function cost function with non-uniform weights
A PSF cost function used for determining a PSF kernel (438) of at least a portion of an image (16) includes (i) a first fidelity term having a first direction derivative, (ii) a first fidelity term weight for the first fidelity term, (iii) a second fidelity term having a second direction derivative, and (iv) a second fidelity term weight for the second fidelity term. Another PSF cost function for determining a PSF kernel (638) includes (i) a first fidelity term with a first derivative in a dominant edge direction (d), and (ii) a second fidelity term having a second derivative in a perpendicular direction(p) to the dominant edge direction.
US09202262B2 Optimized method for estimating the dominant gradient direction of a digital image area
The solution disclosed herein reduces the amount of time and computational resources necessary to determine a dominant gradient direction of an image area comprising a plurality of pixels of an image. To that end, the dominant gradient direction of an image area is determined based on two gradient magnitudes determined from four sample points in the image area, where a direction of one of the gradient magnitudes is perpendicular to a direction of the other of the gradient magnitudes. The dominant gradient direction is then determined by taking the arctangent of the computed gradient magnitudes.
US09202261B2 Image processing apparatus and method
The disclosure provides an image processing apparatus and method. The image processing apparatus may include: a filter for performing an iterative filtering on an input image; and an iterative filtering stopping device for determining whether to stop the iterative filtering according to a variation speed of the filtered image obtained from each iteration of the iterative filtering with increasing of iteration times.
US09202257B2 System for determining an illegitimate three dimensional video and methods thereof
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and video analyzing computing device that generates a scene averaged frame value for each scene of an original video and a each scene of a resembling video. Each of a subset of the scenes of the resembling video is mapped to a corresponding scene of the original video based on a comparison of the scene averaged frame values. A singular value score is generated for each frame of each of the subset of scenes of the resembling video and each frame of the corresponding one of the scenes of the original video is generated. Matching one(s) of the one or more frames of each of the at least a subset of scenes of the resembling video is identified based on a comparison of at least a subset of the singular value scores. A first watermark is extracted from the identified matching frames.
US09202254B2 Variable processing of both image and audio data based on processor utilization
Arrangements involving portable devices (e.g., smartphones and tablet computers) are disclosed. One arrangement enables a content creator to select software with which that creator's content should be rendered—assuring continuity between artistic intention and delivery. Another utilizes a device camera to identify nearby subjects, and take actions based thereon. Others rely on near field chip (RFID) identification of objects, or on identification of audio streams (e.g., music, voice). Some technologies concern improvements to the user interfaces associated with such devices. Others involve use of these devices in connection with shopping, text entry, sign language interpretation, and vision-based discovery. Still other improvements are architectural in nature, e.g., relating to evidence-based state machines, and blackboard systems. Yet other technologies concern use of linked data in portable devices—some of which exploit GPU capabilities. Still other technologies concern computational photography. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
US09202247B2 System and method utilizing voice search to locate a product in stores from a phone
A system and method for providing automatic voice recognition and voice response product location information in a store while using a personal mobile phone or any phone connected to a telecommunications or data communications network such as and including the Internet and an automatic speech recognition system. The system 403 & 404 asks a user and/or customer 300 a series of automated questions to help the user and/or customer 300 locate products in stores. In the embodiment of the invention, the user and/or customer 300 only needs to dial the toll free or dial in number 302 from any phone to use the system in order to receive the requested product location information or other available information by the automated response system. This invention creates the product location assistance (PLA) system to be used in locating products in stores, creating new efficiencies in customer service for retailers, businesses and organizations.
US09202243B2 System, method, and computer program product for comparing decision options
A method for comparing decision options includes storing a set of decision options. The method includes determining for each decision option of the set of decision options, a plurality of factors, wherein each of the plurality of factors defines a respective metric. The method includes receiving a plurality of user preference indicators, each indicator corresponding to a respective factor of the plurality of factors. The method includes ranking the set of decision options in response to receiving a first user preference indicator. The method includes providing the user with a ranked list of the set of decision options in response to receiving the first user preference indicator. The method includes reranking the set of decision options in response to receiving a second user preference indicator and providing the user with a reranked list of the set of decision options in response to receiving the second user preference indicator.
US09202240B2 System for packaging, processing, and activating a bundled greeting and gift card
A greeting card stored-value card combinations and methods of forming said combinations are provided. In one embodiment, these combinations include a greeting card comprising means for affixing a stored-value card thereto. These combinations also include a stored-value card affixed to the greeting card. A single identifier, such as a Stock-Keeping Unit (SKU) or a Universal Product Code (UPC), is assigned to the bundle that uniquely identifies the bundled greeting card and stored-value card. The single identifier provides identification means allowing the stored-value card to be activated. A single capture of the single identifier enables the customer to both purchase the greeting card stored-value card combination product as well as to activate the store-value card.
US09202237B2 Generating a single billing record for multiple sessions in a network environment
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a plurality of communication sessions of a transaction associated with a postpaid end user. The method includes associating the plurality of communication sessions with the transaction and extracting data from the plurality of communication sessions associated with the transaction. The method includes generating a single billing record after the transaction is completed, the single billing record comprising the extracted data from the plurality of communication sessions associated with the transaction.
US09202236B2 Associating financial transaction with advertisement
A method for associating a financial transaction with an electronic advertisement including obtaining unique electronic tokens for each potential financial transaction resulting from an electronic advertisement of an advertiser to consumers; storing the unique electronic tokens as stored tokens associated with the electronic advertisement; transmitting the unique electronic tokens as distributed tokens to the advertiser; receiving at least one of the distributed tokens that has been passed from the advertiser to a consumer in relation to a financial transaction based on the electronic advertisement; and associating each financial transaction identified by the received distributed token with the electronic advertisement identified by the stored tokens, if the received distributed token matches with the stored token.
US09202235B2 Promotion operable recognition system
A recognition system is employed in conjunction with a subscriber's cellular phone and the network serving the subscriber. According to an embodiment, a subscriber can use a cellular phone to receive and capture data signals, from, for example, an audio output. The captured data signals can be transmitted to a remote network element that receives and translates the captured data and performs a plurality of functions. A promotion can be selectively tailored to a user based in part on the user location.
US09202233B1 Event attendance determinations
Systems and methods are provided for determining the likelihood of a user's attendance at an event. For example, the systems and methods can be used to determine that a particular user is attending, is planning to attend, has already attended, or is about to attend a particular event, such as a movie, concert, tour, etc. Further, upon determining that a user is attending, has already attended, or is about to attend an event, systems and methods can be used to serve to a device, associated with the user, content that is related to the event. For example, the content may include invites that invite the user to provide a review of the event and to join a discussion about the event. Further, for example, the content may include links to websites that provide reviews and other information about the event, provide information about related events, or that offer related items for sale.
US09202224B2 Providing a survey during an advertisement opportunity to improve advertising experience
A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for providing advertisements with a media program transmitted to a user device are described. The method permits the user to manage the provision of user information such as surveys and advertisement feedback to the media program provider to improve the advertising experience.
US09202223B2 Method and system for transacting with network traffic
A system and method for using targeted network traffic as payment-in-kind in exchange for rights to anything that may be connected to a network, such as network-connected computer hardware and copyrighted software or content on such hardware, is disclosed. The method may be adapted for use with almost any product or service which may be tracked over a network. The system and method are for use with transactions between a user of a subject product or service and a provider of the subject product or service desiring to receive traffic to a target in exchange for it.
US09202221B2 Content recommendations based on browsing information
Architecture for dynamically tracking information about a first-time or inactive user to a website and expeditiously presenting targeted content back to the user to maintain the user interest in the website. A visceral connection is created with the user based on immediately relevant content and functionality, and without requiring user-entered profile information about the user. Based on a few pieces of browsing information collected while at the website an action-oriented initial scenario is provided that is interesting to the user, and gets the user invested in the content (e.g., product) as a whole. Services can be recommended to users in the context of a social application or an online service provider, for example. The architecture also facilitates the up-selling, cross-selling of services, features, and products, for example, to users based on the current user browsing activity.
US09202220B2 Methods and apparatuses to provide application programming interface for retrieving pay per call advertisements
Methods and apparatuses to provide access to advertisement database through an application programming interface. One embodiment includes receiving a request according to an application program interface over a network connection; and in response to the request, providing at least a portion of an advertisement according to the application programming interface. The advertisement is designed to generate communication leads for a party; and the party is to be charged for the advertisement according to a count of communication leads generated for the party via the advertisement.
US09202219B2 System and method to merge pay-for-performance advertising models
Methods and apparatuses for merging different types of pay for performance advertisements. In one embodiment, a method includes: determining an indicator of potential revenue for a party from price information of a list of entities, which includes first price information for a first type of advertisements and second price information for a second type of advertisements; and sorting the list of entities based at least partially on the indicator of potential revenue. In one embodiment, a method includes: converting price information for an advertisement of a first type to equivalent price information for a second type of advertisements. In one embodiment, a method includes: determining automatically, based on a call bid amount for a pay per call advertisement, a click bid amount for a pay per click advertisement to provide a phone number of the pay per call advertisement.
US09202216B2 Electronic retail financial transaction manager
An Internet based system for executing transactions is described. The system may include transaction data, a database, a business logic manager and user profiles. A rules may also be included, and store information about system responses to modifications of the data. The user profiles may be configured to store information concerning the availability of information and displays depending upon the user.
US09202213B2 Method and system for sending, routing, and receiving information using concise messages
A system and method are provided for communication between a communication device and a content provider associated with an internet domain name and a server. The system includes a network with a user interface, an internet connection, and an interface to the content provider's internet domain. A communication device user enters a concise message request which includes a channel, a designator and, optionally, a request instruction. The combination of the channel and the designator specify a location on the internet at which routing instructions reside for responding to the concise message request and generating a concise message response for output to the communication device. Concise message documents can be generated for effecting financial transactions such as purchases and payments via SMS. CMRL can also be used to route person-to-person messaging through a content provider's internet domain at which the users may be registered.
US09202212B1 Using mobile device to monitor for electronic bank card communication
A bank customer's CE device passively eavesdrops on NFC communications between the customer's electronic debit or credit card (“e-card”) and a third device and alerts the customer when such communication is detected from the e-card. In this way, the customer is alerted to possibly fraudulent “fishing” of the e-card data by a nearby thief device.
US09202211B2 Systems and methods to facilitate repeated purchases
Systems and methods are provided to facilitate repeated purchase and payment transactions. In one aspect, a system includes an interchange and a data storage facility configured to store payment transaction records associated with phone numbers. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the controllers in different formats and to communicate with the common format processor in a common format. The common format processor is configured to identify a prior payment transaction associated with a phone number in response to a message from a mobile phone having the phone number, communicate with a merchant to repeat a purchase according to the prior payment transaction, and transmit via one of the converters premium messages to the mobile phone to collect funds for a payment to repeat the purchase.
US09202210B2 Digital rights management device and method
A portable storage device includes a mechanism for receiving a value of an identification parameter from a receiving device, a non-volatile memory for storing digital content, a licensing policy, and a license for viewing the digital content on the receiving device as identified by the identification parameter, and a controller that is operative, in response to the identification parameter and the license, to provide a controlled feeding of at least a portion of the digital content to the receiving device, in accordance with the licensing policy.
US09202209B2 Digital downloading jukebox system with user-tailored music management, communications, and other tools
A digital downloading jukebox system including a mechanism for delivering custom services to a recognized user, including services for creating playlists, communicating with others, accessing other features, etc. is provided. In some exemplary embodiments, after a user is recognized, the jukebox system allows users to access a special front-end via an Internet-enabled device or on an actual jukebox. Then, the user may, for example, create playlists, share songs with friends, send messages to friends, and access other value-added content. Such a system preferably learns about networks of friends, and enables managers to send similar messages to regular customers and/or others known to the system. In some exemplary embodiments, changes via a first user interface on a first device are reflected on second user interface on other properly-configured devices.
US09202205B2 Assign photographers on an event invite and automate requesting, uploading, and sharing of photos and videos for an event
Methods, program products and systems to assign photographers on an event invite and automate requesting, uploading and sharing of the event's photos/videos are described here. The solution would allow to assign photographers for an event using the event's invite itself, indirectly triggering the auto-creation of a new photo/video album and allowing the photographer invitees to upload their photos/videos for the event, either real-time or manually at a later time. Thereafter, once an event is complete, the event's photo/video album would be either automatically or manually shared with the event's guests depending upon the preferences set by the event's owner.
US09202197B1 Sort bin assignment
Disclosed are various systems, methods, and other embodiments involving assignment and use of sort bins in a materials handling center. A manifest is generated in a computer system that directs a picking of a plurality of items from a plurality of inventory locations in a materials handling center in fulfillment of a plurality of orders for the purchase of the items. Sort bin assignments are generated in the computer system before picking the items. Each sort bin assignment corresponds to a respective one of the items, and each of the sort bin assignments specifies a corresponding one of a plurality of sort bins designated to coalesce together the items associated with respective ones of the orders for packing. The sort bin assignments are stored in memory for use in sorting the items.
US09202196B2 Rule-based tracking of products based on intelligent identifiers
A method comprising receiving radio frequency tracker identifiers stored by tags associated with items; evaluating the radio frequency tracker identifiers based on radio frequency tracker identifiers previously received or concurrently received; identifying one or more radio frequency tracker identifiers based on the evaluating; selecting a rule from a set of rules when it is determined that an event occurred with respect to the identified one or more radio frequency tracker identifiers, wherein the set of rules correlates with information included in the radio frequency tracker identifiers and the selected rule pertains to an occurrence of the event; selecting a responsive action based on the selected rule; and generating a notification defined by the selected responsive action.
US09202194B1 Tracking the distribution of a product or package through a supply chain to determine authenticity and detect breaches
Distribution of a product or package is tracked through a supply chain having multiple entities that successively receive the product or package. A unique device identifier is associated with each of the supply chain entities and identifies a device that the supply chain entity uses to communicate with an administration computer. The supply chain entities electronically communicate to the administration computer via the device whenever the supply chain entities send a product or package to a successive supply chain entity in the supply chain or receive a product or package from a previous supply chain entity in the supply chain. The communication includes the unique device identifier of the supply chain entity, the unique product or package identifier of the product or package being sent or received, and the supplier code that the supply chain entity has received the product or package from, or sends the product or package to.
US09202191B2 System and method for remote acquisition and delivery of goods
A system and method for remote acquisition and delivery of goods includes a server in communication with customer computers, such as through a user interface via the internet. The server can store customer information including billing information, and may include a real-time video processor. A mobile delivery system in communication with the server includes an energy efficient vehicle, a real-time video device, a global positioning system, a communication device and a printer. In use, a customer communicates with a mobile delivery agent via the real-time video device and the communication device to remotely acquire a product. Once acquired, the delivery agent delivers the product to a designated delivery location. The real-time video device can be utilized during the entire transaction. The system preferably includes a processor for optimizing system efficiencies, including selecting a delivery agent based on the product, pick-up location and delivery site.
US09202185B2 Transaction model with structural and behavioral description of complex transactions
A model is used to provide a user interface to track flows through at least one application of a computer system. The model relates the structural aspects of the at least one application to a behavioral model such as a business transaction hierarchy. The structural part of the model includes linked Vertex and Edge records. Vertex records for different instances of a component can be aggregated to provide a single vertex or node for display in a user interface. A Vertex record is linked to an Agent record and a Metric Path record. The Edge records identify tail and head components of a call. A set of Edge records can be associated with a Transaction record in the behavioral part of the model. A Transaction record can be associated with a Business Transaction Record, and a Business Transaction record can be associated with a Business Service Record.
