最新美国发明专利
Document Document Title
US09224887B2 Solar cell and solar cell module
The present invention provides a solar cell including a substrate, a first front bus, and a first rear bus. The substrate has a front surface and a rear surface. The first front bus is located on the front surface of the substrate along a first direction for collecting current generated by the substrate, and for providing a first front contact electrode. The first rear bus is located on the rear surface of the substrate along a second direction different from the first direction for collecting current generated by the substrate, and for providing a first rear contact electrode.
US09224877B2 Silicon carbide semiconductor device and method for manufacturing same
A first main surface of a silicon carbide substrate has a flat surface located in an element portion and a side wall surface located in a termination portion. The silicon carbide substrate has an impurity layer having a portion located at each of the flat surface of the first main surface and a second main surface. On the flat surface, a Schottky electrode is in contact with the impurity layer. On the second main surface, a counter electrode is in contact with the impurity layer. An insulating film covers the side wall surface. The side wall surface is inclined by not less than 50° and not more than 80° relative to a {000-1}plane. This suppresses the leakage current of a silicon carbide semiconductor device.
US09224876B2 Fast switching diodes and methods of manufacturing those diodes
Diodes and methods of manufacturing diodes are disclosed. The diodes may include a cathode assembly having a cathode electrode, a N+ substrate layer on the cathode electrode, a N buffer layer on the N+ substrate layer, and a N− bulk layer on the N buffer layer. The N buffer layer may include crystal damage configured to provide recombination centers for charge carriers. The method may include creating a N buffer layer on a N+ substrate wafer, creating a N− bulk layer on the N buffer layer, and inflicting, to the N buffer layer, crystal damage configured to provide recombination centers for charge carriers. The method may include creating a N buffer layer in a N− bulk wafer, creating a N+ substrate layer in the N− bulk wafer, and inflicting, to the N buffer layer, crystal damage configured to provide recombination centers for charge carriers.
US09224873B2 Method of fabricating a charge trap NAND flash memory device
Subject matter disclosed herein relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device, and more particularly to a method of fabricating a charge trap NAND flash memory device.
US09224871B2 Thin film transistor and method for manufacturing same
According to one embodiment, a thin film transistor includes a first insulating film, a gate electrode, a semiconductor layer, a gate insulator film, a second insulating film, a source electrode, a tunneling insulating portion, and a drain electrode. The semiconductor layer is provided between the gate electrode and the first insulating film, and includes an amorphous oxide. The gate insulator film is provided between the semiconductor layer and the gate electrode. The second insulating film is provided between the semiconductor layer and the first insulating film. The tunneling insulating portion is provided between the semiconductor layer and the source electrode, and between the semiconductor layer and the drain electrode, and between the first insulating film and the second insulating film. The tunneling insulating portion includes oxygen and at least one selected from aluminum and magnesium. A thickness of the tunneling insulating portion is 2 nanometers or less.
US09224870B2 Oxide semiconductor device
An object is to provide a semiconductor device having a structure with which parasitic capacitance between wirings can be sufficiently reduced. An oxide insulating layer serving as a channel protective layer is formed over part of an oxide semiconductor layer overlapping with a gate electrode layer. In the same step as formation of the oxide insulating layer, an oxide insulating layer covering a peripheral portion of the oxide semiconductor layer is formed. The oxide insulating layer which covers the peripheral portion of the oxide semiconductor layer is provided to increase the distance between the gate electrode layer and a wiring layer formed above or in the periphery of the gate electrode layer, whereby parasitic capacitance is reduced.
US09224869B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing same
This semiconductor device (101) includes: a substrate (1); a thin-film transistor (10) which includes an oxide semiconductor layer (6) as its active layer; a protective layer (11) covering the thin-film transistor; a metal layer (9d, 9t) interposed between the protective layer (11) and the substrate (1); a transparent conductive layer (13, 13t) formed on the protective layer (11); and a connecting portion (20, 30) to electrically connect the metal layer (9d, 9t) and the transparent conductive layer (13, 13t) together. The connecting portion (20, 30) includes an oxide connecting layer (6a, 6t) which is formed out of a same oxide film as a oxide semiconductor layer (6) and which has a lower electrical resistance than the oxide semiconductor layer (6). The metal layer (9d, 9t) is electrically connected to the transparent conductive layer (13, 13t) via the oxide connecting layer (6a, 6t).
US09224867B2 Thin film transistor array panel and method of manufacturing the same
In a thin film transistor array panel and a method of manufacturing the same, a thin passivation layer is positioned between a first field generating electrode and a second field generating electrode. The thin passivation layer overlaps the first and second field generating electrodes. The thin passivation layer includes a transparent photosensitive organic material. When forming the first field generating electrode, the passivation layer is used as a photosensitive film. Accordingly, the passivation layer and the first field generating electrode may be formed using a same single photo-mask. Accordingly, the manufacturing cost of the thin film transistor array panel may be reduced.
US09224866B2 Suspended body field effect transistor
A semiconductor fin including a vertical stack, from bottom to top, of a second semiconductor material and a first semiconductor material is formed on a substrate. A disposable gate structure straddling the semiconductor fin is formed. A source region and a drain region are formed employing the disposable gate structure as an implantation mask, At least one semiconductor shell layer or a semiconductor cap layer can be formed as an etch stop structure. A planarization dielectric layer is subsequently formed. A gate cavity is formed by removing the disposable gate structure. A portion of the second semiconductor material is removed selective to the first semiconductor material within the gate cavity so that a middle portion of the semiconductor fin becomes suspended over the substrate. A gate dielectric layer and a gate electrode are sequentially formed. The gate electrode laterally surrounds a body region of a fin field effect transistor.
US09224863B2 Performance enhancement in transistors by providing an embedded strain-inducing semiconductor material on the basis of a seed layer
In sophisticated semiconductor devices, transistors may be formed on the basis of a high-k metal gate electrode structure provided in an early manufacturing phase, wherein an efficient strain-inducing mechanism may be implemented by using an embedded strain-inducing semiconductor alloy. In order to reduce the number of lattice defects and provide enhanced etch resistivity in a critical zone, i.e., in a zone in which a threshold voltage adjusting semiconductor alloy and the strain-inducing semiconductor material are positioned in close proximity, an efficient buffer material or seed material, such as a silicon material, is incorporated, which may be accomplished during the selective epitaxial growth process.
US09224855B2 Trench gated power device with multiple trench width and its fabrication process
Power devices, and related process, where both gate and field plate trenches have multiple stepped widths, using self-aligned process steps.
US09224853B2 Shielded gate trench FET with multiple channels
In one embodiment, an apparatus can include a trench extending into a semiconductor region of a first conductivity type, an electrode disposed in the trench, and a source region of the first conductivity type abutting a sidewall of the trench. The apparatus can include a first well region of a second conductivity type disposed in the semiconductor region below the source region and abutting the sidewall of the trench lateral to the electrode where the second conductivity type is opposite the first conductivity type. The apparatus can also include a second well region of the second conductivity type disposed in the semiconductor region and abutting the sidewall of the trench, and a third well region of the first conductivity type disposed between the first well region and the second well region.
US09224851B2 Planarized semiconductor particles positioned on a substrate
A device and method of fabricating a device in the form of an array of planarized particles of single crystal silicon or poly crystal silicon wherein the planar surfaces of the particles is used to fabricate an array of electronic devices. This is particularly useful in the manufacture of large displays where single crystal high speed devices are required. The planar surfaces of the array of devices are coplanar when the array is fabricated on a planar substrate.
US09224846B2 Nitride semiconductor device and fabricating method thereof
This specification relates to an enhancement-type semiconductor device having a passivation layer formed using a photoelectrochemical (PEC) method, and a fabricating method thereof.To this end, a semiconductor device according to one exemplary embodiment includes a GaN layer, an AlGaN layer formed on the GaN layer, a p-GaN layer formed on the AlGaN layer, a gate electrode formed on the p-GaN layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on a partial region of the AlGaN layer, and a passivation layer formed on a partial region of the AlGaN layer, the passivation layer formed between the source electrode and the gate electrode or between the gate electrode and the drain electrode, wherein the passivation layer is formed in a manner of oxidizing a part of the p-GaN layer.
US09224844B2 Semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a first semiconductor layer, a first semiconductor region, a second semiconductor region, and an insulating layer. The first semiconductor layer is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode, and contacts the first electrode. The first semiconductor region is provided between the first semiconductor layer and the second electrode, and contacts the second electrode. The second semiconductor region is provided between the first semiconductor region and the second electrode, and contacts the second electrode. An impurity concentration of the second semiconductor region is higher than an impurity concentration of the first semiconductor region. An insulating layer has one end contacting the second electrode and the other end positioned in the first semiconductor layer. The insulating layer extends along the second electrode in a first direction from the first electrode towards the second electrode.
US09224841B2 Semiconductor fins on a trench isolation region in a bulk semiconductor substrate and a method of forming the semiconductor fins
Disclosed are semiconductor structures with monocrystalline semiconductor fins, which are above a trench isolation region in a semiconductor substrate and which can be incorporated into semiconductor device(s). Also disclosed are methods of forming such structures by forming sidewall spacers on opposing sides of mandrels on a dielectric cap layer. Between adjacent mandrels, an opening is formed that extends vertically through the dielectric cap layer and through multiple monocrystalline semiconductor layers into a semiconductor substrate. A portion of the opening within the substrate is expanded to form a trench. This trench undercuts the semiconductor layers and extends laterally below adjacent sidewall spacers on either side of the opening. The trench is then filled with an isolation layer, thereby forming a trench isolation region, and a sidewall image transfer process is performed using the sidewall spacers to form a pair of monocrystalline semiconductor fins above the trench isolation region.
US09224834B1 Method for manufacturing pillar-shaped semiconductor device
An N+ region 2a and a P+ region 3a are formed in a Si pillar 6. HfO2 layers 9a and 9c, TiN layers 10b and 10d, and SiO2 layers 11b and 11d are formed to surround the Si pillar 6. Then contact portions 21a and 21b are respectively formed in side surfaces of the N+ region 2a and the P+ region 3a and a side surface of the TiN layer 10d. Then Si and Ni atoms are injected in a direction perpendicular to an upper surface of an i-layer substrate 1 from above the Si pillar 6 to form a Si layer and a Ni layer. Subsequently, a heat treatment is performed to expand NiSi layers 18a and 22 in a horizontal direction by Ni-silicidation. As a result, the NiSi layers 18a and 22 connect to the N+ region 2a and the P+ region 3a or the TiN layer 10d.
US09224829B2 High electron mobility transistor and method of forming the same
A method of forming a semiconductor structure, the method includes epitaxially growing a second III-V compound layer on a first III-V compound layer. A carrier channel is located between the first III-V compound layer and the second III-V compound layer. The method further includes forming a source feature and a drain feature on the second III-V compound layer, forming a third III-V compound layer on the second III-V compound layer, depositing a gate dielectric layer on a portion of the second III-V compound layer and a top surface of the third III-V compound layer, treating the gate dielectric layer on the portion of the second III-V compound layer with fluorine and forming a gate electrode on the treated gate dielectric layer between the source feature and the drain feature.
US09224828B2 Method and system for floating guard rings in gallium nitride materials
A semiconductor structure includes a III-nitride substrate with a first side and a second side opposing the first side. The III-nitride substrate is characterized by a first conductivity type and a first dopant concentration. The semiconductor structure further includes a III-nitride epitaxial layer of the first conductivity type coupled to the first surface of the III-nitride substrate, a first metallic structure electrically coupled to the second surface of the III-nitride substrate, and a III-nitride epitaxial structure of a second conductivity type coupled to the III-nitride epitaxial layer. The III-nitride epitaxial structure comprises at least one edge termination structure.
US09224824B2 Display device substrate and display device equipped with same
This thin film transistor substrate is provided with: a drain electrode that is formed on an insulating film, and comprises copper; an interlayer insulating film formed on the drain electrode; and a pixel electrode that is formed in the contact hole, which is formed in the insulating film and the interlayer insulating film, and on the interlayer insulating film, and is electrically connected to the drain electrode via the contact hole. In a plan view of the contact hole, the drain electrode is formed inside part of the contact hole in such a manner that part of the drain electrode and part of the outer periphery of the contact hole are overlapping, and part of the pixel electrode and the drain electrode are electrically connected.
US09224822B2 High percentage silicon germanium alloy fin formation
A layer of a silicon germanium alloy containing 30 atomic percent or greater germanium and containing substitutional carbon is grown on a surface of a semiconductor layer. The presence of the substitutional carbon in the layer of silicon germanium alloy compensates the strain of the silicon germanium alloy, and suppresses defect formation. Placeholder semiconductor fins are then formed to a desired dimension within the layer of silicon germanium alloy and the semiconductor layer. The placeholder semiconductor fins will relax for the most part, while maintaining strain in a lengthwise direction. An anneal is then performed which may either remove the substitutional carbon from each placeholder semiconductor fin or move the substitutional carbon into interstitial sites within the lattice of the silicon germanium alloy. Free-standing permanent semiconductor fins containing 30 atomic percent or greater germanium, and strain in the lengthwise direction are provided.
US09224820B2 Oxide semiconductor sputtering target, method of manufacturing thin-film transistors using the same, and thin film transistor manufactured using the same
An oxide semiconductor sputtering target which is used for depositing a thin film having high electron mobility and high operational reliability, a method of manufacturing thin-film transistors (TFTs) using the same, and a TFT manufactured using the same. The oxide semiconductor sputtering target is used in a sputtering process for depositing an active layer on a TFT. The oxide semiconductor sputtering target is made of a material based on a composition including indium (In), tin (Sn), gallium (Ga) and oxygen (O). The method includes the step of depositing an active layer using the above-described oxide semiconductor sputtering target. The thin-film transistor may be used in a display device, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic light-emitting display (OLED).
US09224818B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device of an embodiment includes a semiconductor layer formed of a III-V group nitride semiconductor, a first silicon nitride film formed on the semiconductor layer, a gate electrode formed on the first silicon nitride film, a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on the semiconductor layer such that the gate electrode is interposed between the source electrode and the drain electrode, and a second silicon nitride film formed between the source electrode and the gate electrode and between the drain electrode and the gate electrode and having an oxygen atom density lower than that of the first silicon nitride film.
US09224816B2 Silicon carbide semiconductor device
A silicon carbide semiconductor device includes a silicon carbide layer, an element region including a semiconductor element portion formed in the silicon carbide layer, a JTE region (first electric field relaxing region), an insulating film disposed on a first main surface and covering the JTE region, and a pad electrode electrically connected to the JTE region. The pad electrode includes an extension portion extending from an end of the JTE region close to the element region in a peripheral direction from the element region toward the JTE region, the extension portion being disposed on the insulating film. The extension portion overlies at least a portion of the JTE region.
US09224813B2 Cylindrical-shaped nanotube field effect transistor
A cylindrical-shaped nanotube FET may be manufactured on silicon (Si) substrates as a ring etched into a gate stack and filled with semiconductor material. An inner gate electrode couples to a region of the gate stack inside the inner circumference of the ring. An outer gate electrode couples to a region of the gate stack outside the outer circumference of the ring. The multi-gate cylindrical-shaped nanotube FET operates in volume inversion for ring widths below 15 nanometers. The cylindrical-shaped nanotube FET demonstrates better short channel effect (SCE) mitigation and higher performance (Ion/Ioff) than conventional transistor devices. The cylindrical-shaped nanotube FET may also be manufactured with higher yields and cheaper costs than conventional transistors.
US09224811B2 Stacked semiconductor device
A stacked semiconductor device includes a first pair of vertically stacked self-aligned nanowires, a second pair of vertically stacked self-aligned nanowires, and a gate upon a semiconductor substrate, the gate surrounding portions of the first pair of vertically stacked self-aligned nanowires and the second pair of vertically stacked self-aligned nanowires. First epitaxy may merge the first pair of vertically stacked self-aligned nanowires and second epitaxy may merge second pair of vertically stacked self-aligned nanowires. The stacked semiconductor device may be fabricated by forming a lattice-fin upon the semiconductor substrate and the gate surrounding a portion of the lattice-fin. The vertically stacked self-aligned nanowires may be formed by selectively removing a plurality of layers from the lattice-fin.
US09224807B2 Arrays of silicon structures including metal silicide regions, and related semiconductor device structures
A method of forming a metal silicide region. The method comprises forming a metal material over and in contact with exposed surfaces of a dielectric material and silicon structures protruding from the dielectric material. A capping material is formed over and in contact with the metal material. The silicon structures are exposed to heat to effectuate a multidirectional diffusion of the metal material into the silicon structures to form a first metal silicide material. The capping material and unreacted portions of the metal material are removed. The silicon structures are exposed to heat to substantially convert the first metal silicide material into a second metal silicide material. A method of semiconductor device fabrication, an array of silicon structures, and a semiconductor device structure are also described.
US09224800B2 Planar interdigitated capacitor structures and methods of forming the same
A planar interdigitated capacitor structure, methods of forming, and devices including, the same. The device includes first and second planar electrode structures including respective first and second pluralities of planar continuous rectangular plate electrode elements formed above a semiconductor substrate and extending continuously in first and second orthogonal directions substantially parallel to a plane of the substrate, and first and second conductors interconnecting the respective first and second pluralities of planar electrode elements parallel to a third axis substantially normal to the plane of the substrate. The first and second planar electrode structures are arranged with respective continuous rectangular plate electrode elements of each planar electrode structure interleaved and substantially parallel with each other between the first and second conductors. The device also includes a dielectric material between the first planar electrode structure and the second planar electrode structure.
US09224799B2 Capacitors including inner and outer electrodes
Provided are capacitor stacks for use in integrated circuits and methods of fabricating these stacks. A capacitor stack includes a dielectric layer and one or two inner electrode layers, such as a positive inner electrode layer and a negative inner electrode layer. The inner electrode layers directly interface the dielectric layer. The stack may also include outer electrode layers. The inner electrode layers are either chemically stable or weakly chemically unstable, while in contact with the dielectric layer based on the respective phase diagrams. Furthermore, the electron affinity of the positive inner electrode layer may be less than the electron affinity of the dielectric layer. The sum of the electron affinity and bandgap of the negative inner electrode layer may be less than that of the dielectric layer. In some embodiments, inner electrode layers are formed from heavily doped semiconducting materials, such as gallium arsenide or gallium aluminum arsenide.
US09224798B2 Capacitor forming methods
A capacitor forming method includes forming an electrically conductive support material over a substrate, forming an opening through at least the support material to the substrate, and, after forming the opening, forming a capacitor structure contacting the substrate and the support material in the opening. The support material contains at least 25 at % carbon. Another capacitor forming method includes forming a support material over a substrate, forming an opening through at least the support material to the substrate, and, after forming the opening, forming a capacitor structure contacting the substrate and the support material in the opening. The support material contains at least 20 at % carbon. The support material has a thickness and the opening has an aspect ratio 20:1 or greater within the thickness of the support material.
US09224796B2 Process for producing a through-silicon via and a through-silicon capacitor in a substrate, and corresponding device
A device includes a substrate and an integrated-circuit interconnect on a first side. A capacitor passes through the substrate possessing a first electrode having a first contact face electrically coupled to a first electrically conductive zone placed on a second side of the substrate and a second electrode electrically coupled to the interconnect. A through-silicon via passes through the substrate having at one end a first contact face electrically coupled to a second electrically conductive zone placed on said second side of the substrate and at the other end a part electrically coupled to the interconnect part. The two first contact faces are located in the same plane.
US09224795B2 Semiconductor device with conductive pillar unit between shield and silicon substrate
A semiconductor device includes a silicon substrate, a shield which is disposed on the silicon substrate and includes a conductive material, a capacitor electrode disposed on the shield, and at least one pillar member which is provided between the shield and the silicon substrate and includes a conductive material. The pillar member may be disposed at a location other than a location of a through-hole.
US09224794B2 Embedded memory device having MIM capacitor formed in excavated structure
A method of patterning a metal (141, 341, 841) on a vertical sidewall (132, 332, 832) of an excavated feature (130, 330, 830) includes placing a material (350) in the excavated feature such that a portion (435) of the metal is exposed in the excavated feature above the material, etching the exposed portion of the metal away from the vertical sidewall using a first wet etch chemistry, and removing the material from the excavated feature by etching it away using a second wet etch chemistry. The described method may be used to produce a MIM capacitor (800) suitable for an eDRAM device.
US09224791B2 Organic light-emitting display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention discloses an organic light-emitting display apparatus including: a display substrate including pixel areas and a non-pixel area; a sealing substrate disposed facing the display substrate; a spacer disposed in the non-pixel area of the display substrate, between the display substrate and the sealing substrate, and configured to maintain an interval between the display substrate and the sealing substrate; and a metal layer disposed under the spacer.
US09224790B2 Illumination device
An illumination device including a light-emitting panel, a touch panel, and a control module is provided. The light-emitting panel includes a light-emitting layer configured to emit a light beam. The touch panel is overlaid on the light-emitting panel, and includes a first touch electrode. The control module is electrically connected to the light-emitting panel and the touch panel. The light-emitting layer further includes a light-emitting material, and the width of the light-emitting material is greater than half of the width of the first touch electrode.
US09224785B2 Electronic device and method for fabricating the same
An electronic device includes a semiconductor memory that includes: an inter-layer dielectric layer which is formed over a substrate; a contact plug which is coupled with the substrate by passing through the inter-layer dielectric layer and has a protruding portion over the inter-layer dielectric layer; a first variable resistance pattern which is formed over the contact plug; and a protective layer which covers the first variable resistance pattern and a portion of sidewalls of the contact plug in such a manner that the sidewalls of the contact plug are exposed.
US09224780B2 Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor including a junction field effect transistor
An image sensor includes a sensing node to sense photo charges output from a photodiode. The sensing node includes a first dopant region of a first conductivity type and a second dopant region of a second conductivity type. The second dopant region surrounds the first dopant region. A third dopant region of the first conductivity type is adjacent to the second dopant region and is disposed around the sensing node. The first, second, and third dopant regions operate as a source, a gate, and a drain of a junction field effect transistor, respectively.
US09224774B2 Solid-state image pickup apparatus, and image pickup system using solid-state image pickup apparatus
A solid-state image pickup apparatus includes a photoelectric conversion unit, a charge storage unit, and a floating diffusion unit, all disposed on a semiconductor substrate. The solid-state image pickup apparatus further includes a first gate electrode disposed on the semiconductor substrate and extending between the photoelectric conversion unit and charge storage unit, and a second gate electrode disposed on the semiconductor substrate and extending between the charge storage unit and the floating diffusion unit. The solid-state image pickup apparatus further includes a light shielding member including a first part and a second part, wherein the first part is disposed over the charge storage unit and at least over the first gate electrode or the second gate electrode, and the second part is disposed between the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode such that the second part extends from the first part toward a surface of the semiconductor substrate.
US09224770B2 Image sensor device and method
A system and method for reducing cross-talk between photosensitive diodes is provided. In an embodiment a first color filter is formed over a first photosensitive diode and a second color filter is formed over a second photosensitive diode, and a gap is formed between the first color filter and the second color filter. The gap will serve to reflect light that otherwise would have crossed from the first color filter to the second color filter, thereby reducing cross-talk between the first photosensitive diode and the second photosensitive diode. A reflective grid may also be formed between the first photosensitive diode and the second photosensitive diode in order to assist in the reflection and further reduce the amount of cross-talk.
US09224766B2 Image pickup apparatus capable of controlling exposure during motion with high shutter speed, including amplification of a signal obtained as a result of accumulating electric charge, control method therefor, and storage medium
An image pickup apparatus which is capable of suppressing changes in luminance during motion with high shutter speed while minimizing image degradation. An image pickup device accumulates electric charge corresponding to an amount of light incident thereon. An amplification unit amplifies a signal obtained as a result of accumulating electric charge in the image pickup apparatus. A control unit controls an electric charge accumulation time period in the image pickup device. An adjustment unit adjusts an amplification factor for the amplification unit. In a case where the control unit changes the electric charge accumulation time period while the image pickup device is repeatedly accumulating electric charge, the adjustment unit adjusts an amplification factor in accordance with the amount of change in the electric charge accumulation time period, and after adjustment, the adjustment unit brings the adjusted amplification factor close to an amplification factor before adjustment in steps.
US09224765B2 Fabricating method of array structure
An array structure, which includes a TFT, a passivation layer, a pixel electrode, a first connecting layer and a first spacer is provided. The TFT includes a gate, a source and a drain. The passivation layer overlays the TFT. The pixel electrode is located on the passivation layer. The first connecting layer is located on the pixel electrode and electrically connected to the pixel electrode and the drain. The first spacer is located on the first connecting layer.
US09224764B2 Display substrates, methods of manufacturing the same and display devices including the same
A display substrate includes a data pad on a base substrate, a first buffer layer which covers the data pad, a second buffer layer pattern which is disposed on the first buffer layer and separated from the data pad in a plan view, an active layer on the second buffer layer pattern, a gate insulation layer pattern on the active layer, both ends of the active layer exposed by the gate insulation layer pattern, and a gate electrode on the gate insulation layer pattern.
US09224761B2 Display device, electro-optical element driving method and electronic equipment
The present invention permits a capacitance value of an electro-optical element such as organic EL element to be arbitrarily set without changing the light extraction efficiency of a pixel. That is, the present invention permits a capacitance value Coled of an organic EL element (21) to be arbitrarily set by adjusting the light emission area of the organic EL element (21) without changing the light extraction efficiency of a pixel (20) in an organic EL display device. The organic EL display device has the pixels (20) arranged in a matrix form. A light extraction opening (56) is formed on the surface of the pixel with a light-shielding film (black matrix) (57). The light extraction opening (56) has an opening area smaller than the light emission area of the organic EL element (21).
US09224760B2 Array substrate and fabrication method thereof, and display device
Embodiments of the invention provide an array substrate, a fabrication method thereof, and a display device. The array substrate includes a first conductive pattern connecting with a low level potential, a second conductive pattern provided in a same layer as a STV signal line, and an insulating layer provided between the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern. The first conductive pattern, the insulating layer and the second conductive pattern have an overlapping region so as to form a storage capacitor. A conductive tip toward the second conductive pattern is formed at a position of the STV signal line that corresponds to the second conductive pattern.
US09224757B2 DC-DC converter and manufacturing method thereof
A DC-DC converter is driven by single high input voltage, and includes a voltage converter circuit and a control circuit. The increase of the occupied area of the DC-DC converter is suppressed. The DC-DC converter includes an input terminal to which input voltage is applied; a voltage converter circuit connected to the input terminal, and including a first transistor; a control circuit configured to control the voltage converter circuit, and including a second transistor including a silicon material in a channel formation region; and a third transistor provided between the input terminal and the control circuit, and configured to convert the input voltage into power supply voltage that is lower than the input voltage. The first transistor and the third transistor include an oxide semiconductor material in channel formation regions. The first transistor and the third transistor are stacked over the second transistor with an insulating film provided therebetween.
US09224756B2 Display device
According to one embodiment, a display device includes a semiconductor including a first channel region, a second channel region, a source region, a drain region, a first region located between the source region and the first channel region, a second region formed between the first channel region and the second channel region, and a third region located between the drain region and the second channel region, wherein the second region has a length of 5 μm or more, which is greater than a length of each of the first region and the third region.
US09224754B2 Stress in trigate devices using complimentary gate fill materials
Embodiments relate to an improved tri-gate device having gate metal fills, providing compressive or tensile stress upon at least a portion of the tri-gate transistor, thereby increasing the carrier mobility and operating frequency. Embodiments also contemplate method for use of the improved tri-gate device.
US09224753B2 Semiconductor memory device and method of fabricating the same
Provided are a semiconductor memory device and a fabricating method thereof. The device includes a stack including vertical channel structures that penetrate insulating patterns and gate electrodes that are alternately and repeatedly stacked on each other. Each of the gate electrodes includes first and second gate conductive layers. In a first region between an outer side of the stack and the vertical channel structures, the first gate conductive layer is adjacent to the vertical channel structures and includes a truncated end portion, the second gate conductive layer has a portion adjacent to the vertical channel structures and covered by a corresponding one of the first gate conductive layer and an opposite portion that is not covered with the first gate conductive layer. In a second region between the vertical channel structures, the first gate conductive layer may be extended to continuously cover surfaces of the second gate conductive layer.
US09224739B2 Method of making integrated circuit embedded with non-volatile programmable memory having variable coupling
A programmable non-volatile device is made with a floating gate that functions as a FET gate that overlaps a portion of a source/drain region and allows for variable coupling through geometry and/or biasing conditions. This allows a programming voltage for the device to be imparted to the floating gate through variable capacitive coupling, thus changing the state of the device. Multi-state embodiments are also possible. The invention can be used in environments such as data encryption, reference trimming, manufacturing ID, security ID, and many other applications.
US09224735B2 Self-aligned contact metallization for reduced contact resistance
Techniques are disclosed for forming low contact resistance transistor devices. A p-type germanium layer is provided between p-type source/drain regions and their respective contact metals, and an n-type III-V semiconductor material layer is provided between n-type source/drain regions and their respective contact metals. The n-type III-V semiconductor material layer may have a small bandgap (e.g., <0.5 eV) and/or otherwise be doped to provide desired conductivity, and the p-type germanium layer can be doped, for example, with boron. After deposition of the III-V material over both the n-type source/drain regions and the germanium covered p-type source/drain regions, an etch-back process can be performed to take advantage of the height differential between n and p type regions to self-align contact types and expose the p-type germanium over p-type regions and thin the n-type III-V material over the n-type regions. The techniques can be used on planar and non-planar transistor architectures.
US09224734B2 CMOS devices with reduced leakage and methods of forming the same
A device includes a first semiconductor layer, and a second semiconductor layer over the first semiconductor layer. The first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer comprise different materials. A semiconductor region is overlying and contacting the second semiconductor layer, wherein a bottom surface of the semiconductor region contacts a first top surface of the second semiconductor layer. The semiconductor region and the second semiconductor layer comprise different material. The bottom surface of the semiconductor region has a slanted portion contacting a (551) surface plane of the second semiconductor layer.
US09224729B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes: a first well provided in a semiconductor substrate; a second well provided in the semiconductor substrate, so as to be isolated from the first well; a Schottky barrier diode formed in the first well; and a PN junction diode formed in the second well, with an impurity concentration of the PN junction thereof set higher than an impurity concentration of the Schottky junction of the Schottky barrier diode, and being connected antiparallel with the Schottky barrier diode.
US09224728B2 Embedded protection against spurious electrical events
Various disclosed aspects provide for protecting components (e.g., integrated circuits) from spurious electrical overvoltage events, such as electrostatic discharge. Embedded components with voltage switchable dielectric materials may protect circuits against electrostatic discharge.
US09224726B2 Electrostatic discharge protection circuit, equipment and method
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit for protecting one or more devices in an electronic circuit from an ESD current which enters the electronic circuit through one or more input/output pins, the protection circuit comprising: a voltage clamp circuit connectable to the or each pin, for diverting the ESD current from the or each device; and a current sensor circuit connected between the input/output pins and the voltage clamp circuit and connected to the one or more devices, the current sensor circuit for sensing the ESD current and for switching off the or each device when the sensed current exceeds a threshold value, wherein when a current flows in the current mirror circuits above a threshold value the device is caused to switch off.
US09224724B2 Mutual ballasting multi-finger bidirectional ESD device
An integrated circuit includes a bidirectional ESD device which has a plurality of parallel switch legs. Each switch leg includes a first current switch and a second current switch in a back-to-back configuration. A first current supply node of each first current switch is coupled to a first terminal of the ESD device. A second current supply node of each second current switch is coupled to a second terminal of the ESD device. A first current collection node of each first current switch is coupled to a second current collection node of the corresponding second current switch. The first current collection nodes in each first current switch is not coupled to any other first current collection node, and similarly, the second current collection node in each instance second current switch is not coupled to any other second current collection node.
US09224722B2 Semiconductor apparatus capable of detecting whether pad and bump are stacked
A semiconductor apparatus may include a semiconductor chip, and the semiconductor chip may include a first pad, a second pad, and a bump. The first pad may be configured to receive a signal from an external device, and the second pad may include first and second metal layers electrically isolated from each other. The bump may be stacked over the second pad, and may be configured to receive a signal from a controller chip.
US09224721B2 Semiconductor power modules and devices
An electronic component is described which includes a first transistor encased in a first package, the first transistor being mounted over a first conductive portion of the first package, and a second transistor encased in a second package, the second transistor being mounted over a second conductive portion of the second package. The component further includes a substrate comprising an insulating layer between a first metal layer and a second metal layer. The first package is on one side of the substrate with the first conductive portion being electrically connected to the first metal layer, and the second package is on another side of the substrate with the second conductive portion being electrically connected to the second metal layer. The first package is opposite the second package, with at least 50% of a first area of the first conductive portion being opposite a second area of the second conductive portion.
US09224716B2 Method for non-planar chip assembly
Methods and apparatuses for assembly of a non-planar device based on curved chips are described. Slots may be created as longitudinal openings in the chips to reduce bending stresses to increase allowable degrees of deformation of the chips. The chips may be deformed to a desired deformation within the allowable degrees of deformation via the slots. Holding constraints may be provided on at least a portion of the chips to allow the chips to remain curved according the desired deformation.