US09202181B2 Method for target driven charting in flat sheet industries
Optimal charting patterns for charting of raw rolls/sheets from flat sheet industry are produced with a processing system and includes the steps of: (a) receiving user selected business objectives; (b) receiving user selected business preferences; (c) setting targets for user selected business preferences; (d) establishing charting constraint sets; (e) generating charting patterns based on user selected business objectives and targets for user selected business preferences; and (f) selecting charting patterns based on targets for user selected business preference using an objective function, wherein the objective function includes terms related to the user selected business objectives. Target driven charting assists users in knowing the bounds (upper and/or lower) of the values for various business objectives for an individual charting run. The analysis of bounds allows for explicit understanding of the trade-offs between various business objectives and enables users to prioritize their business goals separately for each charting batch or run.
US09202178B2 Computerized cluster analysis framework for decorrelated cluster identification in datasets
A computing device to automatically cluster a dataset is provided. Data that includes a plurality of observations with a plurality of data points defined for each observation is received. Each data point of the plurality of data points is associated with a variable to define a plurality of variables. A number of clusters into which to segment the received data is repeatedly selected by repeatedly executing a clustering algorithm with the received data. A plurality of sets of clusters is defined based on the repeated execution of the clustering algorithm that resulted in the selected number of clusters. A plurality of composite clusters is defined based on the defined plurality of sets of clusters. The plurality of observations is assigned to the defined plurality of composite clusters using the plurality of data points defined for each observation.
US09202174B2 Automated tracker and analyzer
A utility that can be embedded within a system or application, or run as a stand-alone utility, provides a method for identifying causal relationships for one or more events. For instance, if an anomaly is occurring for a subset of events in a series of events, certain information about potential causes can be collected in conjunction with the series of events and, the information can be analyzed to determine if there is a cause and affect relationship leading to the occurrence of the anomalies.
US09202173B1 Using link analysis in adversarial knowledge-based authentication model
An improved technique involves adjusting the operation of a KBA system based on facts that may contain information known to an adversary. Along these lines, the KBA system may receive an alert concerning an adversary that may know the answers to some of the KBA questions used by the KBA system in authenticating users. In response to alert, the KBA system may alter operations in order to account for the adversary. Subsequently, when a user requests authentication, the KBA system selects KBA questions based on adjustments made to the KBA system in order to avoid presenting the adversary with KBA questions derived from facts (s)he knows.
US09202171B2 Virtual game assistant based on artificial intelligence
Virtual game dealers based on artificial intelligence are described. In one implementation, an artificial intelligence (AI) engine tracks player attributes and game states of a given electronic game, such as a multiplayer electronic card game hosted by a virtual dealer. The virtual dealer may be embodied as a video, hologram, or robot. The AI engine selects speech and gestures for the virtual dealer based on the game states and player attributes. The player attributes may be retrieved from a player tracking system, from an identifier card carried by the player, and from machine perception of the player in real time. In one implementation, the AI engine determines emotions for the virtual dealer to portray, based on circumstances. Supported by the AI engine, the virtual dealer may personalize dialogue, provide information, and perform card and chip tricks. The AI engine may also animate a virtual player and select interactions between the virtual dealer and the virtual player based on game states and attributes of the human players.
US09202170B2 Systems and methods for contextual recommendations
A method and a system for making contextual recommendations to users on a network-based system. For example, activity associated with a user interacting with a network-based system is tracked. Based, at least in part, on the tracked user activity on the network-based system, a recommendation relationship type is selected. The recommendation relationship type can be either a substitute relationship type or a complement relationship type. A recommended object can be selected based at least in part on the recommendation relationship type and a first object accessed by the user interacting with the network-based system. A recommendation can be generated for the recommended object for presentation to the user interacting with the network-based system.
US09202167B1 Automated defect identification and resolution
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for identifying and resolving defects in multiple clusters based on a reported defect instance is discussed. Computer systems may be grouped into clusters. A report of a defective system may be received, and the defective system's cluster may be identified. A defect solution may then be distributed to all the systems in that cluster.
US09202165B2 Device for counting objects fed as bulk material
The invention relates to a device for counting objects fed as bulk material, comprising a first feeding unit for pre-counting a first fixed subset of a target quantity of objects and a second feeding unit for preferably separately feeding a second subset of the target quantity of objects, wherein the device (1, 7, 10) is designed such that the quantity of objects of the first subset is transmitted to a control apparatus (5), which controls the second feeding unit such that the second subset of objects is fed enough objects that the second subset of objects corresponds to the difference between the first subset and the target quantity of objects, and the first subset of objects is poured into the second subset of objects.
US09202163B2 Radio frequency identification (RFID) label and method for making the label
The invention consists in an RFID label consisting of at least: one functional layer comprising at least one electronic component, one antenna connected to the electronic component; one upper layer; one lower layer having an adhesive surface; wherein the upper and lower layers consist of one or more materials capable of resisting to ultraviolet radiation and/or of filtering the ultraviolet radiation. The invention also includes the method for manufacturing the RFID label and the machine applying the method for manufacturing the RFID label.
US09202158B2 Secure element power management system
There is described a method of, and a circuit for supplying power to an integrated circuit card, ICC, of a wireless device comprising a first power supply unit. The circuit comprises a power pin connected configured to selectively operate as a power input pin or as a power output pin, and adapted to be connected to the first power path of the device through a second power path of the device; a second power supply unit; and a controller configured to cause the power pin to operate as a power input pin in the first operation mode of the device, or as a power output pin in the second operation mode of the device. A wireless device comprising the circuit and a method of supplying power to an ICC are further disclosed.
US09202156B2 Mobile device with time-varying magnetic field
An electronic transaction card communicates with an add-on slot of an intelligent electronic device. The add-on slot may be a memory card slot. The intelligent electronic device may be a mobile phone or other device with or without network connectivity. The electronic transaction card may have magnetic field producing circuitry compatible with magnetic card readers, smartcard circuitry, other point-of-sale interfaces, or any combination thereof.
US09202154B2 Information processing apparatus and method for controlling re-execution of print jobs, and storage medium
When a user instructs re-execution of a print job based on history information of the executed print job, even if user information of the history information of the print job does not correspond to user information of the user who instructed re-execution of the print job, if authentication of the user who instructed the re-execution of the print job succeeds, the print job is re-executed based on the history information of the print job.
US09202151B2 Printing apparatus, control method thereof, control program thereof, and manufacturing method of printing material
A printing apparatus is provided with a CPU. The CPU generates dot data where dots are regularly distributed and arranged in a case where gradation values which are represented by image data are a predetermined value or less by using a dither mask where thresholds are set for each printing pixel and comparing the gradation values of each of the pixels which configure the original image and the thresholds for each of the printing pixels which are set in the dither mask, and generates the dot data such that the degree of regularity of the dots which are distributed and arranged is reduced as the gradation values are increased in a case where the gradation values which are represented by the image data exceed the predetermined value through execution of a dot data generating module.
US09202147B2 Image forming system including an image reading unit in a paper conveying path downstream from an image forming unit
Disclosed is an image forming system, including: a conveying unit configured to convey recording paper; an image forming unit configured to print an image on the recording paper; an image reading unit configured to optically read the recording paper and to obtain a read image; and a correction control unit configured to control an execution of a test operation in which a test pattern including one or more thin lines are printed on the recording paper by the image forming unit and in which the test pattern is read by the image reading unit, to collect information indicting operation state of each unit in the execution of the test operation, to evaluate the thin lines in the read image obtained in the test operation in consideration of the collected information and to carry out a correction relating to printing of a specified thin line.
US09202146B2 Duplicate check image resolution
A system and method for comparing digital images, such as checks images used by banks, includes receiving and processing the images to be compared, including scaling the images to a common resolution, as well as filtering them to remove spot noise, background pels, and other non-information carrying elements. One or more regions of each image are selected for comparison. The selected regions are compared to one another by subtracting the pels of one image from the other's pels. A determination is made of whether the two or more images are duplicates of one another, or depict a substantially identical subject, based on the results of the subtractions. Furthermore, the amount of filtering and scaling may be adjusted to enhance the effects of the system to take advantage of common characteristics that may be known or detected in a particular set of images to be compared.
US09202144B2 Regionlets with shift invariant neural patterns for object detection
Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting an object in an image by determining convolutional neural network responses on the image; mapping the responses back to their spatial locations in the image; and constructing features densely extract shift invariant activations of a convolutional neural network to produce dense features for the image.
US09202143B2 Automatic photo grouping by events
Intuitive photo grouping is accomplished utilizing photo metadata information, including photos' timestamps, GPS information, name and storage folder identity, to automatically generate logical and meaningful event photo groupings for users.
US09202142B1 Automatic assessment of books to determine suitability for audio book conversion
An electronic book system includes an assessment module that determines how suitable a particular book is for conversion to audio presentation format. The extent of image content is determined and compared with the amount of text in the book. Images are categorized and then weighted based on factors including image size, context of image with respect to surrounding text, and repetition of the image. An overall assessment score is generated as a metric for how suitable the book is for conversion to audio format. Image weightings are also usable to determine which images may be provided to users along with the audio version.
US09202139B2 System, method, and computer program product for generating a subset of a low discrepancy sequence
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for generating a subset of a low discrepancy sequence. In use, a low discrepancy sequence is identified. Additionally, a threshold value is determined. Further, a single dimension of the low discrepancy sequence is selected. Further still, for each element included within the low discrepancy sequence, the selected single dimension is compared to the determined threshold value. Also, a subset of the low discrepancy sequence is generated, based on the comparing.
US09202135B2 Image processing device, image processing method, control program, and recording medium
An image processing device configured to detect a detection target, which is all or a part of a predetermined main body on an image has a detection target detection unit that detects an estimated detection target that the image processing device assumes to be the detection target from the image, a heterogeneous target determination unit that determines whether the estimated detection target detected by the detection target detection unit is an estimated heterogeneous target that the image processing device assumes to be a heterogeneous target, which is all or a part of a main body different in class from the main body, and a detection target determination unit that determines whether the estimated detection target detected by the detection target detection unit is the detection target based on a determination result of the heterogeneous target determination unit.
US09202128B2 Image adjusting apparatus and method, and image stabilizing apparatus including the same
An image stabilizing apparatus for correcting an image which is shaken due to a movement of a camera. The image stabilizing apparatus includes an image adjusting unit that includes: an image analyzing unit which compares an image frame currently input with a reference image, and if the currently input image frame is shaken, extracts a representative direction and a representative magnitude of the shaking; and an image moving unit which moves the currently input image frame by the representative magnitude in a direction opposite to the representative direction.
US09202127B2 Parallel processing method and apparatus for determining text information from an image
A method for processing a multi-channel image is disclosed. The method includes generating a plurality of grayscale images from the multi-channel image. At least one text region is identified in the plurality of grayscale images and text region information is determined from the at least one text region. The method generates text information of the multi-channel image based on the text region information. If the at least one text region includes a plurality of text regions, text region information from the plurality of text regions is merged to generate the text information. The plurality of the grayscale images is processed in parallel. In identifying the at least one text region, at least one candidate text region may be identified in the plurality of grayscale images and the at least one text region may be identified in the identified candidate text region.
US09202118B2 Determining a pixel classification threshold for vehicle occupancy detection
What is disclosed is a system and method for determining a pixel classification threshold for vehicle occupancy determination. An IR image of a moving vehicle is captured using a multi-band IR imaging system. A driver's face is detected using a face recognition algorithm. Multi-spectral information extracted from pixels identified as human tissue of the driver's face is used to determine a pixel classification threshold. This threshold is then used to facilitate a classification of pixels of a remainder of the IR image. Once pixels in the remainder of the image have been classified, a determination can be made whether the vehicle contains additional human occupants other than the driver. An authority is alerted in the instance where the vehicle is found to be traveling in a HOV/HOT lane requiring two or more human occupants and a determination has been made that the vehicle contains an insufficient number of human occupants.
US09202117B2 Method and apparatus for detecting suspicious activity using video analysis
A system detects a transaction outcome by obtaining video data associated with a transaction area and analyzing the video data to obtain at least one video transaction parameter concerning transactions associated with the transaction area. The transaction area can be a video count of items indicated in the video data as detected by an automated item detection algorithm applied to the video data. The system obtains at least one expected transaction parameter concerning an expected transaction that occurs in the transaction area, such as a scan count of items scanned at a point of sale terminal. The system automatically compares the video transaction parameter(s) to the expected transaction parameter(s) to identify a transaction outcome that may indicate fraudulent activity such as sweethearting in a retail environment.
US09202116B2 Image processing method and image processing apparatus using the same
The invention discloses an image processing method and an imager processing apparatus using the same. The method includes the following steps: receiving an training image; finding a minimum difference among the differences; determining whether the minimum difference is larger than a first threshold; if no, generating a first output value according to the first pixel, the background candidates and a plurality of weightings corresponding to the background candidates; updating a first background candidate corresponding to the minimum difference; updating a first weighting related to the first background candidate; if yes, adding the first pixel as a new background candidate to the background candidates and adding a new weighting corresponding to the new background candidate to the weightings; and detecting whether a moving object existing in an incoming image according to the background candidates and the weightings.
US09202108B2 Methods and apparatuses for facilitating face image analysis
Methods and apparatuses are provided for facilitating face image analysis. A method may include determining a histogram-based face descriptor for each of a plurality of regions of a face image. The method may further include compressing the histogram-based face descriptors to generate a plurality of compressed face descriptors describing the plurality of regions of the face image. Corresponding apparatuses are also provided.
US09202105B1 Image analysis for user authentication
A user can be authenticated to any of a number of computing devices using an authentication process that recognizes the user and verifies that an actual human being is attempting to be authenticated, in order to minimize the ability of another person to spoof the authentication process. A model of a user can be generated and stored in the cloud, enabling that model to be synchronized across various devices. A user accessing one of these devices can have image information captured, which can be used with a facial recognition process, to recognize the user, and with a human verification process, to verify that the facial information corresponds to a human user. Various approaches such as visual analysis, three-dimensional imaging, and thermal imaging can be used to verify that the human user being recognized is interactive with the device.
US09202104B2 Biometric information correction apparatus, biometric information correction method and computer-readable recording medium for biometric information correction
A biometric information correction method includes applying a correction process with respect to a first biometric image representing biometric information of a user to enhance a degree of clarity of the biometric information of the user, thereby creating a second biometric image, extracting a first feature amount representing features of the biometric information from the first biometric image and a second feature amount representing features of the biometric information from the second biometric image, calculating a degree of change representing a difference between the first feature amount and the second feature amount, and outputting the first feature amount when the degree of change indicates that an artifact has been created in the second biometric image.
US09202100B2 Method and device for capturing fingerprints with reliably high quality based on fingerprint scanners
A method and a device for capturing fingerprints with reliably high quality based on fingerprint scanners are disclosed. The invention finds a novel possibility for capturing fingerprints of sufficiently high quality in which comprehensible feedback information of the capture process is given in real time so that the user can undertake any needed corrections of finger placement without active guidance. This object is met according to the invention in that an image processing unit is arranged downstream of the capture unit and a two-dimensional display unit is associated with the capture unit. Depending on results of the fingerprints analyzed in the image processing unit, the two-dimensional display unit displays positive real-time depictions of the fingers placed on the capture surface from an image storage having a library comprising a plurality of animated finger position images for guiding the user in a simple manner.
US09202097B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and computer program product
According to an embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit, a detection unit, an extraction unit, and a reading unit. The acquisition unit is configured to acquire an input image including a marker having a position detection pattern. The detection unit is configured to detect the position detection pattern using identification data used for detecting the position detection pattern included in the input image, the identification data being from a plurality of position detection patterns having different forms from each other. The extraction unit is configured to extract, from the input image, the marker corresponding to the detected position detection pattern. The reading unit is configured to read data associated with the extracted marker.