US09224708B2 Method for manufacturing a conducting contact on a conducting element
The invention relates to a method for producing an interconnection pad on a conducting element comprising an upper face and a side wall; the method being executed from a substrate at least the upper face of which is insulating; the conducting element going through at least an insulating portion of the substrate, the method being characterized in that it comprises the sequence of the following steps: a step of embossing the conducting element, a step of forming, above the upper insulating face of the substrate, a stack of layers comprising at least one electrically conducting layer and one electrically resistive layer, a step of partially removing the electrically resistive layer, a step of electrolytic growth on the portion of the electrically conducting layer so as to form at least one interconnection pad on said conducting element.
US09224704B2 Process for realizing a connecting structure
The present invention relates to a process for realizing a connecting structure in a semiconductor substrate, and the semiconductor substrate realized accordingly. The semiconductor substrate has at least a first surface, and is foreseen for a 3D integration with a second substrate along the first surface, wherein the 3D integration is subject to a lateral misalignment in at least one dimension having a misalignment value. This process includes growing a diffusion barrier structure for preventing diffusion of elements out of a conductive layer into the rest of the semiconductor substrate, wherein a first end surface, being the most outward surface of the diffusion barrier structure and being substantially parallel to the first surface, along a direction perpendicular to the first surface and going from the substrate toward the first surface, of the diffusion barrier structure can have a length, in the direction of the lateral misalignment, the length being dependent on the misalignment value, wherein the length of the diffusion barrier structure is chosen such that in a 3D integrated structure a diffusion of elements out of a conductive layer of the second substrate is prevented in the integrated state.
US09224703B2 Electronic device including a diode and a process of forming the same
An electronic device can include a substrate, lower and upper semiconductor layers over the substrate, and a doped region at the interface between the lower and upper semiconductor layers. The doped region can have a conductivity type opposite that of a dopant within the lower semiconductor layer. Within the lower semiconductor layer, the dopant can have a dopant concentration profile that has a relatively steeper portion adjacent to the substrate, another relatively steeper portion adjacent to an interface between the first and second semiconductor layers, and a relatively flatter portion between the relative steeper portions. A diode lies at a pn junction where a second dopant concentration profile of the first doped region intersects the relatively flatter portion of the first dopant concentration profile. The electronic device can be formed using different processes described herein.
US09224698B1 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device 1 is provided with a semiconductor substrate 10, an electrode 30 formed on a surface of the semiconductor substrate 10, and an insulation film 20 formed on the electrode 30. The semiconductor device 1 includes a metal film 40 extending over a part of the surface of the electrode 30 not covered by the insulation film 20 and a surface of the insulation film 20. The semiconductor device 1 includes solder 80 formed on a surface of the metal film 40, a lead frame 50 joined to the metal film 40 by the solder 80, and sealing resin 60 sealing the insulation film 20, the metal film 40, and the solder 80. A convex 70 is formed on the surface of the insulation film 20. The metal film 40 covers the convex 70. The solder 80 covers the metal film 40 covering the convex 70.
US09224690B2 Semiconductor device having groove-shaped via-hole
The semiconductor device has insulating films 40, 42 formed over a substrate 10; an interconnection 58 buried in at least a surface side of the insulating films 40, 42; insulating films 60, 62 formed on the insulating film 42 and including a hole-shaped via-hole 60 and a groove-shaped via-hole 66a having a pattern bent at a right angle; and buried conductors 70, 72a buried in the hole-shaped via-hole 60 and the groove-shaped via-hole 66a. A groove-shaped via-hole 66a is formed to have a width which is smaller than a width of the hole-shaped via-hole 66. Defective filling of the buried conductor and the cracking of the inter-layer insulating film can be prevented. Steps on the conductor plug can be reduced. Accordingly, defective contact with the upper interconnection layer and the problems taking place in forming films can be prevented.
US09224683B2 Method of fabricating packaging substrate having a through-holed interposer
A through-holed interposer is provided, including a board body, a conductive gel formed in the board body, and a circuit redistribution structure disposed on the board body. The conductive gel has one end protruding from a surface of the board body, and an area of the protruded end of the conductive gel that is in contact with other structures (e.g., packaging substrates or circuit structures) is increased, thereby strengthening the bonding of the conductive gel and reliability of the interposer.
US09224679B2 Wafer level chip scale package with exposed thick bottom metal
A method for forming a wafer level chip scale (WLCS) package device with a thick bottom metal comprising the step of attaching a lead frame comprising a plurality of thick bottom metals onto a back metal layer of a semiconductor wafer including a plurality of semiconductor chips having a plurality of bonding pads formed on a front surface of each chip, each thick bottom metal is aligned to a central portion of each chip; a plurality of back side cutting grooves are formed along the scribe lines and filled with a package material, the package material are cut through thus forming a plurality of singulated WLCS package devices.
US09224676B1 Integrated circuit package and method of making the same
Packages for an integrated circuit die and methods and leadframes for making such packages are disclosed. The package includes a die, a die pad, peripheral metal contacts, bond wires, and an encapsulant. The die pad and contacts are located at a lower surface of the package. The die pad and the contacts have side surfaces which include reentrant portions and asperities to engage the encapsulant.A method of making a package includes providing a metal leadframe having a die pad in a rectangular frame. Tabs extend from the frame toward the die pad. The die pad and tabs have side surfaces with reentrant portions and asperities. A die is attached to the die pad. The die is electrically connected to the tabs. An encapsulant is applied to the upper and side surfaces of the leadframe. Finally, the leadframe is cut in situ so that the die pad and tabs are severed from the frame, the sides of the package are formed, and the package is severed from the leadframe.
US09224673B2 Packages for semiconductor devices, packaged semiconductor devices, and methods of cooling packaged semiconductor devices
Packages for semiconductor devices, packaged semiconductor devices, and methods of cooling packaged semiconductor devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a package for a semiconductor device includes a substrate including a semiconductor device mounting region, a cover coupled to a perimeter of the substrate, and members disposed between the substrate and the cover. The package includes partitions, with each partition being disposed between two adjacent members. The package includes a fluid inlet port coupled to the cover, and a fluid outlet port coupled to one of the partitions.
US09224663B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor element in the form of a flat plate that has opposed first and second surfaces, an insulating layer that covers control wiring located on the first surface side of the semiconductor element, a metal block that is bonded to the first surface side of the semiconductor element via a solder layer, and a protective film that is formed between the metal block and the insulating layer, the protective film having a hardness equal to or greater than a hardness of the metal block. When viewed from the first surface side, the protective film is formed in an area at least including a position where an edge portion of the metal block and the control wiring cross each other.
US09224662B2 Semiconductor apparatus
A semiconductor apparatus is disclosed, which includes a semiconductor element provided on a plane; a sealing resin that seals the semiconductor element; a terminal that is electrically connected to the semiconductor element and includes a part that projects from a predetermined surface of the sealing resin; and a concave portion that is recessed toward a side of the semiconductor element from the predetermined surface, when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the plane. A side of the concave portion on the side of the semiconductor element includes a rounded shape, when viewed in the direction perpendicular to the plane.
US09224661B2 Film thickness metrology
Methods for determining a target thickness of a conformal film with reduced uncertainty, and an integrated circuit (IC) chip having a conformal film of the target thickness are provided. In an embodiment, a first critical dimension of a structure disposed on a wafer is measured. Said structure has at least one vertical surface. A first conformal film is deposited over the structure covering each of a horizontal and the vertical surface of the structure. A second critical dimension of the covered structure is then measured. The target thickness of the conformal film is determined based on difference between the first CD measured on the structure and the second CD measured on the covered structure.
US09224657B2 Hard mask for source/drain epitaxy control
An integrated circuit is formed to include a first polarity MOS transistor and a second, opposite, polarity MOS transistor. A hard mask of silicon-doped boron nitride (SixBN) with 1 atomic percent to 30 atomic percent silicon is formed over the first polarity MOS transistor and the second polarity MOS transistor. The hard mask is removed from source/drain regions of the first polarity MOS transistor and left in place over the second polarity MOS transistor. Semiconductor material is epitaxially grown at the source/drain regions of the first polarity MOS transistor while the hard mask is in place. Subsequently, the hard mask is removed from the second polarity MOS transistor.
US09224650B2 Wafer dicing from wafer backside and front side
Approaches for backside laser scribe plus front side laser scribe and plasma etch dicing of a wafer or substrate are described. For example, a method of dicing a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits on a front side thereof and metallization on a backside thereof involves patterning the metallization on the backside with a first laser scribing process to provide a first plurality of laser scribe lines on the backside. The method also involves forming a mask on the front side. The method also involves patterning, from the front side, the mask with a second laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with a second plurality of scribe lines exposing regions of the semiconductor wafer between the integrated circuits, wherein the second plurality of scribe lines is aligned with the first plurality of scribe lines. The method also involves plasma etching the semiconductor wafer through the second plurality of scribe lines to singulate the integrated circuits.
US09224648B2 Through-wafer interconnection
A through-wafer interconnect and a method for fabricating the same are disclosed. The method starts with a conductive wafer to form a patterned trench by removing material of the conductive wafer. The patterned trench extends in depth from the front side to the backside of the wafer, and has an annular opening generally dividing the conductive wafer into an inner portion and an outer portion whereby the inner portion of the conductive wafer is insulated from the outer portion and serves as a through-wafer conductor. A dielectric material is formed or added into the patterned trench mechanical to support and electrically insulate the through-wafer conductor. Multiple conductors can be formed in an array.
US09224643B2 Structure and method for tunable interconnect scheme
The present disclosure provides one embodiment of a method to form an interconnect structure. The method includes forming a first dielectric material layer on a substrate; patterning the first dielectric material layer to form a plurality of vias therein; forming a metal layer on the first dielectric layer and the substrate, wherein the metal layer fills in the plurality of vias; and etching the metal layer such that portions of the metal layer above the first dielectric material layer are patterned to form a plurality of metal lines, aligned with plurality of vias, respectively.
US09224642B2 Conductive via structures for routing porosity and low via resistance, and processes of making
An integrated circuit structure includes a first conductive layer (MET4) including a first forked conductive structure (310), an insulating layer (320, ILD45) substantially disposed over the first forked conductive structure (310), a plurality of conductive vias (331-334) through the insulating layer (ILD45) and electrically connecting with the first forked conductive structure (310), and a second conductive layer (MET5) including a second forked conductive structure (340) substantially disposed over at least a portion of the insulating layer (ILD45) and generally perpendicular to the first forked conductive structure (310), the plurality of conductive vias (331-334) electrically connecting with the second forked conductive structure (340). Other structures, devices, and processes are also disclosed.
US09224641B2 Processes and structures for IC fabrication
The present invention discloses methods and apparatuses for the separations of IC fabrication and assembling of separated IC components to form complete IC structures. In an embodiment, the present fabrication separation of an IC structure into multiple discrete components can take advantages of dedicated IC fabrication facilities and achieve more cost effective products. In another embodiment, the present chip assembling provides high density interconnect wires between bond pads, enabling cost-effective assembling of small chip components. In an aspect, the present process provides multiple interconnect wires in the form of a ribbon between the bond pads, and then subsequently separates the ribbon into multiple individual interconnect wires.
US09224638B2 Integrated circuits with metal-titanium oxide contacts and fabrication methods
Devices and methods for forming semiconductor devices with metal-titanium oxide contacts are provided. One intermediate semiconductor device includes, for instance: a substrate, at least one field-effect transistor disposed on the substrate, a first contact region positioned over at least a first portion of the at least one field-effect transistor between a spacer and an interlayer dielectric, and a second contact region positioned over at least a second portion of the at least one field-effect transistor between a spacer and an interlayer dielectric. One method includes, for instance: obtaining an intermediate semiconductor device and forming at least one contact on the intermediate semiconductor device.
US09224636B2 Methods of forming through silicon via openings
A method includes forming an opening in a substrate, and the opening completely extends through the substrate. A recast material is formed on sidewalls of the substrate exposed by the opening. A first chemical is applied in the opening to remove the recast material, wherein a residue of the first chemical remains on portions of the sidewalls after the applying of the first chemical. Moreover, A second chemical is applied in the opening to remove the residue of the first chemical, and the second chemical is different from the first chemical.
US09224632B2 Substrate holding apparatus, exposure apparatus, and device fabricating method
To provide a substrate holding apparatus that can rapidly recover liquid that has infiltrated the rear surface side of a substrate. A substrate holding apparatus comprises: a base; a first support part, which is formed on the base and supports a rear surface of a substrate to be processed; a first circumferential wall part, which is formed on the base and is provided so that it opposes the rear surface of the substrate to be processed and surrounds the first support part; and a first recovery port, which is provided on the outer side of the first circumferential wall part; wherein, the flow of a gas along the first circumferential wall part moves the liquid on the outer side of the first circumferential wall part to the first recovery port, where the liquid is recovered.
US09224630B2 Method for producing a wafer provided with chips
A method for producing a product wafer having chips thereon, comprising the steps of: processing the first side of the product wafer bonding the product wafer with its first side onto a first rigid carrier wafer with a first intermediate layer consisting of one first adhesion layer applied at least on the edge side, processing a second side of the product wafer, bonding of the product wafer with its second side on a second rigid carrier wafer with a second intermediate layer consisting of one second adhesion layer applied at least on the edge side, characterized in that the first intermediate layer and the second intermediate layer are made different such that the first carrier wafer can be separated selectively before the second carrier wafer.
US09224626B2 Composite substrate for layered heaters
A method of forming a heater assembly for use in semiconductor processing includes thermally securing a heater substrate to an application substrate; and applying a layered heater to the heater substrate after the heater substrate is secured to the application substrate. The application of the layered heater includes applying a first dielectric layer onto the heater substrate, applying a resistive heating layer onto the first dielectric layer, and applying a second dielectric layer onto the resistive heating layer. The heater substrate defines a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion that is matched to a coefficient of thermal expansion of at least one of the first dielectric layer and a coefficient of thermal expansion of the resistive heating layer.
US09224625B2 Laser and plasma etch wafer dicing using water-soluble die attach film
Methods of dicing semiconductor wafers, each wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits, are described. A method includes forming a mask above the semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer is disposed on a water-soluble die attach film. The mask covers and protects the integrated circuits. The mask is patterned with a laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with gaps. The patterning exposes regions of the semiconductor wafer between the integrated circuits. The semiconductor wafer is then etched through the gaps in the patterned mask to form singulated integrated circuits. The water-soluble die attach film is then patterned with an aqueous solution.
US09224620B2 Method for packaging quad flat non-leaded package body, and package body
A method for packaging a quad flat non-leaded (QFN) package body. The method includes: etching an upper surface of a metal plate to process a groove to form a bond wire bench, a component bench, and a bump; processing the bump to a preset height, and assembling a component on the component bench; packaging the processed metal plate to form a package body, and exposing the surface of the processed bump on an upper surface of the package body to form a top lead; and etching a lower surface of the package body to process a bottom lead. In the present invention, large passive components can be stacked on the QFN package body with a top lead; the structure is simplified while the reliability of the welding joints is improved; a plurality of components can be stacked through the top lead to overcome the limitations of component stacking.
US09224619B2 Semiconductor device and fabricating method thereof
The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a trench formed in the substrate, a gate insulation layer conformally formed on the inner surface of the trench, buried gate electrodes formed on the gate insulation layer and filling a portion of the trench, and a capping layer formed on the buried gate electrodes and filling the trench. The buried gate electrode include a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode surrounding a bottom portion of the first gate electrode, and an air gap is provided between a top portion of the first gate electrode and the gate insulation layer.
US09224618B2 Method to increase mask selectivity in ultra-high aspect ratio etches
A method for etching features in an etch layer in a plasma processing chamber is provided. An etch gas is flowed into the plasma processing chamber. A top outer electrode is maintained at a temperature of at least 150° C. during the etching of the features. The etch gas is formed into a plasma, which etches the etch layer.
US09224617B2 Forming cross-coupled line segments
A method is provided for fabricating cross-coupled line segments for use, for instance, as a hard mask in fabricating cross-coupled gates of two or more transistors. Fabricating the structure includes: providing a sacrificial mandrel on the substrate, the sacrificial mandrel including a transverse gap through the mandrel separating the sacrificial mandrel into a first mandrel portion and a second mandrel portion; providing a sidewall spacer along sidewalls of the sacrificial mandrel, where sidewall spacers along sidewalls of the first mandrel portion and the second mandrel portion merge within the transverse gap and form a crossbar; and removing the sacrificial mandrel and selectively cutting the sidewall spacers to define the cross-coupled line segments from the sidewall spacers and crossbar. The transverse gap may be provided by directly printing the first and second mandrel portions spaced apart, or by cutting the sacrificial mandrel to provide the gap.
US09224616B2 Etching method and plasma processing apparatus
A method of etching an etching target layer containing polycrystalline silicon includes preparing a target object including the etching target layer and a mask formed on the etching target layer; and etching the etching target layer with the mask. Further, the mask includes a first mask portion formed of polycrystalline silicon and a second mask portion interposed between the first mask portion and the etching target layer and formed of silicon oxide. Furthermore, in the etching of the etching target layer, a first gas for etching the etching target layer, a second gas for removing a deposit adhering to the mask, and a third gas for protecting the first mask portion are supplied into a processing vessel in which the target object is accommodated, and plasma of these gases is generated within the processing vessel.
US09224615B2 Noble gas bombardment to reduce scallops in bosch etching
A method of etching a trench in a substrate is provided. The method repeatedly alternates between using a fluorine-based plasma to etch a trench, which has trench sidewalls, into a selected region of the substrate; and using a fluorocarbon plasma to deposit a liner on the trench sidewalls. The liner, when formed and subsequently etched, has an exposed sidewall surface that includes scalloped recesses. The trench, which includes the scalloped recesses, is then bombarded with a molecular beam where the molecules are directed on an axis parallel to the trench sidewalls to reduce the scalloped recesses.
US09224614B2 CMP slurry/method for polishing ruthenium and other films
A method and associated composition for CMP processing of noble metal-containing substrates (such as ruthenium-containing substrates) afford both high removal rates of the noble metal and are tunable with respect to rate of noble metal removal in relation to removal of other films. Low levels of an oxidizing agent containing one or more peroxy-functional group(s) can be used along with a novel ligand to effectively polish noble metal substrates.
US09224612B2 Vapor deposition apparatus, method of forming thin film by using vapor deposition apparatus, and method of manufacturing organic light emitting display apparatus
A vapor deposition apparatus for depositing a thin film on a substrate includes a cover having an accommodation portion and a communicated portion, which communicated portion is connected to the accommodation portion and faces a direction of the substrate, and includes a body in the accommodation portion, which body includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is disposed at a first location of the body and connected to a first injection portion for injecting a first material onto the substrate, the second portion is disposed at a second location of the body and connected to a second injection portion for injecting a second material onto the substrate, and the body rotates in at least one direction so that the first portion and the second portion are alternately connected to each other with respect to the communicated portion.
US09224608B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming a first insulation film on a portion of a first region of a semiconductor substrate and forming a second insulation film between a second region and a third region of the semiconductor substrate; etching an upper portion of the first insulation film such that the thickness of the first insulation film is less than the thickness of the second insulation film; forming a third insulation film in the second region and forming a fourth insulation film in the third region; and forming a first gate electrode on the first insulation film whose upper portion was etched, forming a second gate electrode on the third insulation film, and forming a third gate electrode on the fourth insulation film.
US09224605B2 Forming alternative material fins with reduced defect density by performing an implantation/anneal defect generation process
One method disclosed includes removing at least a portion of a fin to thereby define a fin trench in a layer of insulating material, forming a substantially defect-free first layer of semiconductor material in the fin trench, forming a second layer of semiconductor material on an as-formed upper surface of the first layer of semiconductor material, forming an implant region at the interface between the first layer of semiconductor material and the substrate, performing an anneal process to induce defect formation in at least the first layer of semiconductor material, forming a third layer of semiconductor material on the second layer of semiconductor material, forming a layer of channel semiconductor material on the third layer of semiconductor material, and forming a gate structure around at least a portion of the channel semiconductor material.
US09224604B2 Device and method for forming sharp extension region with controllable junction depth and lateral overlap
A method for forming a semiconductor device includes forming a gate stack on a monocrystalline substrate. A surface of the substrate adjacent to the gate stack and below a portion of the gate stack is amorphorized. The surface is etched to selectively remove a thickness of amorphorized portions to form undercuts below the gate stack. A layer is epitaxially grown in the thickness and the undercuts to form an extension region for the semiconductor device. Devices are also provided.
US09224601B2 Method of producing epitaxial silicon wafer, epitaxial silicon wafer, and method of producing solid-state image sensing device
Provided is an epitaxial silicon wafer free of epitaxial defects caused by dislocation clusters and COPs with reduced metal contamination achieved by higher gettering capability and a method of producing the epitaxial wafer. A method of producing an epitaxial silicon wafer includes a first step of irradiating a silicon wafer free of dislocation clusters and COPs with cluster ions to form a modifying layer formed from a constituent element of the cluster ions in a surface portion of the silicon wafer; and a second step of forming an epitaxial layer on the modifying layer of the silicon wafer.
US09224594B2 Surface preparation with remote plasma
Methods and apparatus for processing using a plasma source for the treatment of semiconductor surfaces are disclosed. The apparatus includes an outer vacuum chamber enclosing a substrate support, a plasma source (either a direct plasma or a remote plasma), and an optional showerhead. Other gas distribution and gas dispersal hardware may also be used. The plasma source may be used to generate activated species operable to alter the surface of the semiconductor materials. Further, the plasma source may be used to generate activated species operable to enhance the nucleation of deposition precursors on the semiconductor surface.
US09224593B2 Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having a porous, low-k dielectric layer
The inventive concept provides porous, low-k dielectric materials and methods of manufacturing and using the same. In some embodiments, porous, low-k dielectric materials are manufactured by forming a porogen-containing dielectric layer on a substrate and then removing at least a portion of said porogen from the layer.
US09224591B2 Method of depositing a thin film
A method of forming a thin film on a substrate includes arranging the substrate to face a thin film deposition apparatus; and discharging a deposition material via a deposition source of the thin film deposition apparatus onto the substrate; wherein a deposition source nozzle unit of the thin film deposition apparatus is disposed at a side of the deposition source and includes a plurality of deposition source nozzles arranged in a first direction; wherein a patterning slit sheet of the thin film deposition apparatus is disposed to be between the deposition source nozzle unit and the substrate, the patterning slit sheet including a plurality of patterning slits, and wherein each of the patterning slits includes a plurality of sub-slits.
US09224590B2 Finger biometric sensor including sliding motion and static positioning based biometric data generation and related methods
A finger biometric sensor may include an array of finger biometric sensing pixels, and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry may be capable of acquiring finger biometric data from the array of finger biometric sensing pixels and generating image data from the finger biometric data. The image data may be generated based upon at least a finger sliding motion when a finger is slid adjacent the array of finger biometric sensing pixels, and a finger static positioning when the finger is statically positioned adjacent the array of finger biometric sensing pixels. The processing circuitry may also be capable of determining a match between the image data and enrolled image data.
US09224580B2 Plasma generator
An arrangement for generating plasma, the arrangement comprising a primary plasma source (1) comprising a primary source chamber (15) and a first coil (4) for generating plasma in the primary source chamber, a secondary plasma source (25) comprising a secondary source chamber (16) and a second coil (26) for enhancing plasma generated by the primary plasma source and/or generating plasma in the secondary source chamber generating plasma in the primary source chamber, a hollow guiding body (11) arranged for guiding at least a portion of the plasma generated by the primary plasma source to the secondary plasma source, and an outlet (14) for emitting at least a portion of the plasma generated by the arrangement.
US09224576B2 Particle-optical systems and arrangements and particle-optical components for such systems and arrangements
A particle-optical arrangement comprises a charged-particle source for generating a beam of charged particles; a multi-aperture plate arranged in a beam path of the beam of charged particles, wherein the multi-aperture plate has a plurality of apertures formed therein in a predetermined first array pattern, wherein a plurality of charged-particle beamlets is formed from the beam of charged particles downstream of the multi-aperture plate, and wherein a plurality of beam spots is formed in an image plane of the apparatus by the plurality of beamlets, the plurality of beam spots being arranged in a second array pattern; and a particle-optical element for manipulating the beam of charged particles and/or the plurality of beamlets; wherein the first array pattern has a first pattern regularity in a first direction, and the second array pattern has a second pattern regularity in a second direction electron-optically corresponding to the first direction, and wherein the second regularity is higher than the first regularity.
US09224571B2 Photocathode high-frequency electron-gun cavity apparatus
A photocathode high-frequency electron-gun cavity apparatus of the present invention is provided with a high-frequency acceleration cavity (1), a photocathode (8, 15), a laser entering port (9), a high-frequency power input coupler port (10), and a high-frequency resonant tuner (16). Here, the apparatus adopts an ultra-small high-frequency accelerator cavity which contains a cavity cell formed only with a smooth and curved surface at an inner face thereof without having a sharp angle part for preventing discharging, obtaining higher strength of high-frequency electric field, and improving high-frequency resonance stability. Further, the photocathode is arranged at an end part of a half cell (5) of the high-frequency acceleration cavity for maximizing electric field strength at the photocathode face, perpendicular incidence of laser is ensured by arranging a laser entering port at a position facing to the photocathode behind an electron beam extraction port of the high-frequency acceleration cavity for maximizing quality of short-bunch photoelectrons, and a high-frequency power input coupler port is arranged at a side part of the cell of the high-frequency acceleration cavity for enhancing high-frequency electric field strength. According to the above, it is possible to provide a small photocathode high-frequency electron-gun cavity apparatus capable of generating a high-strength and high-quality electron beam.
US09224565B2 Manufacturing of an automobile fuse
A method of manufacturing an automobile comprising: mixing 96˜99 wt % of colored plastic powder with 1˜4 wt % of transparent irreversible thermochromic pigment powder thus preparing a material mixture for a fuse body; melting the material mixture using an injection molding machine so that the fuse body containing a thermochromic pigment component is molded at an injection temperature of 300˜310° C. and an injection pressure of 1200˜1600 kg f/cm2 using an injection mold; drying the fuse body containing the thermochromic pigment component at 100˜200° C. for 3˜5 hr; inserting a fuse element comprising a pair of terminal members and a fuse member fixed therebetween into a pair of terminal insertion recesses and a fuse charging recess of the fuse body containing the thermochromic pigment component.
US09224564B2 Fuse with counter-bore body
An improved fuse having one or more counter bores in an interior wall of a hollow tube used as the fuse housing. The fuse includes a fusible element disposed within a cavity defined by the interior wall. The fusible element is electrically connected to first and second end caps via solder. The first and second end caps are attached to respective ends of the hollow tube. The one or more counter bores provide more space for the solder to cover the fusible element resulting in a more reliable electrical connection.
US09224560B2 Circuit breaker position adjustment system
A system for adjusting the position of a circuit breaker is provided. The system allows for translation of the circuit breaker with respect to a support base and interfacing mechanisms, such as those that serve to switch the circuit breaker between its operative states. Adjustment is afforded by an adjustment plate fitted to the support base and that moves with the circuit breaker. Slots through the support base allow for movement of the plate and circuit breaker. A threaded member allows for continuous movement of the plate and circuit breaker for accurate positioning.
US09224559B2 Unidirectionally switching DC contactor
Disclosed is a unidirectionally switching direct-current contactor, having a double break having two contact points, which each have a fixed contact and a movable contact, wherein the movable contacts are arranged on a contact bridge and wherein a switch arc is formed at each of the contact points when the contact points open, and including an arc quenching device and having at least one blowing device for blowing at least one of the switch arcs from the corresponding contact point. The contactor includes a jumper plate arranged adjacently to the movable contact of the first contact point, wherein the contact bridge and the jumper plate are electrically insulated from each other and the jumper plate is connected potentially to the fixed contact of the second contact point.
US09224555B2 Light emitting diode illuminated keyboard
The present invention provides an LED illuminated keyboard, which controls LED components with specific color hues to illuminate by pressing a specific key. The LED illuminated keyboard according to the present invention merely uses a micro control unit (MCU) commonly used in a keyboard of a computer, and connects switch circuits capable of controlling the LED components with the specific color hues to an output terminal of a GPIO of the MCU, to make a plurality of keys of the keyboard illuminate with multiple color hues. Therefore, the LED illuminated keyboard according to the present invention brings in advantages of low cost and easy use.
US09224553B2 Keyswitch having a slidable translation mechanism
A keyswitch structure includes a keycap having a vertical connection member and a vertical-horizontal-translation mechanism, a baseplate having a vertical connection member, a slidable part having a vertical-horizontal-translation mechanism, and a restoring member. The vertical connection members are engaged for constraining the keycap to move relative to the baseplate substantially along a Z axis. The vertical-horizontal-translation mechanisms are engaged, so that the slidable part can perform a motion in response to a movement of the keycap toward the baseplate along the Z axis upon a pressing operation. The motion includes a displacement in a first direction. When the pressing operation is discontinued, a horizontal restoring force by the restoring member enables the slidable part to perform a motion that includes a displacement in a second direction to move the keycap away from the baseplate along the Z axis. The second direction is opposite to the first direction.
US09224552B2 Keyboard
An exemplary keyboard includes a keyboard shell; a supporting panel arranged to the keyboard shell and having a plurality of elastomer holes therein; a plurality of keycaps arranged on the lastomer holes; a plurality of keycap supports between the supporting panel and the corresponding keycaps; a plurality of elastomers being exposed out of the supporting panel; and an FPC sheet arranged under the supporting panel, and a key signal pads substrate arranged under the FPC sheet; the FPC sheet comprises a key signal pads layer with a plurality of upper key signal pads corresponding to the plurality of elastomers holes and a insulative layer with a plurality of connecting holes under the key signal pads layer; lower key signal pads corresponding to the upper key signal pads are arranged on the key signal pads substrate, the lower key signal pads opposite to the upper key signal pads.
US09224551B2 Trigger mechanism for hand held devices
A trigger mechanism includes soft stops and an associated method activates a switch in a device or apparatus. The trigger mechanism includes a trigger receptacle, a trigger disposed in the trigger receptacle and movable between an un-actuated and an actuated position by a user depressing the trigger, and a soft stop comprised of at least one projection positioned to engage a resilient elastomeric insert. Moving the trigger from the un-actuated to actuated position compresses the elastomeric insert with the projection and activates the switch to provide a tactile sensation of the switch activation to the user. The switch may be an electric switch disposed in a hand held device, such as a barcode scanner in some embodiments.
US09224549B2 Electric hand control, especially for electrically adjustable hospital and care beds
An electric hand control, especially for electrically adjustable hospital and care beds comprising a number of activation switches and a number of locking switches which can be activated by a locking element for cutting off the circuit for the activation switches so that the function belonging to it becomes inactive or locked. In an embodiment the locking switches are on-off switches, in another embodiment the locking switches are based on a read switch and a magnet, and in another embodiment the locking switches include a wave shaped disc mounted over two contact points.
US09224545B2 Electric contactor with flywheel drive and method of switching an electric contactor on and/or off
Disclosed is an electric contactor, in particular to be used in roadways, with the stator and an armature, the armature being connected with a contact region and being movable, during a switching-on operation and/or a switching-off operation of the contactor, from a first to a second position, the contact region being connected in at least one of these positions with a counter-contact region for closing an electric circuit, wherein a pushing device is connected with the armature which is rotational relative to the armature, wherein the pushing device at least temporarily pushes the armature supportively in the movement from the first to the second position of the switching-on and/or switching-off operation.
US09224542B2 Conductive layered structure, electrode and supercapacitor comprising the conductive layered structure, and method for preparing the conductive layered structure
Provided are a conductive layered structure including a DNA hydrogel and a composite layer disposed on the DNA hydrogel. The composite layer may include a polymer electrolyte and a conductive material. Also provided are an electrode and a supercapacitor, each including the conductive layered structure. Further provided is a method of manufacturing the conductive layered structure. Thus, a biocompatible, implantable electrode having a large specific surface area and a high conductivity may be manufactured through simple processes.
US09224540B2 Conductive polymer for solid electrolyte capacitor
[Problem] To provide a conductive polymer for solid electrolyte capacitor having outstanding solubility in solvents or dispersibility in solvents and which can produce a capacitor having outstanding capacitor characteristics in high-temperature environments.[Means Used to Resolve the Problem]A conductive polymer (A) for solid electrolyte capacitor containing substituted polythiophene (P) having thiophene repeating units (D) substituted by a least one type of group (s) selected from a group made up of a polyether group (a) indicated in general formula (1); an alkoxy group (b) having 1 to 15 carbon atoms; an alkoxy alkyl group (c) indicated in general formula (2); an alkyl group (d) having 1 to 15 carbon atoms; and a group (e) indicated in general formula (3); as well as thiophene repeating units (E) wherein the hydrogen atoms at position 3 and position 4 on the thiophene ring have been substituted by group (s) and sulfo group (—SO3H) (f). —(OR1)k—OR2  (1) —R3—OR4  (2) —R5—(OR6)m—OR7  (3)
US09224538B2 Solid electrolytic capacitor element, method for producing same, and tool for producing said solid electrolytic capacitor element
A method of manufacturing a solid electrolytic capacitor element including the steps of forming a semiconductor layer on a dielectric layer formed on surfaces of a plurality of anode bodies at one time. A step of forming a semiconductor layer includes repeating an electrolytic polymerization operation several times by applying a current from a power-feeding terminal that comes into contact with each anode body. Further, at least one of the electrolytic polymerization operations continuously applies a current while changing the amount of current between the range of 5 to 200 μA per power-feeding terminal. Also disclosed is a jig for electrolytic polymerization for forming the semiconductor layer including a plurality of power supply circuits (i) capable of continuously changing the amount of current between a lower limit and an upper limit; and a power-feeding terminals (ii).