US09202096B2 Device and method for conducting transactions
An apparatus is provided including a camera; and a processing circuitry configured to: capture an image of a scanning device by using the camera; and output a first scannable item based on the captured image of the scanning device.
US09202095B2 Pistol grip adapter for mobile device
An adapter for a mobile device is described. The adapter includes a handle portion having a trigger switch that is accessible to an index finger of a hand of the user when the handle portion is held in the hand of the user. A cradle portion is positioned above the handle portion for receiving at least a portion of the mobile device such that a plane of a display of the mobile device is substantially aligned with a long axis of the handle portion and the display is viewable by the user when the mobile device is positioned in the cradle portion and the handle portion is held in the hand of the user. A data acquisition device is coupled to the cradle portion. The data acquisition device acquires data from an object upon actuation of the trigger switch.
US09202094B1 Aiming pattern shape as distance sensor for barcode scanner
An imaging scanner includes an aiming light source configured to emit visible light through both the shape defining element and the aiming lens arrangement to generate an aiming pattern on a target object. The shape of the aiming pattern changes with the distance between the target object and the imaging scanner. For determining the distance, the shape of the aiming pattern in a pixel data is compared with the expected shape of aiming patterns at multiple distances.
US09202093B2 Methods for enhancing the accuracy of environment measurements using a remote-access apparatus
A method for determining a value of an environment variable using raw data from an energetically essentially passive remote-access apparatus. A value of a first measurable quantity indicative of the environment variable is obtained from the raw data. The value of the environment variable is determined using calibration data and the value of the first measurable quantity. The accuracy is enhanced by measuring the value of the measurable quantity with a measuring signal of which strength is regulated or by obtaining a value of a second measurable quantity. The second measurable quantity is indicative of the environment variable or measurement conditions of the first measurable quantity. A method for forming calibration data for the measurements. RFID reader devices arranged to carry out the methods and energetically essentially passive remote-access apparatuses for the methods. A database that may be used with the method and a computer product including the database.
US09202085B2 Private information storage system
This invention relates to a scheme for storage of private information on a cloud computing platform without contravention of territorial privacy laws. A method of anonymising a database of personal data is described whereby data identifiers are assigned to data items and deviation identifiers are assigned to deviations for selected data items derived from reference records. Such information can then be uploaded to a cloud based storage platform. A translation table maps the data items, data identifiers and deviation identifiers to the original data entries. This translation table is stored locally and separate to the anonymised information uploaded to the cloud. The invention further describes a method of decoding the database anonymised according to the above method.
US09202084B2 Security facility for maintaining health care data pools
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for syndication and management of structured and unstructured data to assist institutional healthcare delivery, healthcare providers' practices, healthcare providers' group practices, collaborative academic research and decision making in healthcare, including through the utilization of medical devices and healthcare pools.
US09202082B2 Secure data sharing with publicly accessible computing nodes
An embodiment of the invention includes determining a first security status for first information and a second security status for second information, the second security status being more secure than the first security status; establishing a first communication path between the system and a first local computing node via a first wireless path; conveying the first information to the first local computing node via the first wireless path based on the first security status; and withholding the second information from the first local computing node based on the second security status; wherein the first and second information are stored on at least one of the system and a remotely located computing node. Other embodiments are described herein.
US09202068B2 User interface for variable access control system
To balance a tendency towards faceless decisions in using role based access control, photographic likenesses of people in roles can be used in access control user interface. For a meaningful representation of different people being in a role at a different times, a near future time chart of people who are predicted to be in roles to access a document or a resource can be displayed next to document contents and resource representations.
US09202065B2 Detecting sensitive data access by reporting presence of benign pseudo virus signatures
An owner of sensitive data is provided with a notification that the sensitive data has been located. To achieve this, the sensitive data is first modified to include one or more data strings that may appear to be suspect but are otherwise benign. These data strings, which are referred to herein as benign pseudo virus signatures (BPVSs), preferably are embedded throughout a piece of sensitive data according to a frequency distribution. When the sensitive data is examined by virus checking software, the benign pseudo virus signatures are detected as potential computer viruses. By using information associated with the signatures, the owner is identified, preferably using the assistance of an intermediary entity that acts as a registry for the BPVSs. Once the owner is identified, a notification is provided to the owner that the sensitive data has been located. Appropriate remedial action can then be taken.
US09202063B1 Monitoring network-based printing for data loss prevention (DLP)
A method and apparatus for monitoring network-based printing for data loss prevention (DLP). A DLP system may monitor outbound data transfers performed by a computing system, and detect a network print request in a current one of the outbound data transfers being sent to a network-based printer over a network, the network print request identifying data to be printed by the network-based printer. The DLP system determines whether the identified data of the current outbound data transfer violates a DLP policy and prevents the current outbound data transfer when the current outbound data transfer violates the DLP policy.
US09202056B2 Inter-processor attestation hardware
Embodiments of an invention for inter-processor attestation hardware are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes first attestation hardware associated with a first portion of a system. The first attestation hardware is to attest to a second portion of the system that the first portion of the system is secure.
US09202055B2 Method and apparatus for providing machine-to-machine service
A method and an apparatus for providing Machine-to-Machine (M2M) service are provided. A method of providing service by an M2M device includes transmitting a request for service to a Network Security Capability (NSEC), the request for service comprising a identifier of a Device Service Capability Layer (DSCL) of the M2M device, performing an Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) authentication with an M2M Authentication Server (MAS) via the NSEC, and generating, if the EAP authentication is successful, a service key using a Master Session Key (MSK), a first constant string, and the identifier of the DSCL.
US09202053B1 MBR infection detection using emulation
Emulation software executes upon an operating system of a computer and creates an emulated computer. Bootstrapping code is read into this emulated computer from a sector (such as a master boot record) of a mass storage device. Instructions in the bootstrapping code are executed by an instruction emulator (also using an emulated CPU, emulated memory and an emulated hard disk) and these instructions and behavior are collected as each instruction executes. Access to the actual hard disk may be allowed. The collected information is then compared to a virus signature or behavior rules indicating malware and a conclusion is drawn as to whether the bootstrapping code includes malicious software.
US09202049B1 Detecting malware on mobile devices
In one example, a mobile device includes a network interface configured to receive data for an application including a set of application permissions describing elements of the mobile device to which the application will have access upon installation of the application, and a processing unit configured to determine a type for the application and, based on an analysis of the set of application permissions and the type for the application, determine whether the application includes malware.
US09202048B2 Method and system for discrete stateful behavioral analysis
A method for analyzing a computing system includes the steps of at a first moment in time, scanning the resources of the computing system for indications of malware, at a second moment in time scanning the resources of the computing system for indications of malware and determining the system executable objects loaded on the computing system, determining malware system changes, identifying a relationship between the malware system changes and the system executable objects loaded on the computing system, and identifying as suspected malware the system executable objects loaded on the computing system which have a relationship with the malware system changes. The malware system changes include differences between the results of scanning the resources of the computing system for indications of malware at the second and first moment of time.
US09202043B1 Self-service systems and methods for granting access to resources
A self-service system is provided that can automatically identify one or more existing groups to which a user can self-select to access a resource. The self-service system can identify any suitable existing group without requiring an administrator to predefine groups according to roles. In some implementations, the system intelligently identifies one or more suitable groups for a user from a list of available groups by analyzing a set of rules or criteria. For instance, the system can perform a weighted analysis of various rules and/or criteria to automatically and dynamically identify groups that have a closest fit to the access rights needed or requested by the user. Further, the system can evaluate certain best or preferred grouping practices to identify suitable groups. As a result, in certain embodiments, the self-service system alleviates planning burdens on administrators and provides greater flexibility in providing users with access to resources.
US09202038B1 Risk based authentication
A method for authenticating a request for access to resources is described. A request for access to a resource is received from a user, and the user accesses a proof-of-work challenge. An adjustment factor associated with the user is determined. The adjustment factor may be generated as a function of a password associated with the user and the requested resource. The proof-of-work challenge may have a complexity that is determined based on the adjustment factor. A selected password and a solution to the proof-of-work challenge are received from the user. It is determined whether the received solution is correct based on the determined adjustment factor.
US09202036B2 Notebook computer authorized with touch track
A notebook computer includes a main body and a display device. The main body includes a first touch layer sensing a touch track of a user, a memory pre-storing an authorizing track, and a processor connected between the first touch layer and the memory. The processor compares the touch track with the authorizing track to determine if the user is authorized. The display device is jointed to be pivoted to the main body, wherein the display device is turn on when the user is authorized.
US09202035B1 User authentication based on biometric handwriting aspects of a handwritten code
A technique authenticates a user. The technique involves receiving, by processing circuitry, a handwritten code. The technique further involves performing, by the processing circuitry, a set of assessment operations which includes (i) a handwriting evaluation to analyze a set of biometric handwriting aspects of the handwritten code and (ii) a code evaluation to analyze code accuracy of the handwritten code. The technique further involves providing, by the processing circuitry, an authentication result based on the set of assessment operations. Such a technique strengthens security by including a “who you are” factor (i.e., handwriting biometrics uniquely identify the genuine user).
US09202033B2 Techniques for skin tone activation
Techniques may be used to authenticate a user to a computing device using their skin tone. A color sample may be received while a computing device remains in a power saving state. A user may be authenticated when the color sample matches a skin tone record. The computing device may be placed in an active state when the user is authenticated. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09202032B2 Methods and systems for authenticating users
A method of authenticating users to reduce transaction risks includes indicating a desire to conduct a transaction and determining whether the transaction requires access to protected resources. Moreover, the method determines whether inputted information is known, determines a state of a communications device when the inputted information is known, and transmits a biometric authentication request from a server to an authentication system when the state of the communications device is enrolled. Additionally, the method includes validating the communications device, capturing biometric authentication data in accordance with a biometric authentication data capture request with the communications device, biometrically authenticating the user, generating a one-time pass-phrase and storing the one-time pass-phrase on the authentication system when the user is authenticated, comparing the transmitted one-time pass-phrase against the stored one-time pass-phrase, and granting access to the protected resources when the transmitted and stored one-time pass-phrases match.
US09202025B2 Enterprise-specific functionality watermarking and management
A method, system and non-transitory computer-readable medium product are provided for enterprise-specific functionality watermarking and management. In the context of a method, a method is provided that includes identifying a request to perform at least one function of a user device associated with an enterprise and identifying at least one watermark template associated with an enterprise. The method further includes applying the at least one watermark template associated with the enterprise to at least one function of the user device associated with the enterprise and authorizing the request to perform the at least one function of the user device associated with the enterprise.
US09202022B2 Method and apparatus for providing DRM service
An apparatus for providing a Digital Rights Management (DRM) service is provided. The apparatus includes a Media Presentation Description (MPD) information configurer for determining a DRM system required in each of representations of content provided by an adaptive streaming service, classifying the representations into one or more groups according to predetermined criteria, and configuring MPD information by inserting content protection information including representation group information representing classified groups and information about DRM systems corresponding to the representation group information; and a communication unit for transmitting the MPD information to a user terminal receiving the content.
US09202020B2 File protection using session-based digital rights management
Systems and methods are provided for encrypting electronic files during a transfer to a low-security storage location is provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a file copy request for a file stored on a source storage system to be copied to a destination storage system; determining a desired file security level of the file based on a desired security level for the file when the file is accessed; determining a destination security level of the destination storage system; comparing the file security level and the destination security level; encrypting the file to create an encrypted file when the destination security level is less than the file security level prior to copying the file; and copying at least one of the file and the encrypted file to the destination storage system as a function of the comparison of the file security level and the destination security level.
US09202015B2 Entering a secured computing environment using multiple authenticated code modules
Systems, apparatuses, and methods, and for entering a secured system environment using multiple authenticated code modules are disclosed. In one embodiment, a processor includes a decoder and control logic. The decoder is to decode a secured enter instruction. The control logic is to find an entry corresponding to the processor in a match table in a master authenticated code module and to read a master header and an individual authenticated code module from the master authenticated code module in response to decoding the secured enter instruction.
US09202013B2 Methods and apparatus for monitoring and encouraging health and fitness
Methods and apparatus are provided for monitoring and encouraging health and fitness. In accordance with a first aspect, an apparatus is provided that is adapted to assist in weight loss and exercise. The apparatus comprises a personal digital assistant (PDA) having computer program code adapted to assist in at least one of calorie counting, meal selection, meal suggestion, weight monitoring, weight loss or gain monitoring, fat consumption monitoring, sugar consumption monitoring and salt consumption monitoring. The PDA also includes computer program code adapted to display historical data regarding at least one of calorie counting, meal selection, meal suggestion, weight monitoring, weight loss or gain monitoring, fat consumption monitoring, sugar consumption monitoring and salt consumption monitoring. Numerous other embodiments are provided, as are methods, systems and computer program products.
US09202011B2 Web enabled audiovisual medication dispensing
The disclosure relates generally to methods and devices for taking care of elderly, disabled, or other dependents. The devices and methods may be useful for dependents that are not willing or able to live in an environment which has a caretaker physically present. Example devices and methods can facilitate communication between a caretaker and a dependent. Devices and methods can optionally facilitate disbursing medications remotely.
US09202008B1 Method and device for sleep analysis
The various embodiments of the method of the present invention include a method to improving or expanding the capacity of a sleep analysis unit or laboratory, a method sleep analysis testing a patient admitted for diagnosis or treatment of another primary medical condition while being treated or diagnosed for that condition, a method of sleep analysis testing a patient that cannot be easily moved or treated in a sleep analysis unit or laboratory and other like methods.
US09202006B1 System and method for connecting components in an electronic design
The present disclosure relates to a computer-implemented method for visualization in an electronic design. The method may include providing an electronic design and receiving a selection of at least one pin associated with the electronic design at a first graphical user interface. The method may further include generating a stub for each of the selected pins at the first graphical user interface. The method may also include providing a second graphical user interface configured to allow for the assignment of a signal name to each stub. The method may include extending the stub for each of the selected pins to reach a target destination associated with the electronic design. The method may also include displaying the signal name for each stub on at least one of the first graphical user interface and the second graphical user interface.
US09202004B1 System, method, and computer program product for ensuring that each simulation in a regression is running a unique configuration
The present disclosure relates to a computer-implemented method for electronic design verification. Embodiments may include providing an electronic design including, at least in part, one or more hardware description languages and one or more software programming languages. Embodiment may also include calculating, using one or more processors, configuration information without analyzing the electronic design, wherein the configuration information includes one or more memory elements configured to control a mode of operation of the electronic design. Embodiments may further include storing a seed for each configuration, wherein each seed may be configured to cause a constraint solver to set a defined set of values for one or more random variables in a class associated with the seed.
US09202003B2 Gate-length biasing for digital circuit optimization
Methods and apparatus for a gate-length biasing methodology for optimizing integrated digital circuits are described. The gate-length biasing methodology that changes a nominal gate-length of a transistor to a biased gate-length, where the biased gate-length includes a bias length that is small compared to the nominal gate-length.
US09202002B2 System for designing network on chip interconnect arrangements
A system for designing Network-on-Chip interconnect arrangements includes a Network-on-Chip backbone with a plurality of backbone ports and a set of functional clusters of aggregated IPs providing respective sets of System-on-Chip functions. The functional clusters include respective sub-networks attachable to any of the backbone ports and to any other functional cluster in the set of functional clusters independently of the source map of the Network-on-Chip backbone.
US09201998B1 Topography simulation apparatus, topography simulation method and recording medium
In one embodiment, a topography simulation apparatus includes a division module configured to divide topography of a substance of a semiconductor device into first to n-th layers, where n is an integer of two or more. The apparatus further includes a flux calculation module configured to calculate, for each of the first to n-th layers, a flux of particles which reach a surface of the substance in each layer. The apparatus further includes a topography calculation module configured to calculate, for each of the first to n-th layers, an amount of change of the topography of the substance in each layer based on the flux.
US09201993B2 Goal-driven search of a stochastic process using reduced sets of simulation points
Various techniques for improving performance of a goal-seeking search of a computer-simulated stochastic process are disclosed. One such technique may include generating an N-point Monte Carlo simulation of a stochastic model, such as a model representative of a digital electronic circuit, and selecting a subset of M points from the N-point Monte Carlo simulation, where M is less than N. The technique may further include searching the subset of M points to identify a target value, wherein said searching comprises generating one or more M-point Monte Carlo simulations of the stochastic model; and checking the target value, wherein said checking comprises generating an additional N-point Monte Carlo simulation of the stochastic model dependent on results of searching the subset of M points.
US09201992B2 Method and apparatus using formal methods for checking generated-clock timing definitions
A generated-clock checker compares timing definitions against a register transfer level description of the design using formal methods. The generated-clock checker derives generated-clock timing waveform models from the timing definitions, derives generated-clock waveform models from the register level design and then compares the waveform models using formal methods.
US09201990B2 Simulation method, simulation program, recording medium having the simulation program stored therein, method for producing droplet arrangement patterns utilizing the simulation method, nanoimprinting method, method for producing patterned substrates, and ink jet apparatus
A simulation method predicts wet spreading and unions of a plurality of droplets arranged on a patterned surface defined by a fine pattern of protrusions and recesses, the patterned surface causing anisotropy to occur in the wet spreading of the droplets. The influence imparted by the pattern of protrusions and recesses that defines the patterned surface, which is the target of analysis, on the wet spreading of the droplets is treated as wetting properties of an analysis surface, and the wet spreading and unions of the plurality of droplets on the analysis surface are analyzed by gas liquid two phase flow analysis that incorporates the wetting property parameters that represents the wetting properties.
US09201988B2 Process and system for generating a specification for a customized device, and device made thereby
A process and system for generating a specification for customized devices, such as rehabilitation or assistive devices, including prostheses and orthoses, or sports padding or equipment. A digital model, which is fully parameterized at least for characterizing clinical shape characteristics and functional characteristics of the device, is populated with a plurality of design parameter values and 3-dimensional coordinates of captured and calculated virtual landmarks to construct a customized model corresponding to the specification. The customized device may be manufactured based upon the specification. A system connected to a computer aided manufacturing system may generate instructions for automatically fabricating the device. In embodiments with standardized design parameter values, the customized model may be constructed without involving a human operator.
US09201987B2 Method and system for generating multiple configurations for a solar power system
A configuration engine traverses sequential levels of a decision tree in order to iteratively refine a configuration for a solar power system. At each level of the decision tree, the configuration engine determines the outcome of a design decision based on computing the result of a value function. The configuration engine explores configurations that optimize the value function result compared to other configurations, and may also discard less optimal configurations. When a current configuration is considered less optimal than a previous configuration generated at a previous level, the configuration engine discards the current configuration and re-traverses the decision tree starting with the previous configuration.
US09201982B2 Priority search trees
A processor implements a priority search tree on data elements. A data point having two component values is stored for each data element. A comparison is performed to determine an order for two data points. When the first component values of the two data points are equal, a comparison is made using the second component values. When the second component values of the two data points are equal, a comparison is made using the first component values.
US09201977B2 Automatic flowchart-based webpage generation for troubleshooting or task completion without manual programming
Flowchart-based webpages may be automatically generated for troubleshooting or task completion without manual programming by a website developer. A canvas may be displayed that can be used for placement of a plurality of nodes to be associated with respective webpages. Content to include in the respective webpages for the nodes may be received, and connections between the nodes may be validated based on node type. Each node type may have its own respective connection rules. The webpages may be generated for the respective nodes based on the node content and the validated connections between the nodes when the validation succeeds.
US09201976B1 System and method of authenticating an immigration visa card holder using an interactive immigration card
The present invention relates generally to a system and method of interactive verification of an immigration card holder's identity. Specifically, by using an electronic immigration card with a coded frame displayed thereon that includes one or more hot corners with one or more hyperlinks or icons embedded within the coded frame, that is activated for display when image capturing means scans the coded frame. Upon activation, a hyperlink or icon may be engaged for controlling interactive multimedia content pursuant to a control command associated with the one icon or hyperlink. The multimedia content may include authenticating information, e.g. security questions, a photograph and the like. Because the interactive multimedia content is not visible prior to the coded frame being scanned, the immigration card has varied layers of securing the information electronically stored thereon.
US09201974B2 Method and apparatus for incorporating media elements from content items in location-based viewing
An approach is provided for incorporating media elements from content items into associated locations presented by a location-based view. A media element platform determines one or more locations associated with at least one location-based view. The media element platform further determines one or more content items associated with the one or more locations. The media element platform also processes the one or more content items to extract one or more media elements. The media element platform further causes a presentation of the one or more media elements in the at least one location-based view.
US09201973B2 Computerized system and method for tracking the geographic relevance of website listings and providing graphics and data regarding the same
The present invention generally relates to a computerized system and method for tracking and displaying data identifying the geographic relevance of website listings on Internet search engines, parked web pages, ISP redirect web pages, and other similar web listing services without requiring extra input from Internet users. Each time an Internet user clicks on a website link provided on one of these web services, the software of the present invention tracks that person's decision in selecting the link, along with his or her geographic location. The software automatically collects and stores this information in a database in a format that can be quickly accessed and used in the future when other Internet users perform the same keyword search or visit the parked/redirect page again. Based on this stored information, the software automatically sends signals to the Internet user's computer that causes his or her web browser to display data and graphics that indicate whether the websites listed on the web page has been frequently visited and found to be popular by other Internet users in various geographic areas. As a result, the software of the present invention enables search engines, parked/redirect web pages, and other similar web services to be automatically organized by popularity within a geographic region. Moreover, each time data is collected by this software (e.g., when a user selects a link), the search engine and parked page will grow naturally and intelligently, thereby becoming more and more useful to the Internet user.
US09201967B1 Rule based product classification
Disclosed are various embodiments for item categorizer. The item categorizer is configured to parse, in at least one computing device, at least a plurality of product descriptions of a like item category for identifying a plurality of keywords with regard to the like item category. Furthermore, the item categorizer selects a plurality of subsets of keywords from the plurality of keywords, each subset of keywords comprises a unique combination of the plurality of keywords with respect to each other. Moreover, the item categorizer is configured to generate a respective rule for each corresponding subset of keywords, wherein an application of each respective rule specifies a respective binary result depending upon whether the corresponding subset of keywords is included in a seller product description.
US09201965B1 System and method for providing speech recognition using personal vocabulary in a network environment
A method is provided in one example and includes receiving a media file and generating a text file based on the media file. The method includes identifying selected words within the text file based on a whitelist, the whitelist includes a plurality of designated words to be tagged. The selected words are compared to a group of words associated with an individual. One or more of the selected words are removed based on the selected words not being found in the group of words associated with the individual. In more specific embodiments, the method includes generating a resultant after removing one or more of the selected words, the resultant can be separated into fields that identify a title and an author associated with the resultant. At least one of the selected words that is removed is associated with a false positive associated with two words that phonetically sound similar.
US09201961B2 Concurrent web based multi-task support for computer system
Supporting of web multitasking via a single web browser is important, especially for small sized communication device where a displayed web browser is a precious resource. The supporting of the web multitasking improves efficiency for user to utilize the web browser for daily works, for example, while a person accessing a streaming video in a storage space across world wide web, the person also needs to handle an emergent incoming email. The supporting of the web multitasking is also an important step towards creating a web based computer user work environment for any type of operating system.
US09201958B2 Video object retrieval system and method
A video object retrieval method is provided. The method includes dividing an input video into a number of video shots and detecting target-class object occurrences and related-class object occurrences in each video shot. The method also includes pre-processing object bounding box images and performing automatic object extraction. Further, the method includes performing object-level feature extraction and integration and generating visual search results based on similarity scores.
US09201957B2 Method to build a document semantic model
The invention relates to processing of data during semantic analysis of text data and building of document semantic models. The method consists of two main steps. In step one, an ontology is extracted from external information sources that contain descriptions of particular domain objects. In step two, the text information in the document is linked to ontology concepts and a document semantic model is built. Electronic resources that may or may not be connected through a hyperlink structure are used as information sources. The technical result is achieved, in particular, by identifying all terms in the document and linking them to ontology concepts, so that each term correlates to one concept (its meaning), and then ranking term meanings by importance to the document.
US09201950B2 Method, system and computer readable medium for addressing handling from an operating system
A method, system and computer readable medium for information handling within an operating system, including providing a record retrieval program; providing an input device within a window or screen of the operating system and configured to enter an execute command which initiates a record retrieval from local and remote information sources using the record retrieval program; using the record retrieval program to enter first information into search fields provided in the record retrieval program; entering the execute command using the input device after the step of entering the first information; searching, using the record retrieval program, the local and remote information sources for second information associated with the first information; and displaying the second information in the record retrieval program, when one of the local and remote information sources includes second information associated with the first information.
US09201945B1 Synonym identification based on categorical contexts
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for training recognition canonical representations corresponding to named-entity phrases in a second natural language based on translating a set of allowable expressions with canonical representations from a first natural language, which may be generated by expanding a context-free grammar for the allowable expressions for the first natural language.
US09201942B2 Community based digital content auditing and streaming
In one embodiment, a system and method is illustrated and includes receiving auditing data relating to a piece of digital content, associating the auditing data with the piece of digital content to create audited digital content, receiving a content request pertaining to the audited digital content from a requester, checking a permission associated with the audited digital content, the permission to determine an exchange basis upon which the audited digital content is provided to the requester, and where the exchange basis defines the condition upon which the audited digital content may be accessed, and providing the audited digital content to the requester according to the exchange basis.
US09201937B2 Rapid provisioning of information for business analytics
An approach is provided in which a system creates schema terms based upon matching input data query requirements to industry terms. In turn, the system generates a query and an associative map, which includes data organized according to the schema terms. The system executes the query, which retrieves the data from the associative map and loads the data into one or more storage areas.
US09201933B2 Systems and methods for documenting, analyzing, and supporting information technology infrastructure
Systems and methods of the present disclosure facilitate managing information technology (IT) infrastructure. The system can include a server configured to retrieve data records for first and second IT assets, each asset comprising at least one of a computing device, a software application, an end user, a business unit, a piece of networking hardware, or an agreement for an IT service. The server can select a template comprising a relationship between the first and second data records. The system can include a link generator configured to generate a different relationship, absent from the template, between the first and second data records. The system can include a search engine configured to identify third and fourth IT assets that satisfy the second relationship, determine an indices of completeness for the third and fourth IT assets, and rank the third and fourth IT assets based on the indices to generate an ordered list.
US09201932B2 Automatic identification of a vehicle driver based on driving behavior
A method and apparatus are disclosed that identify a motor vehicle operation and whether a driver is operating a mobile device. One example of operation may include a method that includes receiving vehicle data based on active operation of a vehicle and compiling a candidate driver identification profile (DIP) based on the received vehicle data. The method may also include comparing the candidate DIP to a pre-stored DIP and determining a match between the candidate DIP and the pre-stored DIP. The method may also include applying a restriction to a mobile station operated by a driver of the vehicle responsive to the match determination.
US09201931B2 Method for obtaining search suggestions from fuzzy score matching and population frequencies
A method for obtaining and providing search suggestions using entity co-occurrence is disclosed. The method may be employed in any search system that may include at least one search engine, one or more databases including entity co-occurrence knowledge and trends co-occurrence knowledge. The method may extract and disambiguate entities from search queries by using an entity and trends co-occurrence knowledge in one or more database. Subsequently, a list of search suggestion may be provided by each database, then by comparing the score of each search suggestion, a new list of suggestion may be built based on the individual and/or overall score of each search suggestion. Based on the user's selection of the suggestions, the trends co-occurrence knowledgebase can be updated, providing a means of on-the-fly learning, which improves the search relevancy and accuracy.
US09201927B1 System and methods for quantitative assessment of information in natural language contents and for determining relevance using association data
System and methods are disclosed for quantitatively assessing information in natural language contents related to an object name, or a concept or topic name, and for determining the relevance between a text content and one or more concepts or topics. The methods include identifying the grammatical or semantic attributes and other contextual information of terms in the text content, and retrieving an object-specific dataset related to the object name, or an equivalent to a concept or a topic name. The data set includes property names and association-strength values. The methods further include matching the terms in the text content with the property terms in the dataset, and calculating a score as a quantitative measure of the relevance between the text content and the concept or topic.
US09201921B2 Methods and systems for offline execution of rich internet applications
Methods for offline execution of Rich Internet Applications are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving at a remote destination a client value of a Rich Internet Application (RIA) information for an RIA from a client, wherein the RIA information is stored and modified on the client before being received by the remote destination. The method further includes determining if the client value is to replace a remote destination value of the RIA information stored on the remote destination. The method further includes replacing the remote destination value with the client value to synchronize the RIA information between the client and the remote destination when it is determined that the client value is to replace the remote destination value.
US09201916B2 Method, system, and computer-readable medium for providing a scalable bio-informatics sequence search on cloud
The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method, system and computer readable medium for providing a scalable bio-informatics sequence search on cloud. The method comprises the steps of partitioning a genome data into a plurality of datasets and storing the plurality of data sets in a database. Receiving at least one sequence search request input and searching for a genome sequence in the database corresponding to the search request input and scaling of the sequence search based on the sequence search request input.
US09201915B2 Attribute information processing device, attribute information processing method and attribute information evaluation system
An attribute information processing device includes: an attribute information acquiring unit that acquires attribute information; an attribute value acquiring unit that acquires at least two types of attribute values including a first-type attribute value and a second-type attribute value corresponding to an attribute value of the acquired attribute information; a generating unit that determines a function for obtaining an evaluation value from the acquired two or more types of attribute values, determines a acquisition source of the first-type attribute value to be a first-attribute providing device that can provide the first-type attribute value concerning attribute information serving as a comparison target, determines an acquisition source of the second-type attribute value to be a second-attribute providing device different from the first-attribute providing device, and generates attribute evaluation information containing information on the function, an evaluation value, information for identifying the first-attribute providing device, and information for identifying the second-attribute providing device; and an output unit that outputs the second-type attribute value and the attribute evaluation information.
US09201912B2 Auditable abrogation of privacy enhancements in columnar in-memory databases
Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for the auditable abrogation of columnar in-memory databases. An embodiment operates by retrieving column-oriented data of a column-oriented database associated with an auditing request to access the column-oriented data. The column-oriented data is transformed into corresponding row-oriented data and stored in a row-oriented database independent of the column-oriented database. A response to the auditing request is processed based on the row-oriented data, wherein the processing is performed independent of the column-oriented database, and the response is provided to the auditing request.
US09201908B2 Multi-layered multi-tenancy database architecture
Methods and systems for providing a multi-layered, multi-tenant database architecture. One example method includes identifying a plurality of tenants in a database system, each tenant associated with a data set and associated with a separation scheme defining how to separate the data set associated with the tenant from data sets associated with other tenants, identifying one or more separation scheme rules, each separation scheme rule including at least one tenant behavior condition and at least one migration action to be performed when a tenant from the plurality of tenants violates one of the tenant behavior conditions, determining that a particular tenant has violated one of the one or more separation scheme rules, and performing the at least one migration action associated with the violated rule in response to determining that the particular tenant has violated the rule.