US09224531B2 Power converter using orthogonal secondary windings
A power conversion device includes a magnetic core; and a plurality of windings surrounding portions of the magnetic core, including a first set of windings defining a first magnetic flux path, a second set of windings defining a second magnetic flux path magnetically orthogonal to the first magnetic flux path, and a third set of windings. Each winding of the third set of windings is configured to be excitable via both the first flux path and the second flux path.
US09224529B2 Multi-pole magnetization of a magnet
A method of magnetizing a multi-pole magnet includes the steps of obtaining a magnetization coil having a magnetization zone and a central axis, and positioning a magnet within the magnetization zone. The method also includes positioning at least one pair of shield bodies including a conductive material proximate the first and second surfaces of the magnet, with the shield bodies being aligned together to cover both sides of at least a first region of magnet and expose both sides of at least a second region of the magnet. The method further includes energizing the magnetization coil to generate an applied magnetic field within the magnetization zone that is sufficient to induce eddy currents in the at least one pair of shield bodies and to magnetize the exposed second region of the magnet.
US09224524B2 Cable termination device
A cable termination device includes a housing and an insertion opening for a cable in order to terminate the cable end so that it is safe to touch. The housing includes a sealing cap and a screw-on unit cooperating therewith. The insertion opening for receiving at least one cable end is provided on the screw-on unit, and the sealing cap has a rounded design toward the outer end.
US09224523B2 Inverter surge-resistant insulated wire
An inverter surge-resistant insulated wire, having at least one baked enamel layer around the outer periphery of a conductor, and an extrusion-coated resin layer at the outside of the baked enamel layer, wherein a total thickness of the baked enamel layer and the extrusion-coated resin layer is 50 μm or more, a thickness of the baked enamel layer is 60 μm or less, and a thickness of the extrusion-coated resin layer is 200 μm or less, wherein the minimum of tensile elastic modulus of the extrusion-coated resin layer at a range of 25 to 250° C. is 100 MPa or more, wherein a dielectric constant of an insulation layer having a combination of the baked enamel layer and the extrusion-coated resin layer is 3.5 or less at 25° C. and 5.0 or less at 250° C., and wherein a relation between dielectric constant (∈1′) of the baked enamel layer at 250° C. and dielectric constant (∈2′) of the extrusion-coated resin layer at 250° C. satisfies (∈2′/∈1′)>1.
US09224519B2 Holdout devices and cover assemblies and methods incorporating the same
A cover assembly for covering an elongate substrate includes a resilient, elastically expandable sleeve member and a holdout device. The sleeve member defines an axially extending inner sleeve passage. The holdout device includes a generally tubular core mounted in the inner sleeve passage. The core defines axially opposed end openings and a core passage extending therebetween to receive the elongate substrate. The core retains the sleeve member in a radially expanded state and can be withdrawn from the sleeve member to release the sleeve member to radially contract onto the elongate substrate. The holdout device is configured such that, after removal of the sleeve member from the core, the core can be laterally removed from the elongate substrate.
US09224518B2 Conductive composition, conductive member, conductive member production method, touch panel, and solar cell
The conductive composition contains at least (a) conductive metal fibers, and (b) at least one compound selected from a compound represented by the following Formula (1) and a compound represented by the following Formula (2). In Formula (1), each of R1 and R2 independently represents an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, or a halogen atom, and R3 represents an alkyl group or an aryl group. The compound represented by Formula (1) may include a structure that plural compounds represented by Formula (1) are linked to each other in a single molecule. In Formula (2), each of R4 and R5 independently represents an alkyl group. The compound represented by Formula (2) may include a structure that plural compounds represented by Formula (2) are linked to each other.
US09224506B2 Method of manufacturing nuclear fuel elements and a container for implementing such a method
A method of manufacturing nuclear fuel elements comprising the steps of placing nuclear fuel balls in the container made from ultra-porous material, applying a CVI to the container and removing the container. The container for manufacturing fuel elements comprising balls, and is produced from at least one ultra-porous material, for example carbon foam.
US09224505B2 Rotating high density fusion reactor for aneutronic and neutronic fusion
A fusion device produces fusion of neutral atoms and ions in an “aneutronic fusion” manner without neutrons as products utilizes strong ion-neutral coupling at high neutral densities. Ions and neutrals rotate together in a cylindrical chamber due to frequent collisions. High magnetic forces make the attainment of high rotation energy possible; the magnetic field in a medium can be set at very high values because of the absence of magnetic charges. The repeated acceleration by strong magnetic forces in the azimuthal direction makes possible very high ion velocity. Fusion takes place mainly between neutral particles. This approach can be applied to fusion with neutrons as well. Conventional fusion schemes and neutron sources can be realized using the principles described above in the generation of neutrals of high energies and densities.
US09224503B2 Memory test with in-line error correction code logic
Systems and methods are provided for reusing existing test structures and techniques used to test memory data to also test error correction code logic surrounding the memories. A method includes testing a memory of a computing system with an error code correction (ECC) logic block bypassed and a first data pattern applied. The method further includes testing the memory with the ECC logic block enabled and a second data pattern applied. The method also includes testing the memory with the ECC logic block enabled and the first data pattern applied.
US09224502B1 Techniques for detection and treating memory hole to local interconnect marginality defects
Techniques are presented for the determination and handling of defects in non-volatile arrays, particularly those having a 3D or BiCS type of arrangement where NAND strings run in a vertical direction relative to the substrate. In such an arrangement, the NAND strings are formed along memory holes and connected to global bit lines, and are separated into blocks or sub-blocks by vertical local interconnects, such as for source lines, and connected to a corresponding global line. To determine defects, an AC stress can be applied between the interconnects and the bit lines/NAND strings, after which a defect determination operation can be performed. This technique can also be implemented at the system level by having the controller instruct the memory to perform it as part of an adaptive defect determination operation.
US09224501B2 Method of operating memory device, memory device using the same, and memory system including the device
A memory device includes a control logic configured to control an overall operation of the memory device; a data storing unit configured to receive write data and write the write data according to control of the control logic and to output read data obtained by reading the write data; and a detector configured to repeatedly generate a comparison result based on the read data and a current determination result based on the comparison result and a previous determination result N times and to generate a final determination result according to a result of the repetition, where N is an integer of at least 2. The final determination result indicates whether an error has occurred and a type of the error.
US09224499B2 Pre-charge sample-and-hold circuit and method for pre-charging a sample-and-hold circuit
A precharge sample-and-hold circuit is provided that has an input terminal, a reference voltage terminal and an output terminal. The circuit has a sampling capacitance coupled between the input terminal and the reference voltage terminal. The sampling capacitance is configured to provide the sample voltage when the sample-and-hold circuit is in a holding mode. The circuit also has a cancellation capacitance. An analog/digital converter is provided that uses the precharge sample-and-hold circuit. A method to operate the precharge sample-and-hold circuit is also provided.
US09224498B2 Shift register unit, gate driving device for display and liquid crystal display
A shift register unit includes an input module for inputting a second clock signal or a third clock signal, and for inputting a frame starting signal, a first clock signal, a low voltage signal, a reset signal as well as a first signal and a second signal transmitted from a next neighboring shift register unit; a processing module for generating a gate driving signal and allowing a level of at least one of first junctions formed by at least two TFTs to be maintained at low level in a frame interval during which the second clock signal or the third clock signal inputted from the input module is maintained at low level; and an output module for transmitting the gate driving signal generated by the processing module.
US09224495B2 Nonvolatile memory device and method detecting defective word line
The inventive concept relates to a nonvolatile memory device and a method of detecting a defective word line. The method includes executing a defective word line detection operation using a program/erase voltage applied to a selected word line, wherein the defective word line detection operation determines whether or not the selected word line is defective in relation to respective word line voltage responses for the first and second segments during execution of the program/erase operation.
US09224494B2 Erase speed adjustment for endurance of non-volatile storage
Techniques are disclosed herein for erasing non-volatile storage. The erase has two or more phases. The first phase includes erasing a group of non-volatile storage elements at a first speed until the group of non-volatile storage elements pass a first verify level. The second phase is performed after the group of non-volatile storage elements pass the first verify level. The second phase includes erasing the group of non-volatile storage elements at a second speed that is less than the first speed until the group of non-volatile storage elements pass a second verify level that is lower than the first verify level. Erasing at the first speed results in a fast erase without significant risk of over-erasing the storage elements. Erasing at the second speed during the second phase prevents or reduces over-erasure which could damage the storage elements.
US09224493B2 Nonvolatile memory device and read method thereof
A nonvolatile memory device has improved reliability by compensating a threshold voltage of a flash memory cell. A nonvolatile memory device includes a memory cell array and a voltage generator for supplying a select read voltage to a select word line and an unselect read voltage to unselected word lines when a read operation is performed, and supplying a verify voltage to a select word line and the unselect read voltage to unselected word lines when a program operation is performed. The voltage generator supplies a first unselect read voltage to at least one between an upper word line and a lower word line adjacent to the select word line when the program operation is performed, and supplies a second unselected read voltage to at least one between the upper word line and the lower word line adjacent to the select word line when the read operation is performed.
US09224492B1 Memory management method, memory storage device and memory controlling circuit unit
An memory management method, a memory storage device and a memory controlling circuit unit are provided. The method comprises: obtaining a threshold voltage distribution of memory cells, wherein the threshold voltage distribution comprises a plurality of states, and each of the states represents a storage status; determining whether a width of a gap window between two neighboring states among the states is less than a threshold value; and if the width of the gap window is less than the threshold value, eliminating one of the two neighboring states.
US09224484B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
A first non-selected word line including a word line adjacent to a selected word line is applied with a first write pass voltage. Furthermore, a second non-selected word line which is a non-selected word line excluding the first non-selected word line is applied with a second write pass voltage smaller than a program voltage. A control circuit, in the write operation, raises the first write pass voltage toward a first target value by executing a voltage raising operation having a first voltage rise width, X times, and raises the second write pass voltage toward a second target value by executing a voltage raising operation having a second voltage rise width, Y times. The first voltage rise width is larger than the second voltage rise width, and X times is fewer than Y times.
US09224483B2 Nonvolatile memory device, system and programming method with dynamic verification mode selection
Nonvolatile memory devices, memory systems and related methods of operating nonvolatile memory devices are presented. During a programming operation, the nonvolatile memory device is capable of using bit line forcing, and is also capable of selecting a verification mode for use during a verification operation from a group of verification modes on the basis of an evaluated programming condition.
US09224482B2 Hot-carrier injection programmable memory and method of programming such a memory
The present disclosure relates to a memory comprising at least one word line comprising a row of split gate memory cells each comprising a selection transistor section comprising a selection gate and a floating-gate transistor section comprising a floating gate and a control gate. According to the present disclosure, the memory comprises a source plane common to the memory cells of the word line, to collect programming currents passing through memory cells during their programming, and the selection transistor sections of the memory cells are connected to the source plane. A programming current control circuit is configured to control the programming current passing through the memory cells by acting on a selection voltage applied to a selection line.
US09224481B2 Semiconductor storage device
A semiconductor storage device restraining the variation in threshold voltage of a memory unit is provided. The steps of the programming method for a flash memory include: setting a bit line to a program voltage or a program-protection voltage; applying a program pulse to the selected page; and verifying the programming of the selected page. Also, the steps further include: when the verification result indicates that there is a failed-shift memory cell which was passed previously but is failed presently, setting the voltage of the bit line of the failed shift memory to a mitigation voltage for mitigating the voltage of the next program pulse.
US09224480B2 Dual-function read/write cache for programmable non-volatile memory
A non-volatile memory, such as a one-time programmable memory, with a dual purpose read/write cache. The read/write cache is used as a write cache during programming, and stores the data to be written for a full row of the memory array. The programming operation simultaneously programs all cells in the selected row based on the contents of the write cache. In subsequent read operations, the read/write cache is used as a read cache. A full row of the array is simultaneously read in a read access, and the contents of that row are stored in the read cache. Subsequent access to that same row causes the data to be read from the read cache rather than requiring access of the array.
US09224477B2 Apparatuses and methods for coupling load current to a common source
Apparatuses and methods are disclosed, including an apparatus with a string of charge storage devices coupled to a common source, a first switch coupled between the string of charge storage devices and a load current source, and a second switch coupled between the load current source and the common source. Additional apparatuses and methods are described.
US09224476B2 Semiconductor memory device including a NAND string
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a first NAND string and a second NAND string are connected to a bit line. One of the first and second NAND strings is selected by first to fourth select memory cells. At the write time, data is written in a first memory cell of the first NAND string selected by of the first to fourth select memory cells, then data is written in a second memory cell of the second NAND string selected at the same time as the first memory cell, data is written in a third memory cell adjacent to the first memory cell of the first NAND string and finally data is written in a fourth memory cell of the second NAND string selected at the same time as the third memory cell.
US09224471B2 Stabilization of resistive memory
The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods including stabilization of resistive memory. A number of embodiments include applying a programming signal to a resistive memory cell, wherein the programming signal includes a first portion having a first polarity and a second portion having a second polarity, wherein the second polarity is opposite the first polarity.
US09224467B2 Resistance-based memory having two-diode access device
A resistance-based memory includes a two-diode access device. In a particular embodiment, a method includes biasing a bit line with a first voltage. The method further includes biasing the sense line with a second voltage. Biasing the bit line and biasing the sense line generates a current through a resistance-based memory element and through one of a first diode and a second diode. A cathode of the first diode is coupled to the bit line and an anode of the second diode is coupled to the sense line.
US09224461B2 Low voltage embedded memory having cationic-based conductive oxide element
Low voltage embedded memory having cationic-based conductive oxide elements is described. For example, a material layer stack for a memory element includes a first conductive electrode. A cationic-based conductive oxide layer is disposed on the first conductive electrode. The cationic-based conductive oxide layer has a plurality of cation vacancies therein. A second electrode is disposed on the cationic-based conductive oxide layer.
US09224460B2 Solid memory
Recording and erasing of data in PRAM have hitherto been performed based on a change in physical characteristics caused by primary phase-transformation of a crystalline state and an amorphous state of a chalcogen compound including Te which serves as a recording material. Since, however, a recording thin film is formed of a polycrystal but not a single crystal, a variation in resistance values occurs and a change in volume caused upon phase-transition has placed a limit on the number of times of readout of the record. In one embodiment, the above problem is solved by preparing a solid memory having a superlattice structure with a thin film containing Sb and a thin film containing Te. The solid memory can realize the number of times of repeated recording and erasing of 1015.
US09224458B2 Bipolar switching memory cell with built-in “on” state rectifying current-voltage characteristics
A memory array is disclosed having bipolar current-voltage (IV) resistive random access memory cells with built-in “on” state rectifying IV characteristics. In one embodiment, a bipolar switching resistive random access memory cell may have a metal/solid electrolyte/semiconductor stack that forms a Schottky diode when switched to the “on” state. In another embodiment, a bipolar switching resistive random access memory cell may have a metal/solid electrolyte/tunnel barrier/electrode stack that forms a metal-insulator-metal device when switched to the “on” state. Methods of operating the memory array are also disclosed.
US09224454B2 Multi-channel physical interfaces and methods for static random access memory devices
An integrated circuit (IC) device can include a static random access memory (SRAM) section comprising a plurality of memory banks; and an interface comprising physical connections for more than eight memory channels, the connections for each memory channel including an address section including connections for SRAM control inputs and a complete address to access the memory banks, and a data section including data inputs and outputs (data IOs) to transfer data for one memory bank.
US09224451B2 Information processing system including semiconductor device having self-refresh mode
A method for operating a dynamic random access memory device includes providing a clock signal to a clock terminal of the dynamic random access memory device, selecting one of a first operating mode and a second operating mode of the dynamic random access memory device, the first operating mode, when selected, corresponding to the DRAM periodically refreshing a first number of word lines, and the second operating mode, when selected, corresponding to the DRAM periodically refreshing a second number of word lines different from the first number, and providing a self-refresh command to a command terminal of the dynamic random access memory device.
US09224448B2 Nano-electro-mechanical based memory
A non-volatile memory arrangement comprising a plurality of cells is disclosed. In one aspect, each cell comprises a memory element and a read selector in series. Further, the memory element is a nano-electro-mechanical switch comprising an anchor, a beam fixed to the anchor, a first and second control gate, for controlling the position of the beam, a first output node against which the beam can be positioned. The cell also comprises a read selector comprising a first selector terminal, a second selector terminal, the first selector terminal connected to the first output node. The first respectively second control gates of switches of a same word are connected together by a first respectively second write word line serving as control gate.
US09224447B2 General structure for computational random access memory (CRAM)
A cell array includes a logic connection line, a plurality of bit selection lines, and a plurality of cells. Each cell includes a memory element connected to a respective bit selection line and a logic switching element that selectively connects the memory element to the logic connection line. When logic switching elements of multiple separate cells connect their respective memory elements to the logic connection line, the memory elements connected to the logic connection line operate as a logic device with an output of the logic device stored in one of the memory elements.
US09224445B2 Semiconductor memory apparatus with main memory blocks and redundant memory blocks sharing a common global data line
A semiconductor memory apparatus includes: a memory area including a plurality of memory banks having main memory areas configured to transmit and receive data to and from the outside through a plurality of global data lines, respectively, and one or more redundancy memory areas configured to use any one of the global data lines as a common global data line; and a controller configured to control data to be transmitted and received through the common global data line, as a redundancy program mode, a redundancy read mode, or a redundancy erase mode is enabled.
US09224442B2 System and method to dynamically determine a timing parameter of a memory device
A particular method includes receiving, from a processor, a first memory access request at a memory device. The method also includes processing the first memory access request based on a timing parameter of the memory device. The method further includes receiving, from the processor, a second memory access request at the memory device. The method also includes modifying a timing parameter of the memory device based on addresses identified by the first memory access request and the second memory access request to produce a modified timing parameter. The method further includes processing the second memory access request based on the modified timing parameter.
US09224441B2 Nonvolatile memory device using variable resistive element and memory system having the same
A nonvolatile memory device, which has an improved read reliability through a refresh operation, and a memory system, are provided. The nonvolatile memory device includes a resistive memory cell, a reference resistor corresponding to the resistive memory cell, a reference sense amplifier electrically connected to the reference resistor and configured to change a transition time of an output value of the reference resistor, and a refresh request signal generator configured to output the refresh request signal for the resistive memory cell when the transition time of an output value of the reference resistor is in a preset refresh requiring period.
US09224440B2 Non-volatile memory, system, and method
A non volatile memory device includes a first buffer register configured to receive and store the data to be stored into the memory device provided via a memory bus. A command window is activatable for interposing itself for access to a memory matrix between the first buffer element and the memory matrix. The command window includes a second buffer element that stores data stored in or to be stored into a group of memory elements. A first data transfer means executes a first transfer of the data stored in the second buffer register into the first buffer register during a first phase of a data write operation started by the reception of a first command. A second data transfer means receives the data provided by the memory bus and modifies, based on the received data, the data stored in the first buffer register during a second phase of the data write operation started by the reception of a second command. The first transfer means execute a second transfer of the modified data stored in the first buffer register into the second buffer register during a third phase of the data write operation. The second transfer is executed in response to the reception of a signal received by the memory bus together with the second command.
US09224431B2 Stub minimization using duplicate sets of signal terminals
A microelectronic structure has active elements defining a storage array, and address inputs for receipt of address information specifying locations within the storage array. The structure has a first surface and can have terminals exposed at the first surface. The terminals may include first terminals and the structure may be configured to transfer address information received at the first terminals to the address inputs. Each first terminal can have a signal assignment which includes one or more of the address inputs. The first terminals are disposed on first and second opposite sides of a theoretical plane normal to the first surface, wherein the signal assignments of the first terminals disposed on the first side are a mirror image of the signal assignments of the first terminals disposed on the second side of the theoretical plane.
US09224427B2 Rating media item recommendations using recommendation paths and/or media item usage
A media item recommendation rating system and method are provided. A recommendation rating for media items is established and dynamically updated in response to media items being recommended to other users. A recommendation server or other device receives a report of a media item recommendation and updates a recommendation rating in response. The recommendation rating may also be updated based on how often a recommended media item is used or played. Thus, a media item's recommendation rating is affected by events relating to its recommendation, as opposed simple play-based ratings that are updated on any play action regardless of whether related to a recommendation or not. Simple play-based ratings do not distinguish between ordinary usages or plays and those resulting from recommendations.
US09224422B2 Control method and system
A control method of controlling a disk storage unit, includes: obtaining, by a computer, for a plurality of sectors allocated on a disk included in the disk storage unit, track identifying information that identifies a track to which sectors belong, in a first order starting from a first start sector; and storing, if first track identifying information obtained in a first sector of the plurality of sectors does not match second track identifying information obtained in a second sector of the plurality of sectors immediately before the first sector, a data length from the first start sector to the second sector in a storage unit.
US09224420B1 Syncmark detection failure recovery system
An apparatus for finding a syncmark in a data sector includes a syncmark detection circuit, decoder, fragment information table and syncmark recovery circuit. The syncmark detection circuit is operable to detect a syncmark in each of a number of fragments of the data sector and to compute a syncmark quality for each of the syncmarks. The decoder is operable to apply a data decoding algorithm to encoded data for the data sector. The encoded data has start points identified by the syncmark in each of the fragments. The fragment information table stores the syncmark quality for each of the syncmarks. The syncmark recovery sweeps the start points over search ranges for selected fragments for which the syncmark detection circuit failed to detect the syncmark and which have a lower syncmark quality than others of the fragments.
US09224419B1 Data detector for detecting data in presence of control signals
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with a detector that processes signals read from a storage device are described. According to one embodiment, the detector includes a signal estimator configured to generate an estimate of a control signal by determining characteristics of the control signal from a read signal. The read signal includes the data signal and the control signal embedded together. The signal estimator is configured to generate the estimate of the control signal as a function of the characteristics. The detector includes a cancellation unit configured to produce the data signal by cancelling the estimate of the control signal from the read signal.
US09224414B2 Method for manufacture of magnetic recording medium and magnetic recording and reproduction device
A method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium includes the steps of depositing a magnetic layer on at least one of surfaces of a nonmagnetic substrate and injecting atoms partially in the magnetic layer, thereby demagnetizing parts having admitted the injected atoms or imparting amorphousness thereto, to form a magnetically separated magnetic recording pattern. The step of injecting includes the steps of applying resist to the at least one surface subsequent to the step of depositing, partially decreasing a thickness of the resist and irradiating a surface of the resist with atoms, thereby inducing partial injection of the atoms to the magnetic layer through portions of the resist decreased in thickness.
US09224413B2 Magnetic recording medium and method of manufacturing the same
According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording medium including a substrate and a magnetic recording layer formed on the substrate and including a plurality of projections is obtained. The array of the plurality of projections includes a plurality of domains in which the projections are regularly arranged, and a boundary region between the domains, in which the projections are irregularly arranged. The boundary region is formed along a perpendicular bisector of a line connecting the barycenters of adjacent projections.
US09224410B1 Suspension having microactuator grounded to opposite side of metal support layer
In a dual stage actuated suspension, the conductive adhesive that forms the ground connection bridge from the ground electrode of the PZT microactuator to the grounded stainless steel layer of the flexure, extends from the ground electrode of the PZT around an edge of the stainless steel layer and to a side of the stainless steel layer that is opposite the side of the stainless steel layer to which the PZT is mounted. An aperture in the load beam allows a stream of hot air during the epoxy cure step to be directed directly onto the conductive epoxy ground connection bridge, thus allowing that conductive epoxy ground connection to be reliably and completely cured.
US09224408B1 Suspension with spring bias acting on conductive adhesive bond for improved reliability
In an electrical connection to an electrical component in a disk drive suspension, an electrical lead is adhered to a component using conductive adhesive and is also mechanically pressed up against the component using a bias mechanism. The bias mechanism may be a spring finger that is welded to the suspension, or it may be a stainless steel finger that is formed integrally with the trace gimbal assembly. The resulting bias force that presses the contact against the component surface reduces the small failure rate that can occur when the conductive adhesive separates from the component's surface as a result of stress such as induced by thermal cycling.
US09224405B2 Voice activity detection/silence suppression system
A Voice Activity Detection/Silence Suppression (VAD/SS) system is connected to a channel of a transmission pipe. The channel provides a pathway for the transmission of energy. A method for operating a VAD/SS system includes detecting the energy on the channel, and activating or suppressing activation of the VAD/SS system depending upon the nature of the energy detected on the channel.
US09224404B2 Dynamic audio processing parameters with automatic speech recognition
A communication system includes a front-end audio gateway or bridge and a hands-free device. An automatic speech recognition platform accessible to the hands-free device provides or makes available one or more preprocessing schemes and/or acoustic models to the front-end audio gateway or bridge. The preprocessing schemes or acoustic models can be identified by or provided before a connection is established between the front-end audio gateway and the automatic speech recognition platform, when a connection occurs between the front-end audio gateway and the automatic speech recognition platform, and/or during a speech recognition session.
US09224403B2 Selective bass post filter
In one aspect, the invention provides an audio encoding method characterized by a decision being made as to whether the device which will decode the resulting bit stream should apply post filtering including attenuation of interharmonic noise. Hence, the decision whether to use the post filter, which is encoded in the bit stream, is taken separately from the decision as to the most suitable coding mode. In another aspect, there is provided an audio decoding method with a decoding step followed by a post-filtering step, including interharmonic noise attenuation, and being characterized in a step of disabling the post filter in accordance with post filtering information encoded in the bit stream signal. Such a method is well suited for mixed-origin audio signals by virtue of its capability to deactivate the post filter in dependence of the post filtering information only, hence independently of factors such as the current coding mode.
US09224402B2 Wideband speech parameterization for high quality synthesis, transformation and quantization
A method for speech parameterization and coding of a continuous speech signal. The method comprises dividing said speech signal into a plurality of speech frames, and for each one of the plurality of speech frames, modeling said speech frame by a first harmonic modeling to produce a plurality of harmonic model parameters, reconstructing an estimated frame signal from the plurality of harmonic model parameters, subtracting the estimated frame signal from the speech frame to produce a harmonic model residual, performing at least one second harmonic modeling analysis on the first harmonic model residual to determine at least one set of second harmonic model components, removing the at least one set of second harmonic model components from the first harmonic model residual to produce a harmonically-filtered residual signal, and processing the harmonically-filtered residual signal with analysis by synthesis techniques to produce vectors of codebook indices and corresponding gains.
US09224396B2 Enhanced context awareness for speech recognition
A method comprising establishing a call connection (200) between at least a first and a second terminal; monitoring (202), by at least the first terminal, a conversation during the call in order to detect (204) at least one predetermined context-related keyword repeated in at least the first and the second terminal; and in response to detecting (210) at least one repeated predetermined context-related keyword, providing an indication (212, 214, 216) about the detected context-related keyword to a user of at least the first terminal, said indication enabling opening an application linked to said context-related keyword.
US09224395B2 Voice detection for automatic volume controls and voice sensors
A voice detection system and method for automatic volume controls and voice sensors is disclosed. More specifically, the invention addresses a situation where the user's own voice undesirably affects the functionality of an automatic volume control for a two-way communication device, such as a cellular telephone. In addition, the invention proposes solutions wherein one (voice) microphone is employed and also, when two (voice and noise) microphones are employed. Further, an algorithm is disclosed that addresses the issue concerning the user's own voice in an AVC pertaining to the two microphone solution. Yet further, a method herein is disclosed that detects the presence of voice in a single non-selective (noise) microphone.
US09224383B2 Unsupervised language model adaptation for automated speech scoring
Systems and methods are provided for generating a transcript of a speech sample response to a test question. The speech sample response to the test question is provided to a language model, where the language model is configured to perform an automated speech recognition function. The language model is adapted to the test question to improve the automated speech recognition function by providing to the language model automated speech recognition data related to the test question, Internet data related to the test question, or human-generated transcript data related to the test question. The transcript of the speech sample is generated using the adapted language model.
US09224382B2 Noise cancellation
A noise cancellation signal is generated by generating an ambient noise signal, representing ambient noise, and generating a noise cancellation signal, by applying the ambient noise signal to an feedforward filter, where the feedforward filter comprises a high-pass filter having an adjustable cut-off frequency, and by applying a controllable gain. The noise cancellation signal is then applied to a loudspeaker, to generate a sound to at least partially cancel the ambient noise. An error signal is generated, representing unwanted sound in the region of the loudspeaker. The phase of the ambient noise signal is compared to a phase of the error signal, and the gain is controlled on the basis of a result of the comparison, taking account of a phase shift introduced by the high-pass filter when performing the comparison.
US09224378B2 Systems and methods thereof for determining a virtual momentum based on user input
A computer-implemented method including generating a user interface implemented on a touch-sensitive display configured to generate a virtual dual flywheel system for modulating a lifecycle of a musical note or chord. The dual flywheel system (DFS) includes a first VFS and a second VFS, where the first virtual flywheel system series connected to the second virtual flywheel system such that an output of the first virtual flywheel system is coupled to an input of the second virtual flywheel system. Upon receiving a user input on the user interface, the dual flywheel system determines a virtual momentum for the first virtual flywheel based on the user input and a predetermined mass coefficient of the first virtual flywheel system, and determines a virtual momentum for the second virtual flywheel based on the virtual momentum of the first virtual flywheel system and a predetermined mass coefficient of the second virtual flywheel.
US09224375B1 Musical modification effects
Systems, including methods and apparatus, for applying audio effects to a non-ambient signal, based at least in part on information received in an ambient audio signal. Exemplary effects that can be applied using the present teachings include generation of harmony notes, pitch-correction of melody notes, and tempo-based effects that rely on beat detection.
US09224374B2 Methods and devices for audio processing
An audio processing method for use in a server, includes: receiving an audio file uploaded from a terminal that has downloaded a first accompaniment music file of a song from the server, the audio file being generated by the terminal by encoding collected audio information relating to singing a portion of the song and the first accompaniment music file; and marking an unmarked, audio mixing portion in the received audio file as a portion that has been sung, to generate a second accompaniment music file of the song.
US09224372B1 Cymbal mounting assembly
A cymbal mounting assembly that has housing with a constant diameter through hole. A mounting rod of a music stand is to be conducted through the through hole with therebeing a loose fit between the mounting rod and the housing. A cymbal is loosely mounted on the housing so it can freely pivot or rock. The assembly includes a tightening nut with a friction feature included to adjust the amount of clamping force being applied to the cymbal. This friction feature prevents unauthorized adjusting of the rocking or pivoting motion (action) of the cymbal and this preselected amount of action by the drummer is maintained between playing locations and is only changed when the drummer decides to do so.
US09224363B2 Method and apparatus for image data transformation
Image data is transformed for display on a target display. A sigmoidal transfer function provides a free parameter controlling min-tone contrast. The transfer function may be dynamically adjusted to accommodate changing ambient lighting conditions. The transformation may be selected so as to automatically adapt image data for display on a target display in a way that substantially preserves creative intent embodied in the image data. The image data may be video data.
US09224357B2 Apparatus and method for compensating image of display device
An apparatus and method for compensating an image of a display device are disclosed. The image compensation apparatus of a display device comprises a scatterometer configured to analyze luminance of a display image according to a test initialization voltage and a test data voltage applied to a plurality of pixels and to measure a deviation of a threshold voltage of a driving transistor of the plurality of pixels; a voltage controller configured to divide the display panel into a predetermined area according to a deviation of a threshold voltage of the driving transistor and to calculate different initialization voltages that initialize driving of pixels included in the area on a predetermined area basis; and an initialization voltage supplier configured to apply a corresponding initialization voltage calculated in the voltage controller to the plurality of pixels included in the predetermined area.
US09224345B2 Liquid crystal display and driving method thereof
A liquid crystal display comprises: a liquid crystal panel; a panel driver for driving the liquid crystal panel; a backlight unit providing light to the liquid crystal panel, and comprising light emitting sources having light emitting diodes connected in series and driving transistors driving the light emitting sources; and a backlight unit driver comprising a transistor driver that controls the driving transistors, a DC power source that supplies DC power to the light emitting sources, and a power controller that drives the DC power source, and enables or disables an output of the DC power source with reference to signals supplied to the driving transistors.
US09224342B2 Approach to adjust driving waveforms for a display device
The present invention is directed to methods for adjusting or selecting driving waveforms in order to achieve a consistent optical performance of a display device. When a method of the present invention is applied, even if there are changes in the display medium due to temperature variation, photo-exposure or aging, the optical performance can be maintained at a desired level.
US09224341B2 Color display based on spatial clustering
A color display has a monochrome modulator. An active area of the modulator is illuminated by an array of light sources. The light sources include light sources of three or more colors. The intensities of the light sources may be adjusted to project desired luminance patterns on an active area of the modulator. In a fast field sequential method different colors are projected sequentially. The modulator is set to modulate the projected luminance patterns to display a desired image. In a slow field sequential method, colors are projected simultaneously and the modulator is set to modulate most important colors in the image.
US09224339B2 Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device comprising a backlight and a pixel portion including first to 2n-th scan lines, wherein, in a first case of expressing a color image, first pixels controlled by the first to n-th scan lines are configured to express a first image using at least one of first to third hues supplied in a first rotating order, and second pixels controlled by the (n+1)-th to 2n-th scan lines are configured to express a second image using at least one of the first to third hues supplied in a second rotating order, wherein, in a second case of expressing a monochrome image, the first and second pixels controlled by the first to 2n-th scan lines are configured to express the monochrome image by external light reflected by the reflective pixel electrode, and wherein the first rotating order is different from the second rotating order.