US09201907B2 System, method and computer program product for providing a team object in association with an object
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for providing a team object in association with an object. These mechanisms and methods for providing a team object in association with an object can allow for centralized management of a team in association with an object. For example, members of the team may be automatically identified (e.g. without manual intervention) for receiving notifications in association with an object.
US09201906B2 Systems and methods to perform data backup in data storage systems
A data storage system, according to certain aspects, automatically backs up source data when the replication data is faulty. For instance, the system performs data backup using replication data rather than source data to reduce the processing load on the source system. The backup data is then associated with the source data as if the backup had been performed on the source data. If the replication system fails, then backing up replication data results in backup data that does not accurately reflect the source data. When permitted by the user system configuration, the system automatically backs up source data when replication has failed.
US09201901B2 Techniques for generating a representative image and radiographic interpretation information for a case
A technique for generating a representative image representing a case and radiographic interpretation information for each case includes calculating wavelet features of a plurality of images that have been taken and stored in the past. The calculated wavelet features and extracted keywords are stored in association with the stored images. The stored images are classified on the basis of the extracted keywords to generate a plurality of groups. For each of the generated groups, a centroid vector of wavelet feature-based feature vectors of respective images corresponding to the keywords is calculated and a spatial distance between the calculated centroid vector and each of the wavelet feature-based feature vectors is calculated. For each of the groups, the image for which the calculated spatial distance is the shortest and the radiographic interpretation information associated with the image is stored as a representative image of that group.
US09201900B2 Related image searching method and user interface controlling method
A related image searching method suitable for searching image files within a database is disclosed. The related image searching method includes steps of: selecting a context-of-interest from a displayed image according to a touch input event; analyzing a content characteristic in the context-of-interest area; determining an implication attribute of the content characteristic; and, searching the database according to the content characteristic and the implication attribute, so as to find out at least one image file with the same content characteristic or the same implication attribute. In addition, a user interface controlling method is also disclosed herein.
US09201898B2 Efficient fetching of map tile data
A method for efficiently fetching map tiles for digital maps includes receiving, at a client device such as a mapping user interface device, a request to display a digital map and identifying a plurality of map tiles for the request, each map tile representing a portion of the digital map. The user interface device generates a single map content request including multiple identifiers corresponding to the plurality of map tiles. The user interface device then sends the map content request to a map content server as a single request requesting multiple map tiles. In response to the map content request, the map content server retrieves the plurality of map tiles from a content database and sends the plurality of map tiles to the client device. The client device can then display the digital map based on the plurality of map tiles.
US09201896B2 Managing distributed storage quotas
A processing device causes a plurality of storage servers to create tenant identifiers for a tenant of a multi-tenant distributed file system that is distributed over the plurality of storage servers, the plurality of storage servers having underlying local file systems that interface with the multi-tenant distributed file system. The processing device maps the tenant to the tenant identifiers. The processing device assigns a global storage quota to the tenant. The processing device divides the global storage quota into a plurality of local storage quotas and assigns a local storage quota of the plurality of local storage quotas to each storage server of the plurality of storage servers.
US09201891B2 Storage system
Duplicate storage elimination is performed in units of block data generated by dividing a data stream into arbitrary-sized blocks. Further, sub-block data is generated by further dividing the block data into a plurality of pieces of data, and sub-address data based on the data content of each of the pieces of sub-block data is stored in a predetermined storage device. As such, duplicate storage elimination is also performed in sub-block data units based on the sub-address data.
US09201890B2 Storage optimization manager
Techniques and mechanisms provide a storage optimization manager. Data may be optimized and maintained on various nodes in a cluster. Particular nodes may be overburdened while other nodes remain relatively unused. Techniques are provided to efficiently optimize data onto nodes to enhance operational efficiency. Data access requests for optimized data are monitored and managed to allow for intelligent maintenance of optimized data.
US09201888B2 File management apparatus, file management method, and file management system
An information processing apparatus includes a processor configured to divide a first file of a first plurality of files stored in a storage device into a second plurality of files, each of the second plurality of files including a different range of values, when each range of values corresponding to each of the first plurality of files includes a specific range and a total size of the first plurality of files exceeds a threshold.
US09201883B1 Remote file archiving using package files
Remote file archiving is provided using package files. A request can be sent for a raw file stored within a package file. The request can be sent by a computing device to a remote storage service. The requests can comprise a location of the raw file within the package file. The raw file can be received and unmarshaled. Unmarshalling the raw file can comprise uncompressing and/or decrypting the raw file. Meta-data can be requested and used to determine a location of the raw file. Raw files can be extracted and provided. For example, a request for a raw file can be received. The raw file can be extracted from a package file and provided for download. The raw file can be in an archived state, such as compressed and/or encrypted.
US09201882B2 Provisioning configuration changes to a content player device
A device may include a network interface for communicating with another device over a network, a storage unit to store content, and a processor. The processor may be configured to receive a request from a user to change usable storage space on the storage unit, send a message that describes the request to a service provider, receive a reply allowing the user to change the usable storage space from the service provider, provide at least one option to the user in response to the reply, receive information from the user selecting a first one of the at least one option, and set a size of the usable storage space to a value corresponding to the first option.
US09201877B1 Method and system for describing how retention should be applied to composite objects
Techniques allow for applying a retention policy to a composite object. For each composite object type there is a description of the composite object structure and rules that determine how the retention policy is to be applied. A retention application can review the descriptions and rules and, based on the review, apply the appropriate retention policy to each of the objects that make up the composite object.
US09201876B1 Contextual weighting of words in a word grouping
Methods and apparatus related to contextual weighting of words. Methods are provided for determining co-occurrence relationships between words in a corpus of word groupings and for contextually weighting words in a word grouping as a function of which other words are present in the word grouping.
US09201873B2 Operation device, image forming apparatus, operation method, and computer-readable non-transitory storage medium
Operation device which, when user selects predetermined language key, switches display character sets of display language displayed on screen to translated character sets of translation language specified by predetermined language key. Operation device includes language switch portion and display character retrieval portion. Language switch portion judges whether all translated character sets of translation language specified by selected language key exist in correspondence with display character sets. Display character retrieval portion checks whether same character set as display character set of display language corresponding to missing translated character set exists in other display character sets of display language when not all translated character sets exist. When same character set as display character set of display language exists in other display character sets, language switch portion substitutes another translated character set of translation language, which corresponds to same character set that exists in other display character sets, for missing translated character set.
US09201871B2 Joint optimization for machine translation system combination
A joint optimization strategy is employed for combining translation hypotheses from multiple machine-translation systems. Decisions on word alignment, between the hypotheses, ordering, and selection of a combined translation output are made jointly in accordance with a set of features. Additional features that model alignment and ordering behavior are also provided and utilized.
US09201862B2 Method for symbolic correction in human-machine interfaces
Disclosed embodiments include methods and systems for symbolic correction in human-machine interfaces that comprise (a) implementing a language model; (b) implementing a hypothesis model; (c) implementing an error model; and (d) processing a symbolic input message based on weighted finite-state transducers to encode 1) a set of input hypothesis using the hypothesis model, 2) the language model, and 3) the error model to perform correction on the sequential pre-segmented symbolic input message in the human-machine interface. According to a particular embodiment, the processing step comprises a combination of the language model, the hypothesis model, and the error model performed without parsing by employing a composition operation between the transducers and a lowest cost path search, exact or approximate, on the composed transducer.
US09201861B2 Character input prediction apparatus, character input prediction method, and character input system
A character input prediction apparatus includes: an operation input unit that obtains information of a character input operation by a user using a character key layout display which includes character keys; a dictionary storage unit that stores a dictionary including candidate character strings; an indication movement detection unit that detects an indication position and an indication direction respectively showing a position and a movement direction of the character input operation in the character key layout display, from the information of the character input operation; a filter generation unit that determines a character range located in the indication direction with the indication position as a base point, in the character key layout display; and a dictionary search unit that searches the dictionary for a predictive character string including any character included in the character range.
US09201844B2 Telematics system
A telematics system can include a processor, installed in a vehicle, ship, or other mode of transport of people, configured to identify an error state of an telematics component providing a telematics service. The processor can also be configured to communicate the error state to a logger component via a logging message. The logger component may be configured to generate a log file based on the logging message.
US09201843B2 Control device
A program delivery center is a program update device which updates a program of an ECU mounted in a vehicle, wherein a right holder specification unit specifies a right holder who has a right to execute the update of the program on the basis of information regarding the vehicle, and a reprogramming guide execution unit sets and outputs program update guide notification to the right holder. Accordingly, the update of the program by a person other than the right holder can be avoided, thereby improving security. Furthermore, since the update of the program is notified to the right holder which can execute the update of the program, a program update execution frequency increases compared to a case where a user who cannot execute the update of the program is notified, thereby prompting the execution of the program update.
US09201842B2 Vehicle event recorder systems and networks having integrated cellular wireless communications systems
Vehicle event recorder systems are arranged to be in constant communication with remote servers and administrators via mobile wireless cellular networks. Vehicle event recorders equipped with video cameras capture video and other data records of important events relating to vehicle use. These data are then transmitted over special communications networks having very high coverage space but limited bandwidth. A vehicle may be operated over very large region while maintaining continuous communications connections with a remote fixed server. As such, systems of these inventions may be characterized as including a mobile unit having: a video camera; a microprocessor; memory; an event trigger; and mobile wireless transceivers, and a fixed network portion including: mobile wireless cellular network, a protocol translation gateway, the Internet and an application-specific server.
US09201841B2 Activating applications based on accelerometer data
In some implementations, a computer-implemented method includes storing a plurality of acceleration profiles in a mobile device; receiving accelerometer data from an accelerometer in the mobile device; correlating the accelerometer data with one accelerometer profile in the plurality of accelerometer profiles; and activating a user application of the mobile device that is associated with the correlated accelerometer profile. Each acceleration profile can correspond to a sequence of acceleration forces a mobile device would be subjected to when carried with a user during an activity that corresponds to the correlated acceleration profile.
US09201836B2 Export permissions in a claims-based social networking system
A social graph, which records the actions of users in a social networking system platform, may be modeled at least in part as a collection of claims that may be exported to other systems, such as third party publishers, based on permissions granted by users and entities. The social networking system may also act as a publisher, enabling web applications and mobile applications to publish claims to a variety of audiences based on the permissions granted by users and entities, or agents of the social networking system. Permissions may be granted based on agreed-upon terms of service between agents, agents and publishers, agents and the social networking system platform, and publishers and the social networking system.
US09201832B2 Electronic device with USB interface and method for starting USB communication therefor
The disclosure provides an electronic device with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface and a method for starting USB communication for a USB interface, so as to solve the problem that a mobile phone terminal device can be damaged easily when a charger shares one interface with USB communication in the conventional art. A control pin of the control circuit of the device is connected with a VCHG pin of a power management chip; an output pin of the control circuit is connected with a USB_VBUS pin of a USB interface chip; a power pin of the control circuit is connected with a fixed voltage input end which inputs a high level; and the control circuit is configured to output a fixed voltage from the output pin of the control circuit when detecting that the voltage of the control pin is more than a set threshold and output a low level from the output pin of the control circuit when detecting that the voltage of the control pin is less than the set threshold. The charging voltage (VCHG) of the handheld terminal product is only used as the control signal which is isolated from the voltage output to the USB_VBUS pin, so that the damage to the device is avoided.
US09201830B2 Input/output (I/O) expansion response processing in a peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) environment
A system for implementing non-standard input/output (I/O) adapters in a standardized I/O architecture, comprising an I/O hub communicatively coupled to an I/O bus and a plurality of I/O adapters, the I/O hub including logic for implementing a method comprising receiving a request from a requester to perform an operation on one of the plurality of I/O adapters. The method further comprising determining that the request is in a format other than a format supported by the I/O bus, determining that the requester requires a completion response for the request, transforming the request into the format supported by the I/O bus, transmitting the request to the I/O adapter, receiving the completion response from the I/O adapter, the completion response comprising an indicator that the request has been completed, the completion response in the format supported by the I/O bus and transmitting the completion response to the requester.
US09201825B1 Data storage methods and apparatus
A flash controller includes a PCIe interface, a DMA engine module, a memory control module, and a flash control module. The PCIe interface communicates with a host device and receives first data from the host device. The first data is formatted using a native PCIe protocol and includes a first key-value pair that is to be stored in first memory. The first memory includes flash memory. The first key-value pair includes a first unique number and the first data. The PCIe interface receives second data from the first memory and transmits the second data from the host device. The second data is formatted using the native PCIe protocol and includes a second key-value pair. The second key-value pair includes a second unique number and the second data. The DMA engine module transfers the first and second data between the PCIe interface, the first memory and second memory.
US09201823B2 Pessimistic interrupt affinity for devices
A computing apparatus identifies that a first processor of a host has forwarded information for a device to a second processor that controls the device. After identifying that the first processor has forwarded the information to the second processor and in response to determining that one or more update criteria have been satisfied, the computing apparatus causes future information for the device to be forwarded to the second processor.
US09201821B2 Interrupt timestamping
A system and method for maintaining accurate interrupt timestamps. A semiconductor chip includes an interrupt controller (IC) with an interface to multiple sources of interrupts. In response to receiving an interrupt, the IC copies and records the value stored in a main time base counter used for maintaining a global elapsed time. The IC sends an indication of the interrupt to a corresponding processor. Either an interrupt service routine (ISR) or a device driver requests a timestamp associated with the interrupt. Rather than send a request to the operating system to obtain a current value stored in the main time base counter, the processor requests the recorded timestamp from the IC. The IC identifies the stored timestamp associated with the interrupt and returns it to the processor.
US09201816B2 Data processing apparatus and a method for setting priority levels for transactions
A data processing apparatus and method for setting priority levels for transactions has a shared resource for processing transactions, and at least one master device for issuing the transactions to the shared resource. The master device provides a plurality of sources of the transactions, and each of the transactions has a priority level associated therewith. Arbitration circuitry applies an arbitration policy to select a transaction from amongst multiple transactions issued to the shared resource. Adaptive priority circuitry is associated with at least one of the sources and monitors throughput indication data for previously issued transactions from the associated source. For each new transaction from the associated source, the circuitry sets the priority level to one of a plurality of predetermined priority levels dependent on the throughput indication data. The adaptive priority circuitry sets the lowest priority level from amongst the plurality of predetermined priority levels.
US09201815B2 Method and apparatus for maintaining network connections between devices
A data-forwarding system establishes a network connection to a plurality of network devices to facilitate an interfacing device communicating with a device-controlling system, a peer interfacing device, or other computing devices. During operation, when the system receives data from a network device, the system determines a peer network device that is to receive the data, such as a device that is subscribed to receive the data. The system can forward the sensor data to the peer network device by determining an established network connection for communicating with the second network device, and sending the sensor data to the peer network device via the established network connection.
US09201813B2 Signal distribution circuitry
Signal distribution circuitry for use in an integrated circuit, the signal distribution circuitry comprising: first and second output nodes, for connection to respective output signal lines; first and second supply nodes for connection to respective high and low voltage sources; and switching circuitry connected to the first and second output nodes and the first and second supply nodes and operable based on an input signal to conductively connect the first and second output nodes either to the first and second supply nodes, respectively, in a first state when the input signal has a first value, or to each other, in a second state when the input signal has a second value different from the first value, so as to transmit output signals dependent on the input signal via such output signal lines.
US09201811B2 Device and authentication method therefor
According to one embodiment, an authentication method includes generating, by the memory, first authentication information by calculating secret identification information with a memory session key in one-way function operation, transmitting encrypted secret identification information, a family key block, and the first authentication information to a host, and generating, by the host, second authentication information by calculating the secret identification information generated by decrypting the encrypted secret identification information with the host session key in one-way function operation. The method further includes comparing, by the host, the first authentication information with the second authentication information.
US09201810B2 Memory page eviction priority in mobile computing devices
Eviction priority technologies provide for the prioritized eviction of memory pages from a first memory, such as a DRAM, in a mobile computing device that have been copied from a second memory, such as flash memory. Eviction priority is based on eviction costs for the memory pages. The eviction cost for a page is based on page-in costs, page-out costs, the priority of a process associated with the page, page access probability and combinations thereof. Page-in costs include read costs, fixup costs and decompression costs, and page-out costs include write-back costs and compression costs. Page lists allow for the sorting of pages by page type (e.g., read only, read/write) and can be used to keep track of eviction costs. Pages are evicted from the first memory in order of increasing eviction cost.
US09201808B2 Method for increasing cache size
A method for increasing storage space in a system containing a block data storage device, a memory, and a processor is provided. Generally, the processor is configured by the memory to tag metadata of a data block of the block storage device indicating the block as free, used, or semifree. The free tag indicates the data block is available to the system for storing data when needed, the used tag indicates the data block contains application data, and the semifree tag indicates the data block contains cache data and is available to the system for storing application data type if no blocks marked with the free tag are available to the system.
US09201805B2 Dispersed storage network virtual address fields
A dispersed storage network includes a dispersed storage device to store data. The dispersed storage device includes a processing module operable to slice a data segment of a data object into data slices. The processing module further creates a slice name for each of the data slices. The slice name includes routing information containing a vault identifier that identifies a vault associated with the data object, in which the vault identifies at least one user. The slice name further includes a source data name containing an identifier of the data object.
US09201803B1 System and method for caching data
A method, computer program product, and computing system for storing a plurality of frontend data chunks within a cache system. The plurality of frontend data chunks correspond to a plurality of backend data chunks stored within a data array. A device weight is determined for each of the plurality of backend data chunks. The device weight is indicative of the type of storage device upon which each of the plurality of backend data chunks is stored within the data array. A deletion score is assigned to each of the plurality of frontend data chunks. Each deletion score is based, at least in part, upon the device weight determined for its corresponding backend data chunk.
US09201802B1 Managing read/write locks for multiple CPU cores for efficient access to storage array resources
A technique for managing resources on a storage array having multiple CPU cores releases share locks on a resource by decrementing share lock counters associated with the CPU cores that release the share locks, regardless of whether these are the same as the CPU cores that acquired the share locks. As each CPU core changes its own share lock counter, cache trashing caused by changing share lock counters associated with other CPU cores can be avoided.
US09201801B2 Computing device with asynchronous auxiliary execution unit
A computing device includes: an instruction cache storing primary execution unit instructions and auxiliary execution unit instructions in a sequential order; a primary execution unit configured to receive and execute the primary execution unit instructions from the instruction cache; an auxiliary execution unit configured to receive and execute only the auxiliary execution unit instructions from the instruction cache in a manner independent from and asynchronous to the primary execution unit; and completion circuitry configured to coordinate completion of the primary execution unit instructions by the primary execution unit and the auxiliary execution unit instructions according to the sequential order.
US09201798B2 Processor instruction based data prefetching
A computer implemented method for prefetching data. The method includes: receiving one or more addresses by a prefetching unit upon execution of an enqueuing command in a first piece of program logic; enqueuing each of the received addresses to a recording-list; identifying one of the positions in the recording-list as jump position; providing the identified jump position to a frame-shifter; using a sub-list of the recording-list defined by a shiftable frame as a playback-list; executing a frame-shift command which triggers the frame-shifter to shift the frame in dependence on the jump position to provide an updated playback-list; fetching data identified by the updated playback-list from a second memory; and transferring the fetched data to a first memory.
US09201796B2 System cache with speculative read engine
Methods and apparatuses for processing speculative read requests in a system cache within a memory controller. To expedite a speculative read request, the request is sent on parallel paths through the system cache. A first path goes through a speculative read engine to determine if the speculative read request meets the conditions for accessing memory. A second path involves performing a tag lookup to determine if the data referenced by the request is already in the system cache. If the speculative read request meets the conditions for accessing memory, the request is sent to a miss queue where it is held until a confirm or cancel signal is received from the tag lookup mechanism.
US09201794B2 Dynamic hierarchical memory cache awareness within a storage system
Described is a system and computer program product for implementing dynamic hierarchical memory cache (HMC) awareness within a storage system. Specifically, when performing dynamic read operations within a storage system, a data module evaluates a data prefetch policy according to a strategy of determining if data exists in a hierarchical memory cache and thereafter amending the data prefetch policy, if warranted. The system then uses the data prefetch policy to perform a read operation from the storage device to minimize future data retrievals from the storage device. Further, in a distributed storage environment that include multiple storage nodes cooperating to satisfy data retrieval requests, dynamic hierarchical memory cache awareness can be implemented for every storage node without degrading the overall performance of the distributed storage environment.
US09201792B2 Short circuit of probes in a chain
A multi-core processing apparatus may provide a cache probe and data retrieval method. The method may comprise sending a memory request from a requester to a record keeping structure. The memory request may have a memory address of a memory that stores requested data. The method may further comprise determining that a local last accessor of the memory address may have a copy of the requested data up to date with the memory. The local last accessor may be within a local domain that the requester belongs to. The method may further comprise sending a cache probe to the local last accessor and retrieving a latest value of the requested data from the local last accessor to the requester.
US09201788B1 In-situ block folding for nonvolatile memory
In a nonvolatile memory, hybrid blocks are initially written with only lower page data. The hybrid blocks later have middle and upper page data written. For high speed writes, data is written to a hybrid block and two or more Single Level Cell (SLC) blocks. The data from the SLC blocks are copied to the hybrid block at a later time in a folding operation.
US09201785B2 Data writing method, memory controller and memory storage apparatus
A data writing method for a rewritable non-volatile memory module is provided. The method includes receiving a write command and data corresponding to the write command from a host system and temporarily storing the data into a buffer memory, and the data includes a plurality of sub-data streams. The method still includes transmitting the sub-data streams into the rewritable non-volatile memory module, thereby writing the sub-data streams into at least one physical erasing unit of the rewritable non-volatile memory module. The method further includes generating parity information based on at least portion of the sub-data streams; storing the parity information into the buffer memory and deleting the data from the buffer memory. Accordingly, the method can effectively utilize the storage space of the buffer memory.
US09201783B2 Method for managing address mapping information and storage device applying the same
Methods and devices for managing address mapping information may include writing address mapping recovery information on a user data area of a storage medium in an initially set size unit, the address mapping recovery information being generated in response to a write operation, storing the address mapping recovery information without being written on the storage medium in a non-volatile memory device when an abnormal power off occurs in a storage device, and updating the address mapping information related to the storage device based on the address mapping recovery information stored in the non-volatile memory device and the storage medium when power is applied to the storage device.
US09201782B2 Efficient allocation and reclamation of thin-provisioned storage
Embodiments of the inventions relate to granular management of data storage blocks in a data storage system. In one aspect, status values are employed to track “used”, “free”, and “claimed free” storage blocks. A storage block having stored data is identified as used, a storage block available to store data is identified as free, and a storage block having previously stored data removed that has not been reclaimed is identified as claimed free. These values are maintained on a map to track each data block within the data storage system. Available claimed free data blocks are prioritized for data block allocation over available free data blocks for efficient storage, including enabling efficient reclamation of data blocks and minimizing data movement needed for reclamation-oriented de-fragmentation.
US09201780B2 Method and device for adjusting memory of virtual machine
The present invention relates to a method and a device for adjusting memory of a virtual machine. The method includes: checking memory usages of virtual machines according to a preset memory usage threshold to determine multiple virtual machines whose memory is to be adjusted; determining, according to parameters preselected by the multiple virtual machines whose memory is to be adjusted, priority levels of the virtual machines whose memory is to be adjusted; and adjusting, according to the priority levels of the virtual machines whose memory is to be adjusted, memory of the virtual machines whose memory is to be adjusted. According to embodiments of the present invention, memory of a virtual machine on which a key application or service is deployed is adjusted in time and prevents a process of a priority service from being affected due to delayed memory adjustment.
US09201778B2 Smart scalable storage switch architecture
A method and system for providing advanced storage features using commodity, consumer-level storage devices is provided. The advanced storage system is a component that is connected between the computer system and one or more physical disk drives. The host interface of the advanced storage system presents itself to the computer system as a virtual disk drive that implements the commands of consumer-level storage hardware that are familiar to the host controller of the computer system. Similarly, the storage device interface of the advanced storage system presents itself to one or more disk drives as a consumer-level host controller, regardless of the actual topology of the physical storage devices that are connected. This system provides a simple way for a user to combine low-cost, consumer-level hardware to add advanced storage features to a computer system.
US09201774B1 Generating test scenario templates from testing data of different organizations utilizing similar ERP modules
System, method, and non-transitory medium for generating a test scenario template from data collected from users running test scenarios to test vendor-customized packaged application modules. Analysis by a module analyzer of descriptions of vendor-customized packaged application modules is utilized to identify similar customizations to the modules. Additionally, a component analyzer identifies, based on the similar customizations, similar components in the modules. Given a specific run of a test scenario run to test a second instance of a certain module, and a description of similar components that include an indication of at least one component of the second instance that is similar to at least one component of a first instance of the certain module, a template generator may generate a test scenario template for testing the first instance. A data cleaner may be used to remove from the generated test scenario template proprietary data.
US09201771B2 Method for evaluating a production rule for a memory management analysis
A method for evaluating a production rule for usage as a test input process for a memory management analysis is carried out via a server process. The server process accesses at least a database of a manufacturing execution system. At least one user table is retrieved out of the database. A first number of records are retrieved for the user table. A single execution of the production rule is triggered by the server process. A second number of records are retrieved for the user table. The first number of records are compared to the second number of records and either, classifying the production rule as a suitable rule for the memory management analysis if the first and the second number of records are equal, or, classifying the production rule as an unsuitable rule for the memory management analysis if the first and the second number records are unequal.
US09201766B2 Producer graph oriented programming framework with scenario support
Embodiments of a producer graph oriented programming framework with scenario support have been presented. In one embodiment, a request to evaluate potential impacts by a change on an application program is received. The application program includes a set of producers, each having at least an instance and a method associated with the instance. Responsive to the request, the application program may be simulated with the change while the existing states and existing outputs of the producers are preserved.
US09201764B2 Method and device for creating and testing a control unit program
A development device and a method for creating and testing a control unit program, whereby the preparation of an intervention point for manipulating a quantity of a runtime environment for testing a control unit program component in a test environment having a test scenario program component and an observation device for receiving output values and indicating the test result. An executable program containing all program components is created from one or more program components, including a control unit program component that is to be tested and a test scenario program component. The creation includes generation of a runtime environment, wherein the runtime environment provides a communication channel for transmitting input and output values between the program components, and wherein a component test service is provided that offers an interface to the runtime environment pursuant to the AUTOSAR standard as an intervention point for manipulating a quantity of the runtime environment.
US09201762B1 Processor implemented systems and methods for reversible debugging using a replicate process system call
Systems and methods are provided for debugging program code. Program code is executed in a process. Clone processes of the process are generated at predetermined time intervals to capture states of execution of the program code at the predetermined time intervals. State data is extracted from the clone processes to generate snapshots of execution of the program code at the predetermined time intervals. A display of the snapshots is provided for debugging the program code, where the snapshots include the extracted state data from the clone processes generated at the predetermined time.
US09201760B2 Method and system for identifying errors in code
A method for identifying errors in code is provided. The method may include rebuilding object dependencies from a heap dump, calculating memory usage of each object, identifying top consumers of memory by object class, analyzing how much memory each class consumes with respect to how much other classes consume, building a corpus of data that may be used in a progressive machine learning algorithm, and identifying suspect classes. Additionally, the suspect classes and the memory usage statistics of the suspect classes may then be used as an identifying signature of the associated out of memory error. The identifying signature of the associated out of memory error may then be used to compare with the signatures of other out of memory occurrences for identifying duplicate error occurrences.
US09201757B2 Offline type checking in programming languages
Disclosed is a method and system for detecting errors in source code of an application without executing the source code. Embodiments of the disclosed technique include detecting an error generating change at a specific location in source code of an application without executing the source code. The detection includes detecting an error in the changed portion of the source code as well dependencies of the changed portion of the source code. After the error detection, an error message containing information of the error is generated and stored in a storage unit. The information on the error includes (a) an indication of the change in source code, (b) the specific location, or (c) reason for the error. The types of error detected can include (i) a data type mismatch error, (ii) a syntax error, and (iii) other errors such as uninitialized variable access, null value or pointer dereference.
US09201755B2 Real-time, interactive measurement techniques for desktop virtualization
In one embodiment, a server system receives, from a client device configured to remotely access a desktop hosted by the server system, user input directed to the desktop. The server system further identifies a desktop operation to be performed in response to the user input, where the identifying is performed without relying on preconfigured information that indicates what the desktop operation should be, determines when the desktop operation has completed, and adds, upon completion of the desktop operation, one or more markers to the desktop. The server system then transmits an image of the desktop that includes the one or more markers to the client device, thereby signaling the completion of the desktop operation to the client device.
US09201751B1 Data migration between multiple tiers in a storage system using policy based ILM for QOS
Technologies are described for implementing a default migration mechanism in a storage system containing multiple tiers of storage with each tier having different cost and performance parameters. Data that is accessed more frequently can be migrated toward higher performance storage tiers while data that is accessed less frequently can be migrated towards lower performance storage tiers. Default migration behavior can be overridden by user-specified values for tier age residency policy, demotion policy, tier occupancy of volumes, and tier assignment. Data migration can be paused by the user and resumed by the user.
US09201743B2 Backup SIP server for the survivability of an enterprise network using SIP
This backup SIP server (BSS) comprises: means (LMM) for detecting whether an Internet protocol link is not working, and enabling the use of a backup SIP signaling link to the main site via a SIP gateway and a public telephone network when the Internet protocol link is not working; means for transferring SIP signaling information on this backup link; means for, when receiving a registration request from a terminal of the remote site while the Internet protocol link is not working, registering this terminal locally and forwarding the registration request to the main site via the backup link; means (PQM) for storing policies defining what services, supplied by the main SIP server, are compatible with said backup SIP signaling link, and for altering the content of at least one field in each SIP signaling message addressed to the main SIP server before transferring this SIP signaling message on the backup link, this content being altered according to said policies.
US09201741B2 Storage device, error processing method, and communication system
A storage device, includes: a plurality of controller modules; a bus disposed among the plurality of controller modules, the bus including a plurality of transmission paths; a detector configured to detect an error in data communication through the bus; and a connection controller configured to carry out partial fallback processing of the bus if the number of the errors has exceeded a given number.
US09201738B2 Method, computer readable storage medium and computer system for obtaining snapshots of data
A method includes requesting a source database system including a source database table to record a transaction log including a plurality of transaction log entries that are representative of transactions including modifications of the source database table and to create a snapshot of the source database table during the recording of the transaction log. For each of a plurality of snapshot entries in the snapshot, one or more validity time intervals during which the snapshot entry is valid are determined on the basis of the transaction log. The snapshot entry is valid as long as it matches a corresponding entry in the source database table. A point in time at which a number of valid ones among the plurality of snapshot entries is maximum is determined. The calculated point in time is returned as an approximate value of a point in time at which the snapshot was created.
US09201733B2 Systems and methods for data repair
An embodiment method for data repair in a storage system includes determining, by a processor, a minimum number of missing data blocks needed to repair a corrupted object in a first portion of the storage system, wherein the missing data blocks are not available in the first portion of the storage system, retrieving only the minimum number of missing data blocks needed to repair the corrupted object from a second portion of the storage system, and repairing the corrupted object in the first portion of the storage system using erasure codes and the retrieved minimum number of missing data blocks.