US09224338B2 Driving methods for electrophoretic displays
The driving system and methods of the present invention enable interruption of updating images. The system and methods have the advantage that they not only can speed up the updating process when more than one command is received consecutively in a short period of time, but also can provide a more smooth transition visually during the updating process.
US09224337B2 Compensation of threshold voltage in driving transistor of organic light emitting diode display device
The organic light emitting diode display device comprising a display panel a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form, each of the pixels comprising: a driving TFT including a gate electrode coupled to a first node, a source electrode coupled to a second node, and a drain electrode coupled to a high-potential voltage line; an organic light emitting diode including an anode coupled to the second node and a cathode coupled to a low-potential voltage line; a first TFT supplying a data voltage to the first node in response to a scan signal; a initialization control circuit initializing the first node to a first reference voltage and the second node or the third node to a second reference voltage in response to a initialization signal and an emission signal; and capacitors.
US09224329B2 Organic light emitting diode display device and method for driving the same
An OLED display device is provided. The OLED display device includes a first transistor connected to a data line and a first node; a second transistor connected to the first node and a second node; a third transistor connected to a reference voltage terminal and a third node; a fourth transistor connected to an initialization voltage terminal and the second node; a fifth transistor connected to the reference voltage terminal and the second node; a driving transistor; and an OLED connected to a low-level power supply voltage terminal and the second node. The driving transistor has a source connected to the second node, a gate connected to the third node, and a drain connected to a high-level power supply voltage terminal.
US09224328B2 Organic electro luminescence display device and driving method thereof
A method for controlling an organic electro luminescence display device, the device including a display panel including a plurality of data lines that cross a plurality of scan lines, and including electro luminescence elements arranged at intersections of the plurality of data lines and the plurality of scan lines; a pre-charge driver configured to select one of a plurality of pre-charge current levels in accordance with a gray level of incoming data, and supply a pre-charge current, corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of pre-charge current levels, to the electro luminescence elements via the plurality of data lines prior to supplying a data current, corresponding to the incoming data, to the electro luminescence elements, so as to pre-charge the electro luminescence elements; and a data driver configured to subsequently supply the data current to the pre-charged electro luminescence elements via the plurality of data lines.
US09224325B1 Method of driving active matrix displays
Method of writing a pixel data into a pixel element having at least one switching transistor, at least one nonlinear element, and at least one capacitive element. The method includes (1) setting both the semiconductor channel of the at least one switching transistor and the at least one nonlinear element into conducting states, and causing a voltage applied across the at least one capacitive element while the semiconductor channel of the at least one switching transistor maintains at conducting state and the at least one nonlinear element maintains at conducting state; and (2) after said causing, driving the at least one nonlinear element into non-conducting state from conducting state, and driving the semiconductor channel of the at least one switching transistor into non-conducting state from conducting state for settling the semiconductor channel into non-conducting state after the at least one nonlinear element is settled into non-conducting state.
US09224323B2 Systems and methods for increasing spatial or temporal resolution for dual modulated display systems
Dual modulation display systems comprising a first modulation layer and a second modulation layer are disclosed, such that the first modulation layer and the second modulation layer are offset by a desired distance. In one embodiment, the offset distance may be an actual spatial offset distance in one, two or a preferred direction. In another embodiment, the offset distance may be a rotational offset between the two layers. In yet another embodiment, the offset may be a temporal offset between the images appearing on the first modulation layer and the second modulation layer. In yet another embodiment, the offset may be a combination of spatial, rotational and/or temporal offsets. The display system may comprise a controller capable of mapping input image data onto the first and second modulation layers via intermediate signals and the intermediate signals may be some function of the offset.
US09224322B2 Visually passing data through video
A method and a system involve the insertion of digital data into a number of video frames of a video stream, such that the video frames contain both video content and the inserted digital data. The video, including the inserted digital data is then visually conveyed to and received by an augmented reality device without the use of a network connection. In the augmented reality device, the digital data is detected, processed and used to provide computer-generated data and/or information. The computer-generated data and/or information is then presented on a display associated with the augmented reality device or otherwise reproduced through the augmented reality device, where the computer-generated data and/or information supplements the video content so as to enhance the viewing experience of the augmented reality device user.
US09224321B2 Projector for performing trapezoidal distortion correction and method of controlling projector
A projector includes a deformation ratio calculating unit that calculates a first deformation ratio on a reference point set in a first image when performing a correction process with respect to a first image data, a deformation ratio determination unit that determines a second deformation ratio of the first image based on the first deformation ratio calculated by the deformation ratio calculation unit, a synthesis image generation unit that generates synthesis image data indicating a synthesis image which is generated by synthesizing a second image indicated by second image data and the first image with a size changed based on the second deformation ratio, a correction unit that performs a correction process with respect to the synthesis image data, and a projection unit that projects the synthesis image based on the synthesis image data which is subjected to the correction process.
US09224318B2 Light source module
A light source module including an optical film, a bottom reflector, a top reflector, a light converging element, and a light emitting element is provided. The bottom reflector is located under the optical film. The top reflector and the light converging element are located at opposite sides of the optical film. The optical film, the bottom reflector, the top reflector, and the light converging element enclose a space. The light converging element has a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The light emitting element is disposed in the space and has an optical axis direction, where the third portion has a first surface facing the first portion, a first angle having a range of 5-10 degrees is included between the optical axis direction and a connection line between the light emitting element and one end of the first surface away from the light emitting element.
US09224317B2 Signalling apparatus and sensor apparatus
A signaling device may include a first signaling illuminant; a second signaling illuminant; and a control device having at least one information input for coupling to an information source, wherein the control device is configured to drive the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant in a manner dependent on the signal at the information input in order to set one of four states, wherein only the first signaling illuminant is switched on in the first state, only the second signaling illuminant is switched on in the second state, the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant are switched on in the third state, wherein the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant are switched off in the fourth state, wherein the control device is configured to operate the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant in a series circuit in the third state.
US09224313B2 Marking device for switchgear cabinets and other electrical equipment
An identification device for switch cabinets and other electrical devices includes at least one identification plate and a carrier profile configured to receive the identification plate. The carrier profile further includes a rear wall, a first and second lateral holding wall, and at least one support web. The first and second lateral holding walls extend forwards from the rear wall. The support web extends traversely to at least one holding wall and is configured to support the identification plate. At least one misplacement guard is provided and is configured to prevent the identification plate from being placed below the support web when mounted.
US09224311B2 Combining data sources to provide accurate effort monitoring
By combining data from different sensors (on fitness device, mobile smartphone, smart clothing, other devices or people in same location), an intelligent system provides a better indicator of an individual's physical effort, using rich data sources to enhance quantified metrics such as distance/pace/altitude gain, to provide a clearer picture of an individual's exercise and activity.
US09224310B2 Self-exploration therapeutic assembly and method
A self-exploration assembly includes a base and a plurality of layers each shaped so that when the plurality of layers are coupled to the base in a first orientation, the plurality of layers together resemble a bulbous shape, and, when the plurality of layers are coupled to the base in a second orientation, the plurality of petals resemble a flower shape.
US09224309B2 Teaching system for improving information retention based on brain-state monitoring
A computer-based education system monitors brain activity of the student to produce an “engagement” signal that may be compared against a dynamic threshold to identify a plurality of points demarcating periods of declining attention. These points are used to trigger modifications to the presentation of the educational program to promote student retention of the present information.
US09224308B2 Foldable flight simulator
The subject invention provides a flight simulator, having a folded state and an unfolded state, having a chassis, an inner display and support that may be stowed or deployed, and an outer display and support that may be stowed or deployed.
US09224307B2 Methods and systems for managing a training arena for training an operator of a host vehicle
A method for managing a training arena for training an operator of a host vehicle includes the procedures of generating a training arena model, updating the training arena model according to gathered real time training arena data, and managing the selected virtual entity for simulating a real entity. The training arena model is updated according to the selected virtual entity data, deriving from the training arena model an operator arena model, producing a representation of the operator arena model. The representation of the operator arena model is presented to the operator and the selected virtual entity is managed according to the training arena model as would have been detected and as could have been perceived by the selected virtual entity were the virtual entities real.
US09224302B1 Four dimensional flight management with time control system and related method
A four dimensional time controlled flight management system (4DFMS) and related method generate an initial descent profile for an aircraft in flight. The initial descent profile is planned in compliance with a 1) a published arrival procedure at an airport, 2) a fuel-efficient optimized profile descent (OPD), and a required time of arrival (RTA) constraint at a metering waypoint on the published arrival. The 4DFMS maintains awareness of the changing wind conditions during cruise mode and descent mode of operation and triggers a replan of the descent profile should compliance fall outside of a 95% confidence level at a six second compliance requirement in the descent mode. The system continuously generates a total time error at the metering waypoint by projecting estimated time of arrivals at active waypoints to determine accurate altitude, airspeed, and time compliance at the metering waypoint.
US09224300B2 Apparatus and method for controlling autonomous vehicle platooning
An apparatus and method for controlling autonomous vehicle platooning are disclosed. The apparatus for controlling autonomous vehicle platooning includes a frame format configuration unit, a synchronization unit, and a contention window assignment unit. The frame format configuration unit configures the format of a frame included in a communication channel applicable to the control of autonomous vehicle platooning. The synchronization unit synchronizes a plurality of vehicles with one another using the frame so that the vehicles can perform the autonomous vehicle platooning. The contention window assignment unit assigns the different contention window values of a slot for management of the frame to the respective synchronized vehicles. The control is performed using the assigned contention window values so that the vehicles can participate in the autonomous vehicle platooning.
US09224299B2 Cruise control plan evaluation device and method
A cruise control plan evaluation device (10) that evaluates safety of a cruise control plan for an automatically-operated vehicle includes: a behavior prediction unit (16a) that predicts a behavior that may be exhibited by a nearby vehicle, which is present near the automatically-operated vehicle, at a given time point; a position prediction unit (16b) that predicts a position of the nearby vehicle after the given time point based on a position of the nearby vehicle at the given time point and the behavior predicted by the behavior prediction unit (16a); and an evaluation unit (20) that evaluates the safety of the cruise control plan based on the position of the nearby vehicle predicted by the position prediction unit (16b) and a position that is reached by the automatically-operated vehicle according to the cruise control plan.
US09224298B2 System and method for communicating an object attached to a vehicle
An exemplary system for a vehicle having an object attached to it may include a user interface device, a controller, and a communication system. The user interface device may be configured to receive and transmit information relating to the object. The controller may be in communication with the user interface device, and may be configured to receive the information from the user interface device. The communication system may be in communication with the controller, and may be configured to transmit at least a subset of the information to at least one other vehicle.
US09224292B2 Method for controlling a computing device over existing broadcast media acoustic channels
The present invention provides a method for broadcasting a control message across an existing broadcast transport medium such as TV, Radio, Webcasts, Smart Phones/Tablets, Audio Buttons/Toys and PA/audio systems via a common acoustic channel with normal traditional broadcasts over those mediums to control computing devices, especially smart mobile devices such as smart phones or tablets. The present invention also involves a method for encoding the control message onto an acoustic wave composed of active sinusoidal frequency components selected out of monitored possible frequencies according to the concept of mathematical combinations. This encoding method is aimed at using a minimum amount of transmitted energy to get a maximum amount of data with as little reflective noise as possible.
US09224291B2 Athletic performance user interface
Athletic data may be recorded and displayed using a computing device such as a mobile communication device during performance of physical activity. In some examples, the device may provide options for defining and recording athletic activity performed by the user. Such options may include various content item selection and rendering controls. Additionally or alternatively, route selection and controls may be provided through the device. Recorded activity data may further be transmitted to a remote site through a network.
US09224287B2 Door ajar detection and recovery for a wireless door sensor
A refrigerated container system is described that includes a wireless personal area network (WPAN) including a plurality of wireless sensor nodes and a coordinator node through which the sensors provide sensor data to a controller for the refrigerated container system. The wireless sensors and the coordinator incorporate a variety of features that ensure efficient utilization of battery life by preventing unintended pairing of sensors with other WPANs and excessive sensor signal processing arising from door chatter. Finally, pairing is performed without pressing a button on the wireless door sensor. Instead, the sensor's magnetic reed switch is enlisted to detect swiping of a magnet by a user to enter a pairing mode.
US09224286B2 Security system health monitoring
An apparatus and method for determining at least one operational condition of a premises based system including at least one premises device. The apparatus includes a processor configured to perform a diagnostic procedure. The diagnostic procedure includes determining operational data of the premises based system, the operational data indicating at least one of a premises device and the apparatus is operating outside a failure range and performing predictive analysis based at least in part on the received operational data. The predictive analysis indicates whether the at least one of premises device and apparatus is likely to operate within the failure range within a predefined period of time. The diagnostic procedure includes causing a notification alert to be transmitted to at least one of a user interface device and remote monitoring center based on the predictive analysis.
US09224284B2 Detecting presence using a presence sensor network
Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for detecting presence using a presence sensor network. In some embodiments, a computer executing a presence service generates a user interface for display at a user device. The user interface can include a control that, when selected, generates room data defining a monitored location. The computer can obtain sensor identifier data that identifies a presence sensor located at the monitored location and a location of the presence sensor at the monitored location. The computer can provide the user interface to the user device to obtain the room data and obtain the room data. The computer also can store the room data and the sensor identifier data.
US09224282B2 Safety service system and method thereof
Disclosed are a safety service system and a method thereof. The safety service system comprises: a collection unit for collecting position information and image information related to a protected person who is registered by a protector; and a service providing unit for providing the position information and the image information to one or both of the protector and a security company upon detection of a signal that the protected person is in danger.
US09224278B2 Automated method and system for detecting the presence of a lit cigarette
An automated method and system for detecting the presence of a smoking product utilizing a near infrared video-processing unit in real time. One or more near infrared (NIR) video capturing units can be configured to capture a video feed. The video feed can be processed by the video-processing unit in order to detect a smoking product (e.g., a lit cigarette) within a field of view of the video capturing unit. A near infrared video sequence can be read and analyzed for the presence of a “hot spot” of a predetermined size based on pixel color information. In some cases, the motion of the hot spot can be tracked in response to the detection of the hot spot. An alarm signal can also be triggered in some cases, if the pattern of motion is consistent with that of a cigarette being smoked.
US09224277B1 Detector devices for presenting notifications and supporting context inferences
Techniques can relate to a multi-purpose a detector surface on a network device. A stimulus variable can be identified at a detector device based on an environmental stimulus detected by a sensor. The detector device can include the sensor. The detector device can transmit an initial communication to a device. The first communication can include the stimulus variable. A new communication that includes data corresponding to another device can be received at the detector device. The detector device can determine, based on the stimulus detected by the sensor and is further based on the new communication, that a visual stimulus is to be presented. The visual stimulus can be presented.
US09224272B2 Method of secure data communication
In an exchange of data between a client terminal (1) and a secure database server (2) the data is encoded using positional information generated by a combination generator (7) in a separate security server (3). The positional information is used to produce an image specific to a communication event which is accessed by the client terminal (1) and is the basis for the entry of sensitive data at the client terminal (1). The three-way communication link between the client terminal, database server and security server greatly increases the difficulty of successfully intercepting and decoding the data entered at the client terminal. This method of secure data communication is particularly suited to the communication of password data for example in the banking industry.
US09224269B2 Computer-implemented methods and computer systems for enabling personalized game betting and lottery playing
In some embodiments, the instant invention provides for a computer-implemented method, performed by a specifically programmed computer system, that that includes: displaying choices to be selected to define a personalized betting game; receiving selected choices, identifying: i) an event, ii) a plurality of markets, and iii) a plurality of potential outcomes; establishing a personalized data structure representative of data relationships among the selected choices, hereby resulting in a personalized betting game of a user; automatically updating the at least one first personalized data structure based, at least in part, on real-time changes; receiving an entry payment from the user to play the at least one first personalized betting game; determining an actual outcome of the personalized betting game; and determining a reward to be distributed to the user.
US09224267B2 Presenting and controlling wagering game play
Some examples described include a system to perform operations that include detecting, via use of a gaming plug-in, that first content is presented in a main display area of a web browser. The operations can further include, after detecting that the first content is presented, detecting that second content was previously presented via the main display area of the web browser. In some examples, the second content is associated with gaming content. The operations can further include providing, in a graphical-user-interface object of the web browser separate from the main display area of the web browser, information related to the gaming content in response to the detecting that second content was previously presented via the main display area of the browser.
US09224266B2 Gaming system having multiple gaming machines which provide bonus awards
A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards. In one embodiment, the number of secondary bonus awards is determined based on the number of active gaming machines. The selected gaming machine then determines a component of or the amount of the bonus award to be provided to the gaming machine selected by the central server.
US09224263B2 Transferring awards via optical machine readable data representation images
Club cards and tickets can be eliminated by providing an application that allows a player's mobile phone to process an image of an optical machine-readable representation of data. At the end of a wagering session on a WGM, the WGM can display a barcode representing a player's winnings, an achievement, game status, etc. The player takes a picture of the barcode with his or her mobile phone. The application on the phone processes the barcode image and automatically updates an account of the player in accordance with the data represented or carried by the barcode. For instance, the mobile phone sends a request to a wagering account server to electronically deposit the winnings, as represented by the barcode, in a wagering account associated with the player's club profile.
US09224262B2 System and method of selecting interactive media used to reveal outcomes of real world wagers
The invention relates to systems and methods of selecting and placing real-world wagers responsive to one or more wager triggers, obtaining outcomes of the real-world wagers, and revealing the outcomes of the real-world wagers through select interactive media to give an appearance that the outcomes of the real-world wagers resulted from user interactions with the interactive media even though the outcomes resulted from the real-world wagers and were determined before the user interactions. The system may select a given interactive media application (or interactive media) to reveal a value (e.g., a payout) based on various factors to customize which application or media is used to provide a given reveal.
US09224254B2 Display apparatus
An apparatus comprises a display, a communication device, and a controller. The communication device performs communication with a remote control system. The system comprises a control head, a shift actuator, and a throttle actuator. The head designates a shift position and a throttle opening. The shift actuator drives a shift mechanism in accordance with the shift position. The throttle actuator drives the throttle mechanism in accordance with the throttle opening. The communication device receives at least one of the shift position, the throttle opening and ID data of malfunction in the system. The controller causes the display to display the shift position, the throttle opening, or the type or cause of the malfunction.
US09224250B2 Vehicle telematics unit lockout recovery
A method of removing a vehicle telematics unit from an invalid state includes sensing that the vehicle telematics unit wirelessly received an invalid state code that deactivates the communication function of the vehicle telematics unit from a base station of a wireless carrier system; determining at the vehicle telematics unit that a reset trigger applicable to invalid state codes has been activated; and commanding the vehicle telematics unit to reset the invalid state code when the reset trigger has been activated thereby permitting the vehicle telematics unit to resume its communication function.
US09224248B2 Method of virtual makeup achieved by facial tracking
Method of applying virtual makeup and producing makeover effects to 3D face model driven by facial tracking in real-time includes the steps: capturing static or live facial images of a user; performing facial tracking of facial image, and obtaining tracking points on captured facial image; and producing makeover effects according to tracking points in real time. Virtual makeup can be applied using virtual makeup input tool such as a user's finger sliding over touch panel screen, mouse cursor or an object passing through makeup-allowed area. Makeup-allowed area for producing makeover effects is defined by extracting feature points from facial tracking points and dividing makeup-allowed area into segments and layers; and defining and storing parameters of makeup-allowed area. Virtual visual effects including color series, alpha blending, and/or superposition are capable of being applied. Makeover effect takes into account of lighting condition, facial posture rotation, face size scaling, and face translation, respectively.
US09224245B2 Mesh animation
In one aspect, in general, parallel image and depth maps are acquired of a subject using a three-dimensional camera on a common and dense set of pixel locations. A two-dimensional mesh animation is determined based on motion tracking in the acquired images. The two-dimensional mesh animation is then combined with the depth maps for form three-dimensional mesh animation suitable for rendering.
US09224243B2 Image enhancement using a multi-dimensional model
A method and apparatus for enhancing an image capture of a geographic area is presented. The enhancement involves determining an estimated pose within a model that is related to an image using orientation and location data associated with the image. An alternate pose within the three dimensional model may be selected based on the estimated pose. A virtual image of the three dimensional model may be generated as a function of the alternate pose. The image and the virtual image may be combined to create a stereoscopic image.
US09224241B2 System for producing digital holographic content
Disclosed is a system for producing a digital holographic (DH) content, which includes: a 3D image information acquiring unit configured to acquire 3D information on real and virtual objects; a computer-generated hologram (CGH) processing unit configured to generate the digital holographic content by mathematical modeling from the 3D information acquired from the 3D image information acquiring unit; a DH content editing unit configured to edit the generated digital holographic content; a DH image restoring unit configured to visualize the generated digital holographic content in a 3D image; and a digital holographic content process managing unit configured to manage a parameter and a processing time of each functioning unit so as to process each processing process of each of the 3D image information acquiring unit, the computer-generated hologram processing unit, the digital holographic content editing unit, and the digital hologram image restoring unit.
US09224235B2 System, method, and computer program product for compression of a bounding volume hierarchy
A system, method, and computer program product for compressing a bounding volume hierarchy is disclosed. The method includes the steps of receiving a bounding volume hierarchy and encoding the bounding volume hierarchy to generate an encoded bounding volume hierarchy, wherein each node in the encoded bounding volume hierarchy indicates whether the node inherits zero or more values from a parent node. The bounding volume hierarchy includes a plurality of nodes, each node in the plurality of nodes is associated with a bounding volume.
US09224234B2 System and method for generating product visualizations
This disclosure includes a method for electronically generating a single image for product visualization. The method comprises receiving a selection of a first variation of a first consumer product layer with a first depth attribute from a plurality of variations of the first consumer product layer, each variation comprising at least one surface. The method further includes receiving a selection of a second variation of a second consumer product layer with a second depth attribute from a plurality of variations of the second consumer product layer, each variation comprising at least one surface. The method also includes layering the first variation of the first consumer product layer in the single image based at least on the first depth attribute; and layering the second variation of the second consumer product layer in the single image based at least on the second depth attribute. Related systems and apparatuses are also disclosed.
US09224233B2 Blending 3D model textures by image projection
An example method and system for blending textures of a composite image formed by a plurality of source images mapped onto a three dimensional model are presented. The composite image is projected to obtain an unblended projected image having textures. The textures are blended to obtain a blended projected image. Both the unblended and the blended projected images are backprojected onto the three dimensional model. A difference is determined between a pixel of the backprojected, blended image and a corresponding pixel of the backprojected, unblended image. The determined difference is then applied to a further corresponding pixel of the composite image to obtain a modified composite image representing a blending of the plurality of source images in the composite image.
US09224227B2 Tile shader for screen space, a method of rendering and a graphics processing unit employing the tile shader
A tile shader for screen space of a graphics pipeline, a method of rendering graphics and a graphics processing unit are disclosed. In one embodiment, the tile shader includes: (1) an input interface configured to receive a tile of pixels for processing and (2) a tile processor configured to perform tile-level processing of the pixels.
US09224226B2 Image display device for direct drawing apparatus, and recording medium
An image display device for direct drawing apparatus for performing direct drawing comprising: an acquisition part for acquiring design data in a vector format describing the pattern; a specified parameter setting part for setting a specified parameter to be used for RIP development of the design data; a processing area setting part for setting a processing area of the design data to be subjected to RIP development; a display RIP development part for performing RIP development of a portion of the design data, which corresponds to the processing area, by using the specified parameter, to thereby obtain a specified image; and a display part for visibly displaying the specified image, wherein the RIP development performed by the display RIP development part is a display RIP development in which the amount of processed data is smaller than that in drawing RIP development for the direct drawing.
US09224225B2 Mass spectrometry data processing device
A data processing device in which, on a screen where an MS spectrum for a retention time designated by the analyst is displayed in the upper area and an MS2 spectrum for a precursor ion selected automatically based on the MS spectrum is displayed in the lower area, when an “On” button in a precursor parameter display selection frame in the top part is clicked, excluded ion and priority ion information for that retention time is collected and the m/z ranges and are displayed in a specified display color on the MS spectrum. As a result, it becomes possible to see at a glance whether the precursor ion indicated by upward arrow corresponds to an excluded ion or priority ion.
US09224218B2 System and method for loading and rendering curved features in a map
Embodiments of a system and method for loading and rendering curved features in a map are described. Embodiments may include a map tool of a mapping or navigation application configured to generate a display for a map that includes one or more curved features (e.g., curved roads or curved polygons). The map tool may be executed in a client/server environment in which a server portion receives digitized map data in the form of polylines, detects a curved feature in the map data by fitting it to a parametric curve, and transmits data representing the parametric curve to a client device for subsequent rendering. The client device may render the curved feature using the received parametric curve data or, dependent on characteristics of the client device, extract data corresponding to points on the parametric curve to generate a triangle mesh for rendering the curved feature at a suitable resolution.
US09224216B2 High density forward projector for spatial resolution improvement for medical imaging systems including computed tomography
A medical imaging apparatus, processing device or specialized circuit can include an input interface to input scan data of a medical image scan of a target object, a processor to generate an output image from the input scan data, and an output interface to output the output image to, e.g., a display. The processor can execute a first reconstruction of the scan data to obtain an intermediate image of the target object, a high-density forward projection of the intermediate object to obtain generated data, a sinogram updating using both of the generated data and the scan data to obtain a high-resolution sinogram, and a second reconstruction based on the high-resolution sinogram to obtain an output image.
US09224212B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus configured to detect a position deviation between a first image and a second image includes a first memory configured to store motion vectors between the first image and the second image as a first motion vector group, a second memory configured to store, as a second motion vector group, motion vectors extracted from the first motion vector group determined to have a higher reliability than a predetermined threshold, an acceptable motion vector selection unit configured to calculate a temporary position deviation parameter from the second motion vector group, and select the motion vectors representing the position deviation as an acceptable motion vector group from the first motion vector group, using the temporary position deviation parameter, and a parameter estimation unit configured to estimate the position deviation parameter representing the position deviation from the acceptable motion vector group.
US09224210B2 Systems and methods for accelerated dynamic magnetic resonance imaging
Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for accelerated dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In an example embodiment, a method includes acquiring undersampled MRI data corresponding to a set of images associated with an area of interest of a subject, and separating an image of the set of images into image regions. The method also includes performing motion tracking for each of the image regions, grouping the motion-tracked image regions into clusters, and applying a sparsity transform to the clusters, to form sparsity-exploited, transformed image regions. The method further includes forming a set of merged images from the plurality of sparsity-exploited, transformed image regions, and updating the set of merged images based on data fidelity, to form an updated set of estimated images.
US09224209B2 Image processing device and method, recording medium and program
There is provided an image processing device including a motion vector detection portion that performs comparison of a substantially spherical photographic subject such that, among a plurality of captured images including the photographic subject, an image as a processing target and another image as a comparison target are compared using each of the plurality of captured images as the processing target, and which detects a motion vector of a whole three-dimensional spherical model with respect to the processing target, a motion compensation portion that performs motion compensation on the processing target, based on the motion vector of each of the plurality of captured images that is detected by the motion vector detection portion, and a synthesis portion that synthesizes each of the captured images that are obtained as a result of the motion compensation performed by the motion compensation portion.
US09224207B2 Segmentation co-clustering
An approach to segmentation or clustering of a set of elements combines separate procedures and uses training data for those procedures on labeled data. This approach is applied to elements being components of an image of text (e.g., printed or handwritten). In some examples, the elements are connected sets of pixels. In images of text, the clusters can correspond to individual lines. The approach provides improved clustering performance as compared to any one of the procedures taken alone.
US09224205B2 Accelerated geometric shape detection and accurate pose tracking
A reference in an unknown environment is generated on the fly for positioning and tracking. The reference is produced in a top down process by capturing an image of a planar object with a predefined geometric shape, detecting edge pixels of the planar object, then detecting a plurality of line segments from the edge pixels. The plurality of line segments may then be used to detect the planar object in the image based on the predefined geometric shape. An initial pose of the camera with respect to the planar object is determined and tracked using the edges of the planar object.
US09224204B2 Method and apparatus for registration of multimodal imaging data using constraints
First and second images obtained from first and second imaging modalities, respectively, are set as a target image and an object image, respectively. The object image is segmented into one or more anatomic segments. Each segment is associated with a respective anatomic class. At least one attribute is assigned to at least one of the anatomic segments based on the anatomic class corresponding to said at least one anatomic segment. A registration is performed with the object image and the target image, wherein the registration is constrained by the assigned attribute(s).
US09224203B2 Medical image information system and medical image processing server
A medical image information system of an embodiment includes: a terminal device and a medical image processing server connected via a network, wherein the medical image processing server includes a medical image storage unit in which a medical image is stored, and an image processing unit that generates, from the medical image, a display screen and display screen information based on a request from the terminal device to transmit to the terminal device, and the image processing unit includes a speed-lowering determination unit that determines, based on either related information of a medical image or connection status of the terminal device or both, a setting item pertaining to a wait process for lowering a transmission timing of a result of image processing, and a speed-lowering processing unit that carries out a wait process for lowering a transmission timing of the display image based on the setting item.
US09224196B2 System and method for authentication
Described are methods and systems for determining authenticity. For example, the method may include providing an object of authentication, capturing characteristic data from the object of authentication, deriving authentication data from the characteristic data of the object of authentication, and comparing the authentication data with an electronic database comprising reference authentication data to provide an authenticity score for the object of authentication. The reference authentication data may correspond to one or more reference objects of authentication other than the object of authentication.
US09224195B2 Reticle defect inspection with systematic defect filter
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for inspecting a photolithographic reticle. A stream of defect data is received from a reticle inspection system, wherein the defect data identifies a plurality of defects that were detected for a plurality of different portions of the reticle. Before reviewing the defect data to determine whether the reticle passes inspection and as the stream of defect data continues to be received, some of the defects are automatically grouped with other most recently one or more received defects so as form groups of substantially matching defects. Before reviewing the defect data to determine whether the reticle passes inspection and after all of the defect data for the reticle is received, one or more of the groups of defects that have a number above a predetermined threshold are automatically filtered from the defect data so as to form filtered defect data. The filtered defect data may then be provided to a review station for determining whether the reticle passes.
US09224186B2 Memory latency tolerance in block processing pipelines
Memory latency tolerance methods and apparatus for maintaining an overall level of performance in block processing pipelines that prefetch reference data into a search window. In a general memory latency tolerance method, search window processing in the pipeline may be monitored. If status of search window processing changes in a way that affects pipeline throughput, then pipeline processing may be modified. The modification may be performed according to no stall methods, stall recovery methods, and/or stall prevention methods. In no stall methods, a block may be processed using the data present in the search window without waiting for the missing reference data. In stall recovery methods, the pipeline is allowed to stall, and processing is modified for subsequent blocks to speed up the pipeline and catch up in throughput. In stall prevention methods, processing is adjusted in advance of the pipeline encountering a stall condition.
US09224183B2 Projection of a plurality of structured light patterns
Systems and methods may provide for projection of a plurality of structured light patterns. In one example, the method may include generating a low-resolution pattern image utilizing a returned image, wherein the low-resolution pattern image is an approximation of an image that would have been generated utilizing a low-resolution pattern and generating a high-resolution pattern image utilizing a preprocessed returned image and a preprocessed low-resolution pattern image, wherein high-resolution pattern image is an approximation of an image that would have been generated utilizing a high-resolution pattern.
US09224182B2 Medical and personal data retrieval system
A system for confidentially retrieving data from a person, such as by authorized personnel. One embodiment provides a data carrier item such as jewelry, having encrypted data imparted upon the item in manner that is only intelligible after being unencrypted. Such data can be encrypted and/or invisibly disposed such that the data is not identifiable by the public, but can be quickly and accurately retrieved by authorized personnel.
US09224181B2 Systems and methods for visualizing patient and telepresence device statistics in a healthcare network
Disclosed herein are various embodiments of systems and methods for visualizing, analyzing, and managing telepresence devices operating in a telepresence network of healthcare facilities. A user may selectively view a global view of all telepresence devices, telepresence devices within a particular region, the details of a particular telepresence device, and/or the details of a particular healthcare facility. At one viewing level, a user may view a plan view map of a healthcare facility and visualize the navigational history of a telepresence device. At another viewing level, a user may view a plan view map of a healthcare facility and visualize telemetry data of a patient associated with a selected room. At another viewing level, a user may selectively view various graphical representations of telepresence device statistics and usage information with respect to health ratings for each of a plurality of patients.
US09224179B2 Method and system for report generation including extensible data
A method of extending a user interface to include additional data fields is provided. A first response is received at a first application. The first response indicates a selection of an add button associated with addition of a data field to a first window associated with a user interface of a second application. A second window is presented to a user of the first application. A second response is received at the first application. The second response includes a name for the data field entered by the user using the presented second window and a data type of the data field. A position of the data field is identified on the first window. The received name, the received data type, and the identified position for the data field are stored. The data field is presented in the first window at the stored position using the stored name when a second user executes the second application.
US09224178B2 Dynamic negotiation and authorization system to record rights-managed content
A content recording system comprises a digital media recording device to record content. A rights-management module is in electrical communication with the digital media recording device to detect a desired recording performed by the digital media recording device. The rights-management module further communicates digital rights information of a rights-managed content to the digital recording device. The recording of the rights-managed content is performed according to the digital rights information.