US09201730B2 Multiple level cell memory device with single bit per cell, re-mappable memory block
A system having a non-volatile memory device has a plurality of memory cells that are organized into memory blocks. Blocks can operate in either a multiple bit per cell mode or a single bit per cell mode. A processor controls the system and selects blocks to operate in the multiple bit per cell mode and single bit per cell mode. One dedicated memory block is capable of operating only in the single bit per cell mode. If the dedicated memory block is found to be defective, a defect-free block can be remapped to that dedicated memory block location to act only in the single bit per cell mode.
US09201726B2 Memory circuit incorporating radiation-hardened memory scrub engine
An example integrated circuit includes a first memory array including a first plurality of data groups, each such data group including a respective plurality of data bits. The integrated circuit also includes a first error detection and correction (EDAC) circuit configured to detect and correct an error in a data group read from the first memory array. The integrated circuit also includes a first scrub circuit configured to access in a sequence each of the first plurality of data groups to correct any detected errors therein. Both the first EDAC circuit and the first scrub circuit include spatially redundant circuitry. The first EDAC circuit and the first scrub circuit may include buried guard ring (BGR) structures, and may include parasitic isolation device (PID) structures. The spatially redundant circuitry may include dual interlocked storage cell (DICE) circuits, and may include temporal filtering circuitry.
US09201725B2 Memory module, memory system having the same, and methods of reading therefrom and writing thereto
A method of reading from a memory module which includes a plurality of memories is provided. The method includes reading data corresponding to a plurality of burst length units from the plurality of memories; correcting an error of the read data using a storage error correction code; and outputting the error corrected data by a unit of data corresponding to one burst length unit.
US09201724B2 End-to end data protection supporting multiple CRC algorithms
A technique for providing end-to-end data protection while supporting multiple cyclic-redundancy-check (CRC) algorithms includes receiving a data block protected by a first CRC. The first CRC is generated using a first CRC algorithm. The integrity of the data block is checked using the first CRC and the first CRC algorithm. A second CRC for the data block is then computed using a second CRC algorithm different from the first CRC algorithm. The data block, first CRC, and second CRC are stored on a storage medium, such as magnetic tape.
US09201723B2 Fault handling in a distributed IT environment
An improved system for fault handling in a distributed IT environment. The distributed IT environment executes at least one workflow application interacting with an application by using interface information about the at least one application. The system comprises a processor: storing at least one fault handling description in a implementation-independent meta language associated with the at least one application; associating the interface information with the at least one fault handling description based on at least one defined fault handling policy, created based on at least one service definition. The system also includes the workflow application, if a fault response from the at least one application is received: retrieving at least one associated fault handling description based on at least one fault handling policy; and interpreting and executing a particular meta language code of the at least one associated fault handling description in order to continue the defined workflow application.
US09201722B1 System-on-chip and method for sending data in a system-on-chip
A system-on-chip comprising a sender unit and a receiver unit and a method of operating thereof are described. The sender unit comprises a send counter for providing a send counter value. The receiver unit comprises a receive counter for providing a receive counter value. The sender unit is arranged to increment the send counter value by an increment and send a data packet to the receiver unit. The receiver unit is arranged to receive the data packet and increment the receive counter value by the increment. In a challenge operation, the sender unit sends the send counter value to the receiver unit. In a challenge response operation, the receiver unit receives the send counter value, compares the values, and generates a comparison result. Loss of data packets from the sender unit as well as reception of unexpected data packets from a third functional unit may thus be detected.
US09201721B1 System, method, and computer program for combining results of event processing received from a plurality of servers
A system, method, and computer program are provided for combining results of event processing received from a plurality of servers. In use, an event is sent to a plurality of servers. Further, a result of processing of the event is received from each of the servers. In addition, the results received from the plurality of servers are combined.
US09201719B2 Method and system for timeout monitoring
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for timeout monitoring of concurrent commands or parallel communication channels comprising assigning or de-assigning each one of the commands or communication channels to a corresponding one of a plurality of timeout timers when corresponding commands are to be transmitted or command acknowledges are received respectively.
US09201716B1 Automatic queue size determination and tuning
A method, system, and medium are provided for automatically determining a preferred queue size for an individual queue based on message traffic. The method includes referencing a plurality of queue data sets corresponding to messages associated with a queue within a collection time period. A queue data set associated with a largest number of messages in the queue is identified from within the plurality of queue data sets and, thereafter, a target-queue size is determined using queue data associated with the largest number of messages in the queue. In further aspects, the individual queue can be automatically tuned based on the target-queue size.
US09201711B2 API and business language schema design framework for message exchanges
A plurality of application servers hosts a plurality of business applications. A plurality of Application Program Interface (API) servers host a plurality of APIs to provide programmatic access to the plurality of business applications, each of the APIs configured to receive request messages compiled by a remote client application. First and second request messages targeted to first and second APIs have at least one common data component. The first request message includes a first payload specific to the first targeted API and the second request message includes a second payload specific to the second targeted API, the first payload and the second payload each comprise a reusable identified schema definition specific to the targeted API.
US09201707B2 Distributed system, device, method, and program
A distributed system includes: a plurality of ordinary nodes provided with reduced-power states having different times of recovery to a normal operating state; and a management node for assigning a job to an ordinary node for carrying out the job. The management node has: node select means for selecting an ordinary node from ordinary nodes each put in one of the reduced-power states, assigning a job to the selected ordinary node and driving the selected ordinary node to carry out the assigned job; and node control means for executing control to restore an ordinary node selected by the node select means to the normal operating state. The node select means selects an ordinary node from the ordinary nodes each put in one of the reduced-power states having different times of recovery to the normal operating state in accordance with an ordinary-node order starting with an ordinary node existing in a reduced-power state and having a short time of recovery to the normal operating state.
US09201704B2 System and method for migrating application virtual machines in a network environment
A method includes managing a virtual machine (VM) in a cloud extension, where the VM is part of a distributed virtual switch (DVS) of an enterprise network, abstracting an interface that is transparent to a cloud infrastructure of the cloud extension, and intercepting network traffic from the VM, where the VM can communicate securely with the enterprise network. The cloud extension comprises a nested VM container (NVC) that includes an emulator configured to enable abstracting the interface, and dual transmission control protocol/Internet Protocol stacks for supporting a first routing domain for communication with the cloud extension, and a second routing domain for communication with the enterprise network. The NVC may be agnostic with respect to operating systems running on the VM. The method further includes migrating the VM from the enterprise network to the cloud extension through suitable methods.
US09201698B2 System and method to reduce memory usage by optimally placing VMS in a virtualized data center
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for collocating VMs based on memory sharing potential. In an embodiment of the invention, a VM co-location method has been claimed. The method includes selecting a VM from amongst different VMs for server colocation. The method additionally includes computing an individual shared memory factor for each of a set of the VMs with respect to the selected VM. The method yet further includes determining a VM amongst the VMs in the set associated with a highest computed shared memory factor. Finally, the method includes co-locating the determined VM with the selected VM in a single server.
US09201696B2 Systems and techniques for utilizing resource aware queues and/or service sharing in a multi-server environment
Systems and techniques for utilizing resource aware queues and/or service sharing in a multi-server environment. Requests directed to an application server are received into one or more queues in front of the application server. An acknowledgement of the requests is provided in response to the requests being received by the one or more queues. Metadata associated with the requests is utilized to manage the one or more queues. The requests from the one or more queues are processed based on the metadata.
US09201694B2 Job management apparatus and job management method
A job management apparatus that searches for an available node to which a job is allocatable in an n-dimensional mesh-connected or n-dimensional torus-connected computer network, includes: a one-dimensional search information generating unit that generates one-dimensional search information related to one dimension of n dimensions, which includes a plurality of bits and which indicates, using one-bit information, whether or not the job is allocatable for each of computation nodes belonging to the one dimension; a search information generating unit that generates a search mask pattern with as many bits as corresponds to the plurality of bits, which includes consecutive bits being set to a preset value and corresponding to a size required by the job in the one dimension; and an available node searching unit that searches for the available node by performing, for the one dimension, a preset logic operation with the one-dimensional search information and the search mask pattern.
US09201686B2 Task execution by idle resources in grid computing system
Described herein, are methods and devices for execution of a task in a grid computing system. According to an implementation, free time-slots are identified and durations of the free time-slots are estimated, by an edge device, for execution of a sub-task. The free time-slots are indicative of an idle state of the edge device. At least one computation capability parameter of the edge device is determined by the edge device for execution of a sub-task during the free time-slots. An advertisement profile having at least one free time-slot, and the duration and the at least one computation capability parameter associated with the at least one free time-slot is created by the edge device. The advertisement profile is provided by the edge device to grid servers in the grid computing system for partitioning a main task to create a sub-task executable by the edge device.
US09201685B2 Transactional cache versioning and storage in a distributed data grid
A set of techniques are described for transactional cache versioning and data storage in a distributed data grid environment. A transaction coordinator maintains a commit version for each transaction. This version is updated over the course of the transaction. In addition, each cluster member maintains a local current version that is updated as messages are received from the client. When a client serving as a transaction coordinator sends a message, the transaction coordinator includes an associated transaction's current version value with the message. On receiving a message, the receiving member process sets its current version to be the maximum of its own value and the received value. The receiving member process includes its current version in the return message to the sender. On receiving the return messages, the client sets the transaction's commit version to be greater than the maximum of its own value and the received value.
US09201681B2 Method and controller device for quality of service (QOS) caching in a virtualized environment
A method and controller device for sharing computing resources in a virtualized environment having a plurality of virtual machines. The method includes assigning a portion of the computing resources to the plurality of virtual machines. The method also includes leasing by a first virtual machine at least a portion of the assigned computing resources of at least one second virtual machine. The first virtual machine leases computing resources from the at least one second virtual machine when the first virtual machine needs additional computing resources and at least a portion of the assigned computing resources of the at least one second virtual machine are not being used by the at least one second virtual machine.
US09201678B2 Placing a virtual machine on a target hypervisor
A method is provided for placing a virtual machine on a target virtual machine manager out of multiple virtual machine managers. System management software is connected to the virtual machine managers and selects the target virtual machine manager for placing the virtual machine. The method includes: the system management software creating a memory profile for all virtual machines hosted on the multiple virtual machine managers, the system management software evaluating probabilities for samepage mapping of the virtual machine to be placed on the multiple virtual machine managers based on the memory profiles of the virtual machines, the system management software selecting under consideration of the probabilities for samepage mapping a most appropriate virtual machine manager as the target virtual machine manager, and the system management software placing the virtual machine on the target virtual machine manager.
US09201672B1 Method and system for aggregation of search results
Disclosed is an approach for providing an improved approach for searching and aggregation of searches on the internet, which allows more flexibility to perform and display search results, and also provides searching for a broad range of secondary search sites. A virtual layer is used to provide web page components to implement the searching and aggregation of search results, so that additional search results from secondary web sites can be aggregated with the search results from a primary web site. The aggregated results can then be displayed to the user at the primary search site. By using the virtual layer approach of embodiments of the present invention, this allows the aggregated search results to be placed on and overlaid with the web page from any desired search page. In addition, the searching can be specified for any secondary search sites, even sites which are not particularly with the same subject space as the primary site.
US09201668B2 Providing content on connected devices
Among other disclosures, a method can include executing instructions on a computing platform so that an application and consumable content rendered by the application are provided to a connected device, executing instructions on the computing platform so that a confirmation is obtained that the application and consumable content were received by the connected device and the application was successfully installed by the connected device, and executing instructions on the computing platform so that a content delivery relationship, including a billing relationship, is established in response to the obtained confirmation.
US09201667B2 Providing virtual desktops using resources accessed on public computer networks
A computer system supports hosting of virtual desktops using resources available in the cloud. Connections to various resources used by a desktop configuration are made dynamically using authentication information associated with the user assigned to the desktop configuration. In addition to using file storage, directory services and user management information on private resources on a private network, these resources may also be accessed through a public network.
US09201666B2 System and method for using gestures to generate code to manipulate text flow
The subject disclosure is directed towards using gesture input to position content elements (e.g., flow text) around an object such as an irregularly shaped image. The gesture input may be used to generate markup language code, which when processed by a renderer, automatically positions the elements based upon the markup language code. For example, div elements may be generated in HTML code, with margins set to values based upon the gesture so as to position the one or more content elements when they are rendered.
US09201665B2 Outputting presentation code updated for a particular user in response to receiving a page identifier
Apparatuses and methods are illustrated that relate to a web application running on a server accessible from the Internet. Aspects of the disclosure relate to an apparatus for outputting presentation code in response to receiving at least a page identifier. The apparatus comprises an electronic processor, a tangible medium storing a mapping table, template file, presentation and business rules, and computer-executable instructions.
US09201664B2 Method for users to give commands directly in computer software
A method for users to give commands directly in computer software, is involved with the user interface for software in computers and computing systems.The present invention put forth a method for users to give commands directly in computer software through use of a command input module, a command dictionary or database with synonyms, a user command dictionary or database, a command search engine and a dynamical command execution module. The command search engine gets the command input from the command input module and searches the command dictionary or database and the user command dictionary or database, if a matching command with the command input is found, the dynamical command execution module is called to execute the command directly; if one or more synonymous or similar commands are found, a dynamical user interface with all the found commands is displayed for the user to select and execute; if no matching commands or synonymous commands are found, a message stating that the command input cannot be found in the software is displayed to the user. The present invention simplifies the use of software and greatly augments the ease of use of computer software.
US09201655B2 Method, computer program product, and hardware product for eliminating or reducing operand line crossing penalty
Eliminating or reducing an operand line crossing penalty by performing an initial fetch for an operand from a data cache of a processor. The initial fetch is performed by allowing or permitting the initial fetch to occur unaligned with reference to a quadword boundary. A plurality of subsequent fetches for a corresponding plurality of operands from the data cache are performed wherein each of the plurality of subsequent fetches is aligned to any of a plurality of quadword boundaries to prevent each of a plurality of individual fetch requests from spanning a plurality of lines in the data cache. A steady stream of data is maintained by placing an operand buffer at an output of the data cache to store and merge data from the initial fetch and the plurality of subsequent fetches, and to return the stored and merged data to the processor.
US09201645B2 Program distribution device, program distribution method, program distribution system, and storage medium
Disclosed is a program distribution device that enables to distribute programs in a more appropriate order with respect to an electronic device to which the programs are distributed. The program distribution device includes an appropriateness determination unit which executes an appropriateness determination processing on the basis of policy information, and distributes the update program to the target device in accordance with a result of determination.
US09201642B2 Extending platform trust during program updates
An approach is provided in which a computer system generates a current hash value of a computer program in response to receiving a request to execute the computer program. Next, the computer system determines that the current hash value fails to match a reference hash value that was previously generated subsequent to installing the computer program on the computer system. Since the two hash values do not match each other, the computer system matches the current hash value to an updated hash value that was previously generated in response to modifying the computer program on the computer system. In turn, the computer system executes the computer program when the current hash value matches the updated hash value.
US09201641B2 Method and system for upgrading the software of a telecommunication terminal, in particular of a video telephone, and related computer program product
A method of upgrading the software of a terminal of a telecommunication network, in particular a wired video telephone, includes the steps of periodically sending a first signal from the terminal to a service center via an intelligent network, the first signal including a service access code containing information related to the current software version installed on the terminal; checking, in a data base containing information on the different software versions available in the service center, if the current software version corresponds to a correct software version; sending from the service center to the terminal a second signal, in the form of a DTMF sequence, indicative of the result of the step of checking; possibly displaying a message on the terminal to inform the user that the software has to be upgraded; and remotely downloading the software.