US09224171B2 Insurance processing systems and methods using mobile devices for medical monitoring
Pursuant to some embodiments, systems, methods and devices are provided for insurance processing including installing a medical monitoring application associated with a user of a mobile device, the medical monitoring application including configuration data associated with at least a first medical monitoring rule, displaying, under control of the medical monitoring application, a series of instructions to cause the mobile device to be configured to communicate with at least a first biometric sensor, collecting, based on the at least first medical monitoring rule, a set of biometric data from the at least first biometric sensor, and transmitting the set of biometric data from the mobile device to a remote processing system for processing a request for insurance.
US09224170B2 Sales channel management infrastructure
A sales system supports sales between a plurality of buyers and a plurality of sellers in a communication network. A sales server has a seller interface used by both a first seller and a second seller respectively via a first seller's computer and a second seller's computer to register availability for sale of a first product and a second product. The sales server, based upon received buyer input from an identified buyer via a buyer computer that includes buyer orders for the first product and the second product dispenses a first sales order to the first seller's computer for the first product and a second sales order to the second seller's computer for the second product. The sales server provides instructions to the first seller's computer for fulfillment of the first sales order and to the second sales computer for the fulfillment of the second sales order.
US09224169B2 Interfacing between a dynamic spectrum policy controller and a dynamic spectrum controller
A dynamic spectrum arbitrage (DSA) system may include a dynamic spectrum policy controller (DPC) and a dynamic spectrum controller (DSC) that together dynamically manage the allocation and use of resources (e.g., spectrum resources) across different networks. A dynamic spectrum arbitrage application part (DSAAP) protocol/component/module may allow, facilitate, support, or augment communications between the DSC and DPC so as to improve the efficiency and speed of the DSA system. The DSAAP may allow the DPC and/or DSC components to better pool resources across the different networks, better monitor traffic and resource usage in the various networks, to more efficiently communicate bids and bidding information, to quickly and efficiently register and deregister components, and better perform backoff operations. The DSAAP may improve the DSA resource auctioning operations by improving the performance and efficiency of the procedures for bidding, generating invoices, advertising resources, requesting resources, purchasing resources, validating bid credentials, etc.
US09224168B2 Tuning product policy using observed evidence of customer behavior
A computer adapted for pay-as-you go or other metered use has a policy for determined what measurements to take to detect fraud as well as steps to take when fraud is found. To optimize between good performance and sufficient tests to reduce the risk of fraud, a policy is developed based on observation of the users behavior, using data taken at the computer, data from a payment processor or both. After analysis, an updated policy is securely loaded at the computer to determine what, and how often to measure for suspected fraud.
US09224164B2 Data processing system and method for providing a hyperlink to a lowest priced offering of a current item
A data processing system comprises a client device connectable to the internet, the client device having a web browser for accessing information via the internet; the web browser being operable to access a list providing groups of internet addresses of online retailer internet pages, each group having two or more internet addresses each relating to different respective retailers' offerings of an item for purchase, so that a current internet address being accessed by the web browser is compared with internet addresses in the list and, if the current internet address is found within one of the groups, the other internet addresses in the group are returned as alternative internet addresses relating to a current item being viewed; the web browser being operable to detect a retail price of the current item from each of the internet addresses in the group containing the current internet address; and the web browser being operable to compare the retail prices and indicate the lowest such retail price for the current item while displaying the internet page relating to the current internet address.
US09224162B2 Billing gateway charge method and system
The billing gateway charge method and system are disclosed. A charge is processed by receiving a charge API call from a merchant server, detecting a select carrier server from a plurality of servers, transmitting a charge request to the select carrier server, and returning a charge result callback notification to the merchant server. If the charge request fails, the merchant server can submit a new request and an indication of acceptance and failure of the charge request is returned to the merchant server based on the new requests provided that the new request has a new request-id. A continue method allows for managing consumer opt-in in order to complete a transaction. Once the transaction is completed, a refund request from the merchant server can be processed by transmission to the carrier server.
US09224158B2 Mobile device cluster advertisement delivery
Systems and computer program products provide advertisement delivery to a cluster of mobile devices with computer readable program code, when read by a processor, configured for identification based at least in part on a relative displacement of the two or more mobile devices during a period of time being less than a maximum relative displacement. The code is further configured for displaying an advertising message on each mobile device in the cluster.
US09224152B2 System and method for intent mining
A method for intent mining is provided. The method includes performing a preliminary search of a constrained source using one or more seed phrases to generate multiple preliminary search results representing different ways of expressing a desired intent. The method also includes identifying each of the plurality of preliminary search results that have expressed the desired intent to generate a plurality of intent results. The method also includes producing multiple action search strings around one or more action verbs in each of the multiple intent results. The method further includes applying each of the multiple action search strings on one or more non-constrained sources to generate multiple action search results.
US09224150B2 Identifying highly valued recommendations of users in a media recommendation network
A system and method are provided for discovering new friends using recommendation paths in a media recommendation network. In general, media items are recommended among users in a media recommendation network. Use of media items by the users is monitored. If the use of a media item by a user exceeds a threshold, a determination is made as to whether the media item was recommended to the user. If so, that recommendation is identified as a highly valued recommendation for that user. Thereafter, when the user desires to identify new friends from which to receive recommendations and to which to send recommendations, a recommendation path for the highly valued recommendation is identified. Users in the recommendation path that are not already friends of the user are identified as potential new friends for the user.
US09224147B2 Customer service management system
The customer is given the option to access customer service through the Internet. A web site provides several convenient alternatives for scheduling a voice session with a customer service agent instead of waiting on the phone. Users are encouraged to search a Selection-Oriented-Knowledge-Base (SOKB) that helps the user's thinking process by displaying a sequence of intuitively recognizable multimedia menu selections that eventually lead to what the user has in mind and provide appropriate answers. The SOKB is based upon a Selection-On-Vertex network that provides the infrastructure to expand the level of knowledge of the SOKB by automatically capturing knowledge gained through experience. Customer service agents are seamlessly integrated into the SOKB by a NEED HELP request button that the user can click if difficulties are encountered during the search. A Help Requests Predictor enables customer service agents to respond within seconds to NEED HELP requests initiated by users.
US09224139B2 Payment terminal messaging
A payment terminal and a host computer system are configured to provide human-readable messaging capability with a person at an external location outside of a financial infrastructure. A payment terminal at a point of sale may be used to cause human-readable message content to be forwarded to the person by the host computer system, either automatically or at the instigation of an operator of the payment terminal. Message content from the person may be delivered to the payment terminal for display to the operator. The person at the external location may be able to retrieve information stored in the payment terminal via standard communication channels. The system also provides a mechanism for exchanging messages between payment terminals.
US09224132B1 Case management system
A content management system is disclosed for documents and other content for a system operating in legal environment referred to herein as a case management system. The case management system allows attorneys in a legal environment to efficiently store and manage content for their client and case matters. Furthermore, the system encourages attorneys to collaborate with fellow co-workers, clients, and third parties (e.g. expert witnesses) in a secure and confidential environment. The case management system enables attorneys to maintain case files and associated documents more efficiently and thus allow law firms to more productively function as a business that relies heavily upon comprehensive document files.
US09224130B2 Talent profile infographic
A system and method for example method for displaying enterprise data via a user interface display. An example method includes providing a first user option to select enterprise data to be displayed, yielding selected data in response thereto; employing a capsule to present a visualization or infographic characterizing at least a portion of the selected data; and providing a second user option to flip or rotate the capsule, thereby displaying additional enterprise data that is related to or representative of the selected data or portion thereof. In a specific embodiment, the first user option includes a slider bar that enables a user to specify a time frame to filter the enterprise data.
US09224129B2 System and methodology for multiple users concurrently working and viewing on a common project
A system and methodology, for use by a plurality of users working on a common project that has an associated display. The system is comprised of a plurality of display computing appliances, each associated with a respective one of at least two users of a plurality of users. Layer storage and control logic is comprised of memory structured as at least two separate respective data layers of data storage for associative storage of user (image) data mapped to the respective user providing the respective input. Each said separate respective data layer of data storage is comprised of respective user data associated with a respective user of the plurality of users. Each of the display apparatus is responsive to the layer storage and control logic, for providing a respective said display presentation for viewing by the respective one of the at least two users. The respective said display presentation provides at least a common portion of the display presentation for concurrently viewing by the at least two users, at the respective said display computing appliances. Input logic provides for input of respective user data representative of respective edit (annotations) input, by each respective one of the at least two users, provided responsive to a respective user input by the respective one of the at least two users while the respective one of the at least two users is concurrently viewing the respective said display presentation.
US09224127B2 Adaptable user interface for business software
An adaptable user interface is formed based on a role assumed by a user and the identification of tasks in a process that need to be performed. For each role assumed by the user, a set of tasks assigned to the role is identified. Each task is evaluated to determine if it is an active task that needs to be performed in one or more processes. For each active task, an element is added to the user interface.
US09224125B2 Radio frequency identification system for tracking and managing materials in a manufacturing process
A process management system uses a radio frequency identification (RFID) detection system in the form of, for example, a phased array antenna based RFID detection system to track and manage material storage and flow in a manufacturing process or plant. The process management system operates in conjunction with the various machines that implement manufacturing stages or steps of the manufacturing process to assure that the correct materials and processing procedures are used at or on the various production machines of the process to produce a particular product as defined by a job number or job order. The process management system is thereby able to increase the efficiencies of the plant and to increase the quality of the plant production by reducing or eliminating waste, manufacturing errors and shipping errors in the production facility.
US09224124B2 Item storage and tracking cabinet and arrangement
An item storage and tracking unit for holding a plurality of discrete items may include a housing including a plurality of receptacles positioned therein and defining a plurality of associated inner areas. A signal emitting device is associated with at least one item and configured to emit a signal. At least one movement sensor and/or at least one weight sensor may be associated with each receptacle of the plurality of receptacles. At least one signal receiving arrangement is associated with each receptacle and configured to scan at least a portion of the inner area of the associated receptacle for the signal emitted from the signal emitting device associated with the at least one item. The scan is initiated at least partly in response to a determination by the at least one movement sensor, the at least one weight sensor, and/or an antenna associated with the associated receptacle.
US09224118B2 Dynamic display of content consumption by geographic location
This disclosure relates to dynamic display of content consumption by geographic location. A recognition component recognizes content being consumed by a set of users, and identifies geographic locations of the consumption and a set of characteristics associated with the consumption. An aggregation component ranks the consumed content based on a subset of the characteristics associated with the consumption, and a display component generates a map displaying subsets of the consumed content as a function of respective rankings and geographic location.
US09224117B2 Software service to facilitate organizational testing of employees to determine their potential susceptibility to phishing scams
A software system and service for facilitating organizational testing of employees in order to determine their potential susceptibility to phishing scams is disclosed to evaluate their susceptibility to e-mail and Internet cybercrimes such as phishing. The e-mail addresses of a client organization's employees are provided to the system, a phishing e-mail is created and customized, and a phishing e-mail campaign in which the phishing e-mail message is sent and the responses to the phishing e-mail is monitored, and the results of the e-mail campaign are provided for evaluation. The phishing e-mail may optionally contain attachments and various types of probes and “call home” mechanisms.
US09224116B2 Task identification based on semantics and temporal relationships
The present description refers to a computer implemented method, computer program product, and computer system to receive a list of computer events, each of the events including a user interacting with a computer, determine one or more desktop operations, with each desktop operation including one or more computer events that are performed to accomplish the desktop operation, determine one or more knowledge actions, where each knowledge action includes a group of one or more desktop operations performed using a same application on a same information object, determine one or more tasks, with each task including a group of knowledge actions that include information objects that are semantically related, and combine two or more tasks that are temporally related.
US09224114B2 Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for generating a report indicating job availability
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for generating a report indicating job availability. According to embodiments, a method for generating a report indicating job availability is provided. According to the method, a selected assignment group is displayed. A number of status messages received by a technician in the selected assignment group is displayed. The status messages indicate that no jobs are available for the technician. An amount of lost time associated with the technician in the selected assignment group is determined. The lost time includes a difference between a time at which the technician received one of the status messages and a time at which the technician is dispatched to a next job. The amount of lost time associated with the technician in the selected assignment group is displayed.
US09224112B2 Leveraging enterprise content
A method and system for leveraging content is provided. The method includes receiving, data associated with a subscriber and registering the subscriber with an ECM computing system. Devices belonging to the subscriber are connected to the ECM computing system and metadata associated with content retrieved from the devices is generated. The content in the devices are classified into formal content and informal content. Multiple searches for additional content are monitored and multifaceted search results associated with the formal content and the informal content are generated and presented to the subscriber. The subscriber has an option to request informal content on additional end user devices from respective end users based on metadata presented by search results.
US09224108B2 Method and apparatus for evaluating component costs in a communication network
A method and apparatus for calculating a cost index in a communication network. In one embodiment, a plurality of first cost factors associated with a first set of network elements is obtained. Subsequently, a plurality of second cost factors associated with a second set of network elements is obtained. A first cost index is then determined based on the plurality of first cost factors associated with the first set of network elements. Similarly, a second cost index is determined based on the plurality of second cost factors associated with the second set of network elements. Afterwards, the first cost index is compared to the second cost index to determine a point in time when a service provider should minimize new investment in the first set of network elements.
US09224107B2 Managing customizing settings in a business structured interface
Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer-implemented method of managing customizing settings in a business structured interface is to be initiated. The method includes presenting a plurality of business process types to a user. Each of the business process types includes a plurality of business document types. First user input selecting a set of business process types is received. The first user input triggers for each selected business process type activation of features in an application program. In response to the first selection, the plurality of business document types associated with the selected business process type are presented. Second user input selecting a set of business document types is received. The second user input triggers activation of features in the application program. The application program is launched, wherein the features are activated and available during the operation of the application program.
US09224105B2 Method and system of automatically downloading media content in a preferred network
In one exemplary aspect, a sorted list of scored media content episodes is received with a computing device of a user. Each respective media content episode is scored by an iterative autotuning prediction algorithm, and wherein each element of the sorted list of scored media content episodes comprises a value that represents a likelihood of a user listening to the respective media content episode and a reference to a location of the respective media content episode. A number of bytes of a download iteration for each media content episode is determined based on value that represents a likelihood of the user listening to the respective media content episode and an index of the respective media content episode in the sorted list. It is detected that a mobile device is in the preferred network. The download iteration is implemented for each media content episode when it is detected that the mobile device is in the preferred network.
US09224104B2 Generating data from imbalanced training data sets
Injecting generated data samples into a minority data class of an imbalanced training data set is provided. In response to receiving an input to balance the imbalanced training data set that includes a majority data class and the minority data class, a set of data samples is generated for the minority data class. A distance is calculated from each data sample in the set of generated data samples to a center of a kernel that includes a set of data samples of the majority data class. Each data sample in the set of generated data samples is stored within a corresponding distance score bucket based on the calculated distance of a data sample. Generated data samples are selected from a number of highest ranking distance score buckets. The generated data samples selected from the number of highest ranking distance score buckets are injected into the minority data class.
US09224103B1 Automatic annotation for training and evaluation of semantic analysis engines
Implementations include systems and methods generate data for training or evaluating semantic analysis engines. For example, a method may include receiving documents from a corpus that includes an authoritative set of documents from an authoritative source. Each document in the authoritative set may be associated with an entity. A second set of documents from the corpus that do not overlap with the first set may include at least one link to a document in the authoritative set, the at least one link being associated with anchor text. For each document in the second set, the method may include identifying entity mentions in the document based on the anchor text. The method may include associating the entity mention with the entity in a graph-structured knowledge base or associating entity types with the entity mention. The method may also include training a semantic analysis engine using the identified entity mentions and associations.
US09224101B1 Incremental model training for advertisement targeting using real-time streaming data and model redistribution
Incremental model training for advertisement targeting is performed using streaming data. A model for targeting advertisements of an advertising campaign is initialized. A data stream including data corresponding to converters and data corresponding to non-converters is received. The model is then applied to the data corresponding to the converter and data corresponding to the non-converter (or other ratio of converter to non-converters) to obtain a predicted score for each. The predicted score is compared to the observed score (e.g., an observed score of 1 for a converter, and 0 for a non-converter). The difference between the predicted and observed scores is computed, and the model is incrementally updated based on this difference. Models can optionally be built separately on multiple modeling servers that are geographically dispersed in order to support bidding on advertising opportunities in a real-time bidding environment.
US09224100B1 Method and apparatus using accelerometer data to serve better ads
A mobile device, including an accelerometer and a processing unit receiving signals from the accelerometer and determining motion information of the mobile device based on the received signals is disclosed. A content selector selects a media format for content based on the physical state of the mobile device as indicated by the signals from the accelerometer. A display device displays the content in the selected media format. When the motion is a predetermined type of motion, the received content is withheld from being displayed by the display device. A machine learning apparatus is provided as the content selector.
US09224099B2 Quantum computer
Values of quantum bits used for a quantum computer is stabilized and the number of quantum bits per element is set to be 100 or more while ensuring quantum state stability during calculation of the quantum bits, quantum state controllability, and capability of achieving large-scale integration of quantum bits. Quantum calculation is performed as generating a spin vortex 6 centered on each hole 4 formed at a copper oxide superconductor thin film 3 by applying a magnetic field to a quantum bit substrate 1 having the copper oxide superconductor thin film 3 at which a plurality of the holes 4 are doped and irradiating an electromagnetic wave 19 containing quantum calculation data to the quantum bit substrate 1 in a state that a clockwise loop current 5 or a counterclockwise loop current 5 is generated in accordance with a position of each hole 4 and each spin vortex 6.
US09224097B2 Nonlinear classification of data
The present invention relates to a method for nonlinear classification of high dimensional data by means of boosting, whereby a target class with significant intra-class variation is classified against a large background class, where the boosting algorithm produces a strong classifier, the strong classifier being a linear combination of weak classifiers. The present invention specifically teaches that weak classifiers classifiers h1, h2, that individually more often than not generate a positive on instances within the target class and a negative on instances outside of the target class, but that never generate a positive simultaneously on one and the same target instance, are categorized as a group of anti-correlated classifiers, and that the occurrence of anti-correlated classifiers from the same group will generate a negative.
US09224096B2 System and method for item self-assessment as being extant or displaced
A portable item reporting device (200) is configured to be attached to and in substantial collocation with a portable item (100), or to be integrated into a portable item (100). The device (200) includes environmental sensors (210) to monitor item location, movement, ambient light, sounds, temperature, etc. The device (200) is configured to store usage expectation data (600) indicative of historical and/or expected item usage and environments when the item (100) is in normal use/storage associated with an authorized user (AU). The device (200) monitors current environmental conditions (104) surrounding and pertaining to the item. If the current environment (104) is inconsistent with expected conditions (600), the device (200) assesses that the item (100) is displaced (503.0), meaning either that the item (100) is in abnormal use or abnormal storage, or is under the control of an unauthorized user (UU) who is other than the authorized user (AU). Based on the assessment the device initiates a signal (372) or message (374) to an authorized user (AU) of the item (100), indicating that the item (100) usage/storage is displaced (503.0) or otherwise anomalous (503.2).
US09224095B2 System and methods for generating optimal post times for social networking sites
A system and methods are disclosed for determining the ideal times for a person, software client, or other entity to post a message to a social networking site. An ideal time is a time when the post will have a maximum impact, where impact is some measure of success as defined by the posting entity. To determine the ideal times, the posting patterns of individual users are aggregated in a weighted fashion, taking into consideration both the entity's desired impact and the likelihood that the user will be online and able to view the post within a specified time frame.
US09224094B2 Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture to measure online audiences
Methods and apparatus to monitor media content at a content display site are described. An example method includes obtaining panelist data corresponding to a plurality of panelists accessing web pages at measured locations, classifying the panelist data according to demographic information of the panelists, generating a virtual panel based on an estimate of web page access at unmeasured locations, and classifying page view data associated with the unmeasured locations based on data corresponding to the virtual panel.
US09224093B2 Method of evaluating value for referenced information and apparatus thereof
A method of evaluating a value of reference information and an apparatus for evaluating a value of reference information are disclosed. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method includes calculating similarity values of reference relationships between the subject document and each of neighbor documents, respectively, and summing the calculated similarity values to calculate a first sum, multiplying each of the similarity values of reference relationships between the subject document and each of the neighbor documents by a corresponding value of reference information of the first reference document for each of the neighbor documents, and summing the multiplied values to calculate a second sum, and evaluating a value of reference information using a ratio of the first and second sums.
US09224092B2 Detecting disallowed combinations of data within a processing element
Techniques are described for detecting disallowed combinations of data within a processing element. Embodiments of the invention may generally receive data to be processed using the processing element and determine whether the received data and a current working state violate one or more rules describing disallowed combinations of data. If a disallowed combination is detected, embodiments of the invention may handle the processing of the received data in an alternate way that prevents disallowed combinations of data within the processing element.
US09224088B2 Methods, systems, and computer program products for simulating a scenario by updating events over a time window including the past, present, and future
A scenario is simulated by providing an agent that is an object in the scenario, providing a time window for the scenario that spans the farthest reachable past time and the farthest reachable future time with respect to a present time for the agent and/or at least one player that interacts with the simulated scenario, providing at least one event that represents a change in at least one attribute of the agent, and updating a state of the scenario by applying the at least one event to the agent within the time window.
US09224080B2 Spectral characteristic acquisition device, image evaluation device, and image formation apparatus
A spectral characteristic acquisition device includes a light irradiation part configured to irradiate an object with light, a diffraction part configured to diffract light reflected from the object to provide diffracted light, a light-receiving part configured to receive the diffracted light and output a signal based on an amount of the diffracted light, a calibration color index configured to include a color with a known spectral characteristic, and an operation part configured to calculate a spectral characteristic of the object from a signal output from the light-receiving part by using a predetermined transformation matrix and calibrate the transformation matrix by using the calibration color index.
US09224076B2 Image forming apparatus, image formation system, and method for controlling image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: a communication unit for receiving unmodified data and modified data obtained when the unmodified data is modified; an image-reading unit for reading a confirmation document over which commentary has been written, and generating scan data; a storage unit for storing the unmodified data, the modified data, and the scan data; a comparison processing unit for comparing the unmodified data, the modified data, and the scan data, and recognizing confirmation places of the modified data, which are modified places that correspond to the commentary and have been modified from the unmodified data; and a printing unit for printing only those pages of the modified data that comprise the confirmation places recognized by the comparison processing unit.
US09224075B2 Image forming apparatus
In an image forming apparatus, an operation control section controls a sheet conveyance section to eject, onto an exit tray, sheets on which images of an even number page group have been formed on respective first sides thereof. A reception section receives input from a user indicating whether the sheets ejected onto the exit tray after the images have been formed on the first sides thereof are new sheets having unused second sides or reused sheets having used second sides. When the ejected sheets are the new sheets, the operation control section controls an image forming section to form images of an odd number page group on the second sides of the new sheets after the new sheets have been loaded onto a manual feed tray.
US09224071B2 Unsupervised object class discovery via bottom up multiple class learning
Techniques for unsupervised object class discovery via bottom-up multiple class learning are described. These techniques may include receiving multiple images containing one or more object classes. The multiple images may be analyzed to extract top saliency instances and least saliency instances. These saliency instances may be clustered to generate and/or update statistical models. The statistical models may be used to discover the one or more object classes. In some instances, the statistical models may be used to discover object classes of novel images.
US09224070B1 System for three-dimensional object recognition and foreground extraction
The present invention describes a system for recognizing objects from color images by detecting features of interest, classifying them according to previous objects' features that the system has been trained on, and finally drawing a boundary around them to separate each object from others in the image. Furthermore, local feature detection algorithms are applied to color images, outliers are removed, and resulting feature descriptors are clustered to achieve effective object recognition. Additionally, the present invention describes a system for extracting foreground objects and the correct rejection of the background from an image of a scene. Importantly, the present invention allows for changes to the camera viewpoint or lighting between training and test time. The system uses a supervised-learning algorithm and produces blobs of foreground objects that a recognition algorithm can then use for object detection/recognition.
US09224068B1 Identifying objects in images
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for identifying objects in images. One of the methods includes receiving an input image; down-sampling the input image to generate a second image; generating a respective first score for each of the plurality of object categories; selecting an initial patch of the input image; generating a respective second score for each of the plurality of object categories; and generating a respective third score for each of the plurality of object categories from the first scores and the second scores, wherein the respective third score for each of the plurality of object categories represents a likelihood that the input image contains an image of an object belonging to the object category.
US09224066B2 Object detection via validation with visual search
One exemplary embodiment involves receiving, at a computing device comprising a processor, a test image having a candidate object and a set of object images detected to depict a similar object as the test image. The embodiment involves localizing the object depicted in each one of the object images based on the candidate object in the test image to determine a location of the object in each respective object image and then generating a validation score for the candidate object in the test image based at least in part on the determined location of the object in the respective object image and known location of the object in the same respective object image. The embodiment also involves computing a final detection score for the candidate object based on the validation score that indicates a confidence level that the object in the test image is located as indicated by the candidate object.
US09224065B2 Character-recognition method and character-recognition device and program using said method
A character-recognition device and method for imaging a character string, generating a grayscale image that corresponds to the character string, cutting out, from the grayscale image, individual characters in the character string, obtaining a coincidence of a character image that is being focused on for each of model images of a plurality of kinds of characters by sequentially focusing on cut-out character images to match the cut-out character images against the model images, and recognizing characters corresponding to the cut-out character images based on each coincidence.
US09224063B2 Apparatus and method for digital microscopy imaging
A microscopy imaging system and method for rendering a mosaic representation of an object from a series of image frames of the object are disclosed. A current image frame is processed to determine its relative location or position within the mosaic representation based on relative displacement of the current image from one or more keyframes. Once the current image frame's position has been determined, it is rendered along with its neighboring keyframes to provide the mosaic representation of the object.
US09224062B2 Hybrid method and system of video and vision based access control for parking stall occupancy determination
Hybrid methods, systems and processor-readable media for video and vision based access control for parking occupancy determination. One or more image frames of a parking area of interest can be acquired from among two or more regions of interest defined with respect to the parking area of interest. The regions of interest can be analyzed for motion detection or image content change detection. An image content classification operation can be performed with respect to a first region of interest among the regions of interest based on the result of the image content change detection. An object tracking operation can then be performed with respect to a second region of interest among the regions of interest if the result of the image content classification operation indicates a presence of one or more objects of interest within the parking area of interest.
US09224060B1 Object tracking using depth information
Systems and approaches are provided for tracking an object of interest using depth or disparity information, such as obtained by calculating stereo disparity between a pair of images. The depth or disparity information can be used as an additional signature for a template of the object of interest for tracking the object. A template that includes depth, distance, or disparity information for an object of interest may be invariant to the effects of lighting, such as shadows and changes in illumination conditions. Depth, distance, or disparity information can also provide information regarding shape and size that can be used to differentiate foreground objects. Depth, distance, or disparity information can also better handle occlusion. Depth, distance, or disparity information can also provide an additional disambiguating dimension for tracking an object.
US09224059B2 Automatic examination of value labels
The invention relates to a method for the automatic verification of the authenticity of a postage indicium that has a value indication and that has a luminescent area, whereby the postage indicium has been applied onto the surface of a mailpiece, and whereby the surface of the mailpiece is illuminated with light having wavelengths from a spectral region, then a first image of the surface of the mailpiece is taken with a camera system and this first image is evaluated regarding the place of the postage indicia applied onto the surface of the mailpiece, subsequently the postage indicium is irradiated with light having wavelengths from a second spectral region, whereby this light is capable of exciting the luminescence of the luminescent printing ink.
US09224058B2 Data augmentation method and system for improved automatic license plate recognition
Methods, systems, and processor-readable media for data augmentation utilized in an automatic license plate recognition engine. A machine-readable code can be associated with an automatic license plate recognition engine. The machine-readable code can be configured to define parameters that drive processing within the automatic license plate recognition engine to produce recognition results thereof and enhance a machine readability of a license plate recognized and analyzed via the automatic license plate recognition engine.
US09224056B2 System for logging biometric data
A system for gathering and storing biometric data relating to a portable biometric device that is configured to scan and save the footprint image of an infant, while also automatically compartmentalizing the footprint image into a designated file that also includes an employee identification information of the footprint taker, biometric data of the parent, and both infant and mother wristband identification information. The data and images are collected at the same time, and then time and date stamped, to ensure that no mistakes are made.
US09224050B2 Vehicle localization in open-pit mining using GPS and monocular camera
Described herein is a method and system for vehicle localization in an open pit mining environment having intermittent or incomplete GPS coverage. The system comprises GPS receivers associated with the vehicles and providing GPS measurements when available, as well as one or more cameras 50,55 overlooking the mine region 10. The cameras 50,55 are at a known location and are used for generating a sequence of images in a field of view with predetermined calibration in a fixed coordinate system. The system further comprises a vehicle recognition processor 120 for analyzing individual images from the camera to identify and locate within an image a vehicle in the mine region, as well as a vehicle tracking processor 130 for analyzing a sequence of images from the camera to track the identified vehicle location in the sequence of images. A data fusion processor 160 is coupled to receive GPS measurements, when available, from the vehicle GPS receivers, to fuse the received GPS measurement and corresponding vehicle image location, and to output a vehicle localization output 125.
US09224047B2 Specifying search criteria for searching video data
A method and apparatus is described for specifying regions of interest within a two-dimensional view of visual information that comprises a series of frames. Visual changes that occur in the view are stored. A user enters search criteria that specify at least one first region of interest within the view and a visual change. A visual change may include a change in pixel values or a detection of motion of one or more objects within the view. The first search criteria are compared against the stored visual changes to identify a sequence of frames in which the specified visual change occurred within the first region of interest. The search criteria may specify multiple regions of interest, each with one or more types of visual changes. If a motion is specified, then a direction, speed, and behavior of a moving object may also be specified.
US09224042B2 Cross-sensor iris matching
Methods, devices, and systems for cross-sensor iris matching are described herein. One method includes capturing a first image of an iris using a first sensor, capturing a second image of an iris using a second sensor, and determining whether the iris in the first image matches the iris in the second image based on characteristics of the first sensor and the second sensor and image quality of the first image and the second image.
US09224039B2 Contextualization of machine indeterminable information based on machine determinable information
A system for contextualizing machine indeterminable information based on machine determinable information may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store an electronic document image which may include information determinable by a machine and information indeterminable by a machine. The processor may be operative to receive, via the interface, the electronic document image. The processor may determine the machine determinable information of the electronic document image and may identify the machine indeterminable information of the electronic document image. The processor may contextualize the machine indeterminable information based on the machine determinable information. The processor may present the contextualized machine indeterminable information to the user to facilitate interpretation thereof. In response thereto, the processor may receive, via the interface, data representative of a user determination associated with the machine indeterminable information.
US09224033B2 Feeling-expressing-word processing device, feeling-expressing-word processing method, and feeling-expressing-word processing program
The present approach enables an impression of the atmosphere of a scene or an object present in the scene at the time of photography to be pictured in a person's mind as though the person were actually at the photographed scene. A feeling-expressing-word processing device has: a feeling information calculating unit 11 for analyzing a photographed image, and calculating feeling information which indicates a situation of a scene portrayed in the photographed image or a condition of an object present in the scene; and a feeling-expressing-word extracting unit 12 for extracting, from among feeling-expressing words which express feelings and are stored in a feeling-expressing-word database 21 in association with the feeling information, a feeling-expressing word which corresponds to the feeling information calculated by the feeling information calculating unit 11.
US09224028B2 Pattern for coding a numerical information item on a surface and marking and reading methods
A pattern for coding numerical a information item on a surface, including a specific arrangement of a plurality of symbols belonging to a set of symbols (ENS1), and each symbol in the arrangement being intended for the coding of a portion of said numerical information item, wherein each symbol includes at least one differential pair of elements (E1, E2) positioned in a specific way, each element being characterized by a parameter, the parameter of the first element of each differential pair having a first value and the parameter of the second element of each differential pair having a second value different from the first value.
US09224027B2 Hand-mounted indicia-reading device with finger motion triggering
A wearable indicia reader is worn on the back of a user's hand such that the act of pointing the user's index finger is sufficient to align the indicia reader and trigger the indicia-reading process. Triggering is achieved by sensing the user's finger in an image or by breaking a light path in a photogate.
US09224026B2 Automatic system and method for tracking and decoding barcode by portable devices
A system and method for automatic tracking and decoding barcode image on the standard EAN-13 through portable, or mobile, devices makes it possible to track the barcode in any position and orientation it is in and decode it automatically in real time. To make the tracking and decoding of barcodes, methods are applied on the captured image, seeking the guidance and location of the barcode.
US09224012B2 Debug functionality in a secure computing environment
A computer system includes a security processor, a first scan chain coupled to the security processor, a non-secure element, and a second scan chain coupled to the non-secure element. The computer system also includes one or more test access port controllers to control operation of the first and second scan chains, and further includes debug control logic, coupled to the one or more test access port controllers, to enable the one or more test access port controllers to activate debug functionality on the second scan chain but not the first scan chain in response to a predefined condition being satisfied.
US09224004B2 Variable user interface based on document access privileges
Users may be presented with different viewing interfaces for a document based on a combination of factors relating to display rights possessed for the document and user specific information. In one implementation, the user's location is used to determine portions of the document that can be displayed to the user. More particularly, access privileges to a document for a user are determined based on geographical location information of the user and based on access rights possessed for the document. Portions of the document may then be formatted for display to the user based on the determined access privileges.