US09201639B2 System and method for service definition packages for use with a cloud computing environment
A system and method for providing service definition packages for use with a cloud computing environment. In accordance with an embodiment, a cloud platform enables provisioning of enterprise software applications (e.g., Fusion Middleware applications) within a cloud environment. In an embodiment, enterprise applications can be packaged as service definition packages (SDP). Each SDP can include an application binary component, a metadata defining the application's service characteristics and requirements, and a plugin that enables the SDP to be installed into the cloud platform. The SDP can also include a virtual assembly that defines a topology and configuration for a set of virtual appliances. The application, as defined by its SDP, can be instantiated as one or more services that are then accessible by other (e.g., customer) applications within the cloud environment.
US09201630B2 Random number generation using startup variances
Random numbers are generated according to a variety of solutions. A particular solution relates to a method for generating the random number. A common start signal is provided to each of a plurality of inverter components of a ring oscillator circuit. This causes the ring oscillator circuit to enter a metastable mode. At least a first bit and a second bit of a random number are both generated in parallel. The parallel generation of the bits involves the generation of the first bit from entropic properties of a signal of a first one of the plurality of inverter components and the generation of the second bit from entropic properties of a signal of a second one inverter components.
US09201622B2 Devices, systems, and methods for communicating with an image-forming device from a mobile device
Systems, devices, and methods for device communication receive, at a proxy device, an image of a barcode that was sent from a mobile device, wherein the barcode includes device information for an image-forming device, and wherein the device information identifies a network of the image-forming device; send the device information from the proxy device to one or more support devices; and at the one or more support devices, determine if the respective support device is connected to the network of the image-forming device, and in response to determining that the respective support device is connected to the network of the image-forming device, generate an output queue for the image-forming device on the support device that is connected to the network of the image-forming device.
US09201621B2 Information processing apparatus, print system, control method for information processing apparatus, and storage medium
An information processing apparatus manages a first printer object that has a correspondence relationship with the image forming apparatus, and a second printer object that does not have a correspondence relationship with the image forming apparatus, holds the job without transmitting the job to a specific image forming apparatus when the second printer object is selected and a print instruction is issued, and transmits, to the image forming apparatus, the job held by the second printer object in response to an access from the image forming apparatus to the first printer object.
US09201618B2 Image forming apparatus capable of reproducing user settings, method of controlling the same, and storage medium
A image forming apparatus having a plurality of applications, which is capable of properly reproducing settings desired by each user, and is thereby improved in user-friendliness. A storage controller stores a file with which first print settings can be associated. The storage controller stores second print settings in a manner associated with a user. An operation controller selects a file stored in association with the first print settings according to an instruction from a user who has logged into the image forming apparatus. A CPU executes print processing according to the first print settings when the first print settings are associated with the selected file, and on the other hand executes print processing according to the second print settings when the first print settings are not associated with the selected file.
US09201616B2 Image communication apparatus, method and storage medium with archiving function
There is provided with an image communication apparatus. A designation unit designates a destination of image data. A transmission unit transmits the image data to the destination designated by the designation unit. A determination unit determines whether or not transmission by the transmission unit has been performed successfully. An archiving unit transmits, when it is determined that transmission by the transmission unit has been performed successfully, the image data to an archiving destination. A storage unit stores, when archiving of the image data by the archiving unit fails, the image data securely such that a user who has an administrative right can output the image data.
US09201611B2 Interface control apparatus, data storage apparatus and interface control method
According to one embodiment, an interface control apparatus includes an interface, a table, a command processor, and a controller. The interface transmits and receives information to and from a host. The table holds management information for managing an address in a memory space in the host. The command processor carries out a command process of accessing the memory space in the host using the management information. The controller releases the management information corresponding to the command process from the table in response to completion of the command process.
US09201610B2 Cloud-based storage deprovisioning
A device creates a first cloud storage container in a first region of cloud storage, clears a delete flag associated with the first cloud storage container, and stores a first data object in the first cloud storage container in the first region of cloud storage. The device receives a request to delete the first cloud storage container, sets a delete flag associated with the first cloud storage container based on the request to delete the first cloud storage container, and deletes the first cloud storage container if the request to delete has not been rescinded prior to expiration of a time period.
US09201601B2 Reducing required battery capacity for data backup in a storage system with multiple controllers
A storage system which is connected to a host computer, includes a storage device; a first controller which controls data transfers between the storage device and the host computer; a second controller connected to the first controller and controls data transfers between the storage device and the host computer; a non-volatile memory; and a battery device. The first controller includes a first volatile memory and the second controller comprising a second volatile memory. Upon a power outage, the battery device starts supplying electric power to the first controller and the second controller, and wherein the second controller copies data which is stored in the first volatile memory to the second volatile memory and, after copying is complete, stops operation of the first controller, stops the power supply from the battery device to the first controller, and copies data.
US09201598B2 Apparatus and method for sharing resources between storage devices
A method for allocating resources of a storage system including at least a first and second group of storage devices. The method identifies a first set of resources to be reserved for use by the first group of storage devices, identifies a second set of resources to be reserved for use by the second group of storage devices, and identifies a third set of resources The method then allocates resources from the third set of resources to the first group of storage devices or the second group of storage device according to an allocation algorithm, and restricts use of the first set of resources to the first group of devices and use of the second set of resources to the second group of devices.
US09201595B2 High speed read access memory array with variation tolerant bypass scheme with protection circuit
A memory array for process variation tolerant bypass operation. The memory array may utilize normal read operation data path of a memory I/O module. Accordingly, the speed at which the bypass operation may be executed may be increased. Furthermore, a potential for false read operations introduced by the utilization of the normal read operation data path of the memory I/O module may be reduced using a protect mechanism operable to block the output of false reads from the memory array.
US09201593B2 System and method of managing displays at a portable computing device and a portable computing device docking station
A method of managing a portable computing device (PCD) display and a PCD docking station display when a PCD is docked with a PCD docking station is disclosed and may include connecting a PCD data driver to the PCD docking station display, transmitting a primary display signal to the PCD docking station display, and transmitting a secondary display signal to the PCD display. The method may include displaying primary information at the PCD docking station display. The method may also include displaying secondary information at the PCD docking station display.
US09201591B1 Automated coverage monitoring of mobile applications
Embedded devices, such as smart phones, can execute an application for performing a set of discrete tasks. To evaluate applications for security vulnerabilities, a coverage monitoring system generates a directed graph of the application running on the embedded device. The directed graph is generated by logging gestures submitted by a user of the application and logging one or more actions taken by the application in response to the gesture. The gesture can include a click, a text input, or a more complex gesture. In response to the gesture, the application can change a current view, or screen, or can transition to a different view. The coverage monitoring system logs the gestures and logs a screenshot or other data about the response of the application. The logged data is used to generate the directed graph which can be accessed by application analysts and analyzed for security vulnerabilities.
US09201587B2 Portable device and operation method thereof
A portable apparatus and an operation method thereof are provided. The portable apparatus has a screen and a touch pad, and a touch area of the touch pad is mapped to a display area of the screen. In the operation method, a first touch operation is detected by using the touch pad, and a cue area is displayed at a first display position on the screen mapped to a first touch position of the first touch operation. A second touch operation is detected by using the touch pad, and whether a second display position on the screen mapped to a second touch position of the second touch operation is within the cue area is determined. If the second display position is within the cue area, an operation function is executed on an object within the cue area. Otherwise, the cue area is moved to the second display position.
US09201579B2 Slide to apply
According to various exemplary embodiments, user input of a single continuous gesture from a touch-sensitive surface of a first device to a touch-sensitive surface of a second device is detected. It is determined that the gesture corresponds to a drag-and-drop operation performed on an icon displayed on the touch-sensitive surface of the first device, the icon representing user profile information. Moreover, it is determined that the gesture terminates proximate to a job position user interface element in a job recruitment user interface window displayed on the touch-sensitive surface of the second device. Thereafter, the user profile information of the user is transferred from the first device to the second device.
US09201577B2 User interfaces for controlling audio playback devices and related systems and devices
A user interface (e.g., on remote control device) for controlling an audio playback device. The user interface includes an input region operable to select from a plurality of entities for providing audio content to the audio playback device, and a display for displaying information associated with the entities. The user interface is configured to allow a user to preview the information associated with the entities via the display prior to selection of one of the entities for providing audio content for playback on the audio playback device.
US09201576B2 Display method and portable device
A display method and a portable device are provided. The portable device has a touch screen, and a plurality of application programs is installed in the portable device. The touch screen displays a menu interface and an object corresponding to each application program. When the object corresponding to each application program is displayed, obtain a display format supported by the application program, and determine whether the display format supported by the application program matches a first display format of the touch screen of the portable device. When the display format supported by the application program does not match the first display format of the touch screen, a first annotation message is shown on the object corresponding to the application program.
US09201575B2 Method and system for database browsing
A method of enabling browsing of database tables on a computer system includes providing a configuration file to identify database table characteristics and to develop a graphical user interface (GUI) in communication with a database. The method further includes displaying on the GUI a main screen including: a record as a row from a specified database table; a related database table name, the table name being related to the specified database table; and a detail as a value in a column from the specified database table for the record displayed. The method still further includes receiving a selection from the GUI of the table. The method also includes navigating to another main screen on the GUI in response to the selection from the GUI.
US09201572B2 A/B test configuration environment
Various embodiments are generally directed to a visual configuration environment for configuring A/B tests of variations of aspects of content presentation in a user interface of a portal of a server to support remotely accessing services that it provides. A method includes identifying multiple visual areas of a visible portion of a user interface in a first data script; visually presenting on a display the multiple visual areas in at least one menu in a first table to enable selection of first and second visual areas of the multiple visual areas for inclusion in an A/B test of multiple versions of the user interface; and visually presenting a list of all possible combinations of variations in content presentation selected in response to the visual presentation of the first table for the first and second visual areas in the form of a second table. Other embodiments are described and claimed herein.
US09201569B2 Method and recorded medium for providing 3D information service
A method of providing a 3D information service at a user terminal includes: receiving a first request of a user for displaying information; and displaying information elements, which have different depths along the Z axis orthogonal to a screen (XY plane), by rotating the information elements about any one of the X axis and the Y axis, where the rotational axis of each of the information elements is set at different points on the YZ plane or the XZ plane. According to certain embodiments of the invention, the information elements on a screen may be shown as planar elements in a still screen for greater legibility, but when the information elements are in motion, such as for changing the screen or moving a content element, the motion is provided with differing speeds according to depth, thereby providing a sense of spatial perception unique to 3-dimensional images.
US09201568B2 Three-dimensional tracking of a user control device in a volume
Tracking objects presented within a stereo three-dimensional (3D) scene. The user control device may include one or more visually indicated points for at least one tracking sensor to track. The user control device may also include other position determining devices, for example, an accelerometer and/or gyroscope. Precise 3D coordinates of the stylus may be determined based on location information from the tracking sensor(s) and additional information from the other position determining devices. A stereo 3D scene may be updated to reflect the determined coordinates.
US09201566B2 Presentation of image on display screen with combination crop and rotation and with auto-resizing of crop field
A portable electronic device, computer program product, and method of presenting image information on a display with combined cropping and rotation selection and auto-resizing of cropped portion of the displayed image. A processor accepts a selection of a portion of a displayed image in a selection rectangle frame over the displayed image, based on detecting a first gesture. The processor determines a request for rotation of the displayed selection rectangle frame based on detecting a second gesture. The processor then rotates the selection rectangle frame on the displayed image and resizes the selection rectangle frame while maintaining it within the outer boundaries of the displayed image.
US09201560B2 Multiple user data entry system and method
A computer program acts as a data collection, compilation, storage, and display in an autonomous and dynamic fashion. The software may be used by numerous separate and unrelated facilities working as a network on related projects with diverse hardware. A portable storage device is used to store the necessary software. This storage device will be shared between computer systems on site to collect, compile and store information from each facility. Once all sections are complete, it will be handed to a final arbitrator for review. The ultimate goal of a preferred embodiment is a portable system capable of dynamic modification capable of use in many different fields of operation.
US09201559B2 Method of operating a multi-zone input device
A method of operating an input device in conjunction with a host device includes determining that the input device is in a stationary state and receiving a first signal from a first sense zone of the input device. The method also includes determining an input command based on determining that the input device is in the stationary state and the first signal and transmitting a signal associated with the input command from the input device to the host device.
US09201558B1 Data transformation system, graphical mapping tool, and method for creating a schema map
Graphical mapping interface embodiments and method are provided for creating and displaying a schema map, which may be used by a data transformation system to perform a data transformation between at least one source schema and at least one target schema. According to one embodiment, the graphical mapping interface may comprise a source schema region for displaying a graphical representation of at least one source schema, a target schema region for displaying a graphical representation of at least one target schema, and a mapping region for displaying graphical representations of a plurality of links connecting the source nodes displayed in the source schema region to the target nodes displayed in the target schema region. The plurality of links may comprise at least one control link having at least one ECA rule associated therewith and at least one data link having at least one textual-based target field expression associated therewith.
US09201557B2 Extensible framework to support different deployment architectures
A method for managing services and resources across a plurality of deployment architectures is described. The method begins by defining a profile corresponding to a deployment architecture. Each profile is defined according to a meta-model. The meta model comprises a service object representing a service that is accessible over a network, resource objects representing resources consumed by the service, inter-relationships between the service and resources, inter-relationships between the resources. For each profile, a topology is generated based on the profile. The topology includes the resources used to perform a task.
US09201555B2 Display device with touch panel
A display device with a touch panel includes a display panel, and a touch panel formed above the display panel. The touch panel includes X electrodes which extend in a first direction, and Y electrodes which extend in a second direction different from the first direction. The X electrodes and the Y electrodes respectively include intersection portions each formed where the X electrodes and the Y electrodes overlap each other, and electrode portions each formed between the intersection portions, wherein the electrode portions of one of the X electrodes is smaller in area than the electrode portions of one of the Y electrodes, and wherein floating electrodes are formed close to the electrode portion of the one of the X electrodes or Y electrodes, and over a reduced portion of the X electrode.
US09201549B2 Systems and methods for monitoring LCD display panel resistance
Systems and methods for monitoring internal resistance of a display may include supplying the display via a capacitor with a first voltage and a second voltage configured to enable the display to receive touch inputs and display image data, respectively. The method may discharge the capacitor at least three times via a first resistor, a second resistor, and the first resistor and second resistor coupled in parallel with each other. The method may monitor three discharge waveforms that corresponds to when the capacitor discharges from the first voltage to the second voltage via the first resistor, the second resistor, and the first resistor and second resistor coupled in parallel with each other. Based at least in part on the discharge waveforms, the method may determine a chip on glass resistance value and a flex on glass resistance value that correspond to an internal resistance of the display.
US09201545B2 Motion feedback
A user input to a system is processed by receiving reflections of signals from a moving input object. Information relating to the direction of movement of the input object and information relating to the speed of the input object are determined from the reflections. Continual sensory feedback is provided to the user, controlled by a parameter that is repeatedly updated based on the direction and speed of the input object. When no new determination of information relating to the speed or direction of the input object has been made since a previous update, a time-dependent change is made to the parameter.
US09201542B2 Light sensitive display apparatus and operating method thereof
A light sensitive display apparatus and an operating method thereof are disclosed herein. The light sensitive display apparatus includes a plurality of pixels, and the operating method of the light sensitive display apparatus includes the following steps. In a writing state, a first data voltage and a first gate voltage are provided to the pixels, and the pixels illuminated by light rays are switched to or kept in a first display state. In an erasing state, a second data voltage and a second gate voltage are provided to the pixels, and the pixels illuminated by light rays are switched to or kept in a second display state.
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