US09224003B2 Method for secure storing and sharing of a data file via a computer communication network and open cloud services
A computer implemented method, server computer and computer program for securely storing a data file via a computer communication network and open cloud services. The method includes: providing a user's computer with code for providing a unique user name; asking the user for a password; generating an asymmetric key pair having one public key and one private key; encrypting the private key via a hash of the password; generating a file-specific symmetric key specific for the data file; encrypting the data file via the file-specific symmetric key; encrypting the file-specific symmetric key via the public key; where the code is executed by a web browser on the computer; storing the encrypted file-specific symmetric key as a header part of the encrypted data file, and interacting with the file exchange interface of a cloud service which receives the encrypted data file, and storing the encrypted data file and header part.
US09223994B2 Secure transaction method from a non-secure terminal
The invention relates to a transaction method, the method including the steps of: providing a terminal including a main processor, a graphic processor controlling a display, and a control member, the graphic processor including a memory bank which cannot be accessed from the outside; creating a link between the graphic processor and a secure processor, the link being secured by means of an encryption key shared only by the graphic processor and the secure processor; presenting first data to the user; collecting second data from commands entered by the user by means of the control member, in connection with the first data; transmitting the second data to the secure processor; and, if the user has been authenticated from the second data, carrying out the transaction, the secure link being used to transmit the first and/or second data, and/or to carry out the transaction.
US09223990B2 Method and apparatus for application management in user device
The method and apparatus support signature-based application management that examines credibility of an application to be installed or executed and controls installation and execution accordingly. The application management method for a user device includes: receiving user input for installing an application; comparing signature information of the application with an authentication list stored in a signature information storage; preventing, when the signature information is present in a blacklist of the authentication list, installation of the application; initiating, when the signature information is present in a whitelist of the authentication list, installation of the application; and selectively performing, when the signature information is not present in either the blacklist or the whitelist, installation of the application according to user consent.
US09223989B2 Approval of content updates
A method, computer program product, and system is described. An indication of a problem regarding a content item is received, the content item being subject to a workflow including an approval protocol. A request for an emergency exception to the workflow with respect to an update to the content item is received, the update being associated with the problem. Permission for circumvention of one or more aspects of the approval protocol with respect to the update is provided, in response to receiving the request for the emergency exception.
US09223988B1 Extending browser functionality with dynamic on-the-fly downloading of untrusted browser components
Subject innovations enable a client device to dynamically download Digital Rights Management components, and/or other plug-ins, to extend a browser functionality, where the downloading places the downloaded component(s) within a super sandbox that, inter alia, disables selected operating system calls by the downloaded component, performs one or more heuristic analysis on code execution of the component to detect possible malicious code, and restricts output through the super sandbox to those responses that are in response to a request to the component, rather than output that the component might have initiated ‘on its own.’ In some embodiments, a webpage is configured to include instructions to automatically download and install the component, thereby minimizing user actions to directly request and/or install the component.
US09223985B2 Risk assessment of changing computer system within a landscape
Embodiments assess risk posed by changing a computer system present within a landscape of other computer systems. Agents provide a central assessment engine with data relevant to considerations such as system criticality, correlation between related systems, and dependence between different systems. The criticality parameter reflects an importance of a system and a corresponding change risk impact. System correlation is measured to allow comparison between systems, and a risk of failure of a change to the systems. Dependencies between systems are measured to define a set of systems to be changed in a coordinated manner. Change statistics collected in a database, may allow correlating systems across various customers, improving accuracy of risk prediction. Embodiments may facilitate iterative planning, where a different dependency permits the definition of smaller sets of systems offering lower risk of failure upon change implementation. Embodiments may allow correlation measurement between systems and a copy created for testing.
US09223979B2 Detection of return oriented programming attacks
In one embodiment, a processor includes at least one execution unit and Return Oriented Programming (ROP) detection logic. The ROP detection logic may determine a ROP metric based on a plurality of control transfer events. The ROP detection logic may also determine whether the ROP metric exceeds a threshold. The ROP detection logic may also, in response to a determination that the ROP metric exceeds the threshold, provide a ROP attack notification.
US09223978B2 Security policy deployment and enforcement system for the detection and control of polymorphic and targeted malware
The present system and method pertain to the detection of malicious software and processes such as malware. A cloud security policy system receives hashes and behavioral information about applications and/or process executing on user devices. The cloud security policy system records this information and then evaluates the trustworthiness of the hashes based on the information received from the user devices to provide a security policy for the applications and/or processes. The security policy is sent from the cloud security policy system to user devices to be applied by the user devices.
US09223976B2 Content inspection
Content inspection techniques are described. In one or more implementations, it is detected that an application executing on a computing device is calling a particular code element of a group of code elements to be used to process content. For example, the group of code elements can include a pre-specified group of code elements (e.g., functions and/or properties) that may enable access to particular functionalities of a computing device and thus are associated with a known security risk. It is then ascertained that the content is untrusted and, in response to ascertaining that the content is untrusted, the content is inspected to determine if the content is safe to be passed to the code element.
US09223973B2 System and method for attack and malware prevention
A system and method for preventing malware attacks on mobile devices is presented. A server receives data from a mobile communications device and applies, by a known good component, logic on the data to determine if the data is safe. When the data is determined as being safe, the data is allowed to be processed by the mobile communications device. When the data is determined as not safe, a known bad component applies logic on the data to determine if the data is malicious. The data is rejected from being processed by the mobile communications device when the data is determined as being malicious. When the data is not malicious, a decision component performs an analysis on the data. If decision component determines the data to be safe, the data is allowed to be processed by the mobile communications device. Otherwise, the data is rejected from being processed.
US09223971B1 User reporting and automatic threat processing of suspicious email
A computer device displays email messages received in connection with a user account and a user selectable icon to report suspicious email. The computer device receives user selections of the icon and an associated suspicious email message among the received email messages. Responsive to the selection, the computer device automatically collects information from the host, the user account, and the email message, determines an initial threat priority for the email message based on the collected information, generates threat indicators based at least on each file attachment of the email message, if any, determines malware, if any, in the email message based on the threat indicators, and creates an event ticket for the suspicious email message having fields populated based on the collected information, the initial threat priority, the threat indicators, and the determined malware.
US09223970B2 Evaluating application integrity
Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for evaluating application integrity are presented. In one or more embodiments, an application store, which may be provided by one or more computing devices, may analyze one or more aspects of an application. Subsequently, the application store may determine, based on the one or more analyzed aspects of the application, an integrity score for the application. Based on the integrity score, the application store may determine whether to publish the application in the application store. In response to determining to publish the application in the application store, the application store then may publish the application in the application store. Alternatively, in response to determining not to publish the application in the application store, the application store may generate a notification indicating that the application has an insufficient integrity score.
US09223965B2 Secure generation and management of a virtual card on a mobile device
A method, system, and/or computer program product securely generates and/or manages a virtual card on a mobile device. The mobile device receives a protected application, which initially cannot be accessed by an operating system for execution by a processor. The mobile device also receives a security object, which is used to convert the received protected application into an executable application that can be utilized by the operating system for execution by the processor. The executable application is then executed by the processor to act as a virtual card, which provides a functionality of a predefined physical electronic or magnetic-stripe card.
US09223964B2 Detecting JAVA sandbox escaping attacks based on JAVA bytecode instrumentation and JAVA method hooking
By injecting bytecode into a predetermined method of a sandbox environment, an application that uses an exploit to attempt to escape from the sandbox environment may be detected without knowledge of the application or the exploit used to attempt to escape from the sandbox environment. Upon indicating that the application has escaped the sandbox, the application may be terminated or the escape may be reported, allowing further monitoring of the application.
US09223962B1 Micro-virtual machine forensics and detection
The execution of a process within a VM may be monitored, and when a trigger event occurs, additional monitoring is initiated, including storing behavior data describing the real-time events taking place inside the VM. This behavior data may then be compared to information about the expected behavior of that type of process in order to determine whether malware has compromised the VM.
US09223957B2 Image forming apparatus, image processing apparatus and image delivery system
An image forming apparatus connected to plural authentication servers includes an acquiring unit configured to acquire user identifying information identifying a user and a password; a selecting unit configured to select server identifying information identifying two or more of the plural authentication servers; an authentication process unit configured to transmit the user identifying information and the password to the two or more authentication servers identified by the selected server identifying information, and acquire an authentication result from the two or more authentication servers. The authentication process unit determines that authentication is successful upon reception of the authentication result indicating successful authentication by at least one of the two or more authentication servers. The image forming apparatus further includes a process unit configured to process image data upon determination of successful authentication by the authentication process unit.
US09223954B2 User detecting apparatus, user detecting method and computer-readable recording medium storing a user detecting program
A user detecting apparatus includes: a memory that stores a program including a procedure; and a processor that executed the program, the procedure including: obtaining an image captured by a camera, switching between a first mode in which a first user-associated area, which is associated with a user, is detected from the image according to a similarity between a color histogram of the image and a reference color histogram and a second mode in which a second user-associated area, which is associated with the user, is detected from the image according to a feature point extracted from the image, according to luminance of the image, and detecting, from the image, the first user-associated area in the first mode or the second user-associated area in the second mode.
US09223952B2 Allowing varied device access based on different levels of unlocking mechanisms
Systems and methods may provide for receiving runtime input from one or more unlock interfaces of a device and selecting a level of access with regard to the device from a plurality of levels of access based on the runtime input. The selected level of access may have an associated security policy, wherein an authentication of the runtime input may be conducted based on the associated security policy. In one example, one or more cryptographic keys are used to place the device in an unlocked state with regard to the selected level of access if the authentication is successful. If the authentication is unsuccessful, on the other hand, the device may be maintained in a locked state with regard to the selected level of access.
US09223951B2 User authentication based on other applications
The present invention includes a system for authenticating a second action based on a first action, wherein the system is configured to: receive a first request to execute a first action associated with a first application; determine that execution of the first action requires user authentication; request one or more authentication credentials from the user; receive a first authentication credential associated with the first action; validate the first authentication credential, thereby resulting in a successful validation of the received first authentication credential; in response to the successful validation, execute the first action; receive a second request to execute a second action associated with a second application; determine that execution of the second action requires user authentication; use the successful validation of the first authentication credential to validate a second authentication credential so that the second action may be executed.
US09223947B2 Authentication apparatus and computer-readable medium storing authentication program code
An authentication apparatus may include a storage unit, an analysis unit, and an authentication unit. The storage unit may be configured to store pieces of authentication information and an authentication order of the pieces of authentication information. The analysis unit may be configured to compare pieces of input information with the pieces of authentication information and to compare an input order of the pieces of input information with the authentication order. The authentication unit may be configured to authorize the pieces of input information if the comparison shows that the pieces of input information match the pieces of authentication information as necessary to authenticate and the input order of the pieces of input information matches the authentication order.
US09223946B1 Specification and configuration of management intent
A method, and a corresponding system, provide for configuring nodes in a computer system according to a user's intent. The computer system includes one or more nodes. The method includes receiving a configuration command from a user, including an identification of one or more of the nodes to be configured; determining available programs for configuring the one or more nodes; determining requirements for applying the available programs to the one or more nodes and displaying the requirements to the user for selection; receiving user selections from the displayed requirements; and executing the requirements to configure the one or more nodes.
US09223942B2 Automatically presenting rights protected content on previously unauthorized device
A first consumer electronics device includes a computer readable storage medium bearing instructions executable by a processor, and a processor configured for accessing the computer readable storage medium to execute the instructions to configure the processor for receiving a signal indicative of close proximity of the first CE device to a second CE device. The instructions also configure the processor for providing a private key to the second CE device in response to receiving the signal. The private key is associated with a digital rights management (DRM) account for which the first CE device has been configured to access, and is configured for a single use by the second CE device to access a first audio video (AV) content without the second CE device communicating any other authentication information associated with the DRM account to access the first AV content to a content provider associated with the first AV content.
US09223939B2 Key generation method
A computer-implemented method to generate a key to provide access to a software product, where the product key is embedded with product information, such as product title, distribution channel, geographic region of sale or other product data.
US09223938B2 Location bound secure domains
A method, apparatus, and electronic device with secure operation based on geography are disclosed. A positioning mechanism 404 may determine a geographic location of the apparatus or electronic device. A processor 104 may identify a secure domain for a virtual machine application. The processor 104 may determine an availability of an application programming interface for the virtual machine application based on the geographic location.
US09223937B2 Method and apparatus for extending an authentication timeout period
A method and apparatus for extending an authentication timeout period for an electronic device includes a primary processor of the electronic device initiating an authentication timeout period at a timeout initiation time and putting the primary processor into a sleep mode. The method also includes awakening the primary processor from the sleep mode at an expiration time, upon expiration of the authentication timeout period, and determining whether an authentication timeout extending input was detected by an adjunct processor of the electronic device at an input detection time that occurred during the authentication timeout period. The method further includes extending the authentication timeout period to expire at an extended expiration time, which is based on the input detection time, when the authentication timeout extending input was detected by the adjunct processor or locking the electronic device when the authentication timeout extending input was not detected by the adjunct processor.
US09223936B2 Fatigue indices and uses thereof
Example embodiments may relate to a system, method, apparatus, and computer readable media configured for monitoring a user performing an athletic movement and/or exercise and generating a fatigue value. Fatigue values may be determined for different groups. In one embodiment, a first value is determined for a muscle fatigue value and a second value is determined for a respiratory value. In another embodiment, a first value may pertain to a first muscle group and a second value may pertain to a second muscle group. A fatigue index may be created from values obtained during an athletic movement and/or a workout session. In further embodiments, a cumulative fatigue index may be determined. A cumulative fatigue index may consider values obtained during several workout sessions. Further, data obtained outside of workout sessions may be considered in determinations relating to fatigue values and/or indices.
US09223935B2 Contactless and minimal-contact monitoring of quality of life parameters for assessment and intervention
An apparatus, system, and method for the measurement, aggregation and analysis of data collected using non-contact or minimally-contacting sensors provides quality of life parameters for individual subjects, particularly in the context of a controlled trial of interventions on human subjects (e.g., a clinical trial of a drug, or an evaluation of a consumer item such as a fragrance). In particular, non-contact or minimal-contact measurement of quality-of-life parameters such as sleep, stress, relaxation, drowsiness, temperature and emotional state of humans may be evaluated, together with automated sampling, storage, and transmission to a remote data analysis center. One component of the system is that the objective data is measured with as little disruption as possible to the normal behavior of the subject. The system can also support behavioral and pharmaceutical interventions aimed at improving quality of life.
US09223927B2 Modeling system, method of modeling semiconductor device, computer-readable recording medium comprising program for performing the method
A modeling system includes a processor. The processor includes a capacitor model generator configured to generate a capacitor model based on a received circuit configuration. The capacitor model generator includes an extract module configured to extract parasitic capacitors from the received circuit configuration and a generate module configured to generate the capacitor model. The generate module generates the capacitor model by classifying the parasitic capacitors into a group of coupled capacitors and a group of grounded capacitors; classifying the coupled capacitors into first coupled capacitors and second coupled capacitors according to a corresponding influence on a performance of the circuit; setting the first coupled capacitors to a maintenance state; and converting at least one of the second coupled capacitors into a grounded capacitor, the at least one of the second coupled capacitors being a second coupled capacitor having a capacitance that is below a desired reference value.
US09223920B2 Method and apparatus for timing closure
Aspects of the disclosure provide a circuit, such as an integrated circuit. The circuit includes a first circuit and a second circuit. The second circuit includes a delay circuit configured to cause the second circuit to have substantially matched delay characteristics of the first circuit in response to at least one parameter change of manufacturing, environmental and operational parameters, such as process variation, temperature variation, and supply voltage variation.
US09223918B2 Reducing repeater power
A method, system and computer-readable medium for reducing repeater power and crosstalk are provided. The method includes generating a model of a circuit including a plurality of original repeaters connected between at least one source and at least one sink, performing a power optimization analysis on the plurality of original repeaters to change the plurality of original repeaters to low-power repeaters based on predetermined optimization parameters, performing a crosstalk analysis on the model of the circuit including the low-power repeaters to determine whether a crosstalk timing violation exists, and changing at least one of the low-power repeaters to a higher-power repeater when it is determined that a crosstalk violation exists, and leaving the low-power repeaters in the model of the circuit when it is determined that a crosstalk violation does not exist.
US09223915B1 Method, system, and computer program product for checking, verifying, or testing a multi-fabric electronic design spanning across multiple design fabrics
Disclosed are various techniques that check, verify, or test multi-fabric designs by receiving a request for checking correctness of a multi-fabric design across at least a first design fabric and a second design fabric. A request for action is transmitted from a first EDA tool session to a second EDA tool session. Connectivity information of second design data in the second design fabric is identified by the second EDA tool session in response to the request for action from the first EDA tool session. These various techniques then check the correctness of the multi-fabric design in the first design fabric by using at least the connectivity information of the second design data. A symbolic representation may be used to represent design data in an EDA tool session to which the design data are not native.
US09223914B2 Automated method to determine composite material constituent properties
According to an aspect, a method includes: receiving, at a machine comprising a processor and a memory, composite material properties for a composite material to be simulated; receiving, at the machine, a composite microstructure for the composite material to be simulated; and obtaining, using the processor and the memory, a set of adjusted material properties for one or more constituents of the composite material, for use in simulating the composite material, by processing the composite material properties and the composite microstructure using fixed constituent property constraints.
US09223910B1 Performance and memory efficient modeling of HDL ports for simulation
A method for compiling an HDL specification for simulation of a circuit design is disclosed. The circuit design is elaborated from the HDL specification and memory locations are allocated for formals and actuals of the elaborated circuit design. For each port having a formal and an actual that are compatible, the allocating of memory locations sets a reference pointer for the formal and a reference pointer for the actual to reference a same one of the memory locations. For each port having a formal and an actual that are incompatible, the allocating of memory locations sets the reference pointer for the formal and the reference pointer for the actual to reference different respective ones of the memory locations. Simulation code modeling the elaborated circuit design is generated that updates a formal and actual of a port that are compatible using a single write operation to the referenced memory location.
US09223907B2 Systems, methods and user interface for graphical configuration for roof mounts
Systems, methods and user interfaces for graphical configuration for ballasted roof mounts of non-rectangular solar arrays. A graphical interface may be provided to allow a user to view a roof grid, and place solar modules within the roof grid where desired, to account for various obstacles on a roof, to create a non-rectangular solar array. Using the layout of the array and various site parameters (building height, wind speed, etc.) and solar module parameters (wide, length, thickness, etc.), the system may calculate a complete bill of materials, customer pricing, ballasting requirements and overall roof loads for a complete solar project.
US09223905B2 Systems and methods for predicting fluid dynamics in a data center
A system and method for predicting airflow within a data center using a potential flow technique is provided. In one aspect, a method includes automatically generating an unstructured grid, the unstructured grid comprising a plurality of unstructured grid cells, each unstructured grid cell having a size, dividing a representation of the data center into the plurality of unstructured grid cells, determining airflow velocity values for each of the plurality of unstructured grid cells using airflow velocity potentials, determining a temperature value for each one of the plurality of the unstructured grid cells using the airflow velocity values, determining a concentration value for each of the plurality of the unstructured grid cells using the airflow velocity values, and calculating a comparison result indicating whether the concentration values, the airflow velocity values and the temperature values for the plurality of the unstructured grid cells satisfy convergence criteria.
US09223900B2 Machine optimization devices, methods, and systems
A method, system, computer program product and computer readable media for matching using degree distribution information are disclosed. An embodiment of the method can include performing b-matching on a graph data structure expanded using degree distribution information in order to identify neighbors of a selected input node. The b-matching can be performed using belief propagation. The belief propagation method is adapted to use a compressed message update rule and to be suitable for use with distributed processing systems. An embodiment can also include enhancing a matching result by applying degree distribution information to a first matching result to generate a second matching result. Embodiments for online advertisement/search term matching, product recommendation, dating service and social network matching, auction buyer/seller matching and resource allocation, among other, are disclosed.
US09223897B1 Adjusting ranking of search results based on utility
A method includes obtaining a rank position map, the rank position map specifying, for a plurality of rank positions, an expected utility rate for a document presented at particular rank positions as a search result; determining an expected utility rate, for a particular document, based on the obtained rank position map, and based on a quantity of times that the particular document was presented as a search result at particular rank positions; determining an actual utility rate for the particular document based on an actual quantity of selections of the particular document, and based on a total quantity of times that the particular document was presented as a search result; calculating a correction factor, for the particular document, based on the determined expected utility rate and the determined actual utility rate; and adjusting a score of the particular document based on the correction factor.
US09223896B2 Screen generation method, and screen generation apparatus
An apparatus, method and screen recording medium are provided. The apparatus includes a determining unit which determines, in response to a request to perform processing including a screen transition and the request is transmitted from a client device via a network, whether a screen definition data, as a transition destination, associated with a client identifier relating to the client device is stored in a screen definition data storage unit, and a generating unit which generates, when the screen definition data is stored, a data of the screen functioning as the transition destination by using the screen definition data and generates, when the screen definition data is not stored, a data of the screen functioning as the transition destination by using a common screen definition data.
US09223892B2 Device abstraction for page generation
Device Abstraction for Page Generation. A request is received for information to be provided as a page of content, the page provided by a server device to a remote requesting device. The page of content is dynamically constructed in response to the request based on metadata stored on the server device and context information corresponding to the request. The dynamically constructed page of content is transmitted to the requesting device.
US09223891B2 Methods and systems for dynamically generating and reusing dynamic web content
Methods and systems for generating and reusing dynamic web content involve, for example, automatically generating client-side code on a server at run time, and automatically downloading the client-side code to the client side at run time. The client-side code is executed on the client side to become a widget with dynamic behavior attributes displayed as a component of a web page on a display screen of a client-side computing device. Dynamic behavior of the client-side code may triggered via an event handler mechanism wherein properties of the client-side code are dynamically changed without affecting any other content on the web page. The widget may be redisplayed on a subsequent occasion with a change in the widget without regenerating the client-side code.
US09223885B2 Methods and systems for surveying a user with scan-able codes
Disclosed are methods, systems and computer program products for surveying a user using a scan-able information encoded graphic image, such as a bar code or a quick response (QR) code. In one embodiment, a mobile communication device such as a smartphone, tablet computer or other mobile computer is adapted to include a survey client module for scanning and communicating QR code information. QR code scanning is accomplished by a camera module that is associated with the smartphone or other mobile computing device. The survey client module communicates the scanned QR code information to an associated server application for collecting, processing and reporting survey data. The information encoded in the QR code includes information that is sufficient to identify a client entity (e.g., a local retailer or merchant) and a survey response.
US09223881B1 Quotation management platform
The invention relates to systems and methods for managing quotes. The system may facilitate a user search that relates one or more particular quotes, authors, categories of quotes, specific tag of a quote, and the like. A set of results may be provided based on a user search may be provided. A quote profile and an author profile may be generated providing information about a quote and an author respectively. A user profile page may display information including a user's favorite quotes.
US09223869B2 Browser based language recognition supporting central web search translation
A web browser agent or plug-in installed into a web browser of a client device provides translation services along with a search engine server. The system accesses a web page in one (local) language and then translates to another (foreign) language and displays the translated content in a web page for user's viewing. The web browser agent is an add-on software tool or plug-in, provided by the search engine server and installed into the web browser. As a result of installation, a toolbar appears on the top of the web browser's page. This toolbar provides the interface to enable local translation of web pages from a local/web language to a target/foreign language useful to the user. Centralized (cloud computing) translation services by servers of a third party may also be employed. Web pages in any number of languages may be accessed using this operations/structure.
US09223868B2 Deriving and using interaction profiles
Systems and methods for deriving and using an interaction profile are described. In one described method, a plurality of metrics indicating a level of satisfaction for search results is determined. The metrics comprise at least one of click-duration data, multiple-click data, and query-refinement data. The values of the metrics for a plurality of instances of an object, such as search results from a search engine, are determined. An interaction profile for the object, based at least in part on the values of the metrics for a plurality of instances of the first object, is then determined. This interaction profile may be used in a variety of ways, such as determining the quality of ranking algorithms and detecting undesirable search results.
US09223862B2 Remote storage and provisioning of local-media index
Embodiments described herein involve remote storage and provisioning of a local-media index. An example method may involve storing, by a computing system, a local-media index that identifies a plurality of multimedia items that are stored within a local area network and accessible within the local area network by a playback device of a media playback system within the local area network, and sending a message over a wide area network that indicates at least a portion of the local-media index to the media playback system. Another example method may involve, determining that a first local-media index is inaccessible over a wide area network to the media playback system, and then providing an identification of at least one multimedia item based on a second local-media index.
US09223860B2 Hand held bar code readers or mobile computers with cloud computing services
A data decoding system that includes a server-side proxy component and at least two back-end computers, where the server-side proxy component is configured, when it receives an encoding request from a client, to select a back-end computer to forward the encoding request to, based on either a pre-defined rule, load estimates for the at least two computers, estimated network throughputs across network paths to the two computers. In response to receiving this request, the back-end computer that is selected is configured to encode the request.
US09223856B2 Scale between consumer systems and producer systems of resource monitoring data
A consumer system receives capabilities metadata from a producer system that includes resource class metrics for a resource class included in the producer system. Next, the consumer system creates a rule that corresponds to one of the consumer system's managed entities. The rule includes one or more prescriptions that reference the resource class metrics and specify a periodicity, which informs the producer system as to a time interval for which to send prescription results that includes metric information pertaining to the resource class metrics. The consumer system sends the rule to the producer system and, in turn, the consumer system receives the prescription results from the producer system at the specified periodicity and applies the metric information to the managed entity.
US09223846B2 Context-based navigation through a database
A processor-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product navigates through a database. A non-contextual data object, which ambiguously relates to multiple subject-matters, is associated with a context object to define a synthetic context-based object. The context object provides a context that identifies a specific subject-matter, from the multiple subject-matters, of the non-contextual data object. The synthetic context-based object is associated with a first data node and a second data node within a database. In response to receiving a request for identifying and retrieving data from a data node that has a same context as the first data node, data from the second data node is retrieved.
US09223842B2 Apparatus, and associated method, for synchronizing a database
An apparatus, and an associated method, facilitates synchronization of a database formed of data records. When a synchronization response to a synchronization request indicates that the data of the request is unsynchronizable, data associated with the synchronization request is marked. A retry procedure is subsequently utilized to attempt synchronization of the marked data records and to determine the individual data records that cannot be synchronized.
US09223840B2 Fast object fingerprints
An embodiment computing device operating in a data storage system includes an object storage controller operable to divide an object into blocks and to create an object hash from hash values, and a network interface in communication with the object storage controller, the network interface operable to transmit the blocks to a storage subsystem that generates one of the hash values from each of the blocks, to receive the hash values from the storage subsystem, and to provide the hash values to the object storage controller for creation of the object hash from the hash values. In an embodiment, the object storage controller is operably coupled to a processor and a memory or stored on a computer readable medium.
US09223837B2 Computer-based method and system for providing active and automatic personal assistance using an automobile or a portable electronic device
A method and a system for providing personal assistance in daily activities. A method and a system for automatically and actively providing personal assistance, using a vehicle or a portable electronic device, based on detected data regarding a user and the user's environment. The method and system may include a processor, at least one sensor, an output device, a communications unit, and a database. The database may further include a memory and cloud-based database and computing. The method and system may actively and automatically provide personal assistance regarding health, exercise, diet, or nutrition. The method and system may assist the user or a health professional in health diagnosis and treatment.
US09223835B1 Ranking and ordering items in stream
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for identifying a plurality of items to be displayed to a user, each item including digital content and being associated with a respective timestamp, receiving a plurality of scores, each score being associated with an item of the plurality of items, determining a subset of items to be displayed to the user based on the plurality of scores, the subset of items including items of the plurality of items, grouping items in the subset of items based on respective timestamps to provide a plurality of item groups, for each item group, determining an order of items based on respective scores, and transmitting instructions to display items to the user based on the plurality of item groups and in the order within each item group.
US09223834B2 Distributed multi-system management
Methods, systems and computer program products for operating a plurality of nodes within a network are provided. Using a monitoring node, a subgroup of the plurality of nodes is monitored, the subgroup including the monitoring node and a non-monitoring node. The non-monitoring node is configured to not manage a distributed database distributed among all monitoring nodes of the plurality of nodes, other non-monitoring nodes of the plurality of nodes, and the monitoring nodes of the plurality of nodes and is configured to not store replicated data from other ones of the plurality of nodes. Information from the subgroup is exchanged with a monitoring node of another subgroup of the plurality of nodes over the network, using the monitoring node.
US09223829B2 Interdistinct operator
A computer-implemented system and method for performing distinct operations on multiple tables of shared memory of parallel computing environments are disclosed. A distinct operation is executed on each table of a plurality of tables, each distinct operation eliminating duplicate data from each table, the executing creating a hierarchy of table pairs and distinct results, the distinct results comprising a reduced row set for each table. Duplicates on each reduced row set are detected to complete the distinct operation on the plurality of tables.
US09223827B2 Database query language transformation method, transformation apparatus and database query system
A method, device and system for transforming a concept-based query into SQL query statements, that includes transforming inputted concept-based queries into logic rules, checking validity of the logic rules, optimizing the valid logic rules, and translating the logic rules into SQL query statements in accordance with the optimization result.
US09223824B1 Systems and methods for scrubbing confidential insurance account data
Methods and systems for scrubbing confidential insurance account information are provided. According to embodiments, a scrubbing server can receive a request to scrub confidential insurance data that includes the contents of an insurance account information database and an indication of the category of confidential data stored in the database. The scrubbing server can scrub the valid data contained in the received database, replacing confidential information with “scrambled” data that is not confidential. The scrubbing server can transmit the contents of the scrubbed database back to the requesting party.
US09223820B2 Partitioning data for parallel processing
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system partitions data for parallel processing and comprises one or more computer systems with at least one processor. The system partitions data of a data object into a plurality of data partitions within a data structure based on a plurality of keys. The data structure includes a plurality of dimensions and each key is associated with a corresponding different dimension of the data structure. Portions of the data structure representing different data partitions are assigned to the computer systems for parallel processing, and the assigned data structure portions are processed in parallel to perform an operation. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method and computer program product for partitioning data for parallel processing in substantially the same manner described above.
US09223819B2 Linking of parent-child data records in a legacy software modernization system
A system and method for linking parent and child data records during data migration is disclosed. One embodiment comprises sequentially receiving a plurality of data records from an arbitrary source of records without running a query on the source of records, generating a destination store of records that contains the plurality of data records, and locating any records in the destination store of records that has a dangling key. In this way, the embodiment may correct dangling keys to generate a destination store of records with referential integrity.
US09223818B2 Taxonomy based database partitioning
In one aspect of the invention, a memory is described for facilitating splitting data by taxonomy. The memory is accessed by an application program, and includes one or more top-level categories, where each top-level category comprises a subset of the items; and also includes a category group corresponding to at least one of the top-level categories and the subset of the items belonging to the top-level categories.
US09223815B2 Method, apparatus, and program for supporting creation and management of metadata for correcting problem in dynamic web application
Method to support creation and management of metadata for correcting a problem in a dynamic web application. A support apparatus includes a metadata creation section, a block extraction section, a similar-block search section, and a metadata generalizing section. In response to correction of a problem by a corrector, the support apparatus implements methods to create metadata including the details of the correction and application conditions, that is, a global variable group and cookie information that identify the state of the web application in which the problem has occurred, extracts another block to which the created metadata is applicable from an operation log by using a semantic block including the location of the problem as a clue, and generalizes the application conditions of the created metadata by converting them to a key-value pair structure by using the other block and by extracting a common portion therefrom.
US09223808B2 Control data driven modifications and generation of new schema during runtime operations
A computational device receives input data and control data, where the control data includes instructions to modify one or more operations performed during a runtime execution associated with the input data. The control data is processed to modify the one or more operations during the runtime execution associated of the input data.
US09223804B2 Determining capacity of search structures
A system for storing target images for object recognition predicts a querying performance for the target image if the target image were included in a search tree of a database. The search tree has a universal search tree structure that is fixed so that it does not change with the addition of new target images. The target image is selected for inclusion or exclusion in the search tree based on the based on the querying performance, wherein the fixed tree structure of the search tree does not change if inclusion of the target image is selected.
US09223796B2 Aircraft communications system with video file library and associated methods
A video file system for an aircraft carrying a person having a personal electronic device (PED) for displaying video files includes a ground-based video server and an aircraft-based video system. The ground-based video server stores video files, with each video file being updatable from an available status to an unavailable status. The aircraft-based video system copies video files from the ground-based video server while the aircraft is on the ground. A determination is made, via communications with the ground-based video server and while the aircraft is on the ground, whether a given video file has been updated from the available status to the unavailable status. The PED is permitted to display the given video file if it has the available status, and is not permitted to display the given video file if it has the unavailable status.
US09223794B2 Method and apparatus for content-aware and adaptive deduplication
A method, a system, an apparatus, and a computer readable medium for transmission of data across a network are disclosed. The method includes receiving a data stream, analyzing the received data stream to determine a starting location and an ending location of each zone within the received data stream, based on the starting and ending locations, generating a zone stamp identifying the zone, the zone stamp includes a sequence of contiguous characters representing at least a portion of data in the zone, wherein the order of characters in the zone stamp corresponds to the order of data in the zone, comparing the zone stamp with another zone stamp of another zone in any data stream received, determining whether the zone is substantially similar to another zone by detecting that the zone stamp is substantially similar to another zone stamp, delta-compressing zones within any data stream received that have been determined to have substantially similar zone stamps, thereby deduplicating zones having substantially similar zone stamps within any data stream received, and transmitting the deduplicated zones across the network from one storage location to another storage location.
US09223792B1 Augmenting metadata collection for stored data analytics
Implementations are provided herein relating to augmenting metadata collection within a storage platform. The storage platform can be audited to determine the types of metadata currently being gathered within the storage platform, and the schedule for when that information is gathered. The storage platform can receive a request to generate metadata, compare the requested information with the previously generated and/or scheduled generation of metadata. Rather than redundantly gathering the same metadata via multiple requests, known metadata or scheduled retrieval of known metadata can be used to process portions of the metadata request, and any metadata that was not previously generated can then be separately generated. In this sense, the metadata collection within a storage platform can be augmented to gather additional metadata requested outside the storage platform in an efficient matter that does not unnecessarily increase scanning activity within the storage platform.
US09223787B2 Systems and methods for sideband communication between device and host to minimize file corruption
Communications systems and methods for minimizing file corruption when communicating between a device and a host are provided. To initiate a file transfer section, a host can transfer data to a device on a primary communications channel. The device can then temporarily store the received data in a memory circuit until a command is received indicating that the file has been completely transferred. In order to avoid interfering with the data transfer, the host can provide such a command to the device on a sideband communications channel. Upon receiving the command, the device can integrate the received data into its file system by transferring the data from the memory circuit to a more permanent storage component. If the communications interface is disconnected before such a command is received, the temporarily stored data can be considered incomplete and can be deleted.
US09223786B1 Communication in a sensory immersive motion capture simulation environment
A participant in a capture volume can speak through a microphone. The microphone can capture the speech and transmit it to a wearable computing device of the participant. The wearable computing device can process the speech to generate audio data. The wearable computing device can transmit the audio data to a simulator engine. The simulator engine can receive the audio data and processes the audio data to determine an attribute of the audio data (e.g., amplitude) at the location of a virtual character in a simulated virtual environment based on one or more attenuation factors. The attenuation factors can be calculated based on 3D motion data of the participant. Further, the simulator engine can drive an change in state of the virtual character in the simulated virtual environment based on the attribute of the audio data.
US09223785B2 Mobile terminal displaying page of e-book and background image and controlling method thereof
A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed, by which a more convenient e-book reading environment can be provided through background video and/or audio settings. The present invention includes a touchscreen configured to display a first page of an e-book including at least one or more pages, a memory unit configured to store the e-book and at least one image, a communication unit configured to exchange data with an external device by wire/wireless, and a controller searching at least one of the memory unit and a search server connected via the communication unit for at least one or more candidate images with a search word determined using at least one portion of a content of the first page, the controller controlling a first one of the found at least one or more candidate images to be displayed as a background image of the first page.
US09223784B2 Method and apparatus for archiving media using a log
Method and apparatus for archiving media using a log are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises accepting an original media; updating a first log to include an indication that specifies a date of when the original media was received; converting the original media into a bitmap, the bitmap being in a format different than that of the media; updating a second log with an entry that specifies a relationship between the original media and the bitmap indicating that they are related, wherein the entry includes an identifier corresponding to the entry and an identifier corresponding to the media.
US09223783B2 Apparatus and methods for managing content
Apparatus and methods for managing content, such as content captured by a mobile device, are provided. The apparatus and method include receiving a plurality of content, which includes tag information, e.g., date and location information and an identifier for the mobile device. In addition, the apparatus and methods may include automatically grouping the content based on the tag information, and automatically labeling the content based on the tag information. For example, determined groupings of the content may be placed into folders and labeled based upon the tag information.
US09223780B2 Non-blocking caching technique
The described implementations relate to processing of electronic data. One implementation is manifested as a system that can include a cache module and at least one processing device configured to execute the cache module. The cache module can be configured to store data items in slots of a cache structure, receive a request for an individual data item that maps to an individual slot of the cache structure, and, when the individual slot of the cache structure is not available, return without further processing the request. For example, the request can be received from a calling application or thread that can proceed without blocking irrespective of whether the request is fulfilled by the cache module.
US09223779B2 Text segmentation with multiple granularity levels
Text processing includes: segmenting received text based on a lexicon of smallest semantic units to obtain medium-grained segmentation results; merging the medium-grained segmentation results to obtain coarse-grained segmentation results, the coarse-grained segmentation results having coarser granularity than the medium-grained segmentation results; looking up in the lexicon of smallest semantic units respective search elements that correspond to segments in the medium-grained segmentation results; and forming fine-grained segmentation results based on the respective search elements, the fine-grained segmentation results having finer granularity than the medium-grained segmentation results.
US09223778B2 Net moderator
A method and an apparatus for moderating an inappropriate relationship between two parties by analyzing a dialog between the two parties. The method and apparatus creates an alert depending upon the nature of the dialog between the two parties. The alert is sent to a third party who can moderate the relationship between the two parties. The third party can ban or block the dialog between the two parties based upon the inappropriate relationship between the two parties. A banning or block of the dialog between the two parties can also be automated.
US09223770B1 Method and apparatus of creating electronic forms to include internet list data
A method and apparatus are disclosed that create an electronic form based on table data provided by Internet searching operations. One example may include determining at least one search term, querying, via a server, information provided by at least one network based on the search term, and copying at least one data table resulting from the information discovered during the querying operation. Additional operations may include parsing the at least one data table and storing the information in the server, displaying the data table to an end user so that the end user may select whether the data table should be included in the electronic form, and providing the user with the option to select and edit the contents of the data table. Upon the user's approval the data table may be copied into the electronic form.
US09223768B2 Document management apparatus and document management method
The file size of a binder document in a document management server that manages a version of a binder document is reduced. When updating a binder document, it is determined whether an original document included in the binder document of a past version includes a same document as an original document included in the binder document of a new version. If it is determined that the original document includes the same document, reference information regarding the same document in the binder document of the past version is stored as information corresponding to the original document of the new version. On the other hand, if it is determined that the original document does not include the same document, an entity file of the original document is stored as information corresponding to the original document of the new version.
US09223761B2 Real time visual feedback during move, resize and/or rotate actions in an electronic document
Real time feedback during move, resize or rotate actions in an electronic document is provided. During live drag actions, the layout shown during the action may be the layout produced when the object is dropped. Detection of slow performance of an application and aborting a redraw action as needed may be provided. A visual indication may be provided for helping users to see that an action is in progress, and thereby removing a perception that the application is failing to respond properly. Determining if a figure will not land in a current cursor/touch point position in a move action and a visual indication to help the user see where and why the figure may jump to a new location may also be provided. In addition, determining an attachment point for an object on a page comprising a table may also be provided.
US09223758B1 Determining a language encoding data setting for a web page, and applications thereof
Systems, methods and computer storage mediums automatically apply a language encoding data setting to a web page. Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to equipping a web browser with the ability to automatically open web pages with an appropriate language encoding data setting applied to the web page so that the web page is displayed without garbled characters. The web browser is able to determine the appropriate language encoding setting by requesting the appropriate language encoding setting for the web page that is stored in a language encoding database that is updated each time the web page is successfully opened without displaying garbled characters.
US09223751B2 Performing rounding operations responsive to an instruction
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for receiving a rounding instruction and an immediate value in a processor, determining if a rounding mode override indicator of the immediate value is active, and if so executing a rounding operation on a source operand in a floating point unit of the processor responsive to the rounding instruction and according to a rounding mode set forth in the immediate operand. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09223746B2 Data card and method for internet access of data card
The present invention provides a data card and a method for Internet access of the data card. The method for Internet access of the data card includes: after the data card is connected to a host, mapping the data card into an Internet access device by using an Ethernet interface protocol; obtaining, by the data card, dial-up information, and dialing by using the dial-up information to request to connect to a network; and performing, by the Internet access device, communication between the host and the network. By using the technical solutions provided by embodiments of the present invention, fast Internet access may be implemented without installing a driver.
US09223745B2 Flexible database and iterative spatial search process
A flexible database and iterative spatial search process is described. In an embodiment, a flexible database server is described which takes input queries in the form of XML strings describing a search specification and parses them using a stored procedure. Searching is performed by generating a temporary table for each term in the search specification and then comparing the temporary tables to pre-existing tables within the database to identify datasets that meet the search specification. An application is also described which generates the XML string in response to user input and which displays the results to a user. The application provides a user interface which enables users to select attributes of results, such as the spatial data associated with a dataset, to include in a second search specification and to trigger this new search.
US09223744B1 Scheduled service periods in wireless mesh networks
A method, apparatus and computer program product in which a computer system functions as a mesh point (MP) and provides scheduled service periods in wireless mesh networks is presented. The MP enters a light sleep mode. The MP determines peers of itself and determines beacons for the peers of itself. The MP then enters an Awake state for the beacons of its peers.
US09223743B1 Multiplier operable to perform a variety of operations
Methods and apparatus are provided for implementing circuitry operable to perform barrel shifting, multiplication, and rotation operations in hard coded logic on a programmable chip. A hard coded multiplier is augmented using multiplexer circuitry, a logical operation, and a bypassable 2^N functional block. Based on control signals, the multiplexer circuitry can be used to select a rotation, multiplication, or barrel shifted output. Multiplexer control signals also provide sign information associated with operands passed to the multiplier. A single augmented multiplier can perform barrel shifting, rotation, or multiplication operations. Inputs of a multiplier can also be selectively grounded to allow the multiplier to perform logic operations.
US09223739B2 Detection method and apparatus for hot-swapping of SD card
A detection method for hot-swapping of a Secure Digital (SD) card is provided. The detection method includes steps of: transmitting an inquiry command to an card reader at a predetermined frequency; receiving a command return message replied in response to the inquiry command; determining whether the SD card is removed or plugged according to the command return message; and detecting a hot-swapping status of the SD card in real-time to provide an accurate status of the SD card for upper-layer applications.
US09223738B2 Method, system, and apparatus for dynamic reconfiguration of resources
A dynamic reconfiguration to include on-line addition, deletion, and replacement of individual modules of to support dynamic partitioning of a system, interconnect (link) reconfiguration, memory RAS to allow migration and mirroring without OS intervention, dynamic memory reinterleaving, CPU and socket migration, and support for global shared memory across partitions is described. To facilitate the on-line addition or deletion, the firmware is able to quiesce and de-quiesce the domain of interest so that many system resources, such as routing tables and address decoders, can be updated in what essentially appears to be an atomic operation to the software layer above the firmware.
US09223730B2 Virtual system management mode device and control method thereof
A virtual system management mode device, for processing a system management interrupt signal generated by a special process, includes a transformation unit, a control unit memory, and a control unit. The transformation unit transforms the system management interrupt signal into a virtual system management interrupt signal. The control unit memory stores a plurality of system management interrupt processes. The control unit executes one of the system management interrupt processes according to the virtual system management interrupt signal.
US09223723B2 Verifying data of a dispersed storage network
A method begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module of a storage unit receiving, over time, access requests regarding reading or writing of various data blocks. The method continues with the DS processing module establishing an internal verification access rate for verifying data blocks stored in a memory device of the storage unit based on a rate of the access requests and a maximum access rate of the memory device. The method continues with the DS processing module generating internal verification requests in accordance with the internal verification access rate, coordinating the internal verification requests and the access requests for accessing the memory device, and accessing the memory device based on the internal verification requests to verify the data blocks.
US09223717B2 Computer cache system providing multi-line invalidation messages
A computer cache system delays cache coherence invalidation messages related to cache lines of a common memory region to collect these messages into a combined message that can be transmitted more efficiently. This delay may be coordinated with a detection of whether the processor is executing a data-race free portion of the program so that the delay system may be used for a variety of types of programs which may have data-race and data-race free sections.
US09223713B2 Allocation of cache to storage volumes
A technique for allocating a write cache allowed data size of a write cache from a plurality of write caches to each of a plurality of storage volumes, calculating a write cache utilization of the write cache for each of the respective storage volumes, wherein the write cache utilization is based on a write cache dirty data size of the write cache allocated to the respective storage volume divided by the write cache allowed data size of the write cache allocated to the respective storage volume, and adjusting the write cache allowed data size of the write cache allocated to storage volumes based on the write cache utilization of the write cache of the storage volumes.
US09223711B2 Combining associativity and cuckoo hashing
Addition, search, and performance of other allied activities relating to keys are performed in a hardware hash table. Further, high performance and efficient design may be provided for a hash table applicable to CPU caches and cache coherence directories. Set-associative tables and cuckoo hashing are combined for construction of a directory table of a directory based cache coherence controller. A method may allow configuration of C cuckoo ways, where C is an integer greater than or equal to 2, wherein each cuckoo way Ci is a set-associative table with N sets, where each set has an associativity of A, where A is an integer greater than or equal to 2.
US09223710B2 Read-write partitioning of cache memory
A system and method to enforce read-write partitioning in an N-way, set associative cache may limit a number of ways allocated for storing modified data in a set to a value W and limit a number of ways holding read data to a value R. The cache may be configured where N=R+W. Furthermore, a number of ways storing prefetched read data may be limited to RP, while a number of ways storing prefetched modified data may be limited to WP. The values for W, R, WP, and/or RP may be determined using a prediction method to estimate cache miss rates for different values for W, R, WP, and/or RP and selecting values corresponding to a desired cache miss rate, and so allowing for selective application of the read-write partitioning.
US09223709B1 Thread-aware cache memory management
A cache management unit manages allocation and configuration of a cache memory that is utilized by a multi-threaded processor. In some implementations, the cache management unit is configured to determine a number of active threads being executed by the multi-threaded processor, assign a separate cache unit to each active thread when the number of active threads is equal to a maximum number of active threads supported by the multi-threaded processor, and assign more than one cache unit to an active thread when the number of active threads is less than the maximum number of active threads.
US09223708B2 System, method, and computer program product for utilizing a data pointer table pre-fetcher
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for utilizing a data pointer table pre-fetcher. In use, an assembly of a data pointer table within a main memory is identified. Additionally, the data pointer table is pre-fetched from the main memory. Further, data is sampled from the pre-fetched data pointer table. Further still, the sampled data is stored within a data pointer table cache.
US09223703B2 Allocating enclosure cache in a computing system
Allocating enclosure cache in a computing system that includes an enclosure and a plurality of enclosure attached servers, including: receiving, by the enclosure, memory access information from each of the plurality of enclosure attached servers; determining, by the enclosure in dependence upon the memory access information, an amount of enclosure cache to allocate as shared cache that can be accessed by two or more of the enclosure attached servers; and determining, by the enclosure in dependence upon the memory access information, an amount of enclosure cache to allocate to each enclosure attached server for exclusive use by the enclosure attached server.
US09223699B2 Cache management in managed runtime environments
Methods and apparatus to provide cache management in managed runtime environments are described. In one embodiment, a controller comprises logic to determine an update frequency for an object in the runtime environment and assigning the object to an unshared cache line when the update frequency exceeds an update frequency threshold. Other embodiments are also described.
US09223695B2 Information processing apparatus
An information processing apparatus including a NAND type flash memory; circuitry configured to control writing/reading of data to/from the NAND type flash memory; and an interface configured to connect the information processing apparatus to a host apparatus. The circuitry is configured to determine whether to erase data stored in a specific area within the NAND type flash memory by overwriting the data based on whether an overwrite command is received from the host apparatus via the interface; and erase a physical block including the specific area when it is determined to erase the data by removing electric charges in the NAND type flash memory in the physical block including the specific area.
US09223689B2 Apparatus and method for managing memory
Provided is a memory management method, and an apparatus to perform the method, which achieves a shortened user waiting time in consideration of system performance. The method includes acquiring a deallocation unit used to deallocate an allocated memory area according to at least one attribute, and deallocating the allocated memory area using the deallocation unit.
US09223685B2 Validating a specification associated with a software application and/or a hardware
System and method for validating a specification associated with a software application and/or a hardware is disclosed. The specification comprising expected behavior requirements specified in a specification language and the semantics in the tabular notation is received. In order to validate the specification, a string may be identified for the specification. The string may indicate characters conforming to the specification language. Upon identifying the string, a token may be generated using the string. The token may be a binary representation of the string. The token may be arranged into a data structure. The specification is checked to conform to the specification language. Two or more specifications specified in the specification language are merged. A test case is generated from the validated specification. The expected behavior with the actual behavior of the specification is validated.
US09223682B1 Systems and methods for supporting a testing environment for a website
Methods and systems for supporting a testing environment associated with a website for purchasing insurance products. The testing environment supports a plurality of test scenarios for testing the website. A user of the testing environment can select one of the test scenarios and the methods and systems render the website in a context of the selected test scenario. The methods and systems enable the user to navigate throughout the selected test scenario to aid in testing website functionality. According to embodiments, the testing environment includes a progress indicator that displays a user's progress through the selected test scenario. Further, the user can select a scenario flow chart that indicates various data parameters associated with the selected test scenario.
US09223680B2 Information processing apparatus and debugging method
An information processing apparatus includes a system memory, a cache system that includes a cache memory, and a plurality of cores, each of which accesses the system memory and the cache memory. The cache system stores in a cache line of the cache memory a break indicator that designates one or more of the plurality of cores. The cache system determine whether a first core in the plurality of cores that issues a request to read data from an address that corresponds to the cache line in which the break indicator is stored matches one of the cores designated by the break indicator. If the first core matches one of the cores designated by the break indicator, the cache system returns a break command to the first core. If the first core does not match one of the cores designated by the break indicator, the cache system returns the data to the first core.
US09223679B1 Lightweight, non-intrusive, and flexible apparatus to obtain system and process state
According to one embodiment, a debug daemon executed by a processor of a data processing system receives a signal from a first program executed within the data processing system. In response to the signal, a snapshot of a memory region associated with the first program is captured. An analysis tool is identified from a pool of analysis tools based on the signal in view of a set of one or more rules associated with the first program. The analysis tool is invoked to perform an analysis on the snapshot to generate a summary that describes the snapshot. The summary is transmitted from the data processing system to a remote system over a network, without transmitting the snapshot.
US09223676B2 Introducing timing synchronization indicating stall reason in next synchronization window
An electronic tracing process includes packing both stall (215) and reason (219) data into a single high priority timing information stream. An integrated circuit includes an electronic processor (110), and a tracing circuit (120) operable to pack both stall and events data into a single timing information stream. Other circuits, processes and systems are also disclosed.
US09223675B2 Characterizing device performance based on user-perceivable latency
A method and an apparatus for characterizing performance of a device based on user-perceivable latency. To characterize device performance, a value of a metric may be computed from latencies of operations performed by the device. In computing a value of a metric, latencies may be treated differently, such that some latencies perceivable by a user of the device may have a greater impact on the value of the metric than other latencies that either are not perceivable or are perceived by the user to a lesser degree. Such a performance metric based on user-perceivable latency facilitates identification of computing device that provide a desirable user experience.
US09223674B2 Computer system and method for runtime control of parallelism in program execution
A computer system and method are provided to assess a proper degree of parallelism in executing programs to obtain efficiency objectives, including but not limited to increases in processing speed or reduction in computational resource usage. This assessment of proper degree of parallelism may be used to actively moderate the requests for threads by application processes to control parallelism when those efficiency objectives would be furthered by this control.
US09223670B2 Test apparatus and test module
A test apparatus that tests a device under test, comprising a control apparatus sequentially executing a plurality of test programs and controlling testing of the device under test; and a test module controlled by the control apparatus to test the device under test by communicating with the device under test and to transmit a test result of each test program to the control apparatus. The test module includes memories that store the test results of the test programs, and starts a subsequent test such that at least a portion of a result processing time period of a current test, from when a test result stored in a first memory begins being transmitted to the control apparatus to when processing of the test result by the control apparatus ends, overlaps with at least a portion of a test execution period in which the subsequent test is executed using a second memory.
US09223662B2 Preserving data of a volatile memory
Apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer program products for auto-commit memory are presented. A monitor module determines that a triggering event for an auto-commit memory has occurred. An identification module identifies a triggered commit action for an auto-commit memory. An auto-commit memory module performs a triggered commit action for an auto-commit memory in response to a triggering event occurring.
US09223659B1 Generating and accessing a virtual volume snapshot in a continuous data protection system
In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request to access a virtual volume snapshot, preparing to bind the virtual volume snapshot, intercepting a command to prepare bind of the virtual volume snapshot, rolling back to a point in time corresponding to the requested virtual volume snapshot and generating a virtual volume snapshot in a storage array.
US09223658B2 Managing errors in a raid
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for configuring a plurality of storage devices for a RAID and setting a time-out value for the plurality of storage devices, determining whether a response time for a storage device of the plurality of storage devices exceeds the time-out value, and recovering data from the RAID in response to the storage device exceeding the time-out value.
US09223657B2 Self-rescue method and device for damaged file system
The present application discloses a self-rescue method and device for a damaged file system. The method includes: a fault warning message is sent to a background server when it is found during boot of a device that a file system is damaged; the device receives an acknowledgement message from the background server, wherein the acknowledgement message contains a path and file name of a backup version selected by the background server according to a product type; and the device downloads a version file and reboots from the version file. The device, when finding during the boot that the file system is damaged, implements network communications between the foreground and the background prior to switching to a large version, in order to acquire a version from the background server actively and reload it, so that the damaged file system is self-repaired automatically without manual interference.
US09223654B2 Resilient distributed replicated data storage system
A resilient distributed replicated data storage system is described herein. The storage system includes zones that are independent, and autonomous from each other. The zones include nodes that are independent and autonomous. The nodes include storage devices. When a data item is stored, it is partitioned into a plurality of data objects and a plurality of parity objects are calculated. Reassembly instructions are created for the data item. The data objects, parity objects and reassembly instructions are spread across nodes and zones in the storage system according to a policy for the data item. When a zone is inaccessible, a virtual zone is created and used until the intended zone is available. When a read request is received, the data item is prepared from the lowest latency nodes according to the reassembly instructions, and a virtual zone is accessed in place of a real zone when the real zone is inaccessible.
US09223647B2 Automatic classification adjustment of recorded actions for automation script
A method for automatic revision of an automation script includes obtaining a sequence of at least one classified recorded action and an automation script, the automation script including a sub-sequence of the sequence of classified recorded actions, wherein each action is included in the automation script in accordance with the classification of that action. At least a portion of the automation script is executed. Upon failure of an action of the portion of the automation script to execute, an action of the sequence of classified recorded actions is reclassified, it is verified if the action that failed to execute executes successfully after the reclassifying, and the automation script is revised. Relating computer program product and data processing system are also disclosed.
US09223641B2 Multicore processor system, communication control method, and communication computer product
A multicore processor system is configured to cause among multiple cores, a second core to acquire from a first core that executes a first process, an execution request for a second process and a remaining period from a time of execution of the execution request until an estimated time of completion of the first process; and give notification of a result of the second process from the second core to the first core after an estimated completion time of the first process obtained by adding the remaining period to a start time of the second process.
US09223640B2 Strategy based event notification chain
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: receiving, at the event bus from a sender, an indication of an event; identifying a plurality of listeners to which event notifications should be pushed based on the event; determining a sorted order for the plurality of listeners; and pushing, by the event bus, event notifications to the plurality of listeners in an order specified by the sorted order.
US09223635B2 Network offering in cloud computing environment
A cloud system may create and support multiple network offerings for virtual machines in a cloud zone. Physical networks comprising sets of network elements, such as routers, gateways, firewalls, load balancers, and other network hardware, may be created and updated within a zone. Network offerings may be defined and associated, using tags or other techniques, with virtual machine networks, physical networks and/or network elements. Cloud end users may request specific network offerings when creating virtual machines, or may request to move existing virtual machines from one network offering to another. The cloud system may use the requested network offering to identify the virtual machine network, physical network, and/or network elements corresponding to the requested network offering. The cloud system may allocate a new virtual machine network and configure the network elements within the associated physical network to provide network services to the virtual machine.
US09223633B2 Single processor class-3 electronic flight bag
An electronic flight bag providing computational services for an aircraft and communicating with aircraft avionics may execute aircraft-design-approved Type-C applications together with non-design-approved Type-A/B on a single processor through specific modifications of the operating system to control memory and processor access thereby providing isolation comparable to that of dual processor systems in which the Type-C applications and Type-A/B applications are executed on different processors.
US09223622B2 Capacity planning of multi-tiered applications from application logs
One embodiment collects performance data for an application server that processes transactions received from a client computer to a database server. An application log is created from the performance data and used for capacity planning in a multi-tiered architecture.
US09223620B2 Apparatus and method for processing data
A data processing apparatus and method for allocating data to processors, allowing the processors to process the data efficiently. The data processing apparatus may predict a result of processing data, based on a workload for the data, according to a number of processors, and may determine the number of processors to be allocated with the data, using the predicted processing result.
US09223618B2 Multi-threaded queuing system for pattern matching
A multi-threaded processor may support efficient pattern matching techniques. An input data buffer may be provided, which may be shared between a fast path and a slow path. The processor may retire the data units in the input data buffer that is not required and thus avoids copying the data unit used by the slow path. The data management and the execution efficiency may be enhanced as multiple threads may be created to verify potential pattern matches in the input data stream. Also, the threads, which may stall may exit the execution units allowing other threads to run. Further, the problem of state explosion may be avoided by allowing the creation of parallel threads, using the fork instruction, in the slow path.
US09223616B2 Virtual machine resource reduction for live migration optimization
A mechanism for virtual machine resource reduction for live migration optimization is disclosed. A method of the invention includes monitoring a rate of state change of a virtual machine (VM) undergoing a live migration, determining that the rate of state change of the VM exceeds a rate of state transfer of the VM during the live migration process, and adjusting one or more resources of the VM to decrease the rate of state change of the VM to be less than the rate of state transfer of the VM.
US09223614B2 Systems and methods for event stream processing
Disclosed are systems and methods for processing events in an event stream using a map-update application. The events may be embodied as a key-attribute pair. An event is processed by one or more instances implementing either a map or an update function. A map function receives an input event from the event stream and publishes one or more events to the event stream. An update function receives an event and updates a corresponding slate and publishes zero or more events. Systems and methods are also disclosed herein for implementing a map-update application in a multithreaded architecture and for handling overloading of a particular thread or node. Systems and methods for providing access to slates updated according to update operations are also disclosed.
US09223613B2 Managing service level objectives for storage workloads
Described herein is a system and method for dynamically managing service-level objectives (SLOs) for workloads of a cluster storage system. Proposed states/solutions of the cluster may be produced and evaluated to select one that achieves the SLOs for each workload. A planner engine may produce a state tree comprising nodes, each node representing a proposed state/solution. New nodes may be added to the state tree based on new solution types that are permitted, or nodes may be removed based on a received time constraint for executing a proposed solution or a client certification of a solution. The planner engine may call an evaluation engine to evaluate proposed states, the evaluation engine using an evaluation function that considers SLO, cost, and optimization goal characteristics to produce a single evaluation value for each proposed state. The planner engine may call a modeler engine that is trained using machine learning techniques.
US09223610B2 Management of virtual machine snapshots
A virtual machine snapshot mechanism takes snapshots of virtual machines on a computer system, generates relationships between a snapshot and resources on the computer system, and provides a graphical display of one or more snapshots that allow visually determining which snapshots include which resources. A user may search the snapshots based on user-specified criteria. If an exact match is not available, and closest match is identified in the graphical display.
US09223608B2 Systems and methods for finding solutions in distributed load balancing
Systems and methods for finding solutions exhaustively in distributed load balancing are provided. A plurality of virtual machines (VMs) is in communication with a virtual machine management server (VMMS). The VMMS is configured to generate a matrix that represents a mapping of a plurality of virtual machines (VMs) to a plurality of hosts and to calculate a first imbalance metric of the matrix. The VMMS is also configured to identify a plurality of candidate migrations the VMs. The VMMS searches through the solution space efficiently and can perform an exhaustive search to find the optimal solution. For each candidate migration, the VMMS is configured to alter the matrix to represent the candidate migration and to calculate a candidate imbalance metric based on the altered matrix. The VMMS is also configured to determine which candidate migration to perform based at least in part on the candidate imbalance metric for each candidate migration and the first imbalance metric.
US09223604B2 Control method of virtual machine and virtual machine system
A method of controlling a virtual machine, including: detecting a predetermined trigger by a management server; acquiring a relationship between a virtualization unit and a virtual machine operated on a physical computer; specifying a virtual machine as a migration target based on preset trigger definition information; determining a physical computer of a migration destination based on a preset first control pattern to generate a first plan to migrate the virtual machine as the migration destination; transforming the first control pattern to a second control pattern; generating a second plan to migrate the virtual machine as the migration destination; performing arithmetic an evaluation value of the first plan and an evaluation value of the second plan; selecting one of the evaluation values meeting a predetermined condition as an execution plan; and migrating by the management server the virtual machine as the migration target based on the selected execution plan.
US09223593B2 Efficient distribution of functional extensions to a 3D modeling software
Functional extensions are provided for use with a modeling software. The functional extensions provide functionality not otherwise provided by the modeling software. The functional extensions are received from a client device by a server and stored in a database. Thereafter, the server transmits the functional extensions to a second client device, sometimes in response to receiving a request for the functional extension from the second client device. The server may update a user profile to indicate that a functional extension was received from a user operating the client device and, additionally, may transmit the functional extension to the second client device when the server receives an indication that the user is operating the second client device.
US09223586B1 Run-time limitations of software applications based on user characteristics
An application manager module provides anonymized user profile information to third party adaptive software applications. As a result, a software developer may produce a single software application that is adapted to run in a first mode providing full-functionality for use by adults and a second mode providing appropriate privacy and content restrictions for use by children. The mode is selected at run-time based on the anonymized user profile information received from the application manager module.
US09223582B2 User interface description language
Embodiments provide a method for generating a user interface (UI) using a UI description language. An exemplary method may be executed by a computer processor to designate each element of the UI as either a container element or a child element, store a design guideline as a set of editable rules, integrate the set of editable rules in a prototyping tool, integrate the prototyping tool in a development environment and render the UI by using a rules engine to interpret the set of editable rules.
US09223581B2 Data processing system and method for switching between heterogeneous accelerators
A method for operating a system on chip includes receiving an acceleration request signal generated upon execution of an application program, in response to receipt of the acceleration request signal, comparing a current usage of a central processing unit (CPU) with a threshold value to generate a comparison signal, and performing switching between heterogeneous accelerators to accelerate a function executed by the application program in response to the comparison signal.
US09223578B2 Coalescing memory barrier operations across multiple parallel threads
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for coalescing memory barrier operations across multiple parallel threads. Memory barrier requests from a given parallel thread processing unit are coalesced to reduce the impact to the rest of the system. Additionally, memory barrier requests may specify a level of a set of threads with respect to which the memory transactions are committed. For example, a first type of memory barrier instruction may commit the memory transactions to a level of a set of cooperating threads that share an L1 (level one) cache. A second type of memory barrier instruction may commit the memory transactions to a level of a set of threads sharing a global memory. Finally, a third type of memory barrier instruction may commit the memory transactions to a system level of all threads sharing all system memories. The latency required to execute the memory barrier instruction varies based on the type of memory barrier instruction.
US09223574B2 Start virtual execution instruction for dispatching multiple threads in a computer
Embodiments relate to multithreading in a computer. An aspect is a computer including a configuration having a core which includes physical threads and is operable in single thread (ST) and multithreading (MT) modes. The computer also includes a host program configured to execute in the ST mode on the core to issue a start-virtual-execution (start-VE) instruction to dispatch a guest entity which includes a guest virtual machine (VM). The start-VE instruction is executed by the core and includes obtaining a state description, having a guest state, from a location specified by the start-VE instruction. The execution includes determining, based on the guest state, whether the guest entity includes a single guest thread or multiple guest threads, and starting the guest threads in the MT mode or ST mode based on the guest state and a determination of whether the guest entity includes a single guest thread or multiple guest threads.
US09223570B2 Migration assistance using compiler metadata
Systems and methods are migration assistance using compiler metadata. An example system includes a data module that receives data associated with a compiler. The data includes a set of rules associated with the compiler. The example system also includes an extraction module that extracts from the data, compiler metadata including the set of rules associated with the compiler. The example system further includes a database that stores the compiler metadata. The example system also includes a patch module that receives a program including source code, retrieves from the database the compiler metadata, and generates, without compiling the received program, a set of migration patches based on the received program and the compiler metadata. The set of migration patches includes one or more changes to the received program to abide by the set of rules associated with the compiler.
US09223566B2 Managing a set of software modules in a software runtime environment
A method, system, and/or computer program product manages a set of software modules in a software runtime environment, where the set of software modules has one or more dynamic dependencies and one or more static dependencies. Each software module having a static dependency on another software module in a set of software modules is identified. Each subset of the set of software modules that is interdependent with another subset due to static dependencies between subsets is identified. In response to a change in state of a module in an identified subset, the change in state is applied to all modules in the identified subset.
US09223565B2 Rendering interface objects defined by a separate application
An application system provides a specification to render and update interface objects to a first application on one or more computing devices. The first application receives a request to provide instructions for presenting an object from a second application operating on the one or more computing devices. The first application communicates the instructions for presenting the object to the second application. The communication may be made via the operating system of the one or more computing devices or in another suitable manner. The first application receives an update to the instructions for presenting the object to the second application from an application provider or other application system. The first application communicates the updated instructions for presenting the object to the second application.
US09223562B1 Controllable deployment of software updates
The risk of inadvertent introduction of software bugs to a large number of users during a software update is minimized by controlling updates using a uniform mechanism of sending updates to seed users. A value-generating module generates a value for a computer, the value falling within a population range of values. A sampling range-generating module generates a sampling range of values as a proper subset of the population range, the probability of the random value falling within the sampling range being predetermined. An eligibility determination module determines whether the computer is eligible to receive a software update, the computer being determined eligible when the random value for the computer falls within the sampling range, and an update module provides the software update to the computer based on the eligibility determination. In some embodiments, a problem review module determines whether the update has caused a problem for computers receiving the update.
US09223560B2 Software installation and configuration
A method to manage an initial software installation and configuration script is provided. The method may include saving, by a plurality of collaboration tools, a new customization associated with the initial software installation and configuration script in an installation and configuration knowledgebase. The method may also include saving, by the plurality of collaboration tools, a new solution associated with the initial software installation and configuration script in the installation and configuration knowledgebase. The method may further include querying, by a search engine or a similarity engine, the installation and configuration knowledgebase for the new customization or the new solution based on a comparison between a criteria provided by an administrator and an index of vocabularies stored in the configuration knowledgebase related to the initial installation and configuration script. Additionally, the method may include returning a search result based on the querying the installation and configuration knowledgebase.
US09223559B2 Information processing apparatus, electronic control unit, information processing method, and program
A configuration information generation section 11 uses configuration information of an ECU 2 and configuration information of a new device 5 which is to be newly connected to the ECU 2, generates and outputs to the ECU 2, new configuration information after the new device 5 is connected to the ECU 2. An executable file generation section 12 links an object file of a control program implemented on the ECU 2, and an object file of a control program to control the new device 5, and generates and outputs to the ECU 2 an executable file of a new control program after the new device 5 is connected to the ECU 2.
US09223557B1 Application provided browser plugin
An application may be installed on a user device. Installing the application may include receiving and storing an executable application, a plugin, and an application manifest. The application manifest may include a path corresponding to the plugin and one or more rules associated with the plugin. A webpage may be requested from the web server. The webpage may be parsed to determine that the webpage includes an instruction to use the plugin. It may be determined that the application includes the plugin. The path corresponding to the plugin may be obtained from the application manifest. The webpage may be presented using the plugin.
US09223555B2 Hierarchical resource pools in a linker
A novel declare instruction can be used in source code to declare a sub-pool of resource instances to be taken from the resource instances of a larger declared pool. Using such declare instructions, a hierarchy of pools and sub-pools can be declared. A novel allocate instruction can then be used in the source code to instruct a novel linker to make resource instance allocations from a desired pool or a desired sub-pool of the hierarchy. After compilation, the declare and allocate instructions appear in the object code. The linker uses the declare and allocate instructions in the object code to set up the hierarchy of pools and to make the indicated allocations of resource instances to symbols. After resource allocation, the linker replaces instances of a symbol in the object code with the address of the allocated resource instance, thereby generating executable code.
US09223551B1 Rendergraph compilation method and use thereof for low-latency execution
A graph is compiled that defines a data flow from input(s) to output(s) for images. The data flow includes one or more filters to be applied to the images. Compiling the graph includes forming an assemblage of kernel invocations for the data flow and forming a mapping between kernel invocations in code for the one or more filters and the assemblage of kernel invocations. For multiple ones of a number of frames of images, code in the one or more filters is executed, data is passed into the assemblage to indicate which execution path in the assemblage should be chosen from among a plurality of possible execution paths for one of the filters, wherein the data is determined using at least the mapping and the executing code, and kernel invocations in the indicated execution path are executed. Methods, apparatus, and computer program products are disclosed.
US09223550B1 Portable handling of primitives for concurrent execution
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for generating portable concurrency primitives. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a set of source code for a module that will execute on a plurality of different types of architectures, the set of source code including a first set of concurrency primitives, generating a second set of concurrency primitives from the first set of concurrency primitives, wherein each concurrency primitive in the second set is different than the corresponding concurrency primitive from the first set of concurrency primitives, each concurrency primitive in the second set of concurrency primitives being independent of a plurality of different types of architectures that will execute the module, and storing each concurrency primitive from the second set of concurrency primitives in a portable executable that retains the language level constructs of the first set of concurrency primitives.
US09223548B2 Method and apparatus for providing an application canvas framework
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for providing an application canvas framework which facilitates the manipulation of text and graphics within a web browser. During operation, the system receives a command from a user at a web browser to execute a web-based application. In response to the command, the system loads the web-based application which includes an application canvas framework within the web browser, wherein the application canvas framework provides a Graphical User Interface (GUI) that facilitates the manipulation of text and graphics within the web browser. Note that the application canvas framework can be browser independent and/or platform independent.
US09223544B2 Number representation and memory system for arithmetic
A method, device and system for representing numbers in a computer including storing a floating-point number M in a computer memory; representing the floating-point number M as an interval with lower and upper bounds A and B when it is accessed by using at least two floating-point numbers in the memory; and then representing M as an interval with lower and upper bounds A and B when it is used in a calculation by using at least three floating-point numbers in the memory. Calculations are performed using the interval and when the data is written back to the memory it may be stored as an interval if the size of the interval is significant, i.e. larger than a first threshold value. A warning regarding the suspect accuracy of any data stored as an interval may be issued if the interval is too large, i.e. larger than a second threshold value.
US09223543B2 Arithmetic unit, processor, compiler and compiling method
An arithmetic unit which includes: a data supply section which supplies floating-point type object data to which a sign is to be added and condition data which includes a condition under which the sign is added; a sign data generating section which extracts the condition included in the condition data and generates sign data for adding the sign to the object data on the basis of the extracted condition; and an integer arithmetic operation section which performs an integer arithmetic operation while treating the object data as integer type data so as to add the sign to the object data on the basis of the sign data and the object data.
US09223541B2 Method and apparatus to eliminate frequency holes in a memory I/O system
Various methods and apparatus for managing signals between a processor and a memory device are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of managing signals between a processor and a memory device wherein the processor and the memory device are operatively coupled by a data signal path and a clock signal path is provided. The method includes setting the skew between the data signal path and the clock signal path away from a spectral peak of a phase jitter transfer function.
US09223537B2 Conversation user interface
A conversation user interface enables users to better understand their interactions with computing devices, particularly when speech input is involved. The conversation user interface conveys a visual representation of a conversation between the computing device, or virtual assistant thereon, and a user. The conversation user interface presents a series of dialog representations that show input from a user (verbal or otherwise) and responses from the device or virtual assistant. Associated with one or more of the dialog representations are one or more graphical elements to convey assumptions made to interpret the user input and derive an associated response. The conversation user interface enables the user to see the assumptions upon which the response was based, and to optionally change the assumption(s). Upon change of an assumption, the conversation GUI is refreshed to present a modified dialog representation of a new response derived from the altered set of assumptions.
US09223534B1 Client side detection of motion vectors for cross-platform display
Data including information regarding a display of the host device may be received. A display of a client device may correspond to the display of the host device. Information regarding the display of the host device may be monitored for changes. When a change is detected, a movement of an image may be identified. Instructions may be generated regarding the changes to the display. A client device may process such instructions to incorporate the detected change while maintaining a remaining portion of the display. The instructions may include a motion vector command for the image movement and a command to fill in space vacated by the moving image. As such, the client device is not required to re-process and re-render an entire display where a change pertains to only a portion thereof.
US09223533B2 Technique for information processing device and printer
An information processing device may receive, from a server, identification information for identifying an image file being stored in the server and status information indicating a print process status of the image file, display a first screen indicating these information, and send a change instruction to the server. The change instruction may be for changing status information of a designated image file into a first status indicating where a print process for an image file has not been performed. The information processing device may send print instruction information and authentication information to a printer. The print instruction information may be for causing the printer to acquire print data from the server. The authentication information may be used by the printer to acquire the print data from the server.
US09223529B1 Method and apparatus of processing information in an environment with multiple devices and limited resources
A method and apparatus are disclosed that provide processing data associated with a job request. In one example, the job request may be a printer job to print a particular document based on predefined settings. The data processing operation may include determining at least one job specific resource available to fulfill the job request, and performing at least one of a prioritization computation, a job specific requirement computation, and a geographical determination computation. Additional operations may include selecting at least one appropriate device to fulfill the job request based on the at least one computation operation and the at least one available job specific resource, and processing and completing the job using the at least one appropriate device based on the at least one computation.
US09223528B2 Electronic content management workflow
A method for managing an electronic document (ED) using an electronic content management (ECM) system. The method includes: receiving, by the ECM system, a submission having the ED; generating an archived document corresponding to the ED; storing, by the ECM system, the ED and the archived document; distributing, by the ECM system, the archived document to multiple users including a first user and a second user; receiving, by the ECM system and from the first user, a first request for the ED; sending, by the ECM system, the ED to the first user in response to the first user having access rights to the ED.
US09223527B2 Image-forming system and recording medium
An image forming system includes a user terminal apparatus of a first user registered for a peer-to-peer type inter-user communication service, and a user terminal apparatus of a second user registered for the peer-to-peer type inter-user communication service and included in a contact list of the first user. The user terminal apparatus of the first user distributes operation data including (a) identification information of the first user, (b) identification information of the image forming apparatus, and (c) setting information or image information of printing to the identified user. The user terminal apparatus of the second user transmits, on the basis of an operation of the second user, an additional print request for additionally printing the same printed material for the printing of the first user, which was communicated by the received operation data, to an image forming apparatus of the identification information communicated by the received operation data.
US09223526B2 Apparatus, method, and storage medium
According to an aspect of the present invention, an apparatus includes an area setting unit configured to set, in a case where it is not determined that a page of an aspect ratio can be set in an application, a data arrangement area which the data to be printed is arranged, in a page setting of the application, so that an aspect ratio of the data arrangement area fits to the aspect ratio of the printing area, and a scaling setting unit configured to set a scaling of the page in which the data arrangement area set by the area setting unit, so that the page is scaled in accordance with the printing area and the data arrangement area, based on a size of the page and the size of the printing area.
US09223525B2 Methods and systems for implementing a network-based extensible interface platform for multifunction devices
Methods and systems for accessing a network-based extensible interface platform via multifunction devices. The extensible interface platform can be hosted on a network server accessible via a network in communication with the network server. An access to a device that communicates with the network server via the network can be authenticated in response to invoking a login procedure at the device. An account can be automatically linked to the network server after authenticating access to the device. The extensible interface platform can be loaded onto a local user interface associated with the device to present an extensible interface platform workflow associated with the account even though the extensible interface platform is not installed at the device.
US09223519B2 Electronic devices having semiconductor magnetic memory units
A semiconductor device includes a resistance variable element including a free magnetic layer, a tunnel barrier layer and a pinned magnetic layer; and a magnetic correction layer disposed over the resistance variable element to be separated from the resistance variable element, and having a magnetization direction which is opposite to a magnetization direction of the pinned magnetic layer.
US09223517B1 Scalable index store
A method, system, and computer program product for providing, via a provisioning engine, a scalable set of indexed key-value pairs enabled to store objects in a data storage environment; wherein the data representing the objects is enabled to be spread across arrays in the data storage environment; wherein additional arrays are enabled to be added to the data storage environment and included in the indexed key-value pairs; wherein the data stored across the arrays may be balanced.
US09223515B2 Devices and methods for device-mapping connectivity hub
The present invention discloses devices and methods for a connectivity hub, for connecting a plurality of storage devices to a host system, including: a plurality of ports, each port operative to electrically engage with a storage device; electrical paths joining the plurality of ports to a common point operationally connected to the host system; and a controller operative to associate a relative physical location with a logical identity for each port. Preferably, the controller is configured to perform the association by correlating an insertion time of the storage device in a respective port with a detection time of the logical identity. A connectivity hub, for connecting a plurality of storage devices to a host system, including: at least 23 ports, each port operative to electrically engage with a corresponding storage device; and electrical paths joining at least 23 ports to a common point operationally connected to the host system.
US09223504B2 Method and system for placement of logical data stores to minimize request response time
Logical data stores are placed on storages to minimize store request time. The stores are sorted. A store counter and a storage counter are each set to one. (A), (B), and (C) are repeated until the storage counter exceeds the number of storages within the array. (A) is setting a load for the storage specified by the storage counter to zero. (B) is performing (i), (ii), and (iii) while the load for the storage specified by the storage counter is less an average determined load over all the storages. (i) is allocating the store specified by the store counter to the storage specified by the storage counter; and, (ii) is incrementing the load for this storage by this storage's request arrival rate multiplied by an expected service time for the requests of this store. (iii) is incrementing the store counter by one. (C) is incrementing the storage counter by one.
US09223501B2 Computer system and virtual server migration control method for computer system
When migrating a virtual server between a plurality of physical servers, a pre-migration connection relationship between the virtual server and a storage area used by the virtual server is maintained after the migration of the virtual server by using a cooperative mechanism between a plurality of storage apparatuses even if the storage area used by the virtual server is migrated between the plurality of storage apparatuses. A computer system and virtual server migration control method for the computer system is described.
US09223500B1 File clones in a distributed file system
Embodiments are directed towards cloning files in a distributed file system. In response to a request to create file clones, a file cloning application can be employed to generate file clones based on a source file. The file cloning application can generate a new inode for each new file clone and at least one new shadow store. Data blocks from the source file can be transferred to the shadow store. The transferred data blocks can be replaced with reference blocks that point to the data blocks transferred to the shadow store. Likewise, additional reference blocks pointing to data blocks in the shadow store can be generated for the new file clone inodes. Further, the shadow store can maintain reference counters that track the number of reference blocks pointing to each shadow store block. Also, file clones can be generated based on a point-in-time snapshot of the source file.
US09223499B2 Communication device having a user interaction arrangement
The invention relates to a user interaction arrangement for interaction with a user using a pointing object. The arrangement comprises: a detector for detecting position of said object, a controller for computing a distance of said object to a surface of a display, and an image generating part for generating an image on said surface of display. The controller is further configured to compute a position on said surface based on said position and distance of said object, and the arrangement further comprises an image generating part configured to generate a dynamic guiding image on said surface of display based on said position and distance.
US09223495B2 System and method for crossing navigation for use in an electronic terminal
A touch screen that is capable of receiving touch inputs from a user includes a crossing navigation input that uses two directional input to move through content within different content groups. The touch screen includes a graphical user interface that is configured to display content on the touch screen such that similar content items are in a content group. Additionally, the graphical user interface is configured to receive, through the touch screen, a first input to access different content groups and a second input to access content within the same group. The first input includes a touch input in a first direction and the second input includes a touch input in a second direction.
US09223493B2 Mobile terminal, electronic device and method of controlling the same
A mobile terminal, an electronic device and a method of controlling the same are provided. The electronic device can be controlled easily and intuitively by using the mobile terminal including a touch device.
US09223490B2 Methods and apparatus to manage zones of a multi-zone media playback system
Methods and apparatus to manage zones of a multi-zone media playback system are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a user interface; a controller to configure one or more zone groups each associated with one or more media playback devices; a detector to monitor the user interface for a drag of an icon representative of a first one of the zone groups on the user interface from a first position to a second position; and a configuration implementer to change a configuration of the one or more zone groups in response to a detected drag of the icon.
US09223488B1 Navigable interfaces for graphical representations
A system includes a computing device that includes a memory configured to store instructions. The computing device also includes a processor configured to execute the instructions to perform a method that includes defining a first portion of a display as a workspace for a graphical representation of a portion of a network of processing operations. The workspace provides a navigable view of the graphical representation for editing the displayed portion of the network. The method also includes defining at least a second portion of the display, different from first portion, for a compressed view of a portion of the network of processing operations external to the first portion of the display. The method also includes simultaneously presenting the first portion and the second portion on the display.
US09223486B2 Image processing method for mobile terminal
An image processing method based on zooming for a mobile terminal permits touch zooming on touch screens of a plurality of devices. The image processing method preferably includes: displaying, in response to entering a touch on a touch screen displaying an image, a zooming GUI indicator for image zooming operation; performing image zooming on the touch screen in response to entering a touch point move while retaining the touch; and hiding the zooming GUI indicator from the touch screen in response to entering a touch release.
US09223484B2 Selector control for user interface elements
A user input at a location on a user interface screen that intersects or otherwise touches a grouping of more than one overlapping user interface element can enable selection of a specific one of the overlapping user interface elements as the user interface elements in the grouping are made active in sequence (e.g. in a loop), which can be stopped by a second user input when the desired user interface element is currently active in the sequence. Related methods, system, article of manufacture, and the like are also disclosed.
US09223483B2 Method and apparatus for providing a user interface on a device that indicates content operators
A computer-implemented method of operating an electronic device having a display and means for receiving user input, the method comprises: displaying on the display a menu adjacent an edge of the display, the menu containing one or more icons, each icon representing a function and being selectable by the user; and in response to detection of a user input in relation to an icon, causing the device to display a description of the function of the icon, wherein the description is displayed to project from the menu.
US09223480B2 Multiple stakeholders for a single business process
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for providing a customized representation of a business process involving one or more organizational entities that are accessible through a network. A user interface that can display a customized representation of a business process is provided. User information, including user privileges associated with the business process, is stored in a central repository that is accessible through the network. A request to view the business process is received from a first user through the user interface. The user privileges for the first user are retrieved from the central repository. A customized representation of the business process is displayed with the user interface. The customized representation is in compliance with the retrieved user privileges for the first user.
US09223476B2 User-widget-based transaction system
A method and system are described to provide a user-widget-based transaction environment. In one example embodiment, an electronic magazine may be presented to a user device as a widget without using a browser. The electronic magazine may comprise two or more data pages. A user selection of at least one of the two or more data pages may be detected and then communicated from the user device across a network for further processing.
US09223470B2 Method for monitoring a technical installation and monitoring system for carrying out said method
A method for monitoring a technical installation with a plurality of installation components connected to one another for transmitting data in order to perform process steps is provided. Status messages, each status message containing a plurality of individual messages, are displayed on a display unit. Upon initiation of the display of a status message, it is determined which individual messages assigned to the status message are to be displayed.
US09223469B2 Configuring a virtual world user-interface
A particular user's user-interface to a virtual world is customized based at least upon an analysis of behavioral characteristics of the user, the behavioral characteristics indicating how the user controls an avatar in the virtual world. In this regard, image-capture-or-sharing tools, avatar-appearance-editing tools, or both may be configured in the user-interface based at least upon the analysis of the behavioral characteristics. Information pertaining to results of the configuring of the user-interface may be stored in a processor-accessible memory system.
US09223467B1 Distributing icons so that they do not overlap certain screen areas of a mobile device
Desired portions of a background image presented on a mobile device are prioritized for viewability. The background image, which includes desired feature components, is presented on a display of the mobile device. The desired feature components are identified from the background image. A user interface that includes an indication of the desired feature components is presented on the mobile device. One or more icon images are presented in accordance with the prioritization of the desired feature components of the background image.
US09223466B2 Predictive cursor interaction
Embodiments include providing multiple discernible indicia that provide an indication of behaviors associated with selection of a particular link. The multiple discernible indicia may include visually-discernible graphical icons configured to be displayed as a pictorial image that visually represents a behavior associated with selection of the particular link. The visually-discernible graphical icons may include a first icon that, when selected, causes a default behavior associated with the link selection to occur, and a second icon that, when selected, causes an alternative behavior associated with the link selection to occur. Also, responsive to receiving a user-provided modifier, the first or second icon may be replaced with a third icon that visually represents a different alternative behavior to occur that is different than both the default and alternative behaviors.
US09223465B2 User interface for multiple display regions
User interfaces for multiple display regions are described. One embodiment provides an array of non-overlapping windows that are created from a set of overlapping windows, and a user can select one of the non-overlapping windows to obtain an enlarged view of that selected window while keeping the other windows in their non-overlapping state. In one embodiment, the array of non-overlapping windows can include minimized windows or windows in other virtual desktops (e.g. windows in other “Spaces”) or both. In one embodiment, only windows of a selected application are shown in non-overlapping mode while opened windows of other applications are not shown.
US09223456B2 Digital image editing
A website construction tool allows website construction via an interactive graphical user interface (GUI) using containers and modules defining predetermined website constructs from a robust assortment of common and popular rendering formats and content source definition for individual webpages, and arranges the individual pages for navigation. A user selects from the predefined constructs by selecting modules for generating code, corresponding to the desired content, source and rendering format. Pointing device positioning locates the on-screen location by generating a container dedicated to the desired content. Webpage structure, or page flow, is generated by insertion of navigation controls and page insertions for navigating between pages in the deployed site, The predetermined constructs, therefore, provide templates of complex rendering formats allowing for content insertion without burdening the user with development of the constructs so rendered. Constructed websites may be hosted by the development entity, further relieving the user from website maintenance.
US09223453B2 In-cell touch display panel device with three-dimensionally configured sensing blocks
An in-cell touch display panel device includes an upper substrate, a lower substrate, and a display controlling and sensing structure layer including a data line sub-layer and a scan line sub-layer. The data line sub-layer has plural data lines and plural first dashed conductor lines, each first dashed conductor line being formed by continuing plural first conductor segments. The scan line sub-layer has plural scan lines and plural second dashed conductor lines, each second dashed conductor line being formed by continuing plural second conductor segments. The data lines are disposed at positions identical to those of the second dashed conductor lines, and the first dashed conductor lines are disposed at positions identical to those of the scan lines, so as to form a touch sensing pattern structure by using conductor parts to selectively connect the first dashed conductor lines and the second dashed conductor lines.
US09223452B2 Noise-cancelling integrated touch screen and display panel and drive method thereof
An In-cell touch screen and a method for driving the same includes: concurrently providing a plurality of gate drive signals to the plurality of gate lines line by line and a plurality of touch drive signals to the plurality of drive lines line by line, collecting original touch signals from the plurality of sensing lines line by line; when collecting is performed on a sensing line and any gate line covered by the sensing line is supplied with a gate drive signal, defining the original touch signals collected from a sensing line as interference signals; and removing the interference signals from the original touch signals to obtain a valid touch signal.
US09223444B2 CMOS image sensor with shared multiplexer and method of operating the same
A CMOS image sensor includes a pixel array unit, a row selection unit, and a logic circuit. The pixel array unit is used for sensing an object. The pixel array unit includes M pixels and P multiplexers and each of the M pixels is electrically connected to one of the P multiplexers, wherein M is a positive integer and P is a positive integer smaller than M. The row selection unit and the logic circuit are electrically connected to the P multiplexers. The row selection unit is used for generating a row selection signal. The logic circuit is used for determining a sensing region corresponding to the object wherein the sensing region includes N of the M pixels. Furthermore, the logic circuit controls Q multiplexers, which are electrically connected to the N pixels, to transmit the row selection signal to the N pixels.
US09223442B2 Proximity and touch sensing surface for integration with a display
A system and method for hover detection and touch detection in a display. In one embodiment, a first set of infrared (IR) emitters illuminates the interior of a transparent layer and the IR light is confined to the interior of the layer by total internal reflection, unless an object, such as a finger, touches the surface of the layer. Additional IR emitters at a different wavelength illuminate the volume outside of the display for hover detection. Two sets of wavelength-selective IR sensors, such as quantum dot sensors, are embedded in the display and are used to localize one or more fingers touching, or hovering near, the display.
US09223433B2 Display system and display method
A display system is disclosed. The display system includes a display unit configured to include a sensor which detects an operation in a display area of the display unit, a determination unit configured to determine an effective area of the display area of the display unit, the effective area being an area on which an image is displayed, and a first control unit configured to disable the operation detection outside the effective area by the sensor.
US09223432B2 Touch-sensing display panel module which improves sensing ability using reset unit and readout unit and related driving method
An embedded sensor of a touch panel includes at least a readout unit and a reset unit. The total readout length or the total reset length during each sensing period may be larger than the pixel refresh period by introducing other readout units, introducing other reset units, or increasing the enabling period of the gate driving signals, thereby enhancing the sensibility of the touch panel.
US09223429B2 Touch module and electronic apparatus
A touch module, adapted for an electronic apparatus and including a cover, a touch sensor layer, a flexible printed circuit board (FPC), a light-emitting element and a light guide film is provided. The cover has at least one transparent icon. The touch sensor layer and the FPC are disposed under the cover, and the FPC is electrically connected to the touch sensor layer. The light-emitting element is mounted on the FPC, wherein the FPC is located between the cover and the light-emitting element. The light guide film is disposed under the cover, wherein the touch sensor layer is located between the cover and the light guide film. Light emitted by the light-emitting element is transmitted to the transparent icon through the light guide film. In addition, an electronic apparatus is also provided.
US09223427B2 Portable terminal device and method for releasing keylock function of portable terminal device
A cellular phone includes a first display, a second display, a first touch sensor which detects an input to the first display, a second touch sensor which detects an input to the second display, a CPU which sets and releases a keylock function for disabling the inputs, and a memory which stores a releasing condition of the keylock function including a combination of an input detected by the first touch sensor and an input detected by the second touch sensor. The CPU releases the keylock function with respect to at least one of the first touch sensor and the second touch sensor when inputs detected by the touch sensors and match with the releasing condition stored in the memory while the keylock function is being set.
US09223420B2 Apparatus for driving electronic device and driving method thereof
A method of driving an electronic device easily and accurately controls a pointer displayed on a screen of the electronic device. The method of driving an electronic device including an input unit into which information is input by a touch and a screen display unit on which a pointer is displayed in response to the touch includes: a first step of moving the pointer from a point at which the touch is applied to the input unit first in an arbitrary direction in which drag of the pointer is performed; a second step of stopping the movement of the pointer when the drag is stopped; and a third step of additionally moving the pointer in a direction, which is directed from the point at which the touch is applied first to a point to which pressing pressure is applied, in response to pressing pressure when the drag is stopped.
US09223415B1 Managing resource usage for task performance
The use of resources on a computing device can be optimized for current conditions to reduce or minimize the amount of resources needed to provide a sufficient level of performance for various types of tasks. In some embodiments, one or more optimization algorithms can analyze information such as a type of task to be performed and the state of one or more environmental conditions to attempt to select a number and configuration of components, such as cameras and illumination elements, to use in performing the tasks. The performance of the tasks can be monitored, and the selection or states updated in order to maintain a sufficient level of performance without using more resources than are necessary.
US09223409B2 Portable function-expanding device for electronic device
A portable function-expanding device for an electronic device is provided which comprises: a housing with a plurality of accommodating slots provided on an upper surface thereof for accommodating electronic devices respectively, wherein a function-expanding interface is provided in each of the accommodating slots for being connected with a function interface of the electronic device accommodated therein; and a function means located in the housing and connected with the function-expanding interface to fulfill the function-expanding of the corresponding electronic device. The portable function-expanding device for an electronic device fulfills the function-expanding of the corresponding electronic device conveniently. That is, the function-expanding is fulfilled conveniently as required by just inserting the electronic device into the corresponding accommodating slot and connecting the corresponding function-expanding interface in the accommodating with the function interface of the electronic device.
US09223404B1 Separating foreground and background objects in captured images
Locating features in image information captured by multiple cameras of a computing device can be facilitated by removing background objects from the image information. A distance past which objects should be considered to be background objects is determined, and an amount of disparity for that distance calculated. Any objects having less than that amount of disparity in the image information can be removed, leaving objects that should be treated as foreground objects. An advantage of such an approach is that objects can be determined to be foreground objects even when those objects are only viewable by one of the cameras and disparity information cannot be calculated for those objects from the image information. Such an approach can be combined with other approaches as well to improve accuracy.
US09223396B2 Information processing apparatus and computer readable medium
An information processing apparatus includes a display unit, an image pickup unit, a photography control unit and a storage control unit. The display unit displays a first image thereon. The image pickup unit photographs a recording medium to generate a second image. The photography control unit makes the image pickup unit photograph the recording medium at a predetermined timing. The storage control unit links and stores in a storage unit the second image generated by the image pickup unit with the first image displayed on the display unit at the predetermined timing.
US09223391B2 Apparatus power control
The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods for apparatus power control. A number of embodiments include determining a power profile for each of a number of commands in a command queue that are ready for execution and selecting a portion of the number of commands in the command queue for execution based on the power profiles of the number of commands to control power consumption in the apparatus.
US09223389B2 Method and apparatus for a zero voltage processor
Embodiments of the invention relate to a method and apparatus for a zero voltage processor sleep state. A processor may include a dedicated cache memory. A voltage regulator may be coupled to the processor to provide an operating voltage to the processor. During a transition to a zero voltage power management state for the processor, the operational voltage applied to the processor by the voltage regulator may be reduced to approximately zero and the state variables associated with the processor may be saved to the dedicated cache memory.
US09223380B2 System and method for power saving modes in high speed serial interface communication systems utilizing selective byte synchronization
A system and method for minimizing power consumption in a transceiver circuit that uses a digital high-speed serial communications link between at least two devices is presented. Comma code matching is generally used as a means for establishing byte synchronization and for determining and preventing data transfer errors. However, comma code matching, when performed in high speed serial communications links that can transfer data at rate of giga-bits per second, can use a significant amount of power. Thus, the system and method described herein maintain comma code matching in an off-state, and transition comma code matching from an off-state to an on-state when a substantive operational change occurs in the serial communications link.
US09223377B1 Method and apparatus for power reduction in network
Aspects of the disclosure provide a network device. The network device includes a plurality of ports configured as a link to another network device. At least a first port of the plurality of ports is a power saving port configured to enter a power saving mode when traffic to be transmitted on the power saving port falls below a threshold traffic volume and at least a second port of the plurality of ports is a non-power saving port. Further, the network device includes a traffic monitor configured to monitor a volume of traffic transmitted over the plurality of ports, and a controller in communication with the traffic monitor. The controller is configured to reduce, as a function of the volume of traffic to be transmitted over the plurality of ports, a number of power saving ports in use for transmitting the traffic to the other network device.
US09223375B1 Providing power to a mobile device using a flash drive
A method and apparatus to provide electrical current to a mobile device using a flash drive is disclosed. The flash drive can be connected to two devices, a source device and a mobile device, and can be used to transfer power from the source device to the mobile device to, for example, charge a battery of the mobile device. The flash drive can also be used to transfer data between the two devices. For example, the flash drive can be connected to the source device, which can copy, e.g., a movie to the flash drive. The mobile device can be connected to the flash drive, and the movie can be copied or streamed to the mobile device. A user can watch the movie using the mobile device while the mobile device is using power from the source device to charge a battery of the mobile device.
US09223374B2 Power sourcing equipment chip power sourcing equipment and power over ethernet system and method using registers and slave address
A power sourcing equipment (PSE) chip controls a powering channel of the PSE chip according to a value stored in a first register; the PSE chip changes, in response to a second instruction, the value stored in the first register into a calculated value, where the second instruction includes a second slave address and a second data byte, the second slave address is a virtual address of a virtual powering group, and the calculated value is a result obtained by calculation according to the second data byte and a channel indication value that is of the virtual powering group and stored in the PSE chip. Information indicating whether a powering channel is added to a virtual powering group is stored in a PSE chip, so that powering channels added to a virtual powering group can be controlled at a time.
US09223371B2 Adaptor for adding a second power supply unit to a computer system
An adaptor for detachable connection with a first power supply unit (PSU) and a second PSU to augment the power delivered to a computer system is described. The adaptor may include a power connector configured for detachable connection with a complementary connector of the first PSU, a motherboard connector configured for detachable connection with a complementary connector of the second PSU, and a circuit between the power connector and the motherboard connector. The circuit may comprise a switch, and the circuit can be configured to, in response to an energization of the first PSU by the computer system, automatically close the switch and pass a signal through the closed switch and the motherboard connector for receipt by the second PSU for causing the second PSU to turn on to thereby augment the computer system with power from the second PSU.
US09223368B2 Countermeasure method and device for protecting data circulating in an electronic microcircuit
The disclosure relates to a countermeasure method in an electronic microcircuit, comprising successive process phases executed by a circuit of the microcircuit, and adjusting a power supply voltage between power supply and ground terminals of the circuit, as a function of a random value generated for the process phase, at each process phase executed by the circuit.
US09223366B2 Calculating power consumption for each application executed by an electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus that includes a CPU and at least one device and that is identical to or different from an electronic apparatus in which the CPU is capable of simultaneously executing multiple applications. The electronic apparatus includes: a determiner that determines usage rates of the CPU and the device for each application being executed, on the basis of at least one of statistical information and log information of the CPU and the device; a divider that determines proportions of power consumptions of the CPU and the device relative to a power consumption of the entire electronic apparatus; and an estimator that estimates a proportion of a power consumption for each application relative to the power consumption of the entire electronic apparatus, on the basis of the determined usage rates and the determined proportions.
US09223365B2 Method and apparatus for controlled reset sequences without parallel fuses and PLL'S
A system, semiconductor device and method for providing a controlled system reset sequence with lower power consumption without dependency on fuses, PLL's and external XTAL's. A method to simplify a boot sequence by using a ring oscillator that compensates for voltage and temperature variations while also removing the dependency on parallel fuses, PLL's and external XTAL's.
US09223363B2 Electronic devices assembled with heat absorbing and/or thermally insulating composition
Provided herein are electronic devices assembled with a heat absorbing and/or thermally insulating composition.
US09223361B2 Configurable computer housing
A configurable computer housing includes a frame and a removable motherboard unit. There are a plurality of openings on the frame that are configured to receive the removable motherboard unit.
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